"No… I don't think it's a good idea."
Eiran's voice carried clear resistance.
"Why not? It's my cousin's birthday!" Kael shot back, trying his best to convince him. "She specifically said I had to bring you, or she wouldn't let security throw me out!"
"You know I'm not even interested in girls."
"Is it my fault she's dumb? And don't worry—she won't try anything on you. She just wants to see you."
"Still… why a club? Vale won't let me go there."
Today was Kael's cousin Lilia's eighteenth birthday. She had picked a club, as the venue.
Eiran hated bars and clubs, and Vale didn't like them either. It was rare for them to go anywhere like this—he'd been there only two or three times.
Lilia had once had a crush on Eiran, but she gave up after realizing he was into men. That didn't stop her from teasing him occasionally. Eiran, ever respectful toward women, let her have her little fun—but she never crossed the line.
Being their last year of high school, Lilia wanted him there, and somehow, she'd bribed Kael into compliance.
As expected… Kael didn't hesitate to throw him under the bus.
And then Kael came to his house just to convince him—
"I mean… who's going to know? Nothing will happen as long as he doesn't find out." Kael's smug grin spread across his face, clearly proud of himself.
"You want me to lie?" Eiran looked at him in disbelief.
"Of course not!" Kael acted righteous. "Just… keep it under your sleeve."
He quickly destroyed that illusion with the next sentence.
"No—I can't." Eiran dismissed him without hesitation.
"Please, Ran… this is the only thing she's asking. You don't need to do anything, just… stay there." Kael's voice softened, and he gave him the full puppy-eyed look.
Eiran knew it was fake—but still… he felt himself soften.
"Just say you went out with me. He won't notice anything unusual," Kael added, eyes sparkling. "Oh—yes! There's a new café near our school. Just say we went there to try desserts or coffee."
"But still…" Eiran hesitated.
"No buts! You're going with me!"
At the end—Eiran sighed.
And once again… he lost.
_________________________________________________________________________________
In the evening, they went to the club together in Eiran's car.
As they stepped out, they immediately drew the attention of passersby and guests alike.
Their outfits were more stylish than usual.
Eiran wore well-fitted ivory pants and a designer crimson satin shirt, paired with brown shoes, a moon pendant around his neck, and a pair of small drop earrings. Well… he occasionally liked wearing earrings.
It had to be said—the red complemented his warm, light beige skin beautifully. His chestnut-brown hair was naturally soft and lightly wavy, perfectly framing his soft eyes.
Kael, meanwhile, wore a brown leather jacket over a white t-shirt, looking effortlessly handsome. His hairstyle was casual and slightly messy, adding to his charm.
After parking, they approached the entrance, greeted by soft, ambient lighting—warm golds, deep ambers, and a hint of violet—immediately creating a sense of exclusivity.
Above them, Nyvoré gleamed in bold, polished letters. Dark glass doors reflected the city lights, while hidden lamps hinted at the elegance waiting inside. A subtle hum of music promised luxury the moment one stepped in.
Inside, the club blended modern sophistication with classic elegance. Velvet booths in jewel tones and sleek leather chairs surrounded polished tables, while crystal chandeliers cast shimmering light over marble floors. A faint scent of sandalwood and vanilla mingled with soft music, giving the space a lavish yet welcoming atmosphere.
Nyvoré had quickly become a favorite among aristocratic families for exclusive gatherings, its high-tech security and strict privacy making it a symbol of status. It wasn't a place just anyone could enter.
The club was relatively new, and the owner remained a mystery. Rumors claimed he was young, yet extremely capable—someone who could turn a small plot of land into such a valuable asset certainly had skill.
They passed smoothly inside after showing their cards.
Since Eiran's mom wasn't home and he was getting bored, they arrived early and decided to wait for the others. Kael, feeling thirsty, led him to the bar counter to order drinks.
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Almost an hour later, Kael received a call from Lilia. Her car had broken down, and she and her friends were stuck on the road. Her villa was far from their location, so she asked Kael to pick them up.
With no choice, Kael left to help his cousin, leaving Eiran to wait. By now, several guests had already arrived, so it was no problem for him to stay put.
~
Meanwhile, in another city miles away from them, Valerian's evening was unfolding differently.
Yesterday, he went straight to the airport after sending Eiran home. It was almost midnight. His flight had been delayed due to technical issues, and it took nearly five hours to arrive.
This city was known for its textile industry and large factories. His family owned two factories here, along with several other properties. This time, his grandfather had asked him to handle a few complications and attend a banquet—while also assessing whether any new companies were worth investing in.
And so here he was, conversing with people nearly twice his age.
Though young, no one dared to underestimate him. Being the young master of the Delaire family was reason enough—but even without that title, his demeanor alone made it clear he was not someone to be intimidated.
In fact, with his height surpassing most of the guests, it almost created the illusion that he was the one looking down on them.
He might lack experience, but his composure made it difficult to find fault.
Guests approached him one after another throughout the evening, yet he remained calm—polite, measured, and distant.
Just as he was speaking with an investor, his attention shifted to a nearby round table where a group was chatting animatedly.
It wasn't the group that caught his attention—
It was a name.
A name far too familiar.
"What?! That Eiran came too? Eiran Caelwyn?!"
"I regret coming here with my dad. I was really curious about him."
Valerian's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly as he continued listening without turning his head.
"How do you know he came?"
"My sister told me. She's Lilia's classmate."
"It's been a while since I visited that club. It's my favorite—the cocktails there…"
Valerian stepped away quietly, his head slightly lowered.
He took out his phone and dialed a number.
"Tell me Ran's location." He asked as soon as the call connected.
"Young Master, Master Eiran was seen entering Nyvoré club." the other side replied respectfully.
"Why wasn't I informed earlier?"
"You don't like being disturbed during banquets… I thought it wouldn't be too late to inform you later." The other side hesitated to reply.
"You thought?" he repeated softly.
A faint chuckle left his lips, but his eyes were icy cold.
"Very well."
He ended the call and entered the elevator.
A moment later, he took out his phone again. His fingers moved briefly across the screen.
Vale: Ran, where are you?
He waited.
It wasn't until the elevator reached the ground floor that his phone buzzed.
Ran: I'm out with Kael.
Expected.
Vale: Where?
Ran: He wanted to try desserts at the new café that opened near school, so he dragged me along.
Valerian stared at the message for several seconds, his eyes completely devoid of emotion.
Vale: Alright. Take care and go home on time.
He slid his phone back into his pocket.
His expression did not change.
~
Back at Nyvoré, Eiran covered his face dejectedly.
He really didn't like lying to Valerian…
But now he was here.
He must have owed Kael something in his last life—he always ended up doing things like this.
Unreliable!
"Excuse me?"
Just as he cursed Kael in his mind, a voice called from behind, making him turn.
A young man stood there. He looked young—perhaps only slightly older than Eiran—with tan skin and well-structured features. His blond hair caught the light, and he seemed to be around Valerian's height.
He was quite good looking and had his own unique charm.
Eiran tilted his head, almond-shaped eyes reflecting faint confusion.
"Hey… I'm Theron—Theron Arden. Um… actually, you see those guys at that table? The one in the right corner?" Seeing Eiran's confusion, he hesitated before continuing more slowly. "They're my friends. We were playing truth or dare, and they dared me to kiss a guy…"
As he spoke, his friends at the corner table were watching openly—grinning.
Theron didn't look back at them once.
Eiran frowned and immediately began to refuse.
"Sorry, I—"
"I'm not asking you to kiss my lips!"
Theron cut him off quickly, noticing he was about to reject him.
"What?" Eiran looked at him warily.
Theron himself seemed embarrassed. He couldn't quite meet Eiran's eyes.
"Please don't misunderstand—you just need to pretend. Like… pretend to kiss my cheek. Not an actual kiss."
"Why don't you ask someone else?" Eiran remained cautious.
"I tried asking two people before, but they—"
"They said no?"
"No… they agreed. But…" He hesitated, then forced a small smile. "I have someone I like. I'm saving my first kiss for her. I don't want to waste it on something meaningless... You're standing a bit far from them, so they wouldn't see clearly even if they tried."
For a split second, surprise flickered across Eiran's hazel eyes.
He hadn't expected that.
From childhood to adulthood, Eiran had seen his fair share of good-looking men and women—both real and virtual. But even though he was gay, he had never developed feelings for anyone else. The only person he had ever loved was Valerian. Naturally, he had never shared any kind of intimacy with anyone—not even a kiss.
It wouldn't be wrong to say he was saving his first kiss for Valerian.
So, in a way… he could understand the young man in front of him.
It wasn't even going to be a real kiss anyway.
He let out a small sigh.
"Fine."
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