Revelation of a Hidden Flame

At 7 PM, Julian, clad in a newly bought black coat and holding a cup of hot cocoa, sat on a bench in the square, watching a music performance. Handsome, with a pair of innocent eyes that made him look approachable and soft-tempered, he had barely sat down for ten minutes before someone eagerly tried to strike up a conversation with him. "Hello, are you a student at M University?" Julian looked up to see a young man, tall, with a slightly flushed face and an awkward demeanor, clearly with less than pure intentions. "I'm a student at the nearby M University. You look familiar," the young man stammered, barely believing his own words, "Can I have your contact?" Julian was puzzled. Did he have 'gay' written on his face? He smiled politely and replied, "Sorry, no. I'm not a student, just waiting for someone." The young man persisted, still trying to make conversation, "Who are you waiting for? A friend?" Julian frowned, about to dismiss him, but then he saw the person he was waiting for, approaching from ten meters away. Ethan, also dressed in black, with a tall, lean figure, walked through the square as if on a fashion runway. His amorous eyes, high nose, and thin lips would normally attract attention, but his icy demeanor made him seem unapproachable. Upon seeing Ethan, Julian instinctively smiled, forgetting everything he was about to say. He didn’t give the university student another glance, tossed his empty cocoa cup in the trash, and ran towards Ethan. The student, unable to stop him, watched Julian run towards a tall, handsome man, realizing he had no chance. He touched his nose in resignation and walked away. Ethan, seeing Julian running towards him, stood still, waiting. They had agreed to have dinner together today, but he had work to finish, so Julian had waited near his office. When Julian reached him, Ethan gently touched his arm and asked, "Have you been waiting long?" "Not really, just about ten minutes," Julian replied with a smile, his scarf covering most of his face, revealing only his curved eyes. The two walked out of the square together. Ethan’s car was parked in his company's underground garage, so they drove Julian's car to the restaurant. Ethan was still wearing his headset, giving instructions to his assistant about work. Julian appeared focused on driving but kept glancing at Ethan. It had been a month since he last saw Ethan, who had been busy with work. Julian hadn’t wanted to disturb him and only cautiously asked Ethan out for dinner when he was less busy. Julian's life was calm and stable when he didn’t see Ethan, no different from usual. But now, seeing him again, he realized how much he missed Ethan. Even at red lights, he would pretend to casually turn his head to steal glances at Ethan. Ethan, still on the call, seemed colder than usual, his sharp profile and beautiful lips irresistibly attractive to Julian, who had to restrain himself from staring. Julian inwardly cursed himself for being weak. He had known Ethan for over a decade, secretly loved him for six years, and maintained a friendship without overstepping boundaries. He had hoped his feelings would fade over time, but he was still sensitive to Ethan's every glance. The traffic light turned green, and Julian drove through the intersection, his mind a mess with memories of his unrequited love for Ethan. Their relationship was simple. Their parents were business acquaintances, so they had known each other from a young age. Ethan was always outstanding, and Julian, two years younger and less ambitious, led a carefree life, so their paths rarely crossed. If Julian hadn’t fallen for Ethan in high school, their relationship would have remained distant. But at eighteen, he hopelessly fell for Ethan, an unrequited love that grew like wild roses in summer, unstoppable. Julian purposely chose Ethan’s university and, after two years, managed to become more than just an acquaintance, occasionally going to Ethan’s house, watching movies, having meals together, and exchanging birthday gifts. But that was it. Even after graduating from university two years ago, Julian never confessed his feelings to Ethan, quietly loving him, afraid to risk their friendship. His childhood friend Simon joked that Julian was wasting his good looks. Julian knew he was timid, but pursuing Ethan was daunting. Many had tried and failed. He didn’t think a confession would change anything. He was grateful for the place he had in Ethan's life and didn't want to risk it. While looking for a parking spot, Julian whimsically thought about visiting a temple to pray for a romantic fate. He chuckled at the thought, knowing it was far-fetched but enjoying the fantasy. Little did he know, his heartfelt wishes seemed to have been heard by the gods. Just five hours later, his wish came true. - After dinner with Ethan, Julian went to Ethan's house to watch a football match. The outcome of the game was insignificant compared to what unfolded under the influence of alcohol; Julian ended up spending the night with Ethan, the person he had longed for over six years. Waking up slightly disoriented in the dimly lit room, Julian's eyes adjusted to the gray walls and the dark wooden wardrobe adorned with glass lampshades and a blue glass ornament - a gift from him to Ethan. Realizing he was in Ethan's bedroom, Julian snapped to full alertness. Sitting up with a hiss, he felt an aching soreness in his waist and other unmentionable areas. Alone in bed, with no sign of Ethan, he tried to piece together the events of the previous night. He vaguely remembered coming to Ethan's after dinner and the drinks they shared while watching the game, which gradually turned into deep conversations about their university days and more drinks... His memory halted abruptly there. Despite his efforts, Julian couldn't recall the crucial moments of the night, but the bite marks on his collarbone and scratches on his wrists were evidence enough of what had transpired between them - a drunken tryst. Sitting dazed on the bed, Julian buried his face in his hands. Should he pretend to sleep, or flee while Ethan was still away? Before he could decide, Ethan emerged from the bathroom, hair damp, wearing only black sleeping pants, revealing a toned upper body marked with scratches and a noticeable bite mark on his collarbone. Julian's heart skipped a beat, wishing he could hide away. It was obvious who had left those marks on Ethan. He hadn't expected Ethan to be in the shower; escaping or feigning sleep were no longer options. As Ethan sat beside him, Julian noticed his lips were also injured, clearly bitten. Words failed him; the awkward silence of the morning was palpable. Before Julian could speak, Ethan broke the silence, "You're awake. Are you feeling okay?" Ethan glanced at Julian, then apologized for not taking precautions the previous night. He offered to help Julian to the bathroom, noticing his discomfort. Julian, taken aback by Ethan's calm demeanor, refused vehemently, insisting he could bathe on his own. Ethan, puzzled but respectful, withdrew his offer and left to prepare breakfast, leaving Julian alone in the room. Sitting on the bed, Julian was baffled. He expected anger or avoidance from Ethan, who disliked physical contact to the point of cleaning his hands after being touched. Yet, here Ethan was, calmly addressing the situation after their drunken intimacy. Rubbing his face, Julian wondered who was acting more strangely - him or Ethan. Eventually, he mustered the strength to move to the bathroom, slowly immersing himself in the bathtub, letting the warm water soothe his aches. With eyes closed and head tilted back, Julian thought maybe he should be grateful for their strong friendship, which kept Ethan from turning against him despite the incident. However, if he could turn back time, he would never have drunk that wine.