Side Story: 209

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hi guys, it's been months! Well, I almost didn't want to request a continuation, but here we are.
Sorry for the waiting period. We'll be doing the usual: a chapter per day, sometimes more.
Thank you you to all who have been following the stor6 up to this point.
Here to all the character you requested to see again♡.
***
The Best Man's Gambit
"You asked him to be Zeno's best man?" Nicholas frowned, staring at Sebastian, who was working on the computer.

Sebastian didn't lift his face. "It was just a suggestion, Nicholas; nothing's certain yet," he replied, his eyes focused on the screen.

Nicholas scoffed. "Yeah, 'suggestion.' He wouldn't stop singing about it all night. It's supposed to be me! I was the one who stood beside Zeno when you broke his goddamned heart. I was there through thick and thin, and you dare to 'suggest' such an atrocious thing?" He tapped his foot impatiently on the floor.

Sebastian sighed and placed his face in his hands, quietly counting to ten.

His head was aching. Both his and Zeno's mothers were on his neck, hounding him to bring Zeno to them later that evening for a fitting. He had a few things he needed to set right, ideas for wedding planners—and Nicholas—to appease.

He rubbed his temple, taking a slow, deep breath.

"You're not answering me? See, that's what I'm talking about. You and Ezra just think you can decide whatever—"

"Nicholas Bison!" Sebastian slammed his hand on his desk and glared at Nicholas.

Nicholas gasped. "No, you didn't just—I must have heard wrongly," he said, narrowing his eyes.

Sebastian frowned. "No, you didn't, Nicholas. I called you Bison," he smirked.

He wanted to get back at Nicholas for disturbing his work.

"Oh, you ugly beast, you asked for it!" Nicholas marched around the table and grabbed Sebastian's shirt. "One more time, I dare you," he whispered.

Sebastian smirked as he stared up at Nicholas. "Bison junior," he said clearly.

Nicholas's face turned red. "You duck, you want to die!" He raised his hand to punch Sebastian's smirking face just as the office door opened, causing him to step away from Sebastian and clear his throat.

"Nicholas? What's going on?" Zeno stood beside Ezra in the doorway, both of them looking worried.

Sebastian was about to speak, but Nicholas beat him to it. "Nothing, absolutely nothing. I was just giving him an idea of color for the decorations, right, Sebastian?" he said, smiling.

Sebastian shook his head. "My head's aching, my back's sore, my eyes are blurry from staring at the screen for so long, but Nicholas still chose to bully me," he sighed tiredly.

Zeno frowned at Nicholas. "Come on, Nicholas, give him a break. He's preparing for a wedding. You're supposed to do everything to make him feel comfortable." He walked over to Sebastian and held his hand.

"Come on, baby, dinner is ready," he spoke softly, helping Sebastian get up from his chair.

"Thank you, baby girl." Sebastian pulled Zeno into his arms and hugged him tightly, burying his face in his neck. "Ah, I feel recharged." He gently squeezed one of Zeno's ass cheeks behind him.

Zeno gasped in shock. "Stop it! Come on, I'm starving." He slapped Sebastian's hand away and dragged him out of the room.

"Come on, baby, it's been a week," Sebastian muttered as he followed Zeno out of the office.

"Shush, Seb, you're loud," Zeno hissed as they walked into the living room.

Inside the office, Ezra quietly stared at Nicholas, who had refused to look at him.

"So, what's the problem this time, my drama doll?" Ezra questioned quietly, walking over to Nicholas.

"Nothing. No, actually, you," he poked Ezra's chest.
Ezra smiled. "I am? The only problem I see right now is me needing to make love to your stubborn ass. You didn't let me in all night... that's the problem, honey." He wrapped his arms around Nicholas's waist.

Nicholas rolled his eyes. "If you still don't get it, then forget about it." He removed Ezra's hands from him and left the room.

"What did I do?" Ezra asked in a bewildered tone as he followed him out of the room.

At the table, one couple was all loving and clingy while the other was distant and sulking.

Sebastian couldn't get his hands off Zeno. Even though Zeno always pushed him away, he couldn't quite come to terms that he could finally love him so openly.

On the other hand, Nicholas was sulking, barely touching his food.

"Come on, Nicholas, you know I can't function well if you're not speaking to me." Ezra dropped his fork and pulled Nicholas's chair close.

"Then you better shut down and die, bestie stealer," he slapped Ezra's hand away.

Sebastian sighed. "Stop being a child, Nicholas." He rolled his eyes.

"I'm being a child? Ask your man what he did, Zeno—maybe you'd know if I'm being a child or not," Nicholas huffed.

Zeno turned to Sebastian. "What have you done, Seb?" he asked.

Sebastian shrugged. "Nothing. I just suggested Ezra be your best man," he replied.

Zeno frowned. "You did? Then who's gonna be yours?" He raised a brow.

"It's Ezra, honey. Calm down, I was just teasing Nicholas. He's so fun to tease," Sebastian chuckled.
Now, all eyes were on Ezra.

"So you knew it was all a lie, huh?" Zeno narrowed his eyes at Ezra.

Ezra gulped. He could feel Nicholas's eyes staring daggers at him as he waited to hear his answer.

"Babe, come on, it wasn't that serious," Ezra said, trying to hold Nicholas.

"Keep your hands to yourself, Mr. Ezra. I'll be returning to my apartment tonight. Don't come searching for me; I won't let you in." Nicholas stood, carried his plate, and walked away from the dining table.

"He'll let him in," Zeno murmured.

"He will," Sebastian agreed, nodding.

Ezra sighed. He wasn't so sure about their words. He knew Nicholas, and if Nicholas said something, he'd do it.

"About us," Sebastian said, placing a hand on Zeno's thigh and smiling at him. "You've been sleeping with Ida ever since my proposal; it's starting to seem as if he's the one you're marrying," he pouted.

Before Zeno could reply, Ezra stood from the chair. "You guys go ahead," he said and walked away, hoping to get his boyfriend happy again.

Zeno smiled. "You made him leave," he said.

"I feel like we don't have enough privacy anymore. It's been a week, Zeno; you're keeping your sweet self away from your husband." Sebastian's hand slowly slid up Zeno's thigh.

Zeno placed a hand over Sebastian's. "It's fiancé, Seb. You're not my husband... yet." He kissed Sebastian's cheek and stood.

"I'll go see what the guys are up to. Hurry, we have to go see the mothers later," he winked at Sebastian and left.

Sebastian bit his lips as he stared at Zeno's retreating figure. A smirk played on his lips. "Just two more weeks, baby girl. You'll have no more excuses then," he murmured and sighed.

No one had ever told him that love increased as the days went by. Each day with Zeno felt like he was falling deeper and harder in love. At this point, he was so whipped he'd openly cry if he didn't see Zeno for a whole day.

That was how in love he was with his groom-to-be.
***
"And you think that Mrs. Orion would let you out of her sight if she manages to see you this evening?" Ida asked.

They were standing inside the bodyguards' gym. This one was much larger than the one back in the States, and they loved it, but they missed the arboretum and its beautiful view.

"Yeah, she seems to love me," he smiled.

"Aww, look who's feeling Bonita," Andre said, walking in shirtless and sweaty.

Zeno shrugged. "Jealous?" He raised a brow.

"I want nothing to do with a Mafai family," he replied.

"Mm, I'll remind you of your words soon," Zeno smiled evilly at him.

"He finally let you off?" Ida asked Andre, standing from the bench where he was sitting.

Andre sighed and looked at Zeno as if he were responsible for his condition.

"What?" Zeno questioned with furrowed brows.

"It's all your fault the boy wants to be perfect at boxing. And trust me, he's getting better day by day. His punches are no longer cute and ticklish; he knocks my protein shake out of me with the first punch," Andre complained.

"That's cute," he chuckled.

Ida nodded. "Yeah, quite a small adult he's becoming," he said.

"Hahaha—so funny, right?" Andre asked with a frown.

Zeno and Ida stopped smiling, seeing the frustrated look in Andre's eyes.

"Well..." Ida cleared his throat.

"Well what? How about you take my place as his trainer for a day, huh? I'd like to see how funny it'll be when you have those small fists threatening to blind your eyes," Andre flared.

Zeno sighed. "Quite hormonal for a guy... do you think he's a bottom?" He looked at Ida, trying hard not to break character.

"Hmm, now that you've mentioned it, he seems like a—"

"Like a what? What are you guys talking about?" Thomas jumped in, hanging his arm around Zeno's shoulder.

"Is Andre gay?" Jeremiah asked from behind Andre, smirking.

"It'll do you all good to mind your own business; however, I'm curious too. He's the only one whose sexuality is still hidden," Jasper joined.

Andre slowly smiled, looking around at his friends. He was used to this. Ever since they'd come over to Paris, they'd made it an odd hobby to tease him, and not once had he let them have full fulfillment on their mission.

"Well, at least my sexuality is questioned. Rather than being confused if I'm a top or bottom," He winked at Jeremiah before walking away to the treadmill.

"Ohhh! Brother, that was for you!" Thomas hugged Jeremiah's side, patting his back.

"Get off me, you pig," Jeremiah pushed Thomas off his body, glaring at Andre.

"True, how about you get down with Jas—"

"Don't even finish your words, Ida. I'll punch you, I promise," Jasper warned and walked off.

Jeremiah scoffed. "As if I'd want to." He rolled his eyes and left too.

"You think they would?" Ida whispered to Zeno.

"If we did, they would," Zeno said, folding his arms across his chest and nodding.

"Well, maybe they won't. They'd choose to be like me. It's the best option. Staying friends is less complicated," Ida said with a slight frown.

"You think?" Zeno gave Ida a mischievous smirk, turning him around to show him the person running on the treadmill beside Andre.

"Are you sure you just want to be friends?" Zeno asked as they watched Cody running at a steady pace.

Ida gulped. "I think it's the best," he shrugged, looking away.

After Cody had confirmed that he wanted to get back together with Ida, Ida had only managed to stay an extra minute with him before he suddenly made a choice. A choice born of both fear and rejection.

He made it clear to Cody that he loved him and always would, but he could no longer be with him.

He didn't want to hurt anymore. He was scared of facing another misunderstanding between them.

Instead of staying a couple and breaking up later, he chose to stay friends.

Friends lasted forever; they never broke up. If that's what it would take to be beside Cody without any separation or troubles, then he would do it—even if it meant watching him love someone else. He'd do it.

"Staying friends is the worst, Ida. Don't say I never told you so, my dear friend," Zeno patted Ida's shoulder before leaving to prepare for his fitting.