As I opened my eyes, he was right there, still beneath me, peacefully asleep. His sleeping posture remained unchanged from before, maintaining the same rigid stance as if he were a soldier at attention. He resembled a sturdy bamboo stalk, effortlessly cradled by me, the koala-wolf.I didn't immediately rise from my position; instead, I lingered, gently gazing upon his face, pondering the marvel of his existence. How could someone be so utterly wonderful, possessing a rare combination of tenderness, charm, and thoughtfulness? Each delicate feature of his visage seemed to tell a story of kindness and warmth, captivating my heart and soul in a tender embrace.The sensation of being so close to him, his scent truly was like an intoxicating elixir, swirling around me, enveloping me in its spell. I couldn't resist the temptation to press nearer to his neck, drawn by the magnetic allure of his fragrance. It was as if every breath I took was infused with his essence, sending shivers down my s
I felt like he was avoiding me. When I woke up this morning, I only found breakfast on the table, with no sign of him anywhere. Throughout most of the day at school, I couldn't catch a glimpse of him, except during class hours. But as soon as the bell rang, he slipped away so quickly, it was surprising, I never knew that the same guy who was usually clueless and carefree could vanish so swiftly. As for the evening, while he typically had evening classes these days, today he didn’t. Yet, he was still not back home. For someone who usually just shuttled between school and home, and with no evening classes today, where could he possibly be heading off to?The sound of the door opening startled me, signaling his return. Excitedly, I dashed to the door and met his gaze as he was opening it. In that split second, he averted his eyes, lowering his head. It was as if he was deliberately avoiding making eye contact with me. Deep down, I understood, perhaps my confession had placed an unexpecte
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
I stared at him, unwilling to waste words. Instead, I asked directly, “Where’s Neil?” The question was like a weight pressing on my chest, and this man before me was the only one who could answer it.Ken Yimo’s expression was one of indifference, as he replied coolly, “Neil? He’s resting. He’s very simple-minded. As long as I tell him to stay put, he won’t wander off. So, unlike with you, I don’t have to keep him chained up.” His words dripped with a detached cruelty, as though Neil were nothing more than a toy he could control at will. My fists clenched involuntarily, and a simmering anger began to burn within me.I knew then—Ken Yimo must have done something to manipulate Neil or force him into submission. I wanted to press him further, but Ken spoke first, a sly smile twisting across his face. “Ah, but it seems that when kids grow up, they’re not so easy to keep
“I’ve had enough.” Finally, my patience wore thin. Soft tactics weren’t working, so it was time to be firm. I stood up, bundled Neil up tightly in his blanket, ignoring his struggles or pleas. Before long, Neil was sitting at the small table, his head poking out from the blanket while the rest of his body was wrapped up snugly—held there by my bear hug, replacing any other form of restraint.I should have done it this way from the start. It saved time, kept the food warm, and, most importantly, even though he was wrapped in a blanket, I could still hold him close, care for him, protect him—letting him sit on my lap and lean against me.“Wow.” Seeing his eager expression, I couldn’t help but feel a bit proud. “I know you love these dishes, so I made them just for you. What do you want to eat?”"My favorite pasta.""My favorite pancakes."
I rambled on while watching the stars twinkle silently in the night sky. The breeze caressed the woods outside the tent, and the night was as gentle as a dream. Unconsciously, fatigue crept into my eyelids, and finally I fell into a deep sleep in the stillness of the night.I didn't know exactly how long I slept until a beam of morning light shone through the transparent tent roof and shone on my face, waking me up from my slumber. In a daze, I blinked, as if last night's worries and hesitations were still swirling in my mind. But the scene that came into my eyes next completely turned all my imaginations upside down.“Neil!!! what are you doing?!” I instantly came to my senses and sat up with a jolt. Right in front of me, Neil was kneeling beside me, head bowed, with a serious look on his face as he tried to help me with my natural morning reaction. He didn't look hesitant at all, as if it was a matter of course.
My heart sank, realizing that it wasn’t just innocent childish behavior—it was a desperate search for affection, a need to please, a struggle to win more care and love from Ken Yimo. In that moment, I suddenly understood that Harry's words might have been true—their relationship was far beyond a typical father-son bond.I struggled to steady the emotions stirring within me, and looked up at Neil’s innocent face. He probably didn’t recognize the true meaning behind those gestures—their intent was not simply familial love, but a deep, almost physical craving for attention, a kind of dependence on being favored. A quiet ache settled in my chest as I wished with all my heart that he would never be caught in that dark emotional whirlpool again.I smiled softly, gently steering the conversation back to where it had started. "So, to get back to the point, I am your one and only, aren't I?" On this quiet night, I
"Yes, every day." Neil nodded firmly, his tone pure, almost childlike."Then, is this kind of missing me something unique?" I pressed on, as though I were hoping to hear a one-of-a-kind answer from him."Unique?" He blinked, looking as though he didn’t quite understand the meaning of the word.I patiently explained, "What I mean is... is this something that only I experience? Like, the way you miss your dad—does it feel the same as the way I miss mine?"Neil shook his head slightly, his voice soft as he replied, "It's different. I miss Ryan more."A flicker of delight stirred within me, but I kept my expression neutral and asked, "What about compared to your elder brother and your little brother? Is it different with them too?"Neil thought for a moment before nodding with certainty. "Yeah, I miss Ryan the most.""So, only I,
As I processed Harry's bombshell, I turned to Ethan and asked, "Have you checked if Fred Yimo is really Ken Yimo's biological son?"Ethan's expression turned serious as he pulled out his phone. "I'll have someone look into it now."Peter furrowed his brow, clearly skeptical. "You suspect Fred Yimo might be adopted too?""I actually hope so," I replied firmly. "It's a lot less messy than the unethical theory.""Ken Yimo really isn't simple," Harry remarked on the phone, sounding almost impressed. "When I was around, Fred was a bit more relaxed. But the moment I left, he turned into a mouse—didn't even dare to breathe too loudly, but a little bit “sticky” though."I let out a cold laugh. "Doesn't that completely clash with the surveillance cameras he set up at home?"Peter nodded thoughtfully. "You’re right. Which of these sides is the r
As Peter and I sat off to the side, watching them laugh and chat, a tangle of emotions stirred within us. The scene was heartwarming, yet there was an undeniable sense of loss. Here we were, two grown men, holding our glasses, sitting on the fringes of this cozy gathering, as if the world had forgotten about us.Peter let out a heavy sigh. "Why does it feel like I'm drifting further away from my own precious one?" His gaze lingered on Nick and Neil, a hint of sadness in his eyes.I took a sip of my drink, my voice low. "It feels like everyone else is getting closer to Neil than I am." The words left a sting in my chest, as though something inside me had been pierced.Ethan, overhearing our conversation, smiled softly and leaned in to offer a quiet word of reassurance. "Don’t rush," he said gently. "You’ll grow closer in time." He set down his soup spoon, his demeanor calm and wise. "When the bond is strong, n
I paused, surprised that Ken Yimo had informed Neil so quickly. I had been ready to carefully persuade him to come along, but it turned out I didn’t need to—the door was already open, and Neil knew he’d have some freedom. My plan could move forward seamlessly.I smiled, leaning down with a hint of excitement in my voice. "Neil, how about a trip to the amusement park?" My gaze held a playful glint, eager to see his reaction.As expected, Neil’s face instantly lit up with an incredible smile, like sunshine breaking into the depths of his heart. "Really?" His eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky, his voice brimming with barely-contained excitement."Yes!" I nodded, continuing to paint an exciting picture for him. "We can even go see a movie, and then camp out to watch the stars. How does that sound?"Neil’s face flushed with excitement, and he practically burst out, "Y
He helped Neil over to a nearby tatami mat, his expression so gentle that it seemed impossible he’d been the same man furiously smashing things just moments earlier. Watching him carefully tend to Neil with such tenderness, I couldn't help but marvel at how masterfully this man could wear different masks. One moment, he was consumed by rage; the next, he’d transformed into the image of a devoted father. No wonder Neil felt uneasy around someone like him—such volatility would be terrifying for anyone.Ken Yimo picked up his phone and answered in a low voice. The moment he murmured, "Ah, Harry," I instantly understood—the next phase of the plan was in motion. Harry had successfully intervened to stop Fred Yimo from causing more trouble at the hospital, and this call was to inform Ken Yimo, urging him to hurry over and manage the aftermath.After hanging up, Ken Yimo returned to Neil's side, gently stroking his hair. In