Back to the present..."You're finally back!" Lala exclaimed as soon as she saw Ciel entering the house. But unlike the usual, where Ciel would greet her once he saw her, Ciel did not say anything to the old landlady; he did not even take a glance at her and just hurried to his room as if he were on the run. And the moment Ciel passed by her, even if it was only for a moment, the landlady had already realized it.Ciel, the kindest tenant she ever had, was reeking of alpha pheromones. And by the intensity of the smell, it seems that the owner of the pheromones wasn't just a normal alpha. It was a dominant one.Lala's gaze followed the retreating figure of the little omega with her eyes wide open and her mouth hanging.Just what happened to the kind, innocent, and righteous Ciel on the night he didn't go home?But the questions lingering inside Lala's head remained unanswered as the person she wanted to ask so badly out of worry did not go out of his room and just stayed inside his room
Ciel was dumbfounded upon seeing Maverick right in front of him.'What is he doing here? He's supposed to still be asleep! And how did he find my place?’Those were the questions that filled Ciel's mind as he continued to stare at the alpha, who were giving him and his luggage a very cold stare.Maverick was still sound asleep when Ciel left hastily. He had tried to make his movements as gentle and as quiet as possible to not wake the alpha up, from getting out of bed, getting dressed, grabbing his phone and wallet, to opening and closing the door. Even making his way out of the mansion was done hastily yet so quietly by him to avoid being seen. And yet Maverick was still quick to follow him, and he even knew where to look for him."Where are you going, Ciel?" Maverick asked again, his voice still icy, which finally awakened Ciel's senses.It was then the little omega realized that Maverick had called him by his name, and twice at that. That was the first time he had heard the alpha a
Ciel let out a heavy sigh as he geared up himself. He'd never had a decent talk with Maverick. Whenever they met, he would either scowl and roll his eyes at the alpha or engage in a verbal brawl with him. He was never able to cool down and refrain from mocking or insulting Maverick throughout their conversations. Being calm and humble around the alpha was unfamiliar to the little omega, causing him to feel both awkward and irritated. But despite what he truly felt, he did not let it show on his face.His life was on the line, so he needed to be careful about what he would say and what he would look like."Look, I know you're mad, and I totally understand why. But just because you're mad doesn't mean you can resort to violence. Let us settle this calmly and peacefully, okay?" Ciel said in his calmest voice, but the seriousness and the coldness in Maverick's face remained, making Ciel bite the inside of his lower lip. Truth be told, he had already started sweating bullets on his back.
Different waves of emotions had been surging inside Ciel at that moment. He also had questioned himself several times to make sure his hearing was not playing with him and that he really heard what he had heard. He even stared at Maverick for a few moments, waiting for the alpha to say that it was just a prank and he wasn't serious.The omega had been so sure of not wanting to die just a while ago, but at that moment, he had wished that he'd rather die than to hear such a scary proposal from Maverick."Let's get married, Ciel."Maverick repeated the scariest words Ciel has ever heard, as if he were making sure Ciel had heard them. And he did. The little omega heard every single word Maverick had said, making him more speechless as if his current speechlessness wasn't enough."Are you high?" was the question that came out of Ciel after a few moments of silence. He was also staring at Maverick as if the alpha in front of him had gone mad. He then asked once more, "Or are you drunk? Or c
With his eyes staring into the floor, Ciel responded to Maverick. "And you think that being by your side won't make me suffer?" He scoffed before continuing to say, "Hell, even just the thought of being with you, being your mate was enough to make me feel like shit."Maverick's expression turned somber at what Ciel had said. "I'd rather make you feel like shit than let you die."The little omega didn't respond to that. His head was down low, eyes looking on the floor. And because Maverick couldn't see Ciel's face, he couldn't predict what was going on inside the little omega's face. Anger was already obvious, but Maverick knew there were still more emotions Ciel was feeling at that moment, and he badly wanted to know what those emotions were. But Ciel did not move his head, and with that posture, he spoke again."Why?"It was only one word, but Ciel's voice conveyed too many emotions in it. Emotions that Maverick had never seen or heard from him before.Ciel finally lifted his face to
"What are you doing?" Ciel asked nervously as he continued to take steps back, while Maverick also continued taking steps forward. "Ge...get away from me," Ciel said, stammering as his chest started pounding.Maverick did not answer, but his steps that would not let Ciel escape continued, and his gaze never left him until Ciel reached the wall. He tried to step aside and get away from Maverick right away, but as if the alpha had read his mind, Maverick quickly placed his hands on either side of Ciel, trapping the little omega and leaving him with nowhere to flee."I love you, Ciel. I have been in love with you for so long."Maverick said each and every word with emotions that Ciel didn't even want to say, as those emotions were too strong for him to take."There are many reasons why I fell in love with you, Ciel, but if I tell you all of it, a day won't probably be enough. So I'll just tell you the things I love most about you." Maverick paused for a moment to look at every part of Ci
"I can't believe you're really leaving," Lala commented as she watched Ciel take out his luggage from his room.Ciel closed and locked the door to his room, then he faced the old landlady, giving her his usual kind and grateful smile. "I couldn't believe it either. I thought I would be staying here until I graduate from college at least.""I thought the same thing," Lala responded with a sweet smile on her face, which reduced into a sad smile in an instant as she continued to speak. "But then, change has always been inevitable."Ciel knew that there was a meaning in the old landlady's words, but he chose to just ignore it, and instead, he said while still smiling, "You're going to miss me, don't you, Lala?"Lala did not pry even further as well, which Ciel was grateful of. The little omega knew that his landlady had a lot of questions for him after what happened the other day. But, as always, Lala was considerate and did not ask any questions; instead, she waited for him to be the fi
Even after Ciel got into Maverick's car and they were driving to Maverick's house, the grimace on his face persisted. Rather, it grew worse. And Maverick, the alpha in the driver's seat, was the one responsible for that growing grimace.Since Maverick saw Ciel's reaction after his interaction with Lala, the alpha started acting crazy. He was grinning so wide that anyone who saw him might think that he won the lottery. And while driving, he would occasionally let out a chuckle. Overall, Maverick looked so goofy and happy, and the little omega doesn't like that at all because he felt that Maverick's sudden change of action had something to do with the reaction he saw on Ciel's face a while ago. His gut feeling was telling him that Maverick was thinking about something very different than what he had in mind.The little omega was trying to ignore Maverick, but as the alpha giggled again out of nowhere, Ciel couldn't help himself anymore, and he finally turned to face Maverick, as he was o
Aside from Cian’s apology, Cian had also informed Ciel about their family’s current situation and well-being, even though he did not ask for it. Hell, he was not interested in hearing anything about his family and the aftermath of his press conference—at least not yet. That was the reason why he tried so hard to not turn on the TV or open his phone for a week whenever he was not having sex with Maverick. He was not yet prepared to know how his press conference turned out. He wasn’t ready yet for the aftermath of it because, honestly, he was scared. He feared that despite opening his heart to the public and allowing them to see his fragile past, it still won’t be enough for them to take his side. Of course there was also the possibility of that press conference being successful, but the fear and negativity he was feeling were still bigger than the positivity.Ciel actually thought that hearing about his family’s status and well-being wouldn’t affect him that much and that the opinions
Ciel was scowling as he stared at his phone. He had been staring at it for more than fifteen minutes now, reading the same messages from his twin brother over and over again. Actually, fifteen minutes was a lie. He actually had been staring at his phone since he got from Cian an hour ago."What the—"He gave Maverick his deathly and sharp stare when his boyfriend took his phone away.Boyfriend.Damn, that still sounded and felt surreal for him. Never in his dreams did he even imagine himself liking Maverick and dating him. He thought he would end up hating the guy until his last breath, and yet here he was, not wanting to be far from his alpha and wanting to be as close to him as possible. It's honestly how far his feelings and his attitude had changed.And now back to the phone that was taken away from him, he tried to take it back, but before his hand could even touch Maverick, the alpha had already retreated to his room, and when he came back, the phone was no longer in his hand."
"I want to talk about us."Maverick was surprised. Those were the last words he was expecting to come out of Ciel at that moment. Which was why he got speechless and was only staring at Ciel, who was becoming anxious the longer he kept quiet."Are you not...going to say anything?" Ciel asked after a while, sounding nervous.It took a couple of minutes before Maverick finally stopped being surprised and found his voice. With the gentlest voice he could use, he told Ciel while lovingly caressing his cheek, "We don't have to talk about it right now, baby.”But Ciel immediately shook his head. The little omega then grasped both of his hands and held on to them tightly while looking into his eyes with full determination. "No. I have to say it now before I lose confidence again and start chickening out."Maverick looked into Ciel's eyes intently, and upon seeing the determination and the certainty in the little omega's face, he had no choice anymore but to listen to what Ciel wanted to tell
"I missed this."Those words coming from Ciel were like music to Maverick's ears, and his heart was bursting with so much happiness and love. And those emotions could be clearly seen on his face as he was smiling widely and radiantly."Me too," he softly said before kissing the top of Ciel's head.Ciel tilted his head a little to look at him. And in the softest voice he had ever heard from the little omega, he asked, "You do?"Maverick was still smiling as he nodded. "Yes."Ciel just hummed before looking down again."Why do I have this feeling that you don't believe me?" Maverick asked.Ciel said nothing, and that made Maverick frown. He gently pushed Ciel a bit, which Ciel did not appreciate. But Maverick doesn't care and just makes Ciel face him instead. With his hands on Ciel's cheeks, he asked again, "Do you really not believe me?"But instead of his question being answered, he was asked instead. “Can you blame me? You weren't talking to me this morning.” Ciel was pouting, and hi
Ciel couldn't take his eyes off of Rosie and Maverick, but more specifically on Maverick as the two conversed with each other.Maverick seemed to be having a good time while talking with Rosie, and that didn't sit right with Ciel.Of course he was well aware that he shouldn't be feeling like that. Maverick was only talking with Rosie, his cousin, and no one else, so he shouldn't be pissed or anything, but he was. He was pissed.He was pissed that Maverick was able to talk to Rosie happily while he was feeling like shit. He was pissed that instead of coming to him to apologize, which Maverick had been doing for days now, he was putting a distance between them instead—alright, that might be unfair for him to say that because he was the one putting a distance between them and Maverick seemed to be just respecting it, but still... He just wanted Maverick to come to him and tell him that everything's going to be okay and that he will always be there for him no matter what. He just needs Ma
It has been three days since Maverick and Ciel argued about asking help from a mental health professional, and since then, the two have never had a decent conversation. Even now that the day of the press conference has arrived, the two were still not on good terms, and every single member of the Garcia family can see it. They could also feel the uncomfortable tension between the two, and it's quite suffocating them as they were all inside a room, waiting until the press conference starts.Maverick and Ciel were so far away from each other. Maverick was sitting on the couch that was situated near the window that was on the very opposite side of the couch that was near the door, where Ciel was sitting on.Maverick's eyes never went away from Ciel the moment they got inside the room. He never looked away even if Ciel was giving him deadly glares every time their eyes met."He's going to melt, Maverick," says Rosie before sitting down beside him. "Just what did you do for him to be sendin
As always, Maverick's face and voice were filled with so much sincerity, making it hard for him to not believe him—not that he's doubting him; he couldn't even remember when was the last time he doubted him. It's just that it always amazes him whenever Maverick says something with all sincerity. Well, it wasn't just amazement or happiness anymore. Ciel was already feeling something more, such as lust...?Ciel laughed inwardly. He never thought he would be feeling lust or get turned on simply because Maverick was being sincere. But damn, he really wanted to do it with Maverick. And well, he was also thinking that having sex with Maverick would help him forget everything he was feeling. The anger, the frustration, and the sadness—he didn't want to feel all of that. And what's the best way to not feel anything besides those said emotions? Of course it's sex."Wanna have sex?" Ciel asked even before he could think of what he just said. Still, he didn't want to take it back.Maverick looke
Ciel did not say anything for a while and just stared at Maverick. It was obvious that he was contemplating whether he should do what Maverick advised him to do or not. But after a few more moments, he finally decided on what to do.Ciel rose from his lying position and sat down, grabbing his phone off the table in front of the couch. While he was tapping on his phone for Raffy's number, Maverick sat down and snuggled closer to Ciel, wrapping his arms around Ciel's waist once more.Ciel dialed Raffy's number, turned on the loudspeaker of his phone, then leaned his body against Maverick while waiting for his best friend to answer the call.It took more than three rings before Raffy answered his call."Hey!" Raffy said."Hey," Ciel said right back, sounding a little unsure."Did you forget something in my car? I am still quite near Maverick's house, so I can turn back if you want.""No. That's not it," Ciel responded before sighing. "Can you stop driving for a while and park somewhere s
Raffy stopped his car right in front of Maverick's house. Ciel unfastened his seatbelt and grabbed his wallet and his phone from the dashboard.Ciel should be getting out of the car already, but he couldn't as he still wanted to ask Raffy something. The problem was, he wasn't sure if it would be a good question. He doesn't want Raffy to be mad anymore, especially since their relationship was already back to how it was before and also because he will be leaving. He didn't want Raffy to leave the country with their friendship in shambles again.As if the beta had sensed that something was troubling him, Raffy chuckled and said, "Just say what you want to say, Ciel."As if that was all Ciel was waiting for, he fully faced Raffy and said, "I know I already asked you about this, and you might get annoyed already, but I need to be really sure. Is your decision really final? Is there nothing that could really change your mind about going to the US and being with that asshole?"Raffy smiled.