"Hey guys!
I hope you guys enjoy this chapter as well
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"I want to say a very big thank you to the director and all the staff who made this series possible," Khoa said, his voice warm as he looked around the table. "And, of course, to my co-actors-my Nongs, Joong, and Dunk. You guys made filming so much fun."
His eyes landed on the two lovebirds, who were practically glued to each other. Earlier, he and First had caught them in the car, lost in a kiss that left little to the imagination. It wasn't hard to guess what was going on between them.
Now, as he spoke, Khoa noticed First watching them-fondly, but with something else lingering in his expression. Sadness.
Khoa swallowed and turned his attention back to the room. "Lastly, I want to say thank you to First-my partner. I'm really grateful and happy to have worked with him and to be paired with him."
The room filled with applause, but First's smile remained unchanged-soft, distant, sad.
As Khoa took his seat beside him, he found himself stealing a glance at First. He had said what he thought First wanted to hear. But somehow, it still wasn't enough.
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The dimly lit room buzzed with life-glasses clinking, music playing at just the right volume, people dancing or lost in conversation.
At the table, Khoa sat beside First, his fingers ghosting over First's arm, his thigh-light, teasing touches meant to draw his attention. Hidden beneath the table, Khoa's hand lingered, brushing against First's member, waiting for a reaction.
But there was none.
First didn't flinch, didn't acknowledge him. He just sat there, completely unfazed.
Frustration bubbled inside Khoa. He withdrew his hand, suddenly feeling foolish. Why am I even trying?
It wasn't just the rejection-it was the way First ignored him like he wasn't even there. Like he didn't matter.
Swallowing the bitterness rising in his throat, Khoa turned to the person next to him and forced himself into a conversation, desperate for any distraction. Anything to keep First's silence from eating him alive.
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Watching Khoa laughing so easily with someone else made First's blood boil.
Just moments ago, Khoa had been touching him, trying to get his attention under the table. And now? Now he was all smiles, completely at ease with another man-like First hadn't even been there.
How can he just switch like that?
The sight of Khoa flirting right in front of him was too much. Without thinking, First tipped his glass, spilling the drink onto himself with a loud, frustrated growl.
Khoa's head snapped toward him immediately. "First, what happened?" he asked, quickly grabbing paper towels to help.
"I spilled my drink," First muttered, watching as Khoa fussed over him, dabbing at the wet fabric.
"Are you drinking? You should've told me-I wouldn't have had a drink myself. Now who's gonna drive us home?" Khoa complained, still focused on drying First's clothes.
"Don't worry about it. I already made arrangements," First said, his voice tight. But his attention was elsewhere-on Khoa's hands, which were now trailing lower, dangerously close to his crotch.
A sharp inhale. His patience, his restraint-it was hanging by a thread.
If they weren't in public, he'd have already done something about this.
Just as Khoa's fingers grazed a little too far down, First caught his wrist, his grip firm. "Stop," he said, voice low, controlled.
Khoa froze, eyes widening slightly before realization dawned. His lips parted, and then-"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to touch you that way," he said, his voice softer now, unsure.
First didn't respond. His body betrayed him, leaning in before he could stop himself.
The air between them grew thick and heavy. First could feel Khoa's breath against his lips, warm and uneven. His own breaths came out heavier, his control slipping by the second.
Fuck.
This wasn't the plan.
He was moments away from going back on everything-moments away from giving in to Khoa all over again.
Before he could stop him, Khoa abruptly stood up and walked away, leaving First sitting there, burning.
And more confused than ever.