Chapter 12

"Can we just talk about this some other time? I feel like my head is going to explode any moment now,” Steven complained as he faced Yuki whose arms were crossed while his eyes were like daggers as he stared at him.

Yuki's face was serious, and Steven instantly knew that he was in trouble.

"No. We will talk right now. Today is Sunday. You won't be going to work, and I don't have a class either so this is the perfect time for us to talk,” Yuki seriously said.

Steven groaned before laying his back on the sofa where was sitting. "Yuki…please, not now. My head is aching,” he calmly said despite the pain in his head.

"I don't give a fuck. Did I tell you to get yourself drunk?" Yuki said, sounded so annoyed. "And you're complaining about your hangover, but did you hear me complain about what you did to me last night? You fucked me over and over, cumming inside me for I don't know how many times, and when you were finally satisfied, you just slept and did not even bother to clean me and my insides! And now it's hard for me to move and my stomach is also aching!" Steven winced at what Yuki said. "Get up. I have a lot of questions to ask."

Steven took a deep breath before he sat up and met Yuki's furious eyes. He ruffled his own hair and gritted his teeth as he felt his head aching again.

"Fine! Ask me all you want!" Steven said with an annoyed tone.

"Why did you let yourself get drunk last night?" Yuki asked while intently staring at him.

Steven averted his eyes from Yuki. He could not meet the stares that Yuki is giving him. "I just wanted to drink. That's all. Is it bad to let myself have some fun sometimes?" He said, trying to make the tone of his voice convincing.

He feels bad for lying but he can't tell Yuki the real reason why he got drunk.

How is he supposed to say it? That he went out and got himself drunk because he's frustrated with all the questions that have been on his mind since yesterday? And then what? He's going to ask Yuki those questions? That, he could not do. It may sound simple, but he just can't do it. And he will admit, he is scared. He is afraid of the answers that he might get from Yuki. Or more like, he is not yet ready to hear Yuki's possible answers.

"So, you just feel like it? Come on, Steven. Do you really think I will buy that? We may not be together for too long, but I know that you don't drink just because you're bored,” Steven gulped at what Yuki said. "You can't even look me in the eyes while answering me. So how can I believe you? Try a better and more valid reason, Steven."

Steven stood up and turned his back on Yuki. "If you don't want to believe me, go ahead. I won't force you. Besides, I don't have to explain everything to you." There was a trace of annoyance in Steven's voice as he walked towards the door of Yuki's apartment.

He heard Yuki's footsteps following him. And when Yuki was finally just right behind him, Yuki quickly grabbed his arm and made him face his young lover. "And what do you mean by that?" Yuki asked, his teeth gritting and his jaw tightening.

Steven sighed. "Just…just don't bother me for now. I'm leaving,” he said before he forcefully grabbed the arm that Yuki was holding then he turned his back on his young lover again and continued making his way towards the door.

Yuki called him a few more times but not once did he look back. He knew what he had done was wrong. But he still can't talk about it without those questions circulating inside his head. Also, he still has a hangover. He needs to calm his head before he talks to Yuki again.

Yuki's face is indescribable as he and Layland face each other. Sitting next to his friend is his bodyguard, Gunner, who is also Layland's boyfriend.

The three of them are in a coffee shop. Yuki can feel the gaze and the stares that the female customers are giving them. They sure are getting the female customers' attention.

"Why is he here?" Yuki asked with a dissatisfied look on his face as he pointed a finger at Gunner.

"You certainly don't like me, huh?" Gunner said with a grin.

Yuki stared at Gunner. "I don't like scumbags," he answered, irritated but Gunner just laughed at him.

"You don't like scumbags, yet you fell in love with a scumbag," Gunner said them grinned even more.

Yuki gave Gunner a sharp as a knife stare. "He isn't like you. You're an ass and Steven is a gentleman. He is considerate while you're not. He is—"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. He is an angel sent from up above." Gunner said, trying to piss him off even more.

Yuki's fist clenched and his teeth are gritting. "You, motherfucker—"

"Okay, okay, you two," Layland suddenly said while raising both of his hands. Layland gave the both of them a sharp gaze, "that's enough. Can't you just get along? You, two do nothing but make a fuss and be hostile towards each other every time we meet." Irritation can be heard in Layland's voice.

Yuki crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. "Never. I don't like him, and I never will. Why did you even bring him with you? You should have brought Zach with you. He's more sensible to talk with than this idiot."

"Why do you always have to mention that asshole's name?"

Yuki grinned. He knew it. That is Gunner's weakness. Whenever he mentions Zach, Gunner's blood immediately heats up.

It is no secret that Gunner is still jealous of Layland's ex-fuck buddy and Zach is his greatest weapon to piss Gunner off.

"Asshole? Are you referring to yourself?" Yuki sarcastically said.

Gunner's jaw tightened, an indication that he's mad. And Yuki can't help but widen his grin.

"You…"

"Gunner!" Layland reprimanded.

"What!" Gunner answered angrily and audibly.

Layland's face darkened and his eyes squinted. "Did you just yell at me?"

Layland's voice is so cold, it made Yuki shiver a little.

Shock can be written all over Gunner's face. His eyes widened. It seems that yelling at Layland was not his intention. He didn't mean it.

Ha! I can sense a lover's quarrel was about to happen. Yuki thought.

"Sorry babe, I didn't mean to—"

"Go back to the car first," Layland said, not letting Gunner finish what he wanted to say.

Gunner's lips parted. Layland gave a threatening look to Gunner who just bowed down and sighed and then left. But before Gunner could finally get put off the coffee shop where they were, he gave Yuki a sharp stare.

But Yuki just raised his eyebrow at Gunner.

"Don't mind him. There's something you want to talk about, right?" Layland said, grabbing Yuki's attention.

Yuki answered right away. "Oh, yes." Yuki crossed his arms over his chest and sighed before talking again, "it's about Steven."

"I knew it," Layland answered quickly. "So, what about that lover of yours?"

Yuki took a sip from the coffee that he ordered first before he spoke again. "It's been a week since we had a decent conversation." The sadness on Yuki's face and voice can be seen and heard. "I don't know what happened but after his friend found out about our relationship, he started acting cold towards me."

Layland raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that just a natural reaction? Just in case you forgot, Yuki, Steven is straight. Did you even try to ask him or talk to him about it?"

"I was about to. But as you saw that night, he was so drunk. I tried to talk to him again the next morning, but he didn't want to. And it's been a week since that. It's like what we were before. Just plain neighbors,” Yuki answered with a hint of sadness in his voice.

Layland sighed. "Give him more time and space. He is not like us, Yuki, and you know that. Steven is a straight guy who happened to be a gentleman and a nice guy who agreed to be your lover because he felt responsible for everything between the two of you. And God knows what his friend's reaction was. Maybe Steven got ashamed and scared."

"Time and space? I can't give him that! He only gave me one month and that one month is almost over. Just a few more days and everything we have and did will be over."

Frustration can be heard in Yuki's voice. He doesn't know what to do anymore. He wanted to talk to Steven, but it was Steven who did not want to talk to him.

Yuki knows that Steven is avoiding him. And he can't bear it. He has gotten used to being with Steven all the time. He is always with Steven, and he always talks to him.

It's just one week and he badly misses him already. What's more, their one-month agreement is over? What if after all this, Steven still doesn't have feelings for him?

Yuki shook his head.

Think positive, Yuki. Think positive. He silently told himself.

"Then what are your plans now? If he is already avoiding you now that your one-month agreement is not yet over, isn't it a sign for you to give up already?

Yuki's fist clenched. "No, I won't. As long as he doesn't tell me himself, I won't give up,” he said with determination.

Layland sighed again. "I never thought you would take him seriously," Layland commented while shaking his head repeatedly.

Yuki smiled. "He already caught my attention the very first time I saw him. I don't know but there's something about him that caught my attention,” he then remembered the very first time he was Steven. "He's plain. He's not that attractive. Compared to my past flings, he looked pretty normal. Also, our age gap, he already could pass as my older brother." Yuki paused a little as he remembered the night that started it all. "But the moment I saw his crying face while calling a woman's name, asking me everything he did wasn't enough, something inside me started to feel a new emotion. An emotion that I never thought I would feel."

Layland frowned and made a face of disgust. "You know what, that…sounds so cheesy, it makes me want to throw up."

Yuki rolled his eyes. "That sounds so hypocritical. Coming from someone who is all over his lover, not even minding my presence,” he replied that it made Layland laugh out loud.

But after laughing, Layland went serious again. "But just a reminder, Yuki. Don't expect too much. You might just get hurt in the end."

"That's not the kind of advice that I want to hear right now," Yuki replied while rolling his eyes.

"It was just a reminder," Layland said with a small smile on his lips.

As Yuki walks down the hallway to his apartment, he can't stop thinking about Steven again. He wants to talk to him again. He wanted to tell Steven how he feels about him. He wanted to hug him again, kiss him, and cuddle with him until he fell asleep in his arms.

"Is he home yet?" He asked himself. He looked at his wristwatch. It is only six o'clock in the evening. "Steven probably hasn't come home yet,” he whispered.

Since their last conversation, Steven has been coming home late and he knows that he is doing that to avoid him.

He smiled and shook his head. It's just like before. When Steven used to avoid him and always acted hostile towards him.

Yuki stopped walking when he had already reached his apartment. He took a glance at Steven's apartment and his forehead furrowed when he noticed that the door of Steven's apartment was slightly open.

But the frown immediately disappeared, and it was replaced with a smile when a thought came across his mind.

He's here. He happily thought.

He can finally talk to him again. And this time, he will not let their conversation end with still a lot of thoughts inside his head. He will tell Steven everything that happened that night, including his true feelings that he has not yet told Steven.

Yuki slowly pushed the door open and took off his shoes before he quietly entered. He is tiptoeing just to make sure that he won't make any noise. He silently made his way inside Steven's apartment. He reached the living room and frowned when he saw that no one was there.

His forehead furrowed, even more, when he saw a woman's bag sitting on the couch. For a known reason, his heartbeat went faster.

His gaze went into the kitchen when he heard voices.

Again, he walked quietly, towards the kitchen and as he's gradually nearing the kitchen, he started to recognize Steven's voice.

He stood on the side of the kitchen door and peeked slowly.

Yuki's forehead furrowed when he saw Steven standing by the sink and in front of him, stood a beautiful woman, whose palms are on Steven's cheeks.

"Shaina…"

Yuki's eyes widened in shock.

Shaina. He knew that name.

"I just realized my mistake, Steven. Please, give me a chance. Give us a chance." The woman, whose name is Shaina said, Yuki clenched his fists as he felt a pang of pain in his chest. "I promise to give you the love you have always wanted. You still love me, don't you?"

Steven did not answer and just kept on staring at Shaina's face.

Yuki bit his lower lip. His eyes were blurring as tears started to form. He clenched his fists even more.

So, this is the reason why you have been avoiding me, huh?

Yuki smiled bitterly as he silently and slowly walked out of Steven's apartment and quietly closed the door. He felt like something was stuck in his throat and something heavy seemed to run down his chest.

He took a very deep breath and bowed his head. He laughed bitterly when he saw that he was now walking barefoot. He seemed to have forgotten his shoes at Steven's apartment. But he did not bother to go back for it anymore. He just stared at the closed door of Steven's apartment.

"I guess Layland was right. I really should have not expected too much,” he said with bitterness.

He turned around to enter his apartment. But even before he could enter his apartment, he was stopped in his tracks when he heard someone call his name. A voice that is very familiar to him.

He turned to look at where the voice was coming from and there, he saw his father, who's giving him a very cold stare that made him shiver.

And with his trembling voice, he called his father, "Dad…"

"Hello, son." His father's intense and cold greeting made him nervous.