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Chapter 22 - _the eyes_

Irel:

"Lytheil…?"

Lytheil's eyes met his

For a second, neither of them moved

Then Lytheil tilted his head slightly and gestured toward the car beside him—an unspoken invitation

Irel stared at lytheil

He walked over and got in

The door closed with a soft thud

Silence

Irel's POV

I've always heard rumors about him…

That he's ruthless. Cold. Brutal.

That he beats people without mercy

But i have always felt

No one can ever predict what hes thinking

Since his eyes doesn't show anything

He's hard to read . almost impossible

"Irel?"

Irel turned toward him. "Yeah."

Lytheil's gaze remained steady

"I've heard rumors about you," he said calmly. "That you're merciless. Arrogant. A rich brat who crushes anyone who stands in your way."

A faint pause

"That's why people fear you. Why they keep their distance."

Irel's eyes widened—just slightly

Then he smiled

"Oh… really?"

"And what if it's true?" he asked softly

Lytheil let out a quiet laugh

"It doesn't seem true to me."

His eyes studied Irel carefully

"You're entirely different from what I heard."

Irel turned his face toward the window, hiding the subtle shift in his expression. Outside, the city lights blurred into streaks

His fingers tightened around his phone

Lytheil noticed. His gaze flickered briefly to Irel's clenched hand

A small detail

But he saw it

"And what about you?" Irel asked quietly. "Are the rumors about you true?"

Lytheil's lips curved slightly

"What if I say they are?"

Irel huffed softly. "That's stupid."

Lytheil leaned back, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

"Is it?"

Irel smiled faintly—still not looking at him

A quiet pause settled between them

Then Irel spoke

"Lytheil…"

This time, his voice was softer

"What do you think about emotions?"

Lytheil's expression shifted—just slightly

The teasing disappeared

"Emotions?" he repeated

Irel finally turned to look at him

"Are they an illusion… or darkness?"

For a moment, Lytheil said nothing

Instead, he turned the steering wheel. The car slowly moved into a narrow alley, away from the streetlights, away from the noise. He stopped the engine.

Silence filled the space

Lytheil turned to him

Their eyes met

His gaze was empty—yet soft. Like someone who had buried too much

"Irel…" Lytheil said quietly

"You should ask that to someone who understands their emotions."

A faint breath escaped him

"I'm someone who can't even show mine."

Irel's eyes didn't waver

"That's exactly why I'm asking you," he said

"Because I can't show my emotions either. And I don't think I even understand them."

The confession hung between them

Lytheil's gaze softened further

"I've always felt…" he murmured, "that we're the same."

A small silence

Irel looked away briefly, then back again

"Yeah."

A faint smile

"Words don't work for us."

He held Lytheil's gaze

"Only actions speak."

Lytheil's gaze didn't leave Irel's

"The rumors are true," he said quietly

"But the truth behind them is hidden."

His voice wasn't defensive

Irel looked down and nodded

Irel

"Same in my case too."

The alley was dim, the world outside distant and blurred

Inside the car, something shifted

Two masks

Two truths buried beneath constructed lies

Irel's POV

He's proving it more and more…

He's different.

Like i have always felt

Their eyes met again.

And this time, neither looked away

Irel & Lytheil's POV

I don't have to run anymore

I don't have to hide

_ Not with him_

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