Entwined in the Steam

Chapter 5: Why Did You Block Me?

In the airport lounge, Ethan Hawthorne was staring at his phone, tapping the screen absently with one finger. He looked thoroughly bored.

Sebastian Sterling sidled up to him, asking cautiously, "Hey, man. You seem to have been in a funk ever since we left the resort. What's up? Didn't have a good time these last couple of days?"

"No."

"Not enough fun, then? Don't want to go back yet?" Sebastian made a wild guess on his own. "But really, Adrian Adler went all out this time. Every meal, every drink, every bit of entertainment was perfectly arranged. I was having too much fun to think of going home. Just for that, when he does come back to Capitalis, I'm rolling out the welcome mat."

Ethan couldn't be bothered to respond. He still looked entirely unenthused.

Sebastian rubbed his chin, continuing his monologue. "Adrian Adler's something else, isn't he? Step-mum whispers in his dad's ear, and next thing, he's shipped off to Cloudhaven. Six short years, and he's built himself into the top dog in the Cloudhaven pharmaceutical industry. Got no help from the family all this time, probably got his fair share of nasty tricks thrown at him too. With skills like that, he'd tear through Capitalis."

"This invitation was a real gesture. He's got the whole social game down pat."

"Hey, Ethan, what do you think about him coming back to the capital? Didn't you say you wanted to focus on medical equipment next year? The pie in that industry's only so big. Adrian Adler's return is definitely going to carve a slice out."

Ethan tapped his screen a few more times, then pocketed his phone. "He can take a slice if he wants. As long as he can swallow it."

Sebastian grinned. "What am I saying? You're just dabbling for fun, right? Couldn't affect you anyway. His step-mum's going to be sweating bullets, though. The family built their fortune on pharmaceuticals. The proper, full-grown eldest son making a powerful comeback… Tsk tsk. This should be good."

Ethan had no interest in any of this. The boarding announcement crackled through the air. He stood up.

Sebastian followed, still chattering away. "But Adrian's little brother is really something, isn't he? Pretty lips, white teeth. And those eyes… When he looks at you, it feels like he's looking right into your heart. Especially when he calls you 'big brother' in that clear, bright voice…"

Ethan suddenly stopped walking. He narrowed his eyes at Sebastian. "He called you 'big brother'? When did you see him?"

Sebastian blinked. "I saw him when we were kids. In my memory, little Oliver was skinny and quiet. But yesterday afternoon, I went back to my room to charge my phone. Ran into him in the elevator on my way back down. Didn't even recognise him until he said hello."

Ethan's gaze darkened. "He called you 'big brother'?"

"Yeah. I'm three years older. He should call me that, right? What's the problem?"

"Hah…"

He let out a cold laugh, then strode off towards the boarding gate.

Sebastian, bewildered, had to jog to catch up. "Bro… were you laughing at me just then?"

"Piss off. Stay away from me."

"What did I do…"

That night, in an upscale Capitalis villa, men and women mingled, glasses clinking, laughter filling the air.

The guest of honour stood on the second-floor balcony. In the biting cold, he wore only a white shirt. A half-smoked cigarette dangled from his fingers. Half his face was hidden in the night and the haze of smoke, making him look both alluring and dangerous.

"Ethan, there you are."

A handsome young man in a white suit approached. He smiled and held out a small, wrapped box. "Happy Birthday."

Ethan Hawthorne looked at the figure through the drifting smoke. For a split second, his mind seemed to wander elsewhere. He quickly gathered himself and took the box. "Thanks."

James grinned broadly. "Why aren't you wearing a coat? You'll catch your death."

"Not cold."

"Haha, did two days in the hot springs turn you into iron or something?" he teased. Then he asked, "How's my brother's resort? Ah, too bad I was swamped with stuff a few days ago. Couldn't make it. Would've been fun. Hot springs in winter must be lovely."

"Alright."

"I'll have to go sometime."

"Mmm." Ethan stubbed out his cigarette. "I'm heading out."

"Huh?" James followed him back inside. "You're leaving? Haven't cut the cake yet."

Ethan rubbed his cold fingertips together. "Already had some."

"Ah…"

James watched him go downstairs, grab his coat, and leave. His shoulders slumped a little.

But he bounced back quickly, throwing himself back into the social whirl of a birthday party whose guest of honour had just walked out.

Ethan got home, took a hot shower, then propped himself up in bed and picked up his phone to send a message.

For the first time in his life, Mr. Hawthorne was greeted by a little red exclamation mark.

He frowned, leaning closer to the screen. The dreaded icon sat beside his last message, accompanied by the words: "Message sent but rejected by recipient."

He actually laughed, a short, incredulous sound. He called his assistant.

"Hi, boss. Happy Birthday."

"Was happy."

"...Oh." Not anymore, then?

"Get me Oliver Adler's contact details. Brother of Adrian Adler, boss of the Cloudhaven Hot Springs Resort."

"Oh, right. Got it."

"Hurry up. Double your year-end bonus."

The assistant's reply was practically a shout. "Yes, sir!"

Less than ten minutes after hanging up, Ethan had the information. He punched in the number with a grimace and pressed call.

"…Hello?"

Oliver's voice came through, muffled and sleepy-sounding, as if he'd been woken up.

Ethan ground out the words. "It's me."

"…"

Silence on the other end. Then the line went dead.

The dial tone buzzed in his ear. He was on his feet now, pacing back and forth across the room. He called again.

The phone rang for a long time before it was picked up.

He was furious now. "Oliver Adler!"

In his dark room, Oliver sat cross-legged on his bed. He said nothing.

"Why did you block me?"

"…"

"Talk."

Oliver fidgeted with the edge of his duvet, his voice still muffled. "Why are you calling me?"

"Why did you block me?"

He repeated, "Why are you calling me?"

Then he added, quietly, "You already know. You already said no."

This time, it was Ethan's turn to stay silent.

Oliver waited and waited. His heart felt like it had been tossed off a high ledge, landing with a heavy plop in deep water, where it sank, numb and aching.

Finally, his shoulders slumped. He ended the call, lay down, and pulled the covers over his head.

Ethan tightened his grip on his phone, sitting on the edge of his bed. He grabbed the cigarette packet and lighter from his nightstand, smoked two in quick succession, then dialled again.

The call connected. More silence.

"Oliver Adler," he said. "Come back to Capitalis."

Oliver felt the heart that had sunk to the bottom of the lake being fished out again. The corner of his mouth twitched into a tiny, hesitant smile. "Okay," he whispered.

"Take me off your block list."

"Okay."

Ethan hung up. He opened Messenger.

[Ethan Hawthorne: .]

[Oliver Adler: ..]

Finally, no red exclamation mark. A small smile touched his eyes. He leaned back against the headboard and started typing.

[Ethan Hawthorne: Where'd you learn the habit of blocking people the second something doesn't go your way?]

[Oliver Adler: Your profile picture…]

His profile picture had already been changed to the little chibi version of himself. It looked nothing like him.

[Ethan Hawthorne: Changed it at the airport this morning. Didn't you see?]

[Ethan Hawthorne: You blocked me the second my car drove off?]

Burrowed under his duvet, Oliver felt a mix of guilt and a quiet, giddy happiness. Did Ethan Hawthorne feel something for him too, even just a little?

[Ethan Hawthorne: Just because I didn't say goodbye? Oliver Adler, you've got quite the temper.]

[Oliver Adler: [Cat hiding under blanket.jpg]]

Looking at the sticker, Ethan could practically picture him curled up under the covers. It was… kind of cute.

Oliver glanced at the time. Two minutes to midnight.

[Oliver Adler: Happy Birthday.]

[Ethan Hawthorne: Was having a perfectly happy one, until I found out I'd been inexplicably blocked…]

Oliver didn't know how to respond to that.

Then another message from Ethan came through. This one was a voice note. "Say it again."

Oliver held down the talk button, his voice soft. "Ethan Hawthorne, Happy Birthday."

Ethan listened to the recording twice. He smiled, then sent back a reply. "Thanks. It's cold. Go to sleep early. Put on extra layers when you get up. I'll be waiting for you. Goodnight."

"Goodnight…"

The conversation ended. Oliver played the voice message over and over again. He pressed a hand to his racing heart, closed his eyes, and drifted into the best night's sleep he'd had in ages.