OFF THE RECORD | Labyrinth of the Youth

Dylan has everything... wealth, name, and a future planned by his powerful CEO father. But as the only son, he feels trapped by a life that was never his choice. Desperate for freedom, he runs away to a public school to finally live on his own terms. There, he meets Flynn-the only son of a commoner, sharp-tongued, guarded, stubborn, and unlike anyone Dylan has ever met. At first, they clash, full of pride and misunderstandings. But when Dylan sees the hidden struggles Flynn carries, something in him changes. He starts to care-quietly, fiercely, and more deeply than he realized was possible. Flynn, who has never been cared for like this, doesn't know what to do with Dylan's attention, or the growing feeling in his own heart that he can no longer ignore. But while they fight their feelings, they remain unaware of a deeper bond already tying their lives together—a truth hidden just beyond their reach, waiting to surface at the worst possible time. Between rivalry and tenderness, denial and desire, Dylan and Flynn navigate their complicated youth - where the most important truths are the hardest to say aloud, and the most unforgettable stories are the ones left unspoken. "Some feelings are too real to say out loud. Some stories are too true to tell." This is theirs - OFF THE RECORD. ---------------------------------------------------- PROLOGUE "Do you know Flynn?" Dylan asked. "Flynn?" Nicole echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah... Flynn Amaro Luz." "Oh, the handsome guy from the Regular Department. Who doesn't know him? He's not just good-looking — he's smart, too. Most of the professors know him, and I heard some seniors from the Star Department even tried to recruit him, but he refused. Why do you ask?" "I think... I like him," Dylan said quietly. Nicole blinked. "So the rumors are true?" "Rumors? What rumors?" Dylan asked, frowning slightly. "Well... it's not exactly a rumor, but a lot of girls have been fantasizing you two together since Foundation Week. I just have to ask—are you gay, Dylan?" "I'm not," he replied after a pause. "I don't feel this way about any other guy... just him. And honestly, I'm confused too." "But... don't you have a girlfriend?" Nicole asked. "We're not together anymore," Dylan said simply. "So you broke up because of Flynn?" "No... not exactly. But... maybe it has something to do with him," Dylan admitted with a small shrug. "Have you told him how you feel?" "No. I don't think I can." "Because he's a guy?" Nicole asked softly. "It's not that," Dylan said, shaking his head. "I know he's a guy — but I'm confused by how he acts around me. I try to be caring, sometimes even clingy, and he always stops me. But if he really didn't feel anything, shouldn't he have pushed me away completely?" "Well... only you can find out," Nicole said after a pause. "I don't know him personally, so I can't judge." Dylan looked out the window, his expression uncertain but determined. "Actually... I'm planning to confess tonight. After his performance." Nicole laughed softly. "You're something else, Dylan. Who would've thought that a guy who looks so rebellious could be tamed... by another guy?"