Elias didn't touch his lunch. His eyes wandered, and his appetite seemed to vanish. Adrian took a piece of beef with his fork and held it up.
"Eat," he said firmly.
Elias hesitated. "I don't want—"
Adrian cut him off with a cold look. Elias, startled by his sudden shift in tone, opened his mouth and let Adrian feed him the bite. Adrian smiled softly.
"My good boy."
Elias looked down, still confused. What does he really want from me? he wondered.
"You look uncomfortable," Adrian said, his tone now gentler.
Elias met his eyes. "Why do you act like this? You hate me... don't you? Then why do you care?"
Adrian didn't answer with words. Instead, he grabbed Elias's hand and pulled him up.
"Let's go."
"W-Where?" Elias asked, alarmed.
Adrian didn't reply. He dragged Elias to the old storeroom at the end of the hall. The room was empty, silent, and dimly lit. Once inside, Adrian pushed Elias gently against the wall. Their faces were close—too close.
"Who said I hate you?" Adrian whispered. "You smell so nice... and I like it when you hesitate like this."
Elias's heartbeat raced. He couldn't look away. Then, without warning, Adrian kissed him—deeply, hungrily. Elias stood still, frozen in surprise, unable to push him away.
Adrian slowly unbuttoned the top of Elias's shirt, his lips moving down to kiss and lick his neck. A soft moan escaped Elias as Adrian's lips left a warm mark on his skin. His hand slid over Elias's waist, fingers brushing softly against the fabric. The warmth of Adrian's touch made Elias's breath hitch.
"Your body... it's so soft," Adrian murmured against his skin.
Elias's cheeks turned bright red. Suddenly overwhelmed, he found the strength to push Adrian away. Tears welled in his eyes, and without a word, he turned and ran from the room—his heart pounding and emotions swirling in confusion.
Elias ran down the hallway, his breath shaky, his heart pounding louder than his footsteps. The mark Adrian left on his neck throbbed with warmth, but it was the confusion in his chest that hurt the most. Why did he do that? What does he want from me?
He rushed into the bathroom and locked the door behind him. Leaning over the sink, Elias looked at himself in the mirror—his shirt still partly unbuttoned, lips slightly swollen, cheeks stained with tears.
"I can't do this…" he whispered, quickly fixing his collar to hide the mark. He splashed cold water on his face, trying to collect himself before heading back to class.
Meanwhile, Adrian stood silently in the storeroom. His smile had faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression. He touched the spot on his hand where Elias had pushed him. "So soft…" he muttered again, almost to himself.
After office hours, Nao and Raviel headed to a luxurious fashion boutique—the one the Vermillion family had been using for generations. Known for serving the elite, it was the only place worthy of dressing an heir like Nao.
As they stepped inside, a staff member welcomed them warmly. However, her voice trembled slightly when she noticed Raviel. A light blush rose on her cheeks, and the rest of the staff began whispering among themselves, clearly captivated by his ethereal beauty.
"He's so handsome..."
"Is he a model? A celebrity?"
"Look at that face—he doesn't even look real!"
Unbothered, Nao and Raviel sat on the boutique's plush couch while the staff hurried to bring out the newest and most elegant designs. Since Nao was the Vermillion heir, they prepared their best for him. All around, people were buzzing about the extravagant party from the night before. News articles and social media posts were filled with photos and videos of Nao Vermillion, the young and mysterious heir finally making his appearance.
Nao, keeping things efficient, picked a few sophisticated outfits and handed them to Raviel.
"Try these. I think they'll suit you," he said.
Raviel nodded and quietly headed to the changing room. When he stepped out moments later, Nao's breath hitched.
The fit, the fabric, the aura—Raviel looked unreal.
Nao stepped forward, captivated, then noticed something out of place. One of Raviel's shirt buttons was undone. Without thinking, Nao moved closer and gently fastened the button, his fingers brushing lightly against Raviel's chest.
Just then, a staff member approached with coffee.
"Here's your coffee, Mr. Nao—oh!"
She tripped, and the coffee cup slipped from her hands, hurtling toward Nao. But before a single drop could touch him, Raviel reacted in an instant.
He grabbed Nao's waist and pulled him over, shielding him with his body. They both toppled onto the floor.
And in that fall... their lips met.
Nao's eyes widened in shock—his heartbeat thundered in his ears. Time slowed.
It was accidental.
Or was it?
Their lips remained together for a breath longer than a fall would allow. The warmth, the softness—it wasn't just a touch, it was a moment.
Just as Nao started to pull back, neither realizing the world around them had vanished, a shadow moved in the distance.
Someone was watching.
And that someone wasn't just watching.
They were here to kill Nao Vermillion.