Love's Captive Sorrow

Chapter 2

Adrian Hart had finally managed to get a few days off, and Alexander Hayes decided to stay at his place. During the day, Ethan Walker spent his time in advanced math classes, exhausting his brain cells. In the evening, he would come home to find the two of them cuddling on the couch, watching TV, and it filled him with a lot of sour bubbles. The premature worries of a young boy.

"Alex, I have a problem I don't understand."

"Alex, what is a new definition operation?"

"Alex, how do you solve the linear equation you taught me last time?"

Alexander was annoyed by Ethan's constant questions, but out of respect for Adrian, he couldn't refuse him.

"Does your brother have something against me?"

"No, it's just that he struggles with the things he's learning, and now he finally has someone who can teach him."

"I think he's doing it on purpose."

"Ethan's had a tough time. Could you help him more? Do it for me."

"Then give me a kiss."

Alexander leaned his face towards Adrian, waiting. When he turned to look, he saw the tall police officer blushing like a ripe shrimp.

Where was the man who had once rescued him from kidnappers with such determination?

"Geez, Adrian, are you even a man?"

"Alex, aren't we moving a bit fast?"

"Didn't you say you liked me? Hurry up and kiss me!"

Alexander's voice rose with excitement, and Ethan, hearing this from the other room, pressed harder on his workbook.

"Alex! I! Don't! Understand!"

"Coming! How are you so dumb yet still going to school...?" Alexander grumbled as he kicked open Ethan's door and began explaining the elimination method for the tenth time that night.

The kiss that Alexander had long been waiting for was temporarily postponed. Little Panda kept asking questions, continuing to pretend not to understand.

The weather was quite nice, and Adrian, who loved physical activity, couldn't stay cooped up at home even with Alexander there. He began to persuade Alexander to go hiking. Although Alexander was a genius with sharp intellect and artistic skills, he wasn't fond of outdoor activities. In London, he mostly just ran on treadmills and swam. The thought of Seoul's summer sun gave him a headache.

Before he could refuse, Adrian had already started looking up camping gear on his computer.

Camping? That meant they would share a small tent.

"Alex, do you want to go?"

Alexander nodded eagerly.

"I'm going too!"

"No way!"

The little brat was once again interrupting their time together.

"Alex, I want to go."

Ethan's panda eyes blinked brightly, and Adrian smiled, saying yes.

"You can come, but you'll have your own tent."

"Okay."

Ethan reluctantly agreed, feeling a bit dejected.

Watching the two of them with faces full of mutual resentment, Adrian felt like he was taking care of two kids. Despite Alexander's brilliance, he was still just an eighteen-year-old boy. How serious was he about his feelings?

Adrian reminisced about the first time he met Alexander. At fifteen, Alexander had used Morse code with his blinking to convey the location when he was kidn*pped. If the police decryption expert hadn't confirmed it repeatedly, no one would have believed a child could remain so calm and smart in such a situation. When Adrian rescued him, Alexander dusted himself off, endured his injuries, and kicked the kidnappers in the stomach before turning to Adrian with a bright smile:

"You're too slow, Mr. Policeman."

That smile was etched into Adrian's memory. Using every excuse to visit him in the hospital, the last visit led to Alexander's confession, and the promise made for when he turned eighteen.

Adrian once asked Alexander why he liked him. Alexander, with a mischievous smile, replied, "I like how silly you are, with your expression that shows you like me but don't dare to say it. Like a Labrador, cute and dopey."

For someone as clever as Alexander, liking him was a blessing.

Ten-year-old Ethan was too small and started off energetically chasing butterflies and grabbing branches. By halfway up the mountain, he was exhausted, hands on his knees, panting like a little puppy.

"Alex, Ethan's not doing well. Can you carry him for a bit? We need to find a camping spot soon."

"No way. You carry him. I told you not to bring him; he's a burden."

Adrian, carrying nearly 200 pounds of gear and food, couldn't manage more.

"I didn't want to burden you with the gear. Ethan is light, be good."

Adrian's smile was brighter than the sun, as he reached out to ruffle Alexander's trendy bangs.

"Fine, get on."

Ethan gleefully climbed onto Alexander's back.

Did Alex put on perfume? Smells so good. Is that an angel tattoo on his neck? It looks so cool. He seems thin but isn't even panting. I need to work on my fitness. Alex...

Ethan fell asleep on Alexander's back, dreaming happily.

Before sunset, the three found a sheltered spot at the mountain top. Adrian quickly set up the tents and gently moved the sleeping Ethan onto a mat.

Alexander, lounging against a rock, watched Adrian cook a stew. The summer evening breeze was refreshing, and Adrian's occasional smiles as he stoked the fire filled the air with a pink sweetness.

Ethan woke with a loud sneeze, sat up groggily, and peered out of the tent.

Alexander, noticing the little light bulb was awake, frowned slightly.

"Alex..."

That soft, babyish voice was impossible to stay mad at.

"Come learn to cook with your brother, you little troublemaker."

"I'm... still very sleepy!"

Ethan glanced at Adrian, then at the fire under the pot, hesitated, and retreated back into the tent.

"Your brother is so lazy."

"He's just a kid."

Hmph, not a kid. I understand more than you think.

That night, Ethan slept in his own small tent as agreed. Adrian, worried, double-bagged him in sleeping bags but was dragged back to the other tent by Alexander.

The night was calm, and Adrian slept soundly. Alexander kissed his forehead softly and felt at peace.

Having grown up amidst schemes and inheritance disputes, meeting Adrian had shown him there were still pure and bright souls in the world.

Suddenly, there was a rustling at the tent's zipper.

"Alex... are you awake..."

Ethan's voice was soft and scared, different from his usual lively tone, stopping Alexander's initial scolding.

"Your brother is asleep. What's up?"

"I had a nightmare... I'm scared..."

"Geez, you really are troublesome. So what now?"

"I want to sleep with my brother..."

Alexander quietly slipped out of the sleeping bag, opened the tent, and scooped Ethan up.

"Don't disturb your brother; he's exhausted. You can sleep with me."

He glanced disdainfully at the small panda-printed tent, sighed, and crawled in with Ethan.

"Thanks, Alex..."

"Close your eyes, go to sleep."

"HeHe."

Little Panda smiled and slept soundly through the night.