The Art of Attraction

Chapter 19: The Confrontation

The warm glow of the string lights and the hum of soft music filled the air as the group gathered at Wat's cozy apartment for his birthday. The intimate gathering was a blend of laughter, casual banter, and the comfortable silence that only old friends could share. Ayan and Yok had been inseparable throughout the evening, with Yok's arm often resting protectively around Ayan's waist. The connection between them was palpable, a beacon of light that contrasted sharply with the dark storm brewing in Akk's mind.

Akk had been nursing his drink for most of the night, his eyes trailing after Ayan and Yok with a mix of longing and frustration. Each shared glance between Ayan and Yok, every soft touch, felt like a knife twisting deeper into his heart. The alcohol had loosened his inhibitions, amplifying the jealousy that had been simmering inside him since the moment he arrived. He kept telling himself that he was over Ayan, he was the one who walked away. But seeing him now, so happy and so at ease with Yok, made it impossible to ignore the truth—he wasn't over him. Not even close. How could he ever think he would get over his Shortstop?

As the night wore on, Ayan excused himself to go to the bathroom, leaving Yok and Wat engaged in a deep discussion about art. Yok was animated, his eyes lighting up as he spoke about a recent project, while Wat listened intently, sharing his thoughts on photography. The moment Ayan disappeared, Akk's resolve snapped.

He slipped away from the group, quietly following Ayan down the dimly lit hallway. His heart pounded in his chest, a mix of anger, regret, and desperation driving him forward. When he reached the bathroom door, he waited, leaning against the wall, trying to steady his breath. The moment Ayan stepped out, Akk was there, his hand gripping Ayan's arm tightly as he pulled him into the small, secluded space of the hallway.

"Akk, what—?" Ayan began, startled by the sudden movement.

"Shortstop, can you please stop punishing me? I know I did wrong but why are you hurting me this way?" Akk's voice was low, roughened by the alcohol and the emotions threatening to spill over. His eyes bore into Ayan's, searching for answers that he wasn't ready to accept. "Why Yok? Why not me? You belong with me, Shortstop. It's always us."

Ayan stiffened, his breath catching in his throat. He had seen the jealousy in Akk's eyes all night, but he hadn't expected it to come to this. "Akk, you don't get to do this. You don't get to question my choices after you left—after you abandoned me without a word."

"I had no choice!" Akk's voice rose, the words tumbling out before he could stop them. "I was drowning, Aye. My family... they were in debt. My dad got scammed, and I had to pick up the pieces. I couldn't tell you. I couldn't—"

"You couldn't what, Akk?" Ayan's voice was sharp, cutting through the excuses Akk was throwing at him. "You couldn't trust me? You couldn't lean on me? We were supposed to be a team, but instead, you just ran away."

"I didn't want to burden you," Akk said, his voice trembling with emotion. "Your family—your life was so perfect compared to mine. I was barely keeping it together, and you... you kept talking about our future, about settling down, and I couldn't do it. I couldn't face you knowing that I was sinking deeper into a hole I couldn't drag you into."

Ayan's eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and hurt. "So you decided to break my heart instead? You thought that was better than just being honest with me?"

Akk's grip on Ayan tightened, his knuckles white. "I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought... I thought we were falling apart anyway. We kept fighting, we weren't the same anymore. I thought maybe if I left, you'd find someone who could give you everything I couldn't."

"And what? Now that somebody has stepped up you regret it?" Ayan scoffed, tears brimming in his eyes. "Now you think you can just waltz back into my life and pretend like none of that happened?"

Akk's voice cracked as he whispered, "I still love you, Aye. I never stopped. I was confused and scared. Seeing you with Yok, it's killing me. It should be me by your side, not him. We were supposed to be together, forever. You promised to love only me... forever."

Ayan shook his head, his emotions a whirlwind of confusion, pain, and unresolved love. "Akk, you hurt me more than I can ever explain. I don't even know how to process everything you just said. You made that decision for both of us without even talking to me, without giving me a chance to understand or help. You are holding me responsible for a promise that you broke yourself. You are cruel and selfish."

Desperation gleamed in Akk's eyes as he leaned in, his breath hot against Ayan's cheek. "Please, Shortstop... call me Bigfoot. Like you used to. Let me show you that we can still fix this. Let me make it right. Come back to me, Aye."

But Ayan recoiled slightly, his mind racing, unable to reconcile the boy he had loved with the man now standing before him. He was torn, the old wounds Akk had ripped open clashing with the love he now felt for Yok.

In a moment of sheer desperation, Akk's lips descended toward Ayan's, seeking a connection, a way back to what they once had. He grasped him with both hands as Ayan stood frozen, his heart in his throat, his body caught between the past and the present, the love that was and the love that is.

Before their lips could meet, a voice shattered the moment.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Yok's voice was low and dangerous, vibrating with a barely controlled rage. He stood at the end of the hallway, Wat and the rest of their friends just behind him, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.

Akk stepped back, his face falling as he saw the fury in Yok's eyes. Ayan, still reeling from the encounter, took a shaky breath, his gaze flickering between Akk and Yok.

Yok didn't wait for an answer. He crossed the distance between them in a few quick strides, grabbing Ayan's hand and pulling him protectively to his side. His eyes never left Akk, a silent warning passing between them.

Akk looked at Ayan one last time, his face a mask of regret and pain. "I'm sorry, Aye. For everything."

But before Ayan could respond, Yok turned, leading him away from the scene. Ayan followed, his heart heavy with the weight of unresolved emotions, leaving Akk standing alone in the dimly lit hallway, the echoes of his past mistakes hanging heavily in the air.

As they walked away, Ayan felt the tight grip of Yok's hand around his, grounding him in the present. Whatever confusion had clouded his mind earlier began to fade, replaced by the certainty of the man by his side—the man who hadn't run away when things got hard, the man who was still here, fighting for him.