"Niko, Let's not talk about how we miserably failed to hide Salvatore's departure news from your mother.
I just wanted to say, I'm enjoying this dinner party you've put together with Jin." Andrea said, or Pretty much lied.
Scoffing, "You sure you're enjoying yourself? because, you didn't taste anything Jin made, You even refused the cookies." Nikolai asked.
"Okay I lied!" Andrea gave in, "I wasn't planning to sound pathetic, but I am extremely jealous of Jin.
He's a 10...he has it all! the looks, the skills, a big heart and he's strong enough to protect you... on top of that he loves you so much!
It's obvious you love him too, you guys were whispering and giggling with each other most of the time.
I saw how he made you smile, and you made him blush." Andrea added.
Surprised, "You're talking as if you're not a 10 yourself?!" Nikolai replied.
Sighing, "You're the one who made me feel like a 10 Niko!
Ugh, I used to say this all the time, that I'm okay just being your friend, but the truth is that I was okay because in the past 7 years there wasn't much of competition for me.
Most of the guys that approached you, were douchebags seeking a one-night-stand! And I was planning to make you fall in love with me and Marry you.
And there comes Jin all of the sudden... He's the real life definition of husband materials... it's only natural I'd be envious of him." Andrea explained.
"Who made you think you're not husband material?! are you kidding me Andrea, if you weren't husband material, we wouldn't have made a vow to get married, if the both of us were still single by the time I hit 30!" Nikolai replied.
"That marriage promise, is what kept me motivated and happy by your side...
Now I'm thinking, things between you and Jin are just escalating quickly, and it's obviously because you have feelings for each other that you held back for so long.
And I'm not trying to manipulate you into doing anything rash or something... but i just...well forget it, I won't say it...I'll only ruin your mood." Andrea said removing his arm from around Nikolai's shoulders.
Worried, "Please tell me! I'm your friend Andrea, I want to know how you feel." Nikolai replied.
Smiling softly, "Umm...I just wanted to say, I'm happy for you, but at the same time I want to cry everytime I remember that you and I can't happen anymore." Andrea said sounding sad.
Reaching for Andrea's hands and holding them in his, "Since you know now how Jin and I first became boyfriends, and how I kept the relationship a secret through these 7 years...
Back then, not many knew that we were dating each other, normally no one could've linked us together and I guess it was kind of a 'Julian and Cyrus' type of situation, Those two also kept it a secret even from me, for their own reasons.
But the point is that as your bestfriend for the past 7 years, I've made a big mistake by keeping the 'Jin folder' underwraps and getting your hopes up.
Andrea, I should've told you sooner about Jin, I also should've told you that I wasn't over him.
I can't express how bad I'm feeling, despite that most of what we did together for the last 7 years was bestfriend things, but we also did more than just friends things.
And now that I think about it, it felt like I took advantage of your feelings toward me since you made it clear very early on, that you loved me a lot.
Your feelings towards me, made me think you're a safer option than anybody else, and that's why I didn't mind not dating anyone who tried to approach me during these 7 years...because to me, I had you.
I'm sorry, I wasted your time Andrea." Nikolai said.
"Don't say that...I'd give my everything to you and you know it." Andrea replied with tears stuck in his eyes.
"You don't know how that phrase alone, makes me feel Andrea.
I feel guilty, because now that Jin is back into my life, those feelings I suppressed... the fact that I didn't get over him, and that he didn't get over me...
It all came crashing down on me, I realized that I couldn't get over my highschool boyfriend because as impossible as it sounds, I was still in love with Jin... I feel like it's not fair for you." Nikolai said.
Swallowing his urge to bawl his eyes out crying, "If I make you feel guilty because I love you...How does Jin makes you feel with his obvious love for you?" Andrea asked.
"You really want to know?" Nikolai asked back, "Yeah...be honest with me Darling." Andrea said.
Taking a deep breath, "I feel safe when Jin is with me... even when I'm being a total brat, I'm being tolerated, appreciated, worried about and loved.
I feel peaceful." Nikolai replied, and a single tear managed to escape Andrea's eyes, falling slowly across his cheek.
"Wow! I wonder if I ever made you feel like that." Andrea replied back chuckling, he didn't want Nikolai to catch him crying.
"No you did! you did all of Those good things to me too...it feels just a bit different when Jin takes care of me.
Andrea, this is all my fault.
I'm so sorry I've put you in this impossible situation! I gave you hope I didn't own.
I made that vow with you, because of how much of a wonderful human being you are.
I'm sorry that you fell in love with someone like me... I wasn't able to love you back, I just stuck by your side because you were my bestfriend.
And i really hope that everything I just said And what's been happening for the past weeks, doesn't affect our friendship.
I freaking love you Andrea!" Nikolai said squeezing Andrea's hands gently.
"I keep telling you this, but you don't believe me Niko...That you're an angel."
"You're the real Angel Andrea! you've been my guardian angel for 7 years.
I keep breaking your already broken heart but you laugh it off and say that Jin is a good guy...who the hell compliments their rival?"
"That's because it's the truth, he's so good to you...and I'm going to take pride in the fact that I brought you guys back together.
If i didn't hire him, this all wouldn't happen, right?" Andrea said chuckling before he retrieved his hands from Nikolai, he needed them to wipe his tears away before anyone notices.
"I guess you're my best friend, and my wingman at the same time." Nikolai joked.
Pulling a handkerchief from his breast pocket, "Just make sure that if there's a wedding in the future, you'd ask me to be your best-man." Andrea replied drying his eyes in unsuspecting manner.
"As if there is anyone else who can take that spot! are you kidding me Andrea?! of course I choose you." Nikolai said chuckling as well.
Suddenly, Something came into Andrea's mind "I wonder who would Jin pick to be his best-man, I don't think there is any supportive male figure in his life that I know of." he questioned.
"He has Cyrus's dad? Joe! Joe is a good man. I've met him where the chicken tacos happened if you remember, and he was a pretty chill nice guy.
He was patient and kind even when Seong-Min and I got into a fight and kinda ruined the vibe that day.
So, if hypothetically speaking a wedding did happen between me and Jin, I'm sure he's going to ask Joe to be his best man, I mean that guy is old but he's gold, and Jin Adores him." Nikolai responded.
"Cyrus's dad huh? speaking of Cyrus...don't you think it was weird how neither of us anticipated that Julian was dating Cyrus?" Andrea Asked.
"Right? it was kinda obvious that Julian had somebody in his life, he would often disappear without explaining it to me, and I was his bestfriend who he hang out with most of the time, In school and outside school, I've been to his house countless of times! but for some reason he never told me about Cyrus?" Nikolai replied.
"I came to notice that Joel and Cyrus may have known each other from the beginning... maybe Joel was aware his nephew was dating Cyrus but didn't tell you." Andrea said.
Sighing, "I wouldn't be surprised, that's actually very probable because recently I discovered the person who found Julian's body was Cyrus.
Turned out that he was going to Julian's house that day, but when he found him hanging in his room, he alerted Joel...
I don't know why I was kept in the dark about it, it could be that Julian asked Joel for some reason to never speak about Cyrus to me...but why? I don't know." Nikolai replied.
"To be honest with you? back in the days I also thought Julian was dating someone.
I kind of had an idea it was you, since you two were so close together... and I'm sorry to bring back old memories but it was so cute seeing how close you guys were.
I honestly believed you were a secret couple with Julian, even John believed that and I asked him if Julian dating you would bother him, because you know he was a little bit of an old fashioned hater...but John surprised me that he wasn't against the idea of you and Julian dating.
As long as it remains a secret, and wouldn't interfere with Julian's rise to fame.
But how ironic was it, when John's plans to mentor Julian never went exactly as he planned." Andrea said, accidentally giggling.
Catching that sudden weird vibe from his best friend, "Don't call it ironic, it's sad Andrea!" Nikolai replied feeling uneasy.
"Absolutely! I'm sorry, I'm not making fun of the matter I'm just saying that John from the very beginning, had his eyes on Julian only.
I can't believe I had to convinced John to mentor you, he was a fucking asshole and blind to see that you were as good if not better than Julian." Andrea said.
"I was never better than Julian! and if Julian lived to this moment, he would have been probably one of the most adored actors.
I just got lucky while someone like Julian could've done it even without John's help.
Julian was a natural, he didn't need to change anything about himself because he was perfect!... I guess it's the people around him that weren't perfect." Nikolai replied.
"It's this way you talk about Julian that made me believe you guys were dating, you're almost worshipping him." Andrea commented, "Can we not talk about Julian?" Nikolai asked annoyed.
"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to bring back any bad memories.
I know how it still sensitive for you to talk about Julian... I just wanted you to know that you should stop doubting yourself.
You're like Mind-blowing Nikolai! you're the best thing that ever happened to me, and I wish the whole world see you the way I do." Andrea replied.
"Through heart-shaped eyes?" Nikolai tried to joke.
"That was a good joke, but seriously you're a great actor Niko! you should feel proud of yourself."
"Thanks Andrea, you're the kind of support I need these days... say, what would I do without you?"
"You'll probably continue being an amazing person, on the other hand without you Niko...I'll probably just die." Andrea joked.
Whining, "Nooooo, live for me, I don't want you to die!" Nikolai replied.
"Okay, enough drama my pretty...I'm going to go to the bathroom and I may or may not drown there." Andrea joked again as he stood-up.
"Don't drown on me, be quick." Nikolai replied.
I'm so sorry I've put you in this impossible situation! I gave you hope I didn't own.