The X Guide

There were certain points in life when you could just say fuck it and live your life. Khal and Devion had so many uncertainties that they almost forgot about them sometimes.

Until someone showed them this way again. Funnily enough, this person should be the last person who would make them realize this point.

After all, the man himself had a dark past, and fate was not generous to him as it was to them.

The two fell into silence again, but this time, their hearts were more relieved. The weights that burdened them were lifted at once. There was no hesitation anymore as they leaned into each other.

Whatever it was, this was not something they would regret, and they deserved it.

Just like...

The two stared at Ayen, who was peacefully sleeping. Their gazes remained light, but a shadow lingered after looking at his beautiful face.

Ayen was like this because of them. However, they managed to stop feeling sorry for him. Feeling this way would ultimately disregard Ayen’s initiative to do this.

Ayen wanted this, and in certain perspectives, they also understood it. If the roles were reversed, they would do the same thing.

"He’s a miracle." Devion smiled at what Khal said as he nodded.

"Indeed, he is."

Both their gazes lingered on Ayen; the weight in their heart had never been this light. The tangled threads were smoothed somewhat. It was not to the extent that everything would be smooth sailing, but they already had the hope within them.

They were not just simply pretending to.

"I really thought he was a test of my loyalty to you," Khal whispered, holding Ayen’s hand as he provided cold mana to him.

Devion fell silent, but his brows moved.

"How can I possibly fall for someone when I deeply love you?" Even now, Khal was somehow astonished by that.

Khal was so caught off guard by the growing fondness he had with Ayen. He was stunned by the idea that his heart could contain another person besides Devion, to whom he had given himself everything.

He was alarmed, and so he tried to suppress it.

Devion patted his hand and let out a light chuckle. It was not that he was finding the situation funny, but that he himself found it incredulous.

"As you said, he’s a miracle. Maybe, all this while... He’s always been fated to be with us."

Fates... It was such a simple word, but if provided context, it became a heavy one. They were not devoted believers, but they believed in its existence.

Khal found it reasonable.

Ayen’s arrival had changed so many things between them. If not for him, the two might have still been in the forbidden zone, deceiving each other that everything was going to be fine.

They were still playing their decade-long game.

And yet Ayen had only been with them for less than six months, not even a year. He had proven to them so many things, despite also not being aware of it.

Time... They had wasted a lot. For Ayen, the two were going all in. They did not mind trying to nurture this relationship with him.

"I agreed when you said that our experiences mattered to shape our today. That, if Ayen appeared during those times we are in the lowest of our lives, the situation might not be as easy as today."

Devion’s tone carried a sigh. His other hand held Ayen’s hand together with Khal.

Khal listened to his words.

"But... I can’t help but be mad. If we’re with him during that time he was cast out, would Ayen’s wounds not be as intense? I keep feeling that, if only... We met him earlier."

There were always what-ifs; it was something that most people could not live without.

Khal stared at Ayen. Devion’s words rang in his ears, but he did not immediately respond. His hands were playing with both Devion’s and Ayen’s hands.

The comfort they exuded provided clarity and relief to him. This was when he knew it was all real.

"If we met him earlier... His scars will be far worse."

Devion fell silent and sighed. He knew what Khal said was true.

"I won’t have any time to care about him, and your curse was at the worst time. You won’t care about him either. That was a time, you even... can’t care about yourself."

More than isolation, the years had given Ayen without them, they would give the feeling of being excluded and not being good enough.

With them, the young Ayen might be more scarred with emotional baggage.

They were not just mature enough to take care of Ayen, and Ayen was not mature enough to understand them.

"We can regret our time of missing each other. But it’s not too late."

Devion finished for him. His tone was much better now.

"You’re right. We can’t do anything about the past. But now, we can give him a home. Just like... We gave each other one."

Khal shifted his gaze from Ayen to Devion, a grin on his lips. He loved hearing that from Devion’s lips.

In reality, the two of them did not have any family to speak of. One was an orphan, and the other was exiled. Now, Ayen was the same.

Devion let out a laugh as he realized this.

"Well, we truly are fated lovers, huh?"

They created a tragic sight, but somehow, this was not that bad either.

Khal nodded and was affected by his laugh. He was always laughing with his antics, anyway. Their topic has now moved forward to the present.

Revisiting the past was a must, but moving forward was one they wanted to cherish more. And hopefully, the future too.

This was what Ayen saw when he opened his eyes. The two were talking with a smile on their lips. And the way they interacted seemed to become lighter.

They had always been interacting with instincts alone, but sometimes, they felt reserved, as if holding back.

Ayen’s mind was still foggy, and his eyes were drooping, but watching them was so mesmerizing that he almost forgot everything.

As the two noticed his gaze, they were surprised at first but soon gave Ayen a soft smile.

"Good morning, beautiful," Devion whispered, and Ayen blinked. The corner of his lips hooked up slightly as he nodded.