"You think he'll ever find out? We're too clever, right?"
Yes. We won’t get caught. Trust me.
But what if he discovers our secret? What will we do then?
Oh, but that's where you're wrong, dear brother. He won't find out. And if he does...well, we'll cross that bridge then.
You really think he'll just let it slide? After discovering our little secret? Come on, Itenring, use your common sense.
Do you trust me, Ethan? If I say he won't find out, then he won't.
Trust you? Of course I do, Itenring. But what if you're wrong? What if he confronts us? How will we explain ourselves?
We'll deny it, Ethan. Lie if we have to. It’s not like he will be able to prove anything.
And what if he doesn't just confront us? What if he seeks revenge? We can't control how he reacts, Itenring.
Then he’s not worth our time, my dear brother. If he can’t handle our relationship, then he doesn’t deserve us. Besides, he has never laid a hand on me and he won’t start now.
But what if he does more than just confront us? What if he decides to take matters into his own hands? We can't ignore that possibility, Itenring.
Then he will have made the first move, Ethan. And if he hurts me, then I will have grounds to press charges. It’s really not that complicated.
Alright, I suppose you're right. Let's trust in our cleverness and hope for the best. But if anything goes wrong, we stick together, right?
Of course, dear brother. We will be there for each other no matter what happens. That’s what family is for.
Good. Let's seal our pact with a toast. grabs two glasses and pours some wine To our cleverness and our unbreakable bond. Cheers, Itenring.
Cheers, dear brother. They clink their glasses together and take a sip.
So, how did you manage to charm him into giving you his heart? What's your secret, Itenring?
Haha! Well, I think it all started from one little innocent conversation that turned into hours of talking. The next thing I knew, we were head over heels. But honestly, I think being myself was the key. Being honest and real with him. And also being myself around him definitely helped.
smirks Ah, so honesty and authenticity are the keys to capturing someone's heart, huh?
Yep! That, and having a sense of humor never hurts either. chuckles
Well, I suppose I could take a page out of your book then. Maybe I should focus on being more genuine and funny around her. Who knows, maybe I'll even sweep her off her feet like you did.
Oh? Who’s this “her”? a bit confused
leans in closer, whispers Her name is Sarah. She works at the same company as me. We've been exchanging glances for a while now.
Mmmm…she sounds interesting. Does she laugh at your jokes?
smirks Oh yes, she loves my sense of humor. In fact, she's quite impressed with my charm and wit.
Ahhh. Excellent. Her little crush on you isn’t hurting your relationship any, is it?
Actually, it is. You see, she wants more than just a crush. She wants to be with me, Itenring.
Taken aback Does she know about our affair?
No, not yet. But I think it's time I tell her. I don't want to keep secrets anymore. I want to be honest with her, just like you were with your boyfriend.
…That might not be the best approach. I mean, think about it. She’s in love with you, right? She won’t understand why you want to date another man.
pauses, deep in thought You're right, Itenring. I never thought about it that way. But maybe...
….yeah. She wouldn’t take it well. Maybe it’s better if we keep our affair a secret.
looks conflicted I don't want to hurt her, Itenring. But I also don't want to lose you. What should I do?
Talk to her about how you feel. Just be honest and say that you don’t feel the same way.
takes a deep breath You're right, Itenring. I need to be honest with her and handle this delicately. I don't want to lose her as a friend, but I also can't deny my feelings for you.
Exactly. Be respectful. Just explain how you feel and then just…end things.
nods with determination I'll talk to her tonight. I'll break things off with Sarah and be honest with her about my feelings for you.
That’s great! I’m proud of you.
grabs Itenring's hand Thank you for guiding me through this, Itenring. I don't know what I would do without you.
You’re welcome, big bro. smiles. Now go, go talk to her before you chicken out.
stands up, taking a deep breath You're right, Itenring. It's time to gather my courage and talk to her. I won't let fear hold me back anymore.
Good luck. Call me if you need me.
walks towards Sarah's house, rehearsing what he's going to say in his head Okay, Ethan, be confident. Be honest. Respectful. You can do this.
Watches you leave Goodbye, dear brother. Have fun.
knocks on Sarah's front door, heart pounding Sarah, can we talk? There's something important I need to discuss with you.
Staring at the wall, thinking. Hmm…I bet they’re talking about ending things. Aww, poor Sarah….She’s gonna be devastated.
sits down with Sarah, takes a deep breath Sarah, I have something difficult to talk about. I... I don't feel the same way anymore.