Chapter 8

"…."

Arsen pursed his lips as the two had fallen into an awkward silence for a few minute with Kian minding his own business while Arsen was thinking about what to say. Running a hand over the moisture of his glass, Arsen breathed in before speaking.

"Kian, do you have a boyfriend?"

Kian stopped right as he was taking a sip and heaved a sigh, "I don't."

"Then Damian?.. did you break up with him?"

Kian furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, "I'm not in a relationship with him"

Hearing this, Arsen was even more confused. He's not Damian's spy.. nor his boyfriend.. they didn't seem like just friends too. "Is he your suitor then?" Arsen leaned back on his seat, crossing his arms. Kian looked irritated. "How many times do I have to tell you? We're nothing like that!"

"Hey hey I'm just making sure. I need to know if I have to prepare and fight someone for you" Arsen puts his hands up in surrender and Kian rolls his eyes, downing his glass.

"Just.. cause I found your reaction slightly weird after we made out-"

TACK

"Don't say it so openly like that!" Kian had slammed his glass on the table.

"There! Exactly! Your reaction! You're so embarrassed and upset about it! Which is a weird response to get considering it was me you made ou- ahem, it was me and no one ever looks disgusted. Which leads me to believe.. that you have a boyfriend" Arsen explained and Kian took a breath before speaking with a calm voice.

"Listen, Arsen. Not everyone wants you okay? And I'm one of those. So, the reason for my disgust is not that I have a boyfriend or a girlfriend. It's solely because, I didn't want to be kissing you. Okay?"

Blink blink

"Now now Kian, of course I understand that. But was it really that bad?" Now he got conscious of his skills.

"It's not about how it feels. It's about who I'm doing it with" Kian grumbles and Arsen grins.

"So it did feel nice?~ you're just denying because it's me? Aren't you a shy one, Kian"

"Another glass please" Kian ignores him and orders, looking annoyed. "Hey hey you're drinking too much Kian. You might die before going to med schoo- Ow!" Arsen flinches as Kian slaps his arm to shut him up. "Yes I might die of a headache if you don't shut up!"

"Pfft- ahaha"

"What's so funny?" Kian tilts his head with an upset expression.

"Nothing it's just, you're really cute. And I don't think I've smiled this much till I met you" Arsen smiles sincerely.

"That's true. I've never seen Sir Arsen laugh too." The bartender speaks up.

"Ah.." Kian turned his head from the bartender over to Arsen. "Maybe that's because you're surrounded by the same type of people everyday. You all tend to keep it polite and formal" he watches as the bartender sets his new drink down.

Minutes passed and Kian was getting tipsy. Or maybe beyond it.

"I still have classes tomorrow~ ah, what am I doing~" he grumbles to himself, his eyes drooped as he rubs his forehead and stared at his glass, squinting his eyes.

"You clearly know I like you yet you dare act cute in front of me?" Arsen spoke fondly. Being completely sober. It wasn't just due to his high alcohol tolerance, but also because he wasn't drinking much to begin with as compared to Kian.

As he spoke, Kian lifted his glass to take another sip of his drink but before it could touch his lips, a hand gently held his wrist down, taking away the glass on his hand. Feeling his eyelids heavy, Kian blinked slowly and turned his gaze to Arsen.

"That's enough, come on I'll take you home." Arsen slides the glass away from them and takes his wallet out, paying for their drinks while helping Kian up. "Come on Kian lets go"

"Mmm no~" in his drunk state, Kian attempted to push him off although failed at his weak force. Arsen took his arm, draping it around his own shoulder and sliding a hand onto Kian's waist to support him as they walked out.

The two walked out with some visible struggle, swaying and curving their path. Kian was clearly stumbling and getting light headed. They managed to get down the staircase and started walking towards his car when Kian laughed and spoke.

"You know at first I didn't think you were gay, you didn't look like someone who was part of the community, but then your intentions were obvious. And you're confident.. I like that" he spoke with a drunken hazy smile.

Arsen chuckles at hearing that. "Oh? You like my confidence? So you like someone bold?"

"I guess you could say that ahaha"

"Then what else is your type?" Arsen pulls him closer.

"Both genders are fine. Any are. It just depends, you know when you see someone or spend time with someone and somehow feel something." he explains as he shrugged.

Whenever the younger male spoke, Arsen couldn't help but let his eyes fall over to his lips. They were soft, plump, and naturally pink thin lips.

"I think society has changed recently. There's no stereotype in what gender to love anymore so no one needs to hide."

Kian then chuckled "I know.. that's what I've been convincing myself to think. But the question of having children is always there. Not everyone wants to adopt, right? Blood relation is still important to some people." He scoffs. "as if that'll do anything."

Kian turns to Arsen. "What? Are you upset? It's true." Arsen hadn't noticed that he'd accidentally tightened his hold on Kian's waist.

"Then does it bother you? That thought? You know I like you. If I want to be with you are you going to think about children? I don't mind adopting" Arsen looks at him with determination.

"Pfft- is that a confession of some sort?" He teased and chuckled "You know, I never read anything about the dominant person confessing first" he blurted out, all this drinking was making him spit out his embarrassing thoughts. Arsen stopped in his tracks as they reached his car, searching his pockets for the key.

"You've made it clear and clear that you like me. Then why aren't you asking to court me yet?"

Arsen paused, eyes going round as he darted his gaze over to Kian.

"What? Didn't think you need to?" Kian spat.

"Then shall I ask for your parents permission?" Arsen tilted his head with his gaze focused. He figured Kian's family was most likely traditional but he found Kian's silence odd. "Is that too soon?"

"My parents are dead"

Oh.

"Ah.." he didn't consider that. "I'm sorry"

At Kian's lack of response, he pursed his lips and continued to search for his keys. Eventually finding them and unlocking the car. Opening the back seat and helping Kian on, closing it and walking over to the drivers seat.

Kian looked out the window, his eyes weighing on him and so he'd close his eyes from time to time but open them again. He didn't want to be left unguarded. "You can sleep. Don't worry I'll wake you up when we get to my place" Arsen's voice suddenly sounded in his ear.

"you're fast aren't you?" Kian looks at the back of his head, receiving a questioning hum in response.

"You always seem to know what I'm thinking" Kian elaborates. "It's weird. Why are you always there when I need someone?"

Arsen chuckles "Maybe the world sent me to you. Perhaps it's their way of saying that we're meant to be"

"Or maybe you're stalking me." Kian crossed his arms over his chest.

Arsen sighs "I'm a busy person, Kian"

"Proves my point. For all I know you might've sent some of your people to follow me"

"I have not. That's true I'm capable of that but I didn't." Arsen spoke seriously and Kian grew silent. Watching him. His attention was diverted when his phone sounded of notifications. He checks it, it was Damian. He read over it. His brother was acting quite paranoid recently which leads him to believe that he was indeed monitoring him. He furrows his eyebrows. Now that he thought about it.. how did his father know? Assuming the spy was sent by him.. why did he suddenly send one now? Through the years he's never had any feeling of someone watching him until that day at the mall. And the only person who knew about his acquaintance with Arsen.. was Damian.

At the thought, Kian couldn't help but scrunch his face. He'd always knew where Damian's loyalty belonged but he still trusted him to a point. Through the rear-view mirror, Arsen had noticed Kian's expression.

Eventually reaching his place, Arsen parked the car, stepping out and opening the door for Kian. "Hope you don't mind staying at my place for now? Extra precautions. Someone may be following me and I wouldn't want to expose where you live."

"Makes sense" Kian spoke as he steps out of the car, following Arsen in. He suddenly felt light headed again. "Ugh" he groans, rubbing his forehead. He wanted to lay down right now.

Stumbling and curving on his steps, Arsen quickly went by his side to support him. "The guest rooms here"

"Oh? I'm not sleeping with you?" Kian tilts his head as he squints.

"Just now you accused me of stalking"

"Yeah but then you said you'd court me" Kian reasons and Arsen heaved a sigh. "Sleeping with you is not courting" at his bland response, Kian whines. "You're going to regret it in the morning and hate me even more."

"I won't." Kian stubbornly says as Arsen opens the guest room door and helps him in.

"You can't say that. You're drunk." Arsen reasons

"I'll remember everything."

"No you won't."

"I will." Kian faces him seriously, leaning in. Silence overcame them and Arsen's eyes rounded, feeling as if time stopped at the sight in front of him. "Beautiful" he had muttered and he knew this made Kian happy. He really didn't want to take advantage of his drunk state but Kian made it practically impossible. With how he knows Kian from the last few days, he'd definitely accuse him when they wake up.

Sighing to himself, Arsen takes his phone out and records for evidence.

"You're clearly drunk. You won't remember everything and accuse me when you wake up." he starts.

"I won't! I'll really remember everything. Every moment." Kian spoke desperately. This was enough, and so Arsen stopped the recording, placing his phone on the bedside table.

"You're sure?"

Kian groans, "ugh, all this arguing is making my head hurt even more. Let's not sleep together then"

As Arsen set him down on the bed, he let out a comfortable tired breath. Before he could take a step to leave, he was suddenly pulled down on the bed.

"Kian-!"

"Mn" Kian hummed as he pulled him, now hugging the older male close, eyes closed with a small smile over his face.

"You're making this difficult you know" Arsen bites his lower lip. He was really trying hard to control himself. He didn't want to ruin what little progress he's had toward Kian's heart.

"It's not difficult if you cooperate."

But Kian really doesn't stop.

This position they're in.

Laying in bed together.

Pressed up against each other.

Arsen has his needs.

He likes Kian and Kian gave him permission.

"Now you're the one taking advantage of me, hm?"

Kian smirks.