"What Is Going On Here?"
After a long, warm shower together, their bodies still sore but hearts quietly full, Avery guided Noël back into his bedroom. Noël's room was… well, a battlefield of the night's intensity, and neither of them had the energy or will to face changing the sheets.
So they chose the path of least resistance and the most comfort.
Avery's bed was warm and inviting, his scent still lingering in the sheets. Noël slid in quietly, unsure if he was even allowed to feel this safe. The silence between them wasn't awkward it was just heavy with unspoken thoughts. Avery lay down behind him, wrapping his arms around Noël's waist. His breath warmed the nape of Noël's neck.
Noël couldn't sleep. His thoughts were spinning.
Was this real?
Avery had said it wasn't just about sex. That he wanted him. But people said things all the time. Noël knew how it felt to be disposable, to be wanted only for a moment. He didn't want to believe that of Avery but his heart was scared.
And just as he was trying to piece together what to believe, Avery's voice broke the silence, quiet and honest:
"I like you."
Noël's breath caught.
Did he just…? His wide eyes slowly turned up to meet Avery's, mouth slightly open in disbelief.
Avery stared back. "I said… I like you."
Noël didn't answer. He looked down instead, his face burning up, lips twitching with the tiniest, shyest smile. He wasn't sure if he was allowed to smile. If it was okay to be happy.
But Avery saw it. The blush. The smile. The quiet glow.
He grinned softly and pulled Noël even closer. "Let's sleep. We'll talk better tomorrow, okay?"
Noël nodded into his chest.
Wrapped up in Avery's arms, for the first time in a long time, he felt safe.
---
Morning came earlier than expected.
Noël woke around five. His body was sore, especially his hips. The ache was deep, almost too much, and when he tried to move, a sharp pain made him flinch.
Again? He thought, remembering how the same thing happened the last time he pushed his body too far.
As he shifted, Avery stirred beside him, hair tousled, still half-asleep.
"You okay?" Avery murmured, voice raspy.
"I wanted to make breakfast…" Noël whispered, trying not to sound like he was in pain.
"Mm-mm, no. Sleep more," Avery muttered, eyes still closed.
Noël waited a moment. But he wasn't sleepy anymore. He slowly tried to get up again and winced.
Avery's eyes snapped open. He sat up and looked at Noël properly this time. "You're hurting again, aren't you?"
Noël didn't answer. But his embarrassed face said enough.
Avery let out a soft sigh and pulled the covers aside. "Alright. Come here."
Without asking for permission, he scooped Noël into his arms bridal-style.
Noël's eyes widened. "W–wait! Avery—"
"Nope," Avery said, already walking toward the bathroom. "You're not walking like that."
Noël covered his face, blushing hard. "I can't believe this is happening…"
Avery chuckled. "Get used to it."
The shower was slow and gentle. Avery helped him through every step. Washing his back, supporting his legs, handing him a warm towel, dressing him carefully like he was made of glass. Noël felt completely… cherished.
Like someone's treasure.
He sat quietly on the bed, watching as Avery buttoned up his own shirt with practiced ease. Everything about Avery's movements, calm, focused and caring made Noël's heart beat a little faster.
He felt like a princess.
When Avery was ready, he came over and without a word lifted Noël into his arms again. Downstairs they went.
"I can walk now," Noël muttered.
"You winced just now sitting down," Avery replied with a smirk. "Nice try."
He settled Noël in a chair at the dining table and made him a cup of warm tea. It was still quiet outside. The soft clinks of ceramic against the countertop, the rustling of bread being unwrapped. It all felt domestic. Peaceful.
Then the doorbell rang.
Avery's brows twitched. "Must be Miss Reed."
Sure enough, his sharp, stylish secretary stepped in, holding two heavy bags.
"Morning, sir," she greeted, looking slightly frazzled. "It was a lot to carry. They didn't have everything, but I managed."
She placed everything down, and that's when she noticed Noël sitting with a cup of tea, dressed in Avery's oversized hoodie.
Noël offered a small smile. "Good morning."
Miss Reed blinked. Then turned slowly to Avery, who was now slicing bread at the counter like this was completely normal.
"Sir…" she said, cautiously. "Is… everything alright?"
Avery nodded, still focused on the bread. "Everything's fine."
She glanced back at Noël. Then at the massive spread she'd brought in. Why was he ordering enough for two? She'd been working with Avery for years, and he never ate this much, nor did he order breakfast if he had a private chef.
She turned once more toward the kitchen, where Avery was casually cutting slices with the precision of a surgeon.
Miss Reed tilted her head slightly. Something was definitely off.
She looked at Noël again.
And thought, "What is going on here?"
Miss Reed lingered awkwardly near the dining table, shifting her weight from one foot to the other as Noël nursed his cup of tea. Despite the soreness in his hips and the deep ache echoing through his body, he attempted to rise and help with breakfast. The chair scraped faintly against the floor, and Avery immediately shot him a look.
"Don't," Avery said softly, but with that commanding tone she was used to hearing in meetings. Except now it was tinted with something gentler, something protective.
Miss Reed watched with a flicker of confusion as Noël sat back down obediently. Avery, meanwhile, was cutting slices of bread—yes, slicing bread with a knife like some domestic husband on a Sunday morning. She blinked. It was subtle, but not subtle enough. This wasn't the Avery Cheng she knew. Not the man who rarely lifted a finger unless it was to point at something he wanted done.
When Avery invited her to stay for breakfast, she was too stunned to refuse. They all sat at the dining table: Avery, composed and sharp as always; Noël, quiet and glowing under a soft hoodie that hung down almost to his knees; and herself, trying to keep her spoon from trembling as she stirred her tea.
While they ate, Avery casually discussed morning meetings, project delays, and client expectations. But in between the corporate jargon, he did things oddly, unfamiliar things. He served Noël some scrambled eggs. He asked if he wanted more tea. He glanced his way to check if he was too cold, too hot, too anything.
Miss Reed answered Avery's questions with as much professionalism as she could muster, but her thoughts were whirring. Every small gesture, every fleeting look. She began stitching them together like puzzle pieces. And the picture was becoming clearer.
After breakfast, Noël excused himself and made his way upstairs. Even with Avery's oversized hoodie covering him down to his thighs, he felt exposed in front of someone else. He made it to his room, picked out a comfortable pair of sweatpants, and sat at the edge of the bed for a moment to collect himself. His heart was still fluttering from the earlier moments—Avery's voice whispering "I like you," the warmth of being held, the kiss before sleep.
Just then, the door creaked open.
Avery stepped in, eyes calm, lips curved in that almost nonexistent smile he reserved for Noël alone. Without a word, he came behind him and wrapped his arms around Noël's waist, resting his chin lightly on his shoulder. The hug was soft, grounding.
"I'm heading out now," Avery murmured.
Noël turned around slowly. His lips curved into a small smile, and he nodded. The way he looked up at Avery, slightly nervous, slightly dazed, made something thud gently in Avery's chest. Without thinking, he pressed a kiss to Noël's forehead.
"I'll see you tonight," Avery said.
When the door shut behind him, Noël stood there frozen for a moment. Then, warmth pooled in his chest, and he blushed so hard he had to bury his face in his hands. He couldn't stop smiling, even when no one was looking.
---
In the car, silence stretched between Avery and Miss Reed. She kept her eyes on the road, hands fidgeting slightly in her lap. The tension was not heavy just hesitant.
Avery, always keenly aware of unspoken things, finally said it aloud.
"Yes. I like him."
His voice had returned to its normal register. Steady, deep, emotionless. But the words carried weight.
Miss Reed didn't respond immediately. She blinked, unsure if she'd heard right. She finally nodded slowly and asked, carefully, "Do your parents know?"
Avery looked ahead. "No. And I don't plan on telling them."
"Because of the arranged marriage?"
He sighed. "Because they won't understand. They never do. And right now…" His voice trailed off. "Right now, I want to keep it that way. Just for a little while."
Miss Reed nodded again. There were a thousand questions on the tip of her tongue but she kept them to herself. For now, she understood more than enough.
And somewhere deep inside, she was happy for him.
The man she knew had never once looked that gentle with anyone before.