Looking very forlorn, Noah looked towards the ceiling as if he could see beyond the walls to the clear skies above.
In the end, he gritted his teeth. What needed to be done still needed to be done. He opened up the light screen of his communicator, and with an attitude of a kamikaze soldier flying to his last battle, he bravely returned Case’s call.
The other side immediately accepted, and soon enough, Noah was staring face to face with ruffled-looking Case. It would seem Case had been pacing back and forth ever since the last call, running his hands through his hair the entire time, because right now, his usually stylish hair resembled prairie after a fire.
Seeing Case’s bloodshot eyes, Noah felt inexplicably guilty, “Sorry about that, Case…” He greeted awkwardly.
Case shot him a look imbued with exasperation and incomprehension. And then he wordlessly shook the wedding invitation, which by now looked a bit worn out.
Noah peeked at the shiny piece of paper with his and Levi’s name on it and couldn’t help but feel a bit bashful, “Ah... that,” he cleared his throat, “There is going to be an official announcement soon about this... uh... as it turns out, the one marrying Levi in a few days will not be my sister, but… uh… me…”
“What the fuck?!? How did the bride suddenly change to you?!” Case snapped, “Just… just… what the fuck?!?”
Noah scratched his fluffy head, not knowing how to explain this. If he told Case the truth, the other would vehemently oppose this marriage. And who knows what trouble he might kick up in his attempts to “save” Noah from his “dreadful” arranged marriage. And even if Case didn’t end up causing him endless headaches in the future, Noah still thought that the fewer people that knew the truth, the better. The fewer people knew, the easier it was to keep it under wraps. Also, since Noah wasn’t the only one whom this related to, he thought that it wouldn’t be fair of him to casually divulge the truth of the matter to someone without getting Levi’s agreement beforehand.
Thus, since he couldn’t tell Case the truth, it meant he was supposed to sell a tall tale about a great romance between Levi and him. But that topic was not just embarrassing enough to make him want to die of shame right then and there, but it was also a complete sham that Noah didn’t know how to convincingly pull off!
Noah was the type of person who could convincingly lie for a just cause, but he absolutely couldn’t act convincingly! He could say compelling words, but his true feelings would be written on his face plain and clear for all to see!
So how was he supposed to make Case believe that he and Levi were together?
Blackie, (・―・) ‘Host, you needlessly worry… Just tell it to him straight. I guarantee that your stutter and beet-red face would be enough to get you an Oscar nomination.’ (¬‿¬)👍
Noah took a deep breath, and just as Blackie predicted, his face flushed scarlet even before the first word had a chance to be spoken. He nervously avoided Case’s eyes as he stuttered out, “It–it turns out that Levi and my sister were never really together because Levi is…is… g–gay… and so, we… uh… hanged out together since last week… and–and… we–we…” Noah involuntarily covered his burning face with his hands, “we… ended up… falling… falling… in–in…” Ah, really couldn’t get that L-word out! “uh… got–got…accidentally… got t–together…” Noah shyly peeked through the gaps between his fingers at the other’s reaction.
Seeing his best friend and crush of many years, rosy-cheeked and bashfully fluttering his long eyelashes as he talked about his relationship with another man, Case felt like coughing up blood right then and there.
“What do you mean accidentally got together?!” Case’s trembling voice rose an octave, “Aren’t you straight?!” Bloody hell!!! If Aris wasn’t as straight as a street pole, how could he have pursued him for so many years without the other even realizing he was pursuing him?!? If Aris wasn’t straight, then what the fuck had he been doing all these years, not daring to confess his feelings?!? “Stop bullshitting me! When I called you earlier, even you didn’t know what the hell was going on!!!”
Being called out on his lie, Noah felt so awkward he barely restrained the urge to immediately hang up. Dear lord! If all the shame and embarrassment he had experienced in the last 20 years of his life were added up, it still wouldn’t even come close to the levels he had been forced to experience in the last week! Why was this happening to him?!?
Yet, not only did he need to shamelessly continue spouting nonsense even though he had already been exposed, he even needed to bring up the whole best man matter!
“I–I–I was just surprised that the wedding invitations had already been resent. We–we–we were still… still in the middle of settling the marriage change...” Noah forcefully swallowed down his saliva in a valiant effort to squeeze out the remainder of his words, “As for that… that… I–I–I… I also thought… also thought I was straight…”
“You thought?!? You no longer think so?!?” Case was so agitated he was wheezing with every word.
Noah’s inner shame continued to grow by this line of questioning, and by now, he felt like a daughter being scolded by her conservative mother for losing her virginity before the marriage.
“Mhm… it… it turns out that I–I–I can also… like… like guys…” Even the rims of Noah’s wide amber eyes started to redden, and involuntary tears welled up in his eyes. QAQ
Seeing his crush looking as if he had been bullied, so delectable like a ripe peach ready to be eaten, Case’s heart nearly jumped out of his chest, and he swallowed hard. Suddenly, the passion and hope inside his chest could no longer be restrained, “Aris, I also like guys! Actually, the one I like is–“
‘Don’t tell me this bro intends to confess his feelings?!’ Noah’s soul nearly leaped out of his body in fright.
Confessing to a person who is about to get married to another dude, are you asking for abuse?!? Fucking hell! And he was even trying so hard not to hurt Case’s feelings, yet this bro kept forcing his hand!!
(ノ꒪Д꒪)ノ︵ ┻━┻
‘Bro, can’t we remain friends?! Must you tear down this last pretense of a pure and clean brotherhood?!’
щ(゚Д゚щ)
‘Ah, ah! Don’t say it!!!! You can’t say it, ah!’
These words were not something meant for him anyway! Case loved the original Aris, not him, Noah! He refused to receive this love confession in Aris’ stead!
Losing his head in his hurry to interrupt this love confession, Noah blurted out the first words that came to mind, “No! I don’t like men! I-I-I just like this one person!”
“…” _(´ཀ`∠)_ Case, who got shot down even before he managed to confess, choked on the words he was no longer able to say, and for a moment, his vision turned black in front of him.
Levi, who was standing in front of the stall, just about to knock on the door, “…” (⸝⸝⸝✪△✪⸝⸝⸝)و 💕
Levi’s arm that was about to knock on the door changed directions midway and went to clutch at his pierced heart instead. Was… was… was that a love confession?!? That was definitely a love confession!! His baby liked him back!!!
Levi had been hurrying to interrupt Case’s own love confession, worried that his baby would have a change of heart, yet his rival in love hadn’t even confessed yet when his baby beat him to it?? And his baby’s confession was so… so… ❤ ah, ah, so pure and cute and stickily sweet, just like his baby! Ah, ah, so fricking adorable his heart couldn’t take it!
Levi had been worried that his baby would suddenly think about all those years he had been friends with Case and decide to give him a chance. He had been worried that his baby would abruptly realize he also liked Case back. Even if Levi logically knew that the chance of that happening was low, he still wasn’t willing to risk it. Yet, how come this giant jar of vinegar he had been fed suddenly turned into a big bowl of sugar?? Unlike him, Case’s mouth wasn’t filled with sugar but by biting bitterness that left him unable to spit it out or swallow it down. He arduously squeezed out, “Don’t let yourself be pressured into marrying him in a rush!” Case took in a few shaky breaths, then spat, “Screw the alliance! You barely know him, and he has a reputation for being a cold-blooded asshole! If he was really gay, what had he been doing dating your sister for 6 years? I smell bullshit! Don’t get involved in this matter. Let your sister handle him. You are too kindhea
One moment Noah was facing Levi, and in the next, his feet left the ground, and then suddenly, he was cradled in a warm and comfortable embrace?? This rapid assault was too much for Noah to wrap his head around. He didn’t even remember to resist and just sat there like a boneless plushie, letting himself be stroked here and there while staring straight ahead with befuddled and watery doe-like eyes. And then he felt something soft, warm, and ticklish touch his cheek causing warm tingles to spread throughout his body, and the red color of his already flushed face turned deeper. His fluffy head lowered to stare at those familiar, strong arms that were once again securely wrapped around him, and both his heart and his thick eyelashes fluttered in incomprehension. “Oh? Baby, you are in the middle of a call? Hello~ Who is this?” Levi flashed a provocative smile at the light screen in front of them, carrying himself with the demeanor of a legal wife confronting a mi
It was this thoughtfulness and sincerity of Aris that had attracted him in the first place. And then, like layers of an onion, the more he peeled, the more he liked what he saw within. The kindness and purity, the selfless dedication, the gentle tolerance. The other had everything, yet he never lost himself to temptation, always working hard to become the best version of himself. “I see,” Case swallowed down the acid that rose up his throat and smiled a bitter smile, “You are right… You are always right…. Then, I’m hanging up…” And with that, the call was disconnected. Noah blinked and tilted his head in confusion, “That… that's a no… right?” ( •᷄⌓•᷅ ) Blackie, “Yep, I’m pretty sure that’s a no.” ╮(╯▽╰)╭ Noah fell silent, mulling over what to do next. True, he was worried about the best man matter, but actually, he was more worried about Case’s current state of mind. He didn’t look good – as pale as a sheet and looking like he might cough a mouthful o
On the way back to the hotel, while Noah listened to Blackie’s retelling of what he managed to pick up with his surveillance (nothing which was of particular interest), Levi kept heatedly staring at Noah’s hand that was dangling within arm’s reach. White flawless skin, long slender fingers. So enticing in its elegance. The urge to grab it nearly overwhelmed Levi. Several times he had reached to intertwine their fingers together; however, every time, he would stop himself at the last step. Would it be too much for his thin-skinned baby to hold hands in public? All of the times he had taken liberties with his darling up to now had been in private. The closest they came to a public setting was hugging in the dark and nearly empty cinema. And even then, his baby still felt shy to death. So how would his easily embarrassed baby be able to bear the full extent of Levi’s insatiable greed? This play-pretend could only carry him so far. He needed to take it st
Abruptly, Noah’s brain came up with an explanation, and he no longer felt ashamed to bring up the topic. He looked around at the faces around him knowingly and asked, “You guys… have you seen the wedding announcement already?” Only then did those nonchalant facial expressions all around him morph into collective confusion, “What announcement?” Noah’s knowing smile cracked spectacularly. Levi didn’t have the heart to watch his baby struggling any longer, so he offered a timely rescue, “There should be an announcement up about the two of us getting married.” With that cue, everyone stopped what they were doing to open up the light screens of their communicators. Noah’s expression, which had been just a wee bit short of completely crumbling, finally fully fell apart. What’s this?? No one saw the announcement, yet everyone acted as if Levi and him acting lovey-dovey was perfectly normal?? ‘What the fuck?!? With your attention to detail, how di
Levi wished he could just seal off his baby’s eyes and ears, so he could only see and hear happy and beautiful things. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t confine his baby inside a golden birdcage. His baby deserved to fly freely. However, with more freedom, protecting his precious from the world became harder and harder. Yet at that exact moment, this beautiful angel-bird within Levi’s bosom nudged him with its fluffy head, proudly telling him, “You think I chose to let you hold me because I wanted your protection? Hmph! You think too highly of yourself! A phoenix born in fire like me only chose to nestle here in order to protect a squishy little mortal like you!” “Mn,” Levi murmured into Noah’s neck, the rumble of his baritone rippling through Noah’s flesh and turning his bones into jelly. ‘I understand. As long as we are together, as long as we protect each other, nothing can hurt us.’ Noah’s entire body shivered, and he tried to shrink his now p
Levi nearly crushed the armrest of his chair, “Teagan Peyton!!” He had already warned this vulgar mutt clearly, yet he still didn’t know what was good for him! Daring to smear his baby’s name! He had thought that Peyton’s father would properly discipline him after the trade agreement between their cities fell through, but, apparently, he overestimated city lord Teagan! Levi’s blue eyes turned stormy and dark. ‘You want to go against me till the end? Very good!’ To the right, one Astar Levi was fuming, while to the left, one Noah revealed a rather peculiar expression. ‘…So the guy came to cause trouble and made one of his bodyguards check in for him?’ Feeling Levi’s growing agitation, Noah gently nudged the other’s head on his shoulder with his own soft cheek, “This guy… isn’t he a bit… too incompetent?” Levi tilted his head to both express his inner confusion and to grant his precious darling easier access to his own cheek.
Asan’s mother ground her teeth for a while as she inspected every word of the warrant. When she could not stall any longer, for she would be wasting her own time, she finally opened the door to the locked lab with her highest clearance. And thus, Fynn confiscated all the lab equipment, including computers with records of the experiments and a small freezer filled with mental power bullets. He then happily sealed off the area for further investigation. How would he not be happy, yo? One look at those black bullets, and he could already tell that they had hit the jackpot! Not just that, if their conjecture was right and those bullets could only be made by S-ranked Fluxers, that meant that if they kept an eye on those few S-ranked Fluxers, with their production of bullets cut off, the terrorists would no longer be able to cause power rampages! One very gleeful Fynn also attempted to question one very furious CEO lady, but all he got was, “Terrorists? What nonsen