章 88: I Like You (1)

* * *

"Frye, are you feeling okay? I hope you're not forcing yourself, we can reschedule this anytime. Mom and Dad would understand," Paul suggested, looking at Fyre who looked depressed and seemingly wasn't feeling good. Even with his question just now, it didn't seem like the Omega heard him so Paul repeated himself but this time gently holding Fyre's arm. Today he had a lot of plans ahead but if the person he wanted to surprise wasn't feeling good then he would have no choice but to move the schedule. He made some preparations after contemplating it for days before finally deciding what he would do and until then he had been waiting for this day to come but in the end, Fyre's well-being was still his top priority.

"What? Oh, I'm sorry. I was just thinking of something else but I'm good," Fyre replied with a faint smile. Paul looked at him worriedly before he too smiled faintly brushing the top of Fyre's head. He didn't know when it started but right now, he really liked Fyre. Not as a friend but someone he could spend the rest of his life with. Never in his wildest dream that he thought that feelings like this would suddenly bloom. Fyre was his friend. He never saw him romantically until just recently. It was all too sudden because he thought he wouldn't be able to feel this way towards someone again after Daniella. He was unsure and thought of it for days. He also thought that maybe it was just because he wasn't used to Fyre's changes but he knew that if he let this be, he would forever regret it.

So tonight, he toughened himself and planned to pursue the Omega. Deep inside it didn't feel wrong and he had never been so sure for a long time now. It's been a while since he felt something like this... it's like... it felt so right. He wasn't sure if Fyre felt the same way as him but he was willing to risk his heart because he knew Fyre was someone he could trust not to lead him on. Even if he ended up being rejected by the Omega, Paul would be willing to take the risk. Furthermore, his parents agreed to it and are now strongly supporting him.

"Okay, but if you're not feeling good please tell me immediately. I'll send you home as soon as possible," Paul said dotingly, to which Fyre simply replied with a soft smile as they walked inside the Hymlyn residence. Fyre tried to focus his mind on what was in front of him but he couldn't, his mind kept drifting towards a certain someone wondering what he might be doing at the moment. They separated on bad terms and he couldn't help but think about his own actions and what could he have done so it didn't end like that. Questions crowded his thoughts and the more these questions pop inside his head, the more he was feeling guilty.

The more he was blaming himself.

Maybe he was being too much? Were his words too harsh? Did he let his emotions get to him again? Should he have been more understanding even though he was hurt? Fyre tried to control himself but he also didn't want to lose himself in the process. He wanted to change for Tian Zi—not because the Alpha wanted to—but he also wanted to make sure that he didn't give all of himself to because he knew that if his heart broke... he would never be able to pick himself up again.

"Fyre, was the taste not to your liking?" Mrs. Hymlyn asked worriedly. She wanted to make something for Fyre during lunch so she made the only thing she could make but it has been a while since she cooked pasta alfredo so she wasn't sure if the taste was good or not. She tasted it before serving and also had her husband approved but his husband could be lying to her(?)

"Honey, you didn't lie to me about the pasta, right?" Ms. Hymlyn asked her husband and the Alpha quickly denied it.

"No Dear, it tastes good to me. I would never lie about this and embarrass you in front of your son's friend. And didn't I tell you long ago you make the best pasta alfredo? You're still the best, Dear," Mr. Hymlyn said but, of course, his taste preference could be the complete opposite to the Omega. Definitely, he would never lie about his wife's only recipe.

"Fyre, is the seasoning too salty?" Paul asked this time around, finally catching Fyre's attention. He looked at Paul and then at the Alpha's parents and his eyes widened in shock realizing that they were already at the dining table eating lunch and he had no recollection of how he got there eating from his plate when his last memory was greeting the two when he got inside the residence.

"O-Oh my God! I'm so sorry. I was in a daze all this time thinking about something. This was so rude of me," Fyre quickly apologized, a deep blush coated his cheeks as he tried to hide his face in shame. This was the second time he was meeting Paul's parents and there he was, in a daze, thinking of his lover who might be at this moment didn't even care that they were in a fight. He might even be in front of his computer playing games instead of working on his company documents.

"It's fine. It must have been very serious but you still came here to visit us. Thank you so much." Mrs. Hymlyn said with a helpless smile, relieved that it wasn't her cooking that made the Omega so dazed.

"Oh no, it's okay. I promised I would come," Fyre quickly replied, forcing himself to snap out of it. Thankfully, the couple and Paul are all very understanding and they went on with their lunch without much of a problem. Fyre was still a little preoccupied due to his initial thoughts but this time he was able to converse normally, which made him slightly forget about the fight he had with Tian Zi especially when he was asked if he had plans to marry soon. Of course, Fyre quickly denied it because it's not even been two weeks since he and Tian Zi had been together and he wasn't even sure if he was going to end up with the Alpha.

Additionally, he was having second thoughts about revealing his relationship with Tian Zi, so in the end, Fyre gave out an ambiguous answer. Fortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Hymlyn no longer pushed the topic but after the conversation did get a little awkward for a brief moment but thankfully Paul was quick to catch on and change the topic until lunch had ended.

"Do you have anywhere else you need to go after this?" Paul asked after Mr. and Mrs. Hymlyn suddenly decided to leave them alone to talk. The two looked a little suspicious especially with Mrs. Hymlyn's giggles but Fyre was a little thankful that they left because he wanted to talk to Paul about their frequent meeting and how this will make Tian Zi jealous. Of course, he still planned to hang out with Paul once in a while but they'll probably have to limit it since it is true that he is an Omega and Paul is an Alpha and it'll be dangerous for them to hang out often.

"No, but I actually have something I wanted to tell you about."

"Really? Me too." Paul said in surprise. "But before that, I wanted to show you something, since you don't have any prior plans," Paul added, which instantly made Fyre curious.

"Yeah sure. But what is it? Are you in trouble or something? Is the matter something serious?" Fyre instantly asked since Paul's face looked serious. On the other hand, Paul only chuckled seeing the unsuspecting Omega before he shook his head.

"It's not something like trouble. Anyway, you'll know when we get there," Paul assured, still giggling while Fyre only looked at the Alpha confused. However, in the end, he nodded. He trusted Paul wouldn't do something silly so he followed him to his car without much of a thought. They drove to their destination and when they finally got there, Fyre looked around because they were at the nearest beach port in the city. The sun was about to set and was wondering why the Alpha brought him to the place.

"Did you buy a yacht?"Fyre asked as they got out of the car. Paul chuckled briefly seeing that the Omega didn't even give him time to open them for him but he quickly brushed that off because Fyre had always been like that so instead he neared him and offered his hand, wanting to escort him.

"I did but that's not why we're here," Paul replied and smiled when Fyre accepted his hand.

"Okay but you should know it'll be dark out soon so it'll be difficult to go fishing," Fyre reminded, walking on the path leading towards the area where hundreds of boats were parked. The wind was blowing a little stronger so Fyre ended up letting go of Paul and hugged himself. Paul quickly noticed it and since he was conveniently wearing formal attire where he had a suit on top of a white long sleeve, he instantly removed his suit and urged Fyre to halt from his walk.

"We're not going fishing either," Paul simply said, hanging his clothes over Fyre. Meanwhile, Fyre had a mixed expression at the gesture but he didn't really find it odd since Paul had always been the gentleman type. The only reason he had a very soft frown on his forehead was because he could feel the gesture somehow felt different from the usual friendly.

"Paul, what are we really doing here?" Fyre finally asked again, this time he had a bad feeling that his heart began to beat nervously.

"Come on," Paul only replied with a huge smile on his lips before enigmatically pulling him again until they reached a huge yacht. Fyre looked at the boat and he was having second thoughts about going in there with the Alpha. He had a strong feeling that he would regret it.

"The surprise is inside," Paul added, further urging Fyre when the Omega halted. On the other hand, Fyre stared at Paul and contemplated. He knew the Alpha wouldn't hurt him so he's racking his brain trying to remember whether he did something bad to his friend without him knowing.

"You're not going to push me into the water are you?" Fyre asked, which immediately made Paul burst into laughter.

"Fyre, what are you putting in that pretty little head of yours? Of course, I'm not going to hurt you. I just have something to show you," Paul said between his laughter. He was even wiping his tears as he was not expecting the Omega would think of something so absurd.

"Fine! I know how to swim though so I won't die that easily," Fyre mumbled after a sigh. He squinted his eyes towards Paul first and stared at his extending hand before finally receiving the offer. When they, at last, got inside, Fyre gasped in awe at the beautiful sunset and on cue, fireworks started bursting into the dim orange and yellow sky. The breathtaking scenery caught his attention and a huge smile appeared on his lips. Even though he had seen a lot of fireworks before, the joy he felt from the first and now was still the same.

With his eyes closed, Fyre breathed into the sea breeze. He only opened it when he heard Paul call him from the back and as soon as he turned around another beautiful scene was displayed in front of him but instead of a happy surprised face, Fyre was more surprised and confused.

"Fyre, I like you." Paul softly said with a gentle smile displayed on his lips. A huge bouquet of flowers in his arms and no doubt he looked handsome and very charming. Any man and woman faced with the same situation as Fyre would definitely cry out of joy and excitement but not him. Instead, his heart almost stopped beating in confusion, discomfort, and the pressure he was feeling almost made him forget how to breathe.

* * *

To be Continued…