Episode 14

Cedric was sitting on the couch in Adrien's apartment, the clock in his hand showing a quarter past seven in the evening. The black suit he wore perfectly outlined his pronounced muscles as he was bent over his knees. The video on his cell phone played over and over again, filling the quiet room with the infectious laughter of a couple of children. The smile on his face was genuine and couldn't have been bigger as he relived those moments.

"How many times have you seen this already?"Adrien's soft voice came from behind him, causing Cedric to jump slightly on the couch in shock. Adrien's mocking laughter soon accompanied his comment, and Cedric rolled his eyes in mock annoyance, though they both knew it was impossible to be angry with their childhood friend.

"Twelve, or was it a hundred? I don't know... but I love to hear you laugh," Cedric looked back at the screen of his cell phone, and Adrien leaned back against the back of the couch to watch the video as well. His chin rested on Cedric's shoulder, and a smile quickly spread across his face as he remembered that day.

"I still remember that day you cried like a little kid because I didn't give you candy, and then you accused me to my mother, who scolded me for a whole hour," commented Adrien with nostalgia and amusement.

"Well, Auntie was right, you were too mean to a helpless child like me," Cedric replied, exaggerating his voice to make the anecdote more dramatic.

"My mother didn't know you were such a sly rat," said Adrien, rolling his eyes and giving her a friendly little tap on the shoulder before getting up. Let's go, or we'll be late.

Cedric stood up and followed Adrien, keeping the silly smile on his face. The complicity and affection between the two was palpable, even in those small gestures and shared memories that bound them since childhood.

...----------------...

Adrien and Cedric arrived at the benefit together, with a dynamic energy that caught the attention of everyone around them. Adrien looked impeccable in his smart suit, while Cedric exuded confidence and charisma. They moved gracefully through the crowd, greeting acquaintances and chatting animatedly.

At some point, their gazes crossed those of Carlo and Paola, who were also at the party. Carlo looked irritated by Cedric's presence, which did not go unnoticed by Adrien. Although he couldn't help but notice the discomfort on Carlo's face, Adrien made no gesture to address the situation, keeping his attention on Cedric and enjoying the evening.

On the other hand, Cedric seemed to be enjoying every moment, sharing laughs and anecdotes with Adrien as they moved around the event. His carefree attitude contrasted with the palpable tension between Carlo and Paola, who seemed distant and somewhat uncomfortable in the midst of the celebration.

Carlo watched Adrien from time to time, noticing how his attention was completely absorbed by Cedric. Such indifference from Adrien towards him caused him deep pain, especially seeing how Adrien was close and friendly with Cedric, something Carlo longed for deep inside.

As the night wore on, Carlo struggled internally with his mixed emotions. On the one hand, he felt a distaste for Cedric and the dynamic he had with Adrien, but on the other, the pain of Adrien's indifference to him weighed heavy on his heart.

Meanwhile, Adrien and Cedric continued to enjoy the party, oblivious to the emotional whirlwind unfolding around them.

...----------------...

The evening progressed with its characteristic superficial elegance, tinged with lights and murmurs of stilted conversation. Adrien, despite his dislike for such events and the falseness he perceived in the smiles of the guests, strove to maintain a serene appearance on his face. However, his expression barely concealed the distaste he felt for the environment and the forced social interactions.

Older men and some acquaintances approached him with formal greetings and trying to engage in conversation, but Adrien's distant attitude quickly cooled off any attempts at closeness. In contrast, Cedric was more sociable and made an effort to maintain a friendly atmosphere, thus preventing discomfort from spreading among the attendees.

Adrien deeply detested these parties, mainly because of the obvious hypocrisy that characterized many of the guests. Although the purpose was noble, raising funds for charitable works, most of the attendees seemed more interested in showcasing themselves and gaining public recognition than truly helping society. The false kindness and masks they wore were evident to Adrien, who couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the lack of authenticity.

However, amidst that web of superficiality, there was one person whom Adrien did believe in, even if it was in small flashes of truth in a sea of lies. That person was Carlo Mancini, someone whom Adrien both hated and loved intensely. Carlo could lift him to great heights with passionate gestures and comforting words, but also plunge him into the depths of pain with his occasional indifference and cruelty.

Despite the conflicting emotions he evoked in him, Adrien couldn't help but feel drawn to Carlo, who from the moment they met, hadn’t looked away from Adrien. Carlo's presence in that environment, though complex and full of conflicts, was like a magnet that attracted Adrien's attention and emotions, engulfing him in a whirlwind of conflicting feelings.

Adrien's eyes met Carlo's repeatedly throughout the night, each gaze seeming to carry an encrypted message of unexpressed emotions. On one hand, there was a spark of desire and longing in Adrien's gaze, a desire for genuine connection and a yearning to find refuge in Carlo. But there was also a shadow of pain and confusion, a feeling of being trapped in an emotional maze from which he couldn’t escape.

Carlo, on the other hand, displayed a mixture of irritation and sadness on his face. Cedric's presence by his side, always smiling and friendly towards Adrien, constantly reminded him of the distance between them. Despite his disgust at Cedric's attitude, Carlo felt more hurt by Adrien's indifference towards him. Every time their gazes met, Carlo could feel the void that had formed between them, a void that seemed to grow with each passing second they were apart.

The soft background music and the lively conversations of the guests created an unreal atmosphere around them. Adrien tried to keep himself busy talking to others, but his mind and heart kept returning to Carlo, as if they were connected by an invisible thread that they couldn’t break. The physical proximity between them in that public space only heightened the emotional tension floating between them.

Meanwhile, Cedric noticed the tension between Adrien and Carlo but decided not to intervene directly. In his mind, Carlo's presence had always been a hurdle in his relationship with Adrien, but at the same time, he recognized that he couldn't ignore the depth of Adrien's feelings for Carlo. Cedric felt trapped in a complex emotional triangle, where his own feelings of friendship for Adrien clashed with a sense of competition and jealousy towards Carlo.

As the night progressed, emotions remained entangled in an internal whirlwind for all of them. It was as if fate had decided to play with their hearts in the middle of that charity event, showing them that love and complexity often go hand in hand, leaving each of them grappling with their own emotional demons amidst the superficial elegance of the evening.

Hello, I apologize to everyone for the delay, I hadn't felt like continuing with the story due to the death of one of my pets. I was feeling down. I'm sorry. But here is the chapter and I will have another ready soon.

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***