* * *
Dumbfounded, Fyre looked at Paul and was still unable to say anything despite a long time having passed since the confession had been said. He quickly remembered what Tian Zi had told him earlier in the day and he didn't think it would really happen but it did and he didn't know what to say about that situation. It is clear to him that he needed to reject the Alpha but it is difficult for many reasons.
"Paul..." Fyre simply called, biting on his lower lip before his eyes went to the people at the Alpha's back playing music and others who looked like stewards. He wanted the musicians to stop already but he also didn't want to embarrass his friend.
"This must have been all too sudden to you. Fyre, you don't have to reply to me now. You can think about it and give me an answer later when you're ready," Paul said, maintaining his smile. He wasn't that naive and he could tell that the Omega wasn't comfortable with his sudden confession, so even though his heart pounded in pain at the visible rejection, he continued to smile, not regretting anything. He also noticed that Fyre kept looking at the people behind them so he softly sighed and briefly dismissed the audience. When there were only the two of them left, Fyre was still reluctant to say something.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't expect this at all..." Fyre finally said. He wanted to reject Paul immediately since he already has a lover but at the same time, he didn't want to hurt him. Paul had been through a lot since his last break up so he didn't know whether his rejection would be good or bad for the Alpha.
"Hmm, I guess I did this thing way too suddenly. I've never felt this way towards you before but suddenly I'm feeling this way. I simply couldn't let it go and regret it in the end. You're the first since Daniella, Fyre... you're also one of the people I trust the most so I wanted to confess immediately. I don't mind if I get rejected but please think about it before giving me an answer." Paul confessed with a gentle smile on his lips despite seeing the dreadful expression Fyre was giving him towards each of his revelations.
"I-I... Paul..." Fyre stuttered, not knowing how to start his words. He was surprised at Paul's words but how could he simply reject him?
"You don't need to feel burdened with this. As I said, I don't mind if I get rejected as long as you give it a deep thought. I know you don't like being in a relationship especially with an Alpha but I can wait, Fyre..." Paul said again, hoping that it would ease the Omega a little. Unfortunately, it did not, as Fyre immediately cut his words by calling his name. Fyre already knew what he needed to do and he didn't need to think deeply just to reject Paul since if he said now that he would think about it, it would only keep the Alpha's hopes up.
"Paul!..." Fyre called, his fingers formed into a fist. His mind was finally certain he had to reject Paul right away. It was also for the Alpha's own good. And in the first place, he's someone who already had a lover. It wouldn't be reasonable for him to make the Alpha wait when he's only going to reject him at the end. Additionally, he does not have feelings for Paul. It's true that he liked him but only as his dear friend. Not a potential lover! Paul is a nice guy and Fyre was positive he would be a great lover but he can't force himself to be with someone he didn't love even if it's the Alpha. Furthermore, he didn't want to hurt Paul and risk having their relationship being in an awkward situation so this rejection is something that has to be done.
"I'm sorry..." Fyre added, looking at the ground. "I-I told you earlier that I wanted to talk to you about something..." Fyre continued, this time his eyes shifted back to Paul. It is difficult to utter a rejection to such a good person but this was for the better.
"Paul, I-I was gonna… I was gonna tell you that we need to stop seeing each other for the time being… Y-You see… I... I already have a lover… He's Mo Tian Zi... and he didn't like me hanging out with you so often," Fyre confessed, biting on his lower lips after his words finished. Paul is the first person he had told about his relationship with Tian Zi and although far from what he thought, he didn't dream it would be this awkward.
"I'm sorry... I didn't know it was going to be this way," Fyre continued, his voice getting smaller after seeing that Paul wasn't saying anything. Meanwhile, as he heard Fyre's revelation, Paul briefly closed his eyes before he smiled almost melancholy.
"You don't need to apologize, Fyre..." Paul finally said. He already knew there was something unusual as to how Mo Tian Zi treated Fyre when he met him at that time but he didn't think the two would be in a relationship. Although his feeling for Fyre wasn't deep as of the moment, he still felt hurt knowing that he had been rejected.
"Do you love him?" Paul couldn't help but ask. This is the second time he was losing against a Mo but he couldn't even complain because he knew Mo Tian Zi had been by Fyre's side all these years while he flew in Europe to heal his own heartbreak.
"Hmm. I love him..." Fyre surprisingly replied honestly as his cheeks turned red. This was also the first time he was confessing to someone about his true feelings for Tian Zi. He hadn't even said it to the Alpha himself yet but here he is now, telling it to Paul. He also mentally reminded himself that he was going to make up with Tian Zi later and finally tell him his real feelings since this was the true reason why they were in a misunderstanding in the first place.
"Then, you don't need to be sorry. I guess I was way too late. Maybe I was a little confident that you would accept my confession because it had always been me who had been by your side since long ago but I guess Mo Tian Zi replaced me when I left..." Paul said with a bitter smile while walking towards the table to put down the bouquet of flowers that was on his hands. Since Fyre had clearly rejected him, it wouldn't be reasonable for the Omega to accept them any longer.
"No Paul, he didn't replace you. You're still my best friend. You're still one of the people I trust the most and the fact that I owe my life to you didn't change," Fyre said almost desperately, stepping closer to that Alpha. There was a sad frown on his face as if he was afraid that after this, they would have to end their friendship. At least for this, Paul was kind of relieved knowing that he was still needed even though just a friend.
"I know, silly," Paul asked with a helpless smile, reaching out to Fyre's cheeks. For a short moment as he looked at the Omega's eyes, Paul still wasn't able to believe that Fyre had really changed a lot. Compared to before, Fyre was now able express his emotions better. He hated to admit it but Mo Tian Zi was a really good influence to the Omega. He did something he couldn't back then.
"It just makes me sad that he was the one who made you change like this. He was the one who was able to pull out the smiles on your lips. He made you bloom into an even greater person... something I couldn't back then... I guess I really am too late. I just hope that he also won't take this smile back," Paul commented. '...because when that happens, he'll never be able to see it again when it's my time to restore it back,' He added in his thoughts while his thumbs brushed against the Omega's soft and flawless skin, admiring the beauty he wasn't able to fully appreciate in the past. To say that he didn't regret it, would be a lie.
"We're still friends, right? We would still hang out every now and then, right?" Fyre asked. He didn't like that the Alpha sounded like he was saying goodbye. Even though he loved Tian Zi, Paul will always have a space in his heart.
"Hmm... I admit it'll be difficult but friendship is always better than being strangers. I also want to formally talk to him once if he doesn't mind," Paul chuckled and finally let go. Fyre is no longer someone he could touch leisurely so needed to hold himself back.
"T-Then let's all go and hang out sometime," Fyre suggested, with a bright and relieved smile.
"Hmm. That would be great..." Paul agreed before an awkward silence invaded the space between them.
"Well... it's dark now. Should I send you back before it gets too late?" Paul suddenly suggested. He actually prepared snacks and dinner for the two of them to enjoy but since this was a failed confession, it would only turn awkward if they stayed longer with each other.
"Yeah. That would be great..." Fyre nodded, and later asked Paul to send him to Tian Zi's place instead of his. He wasn't aware that as soon as they arrived, he would experience a painful heartbreak. He was just about to walk through the front gate when saw his lover and the person he thought was his friend kissing at the front door from afar, making him halt his walk. Tears quickly streamed down Fyre's cheeks as he stood on his spot unable to move or say anything just like what had happened years ago.
"F-Fyre?" Tian Zi called by surprise, letting go of Maverick. The sky was already dark but he could still recognize his lover from afar so he quickly ran towards him wondering why he was crying. It was also at this moment that everything went so fast and all of a sudden, Tian Zi was on the ground holding his beaten cheeks and security began to rush to the area. Normally, it would not have been easy to land a blow at Tian Zi but because he was preoccupied, seeing Fyre crying, he didn't notice Paul Hymlyn swinging his fist towards his left cheek.
"What the fuck!"
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To be Continued...