Haru

I gripped the material of his shirt, my heart aching. "I doubt it," I murmured under my breath. "That person doesn't see me as a potential boyfriend. To that person, I'm just a useless brat."

Then, because I knew if we were to stay in that position much longer, I'd lose control of myself and probably go further, like kissing him. I hastily moved out of his arms, which I knew surprised him.

"Sorry," I said. "But we should get home. I'm tired."

"Yeah," he said. "You've worked hard today."

It was some fifteen minutes later when we arrived home, and I exhaustedly headed toward my room. I said over my shoulder to Aiden, "Can I use the bathroom first?"

"Hmm," he responded as he shut the front door.

Noah came out of his room at that moment and said, "Okaeri." As I walked past him, he chuckled. "You look horrible, Haru. Was it that bad at work?"

I said, "It was super busy and I'm about to collapse with exhaustion."

He tousled my hair, probably to tell me that I was a good boy for working hard.

Before I shut the door to my room, I glimpsed the two brothers heading into the kitchen, probably to have some coffee, their nightly ritual. Soon, Reo would probably join them and the three would chat until late into the night. Or should I say early in the morning? Since it was already well past midnight now.

After gathering some clothes, I headed into the bathroom and shut the door. Then I rested my back against it and sighed exhaustedly. A moment later, I started brushing my teeth, and once that was done, I headed into the shower.

The water was nice and cool, especially in this summer heat. As I stood there under the running shower, I thought about Aiden and the warm hug he had given me in the car. Was he even more worried about me, now that I had finally revealed to him I had an unrequited love? The way he acted certainly indicated so. Should I be happy or sad about that?

Fuck! I didn't know and didn't want to think about it further. More importantly, I desperately needed sleep because I could barely keep my eyes open.

I hastily got out of the shower and grabbed for my clothes. It was only then I realized that instead of pajamas, it was a pair of jeans. I sighed. So, I had brought that with me into the bathroom and nothing else. No pajama pants. No T-shirt. No underwear. How stupid.

Well, it can't be helped. I was super tired, after all. My brain wasn't working properly, that was for sure.

After wrapping a towel around my waist, I headed out the door, my hair and body still wet. Obviously, I was too tired and lazy to dry myself properly.

Across the hallway, I felt dehydrated and directed myself toward the kitchen for a drink of water. As I came close, I heard Aiden's voice, along with Noah's and Reo's. I hadn't a clue what they were talking about but it sounded fun, because they were chuckling away with enthusiasm.

Why can't I be like that with Aiden? Just chill and not feel like my heart was about to burst every time I was near him?

I entered the threshold of the kitchen-dining-sitting room and said "Hey" to everyone.

With my eyes droopy and half asleep, I saw Aiden coughing loudly as if he was choking on his drink while Noah and Reo were smirking like they had a juicy secret to hide.

Ignoring their gazes on me, I headed to the fridge, took out a jug of cool water, and poured myself a glass. I drank to my heart's content. When I was just about finished, I glimpsed Aiden getting up from his seat and heading toward me.

Shit! I quickly swallowed the last drop and was about to make my escape when Aiden appeared in front of me, blocking my exit.

My heart raced and my sleepiness disappeared immediately. I avoided looking at his face because I just knew I couldn't handle that right now, especially when I was bloody naked with only a towel wrapped around my lower half, and especially when Aiden had his shirt unbuttoned halfway, his sleeves rolled up, and his hair in the after-a-long-hard-day's mess. He looked way too rogue and handsome for my liking.

He stroked my wet hair and said, "Dry your body and hair properly before going to sleep."

I stared at the bare chest revealed beneath his opened shirt, feeling my throat going desert dry like I had been dehydrated for a century. Not that I had been living for a century, of course, but that muscular chest of his was damned enticing. Fuck, I simply wanted to touch it and caress it and lick it and...

I licked my lips. "Yeah, I know," I said, flicking my gaze away. Shit! Why was my body feeling so hot suddenly?

I took a step back as I put the empty glass on the benchtop. Then I turned on my heel and headed toward the door. "Good night," I said to the brothers.

Aiden and Noah replied, "Good night."

Reo said loudly, "Make sure to dress properly when you sleep, shrine maiden."

I heard him chuckling merrily, and I retorted back loudly, "I know."