Revelation of a Hidden Flame

Chapter 3: Temptation

Julian bit the tip of his tongue, the pain sobering him a little. He simply couldn't understand what Ethan was thinking. He had thought his research on Ethan was almost perfect, yet he still couldn't keep up with Ethan's train of thought. He looked at Ethan with confusion, eyes wide and round like a fluffed-up cat. Ethan seemed amused by this, his lips curving upwards into a smile.

Julian had stopped coughing. He fiddled with the edge of the table, knowing the probability was slim, but still he asked Ethan tentatively, holding onto a one-in-a-million chance, "Why would you say you want to date me... Is it out of pity, or, do you have a bit of liking for me?" His last few words were asked softly, like the steam over a coffee cup, lightly dissolving into the winter air.

He knew the chances were slim, but the moment he asked, his heart still throbbed with excitement. What if... People always harbor some unrealistic fantasies. But Ethan was as honest as ever. He said, "It's not out of pity, but I can't say it's liking either. Julian, I don't want to deceive you."

The pink bubbles in Julian's mind popped. He let out a dry "Oh," looking awkwardly at Ethan, "Then why? You don't want to lose me as a friend?" If that was the case, he could take some pride in it. It meant he held some weight in Ethan's heart.

Ethan said, "I think we could give dating a try. After today, it would be hard for us to just be friends again, so why not consider a different relationship. You like me, and I'm quite familiar with you; it's much better than going through the motions with a stranger. For years, my parents have been setting up blind dates for me, but I never went to meet any of them because I hate wasting time."

"But if it's you, I think I could accept it."

Julian's heart raced again at these last words. He had been friends with Ethan for many years and knew well that Ethan had come out in college. Although same-s*x marriage was legal now, it was not the mainstream, and Ethan's coming out had shocked many, leading to a long standoff with his family before they finally agreed.

After coming to terms with it, Ethan's parents, like all parents, began to worry about their son's marriage prospects, actively arranging blind dates as soon as he graduated from college, not allowing his s****l orientation to excuse him from the institution of marriage. But Ethan had hardly agreed to any.

Julian easily understood Ethan's point. They were well-matched in social status, neither lacking in looks or personality, and knew each other inside out. Ethan was probably tired of being pushed into marriage by his family and just happened to realize that this "grass next to the nest" had more than friendly feelings for him, so he wanted to try cultivating it.

After all, what's the big difference between an arranged date with a stranger and one with a friend?

Ethan looked candidly at Julian, "If you're willing, we could start dating, and if we get along well, we could even consider marriage."

Although Julian was mentally prepared for what Ethan might say, he was still so shocked that he felt dizzy and his palms began to sweat. Here he was, struggling with whether Ethan could develop feelings for him, and Ethan was already considering marriage.

To the unknowing, it would seem as if Ethan was eagerly pursuing him.

He looked somewhat foolishly at Ethan, feeling that he was both like a sugar-coated poison and a beautiful, intoxicating dream. If someone else made such a proposal, he would surely think that person was out of their mind. Is dating such a casual matter, established merely on one-sided affection and the other's not disliking?

What if he regretted it after two days?

But the person proposing this was Ethan.

The Ethan he had secretly loved for so long, the Ethan he had longed for day and night.

Julian swallowed nervously, like a rabbit tempted by a carrot, hesitating whether to take the bait or not. Upon reflection, if he really got into a relationship with Ethan, the person at a loss would be Ethan. After all, Julian was the one harboring a secret crush.

If the two of them tried dating and it succeeded, it would be as if the heavens had shown mercy, granting a match made in heaven, allowing Julian to turn his life around and sing triumphantly, erasing the bitterness of his unrequited love. And even if it didn’t work out, he would merely return to his original state, accepting the ending he was supposed to have.

Julian pursed his lips, gazing at Ethan's face, contoured by the morning light, spellbound to the point of almost mindlessly agreeing with a "yes." But before he could speak, Ethan added, "You don’t have to rush your answer, you can think about it for a couple of days."

This statement could easily give the illusion that Julian was the one in control.

But he knew it was just Ethan’s considerate nature showing through without making a fuss, so he nodded along to Ethan's words. "Okay, I, I’ll think about it." He thought it was indeed fair to give each other some time to think. Maybe after Ethan came to his senses, he might regret it and not want to give it a try with Julian.

Julian didn't stay at Ethan's place for long.

The experience of this morning was almost fantastical for him, and although Ethan seemed normal, Julian felt like a fugitive criminal, eager to flee the scene of the crime.

Ethan's house had no clothes that would fit Julian, but fortunately, the shopping district was nearby. After the secretary bought and delivered some clothes, Julian was anxious to leave. Ethan didn't insist on him staying, knowing he needed time to think. They had driven back in Julian's car yesterday, but considering Julian’s condition today, it wasn't wise for him to drive himself home. Ethan picked out another SUV from the garage and said to Julian, “I’ll drive you home. I’ll have my assistant drive your car to your house later.”

Julian buckled his seatbelt and nodded in agreement, not knowing how Ethan could act so naturally when he himself lacked such composure.

As soon as he got into the car, he pretended to be asleep. After about half an hour, Julian felt Ethan touching his hand, “Wake up, we’re here.”

Julian opened his eyes, groggy, and followed him out of the car, only to realize they were not at his house but at a hospital. He looked at Ethan, confused. Ethan locked the car and pulled him forward, “We didn’t take precautions yesterday, you might be hurt. I’ve made an appointment with a doctor to have you checked.”

Julian turned red with embarrassment, nearly smoking with mortification. He had already been struck by enough shocks this morning. He tried to pull away from Ethan, uncooperative, “I’m fine, it’s not that serious, I don’t need a checkup…”

But Ethan turned to look at him with a stern and serious gaze, authoritative without anger, “You must go. You don’t want to end up with a fever and be brought back here later.”

Julian wilted under his gaze, stopped struggling, and obediently followed him. The check-up went better than Julian had expected; it was a private hospital, the director was an acquaintance of Ethan, and the doctor was elderly, benevolent man who took the young men's situation in stride.

Ethan stayed with Julian the whole time, nearly answering the questions for him. The doctor glanced between the two, possibly mistaking them for a naive couple, and even joked with Julian, “Don’t be shy, your boyfriend seems to take good care of you.” Julian forced a smile, his emotions indescribable.

Ethan was such a contradiction; despite his cool and distant nature, he was also intricately patient and responsible, never shirking from anything. Like now, even though Ethan didn’t like him, he felt responsible for everything that was happening and was determined to take care of Julian. Just earlier, Ethan had proposed they date. But if Julian were a bit more daring, he might as well have taken the opportunity to ask Ethan to marry him, and Ethan might have even agreed.

Julian looked at Ethan's profile, feeling both affection and a hint of melancholy. It was this contrasting tenderness that had bewitched him for six years.

After the check-up, the doctor said there wasn’t much of an issue and prescribed some ointments for Julian to apply. After leaving the hospital, Ethan finally drove Julian home. But the address Ethan drove to was not Julian's solo apartment, but his parents' villa, which wasn't far from Ethan's parents’ house.

Julian had no objections. After graduation, he had bought a high-rise apartment to live alone, but he also stayed at his parents' house from time to time, splitting his time almost equally between the two.

As they arrived at the front of the house, Julian could see the brightly colored Hibiscus hanging from the branches in his yard from afar. Ethan stopped the car a distance away from the gate, and Julian placed his hand on the car door, looking back at Ethan.

Ethan was looking at him too.

In the confined space of the car, Ethan's eyes were dark and bright, like a deep pool reflecting Julian's image. The atmosphere grew inadvertently intimate.

Julian lowered his head, rubbing his palms nervously on his pants. Although he couldn't remember last night's events, there seemed to be fragments lingering in his mind. He vaguely remembered Ethan's kiss on his lips, pressing him onto the bed, not allowing him to escape.

He coughed, his face burning, and prepared to flee without stopping. But as soon as he pulled open the car door, he heard Ethan ask, "Can I ask you a question?"

He stopped again, turning to look at Ethan. "What question?"

Ethan slightly turned his head. "You said you liked me since high school, but I've been thinking, we didn't have much contact in high school. How could you like me?"

Ethan was seriously asking this question. He wasn't a curious person, and many liked him as numerous as the carps crossing the river, the reasons being more or less the same, which he had no interest in exploring.

But Julian seemed different.

He was two years older than Julian and they attended different high schools, so he could never recall what role he had played in Julian's high school life. But the tears that Julian shed on his neck last night were too hot, preventing him from acting as if nothing happened even after waking up from the hangover.

He was very sure Julian really liked him.

Julian didn't expect him to ask this, and he stood there for a long time without speaking.

What was the initial reason for liking Ethan? This question seemed to have lost its importance over the six years. Yet he remembered very clearly the beginning of everything, the winter night six years ago, and the way Ethan looked at him under the streetlamp.

He didn't really want to answer the question. Perhaps he was silent for too long, Ethan didn't ask further.

"It's okay if you don't want to talk, remember to rest."

Julian took the opportunity to leave. "Then, I'll be going." He waved his hand at Ethan in a flurry and walked away after pushing open the car door.

Entering his house, the gardener was trimming the lush plants in the yard. His parents weren't there, probably at the company, only his sister was sitting in the living room, holding an iPad and looking at something.

His sister's name was Ava Hawthorne, his twin, but they looked nothing alike except for their appearance, and like Ethan, she excelled at everything from a young age and had a strong personality.

Although the siblings' temperaments were not alike, their relationship had been close since childhood. Ava seemed happy to see him return, but as Julian approached, after a brief chat, she asked strangely, "Why do you look a bit pale today, did you stay up late working last night?"

Of course, Julian couldn't tell the truth, so he made up a few excuses and quickly.