STRAIGHT UNTIL YOU(BL)

STRAIGHT UNTIL U Chapter One — Seven Years The clock on Mackson's laptop read 11:47 p.m. The apartment was silent except for the quiet tapping of his fingers against the keyboard. He had been working for nearly three hours. A half-finished business proposal occupied one side of the screen, while several documents were scattered across the glass table in front of him. Mackson leaned back and sighed. He was twenty minutes away from finishing when his phone buzzed. Ethan. Mackson glanced at the screen. > **Open the door.** He frowned. Another message arrived. > **Now.** Mackson stared at the phone. Seven years. Seven years of knowing Ethan, and the boy still believed the word please was optional. Mackson pushed himself off the couch. When he opened the door, Ethan was standing outside. Black shirt. Expensive watch. Slightly messy hair. And an expression that immediately told Mackson something was wrong. “You're late,” Ethan said. Mackson blinked. “You're the one who showed up at midnight.” Ethan walked past him. “Nice to see you too.” Mackson closed the door. “What happened?” “Nothing.” “You don't come to my apartment at midnight because nothing happened.” Ethan dropped onto the couch. For a few seconds, he said nothing. Then he looked at Mackson. “Do you trust me?” Mackson frowned. “That's a stupid question.” “Just answer.” “Of course I trust you.” Ethan looked away. “Even if I did something stupid?” “That depends on how stupid.” Ethan laughed quietly. For a moment, everything felt normal again. Just them. Like the last seven years had never changed anything. But Mackson knew better. Something had changed. Ethan had been distant lately. He cancelled plans. Ignored messages. And whenever Mackson asked what was wrong, Ethan always gave him the same answer. Nothing. Mackson sat opposite him. “Tell me.” Ethan's eyes met his. “I got engaged.” Silence. Mackson stared at him. He wasn't sure he had heard correctly. “...What?” Ethan swallowed. “My family arranged it.” Mackson's expression remained calm, but something inside him shifted. “With who?” Ethan hesitated. “Someone you know.” Mackson's fingers tightened around the edge of the table. Seven years of friendship. Seven years of knowing Ethan better than almost anyone. And suddenly, there was a part of Ethan's life Mackson knew nothing about. Ethan stood. “I didn't want you finding out from someone else.” Mackson forced a small smile. “Congratulations.” Ethan looked at him. “You don't mean that.” Mackson's smile faded. “No.” For the first time that night, neither of them knew what to say. Outside, the city continued glowing beneath them. Inside, seven years of friendship suddenly felt like it was standing on the edge of something neither of them was ready to name.