After yesterday's conversation, he didn't seem as elusive anymore. We even had breakfast together, a small but significant step forward. Yet, I found myself sinking deeper into this intoxicating whirlpool of emotions. When he was not around, my yearning for him became all-consuming. It was as if nothing else matters except the thought of him. Even in the midst of a lecture, my mind wandered to him — what he might be doing, what thoughts occupy his mind. It was a relentless cycle of longing and speculation.Suddenly, amidst my wandering thoughts, I heard it—the sound of his voice. Instantly, I'm jolted back to reality. I needed to locate him, by focusing, listening and finding the source of his voice. But before I could do so, I had to calm down and get rid of the problems from my mind. I closed my eyes, slowly, and slowly to focus. Bingo. I found him.However, just as I began to feel a sense of relief, another voice interrupted — a voice I didn't expect. "Professor Neil, I admire you g
From college to home, he didn't utter a single word, his mind burdened with heavy thoughts. His demeanor appeared somewhat forlorn, a tad pitiful, evoking a strong sense of protectiveness from others.After arriving home, he busied himself in the kitchen preparing dinner, embodying the image of a diligent homemaker. Meanwhile, I lounged in the living room, browsing through movies, resembling someone who had just returned from work, freshly groomed, seizing the opportunity to occupy myself while waiting for dinner.I remembered the last time he told me not to accommodate him. Back then, during moments when confessing feelings would had been rather awkward, I dressed more conservatively. But now that the ice had been broken, I was only wearing shorts and no top as I wandered around the house. He did catch a glimpse of my bare upper body, but his reaction wasn't as fervent as before; he just blushed briefly and then it was gone.I quite enjoyed the current atmosphere; he was aware of my
That movie was about the female protagonist helping the ghostly male lead unravelled his innermost thoughts, with a terror quotient of four stars. Most of the scares came from sudden appearances coupled with eerie sound effects. I figured that since he's usually timid, he would be frightened by this, giving me the opportunity to comfort him with my protective instincts, like enveloping him in a warm embrace.However, to my surprise, he was not frightened at all. Instead, there was a scene that startled me, while he remained remarkably composed, sitting there calmly watching the screen. I felt a bit disheartened and couldn't resist asking him why he wasn't scared. His response was somewhat reassuring to me — because his reactions weren't as swift, by the time he realized what was happening, the ghost was already well settled in. I admitted, I miscalculated my approach.Originally, I had intended to sit quietly until the end of the movie, sulking on the sofa, staring at the screen. Howe
I waited until he fell asleep before allowing myself to succumb to slumber. His presence nestled in my embrace felt like a fragile trust I dared not disturb. In the initial moments, his body occasionally tensed, a subtle tremor betraying his restless sleep. Each twitch seemed to echo the unresolved worries that plagued his mind, a testament to the battles he fought even in the realm of dreams. Yet, as I gently stroked his hair and whispered reassurances into the silence of the night, a gradual calm enveloped him like a warm blanket. With each passing minute, the rhythm of his breath steadied, his form gradually relaxing into a deeper, more tranquil state. It was as though his body recognized the solace of my presence, finding refuge in the sanctuary of our shared intimacy. And so, as the night unfolded its velvet cloak over us, he surrendered to the serenity of sleep, mirroring my own peaceful repose until the gentle rays of dawn whispered their arrival.It was weekends, when there we
I guided him all the way to the parking lot, hastily opening the door and urging him into the passenger seat. Every second delayed felt like an invitation for potential danger, leaving me anxious about who might lay eyes on him, who might snatch him away. Once I got into the car, I wasted no time in driving off. It wasn't until we were well beyond the confines of the supermarket that I finally stopped the car, stealing a glance at the precious one beside me, who had narrowly escaped harm. "Are you okay?""Yeah, I'm fine, thank you, Ryan."It was a relief that he was okay. But when I saw the hickey on his neck, that familiar surge of anger rose within me."Neil, when something like this happens, you have to protect yourself. What if I hadn't been there, or if I wasn't by your side next time?""I'm sorry.""I don't want your apologies! I want you to stand up to them! If they try to force you, you have to push back!""I did push back, but they grabbed me.""You're a man, can't you push
When I woke up, my head was pounding like a relentless drumbeat. Groaning, I reached out in a sluggish attempt to find my pillow, my fingers fumbling blindly through the air for what felt like an eternity. Confusion clouded my mind as I struggled to piece together the fragments of the night before. Slowly, I forced my heavy eyelids to open, squinting against the harsh morning light as realization dawned upon me — Why was I not in my own room? I was in Neil's room! But why? What had happened last night to lead me here? I racked my throbbing brain, searching desperately for any recollection of events.And then it hit me — my pants were still on. Relief washed over me like a cool breeze on a sweltering day. If my clothes were intact, surely, I hadn't done anything too regrettable. But even with this reassurance, the mystery of how I ended up in Neil's room remained unsolved, leaving me with a throbbing headache and a growing sense of unease.As the incessant "drip, drip, drip" of the fa
Before he could take advantage of the opportunity to escape, I swiftly encircled his waist with my arms, pulling him close and positioning him firmly on my lap. The pressure of my embrace conveyed both control and intimacy, ensuring he was aware of my presence and authority. As he hesitated, torn between the impulse to resist and the desire to comply, I seized the moment to carefully examine his neck.The sight of the numerous hickeys adorning his skin sent a rush of conflicting emotions coursing through me. How intense must my hunger had been to leave such a visible trail? There was a mix of exhilaration and embarrassment as I beheld the tangible evidence of our passion. What had driven me to mark him so extensively?The realization of my own fervor left me grappling with a sense of satisfaction tinged with unease. Amidst this emotional turbulence, a pang of empathy pricked at my conscience: What had he endured, bearing such physical reminders, he thought of his potential discomfort
We had agreed to go to school together because my first class was his. Stepping out of my room, I found the place devoid of any signs of life—no breakfast on the table, no familiar presence in sight. Did he leave already, or was he still asleep? Since the last time I impulsively barged in, entering his room didn't require much formality anymore. It was simply a matter of turning the knob and walking in. Occasionally, I'd remind myself to knock, but more often than not, I'd forget in my eagerness to see him.I pushed the door open, stepping into his room to find him still nestled in his bed. Contemplating whether to play a little prank on him—maybe a gentle morning kiss to rouse him—I reached out and brushed his cheek. But as my fingers made contact, a wave of unexpected heat emanated from his skin, instantly knotting my stomach with worry. Gripping his shoulder, I gave him a gentle shake, urging him to wake up."Neil, why are you burning up like this? Are you feeling unwell?" My voice
Three days later, on a bright and sunny day, the warm light bathed the earth, as if even the sun was adding a touch of radiance to our wedding. The venue was set up like a dream—white flowers adorned every corner, and the air was filled with a faint, sweet fragrance, as though each petal had been carefully chosen just for us. The guests had all arrived, their faces lit with brilliant smiles, their eyes brimming with blessings and hope. In that moment, all the exhaustion and pain seemed to be forgotten, replaced by nothing but boundless joy and warmth.This day belonged to us three couples, the happiest day of our lives. Neil and I, Peter and Nick, Harry and Nelson—standing together, it felt as if fate had already woven an invisible thread, tying us all together. Each of our faces radiated joy, our eyes filled with love and devotion for one another. Just before the ceremony began, I stole a glance at Neil standing beside me. His eyes sparkled softly, filled with warmth and unwavering d
Ethan continued to describe that miraculous moment: "When Neil's blood entered your body, everything changed dramatically. At first, nothing seemed unusual, but soon, the operating room was filled with dazzling light. Countless beams of light intertwined in the air, and the entire hospital was suddenly powered down, as if a mysterious force had illuminated it. Everyone was startled, and you, it seemed, experienced some kind of extraordinary transformation in that instant." There was a calmness in Ethan’s eyes. "Then, the situation settled. Power was restored, the readings on the instruments returned to normal, and your arm miraculously reconnected, fully healed. The symptoms of blood loss vanished in an instant, as though nothing had ever happened."I murmured, "If this is true, then what the Black Wolf said in the virtual world must also be correct. It claimed the calamity has been averted, the curse is broken." The Black Wolf had told me that these changes signified that the crisis
Everything went black, and I was suddenly jolted back to reality. The chaotic scene of battle unfolded around me—Kim and Peter had been knocked to the ground by the vengeful spirits, and Maria was visibly struggling, her strength fading. I looked around in shock, my heart heavy with realization. All of this suffering, all of this fighting—it was because of the decision I had made. I had refused to let go of Neil, going to any lengths to bring him back to life. But in doing so, I had led us into an endless cycle of calamity, and even Neil had been forced to endure so much pain. Perhaps the root of all this, the key to ending it, lay within myself.Slowly, I rose to my feet, a sense of clarity settling over me as I began to understand the true meaning of goodness. It was selfless letting go—it was the willingness to forsake oneself for the sake of others.I took a deep breath, releasing all my obsessions, letting go of the desire to fight for selfish reasons or love. I would fight now,
Ken Yimo raised his hand high, summoning the fragile thread of magic he could barely muster, and hurled it toward the demon with all the strength he had left. Though his magical abilities were far from impressive, his gaze was resolute, unwavering in the face of death. The demon, however, merely smiled faintly, effortlessly neutralizing Ken's attack. The vast disparity in power sent Ken crashing to the ground, his body feeling as fragile as an ant under the weight of the demon’s overwhelming force.But just as Ken fell, something in Fred's heart shifted. He could no longer bear to watch this crumbling scene unfold. Tears welled in his eyes as he screamed in desperate anguish, his voice cracking with raw emotion, “Ken, no! Don’t sacrifice yourself for me! I’m not worth it!” His words were soaked in sorrow and despair, filled with regret—as if all his anger and jealousy had now melted away into nothing but remorse.Ken Yimo struggled painfully to rise from the ground, blood and bruises
Nick forced himself to put on a defiant expression and coldly said, "Who's afraid?" But I could see a flash of fragile fear in his eyes, and my heart ached even more. Nelson had just recovered, his face pale, his body swaying slightly. Upon hearing Harry's call, he struggled to lift his head, his eyes still filled with trust and dependence on Harry. He parted his lips weakly and whispered, "Harry..." His voice was so faint, it seemed like it could vanish into the air at any moment. Neil, the most sensitive of the three, looked at us with fear in his eyes. But he didn't cry out for help; instead, he anxiously glanced at Nelson, as if silently urging us to take care of the more fragile brother first.Facing the scene before me, a surge of anger filled my chest, and I coldly demanded to know what Fred wanted. Fred stood in the shadows, his gaze as cold as ice. He gave a faint smile, revealing a sickly, cruel satisfaction. "It's simple," he said, his voice low but carrying an undeniable o
Meanwhile, the others had scattered, continuing their search for any trace of Neil, their faces grim with concern. The tension in the air was thick, and every passing second felt like we were hurtling toward something far darker than we had anticipated.As everyone scrambled in panic, Maria suddenly called out, "There's a trace of magic here!" Her voice was tinged with urgency and surprise, clearly indicating that she had discovered something unusual. We hurried over to find her standing at the entrance of Ken Yimo's bedroom, eyes closed in concentration, her hands moving gently through the air as though she were carefully unraveling an invisible barrier. Soon, the tips of her fingers began to glow faintly, as if she had torn through a thin veil. In that instant, the magical barrier dissolved, and everything behind the door came into view, causing me to gasp in shock.Inside the bedroom, Ken Yimo lay on the cold floor, his face ashen, as though he had endured some immense shock. Scatt
"It turns out that Ken's coldness stems from such a painful past," I murmured softly, a deep, indescribable sorrow washing over me. The suffering Ken had endured was far beyond our comprehension. No wonder he kept everyone at arm's length, as if wrapped in a hard shell to shield himself."What's even more tragic is that our 'old-fashioned' people, upon learning about Ken's sexual orientation, grew even more hostile toward him. They have no idea that his sexuality was, for the most part, twisted by that monstrous foster father of his," Maria sighed, her eyes filled with profound sympathy and understanding for Ken. She shook her head, adding, "They ostracized him, yet they have no clue what kind of pain he went through."I couldn't help but ask, "What happened after that? What did Ken go through?"Maria gently shook her head, a shadow of sorrow crossing her face. "He left our place. By the time I found him, that beast of a foster father had gathered thirty or forty people, trying to for
Ken Yimo chuckled gently, the smile on his face tinged with a trace of self-mockery, as if he had already come to terms with his fate. "For me, Neil’s safety is the most important thing. As long as he can get away from here, away from all this conflict, I fear nothing."His words were firm and tender, that kind of selfless, fatherly love stirring something deep within me. I clenched my fists in silent resolve, taking a deep breath. "Alright, Ken. I promise you, I will do everything in my power to take Neil away. I won’t let him come to any harm. I swear, I will protect him with everything I have."A flicker of gratitude passed through Ken Yimo's eyes as he nodded slightly. "I know you will, Ryan. Your care for Neil, your dedication to him—it's something even I deeply admire. He’s a child who deserves love and protection... Please continue to show him kindness, and give him the warmth he truly needs."His words struck a chord deep within me. I had planned to turn and leave, to end this
Ken Yimo nodded slightly, his expression laced with a complex mixture of emotions. “Yes. Fred knows he’s nothing more than a replacement. But he... he’s different. Despite everything, he still desperately seeks my attention. He doesn’t mind being my servant, if it means he can be close to me.”"A child with ambition," I murmured to myself, trying to grasp the psychological dynamics at play in such a twisted situation.A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Ken Yimo's lips. "Do you think Fred acts out so recklessly, causing chaos everywhere, even disregarding the reputation of the Yimo family? What do you think he’s trying to achieve?"I furrowed my brows, pondering for a moment, before the realization dawned on me. "Could it be... that he's doing it just to get your attention? He’s deliberately being reckless, making sure everyone knows."Ken Yimo nodded, his tone unnervingly calm. "Exactly. He knows that by antagonizing people, the Yimo family will inevitably be ostracized. But what