As soon as A-Xuan left the house he saw Louis waiting for him. God, he really is stubborn. A-Xuan walked out and closed the gate behind him. He kept walking ignoring him.

Louis ran and caught up with him.

"I know you’re mad and you have every right to but can we talk at least."

A-Xuan said sarcastically:

"Thank you so much for allowing me to be mad at you."

Louis stopped him in place.

"Do you hate me that much?"

Louis looked genuinely heartbroken when just yesterday he was clarifying the details of A-Xuan’s death.

No wonder those two ended up together in the OG timeline they’re both psychos.

"That’s the thing I don’t."

Louis looked at A-Xuan optimistic. If he doesn’t hate me then I can get him back and I’ll make sure he doesn’t get hurt during the orientation trial.

"I want you in my life again."

"Do you think Steven’s gonna be okay with that?"

Louis who felt like he had him landed the fatal blow:

"I don’t care I already broke up with him. I want to be with you."

A-Xuan looked at him as joy flashed through his eyes. Louis caught it and felt extremely happy.

I knew it, I knew could get him back, now I just need to break up with Steven and stop him from harming A-Xuan.

"What if you change your mind again?"

Louis grabbed his hand and swore:

"I swear I won’t, I’ve always wanted to be with you. I let fear take over but it won’t happen again."

A-Xuan looked down and said in a small voice:

"I do want to be with you again but I want us to take it slow and become friends first. I need to make sure you won’t change your mind again."

Louis was so excited he felt like screaming, he nodded multiple times.

"Of course, of course, I understand."

A-Xuan said before hugging him and leaving:

"I need to go to class, I’ll see you later."

Louis watched his retreating back with a bright smile. Now that he finally has him back he doesn’t need Steven. He texted him and went to the meeting place.

Steven looked at his phone and walked to the room Louis asked him to meet at. He felt so frustrated these past few weeks but it’ll all come to an end. He’s never hated anyone as much as he hates A-Xuan.

He was so happy yesterday when Louis said he would help him. Ever since the beginning of their relationship he always felt like he was only with him because he couldn’t be with A-Xuan because of his bad reputation.

But now even with A-Xuan’s great reputation, he’s still willing to be with him and even help get rid of him. He truly loves him as much as he does him. Steven already knows how he is going to deal with A-Xuan.

With the number of friends he has, he’s sure that one is bound to find himself on A-Xuan’s team. He knows for sure that A-Xuan will find the collective consciousness first.

Ever since they were kids Jake studied every map of Alpha century. He always wanted to go there and destroy the consciousness to make his father proud.

He felt like his father would be delighted to know he did what he did many years ago and left the planet alive. Everything he did was always to make his father and grandfather proud. Too bad he’ll die on that planet.

Louis entered the room and eyed as Steven walked toward him wanting to hug him. Louis took a step back.

Steven asked worriedly:

"What’s wrong?"

Louis looked down:

"I think we should break up."

Louis looked up and saw sadness in his eyes. Steven asked shakily:

"Why?"

"I still have feelings for A-Xuan and it isn’t fair to you or me."

Steven laughed crazily as tears ran down his face.

"I’m such a fool, I thought you were with me because you loved me but turns out you never did. It’s always been A-Xuan isn’t it? Why do I have to live in his shadow forever?"

Louis said: 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"You don’t have to. You and he are two different people."

Steven forcefully pushed him against the wall and screamed:

"I know we are and I had to watch as the whole world preferred and worshipped him. Next to him, I’ll never be enough. The only way I was able to be was by destroying him. But he came back so I’ll just destroy him for good this time."

Louis tried to get free when he saw the frenzy in Steven’s eyes.

"Listen you don’t have to go through with your plan."

"My plan?"

Steven laughed and said:

"Don’t you mean our plan? I have more than enough evidence of you and me discussing how to get rid of him on Alpha century."

Louis’s body started to tremble. No A-Xuan can know his part in the plan or he’ll never get him back. He truly loves him the only reason he wasn’t with him is because of his reputation.

But he swore if he could get him back then no matter what happens he won’t let him go again. I need to protect him by any means possible.

"Steven you don’t have to do this, please. He can’t die."

Steven sneered:

"The fact that you want him to live that much only makes me more determined to have him killed."

"Just tell me what I have to do to make it stop."

Steven pinched his chin and asked:

"You love him, don’t you?"

Louis wanted to deny but he swore if he got him back he would do anything so he wouldn’t lose him again. If Steven doesn’t stop his plan then I’ll protect him.

"I do and I won’t let anyone hurt him."

Steven sneered:

"Don’t you mean I won’t let anyone hurt him anymore? You didn’t seem to care all the times I made his life miserable. But now that his reputation is restored you say this bullshit."

Louis pushed him and ran out of the room. Steven watched his retreating back feeling more determined than ever. As soon as I destroy A-Xuan he’ll only have me left and he’ll beg to get back together.

After watching all of this drama unfold A-Xuan entered class. He already knew Steven was unhinged so he decided to push him to the bottom of the abyss. The crazier he acts the better.

Louis is truly amazing, he went beyond his expectations. He knows he’s sincere when he said he loves him but the truth is that he cares more about the way people perceive him.

He loves himself more than anyone. This kind of selfish love A-Xuan doesn’t want any part of it. After morning class A-Xuan texted Charles and left for the cafeteria.

Louis was sitting with his friends. As soon as he saw A-Xuan he waved excitedly. A-Xuan filled his tray and joined them. They talk and laughed while eating. The atmosphere was nice and warm.

Steven came into the cafeteria and stopped in place when he saw that scene. He wanted to kill A-Xuan right then and there. It wasn’t enough that he stole his boyfriend now he has to steal his friends.

Steven walked to the table banging on it fiercely. The whole cafeteria became silent.

A-Xuan looked at him amused and asked:

"What can I do for you, Steven?"

"Don’t play dumb."

A-Xuan mocked:

"Right you’re so much better at it."

"You son of a bitch! First, you stole my boyfriend and now my friends."

A-Xuan raised an eyebrow.

"Don’t you mean I took it all back?"

"You didn’t deserve any of it! Why should your life be so perfect and smooth sailing?"

A-Xuan asked:

"So you hate me because of everything I have? You’re so obsessed with me that you changed everything about yourself. You became a copy of me and yet you hate me. Isn’t it contradictory?"

Steven’s face turned red. He couldn’t deny any of the things he said because it was the truth. He became a cunning version of A-Xuan, even though he hates him.

I’ll kill him and his grandpa will name me the heir of the Ping family. I’ll then change my name to Ping and I’ll officially take his place.

A-Xuan has already burned the bridge between Steven and his grandfather. He previously fostered a good relationship to secure a future, like mother like son. How can you hate someone and want to be him at the same time? Pathetic.

Steven yelled before turning and leaving the cafeteria:

"Fuck you!"

Louis looked at A-Xuan worriedly:

"Are you okay?"

A-Xuan smiled at him and touched.

"I’m fine, I’m used to him wanting to take everything from me. Anyway, it’s not like he can take something important like my life."

Louis looked away guiltily. He won’t let him die. I will make sure he can live so we can be together forever. A-Xuan watched from the side an amused smile on his face.

Charles was sitting outside watching him, his hands clenching into fists. He left before someone noticed him.