Elian stepped out of the bathroom, steam curling around him as he ran a towel through his damp hair. His body still carried the phantom weight of Rylan's hands, the burn of his lips lingering on his skin no matter how much he tried to scrub it away. He exhaled sharply, trying to clear his mind, but the moment he picked up his phone from the nightstand, his frustration hit a new level.
Missed Calls: 6
Rylan Daemon Asano
A fresh message notification sat just below the call log.
Rylan: Still running, Elian?
Elian's fingers tightened around his phone. He didn't need to open it to know the tone Rylan would use—calm, unreadable, but laced with something possessive. Something that told him this wasn't over.
His jaw clenched as he swiftly tapped the screen, blocking Rylan's number without hesitation. No hesitation, no second thoughts. He refused to let Rylan play these mind games with him.
Dropping his phone onto the bed, Elian sat down, rubbing his temples. His body was tense, his emotions a tangled mess. He needed to sleep this off, forget about it—pretend none of it had happened.
But deep down, he knew.
Rylan wouldn't just stop.
The Next Morning
Elian sat at the dining table, lazily stirring his coffee as his uncle read the business section of the newspaper. It was a quiet, peaceful morning—until the front door opened.
"Elian's here. Come in," his uncle's calm voice greeted someone.
Elian looked up, eyebrows pinching together. He wasn't expecting visitors.
Then, his uncle stepped aside, revealing the last person Elian wanted to see.
Rylan.
Elian's grip tightened around his coffee mug.
Rylan stood there, composed as ever, dressed in a sharp suit, carrying an elegant bouquet of white flowers. His expression was unreadable, but there was something undeniably smug about the way he held himself.
"Elian." His voice was smooth, casual, as if this was a perfectly normal occurrence.
Elian forced himself to remain neutral. He leaned back in his chair, barely sparing Rylan a glance before taking a slow sip of coffee. "Didn't know you were coming," he said flatly.
Rylan smiled faintly. "I thought I'd pay a visit. My calls weren't getting through."
Elian set his mug down. "Oh? Must be a connection issue."
Rylan's eyes flickered with amusement. He knew.
His uncle, oblivious to the underlying tension, took the bouquet from Rylan's hands. "A thoughtful gesture," he commented approvingly. "It's good to see young men showing proper manners."
Elian bit back a scoff. Manners? If only you knew.
"Since you're already here," his uncle continued, "why don't you stay for tea?"
Elian's lips pressed into a thin line. He didn't want Rylan here. But he also couldn't cause a scene.
Rylan met Elian's gaze. He knew exactly what he was doing.
And so, Elian gave a small shrug, acting completely indifferent. "Sure. Stay if you want."
Rylan's smirk deepened. "I'd love to."
Elian didn't flinch, didn't react. He simply took another sip of his coffee as if none of this mattered.
But in reality, he knew—Rylan wouldn't be here if he didn't have a reason.
And that alone was enough to put him on guard.