CHAPTER 2

Andrew felt like his world had stopped spinning. It's like time has been paused. He was lost for words, and his gaze zeroed in on the man in front of him—the one he had so many memories about and had tried to bury.

“Andrew…” he heard Raffy, looking equally shocked, utter.

It had been so long since that voice called his name, and Andrew thought he would never get the chance to hear his name being said like that again.

He didn't know how long he had been staring. He wanted to take his eyes off and pull himself together, wanted to act like he didn't give a fuck about seeing Raffy again, but his body had already betrayed him. He couldn't stop staring, looking at the few changes in Raffy's look and body.

Ten years had passed. Raffy now looked older. He was still that attractive-looking beta, but in a mature way. And his body… Raffy used to be lean, but now, although he's wearing a long-sleeved shirt, it is quite obvious that he has put on some muscle here and there.

“Sir?”

Andrew’s attention went to the kid who called him, pulling him out of the shock he was in. The child looked at him in confusion, probably wondering what was going on with him, why he just stood there and stared at Raffy.

He stood straight and put on his usual business smile. “Hi,” he responded to Lance.

“What can we help you with, mister? What kind of books are you looking for?”

Andrew’s smile turned into amusement after listening to how the boy asked so politely, but also in a business-talk way.

“I am actually not here for books, young man,” he answered.

The boy’s forehead knotted, making Andrew smile even more. The kid was adorable.

“So what are you doing in a bookshop if you are not looking for books?” the kid asked once again.

Andrew finally chuckled. He couldn't help it! The boy was entertaining, which also helped him not to pay attention to how Raffy was staring at him so intensely.

If he had more time and if Raffy wasn't there, Andrew would want to have a longer conversation with the boy. He didn't even like kids, and yet he found the boy to be so fascinating.

“I am actually here for another matter. May I ask where the owner of this shop is? There’s something I'd like to discuss with them.”

“Well, you are already talking to him right now, sir,” the boy replied so earnestly and proudly.

He raised one of his eyebrows, his hands inside the pockets of his pants. “Are you saying you are the owner of this bookshop?”

“Technically, it’s my dad’s. But I am his son, so this is mine too. As he always tells me, this business is both ours.” Then the kid turned to Raffy and asked, “Right, Dad?”

Andrew was shocked once again. But he held it back that time quite easily. Sure, his eyes widened a bit, and his mouth hung a little, but he regained his composure right away, acting as if he wasn't surprised at all.

‘Well, it shouldn't really be surprising. Again, it's been ten years already, and he is an attractive man. Of course, he would be with someone, get married, and have kids. As far as I remember, he had always wanted that. Having a family of his own had been one of his dreams,’ Andrew thought.

He felt something, but had not even dared to acknowledge it. He dragged it back to the deepest part of him—to somewhere he had hidden it for years—not wanting it to resurface again and turn him back to be that person he was before.

Raffy did not answer right away and just stared at his son, urging the boy to repeat his question.

“Right, Dad?”

He was staring so hard at Raffy that he even noticed that Raffy started fidgeting, looking so uncomfortable.

Still, Raffy managed to smile falsely and answer his son.

“That's right.”

The boy turned back to him and grinned mischievously. “Heard that, mister? Now, what is it that you want to talk about?”

He smiled at the child patiently. “I heard it loud and clear, young man. But I believe it'd be better if I just talked to your dad alone. Would that be alright?”

“Why only my dad? I want to—”

“That's enough, Lance,” Raffy interjected. “Go upstairs.”

“But Dad—”

“No buts, young man. Go upstairs,” he said sternly.

Lance huffed and then said, “Fine.”

The two men’s gazes followed the boy’s every move until he was already out of sight.

“You guys live upstairs?” Andrew couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.

But Raffy ignored his question and rather asked in return, “What do you want?”

He raised his brow. “Not even a ‘hello’? As far as I remember, you don't treat your guests like that.”

As soon as those words came out of his mouth, he immediately regretted them. He shouldn't be speaking about anything that would bring them back to the past. But it was too late to take it back, so he continued to act cool about it.

Thankfully, Raffy ignored his question again, letting him know that he wouldn't be giving answers unless he got answers to his questions too.

He nodded, giving Raffy the indication that he understood what he was doing. “Alright. I'll go straight to the point.”

“...”

“I need this place.”

Raffy frowned.

“I need this land, Raffy.”

The frown on Raffy’s face had slowly vanished, and it was replaced with understanding.

A bitter laugh came out of Raffy's mouth. “I understand now. So it's your family’s company behind that fucking land buyout.”

Andrew’s face turned dark and stoic. “My family's company had nothing to do with this. It is my company. Not theirs.”

Raffy scoffed. “As if that would make it sound better?” Then he scowled. “I have already told your people that I am not selling this land. And the others here don't want to sell theirs too, so you'd better go back to wherever you're from now and leave us in peace. Don't ever come back.”

“How much do you want? Name the price, and you'll get it.”

“Fuck off, Andrew,” Raffy said through gritted teeth, his eyes as sharp as a razor-sharp knife.

“Come on, Raffy. This business of yours doesn't look like it's going well anyway. And this place is—”

“What?” Raffy said while his nose flared and the sharpness of his eyes intensified. “Try saying something shitty about our place, and I'll—”

It was Andrew's turn to cut Raffy's words off. “You'll what? Punch me?”

Raffy clenched his teeth even more. He also balled his fists.

Seeing the beta’s reaction satisfied Andrew. He liked that he could rile him up and make him lose his composure.

He added, “Come on, Raffy. We both know you can never win against me in any way. Just give up and—”

“Shut the fuck up!” Raffy bellowed, drawing his customers' attention. But he didn't seem to care. His eyes filled with rage remained on Andrew.

Raffy took several deep breaths before speaking again. “Leave.”

“I—”

“Leave!”

Andrew's voice was louder this time, echoing across the four walls of the bookshop, surprising the customers even more. The rage seen on his face had doubled as well. It was very obvious he was barely holding back.

Andrew hadn't said a word. He just stared at Raffy, reading every emotion that passed across his face, watching every movement he was making.

He could tell that if he pushed Raffy even more, their conversation would definitely turn into something physical, which would only complicate things. And he didn't need that to happen. As far as he could, he wanted to do and end things in a civilized way, just like Sally, his assistant, had advised him.

Besides, by the hostile gazes being given to him by some of Raffy's customers, he could already tell that he would be at a disadvantage if he caused trouble.

As he was told, the sense of community in Raffy's neighborhood was very strong. Most of them were protective and trusting of Raffy as well, which was why they made him the voice of their reasons and concerns, even though he was a beta.

“I will leave for now,” he said while looking straight into Raffy's eyes. “I will be back, Raffy. And I hope that by the time we see each other again, you will have already made the smartest and best decision. And you already know what that is.”

But Raffy only roared at him again, “Leave!”

He stared at the beta intently for a few minutes before he finally turned and made his way out of the bookshop, ignoring all the nasty stares he was receiving.

He only walked for a few minutes to reach his car. The driver opened the door to the backseat for him to get in.

He had just sat, and he wasn't even able to find a comfortable position when Sally asked him.

“So, I take it that you were not able to convince him?”

“I'll come back,” was his response, sounding and looking so determined. He also looked serious.

He had the usual expression that he has whenever he didn't want to talk anymore. Sally instantly understood it, so she never bothered to ask for more.

Andrew leaned his back and his head on the backrest of the seat. His mind went back to Raffy even if he didn't want to.

He did not want to think about him. He wanted to be cool about seeing him again after all these years. He wanted to think that he wasn't affected, but he couldn't. In fact, the only thing that he could think about was Raffy—the man who had left him despite promising him that he would always be there for him no matter what.

Andrew gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.

No, he shouldn't be thinking about the past. He had already buried that, along with feelings he thought he never would be able to feel.

He could think about Raffy, but only if it had something to do with the land and his project. Nothing beyond that should he be thinking of.

“He's nothing. He's no one important to me. He's just someone from my past that should be forgotten and buried,” he whispered to himself, sounding like he was only convincing himself.