Warm steam filled the spacious and luxurious bathroom inside the mansion. The sound of splashing water was soothing, but not enough to dampen the tension that was about to arise.
Inside the large marble bathtub, Kazien was soaking together with Alvin and Allen. Warm water submerged their bodies up to their chests, dissolving the fatigue after a day of activities at the academy.
Kazien wiped his wet face, then turned to his cousin.
"Allen, what time does your mother usually return home?" he asked casually.
Allen, who was playing with the water with his fingers, looked up. "She always comes home on time. Usually, she's already home before dark."
Hearing that, Alvin suddenly stood up from the water. Water droplets flowed down his beautiful slender body, reflecting the light of the crystal lamp above him.
"Alvin, where are you going?" asked Kazien in surprise, because usually, Alvin liked to soak for a long time.
"I have to cook!" exclaimed Alvin enthusiastically while reaching for a towel. "Aunt Elisa will be home soon. I want to welcome her with a special dish made by me!"
Alvin winked at the two of them, then walked out with cheerful steps. The bathroom door closed slowly, leaving a silence that suddenly felt heavy.
With Alvin gone, now only Kazien and Allen remained in that closed bathroom.
Ba-thump! Ba-thump! Ba-thump!
Suddenly Allen's heart beat fast. The sound seemed to echo in his own ears as he realized that only he and Kazien were in this steam-filled room. Without Alvin as a buffer, the atmosphere between them changed drastically.
Allen swallowed his dry saliva. His eyes glanced sideways, looking at Kazien's handsome face next to him. From this close distance, he could see water droplets clinging to his cousin's silver eyelashes. And unconsciously, driven by an instinct he didn't understand, Allen inch by inch shifted his seat in the water closer to Kazien.
Meanwhile, Kazien focused on enjoying his relaxing time. He leaned his broad back against the edge of the cold marble tub while closing his eyes, enjoying the contrasting sensation between the hot water and the cold wall.
He didn't know that Allen was slowly approaching him. Inch by inch, until the distance between his body and Kazien's body was only a few centimeters. The heat of Kazien's body seemed to radiate, touching Allen's skin.
What am I doing?Why am I getting closer to him? This is wrong!
Allen became very nervous. His breathing started to race. His heartbeat also seemed to be pounding against his chest repeatedly, so hard that he was afraid Kazien could hear it through the water.
In a state that made him nervous and awkward, Allen's trembling hand under the water accidentally touched Kazien's hand.
Swish.
The accidental skin contact made Kazien open his eyes. He turned and was slightly surprised to see Allen, who turned out to be already very close to him—much closer than their initial position.
Kazien looked at him with a calm but questioning gaze.
"What is it, Allen? Is there something you want to ask me?" asked Kazien with his deep voice.
That simple question made Allen even more at a loss for an answer. His tongue was tied. He became more nervous in front of Kazien. His heartbeat increased faster, pumping blood to his entire face until it turned red.
Unable to speak, Allen covered his face using both his palms. He hid his chaotic expression. He even rubbed his hands roughly over his face repeatedly, trying to erase the shame and wild thoughts that began to emerge.
Kazien frowned. He became puzzled seeing Allen's behavior, acting strangely next to him all of a sudden.
"Allen, what's wrong? are you sick?" asked Kazien worriedly.
Allen remained silent but didn't dare look at Kazien's face. He lowered his hands slightly, but his eyes kept looking down at the small ripples on the water surface in the tub.
Beneath the water surface, Allen's body reacted to their proximity.
Oh my, why is my penis erect like this? screamed Allen hysterically in his mind. What is happening to me? Why am I aroused just by being near my own cousin?
To cover up his embarrassing condition, Allen bent his legs until his knees popped out of the water, pressing against his chest. His arms also hugged his legs tightly, embracing his knees as if he didn't want the curve of his legs to go back under the water and reveal the "problem" at his crotch.
Kazien looked at him in confusion. What's wrong with him? This is the first time I've seen him acting strangely like this. Usually, he is cheerful. Is there something weighing on his heart?
"Allen," called Kazien softly. "Are you thinking about something? You've just been silent since I asked you. Tell me."
"N-Nothing," answered Allen stammering, his voice squeaking. "I'm not thinking about anything either."
Allen tried to dodge and hide his nervousness which was becoming more intense.
Kazien narrowed his eyes, disbelieving. "If you're not thinking about anything, why do you look like you're thinking about something heavy like that? Your body gestures say otherwise."
Allen tightened his hug on his knees even more. He curled up and fell silent again.
Instantly Kazien felt very confused by his cousin's changing behavior.
It seems I have to calm him down. Maybe he needs a shoulder to lean on.
Without warning, suddenly Kazien moved closer and embraced Allen from the side. His muscular arm wrapped around Allen's trembling shoulder, pulling the smaller body closer.
Allen was in severe shock feeling Kazien's warm skin touching his skin.
Ba-thump! Ba-thump! Ba-thump! Ba-thump! Ba-thump! Ba-thump!
His heart beat very fast as if his heart was about to explode. His blood rushed violently. His face began to turn bright red up to his ears.
He panicked. Allen, who was very nervous and afraid his reaction would be discovered, reflexively slapped Kazien's hand away roughly.
Slap! Splash!
Allen pushed Kazien until his embrace broke loose.
Kazien was pushed slightly, looking at his hand that was slapped away. He was increasingly confused by his cousin's behavior who didn't answer anything to him but rejected his touch.
"What's wrong with you?" asked Kazien in frustration. "I am really confused by you. You were fine earlier, now you're like this."
Kazien sighed roughly, feeling perhaps he was too aggressive. He leaned his back against the tub's edge again, giving space, and closed his eyes again.
"I apologize if you felt uncomfortable with my embrace," said Kazien softly without opening his eyes.
The sincere apology coming from his mouth pierced Allen's heart. Allen turned slowly. He looked at his cousin's handsome face, who was closing his eyes with a disappointed expression.
Guilt and desire mixed together. Allen stared at Kazien's facial features. His sharp nose, his firm lips. He wanted to caress his cousin's handsome face even more.
As long as Alvin was here with us, I didn't feel anything. I could hold back, thought Allen in chaos. But when he's not here, when it's just the two of us... why do I become like this? What is actually happening to me? Do I... do I like my own cousin?
Allen struggled with his own terrifying thoughts, and unconsciously due to frustration...
Splash!
Allen's hand hit the water surface hard, creating a large splash of water that wet Kazien's face, who was relaxing with his eyes closed.
Kazien, startled by the sudden water attack, immediately opened his eyes. He wiped his face and looked at his cousin's face.
"Allen, what's wrong now?" asked Kazien confusedly. "Are you angry at me because I presumptuously embraced you earlier? I truly apologize if that made you uncomfortable."
Allen didn't answer. He just bit his lip, his eyes glassy.
Allen's silence made Kazien feel really bad for him. He felt his presence might be the source of the problem.
"Alright. In that case, I will finish my bath." said Kazien finally. "Maybe my presence here will only make you hate me more or feel disturbed."
Kazien stood up from the water.
Allen was stunned, his eyes widened in shock as he looked at his cousin's naked body standing towering near him. That view was so beautiful yet painful for him.
Kazien stepped out of the bathtub and prepared to leave Allen alone.
The fear of being abandoned was greater than his shame. Without thinking twice, Allen immediately reached out and grabbed his cousin's wet hand.
"Don't go!" exclaimed Allen, his voice trembling. "Stay with me here. Please... I don't hate you! Not at all! On the contrary, you might be the one who will hate me."