Allen's feelings were mixed. His heart thundered violently in his chest, filled with paralyzing shock but also an urgent curiosity. He held his breath, pressing his ear closer to the crack of the slightly open door.
Inside the spacious and steamy bathroom, Arvin was soaking in a marble bathtub. He stared at his own reflection on the calm surface of the water, his eyes betraying a deep sorrow he had hidden behind his mask of arrogance all this time.
"Ah... I never expected that I would live again in this world and in this current time." Arvin muttered, his voice bouncing softly off the ceramic walls. His hand rubbed his wet face in frustration.
"Even though my fate is to die once again, I will willingly let my life be taken by him. That is a fitting price for my villainous role."
Arvin sighed deeply, hot steam escaping his mouth. "But... I ended up changing the future instead. I should have done everything according to my fate. I should have been cruel, insulted him, and made Allen hate me to death after he confessed his feelings to me at the restaurant earlier."
The water in the bathtub rippled as Arvin clenched his hands underwater.
"Honestly, I can't bear to see Allen's suffering face. I love him so much. How could I hurt the person I want to protect the most?"
Arvin rested his head on the edge of the tub, staring at the ceiling with a blank gaze.
"Ah... I'm in a dilemma. But I have to make him hate me so his dormant power can awaken. If he doesn't hate me, he won't have the drive to become strong."
Arvin's voice lowered, sounding full of regret. "The old Arvin hurt Allen physically and mentally while laughing with satisfaction, but I know deep down his heart was crying. Does the current Arvin... do I have to be heartless enough to do that cruel thing to him again?"
"You don't have to do it!"
The voice appeared suddenly, cutting through Arvin's monologue like a bolt of lightning in broad daylight.
Instantly, Arvin jumped in surprise. His body tensed up. He turned stiffly toward the door and found Allen already standing at the threshold of the bathroom. His cheeks wet with tears, but his gaze was sharp, demanding answers.
Arvin's face instantly turned deathly pale, as if the blood had drained from his entire body. Cold sweat began to trickle down his temples, mixing with the hot steam.
"S-Since when... since when have you been there?" Arvin asked stammering, his voice losing the authority he usually possessed.
"Since earlier!" Allen answered, his voice hoarse but firm as he stepped inside. "I was looking for you because you disappeared from the bed, and accidentally overheard you babbling to yourself."
Arvin swallowed hard. His heart beat erratically. "D-Did you hear everything?"
"Yes, I heard everything very clearly! Not a single word was missed!"
Shame and panic exploded inside Arvin. His biggest secret, his identity, his fate of death, and his feelings, all were exposed just like that.
Unable to look at Allen's face, Arvin immediately took a deep breath and submerged his entire head into the water in the bathtub.
"Arghhhh!!!"
Arvin screamed as loud as he could underwater. He vented his frustration and his own stupidity.
Damn it! I accidentally said everything and was heard by Allen. Arvin thought in panic. If it's come to this, he will definitely suspect that I am not the Arvin he has known all this time.
Although only the sound of bubbles popping on the water's surface could be heard, Allen could faintly hear that desperate scream.
Allen didn't stay still. He approached Arvin who was still hiding underwater. Without hesitation, Allen plunged his hands into the water, grabbed Arvin's naked shoulders, and forcefully pulled him to surface.
Splash!
Arvin's face popped out of the water, his wet blue hair sticking to his forehead, his breath gasping. Their gazes met at a very close distance.
"From what you said..." Allen began the interrogation, his eyes staring straight into Arvin's trembling pupils.
Arvin's heart pounded fast as that inquisitive gaze stared sharply at him.
"It seems that in another life, I killed you and you returned to the past to fix your fate, right?"
Arvin remained silent, his lips sealed tight. He felt relieved but dared not answer, dared not confirm nor deny it. Then, he averted his eyes, staring at a bucket as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.
"Look at me, Arvin!" Allen snapped.
Slowly, reluctantly, Arvin looked back into Allen's eyes which continued to shed tears.
"Do you love me?" Allen asked softly.
Arvin fell silent for a moment, then nodded slowly. The nod was weak, but honest.
"If you love me..." Allen's voice cracked, "why do you torture yourself just to awaken my power? Why do you want me to hate you?"
Once again Arvin averted his eyes, avoiding the wounded gaze of the person he loved. Guilt gnawed at his heart. He felt his plan had failed totally.
"I'm sorry..." Allen said hoarsely. "I failed to awaken my power. I will leave you."
Allen turned his body and started to move to leave Arvin who was soaking. He couldn't bear to hear Arvin's stubborn, foolish plan anymore.
However, before he could take another step, a wet and strong hand grabbed his wrist. Arvin pulled him with a hard jerk.
"Allen, wait!"
Allen lost his balance. His body staggered backward and...
Splash!
Allen's body plunged into the large bathtub. Warm water overflowed, soaking the bathroom floor as Allen fell right onto Arvin's lap. Allen's special academy uniform was instantly soaked through.
Before Allen could protest, Arvin had already wrapped both his arms around him, hugging Allen very tightly from behind. He buried his face in Allen's wet shoulder.
"Don't go..." Arvin whispered desperately. "But, you must understand... you have to be strong, Allen! This world is cruel!"
Allen struggled in the embrace, turning his body to face Arvin directly.
"What is the point of me becoming strong if it's only to kill the person I love so much?!" Allen screamed right in front of Arvin's face. His tears mixed with the water dripping from his hair. "What use is having great power if the price is your life? Answer me!"
His voice, sounding so sorrowful and full of pain, made Arvin's defenses crumble instantly. The man could no longer hold back his emotions. Arvin tightened his embrace on Allen's body.
"I can't bear to see you cry, Allen... I beg you, don't cry anymore!" Arvin said firmly while holding back his tears.
"You say you don't want to see me cry, but you want to put on an act so I hate you? Are you crazy?!" Allen cursed, venting all his emotions. "Did you not think about my feelings after knowing this fact, huh? Do you think I would be happy becoming strong over your dead body? My heart feels torn apart hearing that plan of yours!" Allen exclaimed with his voice trembling violently.
Allen clenched his fists and pounded on Arvin's wet and naked broad chest. The punches were not physically painful, but every blow hit Arvin's solar plexus with immense guilt.
"Fool! Arvin, you fool!"
Allen cried, cried, and continued to cry, pouring out all his fear and love in the embrace of Arvin.