Beneath the Surface: Secrets of an Obsessed Heart
Chapter 105 - 104

Chapter 105: Chapter 104

Hiro’s heart skipped a beat as he listened to Raiden’s proposal. He hesitated, his thoughts swirling with uncertainty. Wasn’t this all happening too fast? They had just started to explore their feelings for each other.

But then, when people like each other, isn’t this what they do? Date? He could remember back in high-school, when people confess to each other, they start dating. Hiro realised that if he thinks about it this way, it really wasn’t too soon. It was better to establish a relationship rather than be confused.

Besides, Raiden was good to him. He treated him with care and respect. Raiden could be cold and ruthless sometimes but he was good at heart. If he weren’t, he wouldn’t be treating him so well. Sometimes he felt like a princess. The week they spent together was amazing. Raiden didn’t let him lift a single finger. Whatever he wanted would be given to him and they went to all the places he wanted to go. Raiden didn’t complain even once. Hiro felt he was pampered even better than he used to be when they were rich.

He also felt that Raiden was quite brave. Even after being rejected many times, he didn’t give up. He remembered how it had felt when Raiden turned him down that one time. It was devastating, like his world was crashing down around him. It must have been worse for Raiden but Raiden still pushed through and look at them now, at a stage he never thought was possible.

As the silence stretched between them, Raiden’s heart began to pound erratically in his chest. The initial warmth he felt from opening his heart to Hiro quickly twisted into a cold, suffocating fear.

Had he spoken too soon? Raiden’s mind raced, filled with dread. He hadn’t planned to confess this early. Initially, he wanted to make Hiro so addicted to him and the comfort he brings that when the time came, Hiro would beg to stay. He wanted Hiro to cry and beg him not to throw him away. He wanted to manipulate Hiro’s feelings in such a way that Hiro would not be able to live without him. But hearing Hiro talk of children weakened him. The life he had always dreamed of with Hiro bloomed in his mind and he suddenly didn’t want to wait for a year. He wanted Hiro to accept him now. To choose to be with him now.

But it seemed like Hiro didn’t want to. His chest tightened painfully, and he found it increasingly difficult to breathe. His heart ached with the fear of losing Hiro. Maybe he shouldn’t have said anything. Maybe he should have just been patient. He had been patient all his life. Why couldn’t he wait this time? Was it because he had gotten closer to Hiro than he was before? But he had already said everything. How could he retract his words?

"Hiro, I-"

Hiro gently turned around in the bathtub, and wrapped his arms around Raiden’s neck, hugging him tight. He could feel the rapid thrum of Raiden’s heart against his chest which made him hug Raiden tighter. He had already decided. Besides, life was too short. Why waste any more time when he knew his feelings for Raiden were true?

Leaning in close, Hiro brought his lips to Raiden’s ear and whispered, "I want to be with you, Raiden. I like you a lot so let’s start over. As boyfriends. And I know this may seem fast, but I already can’t imagine my life without you. I want you to be mine too. No timeline, no conditions. "

Raiden’s breath hitched, his heart skipping a beat as Hiro’s words sank in. His fear melted away, replaced by a rush of elation. He pulled back just enough to see Hiro’s face, his smokey grey eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and hope. "Really?" he asked, his voice barely containing his excitement. "Are you certain, Hiro? If you choose to be with me, there’s no going back. I swear, I won’t let you leave me no matter what."

Hiro giggled softly, his champagne-coloured eyes sparkling with affection. "Of course," he replied, nodding with a smile. "I think this is the most certain I’ve ever been in my entire life. I don’t want to leave you Raiden and I don’t want you to leave me too. No matter what."

Raiden’s face lit up with joy as he gazed at Hiro, the tension that had gripped his heart completely dissolving. He pulled Hiro closer, their foreheads touching as he breathed out a sigh of pure relief and happiness, knowing that this time, they were truly beginning something beautiful together.

Unable to contain his emotions, he leaned in and began peppering Hiro’s face with soft, affectionate kisses. Each kiss was filled with the relief and excitement he felt, the love he had kept guarded for so long finally finding its way out. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs, that he finally had Hiro. That his Hiro liked him back. He felt on top of the world.

Hiro giggled, a sweet, melodic sound that only made Raiden’s heart swell even more. Their laughs intertwined as Raiden continued to shower Hiro with kisses—on his cheeks, his nose, his forehead—everywhere he could reach. Hiro’s arms tightened around Raiden, pulling him closer as they both reveled in the moment, their laughter echoing softly in the warmth of the bath.

************

After the joyful moment in the bathtub, accompanied by kisses both light and deep, Hiro was thoroughly cleaned by Raiden, wrapped in a large fluffy towel and princess carried to their bedroom.

Hiro didn’t know why but after confirming their relationship, something felt different. The intimacy of these simple actions felt deeper and more meaningful. A wide smile was plastered on his face as kept repeating to himself that he now had a boyfriend and the boyfriend was Raiden. The thoughts made him feel so giddy.

So this what was how his friends used to feel back then when they confessed to someone and the person accepted their feelings. Hiro had been confessed to lots of times. There were some he wanted to accept, just to know what it felt like to date but his brother forbade him from dating in high-school, saying that it was better to focus on his studies.

Now that he thought about it, he realised his brother never allowed him to get close to anyone. His brother controlled his movements and his circle of friends, always telling him that people could never be trusted but Hiro didn’t think much of it at that time. After all, his big brother was always right to him and nobody loved him as much as Sora did. But now that he was experiencing what it feels like to be with someone and like the person so much, he felt maybe his big brother was a bit too controlling back then and he just blindly followed.