Feelings towards Marco

After returning to his room, Eron sat on the chair absent-mindedly. His father's words echoed in his mind. What Edward said held some truth—despite having living parents, relying on others might make him feel like a burden, even if no one ever said it out loud.

Thinking about Lisa's attitude toward him, he couldn't help but agree with those thoughts.

From Edward's tone, Eron was certain—he would come back to take him away. Instead of staying here and causing more trouble for everyone, a part of him felt it might be easier to accept Edward's offer.

Just then, the door burst open, and Aryan rushed into the room.

"Are you okay?" he asked immediately, concern evident in his voice.

Seeing Aryan, make him emotional. Without saying a word, Eron wrapped his arms around Aryan, holding onto his warmth in silence. In Aryan's embrace, all his sorrows felt a little lighter. Gently patting his back, Aryan stood still, waiting patiently for Eron to calm down.

"How did the conversation go? Did he say anything hurtful?" Aryan asked softly once Eron had relaxed a little.

"No... he spoke kindly. He said he wants to take me with him to Germany. It's the first time he's said something like that… I just froze and couldn't bring myself to respond," Eron choose to say white lie by not to sharing the exact details. He doesn't want to make Aryan worry.

"It's Ok, he will understand your situation..." 

"I didn't give him an answer... I wasn't sure to make a quick decision..." He paused, then asked quietly, "Would you be sad if I went with him?"

Knowing he might not have a choice in this matter, Eron tried to sound as though he was open to the idea, hoping it would ease Aryan's worry.

"Of course, I'd be sad," Aryan said, his voice thick with emotion. "I've never been apart from you all these years... but what matters most is your happiness. If you're happy, I don't mind being a little sad. We'll stay in touch, no matter where you are."

He tried to sound strong, reliable hoping his words would comfort Eron, even as his own heart quietly ached.

Aryan tried to smile at the unchanging course of fate, but deep down, he hoped the future would be different from the one already written. He didn't want to see Eron become the obsessive villain—chasing after a love that was never meant for him in the first place.

Later that day, Marco came to visit Aryan.

"Is he really going to Germany?" he asked, still trying to wrap his head around the news.

"He… he also wished to be with his father as everyone does, so yeah…" Aryan replied, a bit moody, his voice barely above a mumble.

Marco sat beside him, picking up on the shift in his tone. "Are you okay?"

"I don't know…" Aryan stared off into the distance. "I'm just feeling a bit down. Eron, he is leaving in two days, and then you too... Just thinking about being alone—it's starting to hit me."

Marco gently took Aryan's hand in his, offering comfort. "Don't you think it could be exciting? A long-distance relationship, I mean. You'll be here, I'll be there—but our hearts will still be close. We'll wait for each other's calls, talk about our days, about everything that happened, and most importantly… about how we've been."

Aryan could feel Marco's sincerity but doesn't have the courage to start again, not when a part of him was still holding on the past.

Without saying a word, Aryan slowly pulled his hand back. Not harshly. Just… gently enough to draw a quiet line.

Trying to lift the mood, Marco grinned. "So you have to call me every day. Otherwise, I might get too busy with new friends and forget about you…"

That earned him a glare. Aryan smacked his arm playfully, clearly annoyed by the teasing.

"Hey! That hurts!" Marco laughed, dodging but failing, ending up getting hit more.

In a quick moment of mock retreat, Marco grabbed Aryan's wrist to stop the hits—but the closeness suddenly felt different. His laughter faded and a strange atmosphere created between them. His gaze softened as he leaned in, drawn by something unspoken.

Aryan didn't move. For some reason… he didn't stop Marco either.

But then—Eron's voice echoed from outside the room.

Startled, Aryan shoved Marco backward in a panic, causing him to fall onto the bed just as Eron entered the room.

Eron looked between them, puzzled by the suspicious atmosphere. "What… happened?"

"N-nothing!" Aryan stammered, quickly getting up. He grabbed Eron's hand. "Let's go."

He hurried out of the room, heart racing.

Aryan didn't know what that moment with Marco was—only that if Eron had been a second later, they might've kissed.