Adrien looked at the secretary, who kept her eyes on the computer, and then took a step towards her. His imposing presence filled the space around him, making the secretary feel even smaller and insignificant in comparison.
"Starting today, anything Carlo needs has to go through me first and you are strictly forbidden to give him any personal information about me or my friend, is that clear?" His voice was firm and authoritative, making it clear that he was not willing to accept any answer other than "yes, sir."
"Yes, sir," she stammered, nodding euphorically, eager to comply with the order and avoid any kind of conflict.
After giving her a quick glance to make sure she understood, Adrien returned to his office and slammed the door shut, leaving behind an aura of tension and control. Cedric, who had watched the scene from his place, approached curiously.
"What happened out there?" he asked, noticing the tension in the air.
"Nothing important," Adrien replied in a serene voice, although his mind was occupied with other thoughts. "I have a lot of work to do, so it's best if we meet tonight and talk about it."
"Okay," Cedric agreed, used to respecting his friend's moments of concentration.
After saying goodbye, Cedric went out and left, leaving Adrien alone in his office. He sank into the armchair at the side, resting his back against the backrest and covering his eyes with one hand. The accumulated tension was reflected on his face, revealing the emotional burden he carried with him.
Carlo's words echoed over and over in his mind, hammering a sharp pain in his chest. He had decided to forget about him, but the feelings he had harbored unilaterally for so many years could not be extinguished by magic. It was a constant internal struggle between his desire to move on and the nostalgia of the past.
He was a person who had never been in love. Not once in his life did he feel the urge to possess someone. Not once did he feel the desire to belong to anyone or to cling so tightly to a feeling. Somehow, the death of his parents made one thing clear to him: nothing is forever, and the one you love the most is the one who soon leaves you. It was a hard lesson engraved deep within him.
Adrien reflected on his past actions and the consequences they had had on his relationship with Carlo. He recognized that his possessive and manipulative behavior had deeply damaged any possibility of a genuine and healthy connection between them.
The memory of keeping Carlo by his side through threats weighed heavily on his soul. He had acted cruelly, taking other people out of Carlo's life without considering his feelings or well-being. He had even gone so far as to use physical violence out of jealousy, which caused Carlo to turn his back on him and apply the silent treatment for more than a week.
Despite everything, Adrien was still trapped in a destructive cycle. His obsessive desire for Carlo had become an emotional burden that consumed him, leading him to act impulsively and selfishly over and over again.
However, his brother's voice echoed in his mind as a painful reminder of reality. The idea that Carlo would never feel attracted to him, because of his gender identity, hit him with an inescapable truth. Even though he tried to win Carlo over in every way possible, he was still a man in a world where Carlo was looking for a relationship with a woman.
Pain and frustration intertwined in Adrien's heart as he faced the truth he had avoided for so long. He had built castles of illusions and unrealizable desires, but reality was harsher than he had wanted to accept.
With a heavy sigh, Adrien promised himself to find a way to break free from this toxic cycle and find the inner peace he so longed for. He knew it would not be easy, but acknowledging his mistakes was the first step towards redemption and the possibility of a healthier and more balanced future.
...----------------...
The atmosphere of dusk enveloped the surroundings, painting the sky with golden and pink hues that contrasted with the dark cloud of emotions that filled Adrien's heart. As he was about to leave the building, a feeling of anger washed over him as he saw the person he considered his greatest rival standing in the parking lot.
His eyebrows furrowed in anger and his gaze was filled with hatred, as if he could strike her down with the force of his anger. For an instant, his possessive instincts led him to take a step towards her, but before he could advance, a slight push on his shoulder stopped him in his tracks. He looked indignantly at the person who had stopped him, but could not utter a word to justify his reaction.
A feeling of sadness washed over him as he witnessed Carlo approaching the girl and hugging her, guiding her to his car tenderly. Adrien felt powerless, frustrated with himself for allowing jealousy and anger to control his actions.
With heavy steps, he walked away in the opposite direction, not caring that his car was in the other direction. He walked for several blocks until he decided to call a car, at which point his cell phone vibrated in his pocket. Checking the message, he found a freshly taken photograph of himself. He looked up and saw Cedric waiting for him in a nearby car.
Without saying a word, Adrien approached and got into the vehicle, letting the complicity and connection they shared speak for them. They didn't need words to understand each other, for their communication was much deeper and rooted in a mental connection that united them beyond words.
"Why are we here?" Adrien looked to his right and saw a place with a "for rent or sale" sign hanging on the front door. The neighborhood they were in was a place full of different types of businesses.
"I want to show you something."
Cedric got out of the car and Adrien did the same, both walked towards the place and a man in a suit came out to greet them.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen." He greeted them kindly and gestured for them to come in.
The pair of friends entered and Adrien looked around. The place was empty and you could tell it was spacious. He turned his gaze to Cedric and, without asking the question, it was answered, as if his friend could read his mind.
"I remember when you were young you wanted a coffee shop. You said: 'I'm going to have the biggest coffee shop in the country and I'm going to make the best coffee in the world so Mom can be happy on winter days and after working all day'." Adrien's eyes widened but he didn't utter a word letting his friend continue. "I plan to build a coffee shop in your mother's name, of course, if you'll let me."
Adrien was stunned to hear such a statement. Years had passed, and although he had not forgotten that idea, he did not expect Cedric to remember it so clearly.
His mother was a coffee lover in any kind of presentation and had taught him to prepare some, at first he hated it because he had burned himself a couple of times, but then he took a little love to the art of coffee. However, when he had finally managed to almost perfectly prepare his mother's favorite coffee, those people had taken her out of his life.
From that moment on he had abhorred any kind of coffee machine and never made one again, until the day Carlo took him to his apartment and wanted a cup of coffee. At that moment, even though his eyes welled up and his throat tightened, he managed to make an aromatic and delicious coffee.
He shook his head and looked down. This was not the time to remember that person.
"Thank you so much, my friend."
Adrien threw himself at him and hugged him tightly. Cedric did not hesitate for a second to return the affectionate hug. Adrien shed a few tears and clung tightly to his friend's back. Cedric knew that this surprise would bring back memories, but he also knew that it was something Adrien had longed for for a long time, but out of fear he had never done it and if he could give him that little bit of happiness, maybe he would enter Adrien's thoughts as something more than a friend.
...----------------...
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Andro
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2025-02-12
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