Chapter 49 - PULL OFF

Etienne hesitated for quite a while before speaking again, his voice was quiet, but also soft and clear, very pleasing to the ear: "Mr. Baume?" 

Ioan just slightly nodded noncommittally: "Yes. Would you like to come in and take a seat?"

Then he turned around and walked inside: "Come on in."

Etienne closed the door behind him and followed behind him as he sized the man up. It wasn't the first time he was seeing Julien's brother, but today Ioan's pairs of eyes gave a different feeling when he looked at him just now, it was persnickety and scrutinizing over him like a military parade instructor which gave him an air of indescribable pressure.

But Etienne wasn't one who tended to think too much and he also didn't want to overthink, because he always didn't feel comfortable in the presence of alpha, and also Ioan didn't seem to have something against his friendship with Julien. 

There was a sense of harmonic rhythm when Ioan walked and Etienne couldn't help to peek at him again. Ioan's facial features were somewhat similar to Julien's but were more profound like a sculpture. His wet hair draped over his forehead slightly covering up those pairs of glittering eyes. The loose towel was revealing his perfect waist curve.

But not even a hint of blush flashed by Etienne's stoic face. It was undeniable that the alpha had a model figure that could make any omega's heart flip-flopping, but unfortunately, there is always an exception to every rule. 

Etienne's eyes flashed with impatience as looked at the spacious living room in search of someone else. 

Ioan was still toweling his hair as he sat on the sofa and informed him: "Julien is out right now. You can just wait a while for him here."

Etienne sat politely with his hands on his knees: "Oh. I have something going on so I can only stay here for a bit before I have to leave."

Ioan noticed that omega didn't put eyes on him at all and felt a little bit uneasy: "In a hurry? Would you like some coffee, or just tea?"

Etienne sat steadfastly with a blank expression, the reaction came after a while: "A little bit and thank you for the offer, but no thank you." 

Of course, Etienne was thirsty and even more hungry, but by his calculations, the chance of choking by getting coffee or tea lodged in his throat was equal to 57.46% with his luck today. Better did not take a chance, he might be able to live out, but he also didn't want to embarrass himself in front of Julien's brother.

Ten minutes passed since Etienne arrived, but Ioan couldn't say a word. The last thing he said was "so please sit comfortably". 

Ioan pursed his lips as he quietly stared at Etienne's absent-minded expression. The omega eyes were focused on the small vase on the table. But also thanks to this Ioan could observe him as much as he wanted to. 

Etienne's clothes were disheveled, and his eyes were squinting and his hair was drooping down. There was even a bruise and scratches on his left hand, making him look very pathetic.

Seeing him look like this, Ioan felt somewhat uncomfortable: "Get up and go with me to the study to apply medicine."

Etienne snapped out of his daze: "Oh?"

Ioan forcibly suppressed his irritation: "I'm going to treat your bruised hand, come on." 

Etienne obediently stood up and followed behind him.

Ioan brought out the medical kit and sat down beside omega and ordered him: "Give me your hand."

Then Ioan used the cotton swabs to apply the medicine on his small wounds. Though his hand was not light, at least he tried his best to restrain his strength. Despite this Etienne hissed in pain. 

Ioan clicked his tongue, but asked softly: "How did you get hurt?"

Etienne whined with a sad little pout: "I'm cursed."

He knew in his heart that he was a magnet for accidents, there wasn't a day where he didn't trip or fall down. It was just his life… He saw it in his mind, the cover of a bestseller novel, standing proudly on the shelf near every bookstores's window - 'The series of unfortunate events in Etienne Emond's life - volume twenty three.'

Etienne released a heavy sigh and moved the hand away: "It does not matter as long as I can play the piano and go to work." 

Ioan quickly recalled: "You work at the club Julien used to perform?" 

Etienne nodded and as he thought of that time, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curled up in a smile.

Noticing omega's faint and nostalgic smile, Ioan clenched his back teeth for two seconds before relaxing. 

It seemed like they really were quite close, maybe a little too close. 

Ioan didn't want to experience another moment of silence so he grabbed this opportunity to interact with him more and finally asked: "Why are you looking for him?"

Etienne's glass-like eyes were somewhat perplexed: "When is he coming back?"

Ioan sighed and ran his hand through the dark brown hair on his head: "When he wants to." 

The quiet murmur left Etienne's lips and was quickly dissolved into the air: "There is no point in waiting for him."

Etienne blinked and without hesitation took out his wallet and handed over the titanium card: "I want to return the card Julien borrowed me."

Ioan seemed somewhat taken aback by looking at a familiar card: "It's mine."

Etienne shot a startled glance at him: "Oh?! I'm sorry!" 

Ioan furrowed his brows and wracked his brain. He didn't need to jump to conclusions yet. 

He could tell straight ahead that the younger man before him was more nervous than he might himself out to be. Ioan admitted that he was a little annoyed by this situation, but he didn't intend to suffocate the other man under pressure.

Ioan reached out with his arm and placed his hands on Etienne's shoulders and under his touch the person stiffened: "It was my brother who gave it to you so it's nothing to be sorry about."

Etienne's voice was like a whisper: "I didn't use it." 

He also found their faces were quite close, the small desk between them creating a small distance: "I think I have to go. Thank Julien from me."

Ioan followed behind him: "I'll walk you out."

He was about to close the door when omega tripped over the welcome mat. 

Ioan took a step forward to catch him, but it was too late. He felt the other's hands on his waist. Etienne having nothing else to hold on clutched his fingers on the towel, pulling it off. 

After falling to the ground, Etienne quickly stood up on his own and patted the dust off his jeans, but while doing it his eyes inevitably shifted to alpha's lower body and clearly saw something big. 

Etienne's eyes widened in astonishment and he blushed scarlet. Hiding his face in his hands, he quickly turned around and began to walk away. All of a sudden, he started to run. 

Ioan couldn't help but laughed and shouted after him: "Why are you running?"