After the chaotic birthday party, life was back to the usual routine. Bassena took Zein and Selena to the Mortix, following them to the lab and lounging there for a bit until lunch. Zein had to suffer Selena's constant teasing remarks about his supposed relationship with the Serpent Lord.
Which was intriguing, since not even Zein knew how to define his relationship with Bassena.
They weren't quite lovers yet, and they hadn't gone as far as sex to be called fuck buddies. Zein wasn't really rejecting or accepting Bassena, cruel as it might be. He enjoyed the esper's company, and felt a certain level of affection toward the younger man.
But he, who was still shackled with uncertainty about his identity, who dragged around heavy baggage, who couldn't even like himself enough, couldn't give anyone the suffering of sheltering his heart.
He, who couldn't even dare to think about what tomorrow might bring, shouldn't shackle another person with a cruel future.
