h4Chapter 412: Oh/h4

    Confused, his imagination pulling him in all directions, is walked slowly toward his bedroom where Cadence was still supposed to be sleeping. But as soon as he stepped inside, he froze mid-step.

    Because the ’apparently’ sleeping man wasn’t sleeping at all.

    Cadence was sitting on the edge of the bed, shoulders slightly hunched, staring down at a small photo frame in his hand as though the rest of the world didn’t exist.

    is stopped near the doorway, his breath catching when he saw the faint curve of Cadence’s lips. That smile—soft, unguarded, almost wistful—hit him harder than it should have. It had been so long since he had seen that expression on his face, so long since he had seen anything but walls carefully built around him.

    For a moment, he just stood there, uncertain whether to speak or stay quiet, afraid that even the slightest sound might shatter the moment.

    Then, as though sensing his presence, Cadence slowly looked up.

    Their eyes met, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Cadence gave him a small smile, "Look, what I have here."

    is smiled. He didn’t need to look. It was the picture he carried everywhere with him. Theirst backpacking trip before everything had gone haywire for Cadence. is often looked at this picture and wondered if he had missted the early warning signs somehow. He went to sit next to Cadence as the man slowly ced the picture back on the table.

    "How was your session..."

    Before is could even finish his question, the world tilted. One moment he was standing by the bed, the next he was t on his back, breath leaving his lungs in a startled rush.

    Cadence had moved fast—too fast. He was now straddling is, sitting squarely on his stomach. He wasn’t pressing down with his full weight, not quite, but there was enough pressure to make is tense instinctively, his hands braced on the mattress as though to push him off.

    "Cadence! What are you doing?" His voice came out sharper than intended,ced with confusion, maybe even a thread of panic.

    "Me?" Cadence leaned forward just a little, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. "I’m greeting my old friend. It’s been so many years..."

    is felt his breath catch in his throat. Old times... yes, he remembered them far too well. Cadence had always been like this back then, reckless in his affection, tackling him onto any t surface with the same careless enthusiasm. Only back then, it had been allughter and warmth, no strange undercurrent humming in the air like now.

    He barely had time to process the memories before Cadence’s fingers wrapped firmly around his wrists, pinning them above his head. The grip wasn’t painful, but it was steady, unyielding.

    "Do you surrender, is Jung?" The words were teasing, almost yful, but there was something in Cadence’s eyes that made is’s heartbeat skip a little faster.

    He tried to grin- to make it look like this was nothing, like he wasn’t rattled in the slightest. He managed the expression, even as the rest of him betrayed himpletely, warmth spreading through his chest, heat pooling low in his body in a way that had nothing to do with thoughts of old times.

    "Cadence."

    He tried to say his name with some semnce of firmness, but it came out closer to a squeak. All he could do was stare up into Cadence’s eyes as the man loomed over him, the weight of that gaze making his throat tighten.

    "You punched me yesterday," Cadence said slowly, almost conversationally, though there was a sharp edge beneath the calm tone. One of his hands released is’s wrist, moving instead to trace his own lower lip, the pad of his thumb brushing over a faint mark there as if to remind him of what had happened.

    is nodded stiffly.

    Cadence’s eyes never left his face. "Did you enjoy your date with Max yesterday?" The words were drawn out, deceptively casual.

    is nodded again automatically-then froze and quickly shook his head in frantic denial.

    He saw the change immediately.

    Cadence’s eyes narrowed, the easy smile vanishing as if it had never been there. The hand still holding is’s wrist mped down suddenly, the grip turning hard enough to make his fingers go cold.

    Gone was the man who hadughed like his old friend, who had looked at him with that fleeting softness from before. In his ce was the other Cadence—the dark, dangerous one who seemed to carry destruction in his hands and weed it like an oldpanion.

    is swore inwardly. This man... this was the Cadence Melody had created with her mind games.

    And he knew he was right because, in the very next moment, Cadence moved.

    Before is could react, Cadence leaned down and crushed their mouths together in a kiss that was nothing like the yful greetings of their past. It was sharp, bruising, the kind that stole is’s breath and left no room for protest.

    is stiffened beneath him, trying to twist away, but Cadence’s grip on his wrists was iron, unyielding. His lips pressed harder, insistent, as if determined to mark him, to burn away any trace of hesitation.

    is felt the heat of it, the angerced through the kiss, the frustration and something else he couldn’t name. Every time he tried to pull back, Cadence only deepened it, forcing his mouth open, iming rather than asking.

    His pulse pounded in his ears, the taste of Cadence filling his mouth, raw and unrelenting. The kiss grew rougher, almost punishing, until is felt his lips throb where their mouths met.

    And then, just when is thought Cadence might finally let him go, he felt sharp teeth catch the corner of his lower lip and bite, hard enough to sting, to make him gasp against Cadence’s mouth as pain shot through the haze of heat.

    "Call Max and tell him you will not see him again."

    It took him a minute to understand what he was saying and even after that, another minute to understand the implications...