It was a quiet afternoon. Aki and Frank stood at the edge of the courtyard, casually talking as sunlight filtered through the trees. The wind rustled, and suddenly, a tiny speck of dust or something from the tree drifted into Aki's eye.
"Ow—" Aki flinched and instinctively took off his glasses, blinking rapidly as he rubbed his eye gently.
Akira, just a few steps away, was in the middle of signing documents, with a guard holding the folder beside him. But the moment Aki removed his glasses—revealing his eyes, Akira's hand froze in place. The pen hovered above the page.
"What light through yonder lashes breaks?
It is the east, and Aki's eyes are the dawn.
Two emerald stars, where woodland secrets sleep,
That pierce my soul and bid my breath to weep.
O cruel gaze! Too fair, too deep, too wise—
One look, and I am slain by greenest eyes."
Like the soul whisper to his heart.
Aki smiled after the discomfort faded. "Oh, it's fine now."
Frank gave a small nod. "Good, then."
But Akira stood completely still. He couldn't take his eyes off Aki—those forest-colored eyes, the ones hidden behind glasses all this time.
Aki glanced at Akira, confused. "Is he... staring at me?"
Akira "ah" said softly like the love control over his brain.
The guard beside Akira leaned in, worried. "Young master, are you okay? Does your chest hurt?"
Akira didn't move. His hand still held the pen. His breath shallow.
Aki leaned slightly closer, waving his hand near Akira's face.
No response.
"Hmph," Aki pouted, turning his face away and walking off with Frank.
The moment they turned, Akira blinked hard, as if waking from a dream. "Ha—" he whispered and took a quick step forward. "Wait... don't go."
"Y-Young master?" the confused guard with the documents asked behind him. "Where are you going?"
---
A short while later, Leo sat on the grand couch, deep in discussion with Aki and Frank. Unbeknownst to them, Akira was behind the thick velvet curtains, peeking in.
The same guard crouched beside him, still holding the folder. "Young master, what about the signature?"
Akira turned his head toward him and whispered, "Shh."
The guard blinked. Twice.
Akira's eyes never left Aki—who now had his glasses back on, but his back was still visible from this angle. Something about his stance, the soft light against his hair, the voice still echoing in Akira's ears... It all made his heart flutter.
Leo noticed something move behind the curtain. "Akira! What are you doing there?"
Akira flinched. "Oh, father—actually..." He walked inside, face unreadable.
Leo's eyebrows shot up. "Father??" he repeated in disbelief.
Akira turned his eyes slowly toward him. "Yes, father. What else should I call you? You're the reason I'm here." A playful smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Leo blinked at the unexpected calmness in Akira's voice. Suspicious. He turned to Frank and Aki. "You two can leave."
They bowed and exited.
Leo turned back to face his son. "So, Akir—" But Akira was already gone.
"Akira ! where did he go?"
---
Outside, in the garden...
Akira stood in front of the stone fountain, water trickling down in soft murmurs. His gaze, however, wasn't on the water.
A few feet behind him, Frank and Aki stood talking once more. Akira's eyes weren't on them directly—but on the reflection of Aki in the rippling fountain water. A faint blush crept onto his cheeks as he watched silently.
Yuke appeared beside him, arms crossed, raising a brow.
"Brother, what are you doing?"
Akira didn't answer.
Yuke narrowed his eyes. "Why are you blushing?"
Akira flinched. "W-What? No, I'm not!"
"Oh, come on." Yuke grinned mischievously. "Who is it? Who got my brother's cold, mafia heart beating like a schoolgirl?"
Akira hesitated, then whispered, "…You… really want to know?"
Yuke nodded eagerly.
"You see those special guards over there?" Akira asked, glancing subtly.
Yuke peeked over. "Yeah, they're Dad's right- and left-hand men. So what? …Wait."
Akira blushed harder and nodded.
Yuke's jaw dropped. "You like the right-hand man?!"
"Shhh!" Akira panicked, covering Yuke's mouth with his hand. "Not so loud!"
Aki and Frank briefly turned their heads at the commotion before returning to their conversation.
Yuke mumbled through his hand, "Sowwy…"
Akira pulled his hand away. Yuke grinned. "So… you love him?"
Akira exhaled. "More like a… crush."
Yuke sparkled with excitement. "Then go and confess! No way anyone can reject you."
Akira shook his head. "It's probably one-sided… Besides, I had a fight with him yesterday. He's ignoring me."
Yuke tilted his head. "Really? Already? But hey—I know how to find out if it's one-sided."
Akira turned. "You do?"
Yuke leaned in to whisper. "I'll kiss you."
Akira recoiled. "Eww, no thanks!"
"Do you want to know or not?" Yuke asked dramatically.
Akira groaned. "Fine. But once. Only once."
Yuke smirked. "Good. Now—if he turns around to look while I kiss you, it means he's into you. If he doesn't… well…"
Akira sighed. "Sounds like a flop plan."
Yuke grinned wickedly. "Let's try it."
.....
Yuke loudly, "Oh brother, I love you so much… (whisper) Now your turn."
Akira hesitatingly muttered, "Ya… me too… totally."
Yuke leaned closer with a mischievous glint, "Come here."
He kissed Akira on the lips.
Both instantly recoiled.
"Eww! Ehh! Awhhh!" they gagged in sync.
From a distance, a horrified scream pierced the air.
"AHHH! What am I seeing—OH LORD! WHY I LIVE TO SEE THIS DAY!!"
Mr. Astra stood frozen in disbelief, eyes wide with righteous horror.
Yuke and Akira turned slowly toward him. "Oh no…"
Astra stormed toward them, rage flaring like wildfire. "YOU ARE BLOOD-RELATED BROTHERS! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS?! MY GOD—BLAH BLAH—!"
Akira and Yuke hung their heads low.
Akira whispered, "Did you see… did he look or not?"
Yuke, side-eyeing Aki and Frank still locked in discussion, replied, "Don't know… I…"
Astra, now in full fury mode, screamed, "DO YOU BOTH THINK I'M FOOL?!"
Then—SLAP.
PUNCH.
No mercy.
---
Evening
Akira sat on the porch with an ice pack on his head. Yuke beside him, holding a cold can to his swollen ear.
Akira groaned, "Ahh… Mom literally punched my head, and it still aching…"
Yuke laughed.
Akira snapped, "You're laughing 'cause you didn't get beaten!"
Yuke turned, showing his red, throbbing ear. "See? It still hurts."
Akira winced. "Ohh… it is bad."
He sighed, "So now what…"
Yuke thought for a moment. "He didn't turn his head, but I don't know if he was watching through his glasses."
Akira sighed again, heavier this time. "Guess it's one-sided after all…"
Yuke stood up, patting his brother's shoulder. "Don't worry brother, I got another plan."
Akira narrowed his eyes. "Your plans are more dangerous."
Yuke grinned, "Listen… why don't you take him to club and get him drunk and then "
Akira blinked. "That's not the right—no—"
Yuke, with a fiery glint, "Brother, everything is fair in love and war. War you already know… let's cheers with love , this time."
He winked and drank the entire can in one breath.
Akira, looking at him thoughtfully, "Hmm… not bad idea…"
Yuke jumped on him for a hug.
From a distance—again—Astra caught them in another awkward position.
"AHHH! I KNEW IT!!"
Akira and Yuke, tangled up, looked over in horror.
"Mom! It's not what it looks like!"
Astra, voice filled with sorrow and rage: "YOU GUYS HAVE DECIDED TO CUT MY NOSE—WAHHH!!"
He pulled out his slipper with legendary speed.
"I WILL FIX YOU!!"
Akira and Yuke ran for their lives while Astra unleashed the wrath of the slipper God.
---
Next day in the Kitchen,
The morning air was warm with the clinking of utensils. Aki stood at the kitchen counter, sipping water quietly while the servants bustled around him, chefs focused on preparing breakfast. The usual hum of work was interrupted by soft, hurried footsteps.
Akira had entered the kitchen.
His heart pounded faster than usual. Maybe it was the silence… or the fact that Aki wasn't wearing his glasses again.
"Uhm… Aki," Akira said softly, his voice dipping in hesitation.
Aki stopped mid-sip and wiped his mouth casually with his hand, turning toward him.
"What is it, young master?" he asked.
"I… I'm sorry for shouting at you," Akira said, his voice trembling ever so slightly.
The entire kitchen froze.
One of the chefs whispered in disbelief, "Did young master just… apologize?"
Aki blinked—and then smiled softly, a rare gentleness in his expression.
"It's okay, young master. I already forgave you that day," he said, patting Akira's head gently.
Akira flushed pink. "Then why were you ignoring me yesterday?"
Aki thought for a moment. "I was just a little mad… but you said sorry, so that's enough for a simple man like me."
Akira smiled, tilting his head. "Simple man… hmm."
Then, suddenly, "So Aki, I was thinking… would you like to go to a party with me?"
Aki rubbed the back of his head, his eyes unsure. "Uhh… young master, I'm not good with parties and functions. I think you should ask someone else."
Akira didn't give up. "Ahm—no worries! It's not a big party. Just a normal one at a club. And yeah, my friends will be there—you've met them before, the nice ones…"
Then, the killer move—he looked up at Aki with puppy eyes.
Aki faltered. He sighed in defeat. "...Okay."
Akira lit up like a sunrise. "Then meet you at the club today at 6 in the evening, okay? And ya, one more thing—I don't have your phone number so…"
Aki handed it over. "It's ok. Here."
"OH! Thanks! Don't be late, okay?! I'll be waiting… woohoo!" Akira jumped in place, grinning like a kid, and ran off.
Aki smiled to himself, then returned to his work.
From afar, Astra watched his son hopping away with joy.
"What happened to him… don't tell me—" he muttered in horror and sprinted toward the kitchen.
Just then, Yuke, still in his night suit with messy silver long wavy hair and one shoulder lazily exposed, was drinking milk straight from the fridge.
"Huh?"
Astra burst into tears and dramatically ran back to his room.
Yuke blinked. "Looks like everyone gone crazy in this house."