Adrian didn't sleep well.
That alone was enough to annoy him.
He wasn't the type to lose sleep over things. Not work. Not people. Not emotions.
But last night—
He shifted slightly in bed, staring at the ceiling.
His mind replayed it again.
The way Kai looked at him.
The way he held on.
The way he said, it felt the same… but also different.
Adrian exhaled slowly.
"…This is getting out of hand."
He sat up, running a hand through his hair.
It shouldn't affect him this much.
It was just a moment.
Just a hug.
Something they used to do all the time.
So why did it feel different now?
---
Morning came earlier than he expected.
Adrian got ready for work as usual, but something felt… off.
Small things.
The silence in the house.
The way he found himself listening for footsteps.
Waiting.
That didn't sit right with him.
---
When he stepped into the dining area, Kai was already there.
Sitting at the table, scrolling through his phone.
Like everything was normal.
Like last night didn't happen.
"Morning," Kai said without looking up.
Adrian watched him for a second. "You're up early."
Kai shrugged. "Couldn't sleep."
That made two of them.
Adrian took his seat across from him.
"You have work?"
"Yeah."
"Busy?"
"Always."
Simple answers.
Short.
Normal.
Too normal.
---
Kai finally looked up.
"You're staring."
Adrian didn't deny it. "You look fine."
Kai raised a brow slightly. "Should I not?"
"That's not what I meant."
Kai gave a small smile. "Then what did you mean?"
Adrian paused.
He didn't have a clear answer.
"…Nothing."
Kai studied him for a second, like he didn't believe that.
But he let it go.
---
They ate in silence for a while.
Not uncomfortable.
Just quiet.
---
Then—
"I'm having dinner tonight," Adrian said.
Kai's hand paused slightly.
Barely noticeable.
"With who?" Kai asked.
"Elena."
There it was.
A small shift.
Kai leaned back in his chair. "Again?"
"It was planned."
Kai nodded slowly. "Right."
There was no attitude in his tone.
But something about it felt… off.
Adrian noticed.
"You have a problem with it?"
Kai shook his head. "No."
"Then?"
Kai looked at him. "Why would I?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Because that was the problem.
Kai wasn't arguing.
Wasn't reacting.
He was too calm.
---
"Nothing," Adrian said finally.
Kai gave a small nod. "Good."
---
After breakfast, Kai stood up first.
"I'll head out."
Adrian watched him. "You're leaving early."
"I have things to do."
"You always do."
Kai smiled slightly. "You raised me that way."
Adrian didn't respond.
Kai walked past him.
But just as he reached the door—
He stopped.
"…Don't cancel your dinner this time," Kai said without turning around.
Adrian frowned slightly. "I wasn't planning to."
"Good."
Then he left.
---
Adrian stayed where he was.
Something about that didn't feel right.
Not the words.
But the tone.
---
Kai had never said something like that before.
---
The entire day felt off.
---
Adrian sat in his office, staring at the documents in front of him.
But he wasn't reading them.
His mind kept drifting.
Back to Kai.
Back to last night.
Back to this morning.
---
He wasn't used to this.
Not being able to focus.
Not being in control of his own thoughts.
---
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
Marcus stepped in.
"You have a meeting in ten minutes."
Adrian nodded. "Push it back."
Marcus raised a brow slightly. "That's unlike you."
"I'm aware."
Marcus didn't comment further.
But he noticed.
Of course he did.
---
"Something wrong?" Marcus asked.
Adrian leaned back slightly. "…No."
Marcus didn't look convinced.
But he didn't push.
---
"Also," Marcus added, "Miss Elena confirmed dinner tonight."
Adrian paused for a second.
"…I know."
---
That name again.
And for some reason—
It felt different now.
---
"Should I cancel it?" Marcus asked casually.
Adrian looked up sharply. "Why would you?"
Marcus shrugged. "You've been canceling things lately."
Adrian went quiet.
"…No," he said finally. "Leave it."
"Alright."
Marcus turned to leave, then stopped.
"By the way… Kai was here earlier."
Adrian frowned. "Here?"
Marcus nodded. "Briefly. Didn't stay long."
"What did he want?"
"Didn't say."
That didn't make sense.
Kai never came to his office without a reason.
---
"Did he see anyone?" Adrian asked.
Marcus thought for a second. "He crossed paths with Elena."
Adrian's expression changed slightly.
"…And?"
"They spoke."
"What about?"
Marcus shook his head. "Couldn't hear."
---
Adrian leaned back again.
Something tightened in his chest.
A feeling he didn't like.
Didn't recognize.
---
"…Alright," he said.
Marcus nodded and left.
---
Adrian sat there for a long moment.
Thinking.
---
Why would Kai come here… and not tell him?
Why talk to Elena?
What did they say?
---
He clicked his pen once.
Twice.
Then set it down.
---
"…This is getting annoying."
---
Evening came faster than expected.
---
The restaurant was quiet.
Private.
Exactly the kind of place Adrian preferred.
---
Elena was already there when he arrived.
She smiled when she saw him.
"You're on time," she said.
"I always am."
He took his seat across from her.
---
For a while, everything felt normal.
Conversation.
Food.
Calm atmosphere.
---
Until—
"I saw Kai today," Elena said.
Adrian's hand paused slightly.
"…I heard."
Elena tilted her head. "He didn't tell you?"
"No."
"Interesting."
Adrian looked at her. "What does that mean?"
Elena smiled slightly. "Nothing."
That tone said otherwise.
---
"What did he want?" Adrian asked.
Elena took a sip of her drink before answering.
"He didn't say much."
"Then what did he say?"
Elena met his eyes.
"He asked me how serious I was about you."
---
Silence.
---
Adrian's expression didn't change.
But something shifted.
"…And what did you say?"
Elena smiled faintly. "What do you think I said?"
"I'm asking you."
"I told him the truth."
"And that is?"
Elena leaned slightly forward.
"That I don't like sharing."
---
That didn't sit well with him.
Not the words.
But the implication.
---
Adrian exhaled slowly. "He had no right to ask you that."
Elena raised a brow. "Doesn't he?"
Adrian frowned slightly. "No."
Elena watched him carefully.
"Are you sure?"
---
Adrian didn't respond immediately.
---
Because for the first time—
He wasn't completely sure.
---
Elena leaned back, studying him.
"You're different tonight."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Adrian didn't argue.
---
Elena smiled slightly.
"Whatever is going on between you and Kai…" she said, "it's not as simple as you think."
Adrian's gaze sharpened. "There's nothing going on."
Elena didn't look convinced.
"Then why does it feel like there is?"
---
That question lingered.
---
Adrian didn't answer.
---
Because he didn't have one.
---
Back at home—
Kai was already there.
---
Sitting on the couch.
Waiting.
---
When Adrian walked in, Kai looked up.
"You're back."
"Yes."
"How was dinner?"
"Fine."
Kai nodded. "Good."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
"Did you see her today?" Adrian asked.
Kai didn't look surprised.
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Kai leaned back slightly. "I was curious."
"About what?"
Kai looked at him.
"About her."
---
Adrian frowned. "That's not your concern."
Kai's expression didn't change.
"Maybe not."
"Then don't act like it is."
Kai held his gaze.
"…I just wanted to know who she is."
"You already do."
"Not like that."
---
Adrian stepped closer.
"You're crossing a line again."
Kai didn't back down.
"I'm just asking questions."
"You asked her, not me."
Kai gave a small shrug. "You wouldn't answer properly."
---
That irritated him.
More than it should.
---
"Kai."
His tone was sharper now.
"Stop this."
---
Kai went quiet for a second.
Then sighed softly.
"…Alright."
---
That was unexpected.
---
"I'm not trying to cause problems," Kai added.
Adrian's expression softened slightly.
"Then don't."
Kai nodded. "Okay."
---
Another pause.
---
Then Kai stood up.
"I'm tired. I'll go sleep."
---
He walked past Adrian.
But just like before—
He stopped.
---
"…Are you happy?" Kai asked.
Adrian frowned. "What?"
"With her."
---
The question was simple.
But the answer—
Wasn't.
---
Adrian didn't respond immediately.
---
Kai gave a faint smile.
"…Yeah. That's what I thought."
---
And then he left.
---
Adrian stood there.
Alone again.
---
That same feeling returned.
That tight, uncomfortable feeling in his chest.
---
Because for the first time—
He couldn't answer a simple question.
---
And that bothered him more than anything else.