"Mom, I'll be staying at my condo for the next month," Kevin said, helping his mother clean the kitchen after dinner.
His mother paused, glancing at him with a soft smile. "That's fine, sweetie, but you'll need to ask your father. You know how strict he can be."
Kevin nodded, his face tightening a little. "Yeah, I know. I'll go talk to him now."
As he left the kitchen, his heart grew heavier with every step toward the living room. His father sat on the couch, watching TV, his stoic face illuminated by the flickering screen. Kevin's father had never been the type to show affection or understanding—he was conservative, rigid, and always put other people's opinions above his family's needs.
"Dad, I need to talk to you about something," Kevin said, carefully sitting beside him. His father's eyes remained on the screen as he replied. "What is it?"
Kevin took a deep breath, forcing himself to keep his voice steady. "My final exams are starting next week, and I'd like to stay at my condo for the next two months. It's closer to school, so I won't have to wake up as early, and I'll be able to focus better."
Though Kevin spoke with as much calm as possible, he could feel the weight of his father's judgment lingering in the air. Kevin knew any hesitation or weakness would lead to rejection. He'd spent months hiding his relationship with Alex, and now, asking for this small bit of freedom felt like crossing a battlefield. It wasn't just about his exams—it was about him, about the space he needed to be himself, away from his father's suffocating expectations.
His father finally tore his gaze from the TV. "Fine," he said, his tone indifferent. "But make sure your grades are up to my standards. No distractions."
With that, his father stood and left the room, not even giving Kevin a second glance.
Kevin's chest tightened. He'd gotten permission, but the interaction had drained him. The approval felt hollow, another reminder of how little his father truly understood him. The room suddenly felt colder, and Kevin quickly pulled out his phone to message Alex.
"My dad allowed me to stay at my condo for the next two months for finals. Would you stay with me?"
Kevin stared at the message, his thumb hovering over the send button. His nerves spiked. 'What if it's too much? What if he says no?'
Just as he was about to send it, his phone buzzed with a message from Alex "You're writing a breakup text? Is that why it's taking you so long to send??"
Kevin laughed softly, his heart lightening. He quickly deleted the draft and replied "No, I just wanted to ask something... but maybe not."
He hit send, feeling the familiar warmth Alex's teasing always brought him. Then he waited, heart pounding. Alex's typing indicator popped up, and Kevin found himself anxiously counting the seconds, feeling like each moment was an eternity.
"Just say it, love. As long as it's not a breakup, I'll do anything for you." Kevin's fingers trembled slightly as he typed
"I wanted to ask..." He hesitated, waiting for Alex's response.
"That..." Alex replied, dragging it out teasingly.
Kevin took a deep breath, finally sending the question that had been on his mind "Would you like to stay at my condo during my final exams?"
One minute passed. Then two. Kevin stared at his phone, his heart sinking the longer he waited for a reply. Finally, he sent another message
"It's fine. Never mind. You don't have to stay over. I guess I'll just stay at my home."
A wave of disappointment washed over him, and before he could stop himself, his eyes filled with tears. He quickly ran to his room, locking the door behind him.
"It's okay, Kevin. It's not a big deal," he whispered to himself, trying to keep the tears at bay. "Don't cry. It's nothing."
Kevin had always been insecure—whether it was about his grades, his appearance, or his relationship with Alex. His father's coldness had only made things worse, planting seeds of doubt that grew into deep-rooted fears. No matter what Kevin achieved, it never felt enough for his father. And hiding his relationship with Alex only made him feel more fragile, more uncertain.
His phone buzzed, pulling him out of his spiraling thoughts. It was Alex "No, I'd love to stay over with you at your condo. I was just shocked you asked me to. I'm sorry if I made you think I didn't want to stay love. I promise, I was over the moon when you asked."
Kevin's tears turned to ones of relief. Alex always knew how to understand him, how to ease his doubts. Kevin quickly replied, "Thank you, love. I feel so lucky to have you by my side."
He smiled to himself as he texted, "I'll be moving to the condo tomorrow morning. You can come over whenever you're free. I'll pick you up."
Suddenly, his phone rang—Alex was video-calling him.
Kevin's heart raced as he lay down on his bed, slipping in his Air Pods. He answered the call, greeted by Alex's warm smile. "Hello, love," Alex said, his voice gentle.
"Hi," Kevin replied softly, his cheeks already turning pink.
"I kind of got too excited, and I started packing my bags already," Alex said with a playful grin, scratching the back of his neck.
Kevin felt the blush spread down his neck. "Don't lie, Alex."
"I'm not lying," Alex chuckled and flipped the camera to show his bed, where a half-packed leather bag and several pairs of jeans, sprawled out.
Kevin's heart swelled with emotion. "What did I do to deserve you?" he whispered to himself, though Alex heard him.
"Maybe you loved me too much in our last life, so in this one, I'm repaying that love," Alex replied, a mischievous glint in his eyes. His smile made Kevin's heart race, and suddenly, Kevin felt overwhelmed by the love and desire stirring inside him.
Kevin smiled shyly, his voice dropping to a soft murmur. "Thank you for coming into my life, Alex. I promise I'll cherish your love forever."
They kept talking well into the night, their conversation slipping between light banter and deeper emotions. By the time it was close to midnight, they were both tucked under their duvets, whispering softly to each other.
"I'll come to your condo by the evening, love," Alex said, his voice low and intimate. "I have a meeting in the morning."
Kevin nodded, already missing him. "Be careful, okay? I'll cook something special for you when you get here."
Alex groaned softly. "Fucking hell, why are you so cute, love?"
Even though the lights were off in both their rooms, Kevin could practically feel the heat rise between them. His blush deepened. "Good night, love." he whispered, his voice laced with affection.
"Good night," Alex replied, his voice husky and full of warmth.
—
