Chapter 1

"Guys, it's been a while since we spent time together. Why don't we go out tonight and stay in a hotel if it gets late?" Alex Scurtis suggests as he walks towards Eryx's car. Eryx is the powerful young master of the Silvester family.

"That's a great idea, isn't it?" Alex's amused tone irritates Eryx.

Alex smiles at Braylon, who is sitting next to him silently and squeezing his hands nervously. Braylon always tries to say something to Eryx but ends up staying silent. It's been one week since they finished their degree exam in forensic criminology.

They've all been friends for three years.

"Count me in, babies!"

Revilla jumped suddenly, almost scaring Alex half to death. These young criminology students don't know how many hearts they are going to steal.

A gust of wind blows, making the atmosphere more lively.

“Get in the car, guys. Today is our day to enjoy,” Eryx invited them.

Eryx was at the peak of his enjoyment. He didn't know how to describe the happiness he was feeling right now. But poor him, he didn't know it wouldn't last long.

“Where are we going?” Braylon finally spoke.

His soft, husky voice made Eryx's heart flutter for a moment. He had been friends with Braylon for three years, yet these feelings were strange and hard to explain.

“Let’s go to the hotpot first, then the bar, and afterward, we can rest at a nearby hotel or motel. If we want, we can even go for a long drive,” Eryx suggested.

Revilla and Alex screamed in excitement, clearly enjoying themselves.

“When am I going to tell him that I’m leaving the city and going abroad for further studies? I’ve tried hard to tell him, but he always refuses to listen. My flight is tomorrow evening, and time is so limited. Can I manage to tell him?” Braylon was lost in his thoughts.

Having applied to a university abroad, Braylon needed to study for his entrance exam and stay on campus to revise. This meant he had to leave sooner than expected.

“Braylon, why are you staying silent? Man, at least say something,” Alex said, shaking his shoulder. It was unusual for Braylon to be so quiet. Normally, he was charming, cheerful, and talkative.

“He's been like that for a week,” Eryx groaned, rolling his eyes. He wasn't used to Braylon's silence, and it really irritated him. When they were halfway to the hotpot, a car sped past them, brushing Eryx's ego the wrong way.

“Fuck,” he yelled, speeding up as much as he could.

“Eryx, relax. Don’t try to chase them. We’re here to have fun,” Braylon said, touching his hand. Braylon tried to calm Eryx down as much as he could. He was the only one who could stabilize the young master of Silvester's mood swings. The speed of the car decreased, and everyone let out a sigh of relief.

They reached the hotpot place, which was crowded and lively. It was no surprise since it was located outside the city in a peaceful environment.

They sat around a simmering pot of soup at the center of the table, with various raw ingredients like meat, seafood, vegetables, tofu, and starches.

Braylon was always lost in his emotions. They had been friends for more than three years and were like one soul in two bodies. But for Braylon, the feelings he had for Eryx were not just of friendship but of romantic love.

Yes, he was homosexual. He realized it too late when he discovered his feelings for Eryx. It was hard to hide, especially when his friends were always clingy and unaware of his sexual orientation.

His love had always been silent. He didn't want to reveal it, knowing it would definitely cause chaos between them.

“Let's dig in!” Alex said excitedly, eager to taste the tempting food.

“Stop drooling, man,” Revilla Macbeth chuckled at Alex while piling food onto her plate. She never missed a chance to make fun of him.

Despite the lively atmosphere, Braylon felt a sense of emptiness. He could give up his master’s degree to stay, but he couldn’t abandon his dreams for such a reason.

“Eat more, you’re as skinny as a girl,” Eryx said, serving Braylon food. Revilla pouted cutely at Eryx’s comment.

“Don’t call us skinny! Your darling is the only one who’s underweight. Let’s check the weight; I’m sure he’ll be the one underweight,” she retorted, starting to bicker with Eryx. Alex laughed hard.

“Can you guys please stop fighting? We’re here to eat, not to argue,” Braylon said, calming Eryx down. Revilla and Alex, aware of Braylon’s feelings, looked at him with concern.

It had only been an hour, but it felt much longer. The pleasant, tempting smell of food lingered in their nostrils.

“Eryx, I want to confess something to you, but I'm afraid you’ll hate me afterward,” Braylon thought, engulfed by resentment.

Despite the chilly climate and the tempting food, it was an amazing experience.

“So, what are you guys going to do now that we’ve finished our bachelor’s degrees?” Alex asked, looking at Braylon expectantly, as if he already knew the answer.

Eryx, oblivious to the undercurrents around him, took a sip of wine. “I have no idea yet.”

“I’m going back to my hometown. They’re arranging my marriage, and I need to stop it before it goes too far,” Revilla sighed deeply. Alex frowned at the news.

Unlike the rest, Revilla was from a small town, and her parents were farmers. They had allowed her to study criminology because she wanted to. However, marriage was a different matter; her parents were more concerned about societal expectations.

It wasn't that he didn't know about Revilla's family, but the news about her marriage was sudden. He felt a heaviness in his heart but tried to smile.

They enjoyed the hotpot, savoring it as if it were their first time, even though it wasn't. They had been friends since their first year of college.

They weren't average students; they were the top of their class. Their intelligence secured their high ranks, and others envied them for their academic success and strong, long-lasting friendship. Any misunderstandings were quickly resolved before they could threaten their bond.

“Let’s go to a bar. I want to get drunk until I’m wasted,” Alex shouted, trying to distract himself. Revilla hit him on the head. “Don’t disturb others, you crackhead,” she said, irritated.

Braylon smiled gently while Eryx couldn’t stop laughing. Alex and Revilla were always like that, bickering playfully but deeply understanding each other. They knew each other so well that it sometimes seemed like they were a couple, even though they weren't.

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