Chapter 36: Breakup

The hallway fell silent for two seconds.

Then Lucian’s voice erupted from behind the door, muffled but with every word striking clearly.

"Then fine, we’re done!"

Sebastian’s footsteps halted. He stood at the entrance of his own bedroom, back turned to Lucian’s room, his hand still resting on the doorknob.

That sentence was like a needle plunging straight into his heart. He stood there for two seconds, then suddenly spun around and strode back.

BANG—!!!

He delivered a violent kick to Lucian’s door. The frame shuddered from the impact, and the lock nearly snapped off.

"Lucian! Get out here right now!"

There was no movement inside. He kicked it again.

"Get out!"

The door opened.

Lucian stood in the doorway, his face a mask of fury.

"What?"

The man didn't waste a word; he simply threw a punch.

The blow landed squarely on Lucian’s face. Lucian stumbled back, hitting the doorframe. His head snapped to the side, and as he slowly turned back, his lip was split, blood seeping out.

He looked at Sebastian, the fire in his eyes igniting instantly.

"Are you freaking crazy?!"

Sebastian ignored him and threw another punch.

This one hit his shoulder. Lucian let out a muffled groan and recoiled a step.

That was the spot where he’d been beaten at Marcus’s place; the injury hadn't fully healed, and this strike sent a jolt of pain through him so sharp he nearly screamed.

He clutched his shoulder, glaring at Sebastian.

"Have you hit me enough yet?!"

Sebastian stood before him, chest heaving, eyes rimmed with red. "Fine," his voice squeezed out through his teeth, one word at a time. "You were just a bedwarmer anyway."

Lucian’s breath hitched, his eyes widening as he stared at the man.

Sebastian continued: "I’ll replace you tomorrow."

He was speaking out of sheer spite. He had been driven to his wits' end lately—the online vitriol, his stalled career, his recurring back injury—it felt as though every possible trouble had found him at once. He desperately needed an outlet for his rage.

Lucian looked at Sebastian as if he wanted to devour him. "Fine," he said. "I’ll replace you, too."

He took a step forward, closing the distance between them.

"You really think I give a damn about you?"

His voice rose, fueled by a long-suppressed anger.

"Aside from bossing me around, hitting me, and scolding me, what the hell else do you do?"

Sebastian looked at him, his eyes glistening, but he stubbornly refused to let a single tear fall.

Lucian continued: "I cook for you, I massage you, I apply your medicine. And you?"

His own eyes grew red.

"All you know how to say is 'get out'! All you know is 'we're done'! All you know is 'replace you'!"

"Fine," he said. "I'm gone."

He turned, walked into the room, and began packing.

He yanked his suitcase from the closet and zipped it open. He threw his clothes in one by one—no folding, just stuffing them in.

Sebastian stood at the door, watching him cram in his shirts, his pants, and that hoodie he wore so often. Sebastian’s fists clenched tight.

But he said nothing.

Once finished, Lucian zipped the suitcase shut, stood up, and dragged it to the door. He stopped in front of Sebastian.

"Happy now?"

Sebastian looked at him—at that young face, the bruised lip, and the swollen eyes.

He opened his mouth to say something, but then felt there was no point.

Lucian waited for a long time, but no words came.

He dragged the suitcase past him.

At the top of the stairs, he paused for a second. He didn't look back. Then, he continued down.

The sound of his footsteps grew more distant, lighter.

Finally, the front door opened, then closed.

Bang.

Sebastian stood in the hallway, staring at the closed door.

He stood there for a very long time.

Then he turned and delivered one last kick to the door of Lucian’s bedroom. The door slammed against the wall and bounced back.

He turned, walked into his own bedroom, and slammed the door.

Bang—

The entire house shook.

He collapsed onto the bed, the stinging in his eyes becoming unbearable.