"I'm Gay."

That was easy, Jaejin thought to himself. He knew he was different from other guys when he attended school, and his father's violent reaction to a comment he made when he spoke with his mother confirmed that. He was attracted to men. When he moved to Pasadena, he learned to get rid of that darkness that hung over his head whenever he thought about his sexuality. Things got clearer with time, and Eros's little play on words and his display of affection gave him the confidence to own his sexuality. 

Saying it out loud. 

This was a first. It all came out naturally. Adam figured it out and asked in a low-key manner. His best friend accepted him. Here's another test of human nature. Veron hasn't moved an inch since he said those words. She didn't move her pointed stare from him, but her emotions were evident on her face. 
Jaejin smiled at her. In less than twenty seconds, the last piece of their friendship crumbled. Confusion moved to disbelief. 

Disbelief turned into shock.

Shock morphed into disgust.

It was all on her face like a picture show. 

"Are you going that far to reject Sherida?" she said, trying to keep a calm facade.

"Sherida isn't someone of high importance that I will make an excuse and implicate myself. I am gay, and I'm already interested in someone. Your friend isn't needed," Jaejin stated.

"You know you're going against the law of nature, right? How can you lower yourself to that disgusting level? What would people think? You deciding to be a fucking fag out of the blue is great timing, huh." Her questions came at him like darts to a board. They stung because her tone and expression showed how far she was against homosexuality. This was new to him but expected.

"Is that so? I guess this is the end of our friendship and this visit. Thanks for coming, Veron."

Isla was already positioned at the door, waiting for his words. She opened the door and silently eyed Veron. 
"I think its best to do so," she muttered. Grabbing her bag from the floor, she left as fast as she arrived. 
Isla closed the door and quietly made her way back to Jaejin. Nothing was said. She knew this was a big moment for him. He officially came out to the world and was met with discrimination and the ending of a friendship. Sitting on Veron's vacated seat, she kept a watchful eye on him. 

"From the weight of your stare, you think I said it too soon, huh?" he said aloud.

"Not entirely, young master."

"How so?" He was genuinely curious about her thoughts on what had happened moments ago.

"Well, I'm proud that you are now confident in yourself. I'm just wary of the person you revealed it to. From her show of undying loyalty to Sherida, there's a ninety-five percent chance she will reveal it to her. This may start a large ripple effect." Isla was being honest, and Jaejin welcomed that.

"That has crossed my mind, but do you know why I was able to be confident today? Why does it take little time to let go of my hang-ups?"

"No, young master."

Jaejin smiled at her and gently touched his earrings. "I have a support system now. When I was given a chance to go to college, I decided to keep my head down, get good grades and develop a way to escape my father's grasp. I found an unlikely friendship with Adam, but my trust levels were low. The incident showed me that I made the right choice in keeping him as my friend. I can't believe it took that  fucked up situation to strengthen my friendship with him." A humorless laugh left his still smiling lips. 
Running his hands through his hair, he adjusted his body on the sofa into a lying position and continued his explanation. 
"Another unknown variable popped up in my plan to keep a low profile. Eros Delacourde. Isn't it novel-like that a handsome CEO swooped in and saved my life? Oh, and he's from a mafia family and fricking homosexual. How perfect is that?"

Isla snorted in laughter at his description and the silly expression he had on his face. "I would read that book," she teased.

Jaejin chuckled at her response.

"He's waiting for me, Isla."

His warm tone sobered the atmosphere. 

"He stated his attraction to me and kept his distance as I came to terms with myself. I can tell he wants to do more for me but is holding back. Respect and appreciation for him grew from his actions. During our talks, he was open and allowed me to be myself. I felt safe. Lastly, the way he kept physical contact to a minimum but still let me know that he wanted to be next to me. To be honest, I was physically attracted to him the first time I saw him, and as the days went by, it grew into emotional attraction. I knew I had to be strong for myself and him. He's in the public eye and proud of his orientation; I decided to be by his side; I have to be proud to have him as my partner."

Jaejin covered his face with the crook of his arm and exhaled deeply. His shuddering breath can be heard, and that smile didn't vanish. He was happy. Isla felt goosebumps rushing down her arms. To witness the making of a new relationship and the evolution of someone's life was crazy. 

"I don't care if Veron tells Sherida. I'm not burying my head in the sand any longer. Let's see how far her obsessive possession goes."

The nurse's lips slowly curled into a smile after hearing those words. This young master is no longer the innocent little puppy young master Eros claimed as his. 

What would he do next?

New Mexico

With the little drop of water starting ripples in Pasadena, a few droplets were falling in New Mexico. Where were they falling?  

Two weeks was enough for the wives Eun-Kyung befriended to decide how they should proceed with things on their end.
The men of these ladies were three VIP clients of The HW Financial group. They were inadvertently responsible for the high-profile clients who sought the group for their services. Min Hanjool knew this and tasked his wife to keep the wives happy. Who knew one word could change their attitude towards a company?

"Eun, how can you live in ignorance for so long? Is it cultural to hand over most of your rights to your husband? This is unacceptable." These words came from Erica Harshaw. Her husband, Brendon Harshaw, is currently a third-generation heir in the oil industry. He was the first to put his trust in HW Financial. His company successfully explored oil on a new piece of land and decided to place the profits from this latest oil rig towards their children's future.  Erica was guilty of trusting the public facade of Min Hanjool as a family man. Due to her and her friends' barrage of concerned questions for Eun, they discovered many things. 

"I'm partially to blame. I should have been more assertive about my living conditions when he told me we were moving to America. He assured me everything was fine."

"That's... understandable. You were young and thrust into a new country with different laws and cultures," Ginny said.

The four were at one of their favorite boutiques. Erica requested a private appointment from the owner for their shopping date. They were all watching with genuine happiness as Eun modeled a few pieces they chose for her. 

"Are you comfortable with your present living?" she asked. Erica clutched her purse tightly as she questioned her friend. She had two daughters; one was the same age as Eun's son and the other three years younger. She couldn't fathom one of her girls marrying a man who seemed so incredible on the outside yet so abusive behind closed doors. If that should happen, would they confide in her?
As they gently asked Eun about her situation, the ageless beauty always smiled gently and answered politely. They knew she was holding back but didn't push her. They learned of her prison-like living, her son's college life conditions, her financial situation, and her situation like her passport, insurance, and ownership. 

"I'm grateful for the villa, and the great things included. I do not wish to tarnish my husband's name, but I want comfort in my home," Eun said softly. 

"Eun."

"Yes, Lucia."

Lucia Demitte is a mother of three and a successful business owner in her rights alongside her husband, Sanis. They weren't native to North America but to South America. Due to the expansion of their company, they moved to New Mexico to create a new foothold. Success came with a few bumps, and she was happy to meet Eun, Ginny, and Erica to take her through those times. Hearing of Eun's silent suffering made her feel guilty about accepting her help while she was through tough times. There must be something she can do.

"Eun, did Jaejin mention who his benefactor was?" Lucia asked. The name Eros caught her ears when it was said in passing, and many things began to line up.

"Oh. A man by the name of Eros Delacourde. He has been helping us since he got Jaejin home."

"Eros Delacourde?!"

"Oh, do you know of him? His family? I would love to thank them any way I can." Eun-Kyung was excited to know that one of her friends may have some connection to people where her son was and to the man who saved him.

"A family friend of ours is close to the Delacourdes. They are influential in Boston, but their origins are from France. If I recall, Eros is the second son and has a twin named Ares, the third son. They are both successful in their businesses. The oldest is Luciel. He's currently married to a doctor, and the youngest is a girl, Rejeanne. A wonderful family, by the words of our friend. Wow, what a stroke of luck."

"What do you mean?" Ginny asked. After Lucia's explanation of the family, may it be a superficial explanation, she was curious to know more about this French family. Hearing the name piques your curiosity.

"Of all the children of the Delacourdes and the families close to them, Eros is a mystery to the public. A year ago, he made a stunning appearance when he openly traveled and posted a few social media posts. A few months ago, he entered the business world in the security and technology sector. The kids are all tech crazed and made a fuss about the home system the child created. As it may be, we purchased the security system after much pleading. Even I can work the damn thing, and it made living in that neighborhood better," she explained. The hapless expression on her face was one any parent makes when they give in to their children's whims and find a liking to them. 

"Wait, he created a security system? Isn't he around Jaejin's age?" Ginny probed. She tends to dig further when an exciting topic pops up.

"Ah, I think so. Maybe a year older. He's a great kid, as we were told," Lucia replied with a shrug of her shoulders.

"He must be impressive for him to secure Jaejin's safety and find a way to contact Eun. He's a looker, right? Hearing the name 'Eros Delacourde' is giving me steamy vibes." The blonde socialite was a huge romantic and an avid reader who never fit in the stuffy society she was raised in. Her marriage to a then small-time entrepreneur when she was younger was all due to her love for the man and the desire for her happily ever after. Years later, her husband's small mobile home business grew into destination homes in unlikely areas, garnering attention from celebrities and politicians. Ginny always supports love whenever she sees or hears it. When she heard the story of Jaejin's incident, his rescue, now Eros's background and his part in keeping Jaejin safe - she sensed romance.

The blonde was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realize her actions reflected them. Her friends shook their heads in amusement, knowing they had lost her in some fantasy matchmaking plan of hers. 

"Hearing your friend's words on him and his family, I feel more at ease that my son is under his protection. That's all a mother can wish for."

The four continued their shopping excursion and made plans for the upcoming weekend. The three were known to hold pool parties or events that one would talk about for weeks. Eun-Kyung had an inkling of greed and rebellion to attend those events, but her husband found ways to keep her locked away in her villa. A formulated excuse was always given and believed by the wives, but now they knew the truth; they invited her and not through their husbands. 

"I don't have a swimsuit," she muttered after excitedly accepting their invitation.

"You don't?" Ginny shrieked in disbelief. 

"This won't do. I will make a call. Let's go, ladies," Erica huffed in annoyance and determination for her friend. Withdrawing her phone from her bag, she motioned the waiting saleswomen to pack up their goods and led the ladies to the lobby of the closed store. As she spoke on the phone, the other three talked to the staff during checkout; within that moment, harsh knocking on the glass door was heard.
Frowning at the disturbance, the ladies watched as the manager approached the door and stepped out to remove the noise from her treasured customers. "Didn't they see the closed sign?" Ginny murmured, craning her neck to see the rude person. 
"Probably an impatient customer. Oh, what is this?" Eun-Kyung's attention to the outside was weak as she was distracted by jewelry set on display. Lucia joined her when the sales clerk began her explanation of the new piece. 

On the steps of the high-fashioned boutique, Manager Eloise stood her ground and politely explained the store's closure to the three women before her.
"Our apologies, ma'am. We are presently closed today for a private appointment. We will resume regular working hours tomorrow."

"In other words, our money is no good at the moment. Are you the manager? Do you want me to call your boss? To keep your job, the best way is to let us through." This demand came from the slender woman who stood tall among her friends, dressed in visually expensive clothing; her expression gave an additional hint to her personality. The way the woman portrayed herself and acted before her friends and the arrogant tone for nearby persons to hear was something Eloise was used to. 

"Empty threats? I'm immune to those things and report directly to this boutique's owner. Do you wish for me to deliver a message to her?"

The light admonishment was received clearly. The woman's expression became stiff. Her eyes darted to her companions, who were looking at her skeptically.

"This won't do. When my husband hears of this, your boss will have much to do about her business. He's a private patron here. Most of the gifts I receive from him are from this store. I can't believe this is how you treat an esteemed customer," the woman said in a much louder tone.

"If your husband shops here, he should be aware of our business hours and customer priority. He can make an appointment for you. The same my current guests did." The manager was now annoyed. She needed to tend to the ladies in the store. They were customers on the high priority list and well-liked amongst the staff. This woman can be categorized as a walk-in customer who will complain about the prices and then leave after bothering the team.

"My husband is Chairman Min of HW Financial...."

Eloise stopped listening to the woman after her outrageous claim. She looked over the woman once more. Pin straight brunette hair, pale face helped my makeup, slender frame in a designer outfit that was an ill-fitted and bold manicure. Her companions wore outfits that were below their age bracket and heavy makeup. 

What an insult to the faithful wife of Chairman Min.

"No, you're not."

The statement came out coldly with accusing eyes.

"Excuse me!" the woman shrieked. The redness on her face from embarrassment can now be seen through her makeup. The audience she pulled from her unsightly behavior added to her humiliation.

"I said, you're not Chairman Min's wife. Please refrain from soiling that position with your claims." Eloise liked Mrs. Eun-Kyun. She's kind-hearted, respectable, and a patron any high-end boutique will love to have. How dare this woman claim to be her? It wasn't her place to comment on the woman's lies, but she couldn't leave it be.

"How dare you! A lowly minimum wage worker dare insult me!" 

The manager kept her face stoic, biting her tongue to stop the rebuttals brewing in her head. The woman took up a lot of her time. The door behind her opened with one of the two bodyguards allowed within the premises leading the party of four. 

"Eloise, dear, we'll be going. Michelle is waiting for us on the other side of town. Thank you for today. The girls did a great job today." The compliment came from Erica, the unspoken leader of the group. Three men who helped with the heavy lifting carried shopping bags and boxes to the two Maybachs, pulling up at the curb. The manager beamed at her praises and the additional comments from the other three as they came out.
Hands politely clasped against her stomach, she bowed slightly to the women and thanked them for visiting. Eun-Kyung was the last to step onto the sidewalk with the bodyguard gracefully helping her down the stairs. The women trying to justify why they should enter, stepped back to avoid the large group and the bustling. The brunette eyed each of them, but her eyes were stuck on the Asian beauty bringing up the rear. She knew the woman. How can she not? For years she has been compared to that woman. Her son can't even find favor with his father because he believes in those stupid traditions. 

Eun felt the brunette's piercing gaze and turned to her. She recognized the woman who now warms her husband's bed and mother to his second son. Her eyes were hidden behind the dark designer shades, but the brunette felt Eun's indifference to her presence. The humiliation grew; she felt belittled in that one silent look. She couldn't cause a bigger scene. Hanjool made the woman and her son 'off-limits' to her; only he could handle them. All she could do was watch on.

The party left with their subtle show of influence on the three women. "I guess your position in his life isn't much, huh?" one of the women said with a mocking laugh. The brunette turned sharply on her heels and retraced her step to where their ride was.

Eloise, on the other hand, took note of her features and made a note to warn her staff. Turning to re-enter the store, muttering to herself, "The life of the rich is so dramatic."

In the heart of the city, a highrise building stood with all its splendor under the blazing sun, bringing attention to its unique architecture and name. All thirty floors were occupied with necessities for the financial group and additional features catered to the staff. Men and women bustled through the halls; sales pitches were carried over the phone, brokers kept track of the stock market, glass offices housing new and present clients, and dollars kept raking silently in the background. This was a typical day at HW Financial.

But. 

One person wasn't having a typical day. 

The head administrator entered the private elevator from the twenty-fifth floor; four red folders with clients' names were clutched tightly in his hand. His day was good if he can say so, after filtering calls to his boss and keeping external and internal affairs separated. The timid call from one of his juniors shook his day-to-day routine. Making the trip to the lower floor was a must. Two of their brokers were pale-faced when he arrived to clarify the urgent matter. The contents were evident when he saw the red folders. The brokers' eyes reflected the color and matched their fear of what will happen next.
Since HW Finacial Group created its foothold in the US, a red folder was never seen on any floors. Each staff member knew what that meant. What comes next is where their fears lay.

The elevator stopped on the top floor, which was only accessible to him, the chairman, and special guests. The doors slid open by a quarter; the head administrator was too impatient to wait for it to open more. He squeezed through the space and stepped onto the marble floor. His dress shoes clattered against the expensive surface; the fast pace evolved into an urgent tempo matching the situation perfectly. He brushed past the two guards seated at the first entrance. They stood hastily, surprised by the visit and the sternness on the man's first. They weren't greeted as per usual. It was clear he needed to see the chairman urgently. 

"S-sir. The chairman has a visitor," one voice.

Since the person wasn't on the company's official records, he knew who the visitor was. That sparked the fury further in the secretary's heart. 

"I'll deal with it later. Be prepared to escort them out."

The guards stole quick glances and nodded in affirmation. They curiously watched the tense back of the man as he bolted down the hall and made a sharp turn to the left. Something is wrong.
Cho Wu An has been at Min Hanjool's side since their teen years. The Min family placed him as the first son's overseer, which was a babysitter for a grown child. Over the years, he turned a blind eye to what his boss did, even the route he took to become this established. If he wanted a life filled with luxury and riches that could care for his family, he had to grow a thick skin. Presently there was someone more fitting to oversee the hidden parts of the present Min Family while he, Head Administrator Cho, managed the group. 
Walking down the private section of the thirtieth floor, he approached the frosted glass door and placed his thumb on the security scanner. 
'Approved.'
He pushed the door and stalked into the carefully designed open-space apartment. The area boasted the scenic view of the city below them. On one side was the kitchen and living space; on the other, was the ornate king-size bed and bathroom suite. Turning to the bed, he spotted the middle-aged chairman sitting upright against the plush headboard, legs wide accommodating the lush naked body of a blonde woman. She was on her knees with her ass positioned upward, giving him a view of her wet folds. Her messy blonde head bobbed up and down between the two. The chairman's hand was on her head forcefully, making her gags sound louder. He grunted and thrust his hips upward. 
Cho Wu An reigned in his urges. If it was a day to fool around, he would have been part of that, pushing away the thoughts of his wife. Playing with the young beauties in the US corrupted them greatly. 

"Brother Hanjool, this is urgent."

"I'm sure it can wait," the man said through gritted teeth.

"Look at this," Cho pressed. 

Muttering curses, he opened his eyes to look at whatever his friend had to show him during his afternoon break. The sexual high he was falling into disappeared instantly. 

Why were there four red folders on his floor?

He grabbed the blonde's head to stop her, then pushed her aside. "Baby," she whined. Hanjool paused his actions to watch her move her body seductively. Her heavy breasts shifted when she opened her legs and plunged her fingers into her soaked pussy. His seed and her juices were leaking down her thighs. He was tempted to return to his little haven.

"The Avery and Bisane accounts are included."

The statement held no emotion of joy or hope. Chairman Min Hanjool felt the first sign of unease since he arrived in the US. He knew businessmen's minds can be fickle at times but when it comes to burning bridges, they do so ruthlessly. 

"What did you just say?" Hanjool said with a guttural growl.

"Miss Lane please leave," Cho said calmly, not taking his eye of his friend. The blonde looked between the two and did what she was asked. It took her a few minutes to leave the room, she wasn't bothered, her bank account was already updated.

Donning a robe, Hanjool moved to the living area and grabbed the first folder off the coffee table. A red folder in the company means a client terminated their contract or cancelled the beginnings of their work relationship. All four were termination of contracts. They made a clean cut from the company,, paid the penalty fee, had their portfolio sealed legally and collected the gains they made. "What's their reason for this?" he asked. There were no mistakes on the broker's part, no bogus investments nor can he remember disrespecting  them in any way. Two of them were mid level CEOs, Avery and Bisane were international tycoons making their way into the US.

What the hell happened?

"It ranged from 'their own accord' to ' in need of a more trusted company'," Cho returned. Upon hearing the news, he already placed an investigation on the four names, he was awaiting on the results. The four terminations were enough to cause a slight shake in the group's public opinion. They had to be careful.

"Request an informal dinner meeting with the Avery and Bisane. Shit. I can't lose these two, they are part of the capital for the new project back home. Contact that bitch of mine. It's time for her to do her duties as my wife. Have them dress her fuckable, we can't let her background go to waste."

"Yes."

How easy for a foundation to crack.

Pasadena

"Baek is ready to make things a bit bigger. He's awaiting your orders. Dreux arrived in New Mexico with a team of twelve and in stand-by mode. Don Vitalli is back stateside and ready. Jhoel is keeping an eye on the Macallis girl." Jian's report was quick and straight to the point. Standing in the closet's entrance, he went through loads of information filtering to his iPad. His best friend was on his way out, which meant Eros was about to go into a no-contact zone. This will be up to twelve hours, and the time can be adjusted, but this was one of the recent new rules since they came to Pasadena. 
No-contact zone came about when the young master came to terms with his affection for the new young master, Jaejin. He wanted no disruption.

"Keep an eye on New Mexico. I believe the little crack has widened?" Eros asked. He was packing an overnight bag while tying up loose ends on the work side.

"Yes. The filtered information from Korea reached their network. We have confirmation that they terminated their contracts and were led to one of the family's companies in New York."

"Good job. In two days, please inform Daize to begin; what of the boys?" Eros left the closet and made his way to his attached office. This room was filled with giant screens with security images; on the wide glass desk were three monitors where he had ongoing projects and his social media accounts. His iPad and phone were thrown into the backpack he favored, two external hard drives he was working on, and a delicately wrapped box.

"They are making their faces scene around the trendiest shopping area and restaurants. Ivan's interest in the brunette seems to help our plans. He has been pursuing her since the night they met."

"That's a good thing for him. Try to keep the girl out of the splash zone. He will take his anger out on me and Roman."

"Noted." Jian quickly sent out a memo on that remark. He stayed silent for a while, watching each action of his friend. Eros was no longer robotic nor painfully apathetic. Smiles were now familiar, and conversations flowed better with him. He still asked questions if he misunderstood a situation. Jian was that friend silently cheering on the sidelines.

"Are you content?"

"Yes."

"Taking a partner requires more than care and affection."

"I understand that now. My relations with Shaun taught me that. I realized what I gave him wasn't enough to help him with his past and hidden fears. I stepped back when he told me of the man who approached him with pure intentions. Now, I've found someone who accepted it all from me and returned it tenfold. He went as far as facing the world, albeit the medium is someone who shunned him. Jaejin wants to be on my side. He responded to my quiet request. Isn't that great?"

Jian grinned. "Yeah, it is. We are all looking forward to meeting him in the future. The little tidbits from the girls are no longer enough."

"Soon." Eros returned his grin and led the way out of his apartment.

Across town, Jaejin was maneuvering around his apartment with a cane to help keep his balance. The bruises on his body were nonexistent, his stab wound was healing nicely, and his fractures were no longer an issue from the nurses' examinations. In a few days, he will be going for a doctor's visit to remove the casts. He was excited. He can resume his daily activities and possibly go on a date. His cheeks burned at the thought of doing a first with Eros. 

"A lot of firsts," he murmured to himself. Another first will be a sleepover. Without thinking about the specifics, he gave into Eros' request to spend the weekend with him. News met his ears of his little meeting with Veron, and he was asked repeatedly if he was alright. The cold CEO was full-blown in worry mode. 
Jaejin decided to cook a quick meal for them to show him that he was genuinely fine. He had been craving noodles for a while and decided to make the main dish and chicken, which will be cooked in the oven. Isla warned him of staying on his feet for longer than fifteen minutes when he told her of the dinner plans. He sat at the two-chair table, chopped the vegetables, and prepped the chicken. It was relaxing to do something himself without the help of nurses. The ambiance was mellow, music played in the background, the apartment felt cozier than usual, and he wasn't stressed while cooking. The calm atmosphere allowed him to think of his next steps in life. First on the list was to speak with his mother. In the letter he sent through Eros, he asked a question that would affect his psyche.  It was brave of him to announce his sexuality, but what would his mother think?
He knew she loved him, but this was something that could affect her life also. His father had already voiced his opinion, but his mother's opinion mattered more.

What if she shuns him? What if she disowns him as her son? He wasn't good enough for his father that's why the man wanted to mold him his way. What if....

"No, I can't think that way. She sacrificed a lot for him to be here in Pasadena. The best thing is to wait." Jaejin admonished himself harshly and returned to cooking.

Half an hour later, the doorbell rang out of courtesy then the security lock was disarmed. A smile was on his face when he looked towards the door. "Hi." His low voice and warm smile made his face heat up. 

"Hi. You're just in time."

"Should you be moving about so much?" Eros asked as he made his way to the kitchen. His weekend bag was placed near the living area along with backpack. His brown eyes were expressive, concern and worry were clear then amazement filled them when the three wooden bowls were placed on the table. 

"It's fine. Wash your hands and let's eat," Jaejin countered. He hid his face by busying himself with the table settings and placement of the chairs. He thought himself bold when he placed Eros's chair closer to him.

"I know this dish. Japchae. My brother introduced this to me when he visited us a few years back. It looks great, Jaejin."

Eros's compliment flustered him quite a bit. "Thank you. My mother taught me. Try the kimchi; it's my first try without her help." He served Eros a good amount alongside the glass noodles (Japchae) and chicken bulgogi (Korean BBQ chicken).

"Thank you," Eros said softly. His eyes didn't leave Jaejin's face nor the smooth movements of his hand. 

The two ate in silence to appease their hunger before starting their usual banter filled with flirting, minor debates, and pieces of their humor. Eros complimented Jaejin once more for the meal and chased him to the living area while he did the dishes. He didn't protest. He was content in watching him from afar. It felt right. The night was beginning, but it felt right.

After the dishes, Eros packed his things away before returning to Jaejin's side. This time he sat closer. 
"Aren't you going to ask?"

"I want to, but I don't want to spark any regrets." His answer was direct and honest.

"Reasonable."

A tv show to binge over the weekend was chosen, and the two settled in for the night. His eyes were meant to be on the screen, but it was on the man who now had his head on his lap, lost to the show. His fingers were hesitant initially, but he became bold in wanting to feel the unstyled curls on top of Eros's head.
Jaejin's fingers ran through his hair; he chuckled when the curls wrapped around his fingers, not wanting to let go but had to as he moved his hand further in. He followed the undercut on his head till his neck. He can feel Eros's pulse move from steady to fast. Slender fingers moved from his neck to his jaw. Every inch was touched; they moved to his chin, then lips. 

 "Jin." The whisper was shaky and questioning. 

He turned Eros's head gently towards him and brought his head closer. The tv was forgotten. The two held each other's gazes; Eros was hanging by a thread; he wanted to capture the pink lips above his but held himself back. This was Jaejin's moment, and he was the one who took the initiative.

"Would you listen to my selfish request?" Jaejin asked.

"Yes."

He chuckled at the quick answer. "I want to be with you. I wish to officially be your partner, not only behind closed doors but for all eyes to see."

"Jin, do you know what you're saying?" Eros asked of him. He reached up and brushed the apple of Jaejin's cheeks with the back of his hand.

"Of course I do. Truthfully I'm scared yet adamant about doing it. This is where my request comes in. Allow me to lead this relationship. It's all new to me, and I don't want you to have high expectations of me only to be let down by my worries. Would you allow me to set the pace of our relationship?"

"Yes." 

He laughed in disbelief, placing his forehead against Eros's. "You are allowed to think about it."

"Hmmm, really? I thought the answer was clear."

This man, Jaejin said to himself. The smile didn't die on his lips. "Thank you, Eros."

Slowly he moved his lips to the awaiting ones below him. The owner didn't move, but Jaejin felt how tense his body became. In his peripheral, he saw the tight grip Eros had on the sofa when he placed his lips on his.
He can feel the heat exuded from his body under his fingertips. Eros didn't move; he allowed Jaejin to do as he pleased as promised. This was his first kiss. After all, he couldn't allow his feral mind to take over. 
Slowly and softly, their lips moved against each other. Curious hands left his face and followed the contours of his body. The kiss became firmer. A small groan and sigh were heard. Eros felt Jaejin's trembling fingers on his t-shirt; he helped him by raising his t-shirt. The muscles of his toned abs tensed in response to his lover's little journey of discovery. 

"It's all yours," Eros said against his lips.

"That's why I'm nervous. Do you know how beautiful your body is?"

"No. That's why you need to touch me more." It was cute hearing the teasing voice of Eros.

"I think more kissing has to be done."

Eros grinned at those words. His eyes shone when Jaejin retook his close position above him. 
'Ah, this is it. I've found him.'