Kai pushed Bast away, his chest rising with heavy breaths as tears welled up in his eyes. He looked torn, as if he was fighting with emotions he didn't understand himself. Bast took a small step closer, his voice softer now, edged with pain.
"Why do you hate me so much?" he asked.
Kai didn't reply. Instead, he turned and ran upstairs to his room, slamming the door shut behind him. Bast stood in the hallway, frozen, the silence wrapping around him like a heavy blanket. He felt it deep in his bones—he was losing Kai.
Upstairs, Kai rushed into the bathroom, turned on the shower, and stepped under the cold stream. Water poured over his face, but it couldn't wash away the confusion swirling in his chest. He leaned his head against the wall, his voice barely a whisper.
"What do I want...?"
Kai sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his phone. After a long pause, he finally dialed Elina's number. She picked up on the second ring.
"Elina," Kai said, his voice calm but distant. "What do you think about grabbing a drink with me tonight?"
Elina sounded surprised but smiled through the phone. "Sure. Where?"
"Meet me at the club."
After the call, Kai stood up, dressed quickly, and grabbed his car keys. He glanced around the house, his eyes subtly searching the hall—but Bast wasn't there. With a deep breath, Kai left.
He wasn't going out to have fun. He wanted to feel nothing. To prove to himself that he could be heartless if he needed to be.
At the club, Elina was already there, sitting by the bar in a sleek outfit. As soon as she saw Kai walk in, she stood up and pulled him into a hug.
"Let's bottom up tonight!" she said playfully, handing him a drink.
Kai forced a smirk and clinked his glass with hers. "Cheers to feeling nothing."
Elina leaned her head on Kai's shoulder, swirling her drink. "Hey, Kai… wanna stay over at my place tonight?"
Kai gave her a half-smile, his eyes a little hazy from the alcohol. "Sure, why not?"
Just then, Kai's phone buzzed on the table. Before he could reach for it, Elina picked it up with a teasing smile. "Hyy, Miles," she chirped, "Kai is with me. We're having a lot of fun tonight."
Miles' voice came through, concerned. "If he's drunk too much, I can come pick him up."
"No need," Elina replied sweetly. "He's staying at my place tonight."
Miles paused, then said, "Alright. Enjoy your night." The call ended.
Back at home, Ethan lay down beside Miles, wrapping an arm around him lazily.
"What did Kai say?" he asked.
Miles chuckled. "He's at the club with Elina. He's staying over at her place. Woo! My bro finally got together with the girl."
Ethan's expression froze.
He sat up quickly, the smile gone from his face. "I need to make a call. Urgently."
Miles looked confused. "Okay…?"
Ethan stepped into the hallway and dialed. Bast answered, his voice heavy and tired. "What do you need to talk about at this hour?"
Ethan didn't hesitate. "Kai's at the club with Elina. She took him home. You know what that could mean."
Bast shot upright, eyes wide. "What…?" He was already reaching for his keys. "I need to go."
Bast stormed into the club, eyes scanning the crowd. As he passed through, a wave of whispers followed him.
"Damn, who is that?"
"He's so hot…"
"Look at that body—he looks dangerous."
He ignored the stares and murmurs, his mind set on one thing—Kai.
At the corner booth, Kai sat with Elina, a drink in his hand and a forced smile on his face. As Bast approached, Elina stood, trying to greet him.
"Hello, Bast—"
But Bast didn't spare her a glance. He stepped straight to Kai, grabbed him by the waist and wrist, and said in a low, commanding voice, "Get up. We're going home."
Kai looked up, startled. "No. I'm staying here."
Elina placed a hand on Bast's arm. "He's staying at my place tonight," she said firmly.
Bast turned to her, his dark eyes filled with fury. "Who gave you permission to take him home?"
Elina held her ground. "He's my boyfriend."
The moment the word left her mouth, Bast's gaze sharpened like a blade. Without another word, he leaned down, picked Kai up in his arms, and stared Elina dead in the eyes.
"He's mine. And if anyone dares to steal him from me… they better be ready to beg for their life."
The tension hung heavy in the air. Elina stood frozen, her confidence drained.
Without looking back, Bast carried Kai out of the club and toward the car, ignoring the curious eyes and stunned silence around them.
Kai slumped in the passenger seat, his eyes hazy from the drinks. As Bast drove in silence, Kai turned his head slowly and slurred, "Why'd you ruin my night, huh? Why…"
Bast didn't respond. His jaw clenched, eyes focused on the road.
When they reached home, Bast got out, walked around the car, and scooped Kai into his arms. Kai laughed lazily, head resting against Bast's shoulder.
Inside, Bast gently set him down on the couch, but Kai grabbed his shirt, pulling him close.
"Woo, you really brought me home… You want something tonight, don't you?" Kai smirked, his voice playful but bold. "I'm so horny right now. And you ruined my night… So I think you should take responsibility."
Bast looked down at him—conflicted, silent, tempted.
Kai's eyes searched his face. "Or was all that possessive talk at the club just for show?"
Kai grabbed Bast's collar and pulled him into a rough kiss. Breathless, Bast looked into his eyes. "You did it again," he whispered.
Kai smirked, his voice low. "I want to do it again… and again."
Bast chuckled softly. "You need a shower and some rest. I'll grab something for your hangover."
But Kai wasn't letting go. He tugged at Bast's shirt again and murmured, "Let's go to your room… It smells like you in there. I like it."
Bast paused, searching Kai's eyes. "Are you sure? Do you really want this?"
Kai nodded, his expression more vulnerable than before. Without another word, Bast scooped him up into his arms and carried him to his room.