Meeting Aaron

A Few Hours Before the Incident

Marco led Aryan into his house, his voice casual yet reassuring. "Don't worry, Dad and Rony aren't here," he murmured, noticing Aryan's hesitation as he ends up Marco's house in female disguise.

The tension in Aryan's shoulders eased slightly as he heard it. However, Marco takes effort not to let anyone saw Aryan in this disguise and carefully take him to his room. After freshening up and changing into Marco's clothes, Aryan finally breath in relief.

Getting ready, Aryan decide to leave quickly as he saw the setting sun. But then Marco appeared before him, mischief dancing in his eyes.

In his hands were a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.

Aryan's eyebrows shot up, but a small, delighted smile tugged at his lips. It had been too long since he last tasted it.

"Where did you get that?" he asked, curiosity lacing his tone.

Marco shrugged, grinning. "Where else? From my dad's drawer." He placed the bottles on the table, smirking. "Come on, let's have a drink. Opportunities like this don't come around every day."

Aryan didn't need much convincing. He joined Marco at the table, eyeing the bottles like an old friend. Before taking a sip, he called Lisa and inform his stay at Marco's house.

Then took his first sip. It burned down his throat, igniting a long-lost warmth in his chest. But they never expect, the idea would ends up into a total drunken mess.

"Marco… Marco…" Aryan slurred, blinking blearily at his friend, who was now slumped over the table, completely wasted after just a few glasses.

Aryan chuckled lazily, shaking his head. "Tch… kids these days. Can't even handle a little booze." He also wasn't exactly in his right mind either, but still comments.

Seeing him sleeping on the table, Aryan somehow managed to raise Marco up, dragging him toward the bed. With one final push, Marco landed with a dull thud on the mattress.

Satisfied with his effort, Aryan collapsed onto the floor, his back pressing against the bedside. He fumbled for his phone, barely managing to unlock it with shaky fingers. He scrolled through his contacts before pressing call.

"Eron," he mumbled into the phone, his words slurred. "Hellooo… Are you there???

You are there… what a pleasant surprise. My boy, don't wait for me, ok… eat something and go to bed. I be busy tonight…"

"Aryan… Aryan… Did you drink? Where are you?"

"Huh… Where am I? Where is this place? Ahhh… I'm at Marco's house… Why?"

"Stay there, I'm coming…" The call cuts in a hurry.

Dropping the phone beside, Aryan lifted the whiskey bottle to his lips, taking another swig before letting his head fall against the wooden frame.

Then suddenly—a shadow flickered near the balcony. The curtains billowed wildly, concealing the person's figure. Aryan's vision blurred, his mind swimming through the haze of alcohol, but as he focused, the color drained from his face.

His breath hitched. His fingers trembled around the bottle.

"Aaron…" The name slipped from his lips, barely a whisper, yet heavy with longing. "Is that really you?"

The figure stepped forward, the pale moonlight illuminating a face Aryan thought he'd never see again. Emerald green eyes, glistening with unshed tears, gazed down at him. A gentle, bittersweet smile curved Aaron's lip.

Aryan reached out with a shaking hand, fingertips barely grazing Aaron's cheek. "A-Aaron…" His voice cracked, thick with emotion.

Aaron rubbed his face gently on Aryan's hand and pressed a kiss against his skin. "Aryan…" Gently he called out.

"Is it a dream?" Unable to believe, Aryan asks.

Aaron sadly nods, agreeingly to the statement and continues after seeing Aryan's face getting dull. "Why are you still trapping yourself in the past?"

Aryan let out a humorless chuckle and looked at Aaron as saying why ask such question when you are aware of the answer. Leaving a sigh behind, Aryan give him an answer. "Its' not like I didn't... I tried to move on… but couldn't succeed… And no one was there to replace you in my heart."

Aaron's expression twisted with guilt, regret shadowing his features. "You're a fool, Aryan.

If you stay like this one day you are going to miss out on someone who would have loved you more than anything."

Aryan swallowed hard, his voice wavering. "And you're the bigger fool," he shot back, his tone filled with raw pain. "You let go of someone who never wanted to leave your side."

Aaron nodded, his gaze heavy with regret. "I admit… I was a fool back then… I didn't know what was right or wrong..." His voice wavered, thick with emotion. "But Aryan, I can't stand by and watch you destroy yourself over someone like me. Not again."

Aryan scoffed, shoving Aaron's hands away as he took another burning sip of alcohol. His eyes, clouded with both intoxication and hurt, met Aaron's. "Why do you care about my life now?" His voice was sharp, bitter. "You never did before… so why now?"

Aaron's expression twisted in pain. "Who said I never cared?" He swallowed hard, his hands clenching into fists. "I always did, Aryan... But never once get the courage to show it nor find myself worthy of you. I was filthy… ruined by others." His voice broke, but he forced himself to continue. "I was afraid to give my heart… After being broken for years, it hard to overcome the fear." He let out a shaky breath, his emerald eyes shining with unshed tears.

"When I realized my feelings, my pride… my damn pride wouldn't let me accept it." His voice cracked, raw and vulnerable. "I can accept your hatred not the pity in your eyes.

That's why I couldn't bring myself to tell you the truth about the life I was forced to live.

But that day—when you stood for me and risked everything to protect me from that man—it was when I knew how much you loved me...

Do you think, I never dreamed to have a life with you, damn it… I did…"

Aaron's voice trembled, but before he could say more, Aryan gently pressed his fingers against Aaron's lips. "Then can't you just stay. Stay my side..."

"I can't...Sorry..." he murmured.

"I used my last wish for your happiness. So at least for me, live a life you desire. Fall in love with a someone, who will die for you." Aaron's body slowly begin to vanish.

Seeing it, Aaron slowly retreats to the balcony. "Where are you going?" Seeing it, panic pierced through Aryan's drunken haze. Stumbling to his feet, he reached out.

"Are you planning to come with me? You will die..." Aaron emotionally spoke.

Without hesitation, Aryan grasped his hand tightly. "Then I won't mind, dying once again." he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. He stepped onto the railing beside Aaron, his legs swaying dangerously.

Aaron sighed, a tender smile ghosting his lips. "You really are an idiot," he murmured fondly. 

Aryan felt a strange power pushing him back and at that exact moment, strong arms yanked Aryan away from the edge.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Eron's voice was sharp, filled with raw fear and fury. "Do you even realize what you were about to do?!"

But Aryan, dazed, could only stare at Eron—because for a split second, he swore he saw Aaron in him. His eyes drifted lower, lingering on Eron's lips.

Before Eron could say another word, Aryan crashed his lips against his in a desperate, heated kiss.

Eron froze. He should have pushed Aryan away immediately—but he didn't. His grip on Aryan tightened involuntarily.

Aryan pulled back slightly, a lopsided smirk on his lips. "You talk too much," he murmured and with that, he fell unconscious in Eron's arms.