Soul Shard Captor [BL] - Volume 1: Aris the Soother

Chapter 188 - I really can't.

Cordia daddy shared a look with the Astar daddy and wiped off the cold sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

Levi let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. His face broke into a mesmerizing smile, seemingly unfazed by Noah's slight delay; however, his shaking hand betrayed his true mood as he signed the marriage certificate.

Noah's hand didn't shake. His ears were neon red, but the movement of the pen in his hand was decisive and smooth as silk. Just like the fluid movement of his mental power now that he remembered to wrap the premises in his SS-ranked soothing. He could hear the two mothers blowing their noses, so he wanted to help them feel better. But mostly, he wanted to soothe the unrest within Levi's heart that he had inadvertently caused with his earlier pause.

Maery walked out from beside Noah, carrying a deep red cushion with two elegant golden rings. Her smile was so wide she looked like a cross-breed between an orange tabby and a Cheshire cat.

Wishing to silently convey to Levi the decision he had made, Noah took the initiative to pick up the larger of the two rings with his right hand. Noah shook his left hand that had been holding Levi's, signaling the other to let go. When Levi obediently released it, Noah changed his hold to bring Levi's right hand in front of him.

As he slid the wedding band on Levi's ring finger, he dared not meet Levi's fiery gaze. So he was taken off guard when Levi's head leaned in closer to murmur into his pink ear, "Baby, do you remember what we talked about two days ago? You warned me to be careful this play-pretend doesn't turn into reality."

A shiver ran down Noah's spine upon hearing the husky chuckle which escaped the taller man, "Actually, back then, I really wanted to tell you that you need not worry."

Noah's body stiffened, and his heart dropped to the pit of his stomach. Was Levi implying he need not worry because his play-pretend would not turn into reality?

Levi seemed not to notice Noah's unusual pause. He reached to take the smaller of the two rings but did not move to put it on. Instead, he continued to speak softly so that his words would only reach the person in front of him. "I said if I fall for you, you should take responsibility and fall right back at me. And at that time, you questioned whether I could do the same – if you fell for me, could I fall back at you?"

Levi held the ring up between his thumb and forefinger. Amongst the golden shimmer, Noah noticed that there seemed to be an inscription on the inner side of the ring.

"I had been clear on the answer to that for a long time now. The answer shall never change, so, if you ever forget it, let the inscription remind you."

Noah squinted his eyes to make out the inscribed answer, his heart thudding painfully against his ribcage. But the real pain only came a moment later, upon recognizing the words.

"I really can't."

Noah's heart abruptly stopped and then clenched painfully. His vision blurred, and he fluttered his eyelashes furiously to blink away tears. '...I know I said I am not afraid to love, but do you have to shoot me down so decisively before I even managed to take the first step?'

Levi took Noah's hand in his and deftly slid the ring onto Noah's ring finger while the other was in a daze.

From start to end, the little one kept his head down, refusing to look him in the eye. Levi pinched his baby's chin, forcing the other to face him, and then dropped his head down towards Noah until their noses were almost touching.

"Actually, I really can't." Levi whispered with a good dose of helplessness, "I'm sorry, I really can't do it. How can I fall for you again when I've never even gotten up from the first tumble?"