When Aiden went back to Dylan's penthouse, he found Dylan at the door, ready to come down to look for Aiden.
" What took you so long?" Dylan asked, gnashing his teeth.
" I-I w-was just talking to him."
" Did you break up with him?"
Aiden almost flinched at Dylan's authoritative tone. He avoided answering the question angering Dylan further. " So you didn't break up with him? It looks like I have to handle it my way."
" I have spoken to Noah; he won't get involved with me anymore," Aiden lied through his teeth.
" Are you sure?"
" What will you gain by doing all this?" Aiden asked in frustration. " Even if I am not in a relationship, I wouldn't be with you."
" Why the hell not?" Dylan asked, squeezing Aiden's arm.
" There's no way I can ever love you."
" How do you know that now?"
" There are only a few lucky people in this World who can love without any reason, but for most people, love happens for a reason. I had long back lost the hope of ever falling in love because nobody had ever shown even an ounce of love and care toward me, not my biological parents, not at the Orphanage, nor when your family adopted me, and definitely not you, Dylan. Noah was the first person who loved me, and I love him too, whereas for you, I can have only one emotion, and that is fear, nothing else," Aiden said with certainty.
" Whatever happened is in the past," Dylan said desperately. " Can't you overlook the past and think about our future?"
" What future are you talking about, Dylan? There's no future for us together. You are getting engaged soon."
" But I don't love Natalie; I love you," Dylan said, tightening his hold on Aiden's arms.
" Then why are you getting married to her?"
" It's purely for Business."
" Business...?" Aiden asked, raising his brow. " Don't you have enough money to last several lifetimes? Is your Business not flourishing? Why do you even need anybody else's help?"
Dylan was taken aback by Aiden's counter because whatever he said was true. " Y-You won't understand these things."
" Are you trying to convince me or yourself?"
" Then do you want me to tell everyone that I like a man?" Dylan screamed. " Is that what you want?"
" I have already made it clear to you that I do not want anything from you. Wanting others to know your sexual preferences should be your own choice. I don't want you to do anything you are not comfortable with. Moreover, it's not that we are in a relationship that you would do that for me."
" Then what's your problem if I get engaged to Natalie?"
" I didn't expect you to be so dumb, Dylan."
" What do you mean?" Dylan said, gritting his teeth.
" Can't you see what you are trying to do? " Aiden said, exasperated. " Not only are you forcing me to leave the man I love, but you also want to use and betray a woman who loves you so much. That's wrong."
" Oh, come on, Aiden!! You already know what kind of a person I am, so please stop with your lecture on what's right and what's wrong," Dylan smirked. " I always get what I want, and I don't care what method I use to achieve that."
Aiden snorted and turned around disgustfully, but Dylan hugged him from behind. " I am glad I can be myself in front of you. I don't need to hide anything nor act to be someone I am not. It's so peaceful with you."
" But not for me," Aiden said, trying to pry away Dylan's hands from his arms. " It's suffocating."
Dylan had a pained expression on his face. " Why do you always do that? You don't even want to give me a chance. Please don't hate me so much."
Aiden was still struggling to get out of Dylan's arms, but Dylan was desperately holding on to him. " I can't take this anymore, Aiden. I can't take your hate and indifference. Tell me what I should do to make you love me. I will do anything." Dylan recalled Aiden's words, saying he had no reason to love him. " Do you need a reason to love me? I will give you the reason. I can give you the World. I will give you so much love and happiness that you will forget everyone else. "
" It doesn't work like that. I don't think I can bring myself to love you. I never even thought about you in that sense. It's pointless to even try."
" Nothing is pointless nor impossible. You have given a chance to Noah, so it's only fair if you allow me to pursue you too," Dylan said firmly. He turned Aiden's face around and kissed him.
Aiden scrunched his face and pushed Dylan by placing his hands on his chest. " Is this how you plan on pursuing me? By forcing me?"
" I will do anything to get what I want. Be it love, affection, or by force; I will use it all."
" Ok, if you want a chance, I will give it to you. You can try whatever you want, and I will try my best to get away from you." Aiden thought this was a better option. If he didn't agree to give him a chance, then Dylan would never let him go. Once Dylan tried everything and failed, he would back out and give up his weird obsession with Aiden.
" Between you and me, I will always be the winner," Dylan smirked.
" But I have a condition," Aiden said.
" What is it?"
" You have to stop getting physical and sexual with me. I don't like it," Aiden said. He could handle everything else, but physically Dylan was too strong for him. He couldn't cheat on Noah by getting sexual with Dylan. The occasional kisses and physical contact with Dylan already disgusted him.
Dylan grunted unhappily. " But it's hard to control myself. Whenever I look at you, I want to kiss you, hug you, hold you and never let go."
" That's not fair. You can't force me to get sexual with you. If you want to pursue me, then please maintain some distance."
Dylan clenched his fist in anger and yelled, " I am trying to be considerate of you, but you seem to be too demanding now. You are taking advantage of my leniency."
Aiden cringed in fear when Dylan approached him and covered his face expecting Dylan to hit him.
Dylan suddenly stopped in his track as his anger deflated and turned to a feeling of sadness. He placed his hands on Aiden's face and said, " Why are you so scared of me? I won't hit you."
" B-But you were yelling..."
" I am sorry. I can't control my anger sometimes."
" That's why I asked you to keep your distance. Do you want me to fear you even more?" Aiden whispered.
Dylan took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger. If he wanted Aiden to love him, he first had to remove his fear toward Dylan. " Fine!!! I won't try to get physical with you, so will you sincerely let me pursue you?"
Aiden didn't reply and just nodded his head.
Dylan was so relieved he suddenly hugged Aiden tightly.
Aiden yelped in surprise while Dylan slowly chuckled. " It's just a hug. At least let me do that," he said and tightened his hold on Aiden.
Aiden was lying on his bed, thinking about the day's events. The fight was on, and everything seemed to be out in the open now. Aiden wasn't sure how Dylan would proceed from now on. Was Dylan even capable of love? But he had changed tremendously in the past few days. Never before had Aiden seen or heard Dylan asking for forgiveness, nor had he seen him pleading and requesting for something. This itself was a significant change. Was Dylan really ready to change himself for Aiden's sake? Things would get even more challenging for Aiden if that were the case. It would be even more difficult to get out of Dylan's grasp and get together with Noah. Suddenly he remembered Noah's phone, which he had hidden in his pocket. He got out of bed and looked around to see if Dylan was nearby. Even if he always locked his room door, Dylan could get in without effort as it was his house, and he had keys to all the rooms. It was already past midnight, so Dylan would be sleeping at the time.
Not willing to take the risk of being found out by Dylan, Aiden went to the bathroom and locked the door. He checked the phone, and there was a message from a new number.
He immediately dialed the number, which Noah soon picked up. " What took you so long?"
" I was waiting for Dylan to sleep. I didn't expect you to be still awake," Aiden slowly whispered.
" How can I sleep peacefully when I know you are not here with me?"
" We will get back together soon," Aiden assured him.
" How?"
" I don't know how but we sure will."
" So you haven't thought of anything yet?" Noah said, a bit disappointed.
" I am trying to assess the situation here," Aiden replied.
" I don't like it, Aiden. I am unable to do anything for you, and I feel like a complete loser," Noah said sadly.
" You are not a loser, Noah; rather, Dylan is way too powerful for both of us. He will use any means possible just to get rid of you. Did you forget the way he hit you last time? I can't let him harm you again. What's the point of being impulsive, opposing him directly, and failing in the end? Instead, if we handle this calmly, there can be a chance for us to get out of it unharmed."
" Aiden..."
Aiden stood up suddenly when he heard Dylan's voice in his room. He immediately cut the call and looked for a place to hide the phone. He hid the phone in the drawer when he heard Dylan's voice again. " Where are you?"
" I-I am in the bathroom. I am coming out now," Aiden said and took a deep breath. After calming himself down, he got out of the bathroom, and Dylan was immediately on his face. " What were you doing?"
Aiden rolled his eyes and asked, " What do you do in the washroom?"
" Oh!!"
" Didn't you sleep yet?" Aiden asked.
" I was missing you," Dylan said awkwardly.
Aiden was flustered and looked down, avoiding looking at Dylan.
" Can I sleep with you?" Dylan asked softly.
" Didn't you agree to avoid physical contact?"
" I swear I won't do anything. I want to hold you while sleeping."
" Please, Dylan. I am not comfortable with this," Aiden insisted.
Dylan looked pissed but didn't say anything. He immediately turned around and left Aiden's room before he could say anything he didn't want to.
Aiden heaved a sigh of relief and got back on his bed.