From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)
Chapter 168: Locked Out, Locked In

Chapter 168: Locked Out, Locked In

A rush of footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Micah’s face turned pale as the blood drained from it. He slapped both hands over his mouth, eyes wild.

Darcy noticed the change immediately. Without wasting time, he grabbed Micah’s wrist and pulled him. "Come on," he hissed.

The two slipped around a corner and into the restroom again. Once inside, Darcy locked the door behind them with a soft but urgent click.

For a second, they stood frozen. Then Leo’s voice echoed from the hallway.

"I’m sure I heard his voice... where has he gone?" Leo said, looking around.

Micah held his breath so tight his chest trembled. He clutched the edge of the sink, knuckles white, eyes wide and unblinking. He didn’t know why, but every cell in his body screamed at him not to let Leo see him. Not like this. Not with Darcy. His mind was too chaotic. He didn’t have any clue why he was hiding this urgently. So what if Leo saw him? So what if he knew he was his saviour? He could just ignore him. But his instincts urged him to hide. Not let him find him. Still, the fear was real.

Outside, Leo’s footsteps moved closer. They heard the faint squeak of shoes moving. Then silence.

Micah didn’t move.

Knock. Knock.

Leo stood outside, knocking on the restroom’s door. He turned the door handle, but it was locked. He glanced around, thinking. He could force the door open and cause a scene, but that would only blow things out of proportion. People would gather and make the situation worse. He didn’t want to meet his saviour like that.

He felt confused, somewhat even hurt. The boy was hiding from him. But why?!

Why couldn’t he see him?!

He wanted to pound on the door, demanding an answer. Why did he save him when he could not even stand the sight of him? But he swallowed all those questions. Now, it wasn’t the time.

Leo’s grip on the handle loosened slowly. It was better to leave right now. He would conceal himself elsewhere and watch who came out of the restroom. With that desicion, Leo left calmly.

Minutes passed. Then slowly, the footsteps faded again, softer and softer, until they vanished completely.

Darcy exhaled. He turned to Micah with sharp eyes. "Alright," he said flatly. "What’s going on? Why are you hiding? Tell me the truth."

Micah looked anywhere but at him. He shifted awkwardly, his eyes flitting between the wall tiles and the floor like they suddenly needed a deep inspection. "It’s complicated...I just don’t want him to see me..." Micah muttered.

Darcy narrowed his eyes. "Why not?"

Micah shook his head, staying silent.

Darcy sighed. "You better leave. Everyone in here knows you.., it’s a matter of time before he finds you."

Micah hummed. "Sorry. Could you let others know?"

Darcy glanced at the door. "How exactly do you plan on getting out?!"

Micah blinked. He had no idea. His hair was like a giant glowing sign.

"Stay here. I’ll check outside," Darcy said and unlocked the door and stepped out carefully, closing it behind him.

Alone, Micah locked the door and paced inside the restroom. His head was throbbing from overthinking. He couldn’t explain why he felt so afraid of Leo finding him. That was not logical. He kept biting at his nails, peeking at the door every few seconds.

A few minutes later, his phone buzzed. Micah read the message Darcy sent and opened the door.

"Here," Darcy said, tossing a cap and mask toward Micah. "Put these on."

Micah rushed to obey, jamming the cap onto his head. He pulled his mask up over most of his face.

"Alright," Darcy said. "Let’s go."

The two moved quickly through the hallway, heads low, steps softly. Micah followed Darcy, eyes darting around nervously. Somehow they made it to the exit. The cold air hit Micah’s face the moment they stepped outside, and he pulled down the mask, breathing in relief.

"Thanks," he muttered.

Darcy didn’t reply. His mind was replaying Leo’s question in his mind. Why was he so desperate to find Micah?! Leo knew his look. He knew his voice well enough to recognise from a distance. That made no sense. If Leo knew Micah’s name and where he lived, he would never be running through a restaurant hallway looking for him like a lunatic. What was the reason?

Why did Micah refuse to answer him? Why he panicked like that?!

Something dark stirred inside him.

He remembered Leo. Before he even became a famous star, he had this pull, attracting young and old to himself.

Was Micah also one of them? No... it didn’t fit what he knew from Micah...

Darcy didn’t say a word as they walked, but Micah could feel the tension building beside him. His pace was clipped, fists stuffed inside his pockets. When they finally reached a quiet corner outside the building, Darcy stopped and turned around, but didn’t speak right away.

His jaw clenched once. Then again. He looked at Micah, then quickly away, like he was trying to swallow something bitter.

"Did you..." He paused. His voice came out too sharp. He frowned and tried again. "Did you... steal his girlfriend or something?" There was an edge to his voice.

Darcy needed to know the reason before he lost all of his rationality.

Micah’s mouth turned into an O. "Huh? What stealing?!"

Darcy forced a laugh, short and hollow. "Just guessing. Because you refuse to tell me the reason. And honestly?" He stepped closer, arms folded now. His eyes narrowed. "I can’t think of any other reason he would act like that. And you, too. You looked like you were guilty about something. I know you. You are always itching to jump into confrontation. But this time you were scared..."

"No! I would never stoop so low!" Micah defended himself.

"So, what is it? Hmm?? At first, I thought maybe you owed him money, but you are rich so that’s out. What else could it be? You two have nothing in common. Or... did you confess to him? Did he reject you? No. Was it the opposite?" Darcy said through gritted teeth. His voice turned sharp. Even oppressive.

"You’re nervous, and he’s desperate to find you." Darcy stepped before him, lowering his voice. "Now that I think about it, he didn’t seem mad. He looked more like... someone who lost someone important..."

"No! No! Are you crazy? Don’t jump to conclusions! He probably wants to kill me for seeing him get humiliated." Micah replied, almost yelling.

Darcy stared at him.

Micah looked away, pulling the cap lower. "I can’t get into more details," he said, voice softer now. "But I promise you, he’s only looking for me because he’s afraid I might have recorded something or told someone. He wants to shut me up. That’s it."

"Why would you be there in the first place to see something you shouldn’t?" Darcy muttered in resignation.

There was no reply.

Darcy sighed. "Micah, I can’t always be there to help you... please tone down your mischief," he said, somewhat relieved that none of those assumptions were true. But he felt hopeless. His feelings got out of hand at the sight of someone else appearing in Micah’s life. He didn’t like it.

Micah looked up at him. Darcy’s words weren’t loud, but they landed hard. His voice had lost the anger but sounded tired. Like he was giving up on him. Or felt helpless not able to change him.

Darcy met his eyes and his heart trembled. There was something in there... like hurt. Like disappointment.

Darcy opened his mouth. "Micah..."

"You’re right." Micah cut in, smiling bitterly. "Sorry, I will be more careful. I won’t trouble you again."

Micah turned around quickly and began walking. His breath hitched. His legs moved faster before his mind could catch up. Then he broke into a run.

His foot pounded the pavement as he rushed into the night. He didn’t know where he was going. He just wanted to get away. From Leo. From the fear. From the hurt. From Darcy.

He heard his name being called behind him.

"Micah!"

But he didn’t turn around.

He kept running faster and faster. He wanted to vanish in darkness.

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