h4Chapter 398: Date/h4

    Elias Jung entered the apartment slowly, his hand lingering on the doorknob longer than it should have. He had spent half the night outside, walking aimlessly, reying every word Mnie had said to him and measuring it against the years he had already lived. At first, he had resisted the thought, denying it, but the more he turned it over in his mind, the clearer it became.

    He came to a shocking realization about himself-that he was willing to take this risk. That he wanted Cadence to look at him not only with trust or dependence but with desire. That he wanted to be seen as more than a doctor and caretaker, more than the shadow that followed him through every violent storm.

    In his exhaustion, he had even dared to imagine it, dared to let his mind wander to impossible images. What Cadence might look like if he let go, if he reached out for him not out of need but out of want. What it would feel like if they were together, not because of control or circumstance, but because they chose each other. The thought had terrified him, yet it had also lit something in him that he could no longer push down.

    And so, after half a night of silent torment, Elias had finally made his choice. He was willing to risk this. He was willing to take the step, no matter where it might lead.

    But he had not imagined his resolve would be tested so soon. The apartment was silent when he stepped inside, almost unnaturally so. And then he saw him and stopped mid-step, almost falling over his own feet.

    Cadence was there, sitting on the couch in the dim light, his posture rigid, his eyes sharp and unblinking as they followed Elias.

    Elias forced a small smile, his voice soft, almost hesitant. "What are you doing here? Haven’t you slept yet?" Then, realizing the possibility, his tone shifted with concern. "You said you weren’t keeping well. Is that it? Were you unable to sleep?" He hesitated for a beat, then added quickly, as though offering something, anything, to help. "I don’t have much medicine right now... but I can give you a massage if that helps."

    Cadence said nothing. His silence filled the room heavier than any words could, and Elias felt the weight of it press down on him. For a moment, he stood frozen, uncertain, but then he moved forward anyway.

    Quietly, almost cautiously, he lowered himself onto the edge of the couch beside Cadence. He lifted his hand and let his fingers slide gently through Cadence’s hair, slow and careful, as though touching something fragile. His fingertips brushed over his scalp, and he began to massage lightly, the steady rhythm meant to soothe and to ease him into rest.

    It was an action Elias had done before countless times, but tonight it felt different. There was something unspoken in the air, something tense, and his own pulse raced faster than his hands moved.

    Barely a minute had passed when Cadence’s voice cut through the silence, cold and sharp."Where were you?"

    The words froze Elias mid-motion. His fingers stilled in Cadence’s hair before he forced them to move again, slower this time. He swallowed and asked carefully, "Why? Did something happen while I was gone?"

    But Cadence ignored the question entirely. His eyes narrowed, and his voice came again, lower, insistent. "First tell me... where were you?"

    Elias felt the suspicion in the tone and his chest tightened. He drew in a slow breath, his own eyes narrowing slightly as he answered, "Melody left soon after you did, so Max suggested we go for a walk along the beach..." He started to exin, but before he could rify that he had refused Max’spany and chosen to walk alone, Cadence suddenly stood up.

    His movement was abrupt, his hand shoving Elias’s away with a force that made the doctor’s heart jolt. Cadence turned on him, his gaze sharp, his voice a mixture of usation and something darker. "Howe I never knew that you were interested in men?"

    is paused and then looked at Cadence who was ring at him and slowly shrugged," It never came up in conversation."

    "You had girlfriends in the past."

    is nodded and answered slowly," Yes. And I’ve explored other rtionships as well."

    Of course he didn’t mention that he had only even initially tried those when he found himself attracted to him.

    "Why didn’t you tell me? I thought we were friends."

    is frowned," Cadence. What is wrong with you? Something like this, it never came up. And I didn’t think there was any need for something like that.."

    "You didn’t think there was need for discussing something like that? We’ve been friends since we barely started walking. You’ve been living with me like a shadow for the past so many years and you didn’t think I would need to know something like that?"

    "I’ve been living with you for thest few years not as your friend but as your doctor, Cadence. So, why would a doctor discuss something like that with his patient?"

    For a moment, there was only silence, broken by the sound of Cadence’s unsteady breathing. His jaw was tight, his eyes burning into Elias as though he wanted to tear him apart.

    Then, suddenly, he moved. Cadence reached out and caught Elias by the front of his shirt, pulling him forward so abruptly that Elias nearly lost his bnce. The force of it brought them chest to chest, too close, and for a second Elias could feel the heat of his breath against his face.

    "Doctor? Patient?" Cadence hissed, his voice low and sharp. "Is that all you think we are?"

    Elias didn’t answer, simply staring back at the man as Cadence continued to re at him. In that is wanted to know how Cadence would react. Would he decline that he only looked at him as a doctor or would he agree? But then just as suddenly as he had pulled him close, he shoved him back.

    Elias stumbled, catching himself against the arm of the couch before falling into it as he watched Cadence walk away.. The rejection stung sharper than the physical push, leaving him breathless.