CHAPTER 98: A MIDNIGHT CONFESSION (PAST)

Joshua stared in shock as Henry stood up, closing the distance between them step by step until he was towering over him.

His hand, clenched tightly at his side, looked as though he were bracing himself to face the entire world.

Joshua was in college now—he’d meet all kinds of new people, people who made him laugh, people who weren’t a "block of wood" like Henry. When Henry returned home and heard everyone talking about how cheerful Joshua was at school, he appeared calm on the surface, but waves of emotion rippled through his heart. It made him feel reckless, unlike himself—unlike the disciplined man he had been raised to be.

Joshua...

"You know everything," Henry repeated, his voice laced with something almost stubborn.

Joshua stammered, instinctively taking a small step back. An ominous premonition rose in his chest. "W-What do you mean by that, Henry?"

"Don’t mess with me!" His voice came out louder than he intended, as if raising it could make him feel braver.

No way. My dearest bro suddenly catching feelings for me? God, that headline alone sounds terrifying!

But Joshua’s face betrayed him—flushed bright red, though he couldn’t tell if it was from anger or embarrassment.

Mostly, he just felt scared.

Okay, maybe he was overthinking—but still... if Henry really liked him, then what would happen?

If he said no, things between them would never be the same again.

Henry looked at Joshua’s teary-eyed expression, then suddenly stepped forward and pulled him into a hug. His hand gently patted Joshua’s head as he spoke softly, "I’m sorry, Joshua. I’m leaving for Military Zone 21 tonight for a mission. I’ll be back next month. Don’t overthink it. I’m sorry."

Joshua mumbled, "You just said all that and then tell me not to overthink it, Henry?"

Henry lowered his head—and saw Joshua looking right back up at him.

Joshua’s eyes, already glistening, now shimmered even more—tears threatened to spill from the corners, like tiny streaks of starlight. The tip of his nose was red, his sulky little face completely devoid of menace, yet somehow it clawed straight at Henry’s heart.

My Joshua, he thought. He mustn’t cry—especially not because of me.

Henry’s voice softened. "I’m sorry."

Then, suddenly, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Joshua’s lips. The motion was so swift, so unexpected, that Joshua didn’t even have time to react.

His eyes flew wide open, his mouth parted in shock.

Seeing Joshua frozen like that, utterly still and unresisting, Henry stiffened as well, forcing himself—every ounce of willpower he had—to stop from going any further.

"I love you, Joshua," he said quietly. "I know it’s cowardly to take advantage of our closeness to say this... but I love you."

He pulled Joshua into a tight embrace, bending down, his head buried in the crook of Joshua’s neck. His voice trembled just slightly as he whispered, "Don’t answer yet. Please. One month—just think about it, okay?"

Whether it meant soaring to the heavens or falling straight into hell...

Henry had always thought there was nothing in this world that could shake him. But now, he was terrified—terrified of the answer Joshua might give.

Joshua stared at Henry, biting his lip hard, looking as though he might cry, but didn’t dare to.

"Since when?" he asked hesitantly, his voice thick and nasal.

Henry gently brushed the corner of Joshua’s eye and answered softly, "Always."

Always? What kind of answer was that? He made it sound like they were destined soulmates or something!

Fuming, Joshua stormed back into the house—only to freeze in horror. Not only Louis, but both of his parents were still awake, sitting on the sofa as the lights flicked on.

Mr. Adonis turned to his son and said calmly, "Louis told me he saw you and Henry kissing in the garden."

His tone was perfectly even, as though his words carried no shock at all.

It was apparent now that Louis had inherited his temperament from their father.

Mrs. Adonis, sitting beside him, couldn’t help but stomp lightly on her husband’s foot.

Mr. Adonis jumped, blinking in confusion, looking at his wife with a pitiful, almost tearful expression—an expression he reserved for no one else but her.

Joshua’s face burned scarlet, a mix of embarrassment and fury. He glared at Louis as if to say, You said you wouldn’t tell!

Louis immediately looked away, refusing to meet his brother’s indignant stare.

Mrs. Adonis rose with a gentle smile. Even at nearly fifty, with fine wrinkles on her face, her graceful and kind demeanor hadn’t changed one bit.

"Don’t worry, Joshua," she said softly. "We’ve always known."

Joshua stared at his mother in disbelief. Louis, too, looked equally stunned, while Mr. Adonis nodded in agreement, completely serious.

Joshua and Louis: "?"

Wait—what exactly did their parents know?

Mrs. Adonis spoke gently, "I thought you and Henry would keep hiding it, but I guess you’ve finally decided to make it public."

Joshua: "...What exactly are Henry and I hiding?"

Mrs. Adonis waved her hand dismissively, smiling. "No need to deny it anymore. You two have been inseparable since you were little. Henry’s always cold to everyone else, but he spoils you—and you only ever play with him..."

Joshua: "..."

Okay, that made sense. But it also really didn’t.

Mr. Adonis chimed in, "If it’s Henry, then it’s fine. The boy’s responsible."

Joshua: "...Why are you all talking like I’m about to get married off? Why can’t Henry be the one to marry into our family instead?"

Louis blinked, startled. "So you and Henry really have been in love all this time?"

Mrs. Adonis gasped as well. "Wait, so you’re the top?"

All three men turned to look at her, utterly bewildered, as if they couldn’t comprehend what she had just said.

Joshua, processing faster than the rest, turned bright red and shouted, "We’re not in love!"

Then he bolted straight to his room.

The others exchanged glances. Mrs. Adonis just waved a hand. "Joshua’s embarrassed. Let’s not interfere in their relationship."

Father and son both nodded obediently.

Meanwhile, Joshua was rolling around furiously on his bed, punching his mattress with his fists—as if it were Henry and Louis instead.

Stupid Henry! Stupid Louis!

But... Henry had really kissed him.

The memory of that touch still lingered on his lips. Combined with what everyone had said, Joshua’s heart started pounding uncontrollably.

Do we really look like a couple?

He buried his face under the blanket, his head completely hidden. The only thing visible was the tip of his ear—bright red, as if it might start bleeding any second.

Henry... Henry really...

Unbeknownst to anyone, in that silent night, a hidden love had been laid bare—and with it, a change no one could have imagined began to take root.

Joshua’s eyes suddenly flew open in bed. A strange pain stabbed through his chest. Every breath he took felt thin, like there wasn’t enough oxygen—dust seemed to clog his lungs, forcing him to gasp with his mouth. His breathing turned chaotic.

He looked around the room. Morning light had crept in from outside, but the sky was still dark and heavy, as though a storm could break at any moment. The clock read 7 a.m.

Cold sweat ran down his face. Joshua clutched his chest and staggered to his feet. In his vision, thick black wisps—like curling smoke—floated in the air around him.

He blinked rapidly, trying to clear his sight, but nothing changed.

Then suddenly, from outside, there was a loud crash—followed by a piercing scream.

It was his mother’s voice.