Thaddeus didn't call back. He didn't even reply to Kayden's messages.
Even after Kayden heard a woman's voice over the phone, he still refused to overthink. He told himself there was probably a reason. Maybe it wasn't what he thought. He clung to that hope and stared at his phone all night, waiting for a response that never came.
But silence speaks louder than denial.
For Thaddeus, the trip was a kind of hell he hadn't expected. From Clarisse Venn to running into his ex, the day was an emotional minefield.
Clarisse had been the one to arrange the logistics for the trip. She made sure Thaddeus's hotel room was close to hers. The voice Kayden heard on the phone? That was during the brief conversation Clarisse had with Thaddeus as she helped settle him into his room. It had meant nothing, but Kayden didn't know that.
The real storm was yet to come.
By the next morning, Thaddeus's schedule was already packed. He didn't check his phone once. Meetings with Clarisse and other investors consumed his focus. The business negotiations were sharp, professional, and layered with tension.
They discussed expansion strategies, joint ventures, and the proposed international partnership. Thaddeus gave insight into long-term returns while Clarisse pushed the branding angle. Their synergy was undeniable, purely business, but powerful.
When the meeting finally ended, Clarisse suggested a celebratory night at a local upscale bar. Thaddeus wanted to decline. His head wasn't in it. But the other investors insisted, clinking glasses and laughing about how good deals deserved good drinks. Eventually, he gave in. Sometimes, diplomacy came in the form of shared alcohol.
Back at home, Kayden hadn't slept.
He hadn't even eaten.
By morning, his eyes were tired, lips pressed tightly to hold back the storm brewing inside. That voice still echoed in his head. A woman. Laughter. It haunted him.
He was old enough to understand people had pasts. Thaddeus was mature, experienced—of course. He could have someone. But even knowing that didn't prepare him for the aching weight in his chest. He had wanted to be the exception.
He followed the driver to school in silence, skipping breakfast. The driver noticed something was wrong. He kept glancing at Kayden through the rearview mirror.
"You okay, young master?" he asked gently. "You don't look like yourself today."
Kayden forced a small smile. "School's just been a lot lately. I'll be fine."
But the truth was far more complicated.
When he arrived at school, he didn't find Darren right away. They didn't have any early classes, but Kayden had texted him to come in anyway. Feeling restless, he sat in the campus café, stirring a drink he didn't really want.
Then, someone approached.
A tall guy, confident, well-dressed.
"Mind if I sit here?" he asked.
Kayden didn't answer immediately. He hesitated, then nodded. "Sure."
The guy sat down, setting a paper cup on the table. "You look like you've got a lot on your mind," he said.
"I'm fine," Kayden replied quickly, too quickly.
"I'm Ariz," the guy introduced himself. "Final year. Business department."
That caught Kayden's attention. "I'm… Kayden. Same department."
Ariz smiled. "Figured. You've got that look of someone who actually studies."
Kayden chuckled, a little reluctantly.
Ariz had a natural charm. His parents were rich, and he was already running his own startup—CEO at 24. He asked a few polite questions, not pushing too much. Somehow, the conversation steadied Kayden's mind.
But when Darren arrived, Ariz stood up to leave. "Nice talking to you, Kayden," he said. No number. No social handle. It's just a casual goodbye between seniors.
"Who was that?" Darren asked, sitting beside him.
"Ariz. Final year student," Kayden said simply.
Darren looked at him closely. "You okay?"
"I'm just tired," Kayden murmured, already pulling out his phone.
Still no reply.
He tried calling Thaddeus again. Nothing.
Texted. Nothing.
He stared at the screen for a long time before setting it face down.
He doesn't owe me anything, Kayden thought bitterly. I was the one who threw myself at him. I was the one obsessed. He always reminded me I was just a boy to him. A son. But he still slept with me.
The pain gripped his chest like a vice.
So why would someone like him care about someone like me?
He blinked hard, but a tear still slipped down his cheek.
Darren saw it.
"Hey, you said you're fine, but you're crying. What the hell is going on with you?" he asked, worried.
Kayden quickly wiped the tear away. "It's nothing. I just… I guess it's crazy to realize I'm not a kid anymore. I miss when my parents made all my choices for me. Everything felt simpler."
He forced a laugh, hollow and weak.
Darren didn't press. He just slid closer and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "Whatever it is, I'm here. You don't have to say a word."
Kayden leaned into the hug, letting the silence carry what words couldn't.
But deep down, he was already breaking.
And Thaddeus still hadn't called.
By the time Thaddeus got back to his hotel, exhaustion clung to his shoulders like a heavy coat. But even as he loosened his tie and kicked off his shoes, his mind wasn't on the business meetings or Clarisse's endless chatter. It was on Kayden.
He finally checked his phone.
Dozens of missed calls.
Unread messages.
All from Kayden.
His heart clenched. He hadn't meant to ignore him. It wasn't intentional. The day had simply swept him away.
Without wasting a second, Thaddeus dialled.
No answer.
He tried again. Then again.
Still nothing.
So he opened the unread messages and began replying, one after the other. Apologies. Explanations. A hint of regret in every word.
At that exact moment, Kayden sat in a lecture room, distracted, hunched over his notes while the professor's voice faded in and out. His phone was buried deep in his bag, on silent. Oblivious.
By the time class ended and he pulled out his phone, a faint gasp left his lips.
Thaddeus: 3 Missed Calls. 2 New Messages.
His heart skipped. Then beat fast.
> "I'm sorry I didn't call back sooner. Today was packed from morning till now. Just saw everything."
"I didn't mean to worry you, Kayden."
He stared at the screen, reading the words again and again.
He replied.
For a moment, the ache in Kayden's chest loosened. He quickly typed back:
> "It's okay. I understand you're busy. Thank you for calling back."
"I hope you're resting now."
His fingers trembled slightly, but his lips curved into a small, relieved smile.
Just then, Darren came jogging up to him. "Ready to go?"
"Yeah," Kayden said, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
They started walking toward the school gate. The campus was bathed in golden-orange sunlight, students buzzing around, some heading to the dorms, and others to the café across the street.
Suddenly, a black Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG rolled into view and pulled up right by the gate.
Gasps echoed.
Squeals followed.
And then, the real chaos began.
"OMG, it's Ariz!"
"He's so fine! Look at that car!"
"God, he's literally a dream!"
Kayden blinked, confused at first. Then the door swung open and out stepped Ariz, sunglasses perched low on his nose, casually charismatic, as if the crowd didn't exist.
He's… really popular?
Kayden had no idea Ariz was this well-known, let alone that half the student boys and girls alike had a massive crush on him.
Ariz waved at the noise, then turned his gaze toward Kayden.
"Hey," he said with a relaxed smile. "Heading home?"
Kayden smiled shyly. "Yeah. My driver's on his way."
He glanced at Darren. "Uh, this is my friend, Darren."
Ariz extended a hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Yeah, you too," Darren nodded, though he was clearly taken aback by the attention Ariz was getting.
Ariz looked back at Kayden. "I don't know your direction, but if it's anywhere nearby, I could drop you off."
Kayden hesitated. "Thanks, but my driver should be here any minute."
"No problem," Ariz said with a grin. "Maybe next time then."
He paused, then asked casually, "Wanna exchange numbers or socials? Just in case?"
Kayden looked at Darren, unsure.
Darren shrugged, giving him a small smirk. "It's fine. Go ahead."
So Kayden gave Ariz his number. A second later, Ariz's phone buzzed, and he smiled, saving the contact.
"Cool," he said. "See you around."
Just then, Kayden's phone rang. It was the driver.
He gave Ariz a quick nod. "He's here."
"Alright then. Take care, Kayden."
As Ariz slid back into his sleek car and pulled away with the wind in his wake, Kayden couldn't help but exhale slowly.
"What just happened?" Darren asked, nudging him.
Kayden smiled faintly. "I have no idea."
But as he walked toward the waiting car, the warmth of Thaddeus's message still lingered in his chest, and now, a new kind of curiosity had sparked.
Darren nudged him again with his elbow, a wide grin on his face.
"Damn, Kayden," he said with a smirk. "You're catching a big fish."
Kayden turned to him, eyes narrowing. "What's that supposed to mean?"