Kai parked his motorcycle in the sprawling yard of Ray’s house. Before that, he had to deal with the security guard stationed beside the gate. Only after the guard called Ray on his cellphone was Kai allowed into the grounds.
He carefully took in the sight of Ray’s grand house, which looked like a palace that had never been neglected. Everything was arranged neatly—even the plant pots were positioned with such precision and classified into various uniform types of plants.
Kai smiled bitterly. Ray was the picture of a guy who had never known hardship since birth. He had no idea what it felt like to endure hunger or the cold of a rain-filled night because of a leaky roof. He had also never known how devastating life could be when you lost the family’s only protective hero, who met his end while the ruins of the truth could no longer restore a reputation that had been shattered beyond repair.
“Daniel Argantara.” That one name kept circling through Kai’s already-too-noisy mind. Even though his standard of living had returned to how it was before his father died in prison, it still couldn’t extinguish the flames of revenge that had taken root the moment Kai learned his father had been treated unjustly.
Kai swore he would avenge every slander and black scheme Daniel had pinned on his father. Daniel had to take responsibility for every tear and every long night filled with fear. His only son would feel the same pain Kai had. And Daniel would be destroyed if Ray was destroyed too.
Kai’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Ray’s approaching footsteps. His face looked calm, with a faint, barely visible smile.
“You ready? Say goodbye to your parents?” Kai asked flatly. He looked Ray over in his black T-shirt and mocha-colored jacket. That stiff Captain could actually dress casually and relaxed.
Ray nodded slowly. “Yeah.”
One of Ray’s hands held his helmet. He studied Kai’s unreadable expression. There was no trace of nervousness or happiness like someone on a first date.
They rode in silence the entire way. To be honest, Ray was rarely allowed out, let alone to ride a motorcycle and circle the city through the sometimes-unfriendly night wind. But his father was being kind tonight. Ray had been allowed to go out with Kai. Of course, Ray didn’t say that this was his first date with Kai. In front of his parents, Ray concealed the status of his relationship with Kai.
Kai was startled when Ray’s fingers wrapped around his stomach. His grip wasn’t very tight, but it was enough to make Kai hold his breath. This wasn’t Kai’s first time riding with a guy. But Ray was the exception. That guy was officially his “boyfriend” now. Kai felt nervous, even though he was only pretending to be a good boyfriend.
Ray felt the same way. Awkward and nervous, he had no idea how he was supposed to act. He had never once imagined that someday he would go on a date with a guy. Kai’s clean-musk perfume gave him a calming sensation, even though his taste in fragrance was completely different from Ray’s preference for oud. Yet, for some reason, Kai’s body scent, dominated by clean musk, felt like aromatherapy to Ray. Before he realized it, he hugged Kai more tightly and rested his chin on Kai’s shoulder.
Kai froze for a moment. Ray’s head resting on his shoulder wasn’t heavy, but it created an overwhelming sense of awkwardness. He could clearly hear Ray’s breathing, and it shattered Kai’s focus for several seconds.
When they arrived at the coffee shop’s parking area, not far from their school, Kai felt incredibly relieved.
They chose a table in one corner. Quite a few customers had come, but they hadn’t filled all the seats. There were still several empty spaces. Their tastes in coffee were different too: Ray preferred an Americano, while Kai liked lattes better.
In another corner, two girls in their early twenties stared at Kai and Ray, whispering admiringly. The handsomeness of the two guys was hardly a secret. At school, plenty of girls admired their good looks, along with the talents Kai and Ray possessed. Ray was active in basketball and extremely academic, while Kai was more versatile, able to create beautiful melodies on his guitar or make stunning brushstrokes across a canvas.
When the two girls waved at Kai, he instinctively returned the gesture with a perfect smile. Ray noticed that Kai’s attention was no longer focused on him. His eyes and head followed the direction of Kai’s gaze. Once he realized Kai was smiling back at two beautiful girls across the room, Ray gave him a crooked smile.
“Yesterday, you said you liked me and asked me out. Now you’re flirting with girls?”
Kai was startled by Ray’s words. He caught a hint of jealousy in Ray’s flat voice, wrapped in sarcasm.
“Sorry…” Kai reached for the handle of the mug in front of him and took a slow sip.
“Sorry, babe,” Kai added with a slightly forced smile.
Ray fell silent for a few seconds before finally feeling a little amused and strange.
“What did you just call me? ‘Babe’?”
Kai took another sip of his coffee. He stared at Ray more sharply.
“Does it bother you?”
Ray looked at Kai with a flat stare that felt intensely piercing.
“Just call me normally. Don’t make me cringe.”
Ray’s statement made Kai realize that his “boyfriend” didn’t fully like him yet—or perhaps his feelings for Kai simply hadn’t grown.
“Cringe? If it makes you cringe, why did you accept me yesterday?” Kai looked straight into Ray’s eyes, as though searching for an answer in every glint.
Ray sighed briefly. “I just wanted to try dating a guy. Dating girls comes with too much drama.” He looked at Kai, who appeared to be listening seriously. “Plus, one more thing: a guy can’t get pregnant.”
Kai choked on his coffee. “What? Can’t get pregnant? Were you planning to sleep with me?”
This time, Ray’s eyes went wide. “What?”
“You said I couldn’t get pregnant. That’s why I asked.”
Seeing that Ray was still speechless, Kai continued. “Oh, I know. Don’t tell me you used to date until things went too far.”
Ray chuckled, then put his serious expression back on. “I swear, no! I’ve never crossed the line. I mean, if we ever go too far later, you can’t get pregnant, so we’ll be safe.”
Kai shuddered even more. He stared at Ray just as sharply.
“So you’ve thought about it. You’re such a perv!”
“There’s no guy who isn’t,” Ray replied casually. His gaze remained cold and locked on Kai.
“You don’t need to defend yourself. Just so you know, I’ve never dated anyone before. You’re my first boyfriend.” Kai emphasized his words.
Ray was shocked to hear that. A guy as handsome as Kai had never dated anyone? That was extremely rare. He knew plenty of girls were drawn to Kai’s handsome face, his guitar playing, or his beautiful paintings. Was Kai really gay, uninterested in women, or was there some other reason?
“Are you serious?” Ray asked, narrowing his eyes.
“Seriously. So don’t try anything funny.”
Ray chuckled softly and folded his arms. “Just calling me ‘babe’ makes me cringe and gives me goose bumps all over. How could I possibly try anything with you?”
Kai let out a long breath. “Do you actually have feelings for me or not?”
Ray fell silent for several seconds. He had often heard questions like that from his exes, who felt he was too distant and rarely paid them any attention.
“To be honest, those feelings haven’t grown yet. But we can give this a try.” Ray spoke calmly, even though he wasn’t completely sure.
Before going home, Kai and Ray walked for a while through the city park, which wasn’t far from the coffee shop. The park, usually crowded in the afternoon, was much quieter now. Only a few young couples remained, chatting warmly with little bursts of laughter that seemed to say the world belonged only to them.
Their footsteps moved in sync. There was a pounding in their chests, awkwardness dominating every moment, and confusion at the unbelievable fact that they were dating now.
“Looks like everyone still hanging around the park is a couple. Us included?” Kai blinked, a small smile fixed on his face.
Ray didn’t respond. Instead, he suddenly stopped walking and stared intently at Kai.
“I know you’re straight. I doubt you really like me.” Ray’s gaze was so sharp it seemed to strip away Kai’s pretense and force him to tell the truth.
Kai returned Ray’s stare with the sweetest look he could manage. “I really do like you, Ray.”
“I’m not stupid, Kai. People don’t enter my life without a reason.” Ray stared intently at Kai, as if searching for the place where his honesty lay.
Kai swallowed. “I’m not petty enough to play with someone’s feelings.” He emphasized his words.
Without warning, Ray shoved Kai back against the trunk of a large tree. Kai was startled. His eyes widened as he looked at Ray, who held him in place with one hand braced against the trunk and his other hand touching Kai’s arm. Ray’s gaze stayed locked on him, as though Kai were a captive Ray would never let escape.
Kai’s breathing grew ragged. He couldn’t do much, even when Ray brought his face closer.
“If you really like me, I need to test you.” Ray’s breath brushed across Kai’s face.
Kai’s heart pounded harder. He was anxious and afraid that Ray might suddenly attack him with a kiss. For some reason, Ray’s full, inviting lips drew Kai’s silent attention. Meanwhile, the voice in his heart kept repeating that he was straight, that he wouldn’t fall for Ray’s charm.
Ray stood frozen, feeling Kai’s ragged breath. He enjoyed every bit of nervousness Kai displayed. He could even feel Kai’s heartbeat racing faster. To be honest, he was trembling too. He had thought dating a guy would be uneventful, and he had no idea how to improvise. Yet now, he was completely overwhelmed by undeniable sensations.
As if some gentle wind had whispered to him, Ray felt an urge to press a kiss to Kai’s lips. He narrowed the distance until only a few centimeters remained between their faces. The tips of their noses touched. Ray tilted his face while his eyes fixed on Kai’s slightly parted lips. Both their breaths quickened as if they were racing against time.
In that intimate atmosphere, Ray suddenly realized that he was a straight guy who shouldn’t be building a romance with another man. He slowly pulled his face away and took a step back.
Kai quickly grabbed Ray’s hand, pulling him close again. Kai didn’t want Ray to sink deeper into suspicion. He had to convince the Basketball Captain that he truly liked him.
Before Ray could process what was happening, Kai’s hands had already cupped both of Ray’s cheeks. Without thinking, Kai pressed his lips against Ray’s and kissed him however he could. Kai didn’t know how to control his breathing or position himself. All he knew was that he wanted to kiss Ray, to make the other boy believe him.
Ray initially stayed still and accepted Kai’s clumsy attempts at kissing him. But then he slowly wrapped an arm around Kai’s waist and pressed on the back of Kai’s neck, allowing him to kiss Kai’s lips more deeply and intensely. Seeing Kai’s effort to claim his lips made Ray’s defenses crumble.
The kiss wasn’t dramatic, but it also wasn’t too flat for an amateur like Kai. It was Kai’s first kiss. Yet he managed to match the professional movements of Ray, who seemed unwilling to waste even a second without drinking deeply from Kai’s sweet lips, still carrying a faint taste of latte and the candy Kai had sucked on before they walked through the park.
Kai knew he shouldn’t have given his first kiss to the son of his family’s greatest enemy. But he couldn’t deny that there was a magnetism in Ray’s lips that made him want to bite them again and again.
After the kiss, the two of them stared at each other in overwhelming awkwardness. They couldn’t believe they had actually done it. And that night, they didn’t speak to each other again until Kai took Ray home.