LOGINNathan sat in the passenger seat, his brow furrowed with confusion that quickly shifted into genuine worry. The silence in the car felt heavier than before, broken only by the low hum of the engine. “What’s wrong?” he asked softly, turning to look at Noah.Noah didn’t reply. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white as he made a sharp turn, the tires protesting against the road. The car swerved slightly, and Nathan’s heart jumped into his throat.“Noah?” Nathan called again, louder this time. Still nothing. Noah only sniffed, his breathing ragged, and pressed harder on the accelerator. The speed climbed dangerously. “Noah, you’re going to get us killed!”Nathan reached out instinctively, grabbing the side of Noah’s shirt in a tight fist. He wasn’t even wearing his seatbelt properly, and the sudden fear made his pulse race. That seemed to snap something in Noah. He eased off the gas, the car slowing gradually until his breathing evened out, though his ch
Noah kept glancing at his wristwatch, as he stood just outside the front entrance of the building, leaning against his car with his arms crossed tightly over his chest. It was already a few minutes to nine, and Nathan still hadn’t appeared. He had thought about going up to his office to check, but the last thing he wanted was to push too hard and risk setting Nathan off again after the fragile progress of the day. So he stayed put, stamping his feet lightly against the pavement to release some of the nervous energy building inside him.His mind replayed the earlier meeting, the way Nathan had thrown those sharp, calculated reminders of the past like well-aimed darts. Every word had landed, leaving Noah raw and uncertain. Yet here he was, still hoping.Finally, he spotted movement near the doors. Nathan was walking out alongside Elle. Noah immediately straightened his sleeves quickly, smoothing down his shirt as they approached. Before he could say anything, Nathan leaned in and whis
Noah shifted forward on the couch, the weight of his own body suddenly feeling heavier as the leather creaked beneath him. His heart hammered in his chest, nerves twisting tightly in his stomach. “Do… do you want me to start from before?” he asked, his voice unsteady. “Do you want me to begin from back then?” His eyes pleaded openly, searching Nathan’s face for any sign of softening.Nathan shrugged, his posture still guarded and professional. “I don’t know. What do you think?” He paused, then added coolly, “Apologize for the wrongs you think you’ve done to me.”Noah let out a long, weary sigh and rubbed his palms along the back of his neck, trying to ease the tension building there. “Nathan, I… words can’t explain how sorry I actually feel about this. I’m genuinely sorry. For everything.” He paused, studying Nathan’s face carefully, but it remained blank, almost unnervingly emotionless. The lack of reaction made Noah’s chest ache even more.“From high school… I was just dumb back the
Noah opened the door to his apartment, the hinges creaking softly as he stepped into the darkness. The moonlight cast pale, silver rectangles across the living room floor, illuminating nothing but the silence that waited for him. He walked just a little further, his legs heavy, and collapsed onto the couch. His weight pressed into the cushions as he heaved a deep, exhausted breath.The quiet pressed against his ears.He sat there, replaying everything that had transpired this evening. The accidental clash of lips. The shock in Nathan's eyes. The tears, anger and then, the strange, unnerving calm that had settled over him in the car ride home.For the past years, his life had been filled with so many ups and downs. He had been living the life of a lonely routine, doing the same thing over and over again. Wake up in the morning. Get to work. Talk with people he didn't even want to talk to. Smile like the jokes they made were funny. Deal with his father, and his family's cold expectatio
Noah dropped the package in the car. The plastic crinkled against the seat, as he turned, eyes scanning the empty walkway and the dark road. He bolted to the walkway, his heart a beating heavily. Nathan had played him. Why had he believed him? Why had he thought, for even a moment, that Nathan was ready for conversation, for peace? He sighed, a deep, weary sound that carried the weight of the entire day. He pulled his phone from his pocket, his fingers moving before his mind could caution him. He called Nathan’s number.It rang, and for some moment he expected it to go to voicemail, to be ignored. But the connection clicked.And Noah’s voice died in his throat. His lips parted, but no words came. What could he possibly say?“What?” Nathan’s voice sounded from the phone. It was flat, detached.“Did you… leave?” Noah asked. His heart skipped, a painful lurch.“I’m right behind you.”Noah spun around, and behold Nathan was standing beside the car, leaning against the passenger door. H
Their lips met.It was not a kiss. It was an accident, a brutal, awkward clash of lips. It lasted less than a second—a hot, confusing press of mouths, off-center and hard. Nathan recoiled as if scalded. He staggered back, catching himself on the edge of the desk. His heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird. Noah on the other hand, stood frozen, his hand still half-raised, his eyes wide with a stunned, uncomprehending horror.The room was utterly silent. The only sound was the ragged, rhythm of their breathing.“It was a mistake. I didn’t mean it.” Noah was the first to speak, still breathing heavily.Nathan chuckled. Bitterly. “Oh, it was?” He stepped back, his leg crashing against the side of the table. He stumbled, but regained his footing.“Be careful.” Noah’s hands came out, a reflexive gesture to stop him.“Stop!” Nathan cried out—not loudly, but the pain behind his voice was everything. He continued to step back, but Noah kept taking short, tentative steps closer. “







