Gabriel was at a loss for words, unsure of how to navigate the situation. He'd already planned to be at the event as Angel on the second day, and while he could tell Ryden they could meet up on the first day, he knew the situation was delicate. It was clear Ryden had an interest in meeting Angel again.

It still felt surreal to him—Ryden actually liked Angel enough to want to explore new hobbies related to her. That in itself was something to be grateful for, especially since it had allowed Gabriel to get closer to Ryden. But now he wondered if it might be time to come clean, especially since he knew Ryden wouldn't react negatively. Yet, despite this, Gabriel's fear of betraying Ryden's trust lingered. Would Ryden feel hurt or deceived if he learned the truth—that Angel was actually Gabriel? Angel had become something more than just a persona, and Gabriel was afraid of losing the bond he'd formed with Ryden. He wanted to believe that Ryden's admiration for Angel was pure, based solely on her craft and aesthetic. Ryden saw Angel as a role model, an inspiration. Nothing more. Gabriel could hold onto that, right?

Even so, the idea of spilling such a huge secret still terrified him. Gabriel had never told anyone about his life as Angel—no one had the slightest clue. He still wasn't ready, though. Maybe next time he'd find the courage, but for now, his secret had to stay hidden just a little longer.

"We can go on the first day," Gabriel said, trying to keep his tone casual.

"Oh, I wanted to go on the second day," Ryden replied, looking a bit disappointed, "but I guess I could go on both days."

Gabriel felt a pang of guilt, but he wasn't prepared to be fully honest yet. "Yeah, sorry man, my job has a weird schedule." He tried to deflect, but the guilt still gnawed at him.

"No worries," Ryden said, taking a cookie from the snack table. "Ahhh, I'm glad you didn't think I was weird." He chuckled softly.

Gabriel forced a smile, but inside, he felt the weight of his secret growing heavier. He hadn't expected Ryden to be such a fan of Angel—after all, her following wasn't exactly large. She was known in a niche corner of the internet. The thought kept circling in Gabriel's mind as they ate their snacks.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Then, a new thought struck him—is Ryden in a relationship, surely not since he seemed to be attending these events solo, but it never hurt to ask. Gabriel decided to push the Angel dilemma to the back of his mind, focusing on something else. "So Ryden," he said, casually placing his controller down, "you're not in a relationship, are you? Girlfriend?" He asked with a teasing tone.

Ryden coughed, clearly flustered. "No."

Gabriel, encouraged by the response, pushed further. "Boyfriend?"

Ryden's face flushed, and he stammered, "No."

Gabriel leaned back slightly, feeling a sense of playful confidence, but also a twinge of nervousness. "So, you're open to both, huh?"

Ryden didn't hesitate this time. "To be honest, as long as we get along and love each other, I'm fine with whoever it is," he said, his tone steady and sincere. Gabriel was taken aback by the seriousness in Ryden's voice, finding it unexpectedly attractive that Ryden could approach such a topic with such maturity.

"That's nice," Gabriel said, his voice softening. He didn't want to push things further, especially after Ryden had just opened up to him. "Personally, I prefer men," he added with a laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "Is it obvious?"

Ryden shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. "Not at all, actually. Never really thought about it."

Gabriel felt his face flush slightly, suddenly aware of the delicate territory he had just ventured into. He grabbed a chip from the snack table, trying to avoid making eye contact. "Sorry for randomly bringing that up," he muttered, feeling a bit awkward.

"No problem at all," Ryden chuckled, clearly not fazed. "It's nice to know more about each other."

Gabriel felt a sense of relief wash over him, as if a weight had been lifted. He found himself wanting to know more about Ryden—he was fascinating, in a way that Gabriel hadn't anticipated. Ryden didn't seem to realize how attractive he was, with his aloof demeanor, but Gabriel couldn't help but see the appeal. It was rare to find someone so interesting, someone who didn't try to fit into the usual molds. Gabriel was grateful for the connection they'd made, and now, more than ever, he wanted to explore it further.

Gabriel clapped his hands together, shaking off the tension. "Alright, that's enough talking," he said with a grin. "Let's get back to gaming."

Ryden laughed, and Gabriel couldn't help but notice how good he looked even in casual clothes—effortlessly handsome. It wasn't just his looks, though; it was the way he carried himself. Gabriel found himself wanting Ryden to notice him as something more than just a friend, and he was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen. For now, though, he'd keep his Angel secret tucked away. At least, until he was ready to face the consequences.