"I'm not a good person"

"It's good to see a familiar face." Donovan replied and stretched his hand out for a handshake, and the other took it.

"He was there?" Aiden interjected, an obvious scowl on his face.

"He was invited as well, yes." Caesar replied

"I left a bit early because I had some work to do." Donovan continued with the same polite smile offered to him.

"Well then." Caesar breathed and turned to Aiden to get on with why he was there.

"Shall we leave?" Aiden sighed.

"How did you even know I was here?" Caesar brought out his phone and showed him a picture on social media of him in the cafe, ruffling Kais hair.

"What the? That was posted twenty-two minutes ago. How can it already have thirty-four thousand likes?" Aiden rose a brow, not that he was complaining, though... they were the perfect couple, so perhaps it was to be expected.

"My advice is to keep a low profile concerning your love affairs with the same gender. It would be better for your and the company's image." Caesar spoke in a tone only they could hear. Of course, the deputy would have picked up on his relationship status since he was so quick-witted,so it didn't come as a surprise to Aiden.

He casually shrugged Caesar off and turned to Mrs. Lyn,bowing his head deeply to pay his respect to the elderly couple. "I will take my leave now, Aunty. Please take care of Kai."

"Oh, no problem dear, he'll be off in two hours anyway, so don't worry." She sweetly waved him off with a bright smile that reached her wrinkled eyes. Aiden straightened his back. He glanced at Donovan and offered him a forced smile.

"Till we meet again." He said, Donny smiled back. His gazes oftened when they fell on the merman, and he turned back into the whining young master Kai was somehow used to. "I'm leaving without youuu!" He flung his arms around Kais neck and pulled him in for a tight bear hug, gaining the attention of the customers around once again.

"Oh my." Aunt Lyn commented under her breath, and Caesar sighed. How expected of the young master not to listen even after just being warned to keep a low profile.

"Today was supposed to be my day off now. I have to leave halfway through! Damn old man! Damn old man! I wanna spend time with you."

"Please refrain from cursing at your father, sir." The deputy said. kais lips curved up to a small smile, and he patted the young master on his back.

"I'll wait for you at home, so come home early." He whispered.

Hearing him say such, Aiden forced himself to refrain from kissing him in such a public place. "And... thank you for coming with me today, I'm glad."

Aiden was frozen. How? How can someone cause his heart to stir so much? He always seemed to find the right words that could get his heart racing.

"I like you so much." Aiden said, mostly to himself. He took a deep breath to regain himself and pulled away from Kai still with his arms around his neck.

"Kai."

"Hmm?" Kai smiled and folded his hands behind his back.

"Stay away from him."

"Who?"

Aiden didn't reply and just stared back at those blue eye still he got the message. The smile on Kais face fell when he did.

At first, Aiden just didn't like the man because he was being all chummy and family with Kai but now it turned out he was one of those weird people his father worked with before, which became more of a reason why he wouldn't want Kai to be associate or even be around him.

"Aiden."

"I'm sure you wanna keep your job so just... do that for me,okay?" Was he threatening him right now? Kai didn't reply but gave Aiden a look, which meant he understood, and Aiden ruffled his hair and stepped away.

"Let's go." With that, he left the cafe with Caesar following behind him.

"My, what an energetic young man. He works hard." Aunt Lyn commented before going back to get her work done. "Ah, Donny dear, you can leave the rest of the work. Ava says she'll be here soon."

"It's okay, I'll just stay till she's here." He smiled. He then turned to Kai, who still seemed some what dazed from what Aiden had told him. Donovan left the expresso machine and flicked the merman on his forehead to bring him out of his revelry,

"Oww." He placed his palm on his forehead 

"Why are you so lost in thoughts?" He questioned then gently pushed Kais hand away and caressed his head where he flicked with his thumb to soothe the pain. Aidens warning repeated itself in his head, and he gingerly took a step away from his touch.

"It's nothing," he smiled, and Donny frowned. He noticed Kaihad a habit of smiling each time he had something bothering him on his mind, and that wasn't healthy.

"I'm upset."

"What, why?"

Donny tilted his head, "Would you take responsibility if I told you why?" He questioned. Kai pondered the right answer for a split second before he finally replied,

"If it's in my power, sure."

"Our rain check." Oh... he had completely forgotten about it. "Go out with me today. You get off by four, right? I'm sure your boyfriend would still be busy."

"Ahh... my b... boyfriend?" He blushed, and Donny chuckled,

"He made it quite obvious." He said and pointed to his neck. Kai was confused at first but then flushed even more when he remembered Aiden had bitten him. He quickly pulled up his turtle neck, smiling awkwardly. He had seen it?!

"Ohh, uhhm..."

"It's okay, no need to be so flustered. I'm not a homophobe or anything." He smiled... a smile that really settled Kais' nerves.

"So what do you say? After work?"

If he went on with it now, then perhaps that would be the end of it, he wouldn't have anything to do with him again. It was better not to push things further.

"Sure, after work."

"What are you two murmuring about? Come help me clean up!" Uncle Juan said, and the duo went to assist.

An hour later, Ava arrives at the cafe with another male who shared the same features, and Kai immediately recognises him to be her brother. They shared the same black hair and eye colour. Though he was not as masculine as Donovan, his built physique was still noticeable from the hoodie and joggers he wore. His hair looked a bit damp when they came closer... seems he had forgotten it was winter for him to walk around with his hair like that.

"Ma! We're here." Ava announced to let her mother know they had arrived.

"I didn't expect I'd see you with an apron around your waist." Avas' brother commented with a teasing smirk upon seeing Donovan with a white apron over his suit.

"It's nice to see you too, Nico. I've been waiting for you guys to show up and now that you're here- " He calmly took off the apron around his waist and placed it on the counter and went on to grab his blazer from the chair in front of the counter, where he usually sat.

"I'll take my leave."

"Ehh? Ehhhh?! I'm tired! Are you really dumping your work onme?" Nicolas whined, flailing his arms,

"Don't be such a brat Nico, help your mother out and tell her I'm taking Kai with me." Donovan instructed. Kais eyes widened when he heard the unexpected order,

"B...but it's not time for me to leave yet." He protested,

"Don't worry, you're with me." Donny reassured him.

Nicolas' attention was drawn to the boy who stood beside Donny and a delighted smile adorned his face,

"Ohh you're the cute apprentice boy Ava was telling me about." He snatched Kais hand and vigorously shook it, "Woww, when she told me you're cute I wondered how she could describe a guy with those words but turns out you really are cute."

"That's enough Nico." Donny said and snatched Kais hand away from his grasp, Nico clicked his tongue and shrugged,

"I was just happy to see him, what's the big deal?"

"Tell Aunt we're leaving."

"Tell her your self." Nico retorted and went ahead to carry an already made Americano from the prep area top. Donny sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling the frustration... that was his americano.

He could never win with this guy, sometimes he wondered how they were even to stay friends after all these years since college.

"Ohh, you're leaving already?" Ava said from behind,

"Yes. We'll see you tomorrow." Donny replied. Avas eyes fell on his hand which held Kais wrist and her expression darkened. When Kai noticed this, he stealthily slid his hand out of the others.

He almost forgot that Ava had feelings for Donovan.

"You're leaving too Kai?" She said rather flatly which made Kai feel a bit suffocated,

"I'm taking him with me, please let Aunt know for me." Donny replied before kai could respond. He bowed slightly at the girl and continued,

"Good night." Without waiting for Avas reply, he held onto kais wrist again and pulled him along. It was not until they were both out ofthe cafe that he let go of his wrist.

Kai instinctively massaged the spot, feeling the lingering pressure on it

"Does it hurt?" Donovan asked,

"No."

"I didn't bring my car today as well so tell me if you wanna take a cab."

"Its okay, I'm fine walking." Kai replied.

They walked down the side walk in silence for a few minutes before Kai finally decided to break the ice by voicing out his thoughts,

"I think Ava likes you."

"She makes it obvious doesn't she?" Kai was taken aback by this response. He glanced up at him... did he know all along? If he did why didn't he get together with her?

"She confessed to me when she finished high school."

"Really? She told you she likes you?" Kai beamed,

Donovan smiled seeing the boys reaction.

"Yeah, She said she was all grown up now so we can have a relationship but I see her as my little sister, so I rejected her."

"Oh. That's painful."

"She'll find someone better."

"You say that as if you're not a good person."

"I'm not." He turned to look at kai with a smile, but his eyes were void of warmth.

"I'm not a good person."