Chapter 23: Fate

"It's because he's mine"

The sounds of the bustling city around them faded away, as Kian focused solely on those words. His irritation grew even more as he sneered at his younger brother.

"How can you claim that he is yours?" Kian questioned with an icy tone, fixing him with a piercing gaze. He continued without hesitation, determined to make his point known.

"Do you even know who he is? Does he even reciprocate your feelings or have any inclination towards you?" The questions hung heavily in the air as Kian's voice resonated with cold authority.

"Furthermore..." he added, "Don't delude yourself into thinking that someone can be owned like mere property. You are completely oblivious to what lies within him, his thoughts and desires." The intensity of his stare did not waver.

But despite Kian's logical reasoning, his younger brother merely smirked back at him with equal coldness. It was as if he didn't care for Kian's words or thoughts on the matter, instead, he remained steadfast in his belief that Yohan belonged to him and no one else.

"You don't know anything, brother. He is always mine."

Kian could feel the veins in his head bulging as annoyance grew inside him. He knew that he should let it go, but something about Yohan always seemed to rile up emotions within him that he couldn't control.

Suddenly unable to take it any longer, a faint smile danced across Kian's lips, an uncommon sight for those who knew him well. His eyes sparkled with rare mischief as he responded to his brother's declaration, determined to challenge his sense of possession.

"Are you truly certain about that?" Kian questioned lightly. "Because just this afternoon, in the depths of vulnerability and sincerity, he confessed his love to me."

He allowed the weight of those words to hang in the air before continuing with a deliberate pause. "And even before then, I've noticed how drawn he is towards me, always seeking my touch, craving my presence... He doesn't resemble the person you believe to be 'yours'."

The words spilled out of Kian's mouth before he could even stop himself. He wasn't sure where the feelings came from or why they were so intense, but there was no denying that he didn't like how his brother thought Yohan was his.

Kian's words hit his younger brother like a bolt of lightning, causing him to stare at Kian with disbelief and shock.

"You're lying..." he finally managed to say through gritted teeth.

But Kian shook his head firmly. "I'm not lying." he replied with conviction.

There was a tense silence between the two brothers as they glared at each other. Kian felt like he had spoken the truth, but there was a part of him that couldn't help feeling guilty for not revealing to his younger brother that he had rejected Yohan's advances. The two brothers continued to glare at each other, their animosity filling the car like an frigid snowstorm, even the chauffeur driving them could feel the chill.

Suddenly, Kian's younger brother chuckled in amazement.

"While it may be true that he has feelings for you, I have faith that things can change. After all, you and him don't share any sort of intimate relationship." his brother said with a sly grin.

"Heck, earlier on you mentioned how the two of you were merely acquaintances, doesn't that mean that you don't accept his advances? As long as you're not together... in the future... well, anything could happen."

Kian felt exhausted by his brother's words, merely shrugged off his words and picked up his tablet again, choosing work over engaging in another argument with his sibling.

"Who knows what fate holds for us?" Kian muttered under his breath before delving back into his work, feigning disinterest.

"Yeah... no one knows what the future holds.." his brother muttered under his breath.

The silence between Kian and his brother was deafening as they rode on. Kian found himself lost in a whirlwind of thoughts, unconsciously neglecting the tablet he held.

What exactly had just happened between them? Why did he feel like they were somehow fighting over Yohan? He barely knew the guy, aside from his creepy stalking tendencies and perverted behavior. And yet... there was something undeniably cute about him.

Shaking his head to dispel these thoughts, he realized that there was much more to Yohan than met the eye, an enigma waiting to be unraveled.

However, amidst this realization came a sudden recollection, he had forgotten about Yohan's intense fear when he mentioned his younger brother earlier. The realization dawned upon Kian, cutting through the turbulent sea of emotions that had clouded his judgment earlier. The look of sheer terror on Yohan's face when he mentioned his brother was etched into his memory. It was as if they shared some sort of dark history, one that went beyond mere acquaintanceship.

Turning his gaze back to his younger brother, Kian posed the question with utmost seriousness, determined to uncover the truth. "Have you and Yohan crossed paths before?" he asked directly.

His brother appeared slightly bewildered at first but then a smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he whispered softly to himself, "Yohan..."

However, instead of answering Kian's question directly, his brother remained silent, did not provide an immediate answer to Kian's inquiry.

Growing impatient with the silence and coldness still lingering in the air between them, Kian pressed on with another question in a chilly tone. "Have you ever caused Yohan any harm?"

His brother's face once again registered shock, his complexion turning paler as he averted his gaze to the passing scenery outside the car window. He spoke softly, almost inaudibly.

"I...I don't believe so..." His words trailed off into an almost imperceptible murmur, leaving Kian craving for more answers.

It became evident that his younger brother was lost in his own thoughts and seemed to be disconnected from their conversation entirely. Ignoring Kian's presence, he retreated into his own world.

Kian's curiosity grew exponentially as he tried to make sense of the intricate web of connections between himself, his brother, and Yohan. It felt as though there were invisible threads intertwining them all together - threads that provoked inexplicable emotions within him.

"Who are you really, Yohan?" Kian whispered under his breath, lost in thought once more.