The sharp bzzzt of the front door buzzer echoed through the apartment, causing Leansei to freeze in his tracks, a sudden spike of raw anxiety sharp in his eyes. Across the room, the other six were completely oblivious, their raucous voices filling the small condo with a chaotic layer of overlapping campus gossip and laughter.
Leansei dithered at the edge of the hallway, his boots rooted to the floorboards as he stared keenly at the metallic doorknob, and then at the leather bag on the console table where the stolen semi-automatic pistol was zipped away. A suffocating hesitation locked his joints. With all of Kean's closest mutuals packed inside his living room, the absolute last thing he wanted to do was expose them to a dangerous underground conflict or get them targeted by Master M's thugs.
Bzzzt.
The second buzzer went off, making him flinch violently as he shilly-shallied in pure panic.
' Get the damn door, Sei! ' he cursed himself fiercely behind his teeth.
Before his paranoia could trigger a scene, Xerchin caught the repetitive rings from across the dining area. Looking thoroughly confused by the way Leansei was standing paralyzed in front of the door, the athlete stepped forward, remained his body behind lean's back, and turned the handle to open the door himself.
Leansei snapped violently back to reality the exact microsecond the door swung wide. A loud, heavy pump exploded against his ribs, followed instantly by a massive wave of pure relief. Standing in the dimly lit corridor was merely the official family driver of the Vcheroi estate.
"Here you are, Sir. I've brought the spare casual clothes, your school uniforms, overnight bags, and the other required necessities—" The driver started to detail the load, but he cut his own sentence short the moment his eyes landed on Leansei. Recognizing the boy from high-society functions, he reacted on pure instinct, ducking into a deep, respectful bow to pay his formal respects.
The exaggerated display made Leansei's face flush, and he immediately waved his hands back and forth in absolute embarrassment. "No, please... you really don't have to do that around me," Leansei murmured with a raw, self-conscious smile.
"You are dismissed. You can go now," Xerchin commanded flatly, his unbothered poker face entirely rigid as his cold baritone voice echoed down the hall.
The exact second the heavy door shut and clicked into place, Leansei let out a long breath, his shoulders finally easing. A soothing realization washed over him: Master M's idiot men hadn't followed his taxi transit route, or much rather, they had zero clue where his private condominium was actually located (he thinks?). At the very least, he was relieved that his presence wasn't actively endangering the lives of his friends.
' Act perfectly normal! ' Leansei commanded himself, his thoughts spinning in an idiot loop as he straightened his posture. ' I absolutely cannot afford to act like a total coward tonight. My panic isn't that glaringly obvious to them... is it? '
Xerchin paused right beside him, vacillating heavily over whether he should break his strict boundaries and speak to the boy. His sharp eyes descried the frantic, defensive movements Leansei had executed ever since he stepped across the threshold tonight. A deep intuition told him that the boy was actively hiding a major, dangerous secret—and the mystery was driving him completely crazy.
Leansei was too busy wrestling with his own thoughts to notice that Xerchin was standing directly in front of him, entirely unmoving. But when he finally lifted his chin, his gray eyes blinked in surprise. Xerchin hadn't taken a single step away, but the tips of his ears had turned a dark, burning shade of red, as if they had been violently pinched by several wooden clothes pegs.
Leansei startled slightly when Xerchin sharply whirled his body around, completely diverting his light blue eyes to stare intensely at the ceiling. With his ears looking as vibrantly red as a smashed tomato, the towering athlete looked thoroughly flustered. Leansei couldn't help but let out a quiet, genuine chuckle; it was the absolute first time he had ever seen the mysterious, intensely serious boy trapped in such a ridiculous state.
"W-why exactly did you just chuckle?" Xerchin demanded, his voice dropping an octave as his eyes snapped back in pure surprise, having never witnessed Leansei look at him with such amusement.
"Because right now, you look exactly like a completely guilty chipmunk," Leansei teased softly.
"A c-chipmunk??" Xerchin stammered, his jaw tightening.
The sudden conversation near the entryway caught the attention of the living room. The six friends stopped their rowdy debates, their heads snapping toward the foyer as they watched Xerchin and Leansei bicker—a shocking sight, considering the two had been acting as if they hadn't spoken for ages. Smitten, knowing smiles spread across their faces, before they quickly turned back to aggressively argue over the floor plans and who would be permitted to sleep on the plush sofa or claim the spot directly beside Leansei.
Leansei quickly reassembled his usual, unbothered mask, stepping past the athlete's shoulder to join the group.
"Hey..." Xerchin called out, his tone incredibly low. The baritone register was barely a whisper, yet it vibrated with a sharp intensity that made Leansei halt his stride and glance back over his shoulder.
"Did... did something terrible actually happen to you out there tonight? You look very weary and anxious the moment you stepped in."
Leansei's chest tightened. He had genuinely believed his manufactured composure was foolproof, yet this man could still look at his profile and instantly decipher which emotion was real and which was a lie.
"No," Leansei stated, forcing his voice to remain perfectly flat. "I guess everything is perfectly fine."
"Alright, let's go buy a massive mountain of snacks!" Corshe cheered loudly, his voice echoing across the condo. Leansei walked toward the couch, but he checked his steps when he noticed the smirking, highly suspicious faces of his friends.
' Why on earth are every single one of them staring at me with those wicked looks? '
"I can easily just cook something for us—" Leansei started to offer, but Corshe lunged forward, pitch-perfectly resting his index finger straight over Leansei's lips to physically silence him.
"Absolutely not!" Corshe declared excitedly, his eyes twinkling. "Either we are going to go drive out to buy a feast, or someone else in this kitchen is going to cook!"
"Well, since you're the one aggressively suggesting a feast, why don't you step up and prepare the food on your own?" Beidhen countered mockingly. He was lounging lazily across the floor mats, his arm propped up to support his head as he idly squeezed a small throw pillow.
Corshe shot him a protective, annoyed glare. "Well, thank you, Mr. Genius. If you're not going to help, why don't you at least contribute a massive stack of cash so you can actually have a financial contribution to this overnight?"
"Would you two please stop squabbling for five minutes? I'll be the one to go run out to buy the food," Xeilin volunteered, reaching for his wallet.
Rell sharply shot him a warning glance. "No. You cannot go outside tonight," Rell stated, his protective tone making Perial look at him with a deeply confused, raised eyebrow.
"Then I'll be the one to run down to the local convenience store—" Perial offered, stepping forward. But both Rell and Leansei disagreed in perfect, frantic unison.
"No, you're not."
"You are a rising celebrity star, Perial. Going out into the open streets alone at midnight is a massive safety vulnerability, especially since you are a girl," Leansei reasoned smoothly, masking his underlying fear of Master M's gang. "Just stay right here inside the condo with Rell. I will personally go out to purchase whatever it is you guys want to eat."
"But you looked entirely messy and exhausted when you walked through that door earlier," Corshe noted, his brow furrowing with deep concern. Beidhen let out a low chuckle, a wicked smirk cutting across his face.
"Don't stress your head, kid. I'm completely sure my dear older brother will happily go along to act as his personal security guard," Beidhen teased, pointing his glass toward Xerchin, who was already holding a set of luxury car keys in his palm, offering a firm nod of agreement.
"Well, then I am coming along with you guys too," Revin announced, shifting his weight to stand up from the counter. But before Revin could take a single step toward the entryway, Beidhen's wicked smile vanished into a dark, delinquent stillness. He reached out a broad hand, firmly locking his fingers around the edge of Revin's uniform shirt to forcefully anchor him to the kitchen island.
"He is staying right here," Beidhen commanded, his deep voice leaving zero room for argument.
Perial looked around the room, her eyes darting between the stiff postures of the boys with a thoroughly confused expression. She possessed absolutely zero clue regarding the hidden romantic rivalries and complex history weaving through the apartment. She cast a glance toward Rell, who was mindlessly tapping away onto his phone screen to look detached, before looking back at Leansei, who was currently locked in a quiet discussion with Corshe.
"Alright, that completely settles the master schedule!" Corshe cheered, clapping his hands together as he fixed the frames of his round eyeglasses. "Me, Gawin, and Xerchin will be the executive committee to go buy the snacks."
.
The interior of the luxury car was wrapped in a heavy, suffocating silence. Leansei sat rigidly in the passenger seat—an explicit arrangement requested by a thoroughly flustered Corshe, who was currently sitting in the back row, blushing furiously as his eyes remained glued to his glowing smartphone screen.
' Is he genuinely getting along with the restaurant owner from back home? ' Leansei thought, a quiet ache settling behind his ribs as he tracked his friend's reflection in the glass mirror. ' I desperately want to talk to him about it... but I simply don't possess a single shred of courage right now. Especially not while my mind and soul are trapped in this battered, chaotic state. '
Leansei leaned his head back against the plush leather headrest, inhaling slowly. It felt like an absolute eternity since he had last been permitted to smell the clean, familiar scent of Xerchin's car. He found himself realizing just how efficiently the athlete's driver had operated earlier—delivering their designer clothes, their car keys, their spare uniforms, and their bags in a matter of minutes to ensure their absolute comfort.
He subtly shifted his weight, his gray eyes cutting across the dark console to glare at the boy beside him. Xerchin was entirely focused on navigating the vehicle, his left arm resting casually over the steering wheel as he tracked the road. Under the sharp neon lights of the city traffic, the athlete looked breathtakingly handsome—oozing a dashing, polished aura that made him look like he had stepped straight out from the pages of a fictional character's script. His dark hair was perfectly messy, his sharp nose stood out elegantly against the shadows, his jawline was sculpted enough to bring any person to their knees, and those mercurial blue eyes possessed a striking intensity that could easily pierce clean through anyone's heart.
' His fiancée... Seleigh... must be incredibly lucky to have a man like him by her side, ' Leansei thought, a sudden bitterness coating the realization. ' Maybe... maybe I was just being entirely overdramatic during our argument outside the restroom. It feels incredibly embarrassing to remember how furiously I lashed out at him... but the truth is, I still don't have a single clue what it is I actually feel toward him. Perhaps I simply misunderstood his protective style as something more than an ordinary high-society friendship. '
"Are you still mad at me?"
Leansei immediately snapped his gaze away, training his eyes intensely on the dark asphalt visible through the windshield as he realized he had been staring too much. He swallowed hard, trying to process the question. Since the night of the elite gala, the two of them had completely lacked a serious or solemn conversation. He had desperately tried to block the memory out, forcing himself not to care about the athlete's presence.
But recalling the incident out loud felt like a sequence of sharp needles stabbing directly into his chest multiple times. "I don't have any right to get mad in the first place," Leansei said, keeping his tone of voice exceptionally low and detached.
"But... even if this is not the most formal or right way to say it," Xerchin whispered softly, a heavy, unyielding layer of gloom clouding his light blue eyes as he kept his grip on the steering wheel, "I am truly, deeply sorry."
The sheer vulnerability in the athlete's voice made Leansei's chest tighten. He could physically feel that Xerchin's apology was entirely sincere—an apology that Leansei felt he shouldn't have received in the first place. Bitter clarity washed over him; he was the one who had aggressively misinterpreted the older boy's protective style, allowing his chaotic emotions to cause a scene outside the restroom. He should be the one apologizing.
"I also am," Leansei confessed quietly.
Xerchin flinched, turning his head sharply to face him with a deeply surprised and perplexed expression. "What—"
"There's the shop," Leansei interrupted cleanly, pointing toward the glowing neon sign of the mega-mart ahead. The exact second the luxury sports car glided into a parking slot, Leansei unbuttoned his seatbelt and climbed out of the cabin, eager to escape the stifling proximity. Corshe quickly hopped out of the rear row, falling into step right beside him as they grabbed a shopping cart.
.
It took them several minutes of navigating the brightly lit aisles to finish gathering their mountains of snacks and cooking ingredients. Leansei initially pushed the heavy wire cart, but Xerchin smoothly stepped into his path, firmly taking the handle from his grip and insisting that he should be the executive to push the load while Leansei and Corshe focused entirely on deciding what to buy.
When they lined up at the cashier counter, Xerchin didn't say a word, smoothly sliding his black card into the terminal to pay for everything they had accumulated. Corshe was completely dismissive of the high-society flex, too entirely absorbed in happily devouring a premium ice cream cone that Xerchin had purchased for them at the entrance. Reaching the automatic exit doors, Leansei extended his hands to retrieve the multiple plastic grocery bags, but the athlete bypassed his reach yet again. Xerchin efficiently hoarded every single plastic bags into his own broad arms, leaving Leansei to carry nothing but a single, light brown bag.
The moment they unlocked the front door of the condo, the tumultuous roar of their friends flooded their senses. The remaining five had already completed their mandatory wash-ups and were actively squabbling across the floor mats like a pack of rowdy children.
"Finally, you guys are home! I swear I cannot stand these people for another single minute—they are entirely too loud and childish!" Perial announced dramatically, bolting off the couch to run straight toward the kitchen island where Xerchin was quietly emptying the grocery bags.
"Who exactly are you calling childish, Perial? I assume you mean him?" Revin barked, his face twisting into a scowl as he pointed his finger directly at Rell's chest.
"Me?! How on earth is that my title?" Rell fired back defensively, glaring fiercely across the counter. "Why don't you direct that exact insult toward the absolute idiot sitting right flush beside you?" He gestured aggressively toward Beidhen.
Beidhen merely leaned back against the counter panels, letting out a smug, deeply amused laugh as he ran a hand through his dark hair. "Me? Please. I am far too handsome to ever be classified as an idiot or a childish person."
"I completely agree," Corshe piped up cheerfully, hopping onto a barstool. Beidhen's eyes lit up, and he immediately sat bolt upright on the floor mats, flashing the smaller boy an enthusiastic thumbs-up for standing up for his honor.
"Right? Right?! See, I knew you were my real bud—"
"I agree that both of you are remarkably stupid and childish," Corshe finished smoothly, a sweet, unmalicious smile breaking across his lips. Beidhen's smug grin fractured into a hard pout, while right beside him, Rell shook his head in pure, unbelievable shock at the kid's savagery.
"Would you three please shut your mouths? My eardrums are on the dangerous verge of bursting out from your loud voices," Xeilin scolded firmly, stepping out from the hallway bathroom. He was clad in simple loungewear, briskly rubbing a white towel over his damp hair.
Leansei stood entirely frozen at the entryway, his gray eyes widening slightly. He had never in his entire existence witnessed the Student Council President look this relaxed. Stripped of his rigid, high-collared council uniform, Xeilin radiated an exceptionally fresh, attractive, and effortlessly sexy look.
Beside him, Rell sharply averted his gaze toward the kitchen tiles, his mouth instantly shutting as a sudden blush touched his jawline. Meanwhile, Corshe began loudly praising the president, detailing how incredibly good-looking he appeared after a shower.
"The three of you need to go wash up right now. I'll handle the cooking," Xeilin commanded with a warm, disciplined smile as he walked toward the stove.
"I'll be your official assistant!" Perial spiked up happily, tearing open a fresh bag of potato chips.
"Hey! Don't you dare eat anything before dinner is served!" Rell barked, turning his attention to her.
"Why on earth not? It's edible food! Duh!"
"I thought you explicitly stated you were on a strict campaign diet this week?"
"Who on earth told you that lie?!" she hissed, throwing a chip at his head.
Leansei slowly shook his head, a genuine wave of warmth easing the remaining tension in his chest. He slipped away from the loud kitchen, heading down the corridor into his master bedroom to retrieve a fresh towel. Before he could close the door, a sharp, polite knock vibrated against the wood. He pulled the door open, his breath catching slightly as his eyes locked onto Xerchin, whose ears had once again turned a burning, dark shade of crimson.
"Corshe is currently utilizing the central hallway bathroom," Xerchin muttered, his light brown eyes drifting nervously toward the carpet. "Mind if I use yours?"
"Oh... s-sure. Go straight ahead," Leansei stammered out, stepping aside to grant him access to the master bath, before walking over to his closet to select the cheapest, most basic set of casual clothes he could find in Kean's luxury wardrobe.
Even with the bathroom door securely closed, Leansei could physically feel the frantic, rapid hammer of his pulse against his ribs. The muffled sound of the shower water flashing against the tiles felt entirely too intimate, crossing a dangerous line in his psychological defenses. Shaking his head aggressively to clear his mind, he stepped across the bedroom threshold and walked out onto the private open-air terrace, leaning his elbows against the metal railing. The cool night wind swirled across his face, but it did nothing to soothe the burning heat behind his chest.
' Kean... can't I just stay trapped in this beautiful illusion a little longer? ' Leansei's mind pleaded silently, staring out at the flashing city skyline. ' I know with absolute certainty that I am being an incredibly selfish person... but please, just a little longer, and I promise with all my heart I will give your life back to you. '
A few minutes later, the bathroom door clicked open. Xerchin stepped out into the bedroom, a white towel draped loosely around his neck as he idly dried his damp hair. He had changed into a simple black t-shirt paired with gray athletic shorts. The laid-back look was devastatingly handsome; Leansei found himself realizing that if the athlete's high-society fans ever caught a glimpse of him in this raw condition, they would genuinely suffer a mass heart attack.
' How on earth was a single human being born looking this flawlessly dashing? ' Leansei thought, his breath locking in his throat.
Once again, the violent, frantic thud behind his ribs felt so deafeningly loud that Leansei genuinely feared anyone standing within a two-meter perimeter could hear his heart beating this fast. Paralyzed by the sheer proximity and the intoxicating aroma of Xerchin's clean scent, Leansei immediately bolted past him into the bathroom, shutting the door with a firm click. He let out a long, desperate exhale against the wooden frame to calm his racing pulse.
"I seriously feel like I am going to die from this," Leansei whispered to the quiet room.
He walked over to the wide marble sink, leaning forward to look at his reflection—and froze. Under the vanity lights, his cheekbones were flushed a deep, breathless shade of tomato red. He vigorously shook his head, desperately wishing the chaotic feelings would fade away, but the image of Xerchin's damp hair and light blue eyes refused to leave his brain.
Stripping off his clothes and removing his heavy eyeglasses, he stepped into the shower stall. He turned the handle, letting the jet of cold yet warm water run smoothly down his battered body. The physical sensation of the water acted like a soothing compress against the deep-tissue bruising he had suffered during the street ambush. The comfort was absolute, temporarily washing away the lingering terror of Master M's gang.
He pressed his palm flat against the wet tile wall, dropping his head down as his gray pupils tracked the running water draining rapidly into the floor pipes. Sunk deep within a chaotic train of thought, he remained completely motionless under the stream for several long minutes.
He closed his eyes and started showering. He put on his towel and wrapped it around his waist and walked towards the mirror that was covered with moisture. He wiped it and he just now realized what Kean looked like without eyeglasses.
Finally turning off the faucet, he wrapped a clean white towel securely around his waist and stepped back out to stand directly in front of the wide mirror. He reached up, using his palm to wipe away a thick circle through the heavy layer of moisture blanketing the glass. Without the thick frames of his eyeglasses obscuring his features, Leansei stood completely still, taking in Kean's true face with absolute clarity.
Kean possessed a crown of damp, dark ash-gray hair framing a remarkably cute, yet undeniably sharp and good-looking pretty face. His lips were naturally pink and soft, his nose wasn't overly sharp but sat in perfect, symmetrical alignment, and his unconditioned body was slender and pale.
Leansei narrowed his eyes, leaning closer to the glass as a sudden, jarring realization hit his brain.
' Our eyes... our pupils look exactly the same, ' Leansei's mind reeled, a quiet confusion twisting deep behind his ribs. ' No... actually, our facial structures look incredibly similar. Or am I simply becoming so entirely confused about my own identity because I've grown too used to being Kean? '
He took one deep, trembling breath, staring directly into the gray depths of his own reflection.
' Argh... what on earth is wrong with me tonight? '