Chapter 128 128: Pretenders... or Lovers
Baby felt a presence beside him.
Someone had occupied the treadmill beside him.
He continued running, ignoring the obvious look from the person.
And then...
He felt a second presence... right behind him.
An unmistakable presence.
'Darn it,' he thought.
His heart skipped faster.
Not from the treadmill, but from the man behind him.
Time to go.
He turned off the treadmill, walking slowly until it came to a complete stop.
His hands shook slightly, but he had it in front of him.
How he hated the way the distance still affected him.
Slowly, he stepped down from the machine, turning to walk the other way.
A hand caught him.
"Hi,"
Baby gritted his teeth before turning around.
He narrowed his eyes at the man who was running on the treadmill beside him a few seconds ago.
What did he want with him?
"Hi?" Baby said, raising his brow.
He felt Saint step closer, almost invading his space, but he ignored him, pretending never to have seen him.
"I'm Cassian, and I'm a huge fan of your talent," he introduced.
Baby released a breath. It was one of the fans.
"Thank you, Cassian. Appreciate it," he shook Cassian properly. "Nice to meet you."
"Pleasure's all mine," Cassian smiled, leaning down to kiss the back of Baby's hand.
Baby didn't see that coming.
But what got to him even more than the kiss was the shift in the atmosphere behind him.
Saint was jealous.
How dare he?
Baby would have loved to play along with this Cassian guy, but he'd rather leave the gym completely.
Away from Saint.
"Thanks, man, but I really gotta go," Baby smiled, taking his hand back from Cassian.
"Aw, okay, see you around, cutie," Cassian smirked.
Now, how to ignore the man that had stubbornly rooted himself behind him?
Slowly, he turned, his face neutral.
"Oh, excuse me," he said, stepping around Saint.
"Baby," Saint caught his wrist, fighting the urge to draw Baby into his arms.
On the other hand, Baby's system shut down.
It was nothing like Cassian's touch.
Saint's touch would never be normal.
Extra sensitive from his workout, the feel of Saint's hand around his wrist almost had his knees weakening.
He almost turned to run into Saint's arms, to hug him, to kiss him and forget all about the hurt.
But it wasn't that simple.
What happened was not something an intense kiss could wipe away.
This was irreversible.
"Hey, man..." Baby looked behind him, a small smile on his lips.
"What's up?" he asked, trying to take his hand back, but failed.
Saint's hold tightened slightly.
Desperate.
How can one be in front of him but not?
"Can we talk? Please? I... I have some things I need to tell you—"
"My hand, man... can you let go?" Baby asked, acting like it was just an awkward situation instead of a heart-wrenching one.
Reluctantly, Saint let go, feeling the cold A.C blow away the warmth from Baby's skin.
If only he hadn't fucked up, he would have gotten to hold that hand forever.
"Sorry. But please, can I have a word?" he asked, stepping closer.
Baby avoided eye contact.
Saint was trying his best to get him to look into his eyes, but he couldn't.
Saint might see right through him if he did.
"Perhaps some other time, man. I have to be somewhere at the moment—"
"Your condo. Can I visit this evening?" he questioned softly.
Baby opened his mouth but no sound came out.
He almost cursed Saint out.
The audacity!
"I... um—"
"No, he won't, Saint Kross. We have some horror movie to finish," Cam walked over to them, draping his hand over Baby's shoulder.
Baby felt a whoosh of relief wash over him.
He was almost about to snap.
Saint sighed, gently clenching his fists beside him.
"Can I get your number—"
"Hold on a minute, sad cousin," Cassian suddenly walked forward, a smirk tugging at his lips as he locked eyes with Cam, who was staring at him with confusion.
"It's really you... back for more kisses?" he asked, stopping right in front of Cam.
"What?" Cam and Saint blurted at once.
Baby deadpanned.
Just great.
It had to be Saint's cousin.
Talk about cruel fate.
"You've gotta be shitting me..." Cam muttered, glancing into Cassian's grey eyes.
How had he missed the similarities?
"You guys kissed?" Saint asked, smiling wolfishly at Cam.
"No," Cassian murmured, "he kissed me, confessing his love at first sight."
Cassian's lips curved, enjoying every second of it.
Cam blinked once.
Twice.
Then scoffed. "You wish. Let's get out of here, Baby," Cam said, tugging Baby's wrist.
Baby sighed, rubbing his temple. "See you around, Cassian..."
Saint's gaze flickered between them, something dark and amused settling in his eyes.
"Well," he muttered, "this just keeps getting better."
"It really doesn't," Cam snapped, stepping slightly in front of Baby, putting space between him and Saint again.
Cassian tilted his head, studying Cam like he'd just found something interesting.
"Relax," he drawled. "Why did you kiss me, though?" Cassian asked.
"It was a dare! I was drunk!" Cam shot back.
"And you liked it enough to remember," Cassian shrugged.
"I remember it because it was traumatizing," Cam deadpanned.
Baby huffed a quiet breath, trying to keep his composure intact, but his chest still felt tight.
Saint was too close.
Too present.
Too real.
"Anyway," Baby cut in smoothly, "fun reunion, but I really have somewhere to be."
He stepped away from both Cassian and Cam—
—and directly into Saint's line again.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Saint's eyes dropped—just briefly—to Baby's lips.
Then back up.
Dangerous.
Hungry.
Regretful.
All at once.
"Baby," Saint said again, quieter this time.
Not calling for attention.
Calling for him.
Baby's fingers curled slightly at his sides.
He forced them to relax.
"Yeah?" he replied, tone neutral.
Saint swallowed.
"I just need five minutes."
Baby let out a soft, almost amused breath.
Five minutes.
Like that was all it would take.
Like five minutes could undo a year.
"No," Baby said simply.
Saint stilled.
Not loud.
Not angry.
Just… final.
"I don't have five minutes for you," Baby added, meeting his gaze this time.
And for a split second—
Saint saw it.
Not emptiness.
Not forgetfulness.
Something else.
Something controlled.
Something deliberate.
It hit him harder than any punch Cam had thrown.
"You don't mean that," Saint said, voice low.
Baby smiled.
Soft.
Polite.
Distant.
"I don't know you well enough to mean anything else."
That one landed clean.
Cassian's smirk faded slightly.
Cam's jaw tightened.
And Saint—
Saint looked like the ground had just been pulled from under him.
Still, he didn't move.
Didn't step back.
"Then let me change that," he said quietly. "Let me—"
"No," Baby cut him off again.
Sharper this time.
Enough to make Saint stop mid-word.
"Don't do that," Baby continued, his voice still calm but colder now. "Don't act like you're owed something."
Saint's breath caught.
"I'm not—"
"You are," Baby said. "And it's weird."
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Real.
Cam shifted slightly beside Baby, ready—just in case.
Cassian watched like he was front row at a show.
Saint exhaled slowly.
"Alright," he said finally.
But his eyes didn't leave Baby.
Not even for a second.
"Then I'll wait."
Baby's brows twitched—just barely.
"For what?" he asked.
Saint's lips curved faintly.
Not a smile.
Something more stubborn.
"For you to stop hiding."
That did it.
Baby's chest rose once.
Sharp.
But his face didn't crack.
Didn't slip.
He just nodded slowly.
"I wish I knew what you meant," Baby patted Saint's shoulder and walked away.