Hunter awkwardly looked between Aiden and Liam like he was caught in a love triangle.
Aiden suspiciously narrowed his eyes at Liam. In this small head, Liam wasn't some mere coworker of Hunter. No, something about Liam's whole vibe screamed 'danger' not the cool kind. But the steal-your-boyfriend-with-an-innocent-smile kind.
Hunter's manager had asked him to help Liam since he was new and Hunter didn't really think too hard about it. It's not like he was expecting anything. He was just…helping. That's what people do, right?
But his little boyfriend? Oh, his little boyfriend knew exactly what was going on.
Aiden pierced holes at Liam's face like a tiny dragon protecting a golden hoard which in this case, was a 6'3 socially oblivious sweetheart named Hunter.
"You don't need to treat Hunter," Aiden declared loudly with a fake smile. He crossed his arms and glared two burning imaginary holes into Liam's fancy little Jacket. "You see, Hunter has a big heart so helps everyone. He's just generous like that."
Translation: Back off, waiter boy. I can see that filthy greed in your eye.
Liam arched a brow and looked at Aiden with one of those long, unreadable stares like he was studying a species. Aiden stared back like he was about to bite his head off.
Liam turned to look at him fully like he could see Aiden's soul and was rating it out of ten. Aiden was ready to throw hands too.
Then Liam had the nerve to laugh. Laugh! Like he knew exactly what was going on in Aiden's head. "Alright, it's fine. I'll see you tomorrow, Hunter."
He walked off while whistling.
Aiden watched him leave like a cat watches a bird just out of reach. "He's too confident. Hmm..now that's suspicious."
Hunter, of course, didn't even notice Aiden's distress. "He's not that bad, he's pretty nice actually. And he goes to our school. I didn't even know that."
Nice?! Humph! Looks like a psycho to me.
They started walking home and Aiden kept glancing behind them like Liam was going to ninja flip out of a bush with flowers and a proposal ring.
What if he was after Hunter? He thought.
Hunter, with his big hands and big chest and big everything…who wouldn't want him? He was like a cuddly himbo wrapped in boyfriend energy and mild social anxiety. He was irresistible!
I swear, Aiden thought, cheeks puffed in frustration, If that Liam guy so much as breathed in my innocent boyfriend's direction. I'm gonna 'accidentally' spill hot soup on him. And then maybe some more soup. Of course, accidentally. Just to be thorough."
He looked up at Hunter, who was staring at the way ahead with a sweet smile present on his lips. Aiden's glare softened. His tall, beautiful, and oblivious idiot.
No way I'm letting anyone steal this dumbass, he tightened his grip on Hunter's arm.
"I'll drop you off at home first," Hunter said as he adjusted the strap of Aiden's hoodie. "Then I'll head over to the hospital to see Casen."
Aiden flinched at those words. His fingers fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, twisting it tight between his knuckles. "Can I…come with you?"
Hunter was stunned for a moment, the silence between them was long enough to make Aiden's heart pound harder.
"Why?" Hunter asked, not coldly but curiously.
"I just—" Aiden licked his lips and forced himself to meet Hunter's gaze. "I just want to apologise to Casen. That's all. I know I messed up…I just—please?"
Hunter scanned his face for a long time and Aiden braced himself for a lecture, or for Hunter to say no or 'you've done enough already.'
But instead, Hunter stepped forward and pressed a kiss to Aiden's forehead. "Alright, Let's go."
Aiden's breath caught for a second before he broke into a relieved smile and threw his arms around Hunter's waist to hug him. "Thank you," he said into Hunter's chest.
Hunter didn't say anything, just hugged him back with a deep sigh.
◾◾◾
Aiden chewed ghe inside of his cheek. The further they got, the more tangled his thoughts became. What if Casen tells me to leave? What if Sam is there? What if I make it worse?
Hunter seemed to sense his nerves. "You don't have to do this if it's eating you alive. Casen doesn't blame you."
"I'm fine and I want to do this," Aiden said quickly despite his nervousness.
When they arrived, Hunter gave Aiden the visitor badge. "Casen's in room 208. Go on ahead. I need to talk to the nurse about his recovery and check when they'll be discharging him."
Aiden nodded slowly, gripping the badge too tightly. "Okay. Please hurry though."
Hunter's hand came to the back of his neck, warm and grounding. "It'll be fine, okay."
He nodded again, and then stepped out. Each step down the corridor felt like a mile. Aiden's palms were sweating, his heart thudding uncomfortably in his chest. He kept rehearsing his apology in his head like a script. Casen, I'm sorry. I know I messed up. I didn't mean to—no, too generic. Casen, I was stupid. That's better. I should've never—
He reached room 208 and hesitated, fingers hovering over the door handle. One more breath before he opened the door.
"Casen, I just wanted to—" The words died in his throat when he saw the horrifying sight in front of him.
Casen was sitting between Sam's legs while Sam's arms were wrapped around his waist, and their mouths were locked in a kiss while they were completely unaware of the person who'd just walked in.
Aiden froze, like someone had turned him to stone. His heart, however, dropped into his stomach.
Casen's hand slid up Sam's chest as the kiss deepened and Sam murmured something against his lips, too soft for Aiden to hear, but it made Casen smile against him.
And then Casen opened his eyes and he immediately pushed Sam away when his eyes landed on a statue Aiden. "Aiden!"
Sam turned too and his expression darkened when he noticed the doorway. "Shit," he adjusted his posture quickly and glancing at Aiden. "What are you doing here?!"
Aiden blinked several times, trying to process if what he saw was even real.
His hand twitched on the doorknob. Should he leave? Should he pretend he never walked in? But he couldn't even run even if he wanted because of how weak his knees felt.
"Aiden?" Hunter's voice came from behind him.
Aiden was startled and quickly stepped back, bumping into Hunter's chest. Hunter frowned slightly, glancing at the still-open door. "Why are you just standing here?"
Before Aiden could form a word, Hunter peered inside the room. Sam had moved already, standing near Casen's bed with a normal expression as if he wasn't just eating Casen's face. Casen looked flustered, pink creeping into his cheeks as he avoided everyone's eyes.
Hunter stepped past Aiden and raised a brow. "Did something happen here?"
Casen swallowed and lowered his head in embarrassment. "It's…nothing."
Sam snorted lightly and said bluntly, "He walked in on us kissing. That's all."
"Sam…!" Casen scolded him shyly.
Sam just shrugged. "What? It's true."
Aiden's ears burned. He felt every eye in the room land on him. He was still frozen, his mouth open slightly, and eyes wide. He didn't understand how everyone was so calm. Did no one care that this just happened?
But Hunter…Hunter wasn't shocked at all. If anything, he looked like he already expected it. The two of them had always tension between them whenever he visits, he was just glad it's mutual. He just never care of ask because it's not his business.
Hunter turned back to Aiden, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "Aiden came here because he wanted to say something."
Aiden heard him and his thoughts rushed back to the reason he came here in the first place. Everyone's eyes turned to him, and he suddenly felt a thousand times smaller under their attention. He looked up at Hunter nervously, who gave him a warm and reassuring nod, his brown eyes were filled with quiet affection and encouragement. That one look settled the storm in Aiden's chest. He took a deep breath and stepped inside.
Casen sat up straighter, a little uncertain because of what happened between them, his fingers gripping the edge of the bedsheet.
Aiden walked closer until he stood at the foot of the bed. His lips trembled for a second before he forced himself to speak.
"I…" he started but stopped. He looked down, gathering his thoughts before lifting his eyes again. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry for what happened to you."
Casen's brows furrowed slightly but Aiden continued. "I never meant for things to get that bad. I didn't mean for you to be hurt. I was being careless, selfish, and stupid. And you—you didn't deserve any of that. You didn't deserve to be gossiped about, to be bullied, to feel scared or ashamed of who you are. And I…I was a coward. I didn't say anything when I should've. I didn't try to stop them. And I didn't even defend you instead provoked those bullies further."
His voice broke and he quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve. "I don't expect y-tou to forgive me. But I needed you to know that I am truly sorry."
Casen stared at him with his own glassy eyes. There was a long pause. Aiden looked like he might cry again. But Casen suddenly smiled through his tears. "It's okay. I don't you accountable for what happened."
Aiden blinked in surprise and glanced up at him in shock as if he didn't hear him right.
Casen's eyes filled as he said. "It wasn't your fault at all. You didn't know things would turn like that. And honestly…I was sad for a while. But now—" he glanced at Sam, who gave him a nod. "Now I'm okay. And hearing you say all that…I feel grateful that you at least care to make things right. I thought I was the only one holding on, but knowing you've been carrying it too…it makes me feel a little less alone."
Aiden's eyes filled with hope. "Do you…do you forgive me?"
"Of course, I do," Casen's lips curled into a small smile as he nodded.
Relief washed over Aiden's face, and he turned quickly to Hunter as if he was telling he earned a prize. "Hunter, he forgave me!"
Hunter's expression lit up with pride. He ruffled Aiden's hair and hugged him. "I'm so proud of you for coming here."
Aiden buried his face into Hunter's shoulder. Casen watched them with a soft expression, feeling the tension finally begin to fade.
Hunter gently rested a hand on Aiden's back as they pulled back. "Stay here for a bit, okay? I need to talk to Sam real quick."
Aiden blinked, looking back at Casen, then back up at Hunter. "Alone?"
Hunter raised a brow with a teasing smirk. "He's not gonna bite you, sunshine. You're the one who wanted to apologize, remember?"
Aiden nodded. "Fine...but don't take too long."
"I'll be quick."