Episode 4: Opening Hearts

Sebastian kept his promise.

When Adrian met him the next evening, he half expected a luxury car and a five-star restaurant. Instead, Sebastian was waiting for him outside a small food stall in the city, hands tucked into the pockets of his leather jacket.

Adrian raised an eyebrow. “You actually listened.”

Sebastian smirked. “I’m not as bad as you think.”

They ordered cheap street food—crispy dumplings and steaming noodles—and found a quiet bench nearby. The city lights flickered around them, the hum of life filling the air.

Adrian took a bite and eyed Sebastian. “So, what’s your deal?

You’re rich, you’ve got everything handed to you, and yet, here you are, slumming it with me.”

Sebastian twirled his chopsticks between his fingers. “You assume money makes life easy.”

“Doesn’t it?”

Sebastian’s smirk faltered for just a second. “It makes life comfortable. Not easy.”

Adrian frowned. He had spent so long resenting the wealthy that he had never really considered their problems. But before he could dwell on it, Sebastian spoke again.

“What about you? You work three jobs and go to school. What’s the end goal?”

Adrian sighed. “A better life. For me. For my family. I don’t want to struggle forever.”

Sebastian studied him for a long moment before nodding. “I respect that.”

The conversation shifted after that—less guarded, more honest. They talked about music, movies, childhood memories. Sebastian confessed he once ran away as a kid just to see if anyone would notice. Adrian admitted he had never been on a real vacation.

For the first time, Adrian saw a different side of Sebastian. And it scared him.

Because it was easier to hate him than to like him.

The next few weeks passed in a blur.

Sebastian kept showing up in Adrian’s life, but now, Adrian didn’t mind as much.

He still rolled his eyes and called Sebastian annoying, but he no longer pushed him away.

Riley noticed the shift immediately.

“You’re letting him in,” Riley teased one afternoon. “Are we finally admitting you like the rich boy?”

Adrian groaned. “No. I’m admitting he’s… tolerable.”

Riley laughed. “You’re doomed.”

One evening, after another late shift, Adrian found himself sitting beside Sebastian at a quiet park. They weren’t talking, just sitting in comfortable silence.

Eventually, Adrian broke it. “Why me?”

Sebastian turned to him. “What do you mean?”

Adrian shrugged. “You could have anyone. Someone from your world. So why waste your time on me?”

Sebastian’s gaze softened. “Because for the first time in my life, I want something that’s real.”

Adrian’s chest tightened, and for the first time since meeting him, he didn’t have a comeback.

He was in trouble.

Because real meant dangerous. Real meant vulnerability.

And Adrian had spent his whole life building walls to keep people out—especially people like Sebastian, who came from a world where love was just another transaction.

But Sebastian wasn’t playing by the rules. He wasn’t making empty promises or treating Adrian like a passing interest. He was showing up, breaking through every defense Adrian had so carefully built.

And Adrian didn’t know whether to run—or let himself fall.

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