The convenience store near campus was open twenty-four hours a day.
Which was unfortunate for Kael, because it meant Adrian was always there.
Not working there.
Just there.
Leaning against the refrigerator section at 2 AM like he paid rent to the place, black hoodie half-zipped, messy dark hair falling into his eyes while drinking iced coffee that probably counted as a health hazard.
Kael hated him immediately.
“You’re staring again,” Adrian said without looking up from his phone.
“I’m trying to understand why someone voluntarily drinks that.”
Adrian finally glanced at him. “And yet you came here at two in the morning for instant ramen.”
Kael looked down at the three ramen cups in his basket.
“…Mind your business.”
Adrian grinned.
That was the problem with him.
He grinned like he knew things.
After that, they kept running into each other.
At the crosswalk outside campus.
In the laundry room of their apartment building.
Once during a power outage where Adrian had appeared beside him holding two candles and said, “You look like you’d lose a fight against darkness.”
Kael had nearly slammed the door in his face.
Nearly.
Somewhere between shared midnight snacks and sarcastic arguments, Adrian became… familiar.
Annoyingly familiar.
Like automatically buying Kael strawberry milk because “you always stare at it for five seconds before grabbing it.”
Like texting you alive? whenever Kael skipped class.
Like quietly walking on the outer side of the sidewalk whenever they crossed busy streets.
Small things.
Dangerous things.
The realization hit Kael on a rainy Thursday evening.
He was sitting on the floor of Adrian’s apartment while Adrian blow-dried his hair with one hand and complained about professors with the confidence of someone who had never feared consequences in his life.
And Kael thought:
Oh.
This is bad.
Because somewhere along the way, Adrian had become the first person Kael looked for in every room.
Adrian noticed him staring.
Again.
“What?”
Kael opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Then sighed.
“I think I’m in love with you.”
Silence.
The hairdryer turned off.
Adrian stared at him for exactly three seconds before walking over, dropping onto the floor beside him, close enough for their shoulders to touch.
“That’s crazy,” Adrian said softly.
Kael looked away immediately. “Forget I said anything.”
“No, idiot.” Adrian nudged his shoulder. “I said it’s crazy because I’ve been in love with you since the convenience store ramen incident.”
Kael blinked.
“…That was months ago.”
“You bought the spicy flavor even though you can’t handle spice.” Adrian looked at him with a stupidly fond expression. “I knew then.”
Kael felt his face burn.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“And you’re blushing.”
“I hate you.”
Adrian smiled lazily, leaning closer until their foreheads touched.
“No you don’t.”
The end
