STOLEN GLANCES

EPISODE TEN

MASKS AND GAMES

The studio was buzzing with energy as the final rehearsal before the concert kicked off. The lights were bright, the music booming, and the air was thick with excitement. But in the midst of it all, Noah stood quietly in the corner, watching Ethan as he organized the schedule, his usual composed and professional self.

Noah couldn’t help but notice how much his heart ached every time his gaze lingered on Ethan. His best friend, his manager—someone he had spent countless hours with, someone who understood him in ways no one else could. And yet, Noah couldn’t ignore the growing pull between them, the undeniable feelings he had tried so hard to suppress.

What if he wasn’t the right one for Ethan? What if, like Ethan’s ex, he was destined to disappoint him? The thought gnawed at Noah’s mind, and the more he thought about it, the more he realized he couldn’t bear to see Ethan hurt because of him. He knew that the deeper their connection grew, the harder it would be to pull away. And so, a decision was made, though it burned with regret.

Noah couldn’t be the one for Ethan. He couldn’t give him what he needed, and that hurt more than he cared to admit. He knew what he had to do—he had to kill the feelings he harbored for Ethan.

The easiest way to do that? Noah thought with a bitter smile. He’d have to embrace the persona he was most comfortable with: the playboy. Detached, aloof, and noncommittal. If he threw himself into that, maybe—just maybe—he could erase the emotions that had become too powerful, too complicated.

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The change didn’t happen overnight, but Noah wasted no time. The next day, as soon as they were finished with rehearsal, he walked into the room with a different air about him. His smile was brighter, almost teasing, his eyes glinting with mischief as he interacted with the others. He threw out flirtatious remarks without hesitation, charming the staff, laughing a little too loudly at their jokes, and making it clear to everyone that he was open to the attention.

Ethan noticed immediately.

It wasn’t like Noah to be so… carefree in this way. Sure, Noah had always been friendly, but this was different. There was a distinct shift in his energy—a kind of playful distance that felt off to Ethan. Noah’s casual remarks and exaggerated charm were all meant to catch the eye of anyone around him, especially the female trainees who had been hovering near him during breaks. Ethan watched from the sidelines, his stomach sinking with the feeling that he wasn’t just an observer—he was a participant in something that he didn’t fully understand.

Noah was pushing him away.

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The days passed, and Noah continued his act with practiced ease. At lunch, he would sit with different people, chatting effortlessly, occasionally placing a hand on a shoulder here, offering a flirtatious wink there. Ethan couldn’t deny it stung, but he refused to say anything. Maybe this was just Noah being himself. Maybe he didn’t mean anything by it.

But deep down, Ethan knew it wasn’t just innocent flirting. It was a mask—a shield that Noah had put up. And it was aimed at Ethan.

Ethan’s mind raced. Was this because of what happened with his ex? Was Noah trying to forget him by distracting himself with someone else?

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One evening after rehearsal, Ethan found himself in the quiet office, organizing papers. He didn’t expect Noah to stop by, but when the door creaked open, he looked up to find Noah standing there, leaning against the doorframe with a glass of water in his hand. The usual warmth in Noah’s eyes was gone—replaced by something more guarded, more distant.

Noah didn’t speak for a moment, just watched Ethan with a strange expression that Ethan couldn’t place. Then, finally, Noah took a step closer.

“You look like you could use a break,” Noah said casually, flashing a grin that didn’t reach his eyes. “Want to grab dinner later?”

Ethan hesitated, searching Noah’s face for any sign of the Noah he knew. The one who would have been excited about spending time together after a long day. The Noah who always asked about Ethan’s well-being.

Instead, he saw a stranger—a version of Noah that felt unfamiliar.

“No thanks,” Ethan said quietly, trying to keep his voice steady. “I’m good, just need to finish up here.”

Noah nodded, not pressing any further. “Alright. See you tomorrow.”

As he walked out, Ethan couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted. That Noah wasn’t just distancing himself from Ethan—he was doing something far more dangerous. He was pushing him away on purpose.

---

The following evening, Noah found himself at a bar, sitting with a group of colleagues, laughing louder than necessary, enjoying the attention he was getting from the crowd. His usual playboy charm was in full force, and he was doing everything in his power to lose himself in it. His phone buzzed on the table, and for a moment, Noah’s gaze flickered to it. It was Ethan—his name flashing on the screen.

Noah took a deep breath before silencing it without replying. He couldn’t let himself be pulled back in. He had to stay in control, and that meant keeping Ethan at arm’s length. He had to kill whatever feelings he had left.

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Back at the studio the next day, Noah’s behavior had become more pronounced. He was more distant, more flirtatious, as though trying to fill the empty space that had once been filled with his unspoken affection for Ethan. But every now and then, when his eyes met Ethan’s, there was a brief flicker of something else—something that Noah quickly suppressed.

Ethan, though hurt, was beginning to understand. Noah was trying to forget. Forget the bond they shared, forget the moments they had, and forget the feelings that had grown between them.

But Ethan wasn’t sure how long he could watch this charade play out. He didn’t know what was happening, but he knew one thing for sure: Noah wasn’t fine.

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