*ೃ༄

One week later...

Kohaku was annoyed that one of the lecturers calling for him due to needing help for orientation week for sophomores, because he was a class monitor and master degree student at third-year semester--he had to help the committees for organizing events such as the Welcome Party and the New Student Orientation--since most freshmen were new students, they need somebody who are familiar with how college life works. As he was riding on his motorbike with helmet on, he also carrying his bag with his driving license and vehicle registration certificate--it took five minutes to arrive there and he parked his motorbike at the parking lot. As he take off his helmet, he saw Byakuya was there too as he greeted him. "Byakuya, you're here too?" he asked him.

Byakuya narrowed his eyes, he hates being called by one of the lecturers to help out the events of orientation week for sophomores in Warmadewata University in Bali. "Yeah... it was annoying, I was trying to spend my holiday with Kyouka but that fucking asshat needs help for some stupid event?" he complained. Usually, Byakuya acted more polite and dignified--hence he prefers to call the lecturers with their title and first name.

But not until he lost his patience, in which people knew that he isn't a very forgiving person because he's bad-tempered. "Fucking hell, I need my day offs with my sister!" he added when both of them entering the university together--which is also an official park of campus. "Do you know what are we gonna do today?" Kohaku heard him asked as he sighed, he shrugged. "I don't know really... but let's just went along with it," he answered as his best friend nodded with a small frown, they just finished their thesis hearing last week and passed it by typing it up; from the students who couldn't finish their thesis. "How's Andrew and Juan?" he asked.

Kohaku walked beside him, stretching his arms with a yawn. "Julian told me that they just finished their thesis hearing after Shania's, they also passed the hearing after Kyoran and Misuzu's turns respectively. Now they began to revise their theses as the results will probably be written down tomorrow," he said, clasping his hands together. "And Julian's making sure that their thesis is indeed authentic, he also done with the hearing so he can focus on the revisions."

"Sounds boring, you finished all of your thesis' hearing right? How about the revisions?" Byakuya asked, only to hear a groan from Kohaku's mouth. "Well duh, I already did! The result is out and I'm satisfied with the result."

Well, thankfully they were done until 11:00 AM and they were allowed to go home or just helping the others in the campus, but it seems like they would probably left by now. "Byakuya, I'm going to go back, are you gonna go back too?" Kohaku asked, his best friend nodded. "Yes, so please give me free time," Byakuya muttered tiredly, before he walk to the parking lot and getting inside his car. "Right."

Both of them high-fived each other before departing on their own ways, Kohaku watched him leave before he was heading on his way to his motorbike--until he heard a phone call from Damien and he take out his smartphone. "Yes, sir?" he answered, usually there'll be commission at daytime--as the execution always starts in the nighttime or midnight.

"Good morning Kayana, are you free today?"

Damien asked, likewise he was in his office working on his files from his clients-with their targets shown on the photos. Kohaku checked his wristwatch, before he glanced at the road across him. "I'm free today," Kohaku answered. "That's great, I hope you're taking care of your mental health well, don't force yourself out there okay?" Damien informed him as he was being caring to his subordinate, he was in his office of his enterprise building. Hisato was across his desk working on his papers and laptop on the desk, listening to him while focused on his work. "I hope this will make you happy Kayana, since you're a hardworking college student, also one of us," Damien said to him as he smiled. "You do deserve to be happy, you worked hard for this."

"Y-Yes, thank you for informing me, sir…" Kohaku said, he tried not to tear up when Damien was being supportive towards him. "So, is something the matter sir?"

"Yes, a client just contacted me few hours ago, he wanted you to assassinate someone," Damien chuckled, he also looked amused. "The target was arranging a meeting with one of the highest-ranking police generals in the nightclub--our other target, located in the downtown area of Ubud in the nighttime. I want you to assassinate them like killing two birds with one stone, they booked a karaoke room in there--I already informed the nightclub owner that we'll be 'taking out the trash' for these two tomorrow."

Kohaku pondered what does the target looks like, before he asked him. "What is the description of the target?"

Damien nodded, reading the profile on his desk as he explained. "The target is a son of late-police general who have records of corruption, before he died of heart attack, the target's name is Riyadi Pratama. He's the Inspector-General of the Indonesian National Police, I want you to kill him before he leaves the club--apparently the person he met is also his friend. So, you also have to kill his friend because he was a Commissioner-General and wanted to conspire with him."

Kohaku narrowed his eyes, looking to the side with a nod. "So, these two are the traitors to the country?"

"Affirmative," Damien agreed, reading the email of his client. "The client want to see an arrest warrant on his commissioner, I haven't found the name yet since there are much commotions within the police agency, even I'm being surprised that he didn't found out about you the other day. Look, not all Indonesian polices are bad--but majority of them? Don't ask," he said, chuckling. Kohaku felt little bit irritated since he found it disgusting that majority of the politicians and people related to the intelligence agencies aren't much of good but corrupted assholes, if there were good people--they ended up betrayed by their own peers or killed for their kindness. 'They make up some stupid scenarios to frame innocent people. It's so obvious that they are guilty, yet they're still breathing and walking around...' he thought.

Kohaku frowned deeply while he thought of what to do, he remembered the murder case that went viral and shit happens. As he was listening attentively to him, he asked his superior. "How long will the assassination takes place?" he inquired.

Damien glanced at his watch on the wall of his office, the CEO explained. "An hour after midnight, I already gave them the time and location of the meeting. They will be arriving by taxi and you will be waiting in the background until they're inside the room. Once they're in the nightclub, you have to assassinate them in no time-then staged the scene of the crime. You have sixty minutes, and you must act fast, I already paid the fee of the nightclub, all expenses are included. I want you to clean up this mess and eliminate the traitors from the society, they are threats to the government."

Kohaku's eyes flashing red color and darkened, narrowing his eyes answering him with a nod. "Your wish is my command, sir," he told him, he grabbed his bag and went outside the university.

That night...

Kohaku has arrived in the nightclub; Heart & Soul where the location of his two targets are in the nighttime, donned in his main assassin attributes he entered from the back door of the building and he was inside the bathroom. It made him disgusted by the scent due to the drunkards inside, which made him walking off in speed and entered the main hall of the nightclub. He wasn't expecting people to get crazy when the music grew louder. They danced really hard by just bouncing up and down in union, going wild when Kohaku was horrified at the sight of them--he clenched his teeth and immediately went to upstairs of the second floor; where his targets are booking the karaoke room for their deals.

The hallway was quite empty and quiet, he remained focus until he found the room just as Damien told him and he could hear the two police generals are conversing about their dirty businesses inside the room. Kohaku entered the room quietly, waiting for the right moment while keeping an eye on them in the shadows, his eyes glowing red with his inner abilities. “--so do you agree? We'll be rich forever after this!"

The inspector-general of the police said with a grin, the commissioner-general grinned back. "Yeah, I'll allow you to be promoted to a high rank as long as you make sure that we're not caught."

"Of course, I won't let my friend down! I'm doing this for us after all." The inspector-general answered. "I'll make sure that we can have our freedom back again, even though your father did a lot of mistakes in the past-it's not your fault! What you did is right and honorable, I just want you to come out of this situation and be the next president-that's why I'm doing all these!"

"Hahaha, you're so funny, I knew that you would say that! I want to become an idol! Just like our president!”

The inspector-general replied with enthusiasm, laughing loudly while he's pressing his hands against each other. Until it stopped when they saw a chain-blade of the bullwhip hit the suitcases and the locks were opened--revealing the money in front of them. "Huh?" the two noticed someone came out from the darkness, revealing to be Kohaku who have been watching them the whole time. "What the hell are you doing in here?! Get out of here, this isn't your business!"

Kohaku ignored the inspector-general, aiming his bullwhip at them. He narrowed his eyes, his piercing magenta-red eyes staring at them in menacingly manner. Both of his eyes had become blood-red as he scanned the surroundings, he can sense that their malicious presence are really suspicious. Then, he swing them and hit the inspector-general's neck that cut the skin to bleed. It is enough for him to fall dead on the floor without any chance of surviving anymore. The police quickly tried to move away from there but Kohaku swung his bullwhip at him and cut the skin as well. The commissioner-general fell on the floor and lay there motionless after he got slashed by the bullwhip--the noise unheard from outside because of the loud music inside the nightclub. "My sincere apologies for intruding your dirty business, inspector-general, commissioner-general."

Kohaku said to them, with a grim smile on his lips. "I'll make sure that you'll be treated fairly in the afterlife, so does yours as well."

After that, he wipe off the blood from his cheek and watched the two of their lifeless bodies on the floor. As he heard his smartphone ringing, he immediately pick up the phone and heard Damien's call. "How is it goes, Kayana?"

"I assassinated both of them," Kohaku answered, before he look down at the suitcases of their cashes. "What should we do with their suitcases? It has money inside, should we leave it?" Kohaku asked, looking at the money that still scattered. "Don't worry about the money, we'll take care of it. Even though the money is their corruption cash, it belongs to the country's government so I want you to bring it back to me at the HQ, You have to leave this place now and clean up the mess, you didn't had a blood all over the room right? You have to be quick to stage up the crime scene."

"No, not much."

"Good, hurry up and I'll send you the transfer for the payment."

Damien added, Kohaku nodded when he hung up the phone. It didn't took a while for him to stage the crime scene like what Damien ordered him, since the two police generals has their guns on their sides he kept his gloves on to prevent his fingerprints being detected-and he finished staged the crime scene.

The crime scene looks like both of the inspector-general and commissioner-general had a fight with each other in which one of them died from their own weapons in a shootout--and no one noticed that there is someone in disguise watching them. "Alright, time to clean myself up first," Kohaku murmured when he walk out from the karaoke room and close the door, before he headed to the washroom nearby to clean up his face and his weapons--he was alone so he proceeds to leave the nightclub.

'I wonder... how did Damien sense that I'm doing my work well?' Kohaku thought as his father Kahayana just got back and prepared some dinner for him, he has arrived in his residence and he take out his phone to receive a payment from his boss. It was the same amount, which made Kohaku surprised before he checked the 'Secret Garden' group chat that they use. 'Damn, this will get hectic sometimes!' he thought, he was notified by some of the member either congratulated him or cheering for him. This group chat will be used to contact them anytime, for commissions and discussing about matters. He noticed that he was added by a phone number, it was Damien's phone number...? Oh right, he hasn't save his numbers (goddamnit).

???: "It seems like you finally made it, Kayana."

The message written on the chat, Kohaku began to answer with a text:

Kohaku: "Are you Damien? I haven't added your phone number yet, I was surprised and confused that why are you suddenly sent the payment?"

???: "Oh right. You haven't add my number, don't worry you're doing great and you deserve it."

Kohaku: "How can I tell that you are Damien?"

The picture was sent by Damien who posed with a mysterious smile on his lips but only the smile on his lips to his bust that was shown on the picture, he was seen wearing his usual business outfit with his hand on his cheek and his other hand was holding his phone. Fuck, that was him and he can see the slightest glimpse of his sunglasses he always wear. He was panicked, WHY THE FUCK DID HE ASKED FOR A PHOTO?! He was trembling while looking at it, sweatdropping at him and looked away from his phone with a blush. Damien seems to be amused at him but he was even more excited than ever. 'W-What should I say?' he thought.

Kohaku: "Ah shit, oh okay it's you, wait, what--"

Damien: "Do I look good?"

Kohaku: "W-Well, yeah sure."

Damien: "Don't worry, no one will see this picture except for you."

HUH? What did he just said--his brain failed to register the information before it died because of that teasing-like remark, what a goddamn madman who like to bully his subordinates with his own ways! Kohaku tried not to sweat profusely and panic. By the way, why did he sent a bust shot of himself? Like he ain't messing with him, right? He admitted that he is cool but... that photo was saved by him, just in case, it made him bit his lips, he looks so handsome in that shot. No, Kohaku's not into that kind of thing--who knows if he want to ask Damien to borrow his suits if there's a party undercover? But he was rich so... screw that thought for now.

Kahayana watched his son from the kitchen as he snickered, he can tell that his son felt something really intense over a man named Damien. He noticed Damien's subtle hints towards him such as his flirty remarks and sexual tension, and the text that made him shudder and the picture was making his mind to run rampantly. "Hey, what's wrong Kayana?" he teased, making Kohaku groaned. 'OH GODDAMMIT, YOU TOO?!' Kohaku thought, he was so done with him.

"DAAAAAAD! Are we gonna eat or not? Are you going to cook or what?" Kohaku whined in agony when he turned away from him, his face was already reddened and he still looks at the picture. Kahayana laughed at him, before he smirked. "I already prepared them, silly boy!" he said, Kohaku rolled his eyes. "Fuck..."

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***

Damien sat down on his couch watching at the screen in the next morning at his mansion, he was watching the news about the death of the two police generals that remains a mystery unsolved.

"There are many rumors about this case until today, with a lot of people are accusing the government to be involved in the murder of those two police generals. But now, there's a new rumor going around that claimed that the victims are actually killed by a mysterious woman who is a victim of the devil himself."

As he was watching the news, he reached out his hand to his glass of wine that was on the table beside him, pouring it and took a sip of his drink. "One more thing," Damien whispered to himself. "Don't ever doubt them," he continue to watch the news, he couldn't care less about the deceased police generals--they deserve to die because of their crimes; it doesn't matter if they were corrupted or not.

As long as they're corrupt, they deserve to die. Damien was in a good mood in this morning and he was happy with what happened earlier, it was nice that Damien got rid of their enemies that he was keeping a secret for a long time-with the help of Kohaku and his fellow assassin subordinates.

Damien was a successful businessman and philanthropist, he owned several companies that provided oil for weapons, but mainly his beloved Indonesian kretek (clove cigarette) brand known as Eden's Cloves--under his own company Djaroem Gramofon Corporation; a cigarette brand/manufacturer that largely benefits from the international demand for clove cigarettes. Not only he focused on the kretek cigarettes industry; but he also worked on the field of distributing professional employees into abroad to become a global expansion, he also one of the co-founders of the Christiadjie Group; an Indonesian conglomerate consists of Damien himself, his younger brother Luca and their widowed Indonesian mother; Ravina Christiadjie.

Of course, he's well-known to everyone all over the world to be an influential businessman due to his wealth, including an assassin employer to secretly work with his unofficial paramilitary organization as its guild, his company is a worldwide kretek cigarettes manufacturer and distributor and global expansion in digital media as his worldwide service while running a series of businesses such as media (print and broadcasting, among others) and technology sectors--complemented by their extensive non-core activities in the areas of hotels, bars and clubs and publishing of art books, etc.

Despite this, he owned an unofficial paramilitary organization under him and shadow government of Indonesia--which is Secret Garden. He hired a bunch of assassins and mercenaries to serve under him and become his assets, Secret Garden organization is where every assassins and mercenaries are under his commands--and where every clients trusted him for their on-time achievements. Damien is a cruel person when it comes to business, he never give any mercy to his competitors nor his employees. He doesn't forgive and he doesn't forget. His success is based on cunningness and ruthless nature in business-he always wanted to be the best and has high expectation of all achievements and results--because he prioritize hard work.

Damien is a very private person, he rarely mingled with anyone especially in underground business, and he preferred to be alone most of the time when it comes to his dirty work as an assassin and the leader for them-but he cared about his comrades who are his main subordinates--he spent his time mostly with them to learn about their capabilities and weaknesses even as friends. He was one of the richest individuals in Indonesia, but also feared by many criminals and terrorist groups due to his power and influence.

He has a pet name among his men, he calls them as his children and he treats them well--most of the times based on the bird species or even vultures, Damien is known to be quite cold-hearted and ruthless, he doesn't show his emotions and he prefers to be quiet--which he only shows when he's with the assassins and his subordinates--especially to the client who wants his target to be dead.

They considered him as the youngest godfather in the underworld business, for being twenty-five years old--though he denied it.

As he drank his glass of wine watching the news, he stared at his birdcage that he adopted his pet birds from when he was young. "Oh, I haven't thought about it," Damien murmured to himself. "I should do something for them."

He stood up and walked towards the birdcage, grabbing a bag of food and seed to refill their food bowl, gently pouring the seeds into the bowl--carefully as to not scare his birdies while filling up their water. He grabbed his smoking pipe that has a kretek inside the bowl to let him inhale the fumes of the clove flavored cigar, smoking the cigarette with him always had a smoke once he got some free time. Damien is an avid smoker, after he learned to smoke clove cigarettes when he was young, he also developed a liking to smoking whenever he's bored or just wanted a break from working on his desk for many hours. It seems like his hobby is taking a smoke since he smokes a few times a day (if you ask him to stop smoking, you better leave), he owns the biggest kretek company in his country.

He will keep on smoking for fun and doing his daily routine. Even he could afford a thousand packs of cigarettes to spend on his belongings, while there are some assassins who are afraid of him always receive some packs of cigarettes from him. He opened the windows and looked outside, there's a birdcage there with three parakeets, he picked up the cage and put it to the floor, making sure it won't hit against the wall or fall down--the cages are always there in the same place since he adopted them when he was in college.

The first one is blue in color and it's the oldest among all of them, it was already fourteen years old, its tail is grayed-out and t has a bald patch on his head, he still flutters and flies in the air with grace despite of his age. He lifted up the cage and brought it closer to him, opening the back of the cage and let the birds fly freely for a moment. They flew around him and landed on his shoulder, chirping and whistling. "Good morning my dear ones," he said to the birds, Damien also has three pet owls--there were Buffy Fish owl, white Barred eagle-owl and Spot-Bellied eagle owl--they were standing on the ground near their cage, watching everything that's happening in front of them.

His pets were trained to obey orders given by their master, they were smart enough to respond and respond well in any situations; since Damien has affinity with birds, he knows how to communicate with them as well. There are no words needed to explain what he wants, they understand everything through his eye contact or gestures even movements. "How I wish I could spend more time with you."

Damien continued to look at the birds. "But, I'm busy with my work these days and I need to take care of my other birds." he sighed softly while closing the cage. "It's because of my work and I didn't have enough time to play with you." he took out his phone with his free hand, texting someone that he wanted to invite over. "Let's see... I want to get to know Kayana first."

Damien was formidably interested with Kohaku--or Kayana as his real name, he was more respectful and doesn't cross the line--he's also a perfect example of an assassin and how an assassin should be. Even when he was assigned to kill his targets, Damien still observed Kohaku from the shadows and he watched his movements from afar--and he couldn't believe that Kohaku is naturally an assassin after he was trained by them, he never doubted him and he was amazed by his skills. While he didn't forget about his subordinates Byakuya, Kyouka and Nadya--his partner-in-crime Hisato is very tactical when it comes to strategy.

Despite every women and suitors attempted to entice him, Damien was never been interested in them, he would rather spend his time playing with his birds than with any random woman who wants to date him. Damien sighed heavily while he closed the windows and locked the cage back inside the house, he returned to his couch and sipped his wine again. He was watching television until he heard his butler calling for him that there was a visitor outside his mansion, he got up and walked to the door, opening it and stepping outside to see the visitor.

"Is there any other reason why you invited me here?"

Kohaku asked curiously, resting his hand on his hip. "Oh, I wanted to get to know you, as friends."

Kohaku could only blink his eyes, unsure of what to make of this situation. But Damien didn't care as long as he has his interest on him, maybe it's because of the pictures he sent to his boss earlier but he was... let's not talk about that yet. "Do you want a smoke?" Damien offered, handing a pack of his brand to him. He shook his head, it's not like he hates smoke--in fact his father taught him NOT to smoke nor drink to maintain a good health. But no thanks, he has to stay alive for as long as possible if he really wants his lungs to stay healthy. BUT HOW DAMIEN CAN STAY FOREVER YOUNG IN HIS APPEARANCE WHILE ALMOST SMOKING HIS LIFE AWAY?!

"No thanks, I'm good."

Damien put away the pack to his chest pocket, before taking a deep puff of smoke. "All right then," he muttered while puffing out the smoke, tucking his hands inside his pockets. "...why are you interested in me?" Kohaku decided to ask, his head tilting. This made Damien chuckle, taking off his sunglasses. "Why not? You're cool."

Kohaku's eyes widened when he remembered the recent photo that he was teasing about, before he tried not to laugh because of his nervousness and stared at him. "But you're so mean!"

Damien can only smile at him while he wiped the ash off his sleeve. "Well, you're interesting and I'm still young, I won't die early when it comes to relationships," he hummed while walking to the table to pour himself a new glass. "Anyways, how old are you?"

Kohaku's question mde Damien chuckled again, looking at him with his gentle face. "Of course, but there is one thing that I can assure you and that is the truth."

"Twenty-five?"

He stopped, looking at Kohaku with shocked expression. "H-how... did you know?"

Kohaku only looked at him with smug expression as if telling him 'Now who's the bastard now?', before he scoffed with a grin. "Let's just say that I have my own sources. It's not the best idea but who knows. I do research in my way, and my job is related to it," Kohaku explained as he also grinned back, staring at him again as his eyes met with Damien's. The businessman stared at him, before he sighed. "Fine, you got me good," he replied as he chuckled when he saw that Kohaku looking too relaxed and comfortable with him, especially as they got to know each other better.

Both of them were having a chatter in the garden and then Damien decide to walk with him, letting him have a detour around the mansion. Kohaku was awed at how majestic his mansion was, especially the vast gardens. Every plants and flowers look gorgeous. "Wow, you must be working hard for this!" He exclaimed with genuine wonder. He was never seen something so outstanding in such long years, mostly, he was busy about studying and his works--so he seldom take a look at his surroundings.

Damien smiled as a response, admiring the beauty of the garden. "Yes, my life never dull, don't worry," he replied with a more pleasant tone, Kohaku nodded--bewildered and impressed at the same time, mostly bewildered but impressed. "So, Kayana..." he started, as much he didn't want to bring up the news of the ex-professor in his university--he wanted to know if Kohaku's alright with it; considering that he's a victim of the assault.

Kohaku glanced at him, he walked towards the grassy field nearby that was hidden behind some tall trees, Damien followed suit with a glance in case he didn't notice the tree roots. Kohaku was surprised to find this area, he walks towards the tree and was silent when he heard the chirping sound, he turns his head to the direction where he heard the chirping. "There..." he points at it, Damien walked towards him and looked at the birds, he leaned against the tree trunk and watch. "Are you okay, now?"

He know what he was referring about his test when he faced Damien for the first time, recalling that he admitted that he was a victim of sexual assault--but it seems like Kohaku already moved on from the incident, albeit the constant pain and regret. He is thankful that nothing bad happened, except for the past memories. "I'm fine now," he replied, he smiled a little at Damien who seemed relieved to hear that. "It's just... it took a huge courage of me just to finally admit that I was a rape victim. I have to continue on with my life," he continued, with his other hand reached out to Damien for him to hold.

Damien was surprised by his hand grabbing on his sleeve, he raised an eyebrow and waited. "Are you sure?" He asked gently, his grip on his arm strengthened.

Kohaku responded by squeezing his fingers and nodded his head firmly. "Promise you won't be disgusted?" He whispered. "Not at all, I've seen a lot of shit," he said reassuringly, making him release his grip. Kohaku took a deep breath, before he explained. "I was in the lab, trying to look for something... until this professor suddenly appeared inside the lab," he said, he couldn't mention Professor Rihan's name--the rapist who made his life a living hell.

"He offered me to become his lab assistant, but I said no... he insisted me a lot that I keep refusing and that's when he began to assault me. I tried to use my karate skill... until one of his underlings knocked me out, torturing me by putting a cloth on me that filled with sedative and dragged me into the backyard. I was half-conscious to unconscious that time, I got brutally hit... I got pissed on... and they put a foreign object--not a private organ into me... it was painful that I couldn't sit for hours. Until, Professor Hokuri Deinukai... he was the one who stopped his henchmen and found me laying on the ground, he saved my life and brought me to the hospital..."

That alone made Damien petrified, which can explain why he was afraid to mention his name, because he doesn't want him to relive the past again.

"I was in the hospital for one week, I didn't come to college because I'm scared... Byakuya was the first one to check up on me. I didn't tell my father about this yet because he was outside Bali that time, I was so weak that time... I couldn't report it to the police until my father came--he was angry at the professor so... he reported him to the authorities. I was shocked that there are more victims--not just male but female too, it's seven including me... I was relieved that the professor and his henchmen got the punishment they deserved."

It was graphic, he can see what kind of brutal torture they put into him by their bare hands and how low are they. They clearly go to rape a college boy as a potential rape victim with his gang in the middle of the day, Kohaku closed his eyes as the horrible memories of their assaults repeated like a broken record. It was disgusting, horrible--yet it didn't even match his level of danger in order to stop them.

Damien didn't show any emotions from his face but he can read a lot on the expression, it was horrifying and anger. "But now, I can sit properly and my waist doesn't feel any more pain--" he stopped when he feels Damien's arms wrapped around him, hugging him tightly. Kohaku trembled a little, feeling a gentle warmth in his arms while the other hugged him with a frown, pressing his hand on his back. This made him surprised and tried to break free, but his hug was strong. Damien looked upset and it didn't took a while for him to calm down, but he still had some sympathy when Kohaku told him the reason. "You didn't deserve that..." he spoke quietly, breaking the silence between them, making him shiver slightly.

Kohaku frowned sadly, looking at him while nodding to respond. He remembered how his father Kahayana hugged him after finding out what happened to him, his own father comforted him the whole day--telling him how strong he was and how much he's proud of him. It was rare to see the most serious person can give their sympathies with the exact look of sorrow on their face, no traces of lie, no traces of the false attempt or simply saying how sad they are--it's honesty and kindness.

"Thank you..." Kohaku mumbled while looking at Damien--wrapping his arms around him as well, burying his face against the crook of Damien's neck. "I've moved past that, I'm just so stressed after a long time. I've been getting paranoid that professor is watching my every move," he continued as Damien shushed him gently, running his fingers through his hair. "But, there's no need to sympathize me... you've heard what I went through."

His voice cracked as tears begin to fall out of his eyes and on to Damien's shirt, which the other felt bad for him--and suddenly his heart ached. "You need to cry sometimes," he whispered, holding him close. "Don't bottle it up inside of you. If you're having a hard time, tell me, I'll listen to you. I'll be here when you need it. You don't deserve this pain. You are not alone in the battle, you have your friends and family that supports you."

"I'm grateful that... I don't have a suicidal thoughts, I just wanted to move on," he replied sadly, sniffing slightly.

As far as the hug, Damien's warmth helps him at least for the time being. He felt comfortable with Damien's hand stroking his hair, his hug provided him with a sense of security from the outside. He pulled away from the hug as Damien handed him the napkin and helped him wipe his tears away--taking off his glasses and cleaning the tears away from his eyes and lenses, then Kohaku looked at Damien in the eye, who looked at him with concern. "Better?" He asked softly, Kohaku nodded as a sign of yes--putting his glasses back on. "It's just... it's been hard, especially my work, my personal life... just..." he looked down. "I don't know how long I can cope myself into this."

"Kayana, there's no need to put more burden on your shoulder. You will only make yourself feel miserable," Damien stated with a frown, gently pulling his hands away from his eyes and bringing them to his chest, glancing at him. Kohaku looks surprised to see that expression on Damien's face and gave a small nod. "Remember that you're not alone, everyone still supports you--just ignore those people who blame you, they don't know how it feels like to be in your position--especially when you're a man," he spoke calmly while placing a comforting hand on his shoulder with a genuine smile on his face. "If it will help you to get better, talk about it, it will help you to cope with the stress and you need something to write."

Right, they don't know how it feels like to be in his position--they are also a man too, so maybe they don't understand how male victims go through this like him.

"Just don't keep your emotions bottled inside, even if you think that you're a burden for them, your health is more important, because we still want you to be strong."

Kohaku's hopes went up again, he still have a long way to heal--but he will fight as long as he needs. He nodded, looking up at him. "I will, I'm not holding back anymore."

He answered, his eyes filled with determination.

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