LIKE SOMEONE?

The hooded shape of Xerchin's eyes, along with his blue murcial eyes that can pierce your inner soul, his attractive reddish kissable lips, and the perfect line of his jaw, was enough to make Leansei blush at how appealing and dashing Xerchin is. 

Leansei diverted his gaze away from him as a thought appeared in his mind. He closed his eyes to stop himself from overthinking what was happening and tried not to think of anything else. 

' I need to stop everything here and now, or I'll be the one left alone again. Leansei, you can't think that way! For pete's sake, he has a fiancé! Don't you at least feel bad for his fiance? ' 

Leansei glanced down when a thought wandered in his mind. Xerchin may be doing this because he feels sympathy for Kean.

"You have to stop." Leansei gasped when it should have remained in his thoughts only, but he spoke it aloud. He glanced at Xerchin, who was head down while gently tapping the ice bag on Leansei's wrist. 

 ' Shit.. I said it out loud. But that's what I should say to him. What am I chickening out for? ' 

"What exactly do you mean, stop?" Xerchin said, as he looked up at Leansei with a distress in his eyes that he had never seen before. Lean turned away when he felt the pang that stabbed his heart inside his chest. 

' Did I grow fond of him? To the point, I want to withdraw what I said. But I'm going to have to leave him—no, them—somehow. Since this isn't my life, this is Kean's. ' 

Xerchin gently put his hand into Leansei's chin to make him look at him. But Leansei couldn't bear to see his face, especially his eyes, or he'd take it back. 

"Look at me, Mooncalf." A soft voice from Xerchin. It was the second time he heard it from him. His bare fingers were touching Leansei's bare face that he couldn't help but redden his face in guiltiness. 

He slowly looked at the mercurial, despairing blue eyes that were looking directly into Lean's eyes. "What do you want me to stop with?" 

"I-I, could you please stop? I don't want to hurt someone. It's not like we have anything to begin with. " Leansei said, as he turned his head and tried to stand up on his feet, but Xerchin held his hand. 

"Do you like someone else?" Xerchin asked, and that made Leansei stop, unable to utter a word. 

' W-what does he mean, like someone else? I-I don't like someone-- ' When Leansei realized it, he put his hand into his chest as his heart started pumping and beating fast, bouncing too loudly.

' T-that's impossible! I-I wouldn't like a guy-- ' Leansei glanced at Xerchin when he felt a tremendous dark aura around him. It was enough to weaken his fragile body. He felt that an aura was circulating in his body that made him petrified. It was enough to make Lean gasp for air and take simultaneous deep breaths. 

' W- what's happening to my body? Why am I.. What do I feel this way.. ' 

Xerchin slowly let Leansei's wrist go and closed his eyes to calm himself before standing up on his feet. Leansei slumped down on the sofa as he felt his body and his breath slowly going back to normal. He glanced up at Xerchin, befuddled. 

"I'm suddenly not in the mood. I'm sorry for releasing the appeasing." Xerchin said with a pained tone in his voice and eyes. Leansei shook his head. 

"I didn't mean it that way.. I was supposed to tell you--" 

"It doesn't matter in what way you tell me, since it has the same meaning." 

Leansei looked down when he couldn't find the words to disagree since Xerchin was right at all. He can't sugarcoat the words when they have the same meaning. 

"You're still going tomorrow, right?" Xerchin asked, making Leansei glance up at him with confused eyes. 

' What's with tomorrow? Did I forget something? Is it his birthday? Wait--come to think of it, I don't even know anything about him or what he likes or dislikes. ' 

Leansei flinched when his phone vibrated from a text message. He took it to be from Kean's mother. 

__________  

FROM: MRS. FERECH 

My son, I hope you won't forget. Tomorrow will be the dinner meeting of the elite families. The driver is already in front of your condo, so pack your things since you'll stay here in our house for a few days. You can't say no to this! I love you, son! 

Sent just now.  

___________

Leansei closed his eyes when he forgot such an important event. He looked up at Xerchin and nodded. "I'll go." He said before a loud bang from the door made Leansei and Xerchin look in that direction. 

Leansei gasped when he saw Beidhen, who seemed like a different person. His attractive hooded brown eyes were darkened, his eye brows were knotted and his pinkish lips were gritting in frustration. His good-looking face has a bruise on the side of his lips, a wound in his knuckles, and bruises on his cheeks. 

Xerchin knotted his forehead when he saw his annoying brother walk into the clinic with a full bruise on his face. It was like he fought with a bunch of guys. 

When Beidhen walked in, a teacher walked behind him with a frustrated face. "You stay here, Mr. Vcheroi. I'll do what it takes to punish those students. I'll need to go--" The teacher stopped talking when he saw Xerchin beside Kean. "Mr. Xerchin, are you sick too? Please take care of your brother. I have to go now to report this to the office. " The teacher said as she walked out of the room and closed the door. 

Xerchin and Leansei walked towards Beidhen, who was sitting on the bed with a frustrated face. It was the first time Leansei saw this face. His annoying laugh was turned into a quiet deliquent, his smile and jovial eyes turned into a cold, terrifying man. 

"What happened?" Xerchin asked as he stood in front of Beidhen. But Beidhen only looked down and somewhat calmed down. "I'm asking you, brother." 

Leansei scratched his temple while looking at Xerchin when his tone of speaking wasn't comforting at all. Leansei walked towards Beidhen with a medicine kit in his hand and started treating Beidhen's wounds in his fist. 

"You don't have time to pry into my life, brother. You haven't solved your quarrel with your wife--" Beidhen was cut off when Xerchin smacked his head like he always does. 

Leansei unbelievably looked at Xerchin when, instead of comforting his brother, he smacked Beidhen's head like nothing happened. 

"Just tell me." Xerchin said. Beidhen once again looked down, as if he really was in trouble. His expression changed to a serious face that Leansei couldn't bear, since he wasn't used to seeing him this way. 

"I heard them talking about someone. I don't like how their mouths run with nasty words about him. So I punched them until plumped. "

Leansei minced when he thought that they were really brothers since they had the same way of thinking. 

"What are you here for? You don't look like a sick person. Are you skipping class now to sneak a peek into your beloved one--Owwww! " Beidhen was unable to say it when Leansei accidentally pressed the cotton into Beidhen's wound. Beidhen looked at him beside him with a frustrated look, but it suddenly changed when he saw Leansei's face. 

"Kean? Since when are you here? " Beidhen inquired, as if he'd been a ghost since earlier.

' Since earlier, you idiot. ' 

"So.." Beidhen glanced at his brother and at Leansei. "You two are okay now?" 

Leansei and Xerchin both diverted their eyes. Beidhen shook his head when he knew that they weren't on good terms yet. 

"That just proves that my brother is a leaden person--" Beidhen couldn't finish when Xerchin smacked the back of his head again. 

"Stop talking nonsense or I'll throw punches at you." Xerchin said as he looked at Leansei, who was still head-down. 

Leansei fixed the medical kit and closed it. "I'll go now. I'm late for my next subject. " Leansei said. 

' Now Beidhen is back to his normal annoying self. There is nothing for me to worry about, I guess. ' Leansei turned around and came to a halt at the door, gripping it tightly.

Leansei thought that what he said earlier was too much and couldn't they be friends or see each other at least? 

Leansei was still unable to figure out what he was feeling towards Xerchin, but he knew that Lean treated him more than they should have. It was too much that Leansei was getting thoughts of reconsidering spending time with him before getting back to his own life/body. 

"Hey," Leansei said to them, as he turned around to see Beidhen and Xerchin staring at him. "I'll see you tomorrow." He said this before walking out of the clinic and running to his department since he was running late. 

He wondered that what he was feeling wasn't just because of how Xerchin treated him like no one had done before. He never thought that someone would come into his life again and treat him like a precious diamond person that came down to earth. He wanted to confirm what he was feeling first before concluding anything. He also wonders why Xerchin acts that way when he has the perfect wife-to-be fiance. He couldn't just figure out what Xechin was thinking. 

.

Leansei yawned when the classes ended. He glanced beside him when he saw Revin was looking at his phone, as if he was doubting if he should call someone or not. 

"What happened?" Leansei asked. Revin snapped back to reality and looked at Leansei, who was fixing his things in his bag. 

"I-I just had a conflict earlier. That's all. " Revin said, with a fake laugh, and fixed his things too. Leansei stopped and glanced at Revin with concern. 

"Hey, if you need someone to talk to, I'm all ears." Leansei said, with a worried tone. Revin glanced at him and smiled as he nodded. 

"Someone just saved me from those guys, but he may get punishment for saving me." Revin said, as he looked down. Leansei slowly looked at Revin when he remembered what had happened earlier. 

_________ 

(FLASHBACK) 

"Just tell me." Xerchin said. Beidhen once again looked down, as if he really was in trouble. His expression changed to a serious face that Leansei couldn't bear, since he wasn't used to seeing him this way. 

"I heard them talking about someone. I don't like how their mouths run with nasty words about him. So I punched them to plump them up. " Leansei minced when he thought that they were really brothers since they had the same way of thinking. 

_________

' Are they connected? No way! They don't appear to be on good terms. Why would Beidhen save someone who he hated? ' Leansei shook his head to remove that thought from his mind. 

"Let's go?" Leansei asked. Revin nodded and they both put the straps of their bags on their shoulders as they walked outside their room and down the stairs. 

.

When they reached the door of the building, Corshe and Xeilin were there and waved their hands to Leansei. They walked towards and walked together through the campus. They talked about the boring discussions and upcoming quizzes next week as they walked near the gate of the university. 

They bid their goodbyes to each other as Leansei took a cab and gave him the address. When he arrived at the condo, he saw Kean's family driver waiting in the parking lot while leaning against the car. He bowed down and walked behind Lean. 

Leansei goes to his room and changes his clothes before packing a few clothes in his bag. The driver took his bag and put it in the trunk of the car before driving away from the condo. 

Lean glanced at the window as he saw how beautiful the sunset was. It reminds him of the first time he watched the sunset peacefully with Xerchin. Leansei's lips curve as he thought of the precious memory he has with him.

.

When they arrived at the mansion, only Kean's mother and a frowning face of Felean beside her were in front of the door. He climbed out of the car, and Mrs. Ferech hugged Leansei with warmth. While Felean looks at Leansei with an annoyed face. 

"Welcome back, son." The sweet tone of Mrs. Ferech's voice made her glance at Felean, who suddenly changed into a caring and loveable brother. 

"Brother!! Welcome back! It's nice to have you here. " Felean said with a two-faced expression as he walked towards Leansei and gave him a hug. Felean's jovial face and voice changed to frustrated. 

"You shouldn't have come back." Felean said, whispering to Leansei.

' What do I expect? If this is one of the reasons for me to come back to my own body, maybe I shouldn't overdo it or it would only frustrate me. ' 

Leansei signed deeply and hugged his brother back. "That's unfortunate for you then." Leansei said, teasing him back.

_______