Kai moved quietly around the house, gathering his things for college. He was determined not to face Bast this morning. After everything that had happened last night, he couldn't bear to look him in the eye. His heart raced as he slipped out of the house, making sure to leave without a word.
The sound of the door closing behind him felt like a weight lifted off his chest, but deep down, a knot formed in his stomach. As he drove away, the familiar sights of the neighborhood faded into the distance, and with each mile, he hoped the uneasy feeling would disappear.
Meanwhile, inside the house, the housekeeper approached Bast as he sat at the dining table, sipping his coffee.
"Sir, Kai has left for college," the housekeeper reported, her voice polite but neutral.
Bast, who had been reading through some papers, paused. His gaze hardened, and he placed the paper down slowly.
"Did he eat breakfast?" Bast asked, his voice calm but there was a hint of tension in his words.
The housekeeper shook her head. "No, sir. He left without eating."
Bast's expression darkened, his jaw tightening. He murmured under his breath, his voice barely audible. "You can't run away from me like that, Kai."
He stood up abruptly, his anger simmering beneath the surface. The events of last night played over in his mind, and the overwhelming confusion and guilt surged through him. He couldn't face Kai. Not yet. The thought of seeing him again after everything they had shared twisted something inside him. What had happened? Was it a mistake? Did Kai feel the same way?
His mind was a mess, but one thing was clear: he couldn't just let Kai slip away. Not without understanding what had changed between them. Not without facing the consequences of what had happened.
Bast ran a hand through his hair, his thoughts racing. "I won't let you avoid this, Kai. We need to talk."
Kai sat at his desk, staring blankly at the lecture notes in front of him. His mind wandered, lost in a sea of thoughts. It was hard to focus on anything when memories of his past kept resurfacing, particularly the day his life had changed forever.
He was only ten when he first laid eyes on Bast. His mother's remarriage to the American businessman had been a shock to him. At that age, Kai had no desire to leave Tokyo, his home, the place he loved. But when his mother married Bast, their life had moved to America, and all he could think about was how much he wanted to stay with his grandmother in Japan.
Bast, with his perfect smile and polished persona, had never felt like someone Kai could trust or even like. He was everything Kai despised about the idea of living in America—cold, distant, and unrelatable.
For years, Kai had resented Bast. Every attempt his stepfather made to connect with him felt forced. Bast would always try to get close, whether it was through offering advice or trying to engage in conversations Kai wasn't interested in. And yet, despite his dislike, Bast never stopped trying to reach him, to make him feel like family. Kai couldn't understand it then. Why would Bast, a man with everything, want to form a connection with someone who so clearly rejected him?
When Kai turned sixteen, his mother passed away suddenly, leaving him with no choice but to rely on Bast. Despite all their years of tension, Bast had stepped in and taken responsibility for him. In some ways, he had become the only parent Kai had left. But that didn't make things any easier. Kai was left with a confusing mix of emotions—resentment, confusion, and, perhaps deep down, some sense of gratitude.
But as the years passed and Kai grew older, his feelings toward Bast had shifted.
At nineteen, Kai found himself attending a prestigious college, still unsure about the complexities of his relationship with his stepfather. Bast had always been there, supporting him financially and emotionally, but Kai couldn't shake the unease that lingered in his chest every time Bast was near. It was almost as if there were layers to their relationship he couldn't quite understand.
As the professor continued speaking, Kai tried to focus on the class, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Bast. What had changed between them? What did it all mean? He wanted to move on, to focus on his studies and live his own life, but the question of Bast lingered, like an unfinished chapter.
"Maybe I'm just overthinking it," Kai muttered to himself, pushing his thoughts aside and attempting to pay attention to the lesson.
But deep down, he knew that this wasn't something he could ignore forever.
Kai sat silently in class, lost in thought, until a boy slid into the seat beside him. It was Miles Carter—his only and best friend.
"Hey," Miles whispered, nudging Kai with his elbow. "How are you feeling after last night? Bast must've been pissed."
Kai didn't answer the question. Instead, he muttered, "Why did you drop me off at home and leave me alone?"
Miles scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Uh… Bast was already waiting at the door, so I just… left you with him."
Kai's expression darkened as he murmured under his breath, "You left me with him… If you hadn't, none of it would've happened."
Miles blinked, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"Forget it," Kai said quickly, looking away. "You wouldn't understand."