Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 262 - 20: Drunken grumblings

Chapter 262: Chapter 20: Drunken grumblings

A few days passed, and Shawn settled into the apartment, though his mind never truly found peace. The first day, he woke up early and cooked breakfast, only to find out that Athan was already gone even before he woke up.

He ate alone and spent the day at Franz’s café while waiting for Knoa’s end of school, then, went back to Athan’s unit after Knox arrived home. He tried to wait for him at night, but even then, he was already asleep when Athan returned.

The second day, he tried to wake up as early as he did, but Athan was gone already, again. Then, the same thing happened. Somehow, it felt like he was being avoided. Each evening, he was greeted by the same frigid silence, as if they weren’t living together.

"After telling me it’s nothing?! Argh! What the hell is wrong with him?! I’m not used to this cold treatment!" Shawn stomped his way to the bed after coming back home on the third day.

He took a bath, put on his pajamas, and then sat in the living room. Determined to wait for Athan. He brought two cans of beer to the table and ordered a box of chicken.

Shawn waited obediently, never complaining about how time ticked past midnight. By the time the door finally clicked open, his patience had outlasted all six cans of beer and a box of chicken that lay strewn across the coffee table.

He was half-asleep on the couch, half-drunk, and roused from a light doze as Athan entered.

Blinking against the dim light, Shawn recognized Athan’s figure hovering in the doorway, surprise marking his features.

"Young master!" Shawn grinned as he blinked the sleep away, managing a slightly unsteady wave as he sat up. His speech was wobbly, slurred by alcohol. How come he easily got drunk now? He used to drink a bottle of wine when he went clubbing before! "You’re back! Heavens, finally!"

Athan crossed the room, glancing around the mess of empty beer cans, chicken bones, and tissues, and Shawn’s dazed, slightly flushed face. "Shawn..." he sighed softly, the faintest note of frustration breaking his otherwise calm tone. "Why did you drink so much?"

Shawn tilted his head, his brow furrowing in thought as he tried to remember his own reasoning. "To stay awake, silly," he answered, his words tumbling over each other.

Athan swept the cans on the floor with his feet, and they rolled away. He dropped his gaze to the drunk omega, who looked up at him with a wide grin as if staying awake past midnight was something to be proud of.

"Why do you want to stay awake this late?" Athan asked.

Shawn frowned. He pointed at Athan and exclaimed, "So, I can wait for you to come back! Oh, ha! How did I do? I caught you!"

Athan raised his brow. Slowly, a smile broke on his face. He looked at Shawn with amusement, whose pointing fingers weren’t steady. He held his hand and folded his index finger back, then he slowly sat next to him. Shawn followed him with his gaze. "You caught me indeed. Now, why do you want to catch me anyway? Do you have something to say?"

"It’s because we’re living together, but I don’t even see your shadow." Shawn’s last words softened, trailing off in a quiet mumbled as he tried to focus on Athan, his usually bright eyes were dulled by alcohol.

Athan froze.

Shawn’s lip jutted out in a pout, and he crossed his arms with the unfiltered annoyance of a child. "I know. Hmph," he began, struggling to put words to the confusion in his chest, "you’ve been avoiding me, Athan! Why though? You said I did nothing wrong! I also don’t think I did something wrong!"

His body swayed and Athan was about to catch him, but Shawn grabbed the backrest on his own and grumbled unknowingly. "Who does he think he is? I’m being a nice omega for once. I even helped him with that thief! I also stopped clubbing and I don’t even talk to another alpha!"

Athan’s brow twitched. But instead of getting annoyed, he leaned on the backrest and propped his arm on it, then rested his chin on his hand, as if he was listening to an interesting story.

Shawn continued, "But now it feels like I did something wrong..." his voice quivered, and for a moment he bit his lip, his gaze drifting down to his hands. He was like a kid trying to think of what else he did wrong.

Athan did not respond immediately. He was just listening in silence as Shawn continued, pouring out everything he’d held back in that drunken state.

It was as if the alcohol had loosened his defenses, giving Athan a glimpse into his troubled thoughts, his concerns, and perhaps, his own feelings.

"If he only knows that he’s the only alpha in my life..." Shawn mumbled, but then his face twisted in sudden realization, and he blurted out with a clap, "Ah! There’s another alpha who keeps hovering around me! Ugh, that annoying doctor!"

Shawn sounded almost offended, as if just remembering the doctor’s face alone had irritated him.

Athan felt his chest tighten. He kept his expression neutral, masking the flash of irritation he felt at the mention of another alpha. "The doctor?" he asked, feigning casual interest as he played with Shawn’s hair, twirling it on his fingers.

His curiosity was piqued despite his inner turmoil. "What about him?"

Shawn waved his hand dismissively, a huff escaping his lips. "Oh, nothing. He’s just... one heck of a good-looking alpha, the kind everyone falls for, you know? He’s also someone I met in the past, but it was all in the past now. It’s when Athan and I haven’t met each other again!"

Athan’s jaw tightened.

Shawn paused, his head tilting as he considered his own words. "Do you think he’s jealous?"

"Who?"

"Athan!"

"..." Shawn rubbed his eyes and yawned. Athan gazed at him, but no matter how intense it was, the drunkard was unaware. Then, he said, "He is, indeed. Who wouldn’t when you’re calling another alpha good-looking?"

The omega stopped rubbing his eyes. He glanced around, then when he met Athan’s eyes, recognition flashed his eyes. Athan was trying to keep his composure from falling, but his shoulders quivered from suppressing his laughter.

However, he stiffened when Shawn caught his face between his palms.

"But Athan, you’re different."

Athan raised his eyebrows slightly, caught off guard by the honesty of Shawn’s gaze, and the way his fingertips lingered on his skin. "Different?" he echoed; his voice was barely above a whisper.

Shawn nodded emphatically, his eyes drifting over Athan’s face, studying it as though he were seeing it for the first time. "The doctor... he’s like an eye candy, he’s the kind of handsome that’s blinding and attracts fans, but..." he let out a dreamy sigh, his gaze shifting as he seemed to think. "But you... you’re the kind of handsome that..." he faltered, his words a little muddled but filled with sincerity. "That makes someone excited, that can make someone’s heart skip a beat... makes them think about you restlessly..."

Athan felt his throat constrict, his chest tightening as Shawn’s words settled over him like a soft whisper.

Shawn touched his eyebrows with his thumbs and mumbled continuously, "These lines rarely furrowed when you’re with me. But when they did, it was hot. Hehe. These eyes were always looking at me kindly, but when they stared at me coldly, I felt crying. These lips..." he was touching every part he mentioned, and Athan’s breath hitched when his fingertips pressed his lips.

He waited, but Shawn just pouted and looked away. Athan felt his eye twitch. "What about my lips?"

Shawn stared at him for a few seconds, then looked away again. His ears were flushed red, and his face doubled from alcohol and embarrassment.

"What about my lips, Shawn?" Athan poked the omega’s cheek.

Shawn groaned. Then, he whispered, "How would I know? I’ve never tasted them."