The final bell rang, echoing down the quiet halls of the school.
Students flooded out of classrooms, conversations rising into a noisy blur. Adrien moved through the hallway with his usual calm pace, his bag slung over one shoulder. His mind felt oddly foggy.
He hadn't slept much.
Every time he closed his eyes the memories from last night replayed again — Zane's laugh, the warmth of his presence in the living room, the way everything between them had slowly blurred into something dangerous.
Adrien exhaled quietly.
He needed to clear his head.
Outside, the cool afternoon air brushed against his face as he walked toward the school parking area where his car and driver waited.
But when he got closer, he stopped.
Someone was leaning against the sleek black vehicle.
Adrien frowned.
Dante.
Dante stood there casually with one ankle crossed over the other, arms folded across his chest like he owned the place. His expression carried that same irritating smirk Adrien had seen a few times before.
Adrien continued walking toward him.
"What are you doing here?"
Dante straightened slowly.
"Waiting."
"For what?"
Dante tilted his head slightly.
"For you."
Adrien stopped in front of him, unimpressed.
"I'm busy."
"Going home?" Dante asked casually.
"Yes."
"Perfect."
Adrien sighed.
"Dante."
"Yes?"
"I'm leaving."
He moved to open the car door.
But Dante spoke again.
"I know about you and Zane."
Adrien froze.
Slowly, he turned his head back toward him.
Dante watched him carefully.
Adrien's expression returned to neutral almost immediately.
"You don't know anything."
Dante chuckled softly.
"Oh, I know enough."
Adrien crossed his arms.
"You're wasting my time."
But Dante stepped closer.
"You should be careful around him."
Adrien didn't react.
"Zane is trouble," Dante continued calmly.
Adrien rolled his eyes.
"Congratulations. You just described half the athletes in this city."
Dante smiled slightly.
"I know his ex."
That made Adrien pause.
Only for a second.
But Dante noticed it.
"He's still around," Dante continued. "Still very involved in Zane's life."
Adrien scoffed.
"You sound obsessed."
"I'm informed."
Adrien opened the car door.
"Good for you."
But Dante leaned slightly toward him.
"I also have proof that Zane still sees him."
Adrien stopped again.
Something unpleasant twisted in his chest.
Still, his voice stayed calm.
"I'm not getting closer to Zane."
Dante smiled knowingly.
"You don't have to lie to me."
Adrien's patience was thinning.
"Are you done?"
Dante considered him for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"Alright."
Adrien started getting into the car.
"I'll tell you everything."
Adrien paused.
Dante continued casually.
"On one condition."
Adrien closed the door again.
"What condition?"
"A dinner date."
Adrien stared at him.
"At an Italian restaurant," Dante added.
Adrien's expression turned flat.
"You're unbelievable."
Dante shrugged.
"You want the truth or not?"
Adrien hesitated.
Curiosity stirred in the back of his mind.
He hated that it did.
But it did.
Finally he spoke.
"We take my car."
Dante smiled immediately.
"Deal."
Adrien's car pulled up in front of an elegant Italian restaurant downtown.
Warm golden lights glowed through the windows.
The smell of baked bread and herbs drifted through the entrance.
The bodyguard parked while Adrien and Dante stepped out.
Inside, soft music played while couples and families sat at candlelit tables.
Dante pulled out a chair for Adrien when they reached their table.
Adrien raised an eyebrow.
"I can sit down myself."
Dante chuckled.
"Just being polite."
They sat across from each other.
Adrien leaned back in his chair.
"Start talking."
Dante picked up the menu.
"We should order first."
Adrien narrowed his eyes.
"Dante."
"Wine?"
Adrien sighed heavily.
The waiter arrived and Dante ordered wine, pasta, and garlic bread for both of them.
Adrien stared at him the entire time.
Once the waiter left, Adrien folded his arms.
"You're stalling."
"Relax."
"I didn't come here to relax."
Dante smiled faintly.
"We should wait for the food."
Adrien rubbed his temple.
"You're insufferable."
Meanwhile, Dante casually reached under the table.
His phone rested in his hand.
He opened the photo.
Adrien sitting across from him.
The perfect angle.
Dante pressed send.
Zane's phone buzzed on the bench.
He had just finished another round of training and was wiping sweat from his face.
The moment he saw the notification, his heart jumped.
Adrien?
He grabbed the phone.
But the sender made his jaw tighten instantly.
Dante.
Zane opened the message.
The photo loaded.
Adrien sitting at a restaurant table.
Across from Dante.
Candlelight between them.
Looking exactly like a date.
Zane's blood boiled instantly.
"What the hell…"
His grip tightened around the phone.
He zoomed in.
Adrien looked serious.
Almost sad.
Zane opened another tab and quickly searched the restaurant logo visible in the photo.
It took less than a minute.
He found it.
Across town.
Zane grabbed his keys immediately.
"I'm leaving," he told his coach.
Without waiting for a response, he rushed out of the gym.
Back at the Restaurant
The food finally arrived.
Steam rose from the plates of pasta.
Garlic bread filled the table with its warm scent.
Adrien picked up his fork slowly.
"Now talk."
Dante took a sip of wine.
"Alright."
He leaned back slightly.
"Zane's ex is an OF model."
Adrien frowned slightly.
"So?"
Dante shrugged.
"He's also a whore."
Adrien's expression hardened.
"You don't need to insult people."
Dante continued calmly.
"Zane was obsessed with him for years."
Adrien stayed silent.
"He probably still is."
"That's speculation," Adrien said flatly.
Dante smiled faintly.
"Is it?"
Then he pulled out his phone.
"I have proof."
Adrien felt something tighten in his chest.
Dante turned the screen toward him.
The picture appeared.
Zane.
At a bar.
Leaning close to someone.
Almost kissing.
Ethan.
Adrien froze.
A strange lump formed in his throat.
He didn't even understand why it bothered him so much.
He had told Dante earlier he wasn't close to Zane.
So why did this feel like a punch to the chest?
Adrien looked away from the phone.
He suddenly lost his appetite.
Across the restaurant entrance—
The door slammed open.
Zane rushed inside.
His eyes scanned the restaurant quickly.
He bumped into a waiter carrying drinks.
"Sorry—"
But he didn't stop.
Then he saw them.
Adrien sitting at the table.
Looking… hurt.
Zane ran toward them.
"Adrien—"
Before he could say anything, Adrien stood up abruptly.
He grabbed his jacket.
And walked away.
Zane stared at him for half a second.
Then he turned toward Dante.
Their eyes locked.
If looks could kill—
Dante would have been dead instantly.
Then Zane ran after Adrien.
Through the restaurant.
Out the door.
Into the night.