From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)-Chapter 221: Darcy’s Internal Fire Drill

Micah and Darcy walked slowly through the campus, talking about the banquet that evening, though neither of them sounded particularly enthusiastic.

"Go rest a bit. I’ll head to the library," Darcy said, tugging his backpack strap higher on his shoulder. He stopped walking, already turning to leave.

Micah grabbed his wrist. "Wait! I changed my mind. Let’s go to my place," he said, quickly.

"Your place? Like... your home?"

"No, no." Micah waved a hand. "I’ve got an apartment near campus. I’m moving out of the dorm once the six-month mandatory dorm thing ends."

Darcy’s heart gave a sudden, unwelcome jolt. He wasn’t sure if it was from nerves or something more dangerous.

"Why...why do you want me to come?" he asked carefully, trying to sound casual, but his voice came out lower than he meant. There was a slight dryness in his throat. Being alone with Micah... it wasn’t the same as before. Back when Micah stayed at their house, Darcy hadn’t fully understood how he felt. Now he did. And being invited to Micah’s apartment... just the two of them, felt different. Too personal. Too risky.

Micah raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, why? Of course, it’s because I’ve got clothes there."

Darcy blinked in confusion. "Huh? Clothes?"

Micah rolled his eyes. "I can’t let you go to my banquet like that!" Micah said, eyeing Darcy’s casual clothing. "Your style is good, don’t get me wrong. It’s just that...this is a formal setting. And I know not everyone at our age has a suit. I don’t want you feeling out of place or awkward. So don’t think I am degrading you or looking down on you!"

Micah rubbed the back of his neck. "I just thought...Well, I have a couple of spare suits and stuff there. So."

"Huh? But I remember you said I shouldn’t come?" Darcy asked.

"Oh, I still say that. We are not going to the banquet..." Micah said. "I want you to meet someone. Then we sneak out."

"Oh..." Darcy felt even worse. Why did Micah want to introduce him to someone? Who was this person? He had already met Micah’s mum. So who was important enough for Micah to want him there, even briefly? His heart dropped a little. Was it someone special?

"What’s with the frown? You don’t want to come?" Micah asked.

"That’s not it.., it’s just who are you going to..."

"Oh. It’s my grandma," Micah interrupted. "She is sweet but frail. She won’t attend any gathering most of the time. I just want her to see you."

"Why?"

"She’s always worrying about me. I want to introduce my friend to her so she’ll stop fretting."

Darcy nodded. He didn’t know why Micah was having this meet-up tonight, but he would welcome anything if it meant being close to Micah.

He knew the gap in their social status. Sometimes, dark thoughts crept in, doubts about whether Micah was ashamed to introduce him to his family or relatives as a friend. What if the difference between their worlds meant they would never fit together?

No. He was being too sensitive. If Micah had a problem, if he had any shame, he would never be this frustrated about suggesting lending him a suit. He would never ask him to come meet his grandma.

"Okay," Darcy said quietly. "Let’s go. Do you have anything from the dorm?"

Micah shook his head.

They got a taxi near the north gate of campus, and the ride was mostly quiet.

The apartment complex they arrived at wasn’t huge, but it screamed money. Quiet, discreet, and surrounded by well-kept hedges and tinted glass doors.

Micah walked toward the elevator, but his steps slowed. He remembered the last time he had been here. Clyde...

Micah felt a bit strange. He had blocked Clyde out of his mind these past few days. But coming back here reminded him. He had brought the man here once to grab his sketches. What did they talk about at that time?

Micah pressed his lips together. No! He wasn’t going to think about that. He shook his head vigorously.

He glanced at Darcy, standing beside him.

Other than Clyde, Darcy was the only person outside his family who had ever entered his space.

Once again Clyde! Ahhh! Go away! He screamed in his mind.

The elevator dinged, and they walked down a short hallway. Micah unlocked the door and pushed it open.

"Come in. Make yourself at home," Micah said, but his voice faltered. " Ah, Sorry. I don’t usually have guests. It’s a bit messy..."

Micah’s ears turned red as he spotted the mess on the ground from his last visit.

"You’re fine," Darcy said with a hoarse voice, stepping inside. He was so nervous, his heart pounding. Everything felt too intimate.

He glanced around, trying to distract himself. The place was spacious, with modern furniture and soft lighting. A sketchbook lay open on the coffee table beside a half-finished drink. A hoodie was draped over the back of the couch. One shoe sat kicked at the foot of it.

His eyes landed on a room. Through an open door, he could see the bed in the middle of the room and a half-hung towel dangling off the side.

His mind went somewhere they shouldn’t. He felt he had gone crazy, like a prisoner to his own hormones. But it wasn’t just that. He had never felt so powerless.

He swallowed hard. "Where is the bathroom?"

Micah turned around, oblivious to Darcy’s turmoil. "There," he pointed to the left.

Darcy practically rushed inside. The moment the door clicked shut behind him, he leaned over the sink, turned on the cold water, and splashed his face several times.

"Get a grip!" he muttered under his breath, gripping the edges of the sink like a lifeline. "You’re being gross."

His thoughts were a mess; every glance from Micah, every moment alone with him, set off a firestorm inside. He hated it. It wasn’t just desire. It was something deeper and more dangerous. He wanted Micah’s attention, his affection. He wanted to be close, too close.

He took deep breaths. He had to bury these feelings. Micah didn’t know; he was just being kind, being himself. If he knew what had flashed through Darcy’s mind...

Darcy gritted his teeth.

He stared at his reflection, water dripping from his chin, eyes wild and frustrated. "Don’t ruin this," he whispered.

If he wanted to stay by Micah’s side, he had to kill all these disgusting thoughts. Before they destroy everything.

New n𝙤vel chapters are published on fre(e)webnov(l).com