"We're finally open Teo, get your shit together" Idlib said "I thought you were going to be happy to be here" He noticed that Teo feels a bit down.

Teo sighs, cleaning the glasses with a cloth while still staring at Sebastian. He was still with that girl and their parents. They looked glorious. They were sparkling.

Tch, why always her? Teo thought, getting annoyed, not even paying attention to Idlib. He starts rubbing the surface with a cloth aggressively.

Idlib poked Teo's face "We have a customer coming" He tried getting his attention by touching him.

"Oh" Teo snapped back to reality "Hello sir, what would you like to drink?" 

The man looked smug "You brought a cute one, Idlib" 

"He is quite cute. The usual?" Idlib asked and the man nodded.

The man leans closer towards Teo "So, what's your name?" 

"Teo, sir" 

"Can I borrow him for a second?" The man asked with a disgusting smirk.

Fucking gross, Teo thought but Idlib spoke immediately.

"No" Idlib was firm and had a gentle tone, but it was still a bit intimidating.

The man clicked his tongue "Tch! Come on, it'll be just for a second" He whispers with a slight chuckle which sends chills down Teo’s spine.

"I'm not interested in you," Teo smiled at him. He can’t just stand there and let Idlib do all the talking.

The man shrugged "Brat! Who are you to say no to me?!" 

Idlib held the man's wrist before he could hit Teo "Sir. Need I remind you that this is Mr. Martin's party… If you were to cause trouble then…" 

He didn't even have to finish that sentence to make him go away, the man was practically running.

"Thanks Idlib…" Teo sighs then continued "For stopping me cause I was about to whoop that guy's ass" 

Idlib laughed at him and ruffled his hair "Stop being cute then, it's troublesome" He joked, finally seeing Teo all fired up. Still, he was worried, first day at the company and he already got harassed.

"It's not my fault I'm cute as heck!" Teo started doing some cute poses as a joke, making Idlib laugh even more. Idlib felt a little bit at ease, he thought that what happened would get Teo down. He underestimated him.

Meanwhile, Sebastian looked at Teo and caught the two laughing, even seeing Idlib ruffle Teo's hair "Huh?" He didn't realize that he felt a bit jealous.

"Sebastian, what's the matter?" The girl beside him asked in a worried tone, holding her wine glass. Her other hand wrapped around Sebastian’s arm.

Sebastian frowned "Nothing" then he felt someone poke his shoulder making him turn his head.

Anselma leaned in to whisper "Honey, is that Teo over there with Idlib?" She was pointing in Teo’s direction, a bit shocked.

"Yes mom," Sebastian answered with a hint of sadness. He was there but he felt so distant.

Anselma quickly stood up "Hold my drink, son, I'm going to go over there" She excitedly jogged towards Teo, holding the helm of her dress.

"Mom" Sebastian called out to her but she didn't stop. Sebastian sighed, shaking his head.

♡♡♡

"Teo!" Anselma waved at him, her voice was loud making Teo shrug "I didn't know you worked with Idlib!" 

"H-Hi Aunt- Mrs. Martin. Yes, this is my night shift job but today is special" Teo smiled politely at her. Trying to act like they don’t know each other at all.

Idlib raised a brow, staring at Teo. Did he just almost call her Auntie?... He continued to observe the two.

"Mrs. Martin?! Just call me Auntie like usual, so formal! Or better, call me mom!" Anselma scolded him, a bit offended that he called her differently. She then looked at Idlib "Hey, Idlib, take care of Teo, alright?!" 

"O-Of course, madam. If I may ask, how do you know Teo?" Idlib took his chance to pry, he couldn't believe that Teo also knew the parents. 

Anselma laughed, hitting Idlib’s shoulder playfully from the other side of the counter "Well, his mother is my best friend! It's a shame she couldn't go today" 

"I see" Idlib glanced at Teo for a second, he never knew their relationship would go this far, he just thought that him and Sebastian were old classmates "That is surprising, madam" 

"And they live with us!'' Anselma said nonchalantly, spilling Teo’s secret "I guess this is why they always go home smelling like alcohol"

Teo panicked, trying to clear it up "You mean in your hearts, right? Right, Auntie?! We live in your hearts?" He didn't want anybody to know that he lives with them.

Anselma chuckled "Silly Teo! Oh wait, I got to go now, bye! Let's go home together Teo, I'll let you know" She waved bye and walked away.

Idlib and Teo looked at each other awkwardly.

"Please don't tell anybody!" Teo practically begs Idlib "Laurent doesn't even know this" He felt nauseous. He can’t believe Anselma threw those words so easily.

Idlib nodded "I won't tell anybody… That's why you were so nervous huh?" He found their whole situation amusing. 

Teo slapped his arm playfully "Yes. So stop it!" He turned the other way from embarrassment.

"Stop what? So what if you're living with them" Idlib's voice got higher by the end of his sentence making Teo cover his mouth.

Idlib didn't expect Teo to cover his mouth with his hand, Teo whispered "Shh! If anybody knew, their reputation might get ruined" 

"Why?" Idlib spoke, Teo finally uncovered his mouth and wiped it on his apron with furrowed brows.

"Based on my experience, people who get close to me get bullied," Teo whispers. He’s suddenly acting cautious "So keep it a secret until you die" His tone became angry. He was dead serious about this.

"Huh? But this isn't high school. I'm confused" Idlib scratched his head and sighed. He tried to understand but couldn’t.

"Alright, you know Laurent? His father is a big shot and in high school we were friends and we would always get in fights because they bully us. It was only me but when we became friends, Laurent had a hard time too" Teo explained, remembering the hard times. He had to fight other people because Laurent isn't much of a good fighter. People always target the two of them.

"That was in high school" Idlib tried to grasp the situation but he really can’t imagine it, maybe because he hasn't experienced hardships like Teo’s "This is the real world, though?" 

"Doesn't that make it worse?! There's always gonna be someone to pull them down" Teo defended his case, he was adamant about it "And I don't wanna be the reason why" 

♡♡♡

Behind the counter, the bartenders hear a lot of gossip.

"Good thing Sabine isn't here, whew" 

"Yeah, only Sebastian is here which is better" 

"Sabine is in Japan, right?" 

"Yeah, good thing too, she'll bring this company down" 

"I heard Sabine kicked an employee back then" 

"Yes, I met her and she was so scary I almost peed my pants" 

"I met her too and she almost fired me" 

These are mostly the gossip and rumors that Teo and Idlib have been hearing all day.

"Have you met Sabine?" Teo asked Idlib, finally getting curious "I stay in her room while she's away" He wondered what kind of person she was.

Idlib laughed, almost too much "Yeah. She’s nice… Just don't mess with her or her family or else you’ll get it. She always gets mad when she hears rumors about Sebastian because he’s a recluse”

Teo got scared all of a sudden since he's staying in Sabine's room "Oh God…" He’s imagining all kinds of things that Sabine might do to him once she knows what he's done.

He took her bedroom, masturbated on the first day, masturbated at the thought of her brother and kissed her brother in the ferris wheel. Teo scratches his head, panicking.

♡♡♡

Teo is still shaking from fear that his brain became blank. He's now cleaning a plant. Sebastian looked at him and chuckled a bit. What is he doing?

Sebastian was about to go to Teo but Idlib ruffled his hair again, making Sebastian stop. Why does he keep doing that to him?

"Sebastian, it's time to sing" The girl pulled Sebastian's arm. She was excited to hear him sing again.

Sebastian scowled. I wish Ate was here to prevent all this! I can't believe I miss her! She’s my crowd control, dammit!

♡♡♡

"Look, he's going to sing… He always does. Do you know about this?" Idlib pointed at the elegant stage opposite from where they were.

Teo looked at where Idlib was pointing. He told me all about it. Then he looked behind him and saw the windows, he can't help but chuckle and say "He'll probably stare at the windows again" 

"You know him well. Are you two close? You do live together" There was a slight teasing tone in Idlib's voice. He was starting to think that Teo was interested in Sebastian.

Teo blushed, he couldn't even hide it but he still tried to lie "No! We’re not close!" As Teo and Idlib bicker, melodious music flowed inside the venue. The lights were dimmed but there was a spotlight focused on Sebastian.

Sebastian starts singing. Everybody was quiet, watching silently. Enjoying the calming melody. Despite all eyes being on him, his eyes were only staring at one person in the whole room.

“♫ The first time I laid eyes on you, I already fell because of your shining eyes”

“♫ You’re a star from the sky ~”

IS HE?! Is he staring at me?! Teo panicked. People were starting to notice where Sebastian was staring and some of them were looking at Teo too.

“♫ I feel my happiness bloom whenever you’re near. Please, hold my hand ~”

Idlib whispered from his side, leaning in "Looks like you're wrong about the window thing. He's staring at you" He smiles, staring at the speechless Teo who froze beside him.

“♫ Oh, my muse, I will take you to an unexpected paradise ~”

Teo's chest was pounding. His face is getting warmer and warmer, even his neck is turning red. His palms feel sweaty. He tried staring at something else but whenever he would go back at Sebastian, he was still staring at him. Never taking his eyes off of him. He starts breathing heavily. 

“♫ I will always sing you songs of love and never get tired of you. I will dance with you until the end of time ~”

No, Sebastian. Take your eyes off of me. He clenched his fists, unable to take his eyes off the singer.

“♫ The shine you brought gave light to my dark world. It’s so different when I’m with you”

“♫ The stars and moon collide like the universe agrees that we were meant to be together”

For Sebastian, it felt like he was singing that song for Teo. He can't see anybody else right now, only Teo. It seemed like they were the only two people inside that venue when in fact there were hundreds. 

Look at me, Teo. 

Sebastian remembered the times he would always borrow stuff from Teo in high school, and how he would always let him despite knowing he never really needed it. How Sebastian would secretly watch Teo practice basketball alone. How he would always go watch his games. Sebastian always does things in secret but not now. Now, it’s his chance to show him. He won’t back down. He wants Teo’s attention, he wants his eyes on him and him only.

“♫ I feel my happiness bloom whenever you’re near. Please, hold my hand ~”

Teo's heart was racing. He was frozen in place. His mind is going back to that one time nobody else knows. That time he found Sebastian sleeping on his desk early in the morning. Only the two of them in the classroom. Sebastian was always in front of him, only seeing his back. That moment, Teo sat beside him and rested his head on the desk too, facing the sleeping Sebastian. Teo chuckled and poked Sebastian's nose but he still didn't wake up.

Why am I remembering that now?! Teo panicked, his chest was throbbing from all the feelings and memories running through his mind. He hears Sebastian’s voice, singing for him. 

“♫ Oh, my muse, I will take you to an unexpected paradise ~”

“♫ Melody of fate ~ Matching with us ~”

The song was near its end. Sebastian only looked at Teo and nobody else the whole time. That song was for Teo and he hopes his feelings reach him.

“♫ Melody of fate ~ Matching with us ~”

“♫ I will always sing you songs of love and never get tired of you. I will dance with you– I will love you until the end of time ~”

After the last note, Teo immediately ran towards the bathroom and clenched his chest "Fuck. I'm in love with someone I'm not supposed to be in love with" He stares at the mirror with teary eyes, staring at himself “Why me?” He clenched his teeth. He knows he can’t feel this way.