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Early in the morning, Arjuna left home at the same time as always. He got into his beloved car and headed to work. The roads, still free from the rush-hour traffic, had few cars, allowing him to drive without having to use the brakes much. It was a route he had traveled countless times before. He knew exactly how fast and when to drive to avoid getting stopped by the traffic lights, and on this day as well, he reached his destination in the shortest possible time.
The mansion stood in a quiet area, far from the city center and office districts. The large, impressive gate was, of course, firmly closed. Arjuna pulled the key from his jacket’s inner pocket and pressed the button to open the gate. The iron gate slowly swung open, and he proceeded into the property, putting the key back in his pocket with one hand while steering with the other. Before putting the key away, a faintly bitter expression crossed his face, reflected in the rearview mirror, though he didn’t notice it himself.
After getting out of the car, he didn’t head straight to the front door but walked with firm steps around to the back of the mansion. The lawn within the property was regularly tended by professionals, so it was neatly trimmed, as were the branches of the trees planted in the garden. However, there was one corner of the garden that no one else was allowed to touch.
Summer had passed, and the relentless sun that once burned skin was now much more subdued. On cool mornings like this, the warmth felt pleasant. The green leaves in the garden gleamed softly in the sunlight. Unlike the vibrancy and freshness of spring’s awakening, autumn's plants had fewer leaves, with deeper colors. While this gave the garden a calm atmosphere, some might find it lacking the lively energy of spring and feel it a bit somber. Arjuna, however, secretly favored this autumn garden over the ones in spring or summer.
At the center of the garden, a man was silently tending to the plants. He was the master of this mansion and Arjuna's boss. Dressed in a simple shirt, the man worked quietly, his tousled, sleep-rumpled hair swaying with his movements.
Among the plants in the garden, a few of the ever-blooming roses had formed buds that grew larger and more colorful with each passing day. Their color was a bright rose red. The variety was called 'Parkzierde'. He had looked it up because, when he had asked about it, the boss had replied having forgotten the name himself.
How could the one growing them forget?
Watching him work in the garden like that, Arjuna couldn’t help but think it’s weird how easy it is to forget this guy runs a whole criminal organization. Instead of holding a gun or a blade, those hands were busy trimming leaves and picking off dying petals. And even though he was used to the sight by now, Arjuna still found himself taken aback by how pale those hands were. Not just his hands—his hair, his face, his whole body looked like it had never seen sunlight. With how slim and delicate he looked, you’d think he was fragile, but Arjuna knew better. The guy was way stronger than most people. Honestly, if the boss ever casually admitted to being a vampire, Arjuna wouldn’t even question it.
Ridiculous. He chided himself. Of course, the man before him was human, but he had an otherworldly quality that made such fantasies seem plausible. The man’s name was Karna. He was the young boss of the Kaurava family, burdened with the weight of envy, expectation, resentment, and fear, from both within and outside the organization. Since Arjuna started working under him, quite a bit of time had passed, and before he knew it, he’d earned the role of right-hand man. The more time they spent together, the more Arjuna got to know, not just the boss as a mafia leader, but the actual person behind the title.
One thing he learned was that he somewhat envied Karna's talent for waking up early. Arjuna was more of a night owl, and even now, he sometimes found the morning sunlight too harsh to bear. On the other hand, no matter how late Karna stayed up, he would wake up naturally as soon as morning came. His daily routine included tending to the garden, something he never skipped unless he was away from the mansion. The garden was always beautifully maintained whenever Arjuna visited, a stark contrast to his own battle with the struggle of waking up every morning.
The fact that a mafia boss had a hobby like gardening was pretty unexpected. But it wasn’t anything romantic. According to Karna, while he did think flowers were nice, he didn’t feel particularly attached to them. It all started when a friend, worried that he didn’t have any real hobbies, suggested he try growing some. And somehow, that led to this: an entire garden in full bloom. Clearly, he had a knack for it. When Arjuna watched him quietly working among the flowers, it honestly looked like he enjoyed it…though whether that was true or not, he still couldn’t say for sure.
With such an affinity for early rising, Karna certainly had more than enough time to prepare himself. And yet, the problem lay in the fact that Karna often appeared in meetings with his hair still wildly disheveled from sleep. It was troublesome. Although he would at least change his clothes, taming his unruly hair seemed to be a task beyond him, and he soon gave up on it. There's no point. As Karna would often say. His excuse was that since the meetings were attended only by his high-ranking subordinates, no one would be surprised at this point. Indeed, veteran members like Helena and Ashvatthaman probably wouldn’t care much, but whether Arjuna accepted, that excuse was another matter entirely. No matter how much trust they had in him, as their boss, his appearance should not diminish his authority. Even though Arjuna cared about such things, Karna himself was indifferent, which left Arjuna constantly exasperated. It was one of the most persistent and frustrating problems he had to deal with.
“How long do you plan to stand there?”
In the otherwise quiet space, the rustling of leaves was interrupted by Karna’s low voice, which startled Arjuna. He turned his attention to the voice and found Karna’s pale blue eyes staring at him. Karna’s eyes were perfectly symmetrical and evenly spaced, their sharpness giving them a powerful intensity that was almost overwhelming. Realizing he hadn’t noticed Karna’s gaze, Arjuna cleared his throat in an attempt to recover.
“Good morning. You seemed so focused that I lost track of when to greet you.”
“Good morning. Though you didn’t exactly seem present yourself.”
Karna’s continued pressing made Arjuna secretly grit his teeth. This was one of the things he disliked about Karna. He had a way of making Arjuna feel as though his innermost thoughts were being laid bare and exposed. Unsure of how to respond, Arjuna hesitated for a moment.
“The flowers…”
“Yeah?”
“They’re about to bloom. Seeing you take care of them every day… I dunno, it just really got to me.”
It wasn’t a lie. He had indeed been watching the flowers. Karna, seeming satisfied, nodded as if he had understood.
“I didn’t expect someone like you to get so wrapped up in flowers that you’d totally zone out. Kinda careless of you, don’t you think?”
Arjuna almost wanted to pat himself on the back for not getting angry. He did frown, but a deep breath reminded him this was nothing new. Everyone who worked under Karna, Arjuna included, knew all too well: their boss was absolutely terrible with words. He had a knack for picking the most awkward, prickly, and insufficient phrasing possible. Odds were, whatever he’d just said hadn’t come from a bad place. Anyone who didn’t know Karna well would probably either bristle or storm off after talking to him. His inability to communicate clearly had already caused more than a few messes. Arjuna had lost count of how many times he’d had to step in, smooth things over, or stop a situation from spiraling out of control.
Despite being told over and over to stop saying unnecessary things that could be taken the wrong way, Karna’s progress in that department remained…aspirational, at best. Even so, the fact that Karna knew he was bad at this, and wanted to get better, was something Arjuna was at least quietly grateful for. There were, however, more important issues for him to address.
“Once you’re done with the garden, start getting ready, alright? Seriously, how does your hair end up that messy after just one night?”
“You’re up early. I thought you didn’t have any meetings today.”
“That doesn’t matter!”
Karna was basically throwing a fit. Arjuna scolded him with all the firmness he could muster but as always, the mafia boss was completely unfazed.
“You’ve got a lot of energy for someone who’s supposedly not a morning person, Arjuna…”
Karna, without even showing a hint of remorse, was nodding in satisfaction for some reason. Arjuna’s fists clenched tightly in response. But seeing Karna's carefree demeanor, he eventually lost all strength. Who did Karna think was to blame for making him raise his voice like that? He wanted to voice his complaints, but what slipped from his lips was nothing more than a sigh of frustration.
Why did he find himself coming to this mansion so early in the morning, helping his older boss get ready? This thought, which had crossed his mind countless times, surfaced once again. Whether it was irritation or disappointment, or maybe both, a complex swirl of emotions raged within him, unraveling the calm and orderly mind he had worked so hard to maintain.
To be honest, before asking him to mind his language, Arjuna's true desire was that Karna could at least get himself ready on his own. Did Karna even realize he was a grown ass man who, far from being a child, was constantly being pressured by those around him to settle down and marry?
Even the keys to the gate and the front door had been unceremoniously handed to Arjuna one morning, right after a meeting with Karna. Without preamble, Karna had called his name, and when Arjuna responded, he was met with a thoughtful hum as Karna dropped something into his hand.
Puzzled, Arjuna glanced down. “What is this?” he had asked, brows furrowing. Karna, as usual, offered nothing resembling a proper explanation. Instead, he remarked offhandedly that he remembered Arjuna having good eyesight. Of course he could see it was a key. That wasn’t the point. Arjuna pressed him again, asking what exactly the key was for. Karna had answered plainly: it was the key to his house. If Arjuna liked meddling with his head so much, he might as well come over and do it from the very beginning. Arjuna had been left speechless. What kind of reasoning was that?
It was that conversation that started it all, Arjuna recalled, feeling a headache come on. Since then, he had been coming to the mansion almost every day. When it came to work, Arjuna’s principle was to never cut corners, no matter what. However, this felt like a little too much intrusion into his private life. Arjuna disliked invading other people’s spaces, just as much as he disliked them invading his. He wanted to maintain a professional distance as a subordinate, but this was far too close for comfort. He had once confided this complaint, or rather concern, to his colleague Ashvatthaman.
It happened when the two were drinking together. Perhaps the alcohol had loosened his tongue a bit. The person he confided in had looked exasperated and said it’s because he’s been spoiling Karna too much. Arjuna had been shocked by this. He had reprimanded Karna numerous times and never felt he had been indulging him. However, thinking back, before Arjuna started helping him, Karna had somehow managed to do things on his own. Surely, letting things continue like this wasn’t beneficial for either of them, especially not for Karna. Arjuna had once decided to stop helping him, just to see what would happen.
That day, Karna had arrived with clear evidence of a solo attempt at fixing his hair, most likely in response to the scolding Arjuna had given him the morning before. But despite the effort, strands stuck out in every direction, and somehow, there were even leaves tangled in the back of his head. The most likely explanation was that they had gotten caught while he was out gardening, and he simply hadn’t noticed. It was obvious he had only combed the part of his hair visible in the mirror.
The moment Arjuna laid eyes on him, a quiet resignation settled over him. This is hopeless, he thought. As much as he hated to admit it, doing it himself would be faster and far less painful than trusting Karna to manage on his own. From that point on, each morning began with Arjuna arming himself with a comb and a small arsenal of hair products, waging daily war against Karna’s stubborn, unmanageable hair. No matter how much effort he poured into it, by the next morning, it would always revert to a chaotic mess. It was a mystery he had yet to unravel, and perhaps never would.
"By the way, what are your thoughts on the matter I mentioned the other day?"
While gathering the leaves that had fallen to the ground, Arjuna posed the question. Karna stopped what he was doing and looked at him as though hearing it for the first time. Arjuna felt a bad premonition.
"What are you talking about?"
As expected, that was Karna’s response. His brows were lightly furrowed, showing that he wasn’t pretending to forget. Arjuna’s shoulders slumped.
"The other day, I suggested that you consider hiring a live-in servant. Do you not remember?"
"Oh, that. You’re here, aren’t you?"
"That’s not the point!"
Arjuna was a member of the family, not a housekeeper. He had many other responsibilities, often having to attend negotiations on behalf of his taciturn boss. Coming to the mansion every morning was becoming an unreasonable demand. And considering Karna was the type of man who would show up with leaves in his hair, having a dedicated caretaker made far more sense. That was the reasoning behind Arjuna’s proposal. Yet Karna had completely forgotten about it and dismissed it without giving it much thought. Frustrated, but determined to somehow improve the situation, Arjuna persisted.
“Fine. I’ll let it slide that you can’t manage on your own. But wouldn’t it save time if you just hired someone? What are you going to do when I have to head back to work?”
“Uhh…”
“You already use housekeeping services regularly, no? So having a live-in helper wouldn’t be that different. If you don’t want one, then I can look for someone reliable for you—”
“I see. You make a fair point.”
“Then—”
“But it’s unnecessary.”
He shut it down instantly, the same moment the shears in his hand snipped off a rosebud. The two actions were perfectly timed, as if synced on purpose.
“And why is that?”
This should’ve been the moment to agree. Arjuna stared at him, clearly frustrated. Karna, still as unreadable as ever, idly turned the cut rosebud between his fingers. It had been a round, healthy bud. He’d probably clipped it without thinking, just a passing whim. Feeling a little sorry for the poor thing, Arjuna asked for some kind of explanation. Karna, eyes still on the flower, answered in a low murmur.
“They said they prefer somewhere quiet.”
“…What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. Apparently, that person doesn’t like places with too many people coming and going. I’m happy with how things are, and honestly, I prefer it this way.”
Arjuna blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected answer. It almost sounded like Karna was considering someone else’s comfort. That alone was surprising, but then a thought struck him.
“…you got a secret girlfriend or something?”
At that, Karna’s expression twitched.
“…There’s someone who wants to be,” he admitted. “It’s embarrassing, but no, they’re not mine. Not yet. Still…I plan to win that person over.”
“What—!?”
The words burst out before Arjuna could stop them. Flustered, he quickly tried to reel it in. Get a grip . He told himself, then asked more carefully.
“So… there really is someone?”
Karna gave a small nod.
“Yes. But I’m not great at getting my feelings across. Maybe that’s why they haven’t realized yet.”
With a quiet sigh, Karna closed his eyes. It was the first time Arjuna had ever seen him look genuinely troubled.
Karna was often praised for his striking looks: fair skin, refined features, the kind of face that made people stop and stare. If he ever showed even a hint of sadness, women would immediately start fussing over him. And it wasn’t just his appearance. As the boss of a powerful mafia group, that dangerous edge only made him more irresistible. Women were constantly drawn to him, chasing after the thrill of flirting with someone so untouchable. With attention like that, it was easy to imagine he’d never needed to chase anyone himself. Add to that his poor communication skills and his naturally reserved personality, and it wasn’t hard to see how someone might misunderstand his intentions. Still, Arjuna couldn’t help but wonder…was it really possible for someone not to realize they were the object of Karna’s affection?
Who in the world had managed to capture the heart of a mafia boss, someone so intimidating even children cried at the mention of his name? Normally, Arjuna made a point not to poke around in Karna’s personal life. But this time, his curiosity got the better of him.
“I’m honestly surprised there’s someone like that for you.”
“Are you curious?”
“What? Well…yeah, I guess I am.”
As Arjuna nodded, Karna’s expression shifted. The somber mood melted away, replaced by a subtle, almost boyish smirk. Then, all at once, he started talking openly, even enthusiastically, about the person he had feelings for. Apparently, that person was serious and hardworking. Despite being naturally talented, they still put in the effort, excelling both academically and physically. Their marksmanship, Karna said, was even on par with his own. And though they seemed practically flawless, they had these unguarded moments around people they trusted. That soft vulnerability, that quiet charm...
Karna was usually a man of few words, so the sudden flood of praise left Arjuna completely speechless. After all the years he’d spent by Karna’s side, he knew just how skilled the man was with a gun. In the entire organization, only he and Ashvatthaman could match Karna in terms of marksmanship. And yet, here Karna was, claiming that this mystery person’s skills were on par with his own. Karna clearly meant every word, speaking with rare passion and admiration. But Arjuna couldn’t help wondering…did someone like that really exist? If there were a woman that talented, people would be talking. Rumors had a way of spreading, no matter how careful someone tried to be.
Could Karna have imagined her? No, probably not. Even if he had, Arjuna didn’t think it was his place to question it. Still, somewhere deep in the back of his mind, a flicker of doubt remained. He kept it to himself.
“Also, that person has wavy black hair,” Karna added.
“Oh…okay.”
That only left Arjuna more confused than ever. Still, he pressed on.
“If you can talk about her like this, why not just tell her everything directly?”
Karna didn’t answer. The silence that followed felt weirdly cold, especially after how animated he’d just been. He stared at Arjuna through half-lidded eyes, and Arjuna, sensing the shift in mood, began to panic a little. Did I say something I shouldn’t have? But instead of snapping at him, Karna just let out a long, dramatic sigh.
“I already did.”
“…I see.”
My condolences, Arjuna thought instinctively, though this time, wisely, he kept it to himself. Some things were better left unsaid. Especially in the world they lived in, where one wrong word could get you killed. This wasn’t the time to push. But more than anything, what truly shook Arjuna was realizing that Karna was genuinely in love.
Until now, Karna had never given in to the countless marriage proposals thrown his way. Not once had there even been a whisper of a lover or mistress in his life. Arjuna had brought up the topic of marriage almost as often as he reminded Karna to fix his wardrobe, but every time, Karna found a way to dodge the conversation. And now, for the first time, there was someone. Someone real, someone who had made it into Karna’s life.
This was Karna, after all, the same man who had never so much as blinked at the most beautiful women who fawned over him. And yet, here he was, quietly in love. Arjuna felt a strange sort of admiration. Maybe this was the moment Karna’s cold indifference would finally begin to thaw. No, Arjuna decided, it had to. Sure, Karna might have the kind of face that looked unfairly perfect even with bed hair, but that didn’t excuse neglecting the basics. Personal grooming was common courtesy. Still, if the person Karna liked didn’t mind, or worse, actually enjoyed fussing over him, then maybe it wasn’t such a problem. If things went well, Arjuna figured Karna’s frequent visits to the estate would start to taper off. And honestly, that would be for the best. Yes. That’s how it should be. That’s the right path for him. Arjuna thought.
“I actually spoke with Helena about it,” Karna said, cutting into his thoughts. “And I’ve been trying to approach that person in my own way.”
“Oh? What did Helena say?”
“She told me to find more chances to meet outside of work, and then gradually express how I feel. She warned me not to rush.”
“A wise call,” Arjuna said with a nod. “Very wise, indeed…”
Karna had always been a difficult man to read. His choices, while no doubt the result of deliberate thought, often came across as abrupt or strange, largely because of how poorly he communicated them. Arjuna had spent a long time learning to navigate that particular quirk. Helena’s advice, then, was probably her attempt to make sure Karna didn’t accidentally sabotage his own budding relationship by moving too fast. Naturally, if Karna had wanted to, he could’ve taken a more direct possibly far more drastic route. Even if it meant using a method society would frown upon, Karna no longer had the kind of heart that flinched at such things. A man who lived and breathed in the underworld had long since made peace with darkness. Yet despite that, he’d chosen to confess properly. Openly. Honorably.
That, more than anything, told Arjuna how seriously Karna regarded this person. The man who’d always seemed like cold, unyielding iron, sharp in thought, precise in action, never hesitating to give ruthless orders…now wore a softened expression. Karna actually looked…shy. Even someone like him could be undone by love. Arjuna chuckled lightly.
“What’s so amusing?”
“Forgive me,” Arjuna said, hiding a faint smile behind his hand. “I just never imagined we’d have a conversation like this. That you, too, could fall in love.”
“I don’t know what you think I am, but I am human.”
“That’s true.”
Karna straightened slightly. “Which is why I wanted to ask you something.”
“Go on.”
“As the one on the receiving end, what kind of confession would leave a good impression?”
Arjuna blinked, caught off guard. A thoughtful hum slipped from his lips.
“That’s… a hard question. Everyone has different tastes, after all.”
“I’m asking about yours .”
With that, any hope of dodging the question evaporated. He exhaled, fingertips brushing his chin as he fell into thought. He’d had experience with romance before, sure, but always on the receiving end. He’d never been the one to initiate. In truth, his own experiences weren’t the most helpful benchmark. Still, if Karna was asking this seriously, he couldn’t afford to offer a half-baked answer. This could shape the course of Karna’s life. The pressure was immense. Ah shit what a troublesome thing. Arjuna sifted through the fragments of knowledge and moments that might be of use. The first thing that came to mind was that Karna had already managed to secure private meetings with the woman, if his words could be trusted, they were seeing each other outside of work. That alone was progress.
“…How about flowers?”
“Flowers?”
“Yes. It might sound cliché, but expressing your feelings through something physical isn’t a bad place to start. Especially for someone like you, who struggles to put things into words.”
Of course, that didn’t mean any flower would do. When giving someone a gift, you obviously had to avoid anything that might come off as too heavy or off-putting.
“If you already know what kind of flowers that person likes, that’s great. But if not, picking something that fits their image can work too. Just keep in mind, some people are particular about flower meanings, so… the safest option would probably be—”
His dark fingers brushed lightly over a rosebud.
“When it comes to love, you really can’t go wrong with this one.”
“A rose?”
“Yeah. It’s a classic. Everyone knows it, and most people would be happy to get one.”
“And you? What about you?”
“Me? Uhh…”
Arjuna wasn’t used to being on the receiving end of gifts. Like Karna, he’d always been the one giving. He hadn’t really thought about what it would feel like to get something like that himself. But Karna was staring at him, waiting patiently and intensely, his gaze fixed, unwavering. Those cool-colored eyes had a way of glowing when he was serious, and under that pressure, Arjuna found himself actually considering it. If someone gave him flowers…how would he react?
“I guess… I’d be surprised. But it’s not like I’d hate it.”
Karna lit up instantly, his reaction so gleeful it might as well have come with sparkles and sound effects. And before Arjuna could recover, Karna was already saying they go pick flowers right now.
“Wait, wait. I don’t know all the rules either, but I’ve heard the number of flowers you give can change the meaning too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. So maybe slow down a bit and do some research first.”
That was true. When he was reading up on flower types earlier, Arjuna had randomly come across a section about the meaning behind how many flowers you gave. At the time, he hadn’t thought much of it…but apparently, it was going to come in handy now. He glanced down at a single rose. If he remembered correctly, giving just one meant:
“‘Love at first sight,’ I think…”
“Huh?”
“Oh. That’s what one rose means. Or maybe something like, ‘There’s no one else but you.’”
“I see… ‘Love at first sight,’ and ‘There’s no one else but you,’ brilliant…”
Karna repeated the phrases softly, almost to himself, eyes still on the rose. He seemed deep in thought, probably picturing how to hand it over, how to say the words. It didn’t really match the image of a composed, untouchable mafia boss…yet, that made the sight of him quietly planning it out all the more endearing.
“…I hope it goes well,” Arjuna said gently. “I’m sure she’ll be happy.”
At that, Karna’s shoulders gave the tiniest twitch. His gaze dropped to the floor, thoughtful and quiet. After a brief pause, he looked up again.
“Arjuna.”
Hearing his name called, Arjuna glanced over. “What is it?”
But before he could finish the sentence, a rose was suddenly held out in front of his face.
“Please take this.”
What the hell was going on?
The rosebud was practically touching his nose. Completely thrown off, Arjuna instinctively took it, almost as a reflex. Even though it was still a bud, it was beautiful. Once it bloomed, it would probably have a soft, rich fragrance. But this…this was definitely meant for someone else.
He quickly tried to return it. “Wait, no. You’ve got the wrong person.”
Karna’s brows drew together slightly, annoyed. “Hey, don’t just shove it back. That’s not how you’re supposed to receive it.”
“You’re one to talk! Who the hell just shoves a rose in someone’s face out of nowhere? You’re scaring people! And why me , of all people? Is this some kind of practice? If it is, go find someone like Miss Helena. That would make a lot more sense.”
“It’s not a mistake. And it’s not practice.”
“What? ”
Arjuna stared. His brain was struggling to keep up. Karna was always like this. Acting before explaining. Jumping in headfirst without giving anyone time to prepare. And somehow, Arjuna was always the one left to clean up the confusion. Still holding the rose, he froze as Karna slowly stepped closer.
“There’s nothing wrong here. And if you haven’t figured it out by now…you’re starting to hurt my feelings.”
“HUH? Wait—what the hell are you even saying?”
“I meant exactly what I said. I gave that flower to you, Arjuna. At first, I only meant to test the waters today. But I changed my mind.”
His gaze flicked toward the single rose now resting in Arjuna’s hand.
“If one rose means ‘there’s no one else but you’… then I can’t think of anything more accurate.”
“…Are you serious? I’m not a woman!”
“I know that. And just so you’re clear…I never said anything about you being one. Is that so hard to believe?”
“Of course it is! I’m your subordinate. I-I’ve never thought of being anything else.”
“That’s true. You are my subordinate. But to me, you’re not just that. You’re a one-of-a-kind person. And just being content with having you in that role…isn’t enough for me. I want you. As you are. Just as a man.”
”Ridiculous!”
Karna’s expression softened. A faint smile tugged at his lips, but his eyes were lit with something far more intense.
“Look at me.”
Arjuna flinched. Their eyes met. And in that moment, something crackled, something sharp. Like a current running straight through him.
“What about you, Arjuna? How do you see me? Am I just the boss of the group you work for?”
The space between them started to shrink. Slowly. But it felt suffocating. Arjuna’s pulse picked up, loud in his ears. This was bad. He didn’t want this conversation to keep going. He wanted to shut it down, to walk away, but his legs wouldn’t budge. It was like he was rooted in place.
He couldn’t answer. He hated when Karna did this. Got close. Got real. Karna leaned in, their faces nearly brushing. Instinctively, Arjuna stepped back, but Karna caught him, fast. One pale hand wrapped around his wrist, firm and warm. Too warm. The sudden heat made him inhale sharply.
“Ah—wait a minute. I completely forgot. Helena told me not to rush things.”
“Huh?”
Karna was so close, his breath ghosted against Arjuna’s skin. He murmured those words more to himself than anyone, then pulled back slightly. Just enough for Arjuna to breathe, but not enough to break contact. His wrist was still caught, and the touch was still burning.
“Let me start over.” Karna cleared his throat.
“Seriously? After all that, you think you can just reset?” Arjuna glared at him, but Karna stayed calm.
At last, he let go. The warmth vanished, and oddly enough, the chill that replaced it left Arjuna feeling even more shaken.
“Arjuna, when this rose blooms, I’ll give it to you again. And when that time comes…I want your answer.”
With that, Karna turned and left the garden. Arjuna stood there, completely adrift. He couldn’t just avoid Karna until the rose bloomed. That wasn’t how things worked. Karna wouldn’t accept empty excuses or half-truths, and Arjuna’s own sense of duty wouldn’t let him skip out on his visits to the mansion. Even if he wanted to run, there was nowhere to go.
The rose, once just a quiet part of his daily routine, now sat heavy in his hands, no longer a symbol of peace, but of everything tangled and unspoken between them.