I arrived at school and classes were already starting. I got out of the car, bidding goodbye to Isaac. I ran inside and I almost tripped over the stairs. Good thing I managed to balance myself before I fall down.

The corridor was empty since everyone was inside the classrooms to attend the first period. I used all my strength to continue running and when I arrived at the room, I opened the door with a loud bang, earning gasps from my classmates.

The teacher stopped writing on the board, turned around with a surprised expression.

“Mr. Orlov?!”

“Sorry, sir! I’m late!”

Some of my classmates gave me nasty looks but I ignored it. I was used to their stares and it doesn’t do much now.

I went to my usual seat, which was of course, away from the others. I sat on the chair, scowling when I saw Clark’s desk was empty.

Damn it. All that running was useless. The person I wanted to see wasn’t even here.

The teacher continued teaching while I contain my pants, covering my mouth to stop myself from getting any more attention that I didn’t wanted.

My heart felt like it was going to burst.

Agh, so much for my morning.

--

Valery found me outside the school building, eating my lunch on the grassy ground while leaning against the wall. I was enjoying the peaceful surrounding with no noise, just the sky and the trees and the sound of nature.

“Of course you’ll be here,” Valery said, playfully glaring at me. “When will you come back in the cafeteria?”

I rolled my eyes at her.

“Never.”

I would rather spend my time alone than hear people talking behind my back.

Valery sighed.

“I was calling you. You never answer. Why?” she asked.

“Because I was busy eating?” I sarcastically answered.

Valery sat beside me. She noticed the sandwich I was eating and made a face.

“That’s all you’re eating?” she asked.

I sighed.

This was all I could buy without staying too much in the cafeteria. I was still afraid of running into Georgy and his friends.

“Yes?”

“You should eat more, Drew.”

“What are you, my mother?”

“Haha, very funny,” Valery answered in a dead voice. “Anyway, I came here because I want to talk to you about the cruise.”

My ears perked in excitement.

“What about it?”

Valery took out a folded paper inside her pocket. She gave it to me and I opened it to read the content.

“Here’s the schedule for the 3-day cruise. As you can see, we need to meet at exactly 6 am with the others. If you’re late, you’re gone,” she explained.

“Okay, got it. Thanks!”

“We’ll be stopping in an island in day 2 for the whole day, so maybe you can bond with Clark, hmmm?” Valery teased, grinning from ear to ear while nudging me with her elbow.

I flushed as I imagined Clark half-naked, wearing nothing but swimming trunks. Valery saw my reddening cheeks and teased me even more.

“Remember not to be late, okay? Tell Clark about the schedule too.”

“Okay, I will.”

Valery stood up and was about to leave but stopped as she remember something else.

“Before I forget, don’t forget to bring condoms too, you’ll never know!” she said, winking at me.

I gaped at her, cheeks getting redder than it was before from embarrassment.

“Like that’ll happen!”

--

It was night time when I came to his room to ask him when my dad would come back from Italy. Tomorrow was the day for the cruise and I really didn’t want my dad to know about it. He would probably lock me inside my room, telling me that I should stay safe because of the war of the heirs going on in the Mafia.

I knocked on Isaac’s room, which was located in another house near mine. Bodyguards who were hired by my dad were given rooms in the servants quarters, together with the maids that were working for the Orlov family.

The door opened and I was taken aback, seeing Isaac only in sweatpants. A towel was slung on his shoulder and I assumed that he had just finished taking a bath.

My eyes were locked in his chest and abs, staring at those hard muscles all in the right places. He got some scars on his abs and arms but it only added to the sexy charm he was emitting.

For a moment, I forgot what I was about to ask him.

“...uhm, I…uh.”

I couldn’t talk.

“What is it, Drew?” he asked.

I peeled my eyes off of his chest and awkwardly smiled.

“Good evening!”

Isaac blinked, confused why I’m talking like someone stepped on my foot.

“Good everning,” he replied. “Do you need anything?”

“Y-yes, actually I do!”

I gulped.

Focus, Drew!

“I just wanna ask when will my dad come back from Italy,” I said, trying hard to focus my eyes in Isaac’s face.

“Next week,” he answered.

I felt relieved.

Good. I could go to the cruise and he wouldn’t even know it.

But first, I needed to convince Isaac to allow me to go to the cruise. It would be much easier to convince him compared to my dad.

“Y-you see,” I started, flashing Isaac one of my bestest smiles, “do you remember why I want money so bad last time?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“W-well…the reason for that is because…I need to go to a…cruise with my friends and I’ll be gone in 3 days.”

My lips pursed in anticipation. I was getting ready to persuade Isaac to let me go, practicing the speech I had in my mind.

“Okay.”

My eyes widened at him, surprised that he easily let me go.

“Are you for real?! You’re allowing me to go?!”

Isaac shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s fine. We have our ways to make sure you’re safe.”

“Huh? How?”

“You’ll know sooner or later.”

--

I stayed up all night preparing the things I needed for the cruise. I only got two hours of sleep but it was fine. I was so excited with the trip that I couldn’t even sleep.

I was feeling sluggish since I didn’t sleep well but it didn’t matter. Going to a 3-day cruise with my friends and crush was enough to keep me in my toes. Isaac drove me to the meeting place and as usual, he stayed around until the others arrived.

Valery and Oleg showed up and I approached them, with an enthusiastic smile on my face.

“Good morning!” I greeted.

“Hey, you’re early! Aren’t you too excited?” Valery teased, smirking at me.

“No, I’m not! I’m just…worried you might leave me if I’m late.”

“Yeah, right.”

Oleg met up with his friends loitering in front of a closed shop just across the road where the port was.

“Hi, guys!”

We all turned to see Alyona walking up to us, carrying her luggage.

Valery grinned at her.

“Hey, Alyona. Good morning.”

“Good morning! I’m glad you guys came! The more the merrier, right?”

“Wouldn’t miss this for the world!” Valery said, waving us her DSLR strapped around her neck.

I also had my camera ready. One of my passion was photography buy my dad doesn’t take it seriously. He would always remind me that my hobbies doesn’t mean anything, telling me that I should just focus myself in training how to become a Mafia leader. For the past year, I’ve been escaping the training he had intended for me.

All he cared was his business and I hated him for that.

I would have joined the photography club but sadly, I have already joined three clubs which was the maximum.

Although I haven’t been attending clubs. The only reason why I joined was because my crush was there.

“Hi, Drew!” Alyona called me and waved a hand. “Where’s uh, Clark? The friend you also invited to come?”

Now that she mentioned it, I haven’t seen Clark yet.

“Maybe he’s just…”

“Sorry, I’m late.”

We all gasped when Clark suddenly appeared behind me. I took a step back, jaw dropping in utter surprise.

“When did you get here?!” Valery asked, looking pale from Clark’s sudden appearance.

“I’ve been here…for a while,” Clark answered.

Some of the girls saw Clark and they began flocking him as if he was some kind of an artist. I was getting irritated, seeing how popular he was with the girls but it’s always been like that ever since he attended school.

While staring at the crowd around Clark, I noticed his knuckles were swollen.

“Hey, everyone!” Alyona called to get the groups attention. “Gather around, I’m gonna check attendance.”

Finally, the girls left Clark and I saw him sighing in relief. I made my way towards him to ask if his left hand was alright.

“Hey, Clark.”

He faced me and I saw the dark bags under his eyes.

“Are you alright?”

Clark raised a brow at me.

“Why?”

“Uh, you don’t look well. Have you slept?”

Clark blinked before cracking a smile that made my heart skipped a couple of beats.

Why does he looked so freaking handsome?! So early in the morning and he’s giving me heart attacks!

“I was just excited for the cruise.”

I smiled a little.

So he was feeling the same way too.

“I see.”

I glanced at his hand and indeed, his knuckles were swollen.

“What happened to your hand?” I asked again.

Clark lifted it up to check it.

“Ah, I guess I went overboard punching the sandbag while working out,” he answered.

I wasn’t convinced with it though. His voice changed tone, like he’s lying.

“You were absent yesterday too,” I mumbled. “Are you sure -- ”

Clark’s eyes narrowed and I got scared seeing it looking at me like he was ready to hurt me.

Leaning closer, he whispered in my ear, “don’t ask too many questions, Drew.”

I shuddered from hearing his low voice directly in my ear. I stepped back, knees wobbling from fear.

“S-s-sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“You two!” Alyona called, referring to Clark and me, “let’s go!”

The dangerous aura vanished from Clark and he was now smiling kindly at me.

“Let’s go?”

“...o-okay.”

--

I sat down on the bench, staring at the big blue sky above. One hour had passed since we left and everyone from the Photography club was enjoying the sight, taking pictures of the ocean and all.

I was bothered by Clark’s behavior back then.

It scared me to hear him talk like that.

It was as if he belonged to the same world as me.

I shook my head to deny what I just thought. There’s no way he’s from the Mafia too.

Right?

I held my ear. I could still feel his breath close to me and no matter how scared I was of him, I got…tingles all over my body.

I covered my face from shame. I don’t want to think anything indecent, that’s not nice.

“Not enjoying the view?”

I looked at the person who asked me and it was Clark, standing in front of me. He sat down on the bench beside me, crossing his legs while staring straight.

“It’s nice,” I said, staring down at the camera hanging in my neck. “I can get a lot of pictures for my portfolio.”

“You’re into photography too?”

I shyly nodded.

“Yes. How about you?”

“Not really. Though my dad’s a photographer.”

I snapped my head at him, smiling wide because I found another topic we could talk about.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s amazing.”

Clark snickered.

“Yeah, my other dad’s a chemist. Weird combination, right?”

“Oh, is that so?”

Wait, did he just say, other dad?

“You have…two dads?”

Clark stared at me and smirked.

“Yes.”

--

“Drew!”

I turned around and Valery was walking towards me together with her friends in the Photography club. Clark stayed sitting beside me, with his arms crossed in front of his chest. His eyes were closed and I assumed that he was sleeping.

What he said a while ago kept circling my mind.

He had two fathers? That meant he grew up in a gay family.

I wonder…what kind of family he had.

I’m pretty sure it’s much better than mine.

One of the girls together with Valery gasped when she saw Clark beside me.

“Clark’s here!” she exclaimed, excitedly grabbing Valery. “I wanna take a picture with him!”

“Yeah, me too!”

I pouted but didn’t say anything.

“Ssssh, don’t disturb him, he’s sleeping,” Valery said, grinning at the girls. “Drew, let’s go for a swim!”

I blinked at her.

“Swim?”

“Yeah, there’s a swimming pool here and the view is amazing! Let’s go!”

I felt nervous all of a sudden because I didn’t know how to swim. As embarrassing as it may sound, considering how in love I am with the ocean, I’m not just good when I’m in the water. The thought of not being able to breath was scary.

“S-sure,” I said, forcing a smile at Valery.

I stood up but Clark suddenly grabbed my hand. I snapped my head at him, surprised that he was awake after all.

“What is it?” I asked.

Clark smiled but I could see he was beyond exhausted. Come to think of it, he looked like he didn’t get any sleep for days.

“I’ll come with you,” he said.

Valery looked at Clark.

“You sure about that, Clark?”

He nodded, standing up while the girls squealed in delight.

--