Chapter 5: A life full of sweetness

"I want this one, and that one too"

Yohan's gaze lingered longingly on the delicious treats showcased inside the cafe. His finger trailed across the glass display, pointing at each cake that caught his fancy.

Arriving in another city, it was sweets that caught his attention more than anything else.

He had only arrived in this city just an hour ago and found himself lost, unsure of which direction to take. That's when a stranger noticed his confusion and approached him, offering directions and recommendations for places to visit nearby.

One of those recommendations was this cafe - upon hearing that it sold the best cakes in town, Yohan decided to make it his first stop instead of searching for accommodations right away.

Despite knowing he had to economize and couldn't afford such luxuries often, Yohan allowed himself this indulgence today. Cake was a rare treat for him, he could still remember the first time he tasted it after getting married. Back then, one of his husband's cooks would sometimes bake cakes just for him, a small act of kindness in an otherwise bleak existence.

But memories of sweetness were fleeting, most of Yohan's life had been bitter like unsweetened cocoa powder. He was constantly locked away in his uncle's home, forbidden from experiencing all that life had to offer.

The only times he was allowed outside on occasions, was when he needed to help out Yoh by covering for him during exams, or apologizing in person if any mistake happened due to Yoh's misbehavior. Yohan would always bear the brunt of Yoh's wrongdoings, enduring beatings and insults that were meant for his cousin.

Now that he was free from his uncle's clutches, enjoying this simple pleasure of eating cakes felt like a rebellion against everything that had held him back in life.

Yohan smiled to himself as he reminisced about all the hardships he had faced until now. He couldn't help but think back to another good memories, one that he desperately wanted to bury deep within himself, involved those men.

Shaking off these thoughts, Yohan paid for his chosen sweets and took a seat at one of the small tables near the window.

He savored every bite of the cakes he had purchased, completely unaware that his presence at that moment was causing quite a stir among the people around him.

Sitting next to the window, basking in the warm glow of sunlight filtering through glass panes, Yohan looked nothing short of radiant. With his delicate features and calm demeanor, he appeared more beautiful than handsome - a fact not lost on anyone who laid eyes on him. Despite being only 174 cm tall and slim-bodied, Yohan carried himself with such poise and grace that made him seem taller than his actual height.

The light cast upon his face illuminated his porcelain skin, highlighting every contour and curve with perfection. The subtle flush on his cheeks lent an air of innocence to him, making it impossible for anyone not to fall under his spell.

People both inside and outside of the cafe were taking notice, many sets of curious eyes gazed upon him with wonderment as they admired his unique beauty.

But if Yohan knew just how much attention he was attracting, he might have been more cautious. Little did he know that among the many pairs of eyes admiring his appearance, there were three pairs of eyes that saw him differently from the rest.

Inside the cafe where Yohan sat, a pair of eyes gazed at him with an unsettling mix of admiration and confusion - as if trying to place a long-forgotten face or memory. The owner of these eyes was seated not far from Yohan, their expression one of familiarity tinged with puzzlement.

Not far from this individual sat another set of calculating eyes, their gaze sharp and dangerous like a predator sizing up its prey. This person seemed to be studying every detail about Yohan - his mannerisms, his expressions, even the way he savored each bite of cake.

Meanwhile outside on the bustling street stood yet another figure who kept watch over Yohan through the cafe's window panes. These were eyes from his past life - ones that he had hoped to leave behind forever when embarking on this new chapter.

If only Yohan knew that all three of those intense gazes belonged to individuals who held immense power over his life. Each one possessed a key, unlocking secrets about him - some buried in his past, others tangled in the threads of his present. But one gaze held a particularly sinister key; the kind that could open the gates of death itself...