KNOCK KNOCK — the sharp sound at the door cut through the silence, tearing them both from the feverish haze that had taken over the room. Reality struck like cold water. They were still in the office.
They pulled apart faster than a gust of wind, eyes wide and breaths unsteady. New stumbled back into his chair, trying to appear composed, while Shine grabbed the nearest stack of papers to hide his trembling hands — and the evidence of their closeness moments ago.
“E… enter,” New managed to say, his voice unsteady despite his best effort to sound calm. His heart was pounding so loudly he was sure the intruder could hear it.
The door opened, revealing one of New’s subordinates — a young man holding a folder and wearing an expression that quickly turned from professional to shocked. He froze in place.
“Sir—” the man started, then stopped. His eyes darted between New, sitting flushed in his chair, and Shine, who looked equally disheveled. The tension in the room was unmistakable.
“Yes?” New asked, forcing his tone back to its usual sternness. “What is it?”
The man blinked rapidly. “I— I came to ask about Mr. Shine’s whereabouts, but… it seems he’s here.” His hesitation said more than his words. So the rumors were true, his expression seemed to say.
New’s brows furrowed. “What happened? Is everything alright?”
“Ah, yes, sir. Everything is fine,” the man stammered, still struggling to look away. “It’s just that—”
“But what?” New pressed, irritation masking his embarrassment.
“Nothing, sir. I mean—” the man fumbled with his words, cheeks reddening. “I was just… surprised. I didn’t expect to interrupt something… private. I mean, it’s normal between… lovers.”
New froze. His eyes widened slightly. Lovers?
The word hit him like a stone, echoing what Shine had once thrown at him in anger. Before he could deny it, his gaze met Shine’s — and froze again. Shine’s expression was dangerous, almost daring. His eyes silently said, If you deny it, I’ll make sure you regret it right here.
New swallowed his words, lips pressed tight. “Why were you looking for Shine?” he asked, trying to steer the conversation back to something less mortifying.
“Ah, tomorrow he has a workshop with the female lead,” the man said quickly, “so I came to confirm the details.”
“What time?” Shine asked, his voice surprisingly composed.
“Seven o’clock in the morning.”
“I’ll be there,” Shine replied with a polite nod. The man bowed slightly to New, still looking uncomfortable, and hurried out the door.
As soon as it closed, silence filled the room again — thick, charged, and suffocating.
“You have a workshop?” New asked quietly, trying to act normal, his fingers still trembling slightly.
“Khap,” Shine answered casually, getting closer. He put down the papers he’d used as a poor disguise and smirked when he noticed the way New was trying to hide the evidence of his own fluster. Even after a few minutes, the tension between them refused to fade.
Shine’s lips curved. “You really don’t know how to control yourself, do you?” he teased softly, his tone dripping with playful danger.
New looked up, unsure of the situation. “What… are you doing?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
He was over four centuries old, had lived through countless wars, griefs, and losses — yet this boy, this bold and reckless boy, could undo him with a single look.
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Curse Or Bless
FanfictionI fell to my knees, trembling, one hand pressing against the gaping wound in my lover's chest. Warm blood soaked through my fingers, and in my other hand, I gripped the cross hanging from my neck. It was small, silver, and shaking - like me. And the...
