Theo sat in his office, sunlight cutting sharp lines across the polished wood of his desk, the steady tick of the clock drilling into his skull. He should have been working. He needed to be working.
But every time he blinked, Yu's face appeared.
Those hazel eyes, soft and glistening with faint tears. The curve of his body, slender but subtly rounded, rivaling any woman he had ever been introduced to. The way he moved—gentle, fluid, every gesture motherly and soothing in a way Theo had never experienced before.
His mind betrayed him, conjuring visions he dared not give voice to:
Yu in his home, apron tied neatly, moving through the halls as though he belonged. Yu at his table, smiling softly as he placed food before him. Yu lying beside him at night, hair spilling like silk over the pillow, waiting to be held.
His wife.
The word alone made Theo's stomach clench. It went against everything—his upbringing, his duty as eldest, his obligation to marry a woman and carry on the Kingsley name.
And yet, God help him, the hunger twisted deeper. No matter how he tried to bury it, his heart thundered with a truth he couldn't admit, not even to himself:
He wanted Yu. Desperately.
---
Meanwhile, Yu played his part with the patience of a spider spinning its web.
Days slipped by since the incident in the courtyard. He didn't step foot in the Kingsley estate, not once. Instead, he maintained his connection to Joy with cheerful text messages, sprinkled with emojis and playful banter.
Yuvin: Sorry, buried in a mountain of projects! 🥺😭Wish I could hang out, but school's eating me alive.😵💔
Yuvin: Promise I'll come see you soon. 🙏🏼Don't let Theo boss you around too much, okay?😤😤
The messages kept the "best friend" role airtight, ensuring Joy never doubted him for a moment.
And in the meantime, Yu focused on schoolwork, sketching new designs with the original Yuvin's muscle memory, and keeping the mask of an overworked student firmly in place.
All while waiting for Theo's hunger to grow unbearable.
---
The afternoon sun slanted through the tall windows of the library, gilding the edges of textbooks and notes spread across the table. Yu leaned on one hand, tapping his pen idly as Izan sat across from him, animatedly explaining a passage from their history of Rome assignment.
"…and it's fascinating, right? The way Roman ideals of love and duty shaped half of what we take for granted today—"
Izan cut himself short, flushing faintly when Yu's ruby-tinged hazel eyes lingered on him with an amused tilt.
Yu's phone buzzed against the table, the vibration slicing through the quiet hum of the library. He glanced down, and his lips curved into a mischievous smile as he read Joy's message.
Joy: Theo's staying at the office late to finish some work.🤩 I'll be bored to death if I'm stuck here alone.👻 Can you come over? Please?🙏🏼🙏🏼🥹
Yu tapped a quick reply.
Yu: Of course. And I'll bring a surprise.😘😶🌫️
Slipping his phone into his pocket, Yu turned back to Izan.
"Say, Izan…"
He said lightly, his voice threaded with playful promise,
"Do you want to see Joy again?"
Izan blinked, his gray eyes widening.
"Is that even a question? Of course I do!"
His ears flushed pink, the words tumbling out without hesitation.
Yu chuckled, leaning back in his chair.
"Then tonight is your chance. Theo won't be home. Which means Joy will have nothing but free time… and you."
Izan swallowed, gripping his knees under the table, the image enough to set his heart pounding.
Yu rose gracefully, gathering his notes and sliding them into his bag. He slung it over one shoulder and flashed Izan a smile that was both conspiratorial and encouraging.
"Come on."
Yu said, already moving toward the door.
"Tonight's the best night. Let's go."
Izan scrambled to his feet, flustered but determined, trailing after Yu as they made their way across campus.
The path stretched before them, the estate waiting at the end like a stage where Yu would weave his threads tighter—Joy and Izan drawn closer, while Theo remained absent.
And Yu? Yu was already planning his next move.
---
The heavy iron gates opened with their usual quiet groan, the drive lined with manicured hedges glowing faintly under the setting sun. Yu led the way with an easy step, Izan a half-pace behind him, visibly nervous, tugging at the strap of his bag.
When Joy opened the grand front door, her face lit instantly at the sight of Yu.
"Yuvin!"
She exclaimed, practically bouncing forward to hug him.
Then her gaze shifted past him—and froze. Her cheeks flushed instantly pink.
"I-Izan?"
Izan scratched the back of his neck, his gray eyes darting everywhere but directly at her.
"H-Hi, Joy."
Joy's eyes flicked between them, her lips parting in shock before curling into a smile so wide it was impossible to hide. She swatted Yu's arm lightly, pouting through her blush.
"You didn't tell me this was the surprise!"
Yu only smirked, his hazel eyes glinting with mischief.
"Would you have preferred if I warned you?"
Joy covered her cheeks with her hands, giggling like a girl half her age, while Izan shuffled awkwardly beside them, fighting to keep his composure.
By the time night had fallen, the three of them were curled up together in Joy's room—a sprawling space fit for a princess. Soft pink walls framed by cream drapes, shelves lined with delicate porcelain figurines, a canopy bed dressed in satin, and fairy lights strung along the edges gave the entire room a warm, dreamlike glow.
Yu sprawled casually across the plush rug, sketchbook open, half-listening as Joy and Izan sat side by side on the edge of her bed. Joy leaned close, animatedly telling Izan about her favorite books, her laughter spilling like bells. Izan, red to the tips of his ears, listened with rapt attention, nodding too quickly whenever she looked his way.
Yu hummed softly to himself, the corners of his lips curling upward. Every glance, every blush, every nervous shuffle Izan made told him the threads were pulling tight, right where he wanted them.
Meanwhile, far across town in his office, Theo sat under the harsh glow of fluorescent lights, drowning in paperwork. His pen scratched against contracts, but his mind wandered back again and again—toward his estate, his sister, and, against his will, to Yu.
---
The lamp on Theo's desk cast a stark pool of light over the mountain of contracts in front of him. For hours he had tried to focus—numbers, signatures, endless meetings—but every line blurred until all he could see was hazel eyes, soft laughter, the gentle weight of Yu brushing against his world.
'Days…'
He realized, pressing the heel of his palm against his brow.
'He hasn't been back for days.'
His pen slipped, leaving an ugly slash of ink across the page. With a sharp growl, Theo tossed it aside and shoved back from the desk, his chair scraping across the floor.
He wouldn't get anything done tonight. Not with Yu haunting every thought.
Theo grabbed his coat with clipped motions, the echo of his footsteps loud in the empty halls. The company parking lot stretched quiet and dim, his car waiting beneath the floodlights. Sliding into the driver's seat, he slammed the door shut with more force than necessary.
The engine roared to life, and without hesitation, Theo turned the wheel toward home.
---
Back at the estate, Joy's room glowed softly with fairy lights, the three nestled together like a scene from another world. Joy perched on her bed, knees tucked under her chin, leaning close to Izan as she showed him a keepsake from her childhood. Izan, red to the ears, listened with reverence, clutching the trinket as though it were sacred.
Yu, sprawled on the rug with his sketchbook, looked up at just the right moments, tossing out quiet nudges.
"She always said that charm brought her luck, Izan. You know what that means, right?"
Joy blushed deeper.
"Yuvin, don't tease—"
But Izan only grinned nervously, holding her gaze a little longer than before. The thread tightened, subtle and sure.
Then it came—the sharp slam of a car door echoing faintly from outside.
Yu's head snapped up, his body going still. He crept toward the window, peeking between the curtains just in time to see Theo striding across the courtyard, his figure cutting sharp against the glow of the floodlights.
Yu's eyes widened, and he ducked down instantly, heart thumping. He turned sharply back to Joy and Izan, his voice hushed but urgent.
"He's home. Now."
Joy's face paled.
"Theo—?"
Izan stiffened, panic written across every line of his face.
The three of them froze in place, breaths caught, the sudden weight of Theo's unexpected return crashing over them like a tidal wave.
The sound of Theo's footsteps echoed faintly downstairs, each measured step a drumbeat of impending discovery.
Yu's mind raced.
'If he sees Izan here, the whole web collapses.'
"Joy—"
Yu whispered sharply, eyes flicking to her wide, anxious face.
"You need to go out there and distract him. Keep him talking."
Joy's eyes widened.
"Me? Why can't you go distract him while I take Izan out back? I know exactly where the cameras are—he won't see us!"
Yu hesitated, his lips twitching faintly as he crafted his excuse.
"…Because…"
He said softly.
"Theo and I… got into a fight. I don't want to see him right now."
The words landed with heavy weight.
Joy gasped, her hands clasping over her mouth.
"What? A fight? Yuvin, are you alright? Did he—did he say you can't come here anymore? Because if he did, I'll fight Theo for you. I mean it!"
Despite the tension, Yu chuckled, reaching out to pat her hair gently.
"Don't worry. I don't think it'll come to that."
Joy flushed but nodded fiercely, determination blazing in her dark-blue eyes.
Yu turned his gaze to Izan, whose hands fidgeted helplessly.
"I'll take him out back. You keep Theo occupied. Talk his ear off—anything. Just make sure he doesn't come upstairs."
Joy swallowed hard, then straightened her shoulders.
"Okay. I'll handle him."
The plan was set.
---
The heavy front doors opened with a resonant thud, and Theo stepped into the estate, his polished shoes striking the marble floor.
The air was warm, faintly perfumed by Joy's candles upstairs, but beneath it something felt off—unsettling.
His blue eyes narrowed, scanning the quiet hall. His body was taut, every instinct prickling with suspicion. Something's here. Someone's here.
Theo set his briefcase down, the sharp snap of the latch echoing through the foyer, and began walking deeper into the house, the weight of his presence spreading like a stormcloud.
And upstairs, Yu tightened his hold on Izan's wrist, whispering urgently.
"Come on. We move now."
---
Theo's polished shoes struck the marble with steady weight as he moved deeper into the estate. His gaze was sharp, his instincts screaming something was amiss.
"Welcome home, brother!"
Joy's voice rang suddenly from the bottom of the staircase behind him.
Theo stopped, turning toward her. She stood there, hands clasped behind her back, smile a touch too bright, her cheeks faintly pink.
"You're back earlier than I thought. How was work? Did you finish that big project? Was traffic bad? Oh—did you eat? Should I make tea?"
Her words tumbled one after another, rapid-fire, and Theo's eyes narrowed. He studied her, reading the nervous energy vibrating through her small frame.
"Joy…"
He said, his voice low.
"What are you doing?"
Her heart skipped.
'Keep him talking. Keep him here.'
She pushed a smile.
"I'm just being a good sister! You never talk about work with me, and I want to know everything. Everything."
He arched a brow, clearly unconvinced, and took another step away. Panic spiked in her chest.
"Brother!"
She blurted suddenly, voice higher than she meant,
"Is it true you had a fight with Yuvin?"
Theo froze mid-step. Heat flushed his face before he could stop it.
"What?"
His voice cracked with a sharp edge, uncharacteristically flustered.
"Where did you hear that?"
Joy puffed her chest proudly despite her thundering heartbeat.
"From Yuvin, of course! He's my best friend—we tell each other everything!"
Her chin trembled, her eyes going wet as she asked.
"Is it true, then? Did you forbid him from coming here? Are you really… really going to keep him away from me?"
Her fists clenched at her sides, ready to fight for her friend if needed.
Theo's composure wavered. He looked away, swallowing hard.
"…No. That's not the case."
Relief crashed through Joy, tears spilling over—but before she could say more, a faint sound carried through the hall. A thud.
Theo's head snapped toward the noise. His body went taut, suspicion sharpening like a blade.
---
Meanwhile, Yu pulled Izan quickly through the service hallways, moving with the practiced ease of someone who had memorized paths he shouldn't know thanks to DK01's guidance. His grip was tight on Izan's wrist, dragging him forward.
[Almost there. Just around the corner, out the back, and—]
Suddenly, Izan's foot caught the edge of a loose rug. He stumbled with a gasp, crashing hard against the floor with a muffled thud.
Yu's heart lurched.
"Idiot—"
He grabbed at Izan's arm, hauling him up with surprising strength. The sound of footsteps echoed from the main hall, closer now.
[Quickly, move.]
'No time.'
Yu yanked open the nearest door—a closet crammed with coats and old storage—and shoved Izan inside. Following him in, Yu pulled the door shut behind them with a soft click.
The space was unbearably small. Izan had barely managed to sink onto a stool when Yu ended up straddling his lap, his knees bent awkwardly against the walls. Their bodies pressed tight, chest to chest, the heat of each breath spilling into the other's face.
Izan's gray eyes went wide, his cheeks blazing red in the dim sliver of light.
"Y-Yuvin—"
"Shh."
Yu's hand covered his mouth lightly, his own breath shallow, his heart pounding as footsteps thudded past the door.
Izan's body trembled under him, every line of tension clear as Yu's thighs pressed against his. The rhythm of their ragged breaths filled the tiny closet, every sound magnified.
'Stay quiet. Stay still.'
Yu's own pulse betrayed him, racing as though he were caught too.
Outside, the steps slowed. A pause. Theo's presence loomed heavy, so close it was suffocating.
Yu leaned in closer, his lips brushing the shell of Izan's ear as he whispered, barely audible.
"Don't. Move."
Izan squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to shudder at the warmth of Yu's voice, trying not to think about the weight of him sitting so intimately in his lap.
Inside the cramped dark, their shared silence thrummed with danger, suspense—and something neither dared name.
---
Theo paced down the narrow corridor, every step deliberate, eyes sharp. He circled the spot where he thought he'd heard the faint thud, his instincts gnawing at him.
Behind him, Joy trailed nervously, wringing her hands, her voice caught in her throat.
"Joy."
Theo said suddenly, his tone flat but cutting.
"Did you have someone over?"
Joy froze, her heart leaping into her throat. She opened her mouth but no words came—her loyalty tugging in two directions. She couldn't betray Yu, and she absolutely couldn't tell Theo that Izan had been in her room.
Her silence was enough. Theo's eyes narrowed, the flicker of confirmation tightening his jaw. Without another word, he began opening doors one by one, striding into each side room to check thoroughly, his movements precise, controlled, methodical.
Joy fidgeted anxiously in the hall, her pulse racing.
'Please, please don't find them…'
---
Inside the closet, the air in the cramped space was suffocating. Yu shifted slightly on Izan's lap, trying to relieve the ache in his knees.
The movement was enough to draw a sharp gasp from Izan. His hands shot up instinctively, gripping Yu's hips to steady him.
The sudden touch made Yu's breath catch—and before he could stop himself, a soft sound, a moan, slipped past his lips.
Izan froze, wide-eyed, his heart hammering in his chest. Yu's hazel eyes widened in horror, heat rushing to his face.
[Warning! Host, if you continue on this trajectory I predict the world's protagonist, Izan, will fall in love with you. Stealing Joy's fated love does not constitute as "best friend" behavior and will be flagged as ooc. Which means being ejected from the world and restarting from day one. Cease doing what you are doing or risk restarting.]
'No—no, no, this is bad. This is worse than bad. This is a nightmare.'
The warmth of Izan's hands on his hips burned into him, the closeness twisting his instincts dangerously. It felt good—too good. And if he let it continue, it wouldn't just risk getting caught. It would mean betraying Joy. It would mean risking the mission entirely.
Outside, the sound of Theo's footsteps grew louder—another door opening, then shutting. He was getting closer.
'Think, Yu. Think.'
If they were caught like this, pressed together, it would be over. Theo's suspicion would harden into certainty, and Joy would never forgive him.
Yu bit his lip, mind racing.
'If I'm going to be caught… it's going to be on my terms.'
He leaned close, his lips brushing against Izan's ear, and pressed a hand gently but firmly over Izan's mouth.
"Stay quiet. Don't move."
Izan's eyes searched his desperately, but he nodded, muffled against Yu's palm.
Through the thin cracks in the door, Yu saw Theo disappear into the next room to inspect it.
'Now.'
Yu twisted the knob with careful precision and slipped the door open, unfolding himself from Izan's lap. Izan's hands clung instinctively to his hips until the last possible second, reluctant to let go, before Yu stood fully upright in the open hallway.
Joy's head whipped toward him, her eyes wide and nerves raw, and she saw—Yu standing calm and poised outside the closet, and Izan still hidden inside, seated and silent.
With a steady motion, Yu pulled the door closed behind him, sealing Izan in.
He stood alone in the open corridor now, his back straight, waiting.
Just as Theo emerged from the last room.
---
Theo stepped out of the last room, his expression hard and sharp—until his gaze caught on the slim figure waiting in the corridor.
Yu.
He froze.
For a long moment, neither spoke. The silence pressed heavy between them, thick with everything unsaid. Theo's blue eyes raked over Yu—his pale skin, the fall of his hair, his hazel eyes shimmering in the dim light.
'Days…'
Theo thought bitterly.
'Days without him. No idle chats. No presence. Just absence.'
He didn't know what to feel. Anger, for being ignored? Resentment, for being treated like nothing? Or relief—dangerous, traitorous relief—that Yu was here, right here, close enough to touch?
His heart gave a traitorous thump against his ribs. And Theo hated himself for it.
"Yuvin!"
Joy gasped, rushing forward as if to shield him, her words tumbling fast and frantic.
"You—what are you doing here? You didn't tell me you were coming! I—"
But Yu held up a hand, stopping her gently but firmly. His eyes flicked to hers, the faintest glimmer of steel beneath the softness.
"Joy. Theo and I need to talk. Privately."
The weight in his tone made her blink—and then she understood. It wasn't really about talking. It was about time. Time for her to sneak Izan out of the closet behind her without Theo noticing.
Joy nodded quickly, pressing her lips together.
"Gosh, sounds serious. I'll just… wait here, then."
She stayed planted near the closet, nerves fraying, but prepared to move Izan the second she could.
Yu turned back to Theo with a small, practiced smile.
"Come, let's go elsewhere."
He said softly, stepping closer. His slender fingers brushed Theo's sleeve, then curled lightly around his arm.
Theo stiffened at the touch, a shiver running through him despite himself.
"We should talk…"
Yu continued, voice gentle but steady.
"While I make dinner. Just us three—you, Joy, and me."
Without giving Theo time to argue, Yu guided him smoothly down the hall, his touch subtle but insistent. Every step carried them further from the closet, from Joy, from Izan's flushed and hidden figure.
Theo let himself be led, his mind torn between suspicion and the quiet, desperate yearning that swelled in his chest at Yu's touch.
And behind them, Joy exhaled shakily, her eyes darting to the closet door, ready to finish the second half of Yu's plan.
Joy's fingers wrapped tightly around Izan's hand as she tugged him quickly down the dim corridor, their footsteps muffled against the estate's plush rugs.
"Come on."
She whispered, her heart pounding.
"We have to be quick."
Izan's chest burned with adrenaline, but all he could feel was her hand—warm, delicate—clinging to his. He was elated, every nerve alight with joy at the contact. Yet beneath it, a ghost lingered.
The closet.
Yu's weight pressed on his lap, somehow both feather-light and suffocatingly heavy. The press of slender thighs against his, the heat of his breath ghosting across his ear as he whispered—
"Don't move."
His hands had clutched Yu's hips without thought, and the memory seared into him now, replaying with dangerous vividness.
Izan's face burned crimson as he ran, torn between the bliss of Joy's hand in his and the phantom warmth of Yu's body against him. He couldn't shake it. He couldn't escape it.
Joy tugged him harder.
"This way!"
She hissed, pulling him toward the back garden path where the cameras couldn't reach.
Izan nodded, trying to clear his head, but the memory clung to him, haunting, heavy, and impossible to ignore.
---
The clatter of pots and the sizzle of butter filled the estate kitchen, the rich aroma of garlic and herbs wafting through the air. Yu moved gracefully between counter and stove, his hazel eyes calm, his hands steady.
Theo stood close behind from him, arms crossed, his jaw tight. The silence between them burned hotter than the pan.
Yu broke it first.
"You grabbed me."
His tone was even, but the edge beneath it was unmistakable.
"In front of everyone and actually had the gall to question me. Do you have any idea how that made me feel?"
Theo flinched, guilt flashing across his face. He opened his mouth, searching for an explanation.
"I… I didn't mean—"
His words faltered. The truth sat heavy in his throat:
He had no reason he could give that would sound rational without confronting his own feelings.
Finally, his shoulders sagged.
"…I'm sorry."
Yu turned to stir the pan, the steam curling around his face.
"I don't like being grabbed like that, it hurt. Don't do it again. For now, that's enough."
His voice softened, but his eyes didn't lift from the pan.
Theo's fists clenched at his sides. The apology tasted bitter, but the relief of being forgiven—even conditionally—was undeniable.
Still, his suspicion crept back in.
"Those two you were with. Your… roommates."
His voice dropped lower, sharper.
"What are they to you?"
Yu glanced over his shoulder, lips curling faintly.
"Roommates. That's all. Callen flirts and gets handsy sometimes, but that's just his personality. It doesn't mean anything. Don't take it to heart."
Theo's gaze darkened.
"Doesn't mean anything."
Yu said, but the words did little to soothe the image of Callen's arms around him, Adrian's watchful eyes.
He exhaled slowly, voice tight.
"…I don't like it."
Yu smirked faintly but his hazel gaze turned briefly cold, turning back to the stove.
"You don't have to like it, Kingsley. You just have to trust me."
And the quiet hum of simmering food filled the silence that followed, carrying the weight of words left unsaid.