Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

the smoldering flames flickered against sylus’s face, casting an amber glow over his features, almost warm if he let himself feel it. but his face remained a mask of disinterest as he watched the chaos unfolding around him. sirens wailed in the distance, drawing closer with each passing second, and the frenzied shouts of his peers and faculty alike filled the night air. lecturers ran through the crowd, trying to keep panicked students at bay, restraining those who were foolish enough to dart forward, desperate to retrieve personal belongings, half-finished assignments, and lost mementos.

idiots, sylus thought, clicking his tongue in irritation. they were risking their necks for textbooks, notebooks—things that could be replaced. he had few personal items left in his room, and honestly, nothing he’d truly miss. but still, his gaze was drawn to the crackling inferno, the occasional pop of something combustible breaking the silence with sudden bursts, scattering embers skyward. those stray embers drifted into the night, rising and dying in the same breath, like every notebook, every photo, every failed attempt at a late-night study session being erased by the flames.

the weight of his phone pressed heavily in his pocket, a constant reminder that he could escape this mess if he wanted. he could pull it out, dial the number of his old man—a number he’d memorized out of pure necessity. he knew the man would be awake, holed up in his private office, lights casting a sterile glow across towering stacks of reports and contracts, analyzing numbers like they were the only thing that mattered. that man was always awake, always on top of things, but he’d never picked up the phone to call sylus unless he needed something. certainly never to offer help.

sylus’s fingers drifted toward his pocket, but he stopped himself. what good would it do? the last thing he wanted was to sound desperate, to hear that familiar, steely voice respond with exasperation. figure it out yourself. you’re not a child.

his gaze shifted briefly to the sky as more embers swirled and ascended, like fleeting ghosts. he wondered absently if they were the scattered remains of assignments that would never be graded, of the essays, notes, and projects other students were currently mourning. 

a small, mirthless chuckle slipped out of him. since when had anything gone the way he wanted? calling his mother would be pointless too. if his father was a calculating, impersonal overseer, his mother was little more than a figure in the background, too preoccupied with fashion shows and cocktail parties across the globe. she’d barely acknowledged his existence, even as a baby. the memory of a cold, clinical nursery staffed by a rotating roster of nannies and butlers was all he had of her. sylus shook his head, nearly laughing at the absurdity of his own thoughts. how the hell did his life get to this point?  

the twins that his fathe gifted to him, so he had “competent assistance”—were his next option. he could call them, and in a matter of minutes, they’d find him a place to crash for the night, some luxury suite or swanky penthouse his father probably owned. but it would feel just as empty as the dorm room he’d abandoned to the flames. he wasn’t ready to pull that trigger. not yet.

footsteps approached, slow and measured, a deliberate rhythm that was entirely out of place amid the hysteria. he didn’t turn, his eyes still fixed on the last flickers of the fire as it gradually died down. but the familiar voice, calm and composed as always, drifted through the noise, barely raising above a murmur but somehow cutting through the chaos.

"sylus."

sylus huffed softly, finally glancing over his shoulder. his professor—zayne—stood behind him, framed by the dying firelight, his expression composed as ever. even with the smell of smoke thick in the air and the echo of panic all around, zayne looked entirely unaffected, his silver-rimmed glasses reflecting the dim light, his posture as rigidly upright as ever.

“professor,” sylus replied, his tone dripping with sardonic politeness. he couldn’t help the smirk that curved his lips, the faintest suggestion of a challenge in his gaze. of all people, it would be zayne to find him here.

zayne didn’t react to the usual edge in sylus’s voice, only studied him in that calm, piercing way that he usually reserved for dissecting careless answers in class. his suit, even now, was pristine, the dark fabric crisp and immaculate as if he’d just stepped out of a lecture hall rather than the middle of a fire scene.  

“it’s late,” zayne said, his voice carrying that same subtle authority that made his students sit up straighter, no matter how rebellious they thought themselves. “do you have a place to stay for the night?”  

sylus’s smirk faded just slightly, a glint of surprise flashing in his crimson eyes. the question was genuine—zayne’s steady gaze, the barely perceptible softening in his usual impassive expression, caught sylus off guard. of all people, zayne was the last person he’d expected to offer anything beyond a lecture on safety regulations. he had half-expected zayne to admonish him for not calling one of his “competent” family assistants. but here he was, asking if sylus had a place to sleep.  

“why?” sylus responded, voice slightly clipped, trying to mask the vulnerability he felt at the unexpected question. “concerned, professor?”  

zayne didn’t flinch, his gaze unwavering. “it’s my job to make sure my students are safe. and besides,” he added, his tone shifting ever so slightly, “i wouldn’t want my class performance dragged down by a sleep-deprived student.”  

sylus chuckled, the sound low and wry, but there was a touch less venom in it. “don’t worry. i can handle a rough night or two.”  

but zayne didn’t back down, his expression as steady as ever. “it might be longer than a night. you may as well stay somewhere you can actually sleep.”  

sylus hesitated, his smirk faltering. there was something almost…human in zayne’s offer, and it left sylus without his usual defenses. he looked back at the fire, the last wisps of smoke curling up into the dark.

maybe…maybe he didn’t want to be alone tonight.

“fine,” he muttered, finally meeting zayne’s gaze. “but if you think this means i’ll suddenly start following your rules, you’re going to be disappointed.”

a flicker of something—perhaps amusement—passed over zayne’s face. “i think i can manage.”

without another word, zayne turned, motioning for sylus to follow. as they walked away from the smoldering remains of the dormitory, sylus couldn’t shake the odd feeling that somehow, he wasn’t quite as alone as he’d always thought.

~~~

the car ride was heavy with unspoken tension, the silence stretching between them like a thick fog. sylus leaned his head against the window, his gaze fixed on the side mirror, watching the faintly illuminated shape of the dorm building fade into the night as they drove farther away. smoke still lingered in the air, a subtle reminder of everything he’d left behind, and for a moment, he wondered if he’d feel relief if he never saw the place again.

streetlights flickered by, casting fleeting, pale yellow light into the car, and the radio hummed lowly, playing something instrumental that didn’t quite fill the space but at least prevented complete silence. zayne was focused on the road, his hands steady on the wheel, his expression as unreadable as ever. if he found the situation awkward, he didn’t show it. but then again, sylus thought with a smirk, zayne could probably walk through an earthquake without breaking his stride.

as they rolled up to a red light, zayne finally broke the silence, his voice low and matter-of-fact.  “do you have any spare clothes left?” he asked, glancing at sylus briefly before returning his eyes to the road.

sylus scoffed softly, half-amused, half-bitter. “if you’re asking if anything survived the fire, then no,” he replied, his tone edged with sarcasm. “unless ash counts as a fashion statement.”

zayne didn’t react to the snark. he simply nodded, as if mentally taking stock of the situation, his calmness so frustratingly predictable. “i’ll take you shopping tomorrow, then. it’ll be a few days before the school arranges replacements.”

sylus raised an eyebrow, his amusement rising despite himself. “you planning to pick out the clothes for me too, professor?” he asked, unable to resist the jab. “because if you are, i’m not wearing beige slacks and polo shirts.”  

zayne’s lips twitched, the closest thing sylus had ever seen to a smile on his otherwise reserved face. “i wouldn’t waste the effort. i’ll leave the decisions to you, as long as they’re reasonable.” his tone softened, almost as if he were talking to himself, “but i’m sure you’ll manage to make it difficult.”

sylus couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “careful. people might think you’re worried about me.”

zayne didn’t take the bait, merely adjusted his grip on the wheel and shifted his gaze back to the road as the light turned green. “let’s just say i prefer my students showing up in something other than their gym clothes,” he replied dryly. “and it’s better for everyone if you don’t look like a stray they picked up from a disaster zone.”

sylus huffed, amused at zayne’s way of masking his concern with clinical pragmatism. “so that’s it, huh? just worried about appearances?”

“appearances matter, yes,” zayne replied smoothly, and for a moment, sylus could hear the professor lecturing his class again. “but it’s also easier for everyone if you’re comfortable. being well-prepared is about more than just studying.”

for a few seconds, sylus said nothing, caught off guard by zayne’s pragmatic kindness hidden under layers of professionalism. he’d never given much thought to the way zayne approached life—structured, regimented, like every detail had a purpose. but now, sitting in his car, with zayne calmly planning out how he’d fix this situation, sylus felt a strange comfort he hadn’t expected.

the road curved, and they turned onto a quieter street, lined with tall, shadowed trees that draped the road in cool, dark shade. the instrumental music on the radio faded into another track, one with a softer, more melodic undertone that filled the car like a gentle lullaby.

sylus glanced at zayne’s profile, noting the faint crease in his brow and the quiet intensity in his gaze. he looked exactly as he did in class—focused, determined, like every moment was one to be studied and analyzed. but here, under the soft glow of the streetlights, there was a subtle gentleness to it, something that wasn’t about lecturing or discipline.

for the first time, sylus felt like he was seeing zayne as more than just a professor. he was someone who had chosen to help him, without being asked, without any obligation.  

sylus sighed, feeling the weight of his exhaustion settle over him again, and let his head fall back against the headrest. “alright, professor,” he murmured, a trace of sincerity edging out his usual sarcasm. “guess i’ll let you play housekeeper for the night.”

he expected some sort of snappy comeback, but zayne simply nodded, his calm demeanor never faltering. “good,” he said. “get some rest. tomorrow will be a long day.”

they pulled into the driveway, and sylus’s sharp eyes took in the house before him. the bungalow stood tall, its three-story structure a testament to quiet luxury. subtle, earthy tones coated the exterior, accented by clean, minimalist lines and wide glass windows. it was the sort of house that exuded sophistication without shouting about it—a stark reflection of the man behind the wheel.

sylus huffed softly, leaning against the car door. of course this is where zayne lived. polished, organized, and just a little too perfect.  

“you live alone?” he found himself asking, unable to mask the faint incredulity in his voice. a house this big, this… refined, seemed far too much for one person.  

zayne turned off the engine, the gentle hum of the car fading into the stillness of the quiet neighborhood. he began unbuckling his seatbelt, his expression as unreadable as ever.  

“no,” he said matter-of-factly. “i live with my parents, but they’re away for work.”  

sylus raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. he’d half-expected some story about a tragic backstory or estranged family—something he could cynically relate to. instead, zayne’s calm delivery threw him off balance.  

“business?” sylus asked, leaning back in his seat as he sighed. it was an automatic assumption, born from his own experience with absent parents too wrapped up in their empires to care about their families.  

but zayne surprised him again. for the first time that night, there was a noticeable shift in his tone—a quiet warmth that caught sylus off guard. “no,” zayne said, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. “they’re both doctors. outstanding ones, i must say.”  

sylus blinked, staring at him for a moment, unsure how to process the subtle fondness in zayne’s voice. there was no bitterness, no cynicism, just an understated pride. it was so unlike sylus’s own experiences with family that it left him momentarily speechless.  

zayne didn’t linger on the subject. instead, he opened the car door and stepped out, the crisp sound of his shoes against the gravel breaking the silence. he paused by the driver’s side, looking back at sylus, who was still seated, his hand idly resting on the door handle.  

“go wash up, then get some rest,” zayne said, his tone reverting to the composed authority sylus was used to. “i’ll give you a tour some other day—or, if you prefer, you can explore on your own.”  

sylus smirked faintly, pushing the door open and stepping out into the cool night air. “big house for one guy,” he muttered as he stretched, the faint ache of exhaustion setting in. “you sure you’re not secretly a trust fund kid, professor?”  

zayne raised an eyebrow, his gaze steady and unimpressed. “i’ve earned everything i have,” he replied simply, his voice devoid of arrogance but firm enough to leave no room for debate.  

sylus shrugged, his smirk widening as he followed zayne toward the house. “touché. guess i’ll take your word for it. but don’t blame me if i get lost in your wonderful mansion tonight.”  

zayne didn’t dignify the comment with a response, simply unlocking the front door and stepping inside, flipping on the lights as he went.  

the house’s interior matched its exterior—a blend of elegance and practicality. the foyer opened into a spacious living area with high ceilings and large windows that bathed the space in natural light (or would, during the day). the walls were painted in neutral tones, accented by carefully chosen modern art pieces that were both tasteful and understated. shelves lined one wall, filled with books and what appeared to be medical journals, while the other side held a sleek entertainment system.  

sylus glanced around, taking in the minimalist furniture and impeccably clean surfaces. there wasn’t a speck of clutter to be found. it was the kind of house that looked like it belonged in a design magazine—beautiful, but almost too perfect.  

“this place is…” sylus trailed off, searching for the right word as he followed zayne through the hallway.  

“functional,” zayne supplied, his voice betraying a hint of amusement.  

sylus snorted. “right. that’s what i was going to say. definitely not sterile or anything.”  

zayne shot him a brief look but didn’t rise to the bait. instead, he gestured toward a staircase that led to the upper floors. “guest room is on the second floor, last door on the left. bathroom’s attached. if you need anything, my room is at the end of the hall.”  

sylus nodded, hefting his duffel bag over his shoulder. he was about to make a snarky comment about zayne’s hospitality when his gaze caught on a framed photo hanging by the staircase. it was a family picture—two adults, clearly zayne’s parents, standing beside a younger zayne, who looked just as composed and serious as he did now, even as a teenager.  

“you’re close with them, huh?” sylus asked, his voice quieter than usual.  

zayne paused mid-step, his back to sylus. “we understand each other,” he replied after a moment. it wasn’t exactly an answer, but there was no mistaking the respect in his tone.  

for some reason, that answer stayed with sylus as he climbed the stairs, his smirk fading into something more contemplative.  

sylus pushed open the door to the guest room and found it just as neat and well-kept as the rest of the house. a queen-sized bed with crisp, white sheets sat against one wall, flanked by matching nightstands. a desk and chair occupied the corner, and a window overlooked the quiet street below.  

he dropped his bag onto the bed, running a hand through his messy silver hair as he glanced around. it was a far cry from the dorm room he’d just lost—a place he’d never really called “home” but at least had felt like his own space.  

for a moment, sylus stood there, unmoving, the weight of the day finally settling on his shoulders. the fire, the crowd, the memories of a family he didn’t care to think about—all of it pressed down on him, leaving him feeling oddly out of place in this pristine, unfamiliar house.  

but then he sighed, shaking his head as he headed for the attached bathroom. “it’s just six months,” he muttered to himself. “you’ll survive.”  

and with that, he shut the door, letting the sound of running water drown out the rest of the night.

~~~

sylus had always been a creature of habit. functional and focused by day, he had no problem tackling tasks and excelling at whatever was thrown his way. but if left to his own devices, he’d much rather sleep through the morning and let the sun climb a little higher before facing the day.  

unfortunately, his new living arrangement didn’t seem to accommodate his preferences.  

a sharp knock at the door jolted him from the comfort of sleep. he grunted softly, turning over in bed, pulling the blanket higher over his head as if that would ward off the disturbance. the knock came again, firm but not impatient, followed by the familiar, level tone of his host.  

“sylus, it’s almost seven. wash up and come downstairs for breakfast. we’re leaving at eight.”  

sylus groaned, burying his face into the pillow as if he could muffle zayne’s voice through sheer force of will. why six? why did this man insist on dragging him out of bed before the day had even started? it was a saturday for crying out loud.  

he stayed still for a moment, hoping zayne would give up and leave him be. but the sound of retreating footsteps told him zayne was heading back downstairs, confident that his command would be followed. sylus let out a heavy sigh, pulling the blanket off his head and squinting at the soft light filtering through the window.  

“almost six,” he muttered to himself, his voice hoarse with sleep. “does this guy even know what weekends are for?”  

he sat up reluctantly, running a hand through his silver hair, which stuck up at odd angles from a restless night’s sleep. his body felt heavy, sluggish, as if it were rebelling against the idea of waking up this early. yet the memory of zayne’s voice—the sheer authority in it—made him drag himself out of bed despite his better judgment.  

sylus shuffled to the attached bathroom, splashing cold water on his face in an effort to shake off his drowsiness. he glanced at his reflection in the mirror, the faint dark circles under his eyes serving as a reminder of the chaos of the past few days.  

“i’m not a morning person,” he muttered to no one in particular, rubbing the back of his neck as he reached for a towel.  

by the time he made it downstairs, it was ten minutes past seven, and the faint smell of breakfast wafted through the air. sylus stepped into the kitchen, still bleary-eyed, to find zayne already seated at the table, a cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. a simple but meticulously prepared breakfast was laid out—toast, eggs, fruit, and coffee.  

zayne didn’t look up immediately, his focus on the paper, but when sylus flopped into the chair across from him, he glanced up, arching a brow.  

“you’re late,” zayne said evenly, setting the paper down and taking a sip of his coffee.  

sylus scoffed, reaching for the toast. “it’s seven in the morning. you’re lucky i even made it downstairs.”  

“you’re awake, aren’t you?” zayne replied, his tone maddeningly calm. “that’s all that matters.”  

sylus bit into the toast, shooting zayne a glare over the rim of his mug as he poured himself some coffee. “you could’ve at least warned me that your idea of shopping meant dragging me out of bed before sunrise.”  

“it’s better to go early,” zayne replied matter-of-factly, slicing into his eggs with precision. “the stores are less crowded, and we’ll have more time to find what you need.”  

sylus huffed, taking a sip of his coffee. “and here i thought professors were supposed to be considerate.”  

zayne’s lips twitched, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk forming as he leaned back in his chair. “you’re welcome to shop on your own, if you’d prefer,” he said, his voice laced with mild amusement. “but given your track record with punctuality, i thought it best to supervise.”  

sylus snorted, setting his mug down with a little more force than necessary. “yeah, yeah. i get it. you don’t trust me to function before noon.”  

zayne didn’t respond immediately, instead returning to his breakfast with the same quiet efficiency he did everything else. it was only after a moment that he added, “we leave at eight sharp. don’t make me knock on your door again.”  

sylus rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress the faint grin tugging at the corners of his lips. as much as zayne’s strictness grated on him, there was something oddly reassuring about it—like a steady rhythm in the chaos of his otherwise unstructured life.  

“fine,” sylus said, leaning back in his chair. “but if this mall trip takes longer than two hours, i’m blaming you.”  

zayne gave him a sidelong glance, his smirk still faintly visible. “noted.”

~~~

sylus leaned casually against the doorframe, slipping into his shoes with a deliberate slowness, watching zayne approach from the corner of his eye. the faint echo of polished footsteps on the hardwood floor gave away his arrival, and when sylus turned to face him fully, he nearly laughed out loud.  

zayne, ever the epitome of precision, was dressed in a perfectly tailored three-piece suit. the dark fabric hugged his broad shoulders and tapered sharply down his lean frame, the silver sheen of his cufflinks catching the morning light. even his tie was immaculate, its windsor knot symmetrical and flawless.  

sylus arched a brow, his smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “wearing a suit to a mall? even i wouldn’t go that far, sir,” he teased, his tone dripping with faux incredulity.  

zayne didn’t so much as blink, his expression as impassive as ever. “i have work afterwards at the hospital,” he explained calmly, his voice even and measured as always. “once you’re done with everything, i’ll drop you back here. after that, you’re free to do whatever you want.”  

sylus chuckled, shaking his head as he grabbed his jacket from the coat rack. “a dangerous thing to say to someone temporarily living in your house.”  

zayne brushed past him, pausing only to glance over his shoulder with a faintly unimpressed look. sylus fell into step behind him as they headed toward the driveway, unable to resist pushing further. “what kind of work do you even do, anyway?”  

zayne unlocked the car with a subtle flick of his key fob, the faint beep cutting through the quiet morning air. as sylus reached for the passenger door, zayne stopped to deposit a neatly packed bag into the backseat.  

“looks like someone didn’t pay attention to my introduction,” zayne said without missing a beat, his tone carrying that subtle edge of chastisement he reserved for the classroom. “or perhaps they were late to my first class.”  

sylus shrugged nonchalantly, unbothered by the remark. “fair. probably was late,” he admitted with a grin. “but seriously, what gives? you’ve got this whole professor thing going, and now you’re telling me you’re moonlighting somewhere else too?”  

zayne adjusted his glasses before sliding into the driver’s seat, his movements precise and deliberate. “i may be your professor,” he replied smoothly, starting the car, “but i still work as a doctor at akso hospital. cardiology, primarily.”  

the engine purred to life, and sylus leaned back in his seat, absorbing the information. “working two jobs at once,” he muttered, his tone tinged with genuine curiosity. “aren’t you tired?”  

zayne glanced at him briefly, his hands steady on the wheel as he reversed out of the driveway. “at the end of the day, sure,” he admitted, his voice carrying the faintest hint of weariness. “but i enjoy it.”  

sylus raised a brow at that, caught off guard by the sincerity in zayne’s tone. “enjoy it? what, the chaos? the long hours? the constant stress?”  

“it’s not chaos,” zayne corrected, turning onto the main road with practiced ease. “it’s structure. every task has a purpose. every moment has value. and at the end of it, there’s the satisfaction of knowing i’ve done something meaningful.”  

sylus stared at him for a moment, his smirk fading into something quieter, more thoughtful. he hadn’t expected such a straightforward answer—he’d expected zayne to deflect, to brush off the question like he did most personal topics. but there was something almost admirable in the way he spoke about his work, even if sylus couldn’t entirely relate.  

“sounds like you’re married to the job,” sylus said eventually, his tone lighter, though there was a faint edge of sincerity beneath it.  

zayne’s lips twitched in what might’ve been the ghost of a smile. “not quite. but close enough.”  

sylus chuckled, leaning his head back against the seat as the car picked up speed. “well, i guess it’s better than wasting your time.”  

for the first time since they’d started the trip, zayne glanced at sylus, his hazel-green eyes meeting the other man’s crimson gaze briefly before returning to the road. “i suppose,” he said, his tone softer than before.  

the car fell into a comfortable silence after that, the faint hum of the radio filling the space as they sped down the highway. for all their differences, sylus couldn’t help but feel a quiet respect for zayne in that moment, even if he wasn’t quite ready to admit it.  

the soft hum of the car engine blended with the low murmur of the radio, now tuned to a news station. the crisp voice of the anchor droned on about the latest market trends and local events, but sylus barely listened, his gaze wandering toward the passing scenery outside.  

what caught his attention, however, was zayne’s focus—sharp and unwavering, his hands steady on the wheel as he maneuvered through the quiet streets. the man barely glanced at the radio, his ears tuned in just enough to catch any important updates while his eyes remained fixed on the road.  

sylus tilted his head slightly, watching him from the corner of his eye. seriously, he thought, this guy is supposed to be around my age, and yet he acts like an old man. the radio news, the meticulous three-piece suit, the early-morning mall trip—it all screamed someone twice zayne’s actual age.  

how old was he again? twenty-seven, if sylus remembered correctly. that made him just three years older, and yet the gap between them felt massive. sylus leaned back in his seat, his thoughts wandering.  

just how many of those years were spent studying? he mused. zayne was the kind of guy who probably had his entire life planned out from the moment he could read. sylus could easily picture a young zayne, nose buried in textbooks, outpacing his classmates, and skipping grades like it was nothing. graduating early, diving headfirst into medical school, and stacking up achievements and awards like they were collectibles.  

it was almost exhausting to think about.  

sylus glanced at zayne again, noting the subtle crease in his brow as he listened to the news, his expression calm but serious. does he even know how to relax? sylus wondered, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.  

before he could dwell too much on the thought, the car slowed, pulling into the mall’s parking lot. the building loomed ahead, its sleek, modern facade reflecting the morning light. sylus sat up, stretching slightly as zayne eased the car into a spot near the entrance.  

“we’re here,” zayne said, his tone as even as ever as he turned off the engine and unbuckled his seatbelt.  

sylus glanced at the mall entrance, noting the lack of crowds. the early hour meant the place was almost eerily quiet, with only a few shoppers milling about. he sighed internally, knowing exactly what was coming.  

sure enough, as they stepped out of the car and headed toward the entrance, he caught the faintest flicker of a look from zayne—a subtle lift of his brow, the barest hint of a smirk. it wasn’t much, but it screamed i told you so. 

sylus rolled his eyes, shoving his hands into his pockets as they walked. “don’t look at me like that,” he muttered, refusing to meet zayne’s gaze.  

“i didn’t say anything,” zayne replied smoothly, though there was an unmistakable note of satisfaction in his voice.  

“you didn’t have to,” sylus shot back, glaring at the polished floor tiles ahead of them. “the look says it all.”  

zayne didn’t respond, but the faintest curve of his lips lingered as they passed through the automatic doors, stepping into the mall’s cool, air-conditioned interior.  

~~~

the place was almost serene, a stark contrast to the usual chaos sylus associated with shopping trips. the distant hum of soft instrumental music played over the speakers, and the echo of their footsteps felt unusually loud in the wide, open spaces.  

sylus let his gaze wander as they walked past rows of neatly arranged storefronts. it had been a while since he’d been in a mall this early. there was something strange about seeing the shops so empty, their pristine displays untouched by the usual hordes of shoppers.  

“where to first?” sylus asked, glancing at zayne.  

“there’s a department store on the second floor,” zayne replied, his tone businesslike. “they should have everything you need.”  

sylus raised a brow. “everything i need? what are you, my personal assistant now?”  

zayne ignored the comment, heading toward the escalators without breaking stride. “we’ll start with basics—shirts, pants, and shoes. after that, you can pick whatever else you think you’ll need.”  

sylus smirked, following behind. “you’re really taking this whole ‘responsible professor’ thing to heart, huh?”  

“it’s better than letting you wander around aimlessly,” zayne said, glancing back at him briefly. “efficiency saves time.”  

“right,” sylus drawled, his smirk widening. “because god forbid i waste your precious saturday morning.”  

zayne didn’t dignify that with a response, stepping onto the escalator as sylus trailed after him. as they ascended to the second floor, sylus couldn’t help but let his gaze drift again, taking in the polished, organized space around him. for all his grumbling, he had to admit—it wasn’t the worst way to spend a morning.  

and as much as he hated to admit it, zayne’s early-morning logic was starting to make sense. but he wasn’t about to tell him that. not yet.  

sylus moved through the aisles with a detached air, plucking items off the racks without much thought beyond their color and texture. he gravitated toward dark hues—blacks, deep grays, and muted blues. bright or vibrant tones weren’t his style, and he had no interest in standing out. when something caught his eye, he called over a staff member with a casual wave, handing off the items to be taken to the cashier without a second glance.  

he didn’t even check the price tags. he didn’t have to.  

the black card in his wallet saw to that. it wasn’t like his father personally handed it to him or even cared about how he used it. the money came from some faceless intermediary—a secretary or assistant tasked with ensuring that sylus didn’t starve or wind up destitute while he was out of sight, away from the cold halls of the family mansion.  

sylus’s jaw tightened as he handed off another pair of shirts to a waiting staff member, his grip lingering just a moment too long on the fabric. they don’t care. they never did, he thought bitterly. as long as he graduated, got his degree, and became “useful” to the company, his existence was just another line item in a ledger.  

he clenched his fists as a familiar sense of anger bubbled up, his nails digging into his palms. growing up in that house had been like living as a ghost, unseen and unheard except when it suited his parents’ purposes. the servants never spoke unless spoken to. the halls echoed with silence, not laughter or warmth. and when he’d refused his father’s suggestion to be homeschooled—opting instead to attend a real school with real people—no one had batted an eye.  

perhaps his father had allowed it out of convenience. or perhaps because it got sylus out of the way.  

he hated thinking about it, but sometimes, when he stood alone in a crowd like this, surrounded by people who barely glanced at him, the feeling crept in again—that quiet, maddening isolation.  

“you need a suit.”  

zayne’s voice cut through his thoughts, snapping him back to reality. sylus turned around to see the man casually flipping through a rack of clothes, his expression calm and mildly disapproving as his fingers brushed past various hangers.  

“a suit?” sylus echoed, raising a brow and scoffing lightly. “i’m a student, not an office worker.”  

zayne clicked his tongue, an almost imperceptible sign of annoyance as he pulled a sleek black jacket off the rack to examine it. “a suit for formal events, sylus. one or three sets should be enough.”  

sylus sighed, rolling his eyes. “you’re really starting to sound like my personal assistant, you know.”  

zayne didn’t bother responding to the comment, his attention focused on the clothes in front of him. his sharp hazel-green eyes scanned the store with a thoughtful air before he nodded slightly to himself. “it’s better to find a tailor for your suits,” he said matter-of-factly. “off-the-rack rarely fits properly. i know a place nearby that does excellent work.”  

he glanced over at sylus, his gaze briefly flicking down to assess the clothes the younger man had already chosen. “i trust you’ve already picked out everything else you need? casual, winter, sportswear?”  

“yes, dad,” sylus replied with a teasing grin, his tone dripping with mockery.  

that earned him a sharp but harmless knock on the head from zayne, who shook his head with an exasperated sigh. “i’m not that much older than you,” he said flatly, though there was the faintest trace of a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. he glanced at his watch before continuing, “we still have time to get your measurements done at the tailor. which counter did they put your stuff? i’ll pay for it and keep it in the car before we go.”  

sylus raised an eyebrow, tilting his head as if he’d misheard. “i can pay for myself, you know,” he said, his voice sharper than before. “i may be a victim of the fire accident, but that doesn’t mean i’m as helpless as the rest.”  

the air between them shifted subtly, sylus’s words hanging heavier than he’d intended. for a moment, zayne didn’t respond, his gaze steady and unreadable as he studied sylus with the same quiet intensity he often reserved for his lectures.  

“i didn’t say you were helpless,” zayne replied at last, his tone calm but firm. “but if someone offers to make things easier for you, there’s no harm in accepting. pride doesn’t solve problems, sylus.”  

sylus blinked, his jaw tightening as zayne’s words hit closer to home than he cared to admit. he looked away, his crimson eyes narrowing as he muttered, “fine. whatever.”  

zayne nodded, seemingly satisfied, and headed toward the counter with his usual purposeful stride. sylus watched him for a moment, a strange mix of irritation and something else—something quieter—simmering in his chest.  

“seriously,” sylus muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair as he followed. “what kind of professor is this hands-on?”  

despite himself, he couldn’t help the faint grin tugging at the corners of his lips.

once everything was secured in the car, every bag carefully accounted for, sylus was ready to call it a day. but zayne, ever full of surprises, had other plans.  

“we’ll walk to the tailor shop,” zayne announced casually as he locked the car, already heading toward the mall’s exit.  

sylus frowned, trailing behind him. “walk? don’t you have a hospital shift later?”  

“it’s close,” zayne replied without looking back. “and walking is good for you.”  

sylus rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. he followed zayne out of the mall, the crisp morning air greeting them as they stepped onto the sidewalk. it wasn’t long before they arrived at a building that immediately caught sylus’s attention.  

the shop’s exterior was striking—sleek black walls with golden accents, its design exuding sophistication and exclusivity. it stood out from the surrounding buildings, radiating an air of elegance that made even sylus pause.  

“well,” sylus muttered, eyeing the place. “that’s a good first impression.”  

zayne reached for the door, his voice cutting through sylus’s thoughts. “given your background, i’m sure you’re familiar with the process.”  

sylus stiffened slightly, his jaw tightening. oh, he was familiar, alright. he’d lost count of how many times he’d been measured for custom clothing growing up—tailors and seamstresses always fluttering around him, pins in hand, fussing over every detail.  

he muttered, “i’m familiar.”  

zayne glanced back at him, his gaze steady, though he said nothing about sylus’s tone. instead, he gestured toward the shop. “you’re free to choose the colors and designs you prefer. and pick out some shoes while you’re at it. it’s better to be prepared.”  

sylus shrugged, following zayne inside. he had plenty of suits back at home—too many, really—but the thought of going back to that house, to the cold emptiness of that life, made him push the idea aside. for now, he’d go along with zayne’s plan.  

~~~

the interior of the tailor shop was as luxurious as the exterior promised. polished floors gleamed under the soft glow of chandelier lighting, and walls lined with rich fabrics in every color imaginable surrounded them. mannequins dressed in finely tailored suits stood on display, each exuding a level of craftsmanship that even sylus, with his discerning eye, could appreciate.  

before sylus could take it all in, an older woman emerged from behind the counter. her face lit up with a warm smile when she saw zayne.  

“dr. zayne! what a pleasant surprise!” she exclaimed, moving to hug him.  

zayne returned the embrace politely, his own smile softening. “anna, how have you been?”  

“oh, i’ve been better,” she said with a light laugh, patting her chest. “this heart has been beating pretty strong and loud ever since you helped me the other day.”  

sylus raised an eyebrow at that, intrigued despite himself. is there anyone this guy hasn’t helped?

anna’s gaze shifted to sylus, and her smile widened. “oh, and you brought someone with you.”  

taking his cue, sylus stepped forward, offering a polite nod. “sylus qin, ma’am. pleasure to meet you.”  

anna’s eyes twinkled as she looked him over. “my, oh my, quite the tall, handsome young man you are. i’m assuming he’s the one who needs a suit?”  

zayne nodded, already taking a seat on one of the velvet couches meant for guests. “he’s one of my students,” he added.  

anna chuckled, clasping her hands together. “well, let’s see… red eyes and silver hair. those are natural?”  

sylus grinned, leaning slightly against a nearby display. “they are.”  

“one of your parents must’ve been a foreigner,” anna said thoughtfully, her tone light. “it’s rare to see those colors these days.”  

sylus’s grin faltered slightly, but he quickly masked it with a polite smile. his mother’s face flickered in his mind—glamorous, distant, and always surrounded by strangers instead of her only son. but he pushed the thought aside, unwilling to let it show.  

anna clapped her hands, breaking the moment. “alright, mr. qin, let’s get started. you can step into the fitting room, and i’ll take your measurements first. even now, i can see how broad your shoulders are. a suit will fit you beautifully.”  

sylus smirked faintly, gesturing toward the room with a sweeping hand. “lead the way, ma’am.”  

~~~

the fitting room was spacious, lined with full-length mirrors and racks of sample suits. sylus stood in the center, arms outstretched as anna moved around him with practiced efficiency, her tape measure snapping into place with a precision that spoke of years of experience.  

as she worked, she made light conversation, asking about his preferences for fabric and cut. sylus answered absently, his mind wandering. he caught glimpses of himself in the mirrors—his reflection tall and striking against the elegant backdrop, but there was something almost foreign about the image.  

when anna asked about his preferred colors, sylus hesitated before replying, “something dark. black, maybe navy. nothing flashy.”  

“classic choices,” anna said with a nod, jotting down notes. “and shoes?”  

“i’ll stick with black,” sylus replied, glancing at the rows of polished footwear on display.  

from his seat in the lounge, zayne’s voice drifted in. “don’t forget something lighter, too. charcoal or gray can work better for daytime events.”  

sylus rolled his eyes, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “yes, sir. anything else you want to add to my wardrobe?”  

“i trust your judgment,” zayne replied smoothly, though the faintest trace of a smirk hinted at the corners of his mouth.  

anna laughed softly, glancing between the two of them. “well, it’s good to see you’ve got someone looking out for you, mr. qin.”  

sylus tilted his head, his smirk fading into something softer. “yeah,” he murmured, almost to himself. “i guess i do.”  

the fitting process continued, but sylus couldn’t shake the faint warmth spreading through his chest. for the first time in a long while, the thought of having someone watching his back didn’t feel quite so bad.

all the while, zayne flipped through the pages of the magazines placed neatly on the coffee table for customers. he wasn’t particularly invested in the glossy images of high-end fashion and lifestyle spreads, but it was something to do while he waited. as he turned another page, his thoughts drifted, and without much deliberation, he absently said, “maybe throw in a bit of maroon and red.”  

anna, who was jotting down notes for sylus’s suit, perked up immediately. “oh, that’s a wonderful idea!” she said enthusiastically, her eyes lighting up. “i already have a design in mind for that.”  

zayne smirked faintly, closing the magazine and resting it on the table. crimson eyes, silver hair—maroon and red would complement him perfectly. no, it wouldn’t just complement him. it would fit him effortlessly.  

sylus had the kind of natural charm and presence that made anything he wore look good. his sharp features, confident posture, and striking coloring gave him an almost model-like quality. it wasn’t hard to see why he was so sought after on campus, constantly surrounded by admirers and topping every popularity poll. 

no.1 most handsome and heartthrob, zayne mused, shaking his head with quiet amusement. sylus probably found the whole thing more trouble than it was worth, but the title fit nonetheless.  

“oh, this is going to be perfect,” anna said, her enthusiasm infectious as she scribbled more notes.  

zayne chuckled softly. “don’t go overboard, anna,” he warned, though his tone carried no real bite. “if a student shows up looking like a celebrity, the faculty might just have my head.”  

anna laughed, waving a hand dismissively. “nonsense, dr. zayne. a young man should look his best, especially someone as striking as this one.”  

as the two of them chatted, their easy camaraderie filling the air with warmth, sylus found himself listening in silence, an odd sensation stirring in his chest. getting a suit tailored had always been a clinical, impersonal affair for him. there were no cheerful exchanges or shared laughter—just fast hands, precise measurements, and a quick dismissal once the work was done.  

but this?  

this felt… nice. it felt pleasant. 

sylus’s gaze drifted to zayne, who was leaning back on the velvet couch, speaking with anna like they were old friends. the casual familiarity, the way zayne seemed so at ease here, was something sylus didn’t often see in him. and then there was anna, her genuine enthusiasm making what should’ve been a routine task feel special.  

the words slipped out before sylus even realized he was speaking. “...i’ve never had a suit in that color before.”  

his voice was quieter than usual, almost hesitant.  

anna paused, looking up at him with a gentle smile. “then i’ll make sure it’s the best first one you’ll ever have,” she said warmly, her sincerity shining through every word.  

sylus blinked, caught off guard by the kindness in her tone. he felt a smile tugging at his lips—this time, not the cocky or sarcastic grin he so often wore, but something softer. something real.  

“thank you,” he said, the words coming out more genuine than he’d intended.  

anna beamed at him, her hands busy again as she continued her work. “but!” she added with a laugh, “if you keep on gaining muscles like this, i’m afraid you’ll have to come back for adjustments sooner rather than later.”  

sylus chuckled, the sound low and relaxed as he shifted his weight slightly. “guess i’ll take that as a compliment.”  

“it is,” anna assured him, stepping back to check her notes. “broad shoulders like yours make tailoring a challenge, but the results are always worth it.”  

zayne, who had been listening from his seat, chimed in with a faint smirk. “she’s right. don’t let it go to your head, though.”  

sylus glanced over at him, his grin returning with a playful edge. “oh, don’t worry, professor. my ego’s already big enough, or so i’ve been told.”  

anna laughed again, her voice bright and full of life, as she began gathering her tools. “alright, mr. qin. that should do it for the measurements. now comes the fun part—choosing the finer details. shall we?”  

sylus nodded, stepping forward as anna led him to a display of fabrics and designs. for the first time in a long while, the process of getting a suit made didn’t feel like an obligation or a chore. it felt like something… personal.  

and as he stood there, listening to anna’s suggestions and zayne’s occasional input, sylus realized he didn’t mind the warmth of this moment at all.

~~~

the sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow as zayne and sylus left the tailor shop and made their way back to the car. anna had cheerfully reminded them to return in a week for sylus’s suits, her warm farewell lingering in the air as they walked.

“she’s… nice,” sylus remarked after a moment, his tone casual but tinged with something softer.  

zayne huffed lightly, unlocking the car. “your compliments could use some work. but yes, she is.”  

sliding into the passenger seat, sylus glanced at zayne as the older man settled behind the wheel. “how’d you meet her?” he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.  

zayne adjusted the rearview mirror, his gaze thoughtful as he answered. “she had a heart attack one night at a grocery store. it was late, and i was just stopping by to grab something. luckily, i was there in time to stabilize her and call an ambulance.”  

sylus blinked, taken aback. “you just… happened to be there?”  

“right place, right time,” zayne said with a shrug as he started the car. “i treated her at the hospital, and she hasn’t stopped thanking me for it since. she told me about her work as a tailor and offered to make a suit for me as a thank-you. i declined the free offer, but she’s persistent. eventually, i agreed to a discount. since then, i’ve gone to her for all my suits.”  

sylus leaned back, crossing his arms as a smirk tugged at his lips. “i suppose my professor is quite the hero outside of campus.”  

zayne shot him a sidelong glance, his expression deadpan. “i trust you’ll keep that to yourself.”  

“depends,” sylus teased, glancing out the window. “i’m sure there are a lot more people you’ve saved like that. will you tell me about them?”  

zayne chuckled softly, a rare and almost uncharacteristic sound. “if your tardiness and appearance improve, maybe i will.”  

sylus snorted, shaking his head, but didn’t push further.  

~~~

the ride back to zayne’s house was quieter, the comfortable silence only interrupted by the faint hum of the engine. the streets were bathed in the golden hues of late afternoon, and sylus found himself feeling oddly at ease.  

as they neared the driveway, zayne spoke, his tone shifting into the meticulous authority sylus had come to expect. “i’ll be returning late tonight. help yourself to dinner—there’s food in the fridge. if there’s an issue, my phone number is attached to the fridge as well. if it’s an emergency and i’m unavailable, there’s another contact listed below mine.”  

sylus raised a brow, smirking faintly. “very precise and meticulous instructions, as expected from you, professor. what’s next, a chore chart?”  

zayne didn’t respond to the teasing, his focus on maneuvering the car into the driveway. when he finally parked and turned off the engine, sylus leaned back, his expression growing more thoughtful. “won’t your parents find it weird that i’m staying here? you did tell them about me, right?”  

for the first time, zayne hesitated, his hands pausing briefly on the steering wheel. “ah,” he said quietly, glancing at sylus. “my parents… they won’t be back. not in the foreseeable future.”  

sylus frowned, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly. “you said they’re doctors.” for a brief, uncomfortable moment, he wondered if zayne’s parents weren’t alive, but zayne quickly dispelled the thought.  

“they work abroad,” zayne explained, his tone steady. “always traveling, always saving lives at disaster sites. it’s never-ending work for them, so they rarely come home.”  

sylus leaned forward slightly, his curiosity giving way to something deeper. “…so you’ve been alone this whole time? for how long?”  

zayne looked thoughtful for a moment, his expression calm but distant. “since i was about ten, i suppose. but it’s not as bad as it sounds. we still call and catch up when they can, and they send me gifts from their travels.” he glanced at sylus, noting the slight frown on his face. “i have friends too—people who checked on me. i wasn’t completely alone.”  

“...right.” sylus nodded slowly, his gaze dropping to his hands.  

that’s what set them apart, wasn’t it? zayne’s parents might be far away, but they cared. they thought about him, reached out to him, even if it was from a distance. and zayne had friends—people who cared enough to keep him company and make sure he was okay.  

and sylus? he’d always been alone.  

the familiar weight settled in his chest, a quiet ache he knew too well. his father’s concern was limited to his utility as an heir, and his mother… well, she might as well have been a ghost, flitting from one glamorous party to the next without a thought for the son she’d left behind.  

“sylus?” zayne’s voice pulled him from his thoughts, calm and steady but quieter than usual.  

sylus blinked, glancing at him with a faint smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “it’s nothing,” he said, his tone light but distant. “i guess i felt a bit bad for you. but it’s good that you have someone.” he opened the car door, stepping out before zayne could respond. “i’ll head inside now. take care, sir.”  

zayne watched him go, his gaze lingering on the younger man’s retreating figure. there was something about sylus’s words, the way he said them, that didn’t sit right with zayne. but before he could think too much about it, sylus disappeared through the front door, leaving zayne alone in the quiet driveway.  

with a sigh, zayne started the car again, pulling out onto the street. the image of sylus’s faint, insincere smile stayed with him as he drove toward the hospital.

~~~

sylus spent the rest of the afternoon in quiet activity, unpacking the bags from their shopping trip and organizing his newly acquired wardrobe. the guest room was spacious enough to fit everything comfortably, and sylus methodically folded and hung up each piece of clothing. the rhythmic motions of sorting and arranging kept his hands busy, but his thoughts drifted back to the earlier conversation with zayne.  

he grimaced, pausing mid-fold. he hadn’t meant to sound so… vulnerable. maybe he was getting too careless, too comfortable. the realization made him uneasy. it wasn’t like him to let his guard down, not even with someone as calm and unassuming as zayne.  

sylus sighed, running a hand through his hair as he leaned against the edge of the wardrobe. he’s your professor, he reminded himself. not your confidant. not your friend. just someone helping you out temporarily.

and yet, despite the reminder, the faint warmth of zayne’s presence lingered in his mind. the man was annoyingly consistent—steady, reliable, and unshakably kind in his own subtle, no-nonsense way. it was hard not to feel at least a little at ease around him, and that thought was what unsettled sylus the most.  

what good would it do, anyway? he thought bitterly, shaking his head. even if he were to spill his guts, to open up about the suffocating expectations and the gnawing emptiness that came with being his father’s heir, what could anyone do about it?  

his future was already planned and sealed, meticulously crafted in the hands of his old man. if sylus was to inherit the family empire, he would. if he was to succeed his father, he would. there was no room for deviation, no room for failure.  

and if he did fail? well, that was a question sylus had asked himself countless times.  

he imagined the disapproval in his father’s eyes, the cold dismissal that would surely follow. he could almost hear the words: you’re useless to me now. it was a dark thought, but one sylus had come to accept as a possibility. he’d always assumed he was expendable, a piece on the chessboard that could be removed without hesitation if it no longer served its purpose.  

he clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as the familiar weight of those thoughts pressed down on him.  

“okay,” he muttered to himself, “that’s enough thinking for today.”  

sylus straightened up, closing the wardrobe with a quiet click. he needed to shake off the heaviness in his chest, to focus on something simple and immediate. washing up, cooking dinner, maybe walking around the house for a bit—those would do.  

the bathroom was just as spotless as the rest of zayne’s home, the cool tiles and minimalist design making it feel more like a luxury hotel than a professor’s guest bathroom. sylus turned on the water, splashing his face and watching the droplets drip into the sink. the coldness of it was refreshing, grounding him as he stared at his reflection.  

“you’re fine,” he muttered to himself, drying off with a towel. “just get through today. that’s all you have to do.”  

~~~

the kitchen was quiet when he entered, the faint hum of the refrigerator the only sound. sylus opened the fridge, scanning the neatly arranged shelves. it was almost intimidating how organized everything was, like even the groceries had to meet zayne’s impossibly high standards.  

he pulled out some ingredients—eggs, vegetables, and a package of pasta—deciding on something quick and easy. cooking had never been his strong suit, but it wasn’t like he was clueless either. he worked efficiently, chopping and stirring, the rhythmic clatter of utensils against the stovetop filling the silence.  

as the aroma of sautéed vegetables and garlic filled the air, sylus found himself relaxing a bit. cooking was a welcome distraction, something tangible and immediate that didn’t leave room for overthinking.  

by the time he finished, he’d prepared a decent-looking plate of pasta. he sat down at the kitchen table, eating in silence and letting his mind wander to simpler things—like how zayne probably cooked meals with the same precision he applied to everything else.  

~~~

after dinner, sylus cleaned up and decided to take a short walk around the house. it wasn’t snooping, he told himself—just curiosity.  

the house was a reflection of zayne in every way. the decor was clean and minimalist, with subtle hints of personality scattered throughout—an old medical journal on the coffee table, framed photos of zayne and what sylus assumed were his parents, and shelves lined with books that ranged from academic texts to novels.  

the living room had an inviting warmth to it despite its polished design. a faint scent of cedar lingered in the air, and the large windows offered a clear view of the quiet neighborhood outside.  

sylus wandered to the back of the house, finding a small patio that opened up to a neat garden. the cool evening air brushed against his skin as he stepped outside, leaning against the railing and staring up at the darkening sky.  

for a moment, he let himself breathe.  

the house was quiet—comfortably so. it was a stark contrast to the mansion he grew up in, where the silence had felt suffocating and cold. here, there was warmth, a sense of life even in the stillness.  

“...it’s not bad,” he muttered to himself, almost begrudgingly.  

after a while, he headed back inside, the faint ache of exhaustion settling over him. as he climbed the stairs to the guest room, his thoughts wandered briefly to zayne. the man was probably knee-deep in work by now, saving lives with the same calm competence he brought to everything.  

sylus sighed as he flopped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. “take care at work, professor,” he muttered to himself, a faint smirk tugging at his lips before sleep eventually claimed him.

~~~

the soft knock came again, persistent but not impatient. sylus groaned, burying his face deeper into the pillow in an effort to drown it out. why does this man always have to ruin a perfectly good morning?

“i know you’re up, sylus,” came zayne’s voice from the other side of the door, calm and unyielding as ever. “come downstairs and have breakfast. sleeping too late isn’t good for you.”  

sylus grunted, muttering something unintelligible into his pillow. just when he thought it wasn’t so bad living here, zayne had to remind him exactly who was in charge.  

after dragging himself out of bed, splashing his face with cold water, and lazily throwing on a shirt, sylus trudged downstairs, his hair still messy from sleep. he had every intention of glaring daggers at zayne for disturbing his peace, but as he reached the kitchen door, the sight before him made him stop in his tracks.  

zayne was seated at the dining table, his legs crossed, a book in one hand and a steaming cup of coffee in the other. he looked completely at ease, framed by the soft morning light filtering through the windows. what really threw sylus off, though, was his… clothes.  

the meticulous, suited-up professor sylus was used to seeing was gone, replaced by a version of zayne that looked almost… normal. he wore a soft white sweater, its loose fit adding an unusual softness to his broad frame, paired with simple dark sweatpants. his silver-framed glasses rested on his nose, and even his usually impeccable hair was slightly tousled, as though he hadn’t bothered styling it.  

“...what?” zayne asked, glancing up from his book when he noticed sylus standing frozen in the doorway.  

sylus blinked, then blurted out without thinking, “you look normal.”  

zayne raised an eyebrow, lowering the book slightly. “do you think i wear a suit 24/7?”  

“honestly?” sylus said, stepping into the room and flopping into the seat across from him. “i wouldn’t be surprised if you told me you were born with a suit on.”  

zayne scoffed, taking a sip of his coffee before replying. “perhaps you should start getting into the habit of dressing up no matter the occasion. it wouldn’t hurt to look presentable.”  

sylus raised an eyebrow, clearly unbothered.

“still in your sleepwear, i see,” zayne added, gesturing vaguely to sylus’s white shirt and pajama pants.  

sylus leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head before shrugging lazily. “why bother? it’s a sunday, no one’s going to see me except you.”  

“and that’s the problem,” zayne retorted, his gaze sharp but not unkind. “if you don’t start the day with intention, you’ll lose momentum. dressing well is a good habit to form—it sets the tone for the rest of the day.”  

sylus snorted, resting his chin in his hand as he smirked across the table. “so says the guy lecturing me in sweatpants.”  

zayne gave him a pointed look, but there was a flicker of amusement in his hazel-green eyes. “even i’m allowed to relax on occasion,” he replied evenly. “though if you must know, this is hardly my usual day off.”  

sylus perked up slightly, leaning forward. “oh? and what does the great professor zayne do on his rare day off?”  

“work,” zayne replied without missing a beat, turning a page in his book.  

sylus groaned, slumping back into his chair. “of course. should’ve known.”  

“not all of us can spend the entire day lounging around in sleepwear,” zayne quipped, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.  

sylus rolled his eyes, grabbing a piece of toast from the plate on the table. “yeah, yeah. maybe one day i’ll learn to be as annoyingly productive as you.”  

“unlikely,” zayne said dryly, though there was no real bite in his tone.  

sylus chuckled, taking a bite of the toast as the conversation lapsed into a companionable silence. despite the interruption to his morning, he couldn’t help but feel oddly at ease. there was something about seeing zayne like this—casual, unguarded—that made living here a little less daunting.  

for all his lectures and precision, zayne wasn’t so bad. not bad at all.  

~~~

the afternoon passed in a haze of idleness, the kind of lazy day that made time feel like it was moving slower than usual. sylus had been lounging on the living room couch, half-listening to zayne talking about something related to their online classes for tomorrow. he hadn’t caught much of it—something about schedules and preparation—but the softness of the couch proved too inviting.  

before he knew it, his eyes had closed, and he’d drifted off, the low timbre of zayne’s voice fading into the background.  

when sylus woke up, the living room was quiet. the clock on the wall read a little past 1 p.m., and there was no sign of zayne. his car was still parked outside, so he hadn’t left. must be upstairs or something, sylus thought, stretching lazily as he sat up.  

feeling a restless boredom settle over him, he decided to wander. maybe bothering his uptight professor would provide some entertainment—or at least pass the time.  

sylus climbed the stairs, his bare feet barely making a sound on the hardwood floor. there were still rooms he hadn’t explored, partly out of respect and partly because he wasn’t sure if they were off-limits. but boredom had a way of loosening inhibitions, and curiosity soon got the better of him.  

opposite the guest room where he was staying, a set of double sliding doors caught his attention. he’d noticed them before but hadn’t thought much of them. now, though, they seemed to beckon him.  

sylus hesitated for a moment, his hand resting lightly on the handle. he didn’t say anything about it being off-limits… with that thought, he slid the doors open slowly, revealing a space that made him blink in surprise.  

inside was a library—a personal one. shelves and racks lined the walls, filled with neatly arranged books. the room was minimalist like the rest of the house, but there was something undeniably cozy about it. the scent of paper and wood polish lingered faintly in the air, and a few comfortable chairs were positioned strategically near a reading lamp.  

a library and access to a balcony? sylus shook his head, impressed despite himself. “of course he has a library,” he muttered under his breath, stepping inside.  

he let his fingers trail lightly over the spines of the books as he walked along the shelves, glancing at the titles. medical texts, classic literature, and even a few more niche subjects—it was a collection that mirrored zayne perfectly.  

curiosity led him toward the balcony door at the far end of the room. sylus opened it and stepped outside, greeted by a gentle breeze and the warmth of the sun. the view from the balcony was peaceful, overlooking the garden below. he stretched slightly, resting his hands on the railing as he took in the scene.  

it wasn’t long before a faint sound caught his attention—movement and water. sylus leaned forward, peering down into the garden, and spotted zayne.  

zayne was standing among the flowerbeds, holding a watering can in one hand as he tended to a cluster of vibrant blooms. he moved with the same quiet precision as he did in everything else, methodically watering and trimming where needed. the sight was almost… serene.  

sylus couldn’t resist the urge to tease.  

“someone’s full of energy,” he called out, leaning on the railing with one elbow and resting his chin in his hand.  

zayne glanced up, clearly unbothered by the interruption. his silver-rimmed glasses caught the sunlight as he adjusted them slightly, tilting his head to look at sylus. “i see you’ve found the library,” he said, ignoring the comment.  

sylus smirked, unfazed. “oh, is that what that is? thought it was your secret lair.”  

zayne huffed softly, his attention returning to the flowers. “if i had one, you’d hardly find it so easily.”  

sylus chuckled, leaning further over the railing. “didn’t know you were into gardening, professor. isn’t this a bit… relaxing for someone as busy as you?”  

zayne straightened, glancing up at him again. “relaxation doesn’t equate to idleness. it’s a productive way to unwind.”  

sylus arched a brow, his smirk widening. “watering flowers is productive?”  

“it is when you’re the one keeping them alive,” zayne shot back, his tone dry but not unkind. he set the watering can down and adjusted one of the stems with careful hands. “it’s good to have something that requires care and consistency. it reminds you to slow down.”  

sylus tilted his head, watching him thoughtfully. “is that your way of telling me to pick up a hobby?”  

“it wouldn’t hurt,” zayne replied smoothly, brushing a bit of soil off his hands.  

the casual exchange made sylus pause for a moment, his gaze lingering on zayne as he worked. there was something different about seeing him like this—out of his usual element, yet entirely at ease. the man who always seemed so rigid and disciplined had an unexpectedly gentle side, and it caught sylus off guard.  

“...you’re full of surprises, you know that?” sylus finally said, his voice quieter than usual.  

zayne didn’t look up this time, but there was a faint curve to his lips as he replied, “so are you, sylus.”  

sylus blinked, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected response. he opened his mouth to say something, but the words didn’t come, and instead, he let out a soft chuckle. “touché, professor. touché.”  

"you haven’t seen the garden yet, have you?" zayne called up, glancing at sylus still leaning against the balcony railing. “come outside, and i’ll give you a tour. who knows, maybe i’ll ask you to water them for me if i happen to be busy.”  

sylus groaned theatrically, resting his forehead on his hand. “i should’ve known staying here comes at a price… labor work, is it?”  

zayne rolled his eyes, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “are you coming or not?”  

“alright, alright, yes, sir,” sylus replied with a lazy salute, pushing off the railing.  

now here sylus was, sleeves rolled up and hands slightly dirty, helping his professor repot some of the plants. he crouched by the flowerbeds, glancing around at the garden’s layout. it was larger than he’d initially thought, stretching far beyond what was visible from the balcony. the rows of flowers and greenery extended into the backyard, forming neat sections that were clearly planned with care.  

for someone as structured as zayne, sylus shouldn’t have been surprised.  

“these roses are sensitive,” zayne explained, snipping away at an overgrown branch with a pair of pruning shears. “make sure they’re not directly under the sun for too long. i adjust the shade depending on the day.”  

sylus huffed, leaning on his knee as he eyed the delicate blooms. “am i getting a crash course in gardening right now?”  

“yes,” zayne replied smoothly, setting down the shears and inspecting the stem. “and if you do well, i might just give you something as a reward.”  

sylus grinned, his usual playful edge returning. “no take backs, sir. commit to your words.”  

zayne shook his head, muttering something about “unruly students,” before leading them toward the backyard. sylus followed, noting how the atmosphere subtly shifted as they moved further into the garden.  

the backyard opened into a separate section of the garden, dominated by a patch of soft, white flowers. the air was sweeter here, faintly perfumed by the blooming jasmines that swayed gently in the breeze.  

“these are jasmines,” zayne said, kneeling beside the patch. he ran a hand lightly over the petals, his touch almost reverent. a small, fond smile appeared on his face, softer than any expression sylus had ever seen from him.  

“they’re my mother’s favorite,” zayne continued, his voice taking on a warmer tone. “on one of her visits to china, she saw them and fell in love with them. she sent me a packet of seeds and told me i should grow them in the backyard.”  

he chuckled softly, glancing at the overgrown patch. “but she sent too many, so now they’re taking over the rest of the garden.”  

sylus watched as zayne inspected the flowers with care, checking each bloom as though they were his patients. despite his earlier teasing, sylus found himself fascinated—not just by the flowers, but by the way zayne carried himself here. there was something almost tender about the way he handled the plants, a side of him sylus hadn’t expected to see.  

zayne plucked one of the flowers, turning it gently between his fingers. he straightened, bringing the bloom closer to his face, the smile on his lips deepening as he looked at it.  

“quite the beauty, isn’t it?” he remarked, his hazel-green eyes catching the sunlight as he glanced at sylus.  

and sylus froze.  

he was supposed to be looking at the flower, but his gaze lingered, completely ignoring the delicate white petals. zayne stood framed by the vibrant greenery, the warm sunlight catching in his dark hair and the faint curve of his lips. he looked so... different. the usual crisp professionalism he wore like armor was gone, replaced by something softer, something sylus couldn’t quite define.  

his chest tightened, and a strange sensation coiled in his stomach. it was unsettling and unfamiliar, like something warm and heavy had lodged itself there.  

he should say something. anything.  

“...pretty,” sylus murmured before he could stop himself.  

zayne glanced at him, eyebrows raising slightly before he huffed in amusement, clearly misunderstanding. “pretty works too,” he replied, oblivious to the way sylus’s gaze lingered on him.  

sylus quickly looked away, his heart beating faster than he cared to admit. he cleared his throat, focusing back to the flowerbeds.

zayne didn’t seem to notice, instead turning the jasmine in his fingers again before tucking it into his pocket. “it’ll go in a vase inside later,” he said, his tone casual.  

sylus nodded absently, his usual playful demeanor oddly muted as he glanced back at the patch of jasmines. “...you really care about this garden, huh?”  

zayne smiled faintly, his gaze drifting over the blooms. “it’s worth the effort,” he said simply. “taking care of something, watching it grow—it’s rewarding.”  

sylus looked at him again, and for a brief moment, he wondered if zayne even realized how much of himself he revealed in moments like this.  

“right,” sylus muttered, turning his attention back to the flowers. “rewarding.”  

but no matter how much he tried to focus on the jasmines, his thoughts kept drifting back to zayne—standing there, smiling like that.  

it was just the flower, sylus told himself.

just the flower.

~~~

the evening air was cool, and sylus felt it against his damp skin as he finished towel-drying his hair. after the afternoon spent in the garden, he’d taken a long shower, scrubbing off the dirt and sweat from repotting plants under zayne’s strict supervision. who knew gardening could feel so much like an intensive class? zayne had lectured him about every plant, every tool, and every technique with the same level of detail he brought to his online classes.  

sylus had sighed more than once, muttering under his breath, “only you could make gardening feel like an exam, professor.”  

still, there was something oddly grounding about the day’s work. even if zayne had been as meticulous and fussy as ever, the rhythm of watering, trimming, and planting had its own kind of calming charm.  

now, freshly showered and changed into clean clothes, sylus sighed again, this time less out of exasperation and more out of thought. he tossed the towel onto a hook near the bathroom door and ran a hand through his still-damp silver hair, pushing it back from his face.  

from downstairs, zayne’s voice called up, steady and firm as always. “sylus, come downstairs for dinner.”  

sylus huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “nagging, as usual,” he muttered under his breath, but there was no real bite in his tone.  

it had started to feel routine now—zayne’s voice calling for him, reminding him to eat, to move, to exist. it was so different from what he was used to. at home, meals were a solitary affair. a knock at his door, a food tray left outside, and the sound of retreating footsteps before he even had the chance to say anything.  

there had never been conversation or warmth. just silence.  

but here? zayne didn’t just knock and leave. he didn’t let sylus disappear into himself. he made him move. he made him talk.  

and zayne was here.

sylus frowned at the thought, not entirely sure what to make of it. the realization was strange, uncomfortable even, but there was also a quiet comfort in it that he couldn’t deny.  

with a final sigh, he pulled the towel from the hook and hung it neatly on the rack. “yeah, okay,” he muttered, loud enough for zayne to hear, before heading toward the stairs.  

~~~

the dining table was already set when sylus entered the room, the faint aroma of something savory wafting through the air. zayne was standing by the counter, placing a bowl of soup onto a tray. he glanced over when sylus walked in, raising an eyebrow as if to say took you long enough. 

“smells good,” sylus remarked, sliding into his seat at the table.  

“it should,” zayne replied evenly, setting the tray down and taking a seat across from him. “i don’t believe in cutting corners, even for simple meals.”  

sylus smirked, picking up his spoon. “yeah, i’ve noticed. you don’t do simple, do you?”  

zayne ignored the comment, taking a sip of his water before gesturing to the soup. “eat. you’ll need the energy for classes tomorrow.”  

sylus rolled his eyes but dug in anyway. the soup was good—warm and hearty, with just the right balance of flavor. for someone as busy as zayne, it was impressive how much care he put into even something as mundane as dinner.  

as they ate, the quiet clink of utensils filled the space, but it wasn’t the kind of silence sylus had grown up with. this silence felt... lighter, less oppressive.  

“so,” sylus said eventually, breaking the quiet, “what’s the plan for tomorrow? more online lectures?”  

zayne nodded, finishing his bite before replying. “yes. i’ll send you the schedule tonight. make sure you review it.”  

“of course,” sylus replied, smirking. “wouldn’t want to disappoint my professor.”  

“good,” zayne said simply, though the faintest trace of amusement tugged at the corners of his lips.  

they continued eating, the conversation meandering from classes to mundane topics like the weather and the state of zayne’s car. it was all so… normal. sylus hadn’t realized how much he missed this kind of simplicity until now.  

when they’d finished, sylus helped zayne clear the table, stacking the plates and carrying them to the sink. it wasn’t something he usually did—at home, the staff would’ve taken care of it without a word—but here, it felt natural.  

as zayne washed the dishes, sylus leaned against the counter, drying the clean ones with a towel. he glanced at zayne, noting the calm efficiency with which he worked.  

“you know,” sylus said, his voice quieter than usual, “this whole ‘nagging parent’ thing you’ve got going on is starting to grow on me.”  

zayne glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. “i’m glad my efforts are appreciated,” he replied dryly, but there was a faint softness in his tone that made sylus smile.  

they finished quickly, and as zayne put the last plate away, sylus stretched his arms over his head, letting out a contented sigh.  

“well,” he said, turning toward the hallway, “i think i’m gonna crash early tonight.”  

“good,” zayne replied, wiping his hands on a towel. “make sure you’re up on time tomorrow.”  

sylus smirked, throwing a casual wave over his shoulder as he headed upstairs. “no promises. goodnight, professor.”  

zayne watched him go, shaking his head slightly before turning off the kitchen light. “goodnight, sylus,” he murmured, the faintest smile lingering on his lips.  

~~~

the next morning began much like sylus had expected—far too early for his liking.  

at precisely six in the morning, a firm knock rattled his door, followed by zayne’s calm, unyielding voice. “sylus, wake up. breakfast is ready.”  

sylus groaned into his pillow, his silver hair a mess from sleep. he grumbled incoherently, pulling the blanket over his head as if that would somehow make zayne go away. but his dearest professor was nothing if not persistent.  

“sylus,” zayne called again, his tone carrying just enough edge to make sylus huff in protest. “if you don’t come downstairs in the next five minutes, i’ll be forced to assume you’re incapable of managing your own morning routine.”  

the jab was enough to get sylus moving, albeit slowly. he dragged himself out of bed, threw on a shirt, and stumbled downstairs, grumbling under his breath about early mornings and “nagging professors.”  

~~~

the smell of freshly brewed coffee and something warm and savory greeted him as he entered the dining room. despite his grumpy state, sylus couldn’t deny that breakfast was a saving grace. zayne, ever the perfectionist, had prepared a spread that included eggs, toast, and a side of roasted vegetables, all arranged with almost surgical precision.  

“morning,” sylus muttered, dropping into his seat and reaching immediately for the coffee.  

“you’re late,” zayne remarked, his gaze flicking to the clock.  

“it’s six in the morning,” sylus shot back, his voice still hoarse with sleep. “humans aren’t supposed to be functional at this hour.”  

zayne raised an eyebrow, but he didn’t press the matter further. “eat. you’ll need the energy for today’s classes.”  

sylus grumbled something unintelligible but dug into the food anyway, the warmth and flavor gradually lifting his mood. breakfast really was the only redeeming part of these early wake-up calls.  

by the time their online classes started, sylus was feeling more awake, though his usual smirk still carried a hint of sleepiness. the day’s schedule was a mix of video calls, assignment postings, and individual study. some professors preferred to assign work to be submitted by the end of the day, while others held live sessions.  

zayne’s class was in the form of a video conference, and sylus couldn’t help but find it slightly amusing.  

sitting in his room, with his laptop propped open on the desk, sylus watched as zayne’s familiar face appeared on the screen. the man looked as composed as ever, wearing his usual glasses and a neatly pressed shirt. his backdrop was his home office, and sylus couldn’t help but smirk at the irony—he was literally under the same roof as his professor, yet here they were, communicating through a screen like everyone else.  

zayne’s voice was neutral and professional as always, commanding the attention of the students in the call.  

“—make sure you’ve done your research for this topic. for the next assignment, you’ll be working in groups, and i expect a presentation ready for next week’s class.”  

sylus leaned back in his chair, resting his chin on his hand as he listened. having seen zayne in his more casual moments, it was oddly difficult to take him seriously in this strict, stoic role. he could still hear the same voice that lectured him on gardening just the day before, telling him how to care for sensitive roses and overgrown jasmines.  

“since our current predicament is like this,” zayne continued, his tone steady, “on thursday, i’ll be assigning a task that will be due the same day. if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me—but only at reasonable hours.”  

sylus smirked, resisting the urge to laugh. the way zayne emphasized “reasonable hours” was so classically him.  

“that will be all,” zayne concluded, glancing briefly at his notes. “class dismissed.”  

as the call ended, sylus closed his laptop, stretching his arms above his head. he let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. it was surreal, watching zayne in full professor mode when just hours ago, the same man had been fussing over breakfast like a nagging parent.  

“reasonable hours,” sylus muttered to himself, still smirking. “right, because you’re the epitome of reasonable.”  

despite the teasing, he couldn’t deny that zayne’s presence—both in class and at home—had started to feel... grounding. reliable. maybe even reassuring.  

not that sylus would ever admit that out loud.

~~~

with classes done for the day and his assignments finished in record time, sylus found himself with nothing to do. the hours stretched ahead, and the silence of the house felt heavier than usual. restless, he decided to head downstairs, figuring he’d grab a snack to pass the time.  

the kitchen was just as tidy as always, the faint scent of coffee lingering in the air from the morning. sylus rummaged through the fridge, eventually settling on an apple and a small packet of crackers. it wasn’t much, but it would do.  

as he leaned against the counter, munching on the apple, his thoughts drifted to the library upstairs. it was one of the more intriguing parts of the house—quiet, spacious, and filled with an impressive collection of books. he hadn’t spent much time there since discovering it, but now seemed as good a time as any to explore it further.  

sylus climbed the stairs with unhurried steps, making his way to the double sliding doors that marked the entrance to the library. he slid them open quietly, stepping inside and letting the familiar scent of old books and polished wood greet him.  

the soft rustle of a page turning caught his attention, and sylus glanced toward the corner of the room. there, seated in one of the armchairs near the tall windows, was zayne.  

the professor was completely absorbed in a book, his legs crossed comfortably and his silver-rimmed glasses resting neatly on his nose. the afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows cast a warm glow over the room, highlighting the relaxed lines of zayne’s posture.  

sylus paused in the doorway, caught off guard by the sight. it wasn’t the first time he’d seen zayne in a casual setting, but there was something different about seeing him here, surrounded by books and sunlight, so quietly at ease.  

he considered backing out, not wanting to disturb the moment, but his natural inclination to tease won out.  

“well, well,” sylus said, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk. “the professor caught taking a break. i thought you didn’t know the meaning of the word.”  

zayne looked up from his book, his expression calm but faintly amused. “even i take breaks, sylus,” he replied evenly, closing the book slightly to mark his place with a finger. “what brings you here? i didn’t think libraries were your thing.”  

sylus strolled further into the room, taking a bite of his apple as he glanced at the shelves. “boredom, mostly,” he admitted, his tone casual. “finished my work. figured i’d see what all the fuss is about in here.”  

“there’s no fuss,” zayne replied, setting the book down on the small table beside him. “it’s just a library.”  

“a pretty nice one,” sylus countered, running a finger along the spines of the neatly arranged books. he turned to zayne with a raised eyebrow. “you actually read all of these?”  

“not all,” zayne admitted, though there was a hint of pride in his voice. “but enough. some are for reference, some for leisure. it depends.”  

sylus chuckled, settling into the armchair across from zayne and propping his feet up on the ottoman. “you really are something, professor. i can’t tell if you’re showing off or if you just don’t know how to relax like a normal person.”  

zayne smirked faintly, reaching for his coffee cup on the table. “coming from you, i’ll take that as a compliment.”  

they sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the quiet rustle of leaves outside and the faint ticking of a clock filling the room.  

“so,” sylus said eventually, tilting his head as he eyed the book zayne had been reading. “what’s the great professor zayne reading today? another medical journal? philosophy? gardening tips?”  

zayne huffed a quiet laugh, picking up the book and holding it up so sylus could see the title. “the wind-up bird chronicle. haruki murakami.”  

sylus blinked, momentarily surprised. “fiction? didn’t think you had it in you.”  

“i’m full of surprises,” zayne replied with a small smile, turning the book slightly in his hands. “sometimes even a structured life needs a bit of imagination.”  

sylus hummed thoughtfully, leaning back in his chair. “guess you’re not as boring as i thought.”  

“high praise coming from you,” zayne said dryly, but there was no malice in his tone.  

sylus grinned, taking another bite of his apple as he let the quiet of the library settle over them. it wasn’t often he felt this... at ease in someone else’s space, but here, with zayne sitting across from him, the sunlight filtering through the windows, and the faint hum of a peaceful afternoon.

it’s pleasant.

sylus leaned back comfortably in the armchair, the crunch of his apple breaking the serene silence of the library. his crimson eyes sparkled with mischief as he looked over at zayne, who remained poised and focused on his book.  

“you really need to fill up your fridge more,” sylus said, gesturing with the half-eaten apple in his hand. “most of it is so bland. you’re not doing your old-man taste buds any favors.”  

zayne didn’t even look up, his gaze still fixed on the page in front of him. “they’re called healthy food,” he replied, his tone steady. “it’s good for your health.”  

“too healthy,” sylus countered, his voice dripping with exaggerated disdain. “c’mon, professor, where’s the fun in that? or… are you hiding your stash somewhere?” he leaned forward slightly, smirking. “what, afraid i’ll finish it all?”  

zayne let out a long-suffering sigh, finally closing his book with deliberate care. he placed it neatly on the table beside him and glanced at sylus, his hazel-green eyes carrying the faintest glint of amusement.  

“five p.m.,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “we’ll leave and buy whatever you want at the grocery store.”  

sylus blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected offer. he wasn’t expecting zayne to cave so easily—or at all. but then, his smirk returned, wider this time as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.  

“really? whatever i want?” sylus asked, his voice laced with playful challenge.  

zayne gave him a pointed look, adjusting his glasses. “within reason,” he clarified, standing up and smoothing out the slight creases in his sweater.  

sylus chuckled, finishing the last bite of his apple before tossing the core into the wastebasket near the door with a practiced flick. “alright, professor, you’re on. but don’t be surprised when i fill up your cart with things that aren’t kale or quinoa.”  

zayne huffed a soft laugh, shaking his head as he made his way toward the door. “if it means you’ll stop complaining, i’m willing to take that risk.”  

sylus followed, his mood lighter now, the prospect of bending zayne’s strict grocery standards giving him something to look forward to. as they stepped out of the library, sylus couldn’t resist throwing one last jab over his shoulder.  

“this might just be the first time i see you in a grocery store, professor. think the world’s ready for it?”  

zayne glanced back at him, his lips curving into a faint smirk. “we’ll see,” he said, his tone as calm and composed as ever.  

the local grocery store zayne frequented was bigger than sylus had anticipated. wide aisles stretched ahead, packed with neatly arranged goods, and the bright overhead lights gave everything a polished sheen. the size was a good thing, sylus thought—it meant variety, options.  

he pushed the trolley with an absent mind, his crimson eyes scanning the shelves. sylus wasn’t particularly fond of junk food, but even he knew how to indulge when the occasion called for it. he picked out a few snacks—chips, a chocolate bar or two—nothing excessive, just enough to satisfy a craving when it hit.  

his thoughts wandered as he continued down the aisle. zayne was probably off somewhere scrutinizing nutrition labels with the kind of intensity most people reserved for exams. the mental image made sylus chuckle softly to himself. he could practically see zayne standing there, glasses perched on his nose, meticulously comparing brands to ensure he got the “healthiest” option.  

and yet, the thought brought a strange warmth to sylus’s chest.  

i’m shopping with zayne.

the realization hit him quietly but deeply. he wasn’t alone anymore. gone were the nights at the dorm when he’d head out to buy things on his own, the cold air and silence his only companions. now, he had someone. someone to go with, to share these mundane moments with, and it felt… good. great, even.  

sylus exhaled softly, his gaze lowering to the trolley as a small smile tugged at his lips. he didn’t know how long this arrangement would last, but for now, he was grateful.  

his thoughts came to an abrupt halt, however, when he turned a corner and caught sight of something he hadn’t expected.  

zayne stood in the pastry aisle, holding a basket that was already half-filled with colorful macarons, neatly packaged in clear boxes. his tall frame looked slightly out of place among the pastel displays, but there he was, utterly focused as he scanned the shelves.  

sylus blinked, momentarily frozen by the sight. of all places… the pastry aisle?

zayne didn’t even seem aware of how much he stood out. his hazel-green eyes darted between the racks, clearly evaluating his options. he reached for another box, studying it briefly before placing it into the basket with the others.  

sylus couldn’t stop the grin that spread across his face as he approached, the trolley’s wheels squeaking slightly against the polished floor. “really, professor?” he called out, his voice laced with amusement. “i leave you alone for two minutes, and this is where i find you?”  

zayne glanced over his shoulder, his expression calm but slightly surprised. “what about it?” he replied, his tone neutral as always.  

sylus stopped beside him, gesturing to the basket. “macarons? and not just one box—half your basket is filled with them. are you hosting a tea party or something?”  

zayne huffed softly, turning back to the shelf and picking up yet another box. “i happen to like them,” he said matter-of-factly, inspecting the label before adding it to the growing pile.  

sylus gawked, his smirk widening. “wait a minute. are you telling me mr. healthy food has a sweet tooth?”  

zayne gave him a sidelong glance, adjusting his glasses. “everyone has their indulgences, sylus. i’m no exception.”  

sylus crossed his arms, leaning casually against the trolley. “doesn’t this go against all those lectures you’ve given me about eating healthy? or is this another one of those ‘do as i say, not as i do’ moments?”  

zayne shook his head, his lips curving into the faintest smirk. “moderation,” he said simply, his tone carrying a subtle note of amusement. “a concept you might want to familiarize yourself with.”  

sylus snorted, rolling his eyes but unable to suppress his grin. “alright, alright, i’ll let it slide this time. but seriously, i didn’t think you had it in you.”  

zayne returned to scanning the shelf, his gaze lingering on a box of lemon-flavored macaroons. “there’s a lot you don’t know about me, sylus.”  

the comment was casual, almost throwaway, but it made sylus pause. for a moment, he simply watched zayne, his professor’s normally stoic demeanor softened by the unguarded simplicity of the moment.  

“well,” sylus said after a beat, his voice quieter but still playful, “guess i’ll just have to stick around to find out more, huh?”  

zayne glanced at him briefly, his hazel eyes meeting sylus’s crimson ones. there was something unreadable in his gaze, but he didn’t reply. instead, he picked up the box of lemon macaroons and added it to his basket.  

“let’s finish up here,” zayne said, turning toward the next aisle. “you still need to pick out whatever junk food you insisted on earlier.”  

sylus chuckled, pushing the trolley as he followed. “don’t think for a second that i’m letting you live this down, professor.”  

zayne smirked faintly, his tone dry. “i wouldn’t expect anything less.”  

the warmth in sylus’s chest returned as they continued through the store. it was just a trip to the grocery store, but in moments like this, it felt like something more. something worth holding onto.  

~~~

the next day unfolded much like the ones before it: sylus grumbled his way through an early morning wake-up call, reluctantly dragged himself to the dining table for breakfast, and sat through his online classes. by the afternoon, his boredom had returned, and he found himself wandering aimlessly around the house once more, his restlessness growing with each passing hour.  

it wasn’t until zayne crossed paths with him in the hallway that something finally broke the monotony.  

“you look like you’re about to claw the walls,” zayne remarked dryly, glancing at sylus’s restless pacing.  

sylus stopped, raising a brow. “well, maybe if i had something to do…”  

zayne sighed, clearly debating whether or not to entertain him. finally, he relented. “there’s a gym on the third floor. it’s small, but it has the essentials.”  

sylus froze for a moment, staring at him in disbelief. “you’re only telling me this now?”  

“i assumed you’d explore the house on your own,” zayne replied with a huff, crossing his arms. “you do know you’re not on house arrest, right? you’re free to leave and go out as you like. the only condition is that you abide by the curfews i’ve set for you since you’re still a student. and as for my house,” he continued, his tone calm but firm, “it’s yours to use and live in, as long as it’s within reason.”  

sylus blinked, caught off guard by the practicality of zayne’s words.  

“that’s... fair,” he admitted slowly, though a faint frown tugged at his lips. deep down, he knew the restrictions he felt weren’t zayne’s doing—they were his own.  

old habits died hard.  

when he was placed in a home, he’d grown used to feeling caged, locked away from people and the world. the mansion he grew up in had only reinforced that belief—a cold, sterile place that kept him away from any semblance of connection or freedom.  

sylus let out a slow breath, brushing the thought aside. i need a distraction, he thought. something to burn this energy off.

“well then,” he said, his smirk returning as he turned back to zayne. “i don’t suppose i can use it now? the gym.”  

zayne raised a brow, but there was a faint glint of amusement in his gaze. “go ahead,” he said, gesturing toward the stairs. “it’s at the far end of the third floor. just try not to break anything.”  

sylus rolled his eyes, already heading up the steps. “you wound me, professor. when have i ever been careless?”  

zayne didn’t bother replying, simply shaking his head as he turned back to his own work.  

~~~

wednesday had been uneventful for the most part, a welcome break from the usual routine. sylus spent the day catching up on minor assignments and lounging around the house. by the late afternoon, he had one last task: a conference call with his group members to discuss their project.  

he wasn’t looking forward to it.  

as the call began, the tension was almost palpable. the four of them—sylus included—sat in awkward silence for the first few moments. the other three were clearly intimidated by him, their eyes flicking nervously toward his image on the screen. sylus was used to it. he knew his reputation preceded him.  

on campus, his name carried weight, though not necessarily the kind he wanted. people whispered about him—the cold, silent guy with the intimidating crimson eyes, always glaring or frowning. from the moment he’d set foot in college, people had made assumptions.  

he still remembered that first day. a senior had tried to intimidate him, attempting to “put him in his place” and teach him respect for his elders. sylus, however, hadn’t flinched. he’d responded with an icy smile and cutting, passive-aggressive remarks that stung worse than any insult.  

the encounter escalated, of course. the senior, unable to handle sylus’s calm defiance, had tried to take a swing at him, only for a lecturer to intervene just in time. while the physical confrontation had been avoided, the grudge the senior harbored remained—and the rumors began to spread.  

not that sylus cared.  

now, in his senior year and his final semester, those rumors still followed him, painting him as a delinquent. it was convenient in some ways—people rarely bothered him. he preferred it that way. trusting others wasn’t something he did lightly.  

despite his solitary nature, sylus took his studies seriously. when it came to group work, he cooperated—grudgingly, but effectively.  

as the discussion picked up, the initial tension began to ease. the other group members seemed surprised by how straightforward and productive sylus was. sure, his bluntness could be jarring, but his contributions were invaluable. he clarified concepts, suggested ideas, and even took the time to teach them things they didn’t fully understand.  

when they declared a short break, the mood had lightened significantly.  

“you’re a lot more different than how people described you,” alice said with a small smile, leaning closer to her screen.  

sylus scoffed lightly, taking a sip of his water. “don’t get used to it,” he muttered, his tone dismissive but not harsh.  

bernard, finishing the last bite of his sandwich, chimed in with his mouth still half-full. “no, like, really, man! they say you’re this cold, heartless, rich kid from some conglomerate family.”  

lisa, who had been relatively indifferent until now, added, “a snob. spoiled. arrogant prick.”  

sylus rolled his eyes. “thanks for the glowing reviews,” he replied dryly.  

alice grinned, clearly more curious than deterred. “so was it really false that you beat up a group of seniors back in junior year?”  

sylus sighed, leaning back in his chair. “if i’d done that, i don’t think i’d still be here,” he muttered, shaking his head.  

they laughed, and the conversation drifted into lighter topics. sylus contributed where necessary, though he couldn’t help but feel slightly exasperated by their nosiness. this was exactly why he didn’t want friends—people always pried too much.  

his train of thought was interrupted by a knock at his door.  

he grunted in response, not bothering to get up.  

the door opened, and zayne appeared, leaning casually against the doorframe in a suit, looking every bit the composed professional.  

“sylus, i’m—oh, sorry,” zayne said, pausing when he noticed the call. he glanced at the laptop screen, where the faces of sylus’s group members were displayed. sylus waved a hand dismissively, as if to say it’s fine.  

zayne nodded, turning his attention back to sylus. “i’m leaving for work. something came up at the hospital,” he said, his tone as calm as ever. “as always, keep the doors locked and help yourself to dinner. i’ll be back late.”  

sylus nodded, smirking faintly. “yes, dad.”  

zayne narrowed his eyes at the jab, his expression deadpan. “funny,” he replied dryly before closing the door behind him.  

there was a brief silence after zayne left, broken only by the muffled sound of his footsteps retreating down the hall.  

it was alice who spoke first, her voice a mix of shock and curiosity. “was that the professor? you’re living with the professor?”  

“that’s the first time i’ve seen him less… stoic,” bernard added, still staring at the screen in disbelief.  

“how come you’re with the professor right now?” lisa asked, her usual indifference replaced by genuine intrigue.  

sylus sighed internally, pinching the bridge of his nose. this was exactly the kind of attention he didn’t want.  

“it’s a long story,” he muttered, leaning back in his chair.  

“is this, like, a secret?” alice asked, her eyes wide.  

“no,” sylus replied, his tone firm. “it’s temporary. just a favor, that’s all.”  

bernard whistled, grinning. “man, you’re living with professor zayne. you gotta have some stories.”  

sylus’s jaw tightened. “no, i don’t.”  

lisa tilted her head, studying him. “he’s not as scary as i thought he’d be. you’re lucky.”  

lucky? that wasn’t a word sylus would have ever associated with his current situation. and yet…  

he exhaled, shaking his head. “can we get back to the project now?” he asked, his tone clipped but not hostile.  

the others nodded, though their curiosity still lingered. sylus could tell by the way they glanced at him that the questions weren’t over.  

great, he thought, leaning forward to refocus on the discussion. just what i needed.

~~~

the soft glow of his laptop screen illuminated sylus’s room as he leaned back against the headboard, stretching his arms after hours of work. the time on his screen read half past five in the morning, and the faint light of dawn was beginning to seep through the curtains.  

he hadn’t slept—not because he couldn’t, but because his nocturnal habits had kicked in. working late into the night was something he was used to; the quiet hours always seemed more productive.  

if zayne knew, he’d surely have something to say about it. sylus could already hear the lecture in his head. “you’re ruining your sleep cycle,” zayne would say, his tone sharp but laced with that infuriatingly calm authority. not that sylus cared to listen.  

still, he’d gotten most of his work done, which meant no nagging would be necessary.  

sylus was just about to consider shutting his laptop when a sound reached his ears—the distinct noise of the front door opening and closing. he froze, his curiosity piqued.  

is that zayne? he wondered, setting the laptop aside. it wasn’t like the man to come or go without reason, especially this early in the morning.  

quietly, sylus slipped on his slippers and left his room, the soft padding of his steps barely audible as he descended the stairs. the house was dim, but the light spilling from the kitchen guided him. he moved through the small hallway and stopped at the doorway, peering in.  

zayne stood by the counter, his back to sylus as he drank from a glass of water. his dark hair was damp and slightly disheveled, sticking to his forehead and neck from sweat. he wore a tight long-sleeve shirt that clung to his frame, the material darkened by patches of moisture, and a pair of fitted pants that shaped his toned legs.  

sylus leaned against the doorway, his curiosity shifting into something else entirely.  

it didn’t take much to realize that zayne had just returned from a jog. the man was covered in sweat, his breathing steady but deep, the faint rise and fall of his chest drawing sylus’s gaze. his lean build was apparent even beneath the damp fabric, but sylus’s eyes were drawn lower—to his waist, where the shirt rode up slightly, exposing a sliver of pale, toned skin.  

zayne’s waist was small, smaller than sylus’s, and for a fleeting moment, sylus wondered how it would feel to wrap his hands around it. could he cover it completely with his fingers?  

his gaze trailed down further, following the droplets of sweat that rolled along zayne’s back, stopping just above the hem of his pants. his thoughts strayed dangerously, imagining what it would feel like to touch him there, to press his hands against that damp skin, firm and warm under his palms.  

then his eyes moved to zayne’s legs—the way his thighs and calves flexed as he shifted his weight. they were strong, defined, and still glistening from exertion. sylus swallowed, his throat suddenly dry as his mind betrayed him further.  

what would it feel like to have those thighs wrapped around—

sylus snapped out of it, his breath hitching as he shook his head sharply.  

what the hell am i thinking?

he tore his gaze away, pressing his lips into a thin line as if that could stop his thoughts from spiraling any further. zayne still hadn’t noticed him standing there, and sylus took the opportunity to retreat before his presence was discovered.  

sylus shut his door with a quiet click, his steps heavier as he moved back to his bed and sat down on the edge. he buried his face in his hands, groaning softly as the images he’d just seen refused to leave his mind.  

this isn’t happening, he thought, running his fingers through his silver hair. i just need to sleep. i’m probably just tired. or pent up. yeah, that’s it.

it made sense, didn’t it? he’d been living under zayne’s roof for nearly a week, constantly aware of his presence, yet unable to carve out a proper space for himself. privacy was limited, and the lack of an outlet—both physically and emotionally—was starting to get to him.  

but no matter how he tried to rationalize it, his mind kept circling back to the same image: zayne leaning against the counter, his head tilted back slightly as he drank, his back arching subtly as he stretched. the way his shirt clung to his skin, damp and translucent in places, and those tight pants—  

sylus groaned again, louder this time, falling back onto the bed and covering his face with his arm.  

“fuck,” he muttered, his voice muffled against his sleeve.  

the frustration bubbling in his chest wasn’t just about the thoughts themselves—it was the fact that they lingered, insistent and unrelenting. he could still see zayne so clearly in his mind, every detail etched into his memory.  

his fingers curled against the blanket beneath him as he tried to push the images away, to bury them deep enough that they wouldn’t resurface. but it was no use.  

all he could do now was hope that this was a passing moment of weakness. anything else was unthinkable.

~~~

sylus sat across from zayne at the breakfast table, his plate of eggs and toast half-finished as he tried to keep his mind occupied. the events of the early morning were still fresh in his head, but he wasn’t about to let them dictate his entire day.  

zayne, as composed as ever, sat reading something on his tablet with one hand while the other reached occasionally for a pastel-colored macaroon from the plate beside him. it was almost funny—sylus wouldn’t have pegged him for someone who could eat sweets so nonchalantly, especially not for breakfast.  

“eat,” zayne said without looking up, his voice calm but firm. “staring at your plate won’t make it taste better.”  

sylus blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. “i’m eating,” he replied, taking another bite of toast to make a point.  

“good,” zayne said, finally setting the tablet down. he leaned back slightly, his silver-rimmed glasses catching the morning light as he regarded sylus. “the faculty came to a decision last night.”  

sylus arched a brow, his curiosity piqued. “oh?”  

zayne nodded, picking up another macaroon—lavender this time. “apparently, the repairs to the dormitories will take a while. three to six months, maybe longer. it’s a large building, and the damage was extensive. in the meantime, students are being requested to stay with their families, friends, or find rental accommodations if they can afford it.”  

sylus hummed thoughtfully, setting his fork down and leaning back in his chair. “am i even allowed to know this?” he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.  

“consider it quick access to inside information,” zayne replied, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.  

sylus chuckled softly, shaking his head. “you’re spoiling me, professor. i’m not sure i’ll be able to adjust back to normal dorm life after this.”  

zayne raised a brow, his gaze steady but not unkind. “then don’t get used to it,” he said, though his tone lacked its usual sharpness.  

sylus leaned forward slightly, resting his chin in his hand. “what about you, though? you’re letting me stay, so doesn’t that put you in a tricky spot? faculty playing favorites and all that?”  

zayne’s lips curved into a faint smirk as he set the macaroon down. “if anyone were to accuse me of favoritism,” he began, his tone dry, “they’d quickly change their mind after spending an hour in your company.”  

sylus laughed, a genuine sound that echoed softly in the room. “fair enough.”  

the conversation shifted to lighter topics after that—banter about classes, a few teasing remarks from sylus about zayne’s unusual breakfast habits, and the occasional comfortable silence.  

but even as they talked, sylus couldn’t help but steal glances at zayne. he told himself it was just curiosity, just habit, but deep down, he knew better. stop thinking about it, he told himself firmly. it’s nothing.

and yet, as zayne sipped his coffee, his attention drifting back to his tablet, sylus found it harder than ever to convince himself of that.  

~~~

sylus had lost count of how many times he repeated the same mantra in his head: just get through the weekend. classes will start again. things will go back to normal.

he clung to the hope that busying himself with campus life and assignments would be enough to move on from whatever this was—this phase he refused to name. but life seemed determined to make things harder for him.  

~~~

zayne was in the garden again, his energy as relentless as ever. this time, he was working on the small gazebo, fixing the roof and hanging flowers around its edges. sylus had walked out to check on him, only to be rendered speechless by the sheer diligence this man possessed.  

where did he even find the energy? most of the students sylus knew couldn’t be bothered to do anything remotely productive on a saturday afternoon.  

then again, zayne wasn’t most students. (he's not even one.) despite being closer to their age group, he carried himself with a maturity and focus that left sylus bewildered.  

“don’t you have a ladder?” sylus asked, crossing his arms as he watched zayne precariously balance on a small stool. “a stool is hardly a safe choice for this.”  

“it’s not high enough to warrant a ladder,” zayne replied, his tone calm and matter-of-fact as he secured the flowers in position. “besides, i’m almost done. just keep it steady so it doesn’t fall.”  

sylus stepped forward reluctantly, placing his foot against the stool to steady it. “and if you fall…”  

“then you’ll catch me, won’t you?” zayne glanced down briefly, a faint smile playing on his lips.  

the words sent an uncomfortable twist through sylus’s stomach, one he promptly ignored. instead, he chuckled, masking his unease with playful sarcasm. “so i’m your safety net now? glad to know my role in this operation.”  

zayne didn’t respond, too focused on adjusting the last set of flowers. his arms stretched high above his head, the muscles in his back and shoulders shifting subtly beneath his fitted shirt. sylus looked away quickly, forcing himself to focus on keeping the stool steady.  

when zayne finally finished, he pulled his hands back from the flowers—and that’s when it happened.  

he’d spent too long reaching up, and as he retracted his arms, his balance wavered. the stool tilted forward slightly, and zayne grunted, his body leaning precariously as gravity threatened to take over.  

sylus acted on instinct.  

before zayne could fall face-first to the ground, sylus stepped forward and wrapped his arms around his waist, pulling him close. zayne, startled but quick to react, grabbed onto sylus’s shoulders to steady himself.  

the stool tipped forward, its legs clattering against the ground, but sylus managed to keep them both upright.  

for a moment, everything was still.  

zayne’s hands remained on sylus’s shoulders, their faces uncomfortably close. sylus tried to remain calm, but the proximity was overwhelming. zayne’s weight was against him, solid and warm, and the faint scent of jasmine and mint filled the air.  

“s-sir—” sylus started, his voice strained.  

“wait,” zayne interrupted, glancing down. “my legs are cramped. just hold on for a moment.”  

sylus swallowed hard, his grip tightening slightly around zayne’s waist as he tried to focus on anything other than the current situation.  

zayne, oblivious to sylus’s predicament, shifted slightly, trying to free his legs from the awkward position. the movement only made things worse for sylus, who was acutely aware of every subtle shift in weight, every brush of fabric against his hands.  

jasmine and mint, sylus thought faintly, his heart pounding in his chest. why the hell does he smell this good?

the moment stretched on, and sylus’s thoughts spiraled further. he couldn’t help but notice how perfectly zayne fit against him, how slender yet strong his waist felt under his arms. it was maddening.  

“i’ve got it,” zayne said finally, stepping down carefully and pulling away. he brushed himself off casually, as though nothing had happened. “thanks for the save.”  

sylus barely managed a nod, his expression carefully neutral as he stepped back. “you’re welcome,” he said, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside him.  

zayne tilted his head slightly, eyeing him with mild curiosity. “you look flushed. are you alright?”  

“i’m fine,” sylus said quickly, running a hand through his hair and looking away. “just—don’t use that stool again, alright? get a ladder next time.”  

zayne huffed a quiet laugh, turning his attention back to the flowers. “noted.”  

as zayne went back to his work, sylus retreated to the edge of the garden, sitting on a nearby bench and running his hands over his face.  

i’m going to hell for this, he thought grimly, the scent of jasmine and mint still lingering in his mind.  

no amount of deep breaths or distractions seemed to help. the image of zayne—so close, so warm, so utterly unaware of the effect he had—was burned into his memory.  

sylus groaned softly, leaning back against the bench. the weekend was far from over, and he wasn’t sure how much more of this he could take. 

~~~

the house was quiet—eerily so—after zayne left for the hospital. sylus had locked everything up as instructed, double-checking the doors and windows like some kind of ritual. with the house secure and no one else around, he figured it would finally be a night to decompress, free of zayne’s distracting presence and the strange tension that had been building within him.  

he ate a quick dinner, lounged around for a bit, and eventually made his way to bed, hoping for a dreamless sleep.  

but as the night wore on, that hope slipped through his fingers.  

~~~

at first, there was nothing. or maybe there was—he couldn’t quite recall. the kind of vague, shapeless dreams that fade the moment you wake up. but then things shifted, and suddenly everything was vivid, too vivid.

he was lying in a bed, soft and cozy, with dim light filtering in through a nearby window. the room felt warm and inviting, the kind of setting that lulled you into a sense of peace.  

but then there was a shift in weight.  

something—or someone—was straddling him, the mattress dipping slightly under the pressure. his hand moved instinctively, blindly reaching out to feel his surroundings. his fingers curled around an ankle—firm yet soft—and slowly trailed upward, brushing against the curve of a thigh.  

the touch elicited a soft laugh.  

“that tickles,” a voice whispered, low and familiar, sending a jolt through sylus.  

his eyes snapped open, and he was instantly greeted by a face he knew all too well.  

“zayne?” sylus’s voice caught in his throat, barely a whisper.  

the man in question sat atop him, faintly smiling in a way that felt innocent yet maddeningly out of place given the situation. his dark hair was slightly tousled, and he wore casual clothes—shorts that revealed far too much of his legs and a white shirt with a neckline that dipped low enough to tease the faint lines of his collarbone.  

“you’re awake,” zayne said softly, his tone warm and unhurried. he rested a hand on sylus’s chest, the weight of it grounding yet electrifying. “took you long enough.”  

sylus couldn’t find his voice. his mind was scrambling to make sense of what was happening, but his body was frozen in place. he was acutely aware of every point of contact: the warmth of zayne’s legs on either side of him, the press of his hand, the subtle weight pinning him down.  

his hands hovered awkwardly in the air for a moment before settling stiffly on zayne’s hips, the only place he could think to put them.  

they stared at each other, the silence between them thick and heavy. the only sounds were their steady breaths, and the longer it stretched on, the more unbearable it became.  

zayne tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. “what do you want me to do?”  

sylus’s heart skipped a beat, the question hanging in the air like a challenge.  

what do i want? he thought desperately. there were so many things, too many things, swirling in his mind, and yet he couldn’t bring himself to say any of them. his throat felt dry, his voice stolen by the weight of the moment.  

this is bad. this is so bad.

the air between them felt charged, addictive in a way that made sylus’s stomach twist painfully. it shouldn’t have felt like this—shouldn’t have felt so real, so wanted.

but before he could respond, before he could do anything, the dream shattered.  

sylus’s eyes snapped open, his chest rising and falling as he tried to steady his breathing. the room was dark, save for the faint glow of the digital clock on his bedside table.  

3:00 a.m.

he sat up slowly, running a hand through his silver hair as the remnants of the dream clung to him like a second skin. his heart was still racing, and the ghostly sensation of zayne’s weight on him lingered far longer than he would’ve liked.  

“what the hell was that?” he muttered under his breath, pinching the bridge of his nose.  

but when he shifted slightly under the blanket, a new realization hit him.  

there was no mistaking the discomfort that had settled in his lower half, and sylus groaned loudly, covering his face with both hands. he didn’t need to look to know exactly what had happened, and the sheer frustration of it made him want to scream into the pillow.  

“great,” he muttered bitterly. “fantastic. just what i needed.”  

sylus sat there for a long time, staring blankly at the wall as the dream replayed in his mind, unbidden and unwelcome. no matter how much he tried to shake it off, the details were seared into his memory: the warmth of zayne’s body, the soft curve of his smile, the weight of his hand.  

jasmine and mint, sylus thought faintly, the scent from earlier in the day returning to haunt him.  

he groaned again, burying his face in his hands. six months. six whole months of living under the same roof as zayne.  

he wasn’t sure how he was going to survive it.

~~~

the new week brought a welcome return to routine. sylus congratulated himself internally for how well he’d managed to act around zayne ever since that dream. he had fallen back into his usual rhythm of playful teasing, finding amusement in zayne’s exasperated sighs and dry retorts.  

he’d mastered the art of pretending.  

the dream? buried. forgotten. gone from his head. absolutely not something he thought about in quiet moments or when zayne was within arm’s reach.  

definitely not.  

the morning began with zayne driving them to campus, the soft hum of the car engine filling the air as they navigated the familiar streets. sylus glanced out the window, resting his chin on his hand, content to let zayne’s focused silence fill the space between them.  

“remember,” zayne began, breaking the quiet as they approached the campus gates, “you have my contact, right? if you have any plans after your classes, tell me beforehand.”  

sylus turned slightly, looking at him with a raised brow.  

“i’ll also let you know if i have any work left on campus,” zayne continued, his tone even. “just in case. you’ll need to wait a bit so we can head back home together.”  

that word. home.

sylus blinked, the realization settling over him like a weight. he’d been living with zayne for over a week now, and it was only now that it truly hit him. this man—his professor, no less—had opened his home to him, let him stay without hesitation, and trusted him to share his space.  

and yet here sylus was, that guy, having strange, shameless dreams about the very person who’d offered him a place to stay.  

his gaze drifted to zayne, who was focused on the road, his expression calm as ever. zayne’s hands rested lightly on the steering wheel, the faint sunlight catching on his glasses and accentuating the sharp lines of his profile.  

sylus swallowed hard, quickly averting his eyes before his thoughts could betray him further. shameless, he thought bitterly. utterly shameless.  

“yeah, i’ll let you know,” sylus replied, his voice steady despite the tightness in his chest.  

zayne nodded, apparently satisfied, and pulled into the faculty parking lot. “good. i don’t want to have to track you down like a lost puppy.”  

sylus snorted, rolling his eyes. “relax, professor. i’m not that irresponsible.”  

“that remains to be seen,” zayne quipped, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.  

sylus smirked back, his confidence returning as he grabbed his bag and stepped out of the car.  

as they walked toward the main building, the buzz of campus life surrounded them—students chatting in small groups, the occasional sound of laughter, and the distant hum of activity from the lecture halls.  

zayne veered off toward the faculty offices, leaving sylus to his own devices. “text me if anything changes,” zayne reminded him before disappearing down the hallway.  

sylus waved lazily over his shoulder, his smirk lingering as he headed to his first class.  

despite the familiarity of the routine, the word home lingered in his mind, an unshakable reminder of his current situation.  

you’re living with him, sylus thought, his lips pressing into a thin line. in his space, sharing meals, talking every day like it’s normal.

it was normal. or at least, it was starting to feel that way.  

he shook his head, pushing the thought aside as he stepped into the lecture hall. this wasn’t the time to dwell on it. he had classes, assignments, and an entire day to get through.  

but no matter how much he tried to focus, the thought always found its way back:  

home.  

him.

shameless. 

~~~

sylus leaned back in his chair, swirling the remnants of his third—or was it his fourth?—coffee of the day as he stared out the window of the campus café. mondays and thursdays were the only days he shared classes with zayne, always in the last period of his schedule, so they ended up leaving together.  

the rest of the week, sylus found ways to pass the time—basketball courts, volleyball games, or occasionally kicking around at the soccer field. he wasn’t the type to sit still for too long, and sports gave him an outlet for the restlessness that always seemed to linger.  

today, though, he’d taken a breather. after all, zayne always finished late, and sylus didn’t mind waiting. it wasn’t like he had anyone else to catch a ride with.  

maybe i should pick up my motorbike from the mansion, he thought idly, resting his chin on his hand. he hadn’t ridden it in ages, but it was still his, even if it sat untouched in that suffocating house. it would certainly save him from constantly relying on zayne for transportation.  

he smirked to himself as another thought struck him. the one time he’d suggested driving zayne’s car, the professor had looked positively horrified, as though the mere idea of sylus behind the wheel was a direct affront to his principles.  

the memory of zayne’s face brought a small chuckle to sylus’s lips. it wasn’t often that the composed professor let his mask slip, and when he did, it was always amusing.  

before he could dwell on it further, the sound of a chair scraping against the floor caught his attention. he looked up to find a familiar face sitting across from him.  

“ah,” he said, raising a brow. “alice?”  

“good job remembering my name,” she replied with a smile, propping her elbows on the table. “what are you doing here all by yourself?”  

“i’m—” sylus began, but alice cut him off, her grin widening mischievously.  

“wait, no, let me guess. waiting for professor zayne, aren’t you?” she teased. “lucky bastard. do you know how many of us would die to be in your spot?”  

sylus rolled his eyes, leaning back in his chair. “even if you wanted to, do you really think the professor would take a woman under his care?”  

alice snorted, her grin turning sly. “who said it’s only women who like him?”  

sylus blinked, caught off guard by the comment, but before he could respond, alice waved it off and continued.  

“anyway,” she said, leaning forward, “our group’s heading to the library to discuss our work so far. the presentation’s in two days, and you—” she pointed a finger at him dramatically, “—as someone living with him, should make him proud.”  

“i always do better, mind you,” sylus replied dryly, his unimpressed stare making alice laugh.  

“well then,” she said, crossing her arms, “go way beyond, for all our sakes. so? are you coming?”  

“now?” sylus asked, arching a brow.  

“yeah,” alice said with a shrug. “better now than never. unless…” her grin turned playful. “professor zayne gave you a curfew, and now you have to seek his permission.”  

sylus rolled his eyes again, though he couldn’t suppress the faint smirk tugging at his lips. “he’s my guardian, not my prison guard,” he retorted, pulling out his phone.  

he shot off a quick text to zayne, explaining the situation. barely a minute later, his phone buzzed with a reply.  

i’ll take your group there. gather at the café, and i’ll meet you.

sylus hummed softly, his lips quirking into a faint smile as he read the message.  

“what?” alice asked, tilting her head. “you’re smiling. that’s suspicious.”  

“it’s nothing,” sylus replied, slipping his phone back into his pocket. “but our dear professor has kindly offered to take us there himself.”  

alice blinked, her eyes wide with surprise. “seriously? professor zayne’s giving us a ride? i knew you had some kind of golden ticket, but wow.”  

sylus shrugged, though the amusement in his eyes was undeniable. “what can i say? perks of being his temporary housemate.”  

alice grinned, standing up from her chair. “well then, let’s gather the group. looks like we’re getting vip treatment today.”  

as she walked off to find the others, sylus leaned back again, his smirk lingering. he wasn’t sure why zayne’s willingness to help had struck him the way it did, but there was a warmth to it—a quiet reassurance that he hadn’t felt in a long time.  

~~~

the car ride was a mix of lighthearted chatter and occasional bursts of laughter. sylus sat in the passenger seat, glancing at zayne, who was focused on the road, his calm demeanor seemingly unfazed by the lively trio in the back seat.  

“professor zayne! we really appreciate you giving us a lift,” alice said cheerfully. “taxis are so expensive these days.”  

“yeah, and creepy,” bernard added with a shudder. “you never know who’s driving.”  

“they’re scary too,” lisa muttered, leaning her chin on her hand as she stared out the window.  

sylus shook his head slightly, resting his elbow on the car door as he looked out at the passing city. the three of them chattered away, and zayne… well, zayne just looked amused.  

“it’s not a problem,” zayne said, his tone as steady as ever. “i planned to stop by the library either way.”  

“really?” alice leaned forward slightly, her curiosity piqued. “is it for class materials? can you give us a little sneak peek? share the notes?”  

bernard nodded enthusiastically, while lisa looked indifferent as always, but the slight tilt of her head betrayed her interest.  

sylus slumped back in his seat, sighing deeply. “this is going to be a long day,” he muttered to himself.  

~~~

the car fell quiet once they arrived at the library, the grandeur of the building enough to calm even the chattiest among them. the towering shelves and hushed atmosphere had a way of commanding respect, even from the likes of bernard and alice.  

the group settled into a quiet corner, their heads bent over notes and laptops as they pieced together the final details of their presentation. sylus took the lead on most of the work, his efficiency and precision earning him more than one grateful glance from his teammates.  

“guess living with the professor really rubbed off on you, huh?” alice teased at one point, earning a halfhearted glare from sylus.  

once their final draft was complete, sylus decided he’d done his part. the rest of the work could be handled by the others. he stretched his arms above his head, glancing toward the towering rows of bookshelves.  

“where’s professor zayne?” bernard asked as he scribbled something into his notebook. “didn’t he say he’d be in the library too?”  

sylus didn’t reply, but a faint smirk tugged at his lips. if there was one thing he knew how to do well, it was find zayne.  

~~~

sylus wandered through the rows of books, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of zayne. he checked the medical section first, figuring the man would be nose-deep in some dense text about anatomy or physiology. but the shelves were empty, save for a few other patrons quietly browsing.  

he frowned slightly, running a hand through his hair. where else could he be?  

then, a thought struck him. sylus smiled, shaking his head softly as he made his way toward the culinary section.  

and there he was.  

zayne stood near a window, his back to sylus, bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sunlight. he was holding a book, flipping through its pages with quiet focus. even from a distance, sylus could see the title: the art of macarons: mastering the french pastry.  

for a moment, sylus simply stared, his smirk fading into something softer.  

the sunlight caught in zayne’s dark hair, highlighting the faint waves and making it almost shimmer. his posture was relaxed but attentive, the faint crease of concentration between his brows giving him an air of quiet intensity. he looked so at ease, so human, in a way that sylus didn’t often associate with him.  

and then it hit him—a sudden, almost painful awareness of his own heartbeat.  

thump.  

thump.  

thump.

the sound seemed to echo in his ears, drowning out the hushed whispers of the library and the distant hum of activity.  

sylus swallowed hard, the moment stretching impossibly long. his chest tightened, and he forced himself to look away briefly, running a hand over his face as if to ground himself. it’s just zayne, he told himself, but the thought sounded hollow even in his own head.  

he didn’t know how long he stood there, but eventually, sylus stepped forward, his steps quiet against the polished floor.  

“macarons, huh?” he said, his voice low but teasing as he came to stand a few feet away. “didn’t think the great professor zayne needed a guidebook for his guilty pleasure.”  

zayne glanced up, clearly startled for a moment before his expression softened. he closed the book slightly, turning to face sylus with a faint smirk.  

“even perfection has room for improvement,” zayne replied smoothly, his hazel-green eyes meeting sylus’s.  

sylus chuckled softly, crossing his arms as he leaned casually against the shelf. “you planning to bake some for your students, or is this just for your personal stash?”  

zayne’s smirk deepened. “if you’re lucky, maybe you’ll get a taste.”  

sylus raised a brow, his heart giving another traitorous thump at the casual remark. “i’ll hold you to that,” he said, his tone light but his gaze lingering a moment too long.  

zayne turned back to the book, the sunlight catching on his glasses as he resumed reading. “don’t you have a presentation to prepare for?”  

sylus shrugged. “it’s done. thought i’d come find you since you’re my entertainment these days.”  

zayne huffed softly, shaking his head. “you could always pick up a book yourself, sylus. it might do you some good.”  

“maybe,” sylus replied, his smirk returning. “but watching you read about macarons is much more fun.”  

zayne shot him a brief, unimpressed glance, but sylus swore he caught the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes.  

yeah, sylus thought to himself as he leaned against the shelf, his gaze drifting back to zayne. I’m fucked.

~~~

sylus lay sprawled on his bed, the glow of his phone casting faint shadows across his face in the darkened room. the door was locked, the lights were off, and the only sound was the faint hum of the air conditioning. privacy was a luxury these days, and with zayne working late at the hospital tonight, sylus had taken full advantage of the solitude.  

this was his plan—a little time to himself to relieve the tension and convince himself that whatever was going on in his head wasn’t real.  

he was good at denial, after all. excellent at convincing himself of things that weren’t true. and this—this forbidden pull he felt toward his professor—was just stress, or maybe pent-up frustration. nothing real. nothing that couldn’t be ignored.  

or so he kept telling himself.  

sylus scrolled idly through his phone, clicking through videos with a frown. porn wasn’t really his thing—too fake, too exaggerated. the dramatics and over-the-top performances usually just made him cringe. but he wasn’t looking for anything meaningful, just stimulation. something to focus on, to distract him from… other thoughts.  

but none of it worked.  

video after video, he felt nothing. no spark, no excitement, just an increasing sense of frustration as he slumped back against his pillows.  

he let his phone fall onto his chest with a sigh, staring up at the ceiling as snippets of forbidden images flitted through his mind. familiar skin, the curve of a waist, soft lips—zayne. 

sylus groaned, running a hand over his face as though he could physically scrub the thoughts from his mind.  

that was off-limits. completely and utterly forbidden.  

he nearly smacked himself in the face.  

with a huff, he picked his phone back up and resumed scrolling, only to accidentally click something he hadn’t intended to. the page refreshed, and a new category appeared at the top of the screen.  

gay porn. 

sylus raised a brow, his thumb hovering over the screen. he’d never really thought about his preferences—didn’t care enough to define them. it wasn’t like he had plans to be in a relationship anytime soon, or ever. but… maybe. just maybe.  

his curiosity got the better of him.  

he clicked on a video.  

it wasn’t a skit or some overproduced setup. just two men, tangled together, the one on top grinding down onto the other with slow, deliberate movements. soft moans and murmured curses filled the air as the bottom arched his back, his hands gripping the sheets beneath him. the other man’s hands were on his hips, guiding him, urging him faster with every thrust.  

at first, sylus felt nothing. the video was interesting enough, but it didn’t do much for him—until it did.  

the sight of the man on top, flushed and breathless, brought back a memory sylus had tried desperately to bury: his dream.  

zayne, on top of him, straddling his waist with that faint smile, his soft voice whispering into the quiet, “what do you want me to do?”  

sylus’s breath hitched, and a familiar heat began to stir in his gut. his body twitched involuntarily, and his fingers tightened around his phone.  

“fuck.”  

he closed his eyes, guilt clawing at the edges of his mind. but his arousal didn’t care. the images came unbidden now, flooding his thoughts until he couldn’t ignore them anymore.  

sorry, professor, he thought bitterly, his free hand slipping under the waistband of his pants. let me just borrow your face for a bit.

he tugged his pants down just enough to free himself, the cool air hitting his skin and making him hiss softly. his hand wrapped around his length, stroking slowly as he tried to focus on the video playing in front of him.  

but it wasn’t the men in the video he saw.  

it was zayne, flushed and panting, his dark hair sticking to his forehead as he looked down at sylus with a mixture of shyness and want.  

how would he look when he’s pleasured?

the thought sent a shiver down sylus’s spine, and his strokes quickened. he imagined zayne’s pale skin turning red in the heat of passion, the flush spreading from his face to his neck, his chest—so delicate, so beautiful.  

would he be shy? bold? would he try to hold back his voice, or would he let it spill freely, soft gasps and broken whimpers?

the sounds from the video blurred into the background as sylus’s imagination took over. he could almost see zayne trembling beneath his touch, his lips parted, his body arching as sylus’s hands roamed over him.  

would he squirm if i grabbed him? sylus thought, his hand tightening slightly. would he moan if i thrust into him just right? would he tremble, his entire body tensing as he came undone beneath me?

the image was so vivid, so real, that sylus groaned, his movements growing desperate.  

the men in the video kissed deeply, their hips moving erratically, and sylus couldn’t help but imagine zayne’s lips—soft, sweet, probably tasting like macarons.  

he cursed under his breath, his body shuddering as his climax approached.  

how would zayne call my name? he wondered faintly, his thoughts spiraling further. would he whisper it? cry it out? would he…

sylus bit his lip, his release hitting him hard as his fantasies reached their peak. his body tensed, his hand slowing as he rode out the waves of pleasure, zayne’s image still burning in his mind.  

for a moment, sylus just lay there, his chest rising and falling as he tried to catch his breath. the guilt and shame he’d pushed aside earlier began creeping back in, settling heavy in his chest.  

“shit,” he muttered, running a hand through his sweat-dampened hair.  

he stared up at the ceiling, the realization of what he’d just done sinking in. six months. six long months of living with zayne.  

“i’m definitely fucked,” sylus groaned, throwing an arm over his face as though it could block out the truth.  

but no amount of denial could erase what he felt now—or the fact that, deep down, he didn’t really want to forget.

~~~

the weekend had arrived, and sylus had barely begun to enjoy the idea of sleeping in when zayne knocked on his door with his usual no-nonsense attitude.  

“come help me make macarons,” zayne had said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “at least do something productive instead of sleeping all day.”  

sylus groaned but dragged himself out of bed, muttering complaints under his breath. and now, here they were in the kitchen, surrounded by mixing bowls, piping bags, and trays. sylus was working on strawberry-flavored macarons while zayne focused on blueberry.  

it felt oddly… domestic.  

sylus frowned at the thought, shaking his head and turning his attention back to the batter he was mixing. his brain had been running wild lately, and the last thing he needed was more nonsense to deal with.  

“add more sugar,” zayne instructed from across the counter, his tone calm but firm.  

sylus reached for the sugar, sprinkling in a bit more. “hm.”  

“another spoon,” zayne added without looking up from his own bowl.  

sylus raised a brow but complied, stirring it in. “...alright.”  

“maybe another—”  

“sir,” sylus interrupted, shaking his head with a faint smirk, “i don’t think these will be edible for either of us after this. one bite and we’ll both be out cold.”  

zayne huffed softly, glancing up at him. “a little bit of sweetness in life isn’t so bad.”  

“too much, and it’ll send us to an early grave,” sylus quipped, chuckling. “one bite of these, and i’ll be the one needing a heart transplant.”  

zayne rolled his eyes but smiled faintly, reaching for the piping bag to start filling it. “well, for what it’s worth, at least i’ll be here to save you.”  

sylus paused briefly at that, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “i’ll count you on that,” he said softly, returning to his mixing as zayne began carefully squeezing the batter onto a tray, forming perfect circles.

after a few more minutes of mixing, sylus finally held up his bowl. “is this sweet enough for now, your royal bakerness?” he asked dryly, smirking.  

zayne, his hands occupied with the piping bag, didn’t glance up. “use the spoon and give me a taste,” he muttered, focused on getting each macaron shell to match in size.  

sylus sighed dramatically, grabbing the wooden spoon beside him. “bossy as always…” he muttered, scooping up some of the pink batter.  

he turned to offer it to zayne, expecting the man to take it with his hand. instead, zayne leaned closer, his lips parting slightly as if it were the most natural thing in the world.  

sylus froze, his breath catching as his heart gave a familiar, unwelcome thump.  

zayne, completely oblivious to sylus’s internal chaos, took the spoonful of batter into his mouth, his expression thoughtful as he tasted it.  

“passable,” zayne said after a moment, licking his lips absently. “but maybe add just a pinch more sugar.”  

sylus barely heard him. his eyes were fixed on zayne’s face—on the way his lips had wrapped around the spoon, on the faint shimmer of batter left behind, on the ease with which he’d leaned into sylus’s space without a second thought.  

his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts he shouldn’t be having, and yet they were there, clear as day.  

what if i leaned forward?

what if i closed the distance between us?  

what would he do if i kissed him right now?  

sylus swallowed hard, forcing himself to snap out of it. he chuckled to cover his reaction, smearing the leftover batter from the spoon across zayne’s cheek.  

“now i’m more worried about your blueberries,” sylus said, grinning.  

zayne blinked, startled, before huffing softly. “immature as always,” he muttered, grabbing a towel to wipe his face. “focus on your own batter before it turns out worse than mine.”  

“relax, professor,” sylus replied, turning back to his bowl with a faint smirk. “mine’s already perfect.”  

zayne rolled his eyes, but the faint smile on his lips didn’t go unnoticed.  

as they continued working, a comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the occasional clatter of utensils or the soft rustle of parchment paper.  

sylus found himself glancing at zayne every so often, watching the way his brows furrowed slightly in concentration, the way his hands moved with careful precision.  

it was domestic, yes. but it was also something else—something that made sylus’s chest tighten in a way he couldn’t quite explain.  

i’m screwed. fucked. dead. he thought for the hundredth time, his heart giving another traitorous thump. absolutely.

~~~

the macarons turned out well for a first attempt—well, most of them. a few had burnt edges, thanks to some trial and error with the temperature and timing, but by the end, sylus and zayne had figured it out.  

now, they sat at the dining table, enjoying their handmade creations with a pot of tea between them. the faint scent of sugar and butter lingered in the air, mingling with the steam from the teacups.  

zayne spoke casually about his work at the hospital, his tone light as he recounted a story about a particularly stubborn patient who refused to follow post-surgery instructions. sylus listened quietly, occasionally nodding or huffing in amusement.  

warm.

sylus quite enjoyed it, the domesticity of it all. it was a stark contrast to the loud, chaotic days of campus life.  

he bit into one of the strawberry macarons, savoring the delicate sweetness, though he noted it could’ve been better. across from him, zayne took a bite of his blueberry creation, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he chewed thoughtfully.  

“the strawberry could be a bit sweeter,” zayne commented, setting his macaron down.  

“…right,” sylus replied, raising a brow at the criticism.  

he huffed softly in amusement while zayne simply shrugged, unbothered.  

for a moment, it all felt innocent. normal, even.  

and then the night came.  

~~~

it started innocently enough.  

the smell of macarons baking in the oven filled the air. the timer ticked softly in the background, the subtle hum of the appliance blending into the atmosphere.  

but somewhere along the way, things shifted.  

sylus didn’t remember how it began, but suddenly he was kissing zayne—deeply. his tongue was in the man’s mouth, tasting the lingering sweetness of macarons, strawberries, and blueberries.  

he had zayne pinned to the kitchen table, the mixing bowls and leftover batter forgotten.  

zayne tasted like heaven. sweet and intoxicating, like a drug sylus couldn’t get enough of. the way he felt in sylus’s arms, pressed close and pliant, made sylus’s chest ache with something he didn’t fully understand.  

zayne whispered his name, soft and breathy, his hands sliding up to wrap around sylus’s neck. his legs hooked around sylus’s waist, pulling him closer, and sylus could feel every subtle shift of his hips.  

the apron zayne wore looked impossibly good on him. it made sylus wonder—how would zayne look wearing only that? with nothing underneath to hide his skin?  

when zayne rolled his hips against him, sylus shuddered, his breath hitching as he chased the feeling, grinding back desperately. the friction was electric, shooting pleasure through him in waves that left him trembling.  

god, he needed more.

he pulled back just enough to look at zayne. the man’s hazel-green eyes stared up at him, half-lidded and filled with something unreadable.  

“you wanted to kiss me?” zayne asked, his tone teasing but soft, his head tilting slightly. “then what?”  

then what? sylus’s mind echoed the question, spinning wildly as he struggled to find an answer.  

what did he actually want?  

zayne looked at him expectantly, his lips slightly swollen and glistening, his cheeks flushed. sylus tried to speak, tried to say something, but the words wouldn’t come.  

and then the dream shattered.  

sylus woke with a start, his heart pounding in his chest as his eyes adjusted to the darkness of his room.  

the dream lingered, the taste of zayne still fresh in his mouth, the feeling of his weight and warmth vivid against his skin. it was maddeningly real, and yet it was gone as quickly as it had come, leaving only frustration in its wake.  

he groaned softly, running a hand over his face as he sat up slightly. but as he shifted under the blanket, he became acutely aware of the problem still pressing insistently against the fabric.  

“shit,” he muttered under his breath, slumping back against the pillows.  

the remnants of the dream played on repeat in his head—zayne’s teasing smile, the way he whispered sylus’s name, the way his body arched and pressed closer.  

what do i want? sylus thought bitterly, closing his eyes as he ran a hand through his silver hair.  

he didn’t know. or maybe he did, and he just didn’t want to admit it.  

“fuck,” he muttered again, throwing an arm over his face.

six months.

and at this rate, he wasn’t sure if he was going to survive it.  

~~~

the day had been normal enough—or as normal as sylus’s days could be with his internal crisis running on an endless loop in the back of his mind.  

he’d managed to get through his classes without thinking too much about zayne, only to be cornered by bernard after class.  

“c’mon, just one round!” bernard pleaded, practically bouncing beside him as they walked. “we’re short one member, and you’re tall and strong. can’t you just fill in for one game?”  

“no,” sylus replied flatly, not even bothering to look at him.  

“dude! please!” bernard pouted, trying—and failing—to look like a kicked puppy.  

sylus wasn’t moved. the sight only made him think of zayne, who could probably pull off the look a hundred times better.  

wait, what?

sylus skidded to a stop, startled by his own thoughts. bernard saw the hesitation and immediately latched onto it, grinning brightly.  

“did you change your mind?”  

sylus was dangerously close to losing it. maybe running around on the court, channeling his frustration into something physical, would help. anything was better than stewing in his thoughts for the rest of the day.  

“you know what? fine,” sylus said sharply, his lips curling into a grin that made bernard blink nervously. “i’ll play.”  

~~~

the basketball court was already buzzing with energy when they arrived. students milled about, some warming up, others chatting in small groups. sylus’s presence caused an immediate shift in the atmosphere.  

conversations dropped to hushed murmurs, and uneasy stares followed him as he walked across the court.  

unbothered, sylus followed bernard to their team, his expression neutral but sharp enough to keep most people from approaching.  

“uh, bernard, who’s that?” one of the team members asked, chuckling nervously as sylus loomed behind him.  

bernard, oblivious to the tension, grinned. “guys! this is sylus. he’s filling in for xavier. that bastard probably overslept again,” he added with a huff before turning back to sylus. “here’s your bib. don’t worry about winning or losing; we’re just here to have fun, right, guys?”  

his attempt at rallying the team was met with weak responses and nervous glances at sylus, who didn’t seem to notice—or care.  

sylus shrugged off his jacket, revealing the snug black shirt underneath. as he reached for the bib, the motion flexed his biceps slightly, drawing a few appreciative stares from the sidelines—mostly from the girls watching.  

with a huff, he slipped the bib on and glanced at bernard’s teammates.  

“that’s ethan,” bernard said, pointing to a guy who looked like he wanted to bolt. “jeremiah and thomas,” he continued, gesturing to two others who managed polite, if wary, smiles. “and rafayel,” bernard finished, nodding toward a tall, athletic guy who was eyeing sylus like he was sizing up an opponent.  

“can you even play center?” rafayel asked, crossing his arms skeptically.  

sylus smirked, his crimson eyes glinting. “i’ve played as everything. don’t worry—i’ll win this.”  

~~~

up on the second floor of the campus building facing the court, zayne walked down the corridor, a stack of papers in one hand as he headed back to his office.  

the sound of cheering and the rhythmic bounce of a basketball drew his attention to the window. pausing, he glanced out at the court below, his hazel-green eyes scanning the scene idly.  

a flash of silver caught his eye, and he focused on the familiar figure in a bib and black shirt, standing tall and confident among the players.  

sylus.  

zayne’s lips twitched into a faint smile as he watched from above. “all this time you’ve complained about interacting with people,” he muttered to himself, shaking his head. “and now look at you, playing basketball with the rest of them.”  

he lingered for a moment, leaning slightly against the window frame. the game was just getting started, and sylus was already commanding attention on the court, his sharp movements and natural presence making him stand out.  

he’s good at this, zayne thought, a glimmer of pride surfacing unexpectedly.  

there was still work to be done on his desk, but he made a mental note to head down to the court later when he had a chance. he was curious to see just how well sylus could play—and maybe, just maybe, he wanted to see how the rest of the team handled having someone like sylus on their side.  

with that thought, zayne turned and continued down the hall, a faint smile lingering on his lips.  

~~~

the basketball game ended in a flurry of cheers and adrenaline as the final whistle blew. sylus, still catching his breath, stood beneath the hoop, sweat dripping from his brow. the crowd roared, and his teammates rushed toward him, congratulating each other on a hard-fought victory.  

rafayel was the first to approach, his dusky purple hair damp from exertion, a faint smile playing on his lips. he gave sylus a solid fist bump on the shoulder.  

“…i guess you’re not that bad,” rafayel admitted, his tone teasing but genuine. “good game.” he stepped back, brushing a stray strand of hair out of his face. “next time our sleeping beauty bails on us, we’ll call you in again.”  

sylus huffed softly, a lopsided grin tugging at his lips. “depends on my mood.”  

despite his nonchalant reply, he couldn’t deny that he’d enjoyed the game more than he thought he would. the camaraderie, the challenge—it was refreshing, even if it wasn’t something he’d typically seek out.  

bernard was already pulling him into the group photo, practically dragging him by the arm. the team huddled together, their bibs drenched in sweat but their smiles bright and genuine. as the camera clicked, sylus allowed himself a rare moment of ease, even chuckling at one of bernard’s over-the-top celebratory poses.  

the team lingered for a while, chatting and laughing as they replayed the highlights of the game. slowly but surely, they warmed up to sylus, their earlier wariness replaced by admiration and gratitude for his contribution.  

but sylus’s attention was elsewhere.  

out of the corner of his eye, sylus spotted a familiar figure standing near the entrance of the court.

zayne.  

the professor stood with his usual composed air, a faint smile on his lips as he observed the scene. his hazel-green eyes briefly met sylus’s, and something about the way they softened made sylus’s chest tighten unexpectedly.  

he excused himself from the group, jogging toward zayne with a lopsided grin.  

“professor,” sylus greeted, still slightly out of breath. “i hope you’ve been here long enough to see me score that last point.”  

zayne shook his head with an amused huff. “if that’s what you want to believe,” he said, his tone teasing but kind. his gaze drifted to the group of students behind sylus, and bernard, ever the extrovert, gave him an enthusiastic wave and shouted his name.  

zayne raised a hand in response, his lips twitching into a small smile before returning his attention to sylus. “i see you’ve made some new friends.”  

“i’m not that bad of company,” sylus said with a shrug.  

“when you don’t speak, i assume.”  

sylus scoffed, feigning offense. “i resent that, sir.”  

zayne chuckled softly, his amusement evident. “it’s good, though. you should spend more time with them. i’m guessing they’ll take you out for a celebratory feast.”  

sylus tilted his head, eyeing him curiously. “we’re not heading back yet?”  

“i am,” zayne replied, adjusting the strap of his bag. “but that doesn’t mean you have to follow me. you should spend more time with your peers.”  

sylus frowned slightly, pouting in a way that felt almost instinctual. “why? have you gotten bored of me, sir?”  

zayne rolled his eyes but smiled faintly. “it’s high time you hang out with someone other than me. go with them, and if you need a ride back, just call me.”  

before sylus could respond, zayne rummaged through his bag and pulled out a clean white towel, holding it out. “here. wipe yourself off and go change.”  

sylus stared at the towel for a moment, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “from being a dad to a mom, huh? you’re really nailing your role as my guardian.”  

“keep that up, and maybe i’ll start grounding you,” zayne replied dryly, though the corners of his mouth twitched in amusement.  

“i think i’m too old for that now,” sylus quipped, taking the towel and wiping the sweat from his face.  

zayne sighed in mock exasperation but patted sylus on the shoulder gently. “have fun, alright? i’ll head out first.” he offered a faint but genuine smile. “congratulations on the win.”  

zayne turned and started walking away, but sylus couldn’t help trailing after him along the fenced wall that bordered the court.  

“you’ll cook up a congratulatory dinner for me, won’t you?” sylus called out, his voice laced with playful teasing.  

“don’t get ahead of yourself,” zayne replied without missing a beat, glancing back briefly with a smirk.  

sylus chuckled softly, watching as zayne’s figure disappeared down the path.  

returning to the court, he felt lighter somehow. the tension he’d carried all week, the guilt and shame he’d buried, felt less suffocating in this moment.  

maybe, just maybe, he could survive the weekend after all.  

~~~

as expected, they’d all decided to go out to eat. rafayel and thomas had cars, so the group split into two. sylus ended up in rafayel’s car along with alice, lisa, and a new addition—yuu, a pale-skinned girl with long, straight, dark brown hair who seemed to know rafayel from way back.  

all ten of them—four girls, six guys—were packed into two cars, heading toward a restaurant near campus.  

sylus already felt drained just thinking about it.  

“we saw you guys play!” alice exclaimed from the back seat, leaning forward with an eager grin.  

“you were good,” lisa added, her tone as indifferent as ever, though there was a faint note of acknowledgment.  

sylus smirked, leaning back in his seat and glancing at lisa through the rearview mirror. “just good? it wouldn’t hurt to compliment me properly, you know.”  

lisa raised a brow but didn’t respond, while alice chuckled softly.  

yuu, seated next to alice, tilted her head curiously. “good enough to carry the team, huh?”  

“good enough to win,” sylus replied with a shrug, though there was a hint of pride in his voice.  

the banter continued until alice, ever the curious one, shifted the topic.  

“we saw professor zayne at the court just now,” she said, her tone teasing. “how come he didn’t give you a ride?”  

“yeah, he could’ve joined us,” lisa added, looking at sylus pointedly.  

sylus huffed softly. “he didn’t want to intrude on the youths,” he said, quoting zayne with a faint smirk.  

alice rolled her eyes dramatically. “please, he’s barely older than us.”  

“wait, zayne?” yuu cut in, her curiosity piqued. “what do you mean by that? why would he give you a ride?”  

“the professor zayne, right?” rafayel chimed in from the driver’s seat, his tone skeptical. “black hair, green eyes?”  

hazel green eyes, sylus thought instinctively, biting the inside of his cheek to keep himself from correcting rafayel aloud. he berated himself internally for even caring about such a detail.  

“yep, the one and only,” alice confirmed, grinning like she’d just spilled the juiciest gossip. “oh, you guys didn’t know? mr. center here is living with him. professor zayne offered him a place to stay after the fire incident.”  

“yeesh, i heard about that,” rafayel said, shuddering dramatically. “thank god i live outside. my paintings would’ve been ash by now.”  

“okay, rich brat,” yuu scoffed, rolling her eyes.  

“you’re just jealous!” rafayel huffed, his tone mock-defensive.  

yuu only shook her head, her attention shifting back to sylus. “but, you know, it’s kind of surprising zayne would share his space with someone. i was just… surprised.”  

“yeah,” rafayel agreed with a hum. “he’s a guy who keeps to himself, mostly.”  

the way they casually talked about zayne—just zayne, not professor zayne—rubbed sylus the wrong way. he couldn’t explain why, but hearing them speak about him like they knew him personally sparked something bitter and uncomfortable in his chest.  

“you know him?” sylus asked, his tone sharper than he intended.  

“oh, we’ve been friends with him since we were kids,” yuu replied, smiling brightly. “me, rafayel, xavier, and caleb.”  

“wait, mr. caleb?” alice gaped, her jaw dropping slightly. “that guy teaches us physics and aerodynamics!”  

“yep,” rafayel confirmed with a smirk. “he’s been close with zayne for years. those two are practically brothers.”  

sylus frowned slightly, trying to process this new information. friends since childhood? zayne had friends like that?  

it felt strange. for all his time with zayne, sylus had only ever seen him as a stoic, composed individual who seemed to keep his distance from others. the idea that he had an entire circle of close friends—people who called him by his first name without hesitation—made sylus feel… off. (even if he already knew that zayne does have friends from the start.)

and then there was the jealousy.  

he wouldn’t admit it out loud, but it stung a little to realize that rafayel and yuu knew zayne so intimately. they’d known him for years, seen sides of him that sylus probably never would.  

“i never would’ve guessed,” sylus muttered, more to himself than to anyone else.  

yuu glanced at him, curious. “zayne’s always been like that—quiet, reserved, but he cares a lot. you probably see it, living with him.”  

sylus huffed softly, leaning against the window. “yeah, something like that.”  

the car fell into a more comfortable silence as rafayel pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot. but sylus couldn’t shake the lingering bitterness that gnawed at the edges of his mind.  

they’ve known him longer than i have, he thought, clenching his jaw slightly. and they get to call him zayne like it’s nothing.

as they stepped out of the car and joined the others, sylus plastered on his usual smirk, pushing the feelings down as best he could. tonight wasn’t about zayne—it was just a dinner with classmates.  

at least, that’s what he kept telling himself. 

the restaurant buzzed with energy as the group settled into their seats, the air filled with lighthearted banter and the clatter of utensils. sylus leaned back in his chair, watching the chaos unfold without much participation. he didn’t mind, though—the noise around him blended into a pleasant hum, a backdrop against which he could relax.  

then, with a screech of tires, xavier showed up on his motorbike, parking haphazardly before striding in like he owned the place. his grey-brown hair was tousled, his blue eyes half-lidded as if he’d just rolled out of bed.  

jeremiah was on him immediately, launching into a lecture about punctuality.  

“seriously, wake up on time next time!”  

“you’re worse than my mom,” xavier huffed, scratching the back of his head.  

yuu and rafayel weren’t far behind, swarming him like vultures.  

“set an alarm, for crying out loud!” yuu scolded.  

“i told you this would happen!” rafayel added, arms crossed.  

meanwhile, bernard clung to xavier’s arm dramatically, mock-crying as he lamented, “if i hadn’t found sylus in time, we’d have lost! you owe us!”  

xavier groaned, waving them off with a roll of his eyes. “you guys are killing my ears. can we eat now?”  

“you’re just here for food!” rafayel shot back, glaring at him.  

the group burst into laughter, and the tension dissolved into lighthearted teasing. sylus, for his part, let their voices wash over him like white noise. he wasn’t one to dive headfirst into group dynamics, but there was something oddly comforting about the lively atmosphere. 

~~~

as sylus idly picked at his drink, yuu, who sat next to him, leaned closer. her voice was quiet, just low enough for only him to hear.  

“i did see you talking to zayne earlier.”  

sylus raised a brow, glancing at her with mild curiosity. “and?”  

she tilted her head, studying him with an almost knowing look. “he looked… different when he talked to you. less stoic, more expressive. that’s rare for him.”  

sylus shifted in his seat, suddenly more aware of her gaze. “is that so?” he replied, his tone even.  

“yeah,” yuu said, nodding thoughtfully. “he doesn’t usually do that unless he’s close to the person. you two must be comfortable with each other.”  

sylus wanted to laugh at the irony. comfortable? sure, if you considered how “comfortable” he’d been with zayne’s image during his private moments.

once again, the memory threatened to surface, and sylus felt a wave of guilt wash over him. he resisted the urge to groan and bury his face in his hands.  

yuu, however, wasn’t finished. she leaned in slightly, her expression shifting from curious to almost sly.  

“but,” she added, her voice quieter still, “i also see the way you look at him.”  

and just like that, the white noise around them faded to silence in sylus’s ears.  

his gaze snapped to her, sharp and cautious. “…what do you mean?” he asked, his tone carefully neutral.  

yuu didn’t answer immediately. instead, she smiled—a soft, enigmatic expression that made sylus’s chest tighten.  

“nothing,” she said lightly, leaning back as though the conversation had never happened.  

before he could press her further, yuu turned her attention back to the rest of the group, joining in their laughter and chatter as if nothing had changed.  

sylus stayed quiet, his drink forgotten as her words lingered in his mind.  

i also see the way you look at him.

what did she mean? was she just guessing, or had she noticed something he hadn’t even realized himself?  

his jaw tightened as he leaned back in his chair, letting the noise of the group drown out his thoughts.  

he tried to push it aside, telling himself it didn’t matter. whatever yuu thought she saw, it wasn’t real. it couldn’t be.  

but deep down, a small part of him knew better.  

and that terrified him.

~~~

the restaurant was winding down, and the group was still chatting and laughing, though sylus had long since tuned out most of it. he leaned back in his chair, staring blankly at his empty plate as the din around him became background noise.  

he’d learned far too much useless information in one evening, such as rafayel’s irrational fear of cats—a detail yuu gleefully recounted, complete with a story of him diving into a fountain to escape one. sylus had to admit, it was a funny mental image, but he’d officially reached his social limit.  

when the bill was paid, and the chatter showed no signs of dying down, sylus decided to text zayne for a ride. he refused to squeeze into a car with them again.  

not long after, zayne pulled up outside the restaurant, the soft glow of the streetlights reflecting off his car. sylus stood and stretched before walking toward the entrance, eager for an escape.  

“good, you’re here,” he said as he approached zayne, a faint frown on his face. “i’m about as tired from dealing with them as i thought i’d be.”  

zayne huffed in amusement, leaning casually against the car. “did you have fun today?”  

sylus rolled his eyes. “stop treating me like you’re picking me up from daycare.”  

“it does feel like that,” zayne replied, his smirk teasing. “sending my rebellious kid to daycare for the day.”  

sylus scoffed, stopping just in front of him. zayne straightened and stepped closer, brushing off a speck of dust and fur stuck to sylus’s coat.  

the proximity made sylus’s heart stutter in his chest, his pulse thrumming annoyingly loud in his ears.  

“but i’m asking seriously,” zayne murmured, his voice softer now. his hazel-green eyes met sylus’s directly, and he smiled faintly. “was today good?”  

sylus hesitated for a split second before replying. “yeah. it was.”  

“that’s good then,” zayne said, pulling back slightly but still close enough to make sylus’s breath hitch. “keep close to them. having me as your only companion must get boring. it’s better to have more people to talk to.”  

sylus almost said it. the words “i don’t mind if it’s just you” nearly slipped past his lips, but he caught himself just in time. he cleared his throat, glancing away.  

before he could respond, bernard’s voice rang out, loud and teasing.  

“aww, it’s like seeing a dad picking up his son from school!”  

sylus groaned internally, his jaw tightening as he glanced back at the group. “insufferable,” he muttered under his breath.  

zayne chuckled softly, his amusement clear. “a taste of your own medicine, then,” he said, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.  

bernard, alice, and lisa waved cheerfully at zayne, calling out greetings.  

“professor zayne! good evening, sir!”  

zayne returned the wave, his smile polite but warm. “good evening.”  

sylus was about to grumble something sarcastic when yuu, rafayel, and xavier joined the group.  

“zayne,” yuu greeted, smiling brightly as she approached. she cast a brief, knowing glance at sylus before turning her attention back to zayne.  

“yuu, rafayel, xavier,” zayne acknowledged with a nod. “thanks for taking care of him.”  

sylus grunted, crossing his arms. “what am i, a kid?”  

“you act like it,” xavier replied with a shrug, earning a glare from sylus.  

“it’s been too long, zayne,” rafayel interjected, pouting slightly. “when are you going to hang out with us again?”  

“when caleb is free, i suppose,” zayne replied evenly.  

“that guy’s always free!” rafayel retorted.  

“then when my schedule is free,” zayne corrected, his tone amused but firm.  

“and yet you always have time for this guy,” yuu teased, nudging sylus lightly.  

“he’s under my care,” zayne said with a shrug. “of course, he’ll have my time.”  

the words hit sylus unexpectedly, a warmth blooming in his chest. the contrast between zayne and his own parents was stark. zayne always made time for him, always made him feel seen and cared for.  

it was… touching, to say the least.  

“then when can we come over to your house again?” rafayel asked, crossing his arms dramatically. “don’t make us barge in and forcefully bring you out, mr. workaholic.”  

“i’ll tell you soon,” zayne said with a sigh, though there was a fondness in his voice.  

“be sure to cook your stew again,” xavier added, his eyes lighting up. “that one’s great.”  

“it’s always food with you,” rafayel teased, bumping xavier’s shoulder.  

“any more food requests?” zayne joked, raising a brow.  

they groaned collectively, eliciting a quiet laugh from him.  

as they finally headed to their car, rafayel called back, “zayne, don’t eat too many sweets! you’ll end up at the dentist again. sylus, keep an eye on him. that man once swallowed five packs of macarons in one sitting!”  

sylus sighed, rubbing his temple. “he can make his own now. it’s out of my hands.”  

“he’s unstoppable,” yuu lamented. “please don’t make too much for our next visit!”  

zayne smiled playfully. “don’t worry. i’ll make enough for everyone.”  

the group groaned again as they piled into rafayel’s car, their laughter echoing in the quiet street.  

“drive safe,” zayne called after them. “text me when you get home.”  

“yes, dad!” they chorused, making zayne roll his eyes good-naturedly.  

zayne turned back to sylus, his expression softening. “shall we head back now?”  

“please and thank you,” sylus replied tiredly, opening the passenger door.  

zayne chuckled, shaking his head as he slid into the driver’s seat. “long day, huh?”  

“you have no idea,” sylus muttered, leaning back and closing his eyes as zayne started the car.  

and for the first time that evening, sylus felt the tension in his chest ease.  

~~~

that night, sylus drifted into a dream that felt almost too vivid to be real.  

he found himself standing in the middle of a sprawling lavender field, the endless rows of soft purple flowers swaying gently in the breeze. the golden glow of the setting sun bathed everything in a warm light, and the air smelled faintly sweet, carrying the soothing hum of nature.  

the wind brushed his face, cool and refreshing, but it wasn’t what grounded him.  

it was the warm hand he held.  

sylus turned his head, and there he was—zayne.  

not the zayne he knew in real life, always neatly dressed in suits or crisp sweaters, his hair meticulously styled. no, this zayne was… softer.  

he wore an autumn-colored sweater, slightly oversized and well-worn, paired with a simple pair of jeans that looked comfortably broken in. his black hair wasn’t styled; it fell naturally across his forehead, ruffled by the breeze.  

it wasn’t a look sylus would ever associate with zayne, but here, it fit. he looked so at ease, so comfortable, and so real that sylus’s chest tightened.  

in the dream, sylus knew things he couldn’t explain. he knew this wasn’t their first time here, running through the fields together. he knew they’d spent years side by side, a lifetime of shared memories and moments etched into the fabric of their bond.  

he saw flashes of it all.  

the mischief they’d caused together, the times they’d teased each other endlessly, laughter ringing out as they ran from whatever trouble they’d stirred up.  

the arguments, too—sharp words exchanged in the heat of the moment. but sylus could never stay angry for long. zayne was… irresistible that way. one soft smile or a simple word from him, and sylus would cave, apologizing first every time.  

and then there were the quiet moments. sitting together under the stars, zayne leaning against his shoulder as they talked about nothing and everything. the way zayne’s laughter felt unguarded, as if he didn’t have to hold back around sylus.  

the way zayne looked at him sometimes—soft and full of something sylus couldn’t name but felt in every beat of his heart.  

here, in this dream, sylus saw it all.  

he saw zayne as he was, fully and completely.  

and when zayne smiled and tugged on his hand, urging him to run, sylus followed without hesitation.  

the lavender field stretched endlessly before them, and the world felt like it slowed around them, like time itself didn’t matter. the golden light caught in zayne’s hair, making it shimmer, and sylus couldn’t take his eyes off him.  

it was ridiculous.  

like one of those cliché scenes from a romance movie—the kind sylus would scoff at and roll his eyes over.  

but now? now, with zayne’s hand in his, laughter on his lips, and that easy smile lighting up his face? sylus thought he could understand why those scenes existed.  

because his heart was beating.

when zayne stopped running and turned back to him, sylus acted on instinct. he reached out, pulling zayne back into his arms, his hands settling on the man’s waist.  

zayne’s arms looped around sylus’s neck, their foreheads touching as they stood still in the middle of the field.  

the breeze rustled the lavender around them, carrying with it a stillness that felt sacred.  

neither of them spoke for a moment, letting the silence stretch between them, not uncomfortable but full of unspoken words.  

“sylus,” zayne whispered, his voice soft and warm.  

sylus met his gaze, those hazel-green eyes so close and so expressive, it made his breath catch.  

“is there something you want to say?” zayne asked, his words so gentle they felt like a caress.  

sylus wanted to answer. wanted to say so much. but he also didn’t want to break the spell. he knew, deep down, that the moment he said it, the dream would end.  

and he didn’t want it to end.  

zayne’s hands came up to cradle his face, thumbs brushing lightly over his cheeks. “sylus,” he whispered again, his voice laced with an emotion sylus couldn’t name.  

sylus stared at him, unable to look away. zayne looked… beautiful. ethereal. and in this moment, he was sylus’s—completely and undeniably his.  

the words bubbled up in his chest, rising to the tip of his tongue. he knew he shouldn’t say them, knew it would shatter everything.  

but the way zayne looked at him, the way he held him, made it impossible to resist.  

sylus parted his lips, and though he couldn’t hear his own voice, he knew he’d said it.  

and then everything muted.  

the lavender field blurred around them, the light dimming as the dream began to unravel. zayne’s touch faded, and sylus reached out instinctively, trying to hold on.  

but it was too late.  

sylus jolted awake, his room dark and silent save for the faint hum of the air conditioning. he stared at the ceiling, his heart pounding in his chest as the remnants of the dream lingered in his mind.  

the lavender fields, zayne’s laughter, the warmth of his hand—it all felt so real. too real.  

he sat up slowly, running a hand through his hair with a quiet groan. at least this time, it had been an innocent dream.  

but that didn’t make it any easier to shake off the feelings it had left behind.  

~~~

saturday morning unfolded like any other. the soft clinking of silverware and the occasional sound of coffee being stirred filled the quiet kitchen. sylus was mid-bite into his toast when zayne spoke.  

“i have a reunion party to attend later on,” zayne said, stirring his coffee with practiced ease. “i probably won’t be back until late.”  

sylus glanced up from his plate, raising a brow. “reunion party?”  

zayne sighed, his expression a mix of resignation and mild annoyance. “old classmates from med school. they wouldn’t let me off the hook, so i’ll have to go.”  

“they sound nice,” sylus said with a faint smile.  

zayne shook his head, chuckling softly. “depends on your definition of nice.” he took a sip of his coffee before continuing. “don’t wait up for me. have dinner on your own. make sure to—”  

“lock the door, yeah, i know.” sylus rolled his eyes. “you’ve told me that about a hundred times now.”  

“and i’ll keep reminding you anyway,” zayne replied with a small smile.  

zayne left in the afternoon, stepping out of his room in a black long-sleeve shirt that draped perfectly over his figure, paired with dark pants and polished black dress shoes. sylus had expected him to don a full suit—it was zayne, after all—but this look was… different.  

he looked good.  

sylus found himself staring, though he quickly masked it with his usual smirk when zayne noticed.  

“it’s a party,” zayne said, adjusting his cuffs. “even i know wearing a full suit would be over the top.”  

“i wouldn’t be surprised if you did,” sylus quipped, leaning casually against the doorframe.  

“getting cheeky, aren’t we?” zayne huffed, shaking his head.  

“have a good night, professor,” sylus said, stepping aside as zayne moved toward the door. “try not to get drunk.”  

“i don’t drink,” zayne replied firmly, though there was a faint hint of amusement in his voice.  

~~~

with the house to himself, sylus initially welcomed the solitude. he thought it would be the perfect time to sort through his feelings, to try and make sense of the tangled mess zayne had unknowingly created in his head.  

but thinking only made it worse. every time he tried to unravel his thoughts, it left him more stressed and frustrated than before.  

so, he buried himself in his studies, diving into textbooks and notes until time blurred. by the time he glanced at the clock, it was already well past midnight.  

and then he heard it—a noise from downstairs.  

sylus paused, the sound cutting through the quiet of the house. it wasn’t loud, but distinct enough to catch his attention. a faint groan followed, and sylus’s brows furrowed as he stood and made his way down the stairs.  

at the bottom, he found zayne slumped against the wall, his head resting on his hand while his bag lay discarded on the floor.  

it didn’t take long for sylus to realize what had happened.  

“you’ve got to be kidding me,” sylus muttered, standing at the foot of the stairs with his arms crossed. “and here i thought someone said they don’t drink.”  

zayne groaned, lifting his head slightly to glare at him—or at least try to. his hazel-green eyes were glassy, and his cheeks were faintly flushed.  

“they kept pouring for me no matter what i said,” zayne grumbled, his voice low and slightly slurred. “what else was i supposed to do?”  

sylus shook his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. “water first, then bed,” he said, walking over and offering his hand.  

zayne glanced up at him, his lips curving into a faint smile as he took it. “are you taking care of me now?”  

“someone has to,” sylus retorted, hoisting zayne to his feet. his arm slid securely around zayne’s waist, while zayne clutched his shoulder for balance. “i can’t believe you drove in this state. that was reckless, sir.”  

“getting chastised by a student,” zayne huffed, his tone laced with amusement. “that’s a first.”  

as they walked slowly toward the kitchen, zayne added, “i wasn’t feeling this drunk before. it only hit me when i got home.”  

“still dangerous,” sylus said, his tone firm as he frowned. “next time, just call me. i’ll call a cab and get your car home for you. i do have a legitimate driver’s license, much to your doubts.”  

“perhaps i should avoid drinking a lot in the future,” zayne replied smoothly, clearly not intending to let sylus touch his car.  

“how cold,” sylus said with a chuckle, shaking his head as they reached the kitchen. he carefully helped zayne into a chair before heading to the cupboards to grab a glass of water and some painkillers.  

“here,” sylus said, passing the glass and painkiller to zayne.  

zayne smiled faintly, his gaze warm and steady as he took the offering. “you’re pretty good at taking care of people.”  

sylus leaned against the counter, watching as zayne downed the water. his smirk softened slightly. “well, i learn from the best.”  

zayne chuckled softly, setting the empty glass on the table. “touché.”  

for a moment, the two sat in companionable silence, the tension from earlier melting away. despite the circumstances, sylus couldn’t help but feel… content.  

as much as zayne had done for him, it felt good to return the favor. even if the man had been too stubborn to avoid getting into this mess in the first place.  

“let’s get you to bed,” sylus finally said, pushing off the counter.  

“such a responsible student,” zayne teased lightly, his voice softer now as fatigue began to take over.  

sylus huffed but smiled. “someone’s gotta keep you in line.”  

supporting zayne’s weight as they ascended the stairs, sylus couldn’t help but keep his hold firm, his arm secure around zayne’s waist. maybe it was unnecessary, but what if zayne stumbled or lost his footing? that would be dangerous. sylus told himself it was purely for zayne’s safety, even if his grip was a bit tighter than it needed to be, and even if he leaned in just slightly closer than necessary.  

zayne muttered the whole way up, mostly complaints about the party.  

“overbearing friends,” he grumbled, his words slurring slightly. “kept poking, asking annoying questions. someone spilled beer on me, if you can believe it. barbecue sauce, too…”  

so that explains the faint scent of alcohol, sylus thought as he focused on guiding him to the door.  

when they reached zayne’s room, sylus hesitated briefly. it occurred to him that this was the first time he’d ever entered zayne’s personal space.  

he pushed the door open and, of course, it was spotless. everything was in its place, the furniture neat and tidy, a faint scent of clean linen lingering in the air.  

sylus led zayne to the bed, helping him sit on the edge before kneeling down to remove his shoes.  

zayne leaned forward slightly, resting his hands on his thighs as sylus worked on the laces. it didn’t take long for sylus to realize zayne must’ve struggled with them earlier—knots upon knots made the task needlessly difficult.  

“it’s honestly a miracle you managed to drive back home,” sylus huffed, fingers deftly untangling the mess.  

“in my defense, my sight wasn’t that bad on the road,” zayne said with a faint, lopsided smile.  

“right, sure,” sylus replied flatly, finally pulling the shoe off and moving to the next one. “next time, just don’t drink. turn them down properly. they kept pouring for you because you probably weren’t assertive enough.”  

zayne chuckled, the sound light and unguarded in his slightly inebriated state. “then next time, maybe you should come with me. keep them away with your intimidating stare.”  

before sylus could respond, zayne’s hand slid up to his head, his fingers brushing through sylus’s silver hair.  

sylus froze, his breath catching. the casual intimacy of the gesture was too much, too unexpected. his heart thudded hard and fast in his chest, a traitorous reminder of everything he was trying to suppress.  

“sir,” he said, his voice lower than usual as he glanced up.  

“hmm?” zayne hummed absently, oblivious.  

sylus’s eyes caught the sight of zayne’s hands moving to the buttons of his shirt, slowly unfastening them with a loose, drunken focus.  

“…what are you doing?” sylus asked, forcing his gaze back to the shoe he was already done removing.  

“i need to change,” zayne replied simply, shrugging off another button. “i smell.” he paused, glancing at sylus. “can you grab a shirt from the closet? it’s on the left.”  

“sure,” sylus muttered, grateful for the task. he quickly stood and walked to the wardrobe, trying not to let the sight of zayne’s unbuttoned shirt stick in his mind.  

dangerous. that was the only word sylus could think of. zayne was dangerous when he was drunk—not in a physical sense, but in the way he could unravel sylus’s resolve with oblivious actions and casual words.  

it also made sylus worry. if zayne acted this way around other people when intoxicated, who was looking out for him? who was keeping him safe?  

sylus shook the thoughts away, grabbing the first shirt he could find and returning to zayne.  

when sylus turned back, his steps faltered.  

zayne was shirtless, his black long-sleeve draped haphazardly over the bed beside him.  

the faint light from the bedside lamp highlighted the lines of his lean, toned body. the subtle definition of his chest and abs, the smooth curve of his collarbone. his skin was fair, unmarred for the most part—except for the faint scars that traced his arms, just visible as he adjusted his position.  

sylus hadn’t noticed them before. zayne always wore long sleeves, even in casual settings, and now sylus couldn’t help but wonder about their origin. they weren’t surgical scars; they seemed older, more personal.  

a story untold.  

sylus quickly snapped out of his trance, his throat dry as he handed zayne the shirt and averted his gaze.  

“here,” he said curtly, keeping his eyes anywhere but on zayne’s chest.  

zayne took the shirt with a faint smile, completely unaware of the havoc he was wreaking on sylus’s mind.  

as he slipped it on, sylus focused on steadying his breathing, internally cursing his overactive imagination.  

no, brain, don’t you dare. no more dreams. no more inspiration. none of this happened, got it?  

when zayne finally adjusted the shirt and looked back at him, sylus cleared his throat and turned away. “do you need anything else?”  

zayne shook his head, his smile softening. “no, i’m fine now. thanks, sylus.”  

as sylus left zayne’s room and closed the door behind him, he leaned back against the wall, running a hand through his hair.  

this man was going to be the death of him.  

~~~

surprisingly, sylus managed to fet through the night without any weird dreams. probably because he read through a 10 page essay about business law and tire his brains out that it wouldn't even be able to make up anything about zayne.

but even more surprisingly, zayne was already up and awake in the morning, downstairs drinking coffee and eating his beloved macarons like nothing happened last night.

"good morning, i see i dont have to wake you up this time." zayne greeted him when he saw him by the doorway.

"well, i happen to be worried a certain someones would be suffering a hangover." he smirked as he took his seat.

"fortunately, someone already did took care of it." zayne passed him bacon and eggs, salads and juice. "sorry about that."

sylus only shrugged, "it happens. i would be more worried that you never had at least a wasted night once."

zayne huffed, "i dont indulge in stuff often, bad for the health."

"and your macarons aren't?" sylus retorted.

"it's a choice."

"whatever you say, professor."

zayne hummed a bit, biting his chocolate macaron. "after everything last night, you can drop the formalities by now. we're not even in the campus."

sylus faked gasped, "the professor zayne allowing me to call him by his name? hell must be freezing over."

"im being nice." zayne narrowed his gaze, "i never did say anything before because i thought you'll drop it sooner or later. who would've thought you'd be so consistent." he smiled. "you live with me now, so just use my name."

sylus sipped his coffee, a bit unprepared. it felt too intimate, and kt doesn't help with whatever confusing feelings he has right now. but...

"zayne." the name slipped out of his mouth smoothly, it was almost a whisper, almost something private.

and zayne only smiled, "good." then he added, "but i still expect you to address me properly when in campus."

sylus huffed, "figures."

when they finished eating, sylus by routine just helps him out with cleaning up. his eyes just unconsciously tracked his movements when zayne lifts his sleeves up before washing the dishes.

the scars...

"are you curious?" he smiled.

sylus looked back to his own work, drying the plates, utensils and glasses.

"i won't pry if it's personal."

"not really, it's something in the past. an old haunted memory, but it's not something that pains me anymore."

and after a long thought, sylus nodded.

apparently, zayne lost a patient once. he was part of the medical team that dispatched to a mountain where a rescue mission had been called for a large group of hikers stuck in an avalanche.

the snow had still been unstable, ready for another fall. it didn't help that a snowstorm was approaching too. he and his friend that time, dr william, were looking for one more hiker before they retreat back to shelter.

zayne found him, proceed to check their pulse and condition. there's a deep wound around his torso, and he was so focused on it, that the slight cracking sound of the snow didn’t register when william just reaches forward to him in haste and pushed him away from the incoming onslaught.

zayne and the wounded hiker survived, but william...

sylus noticed how he briefly paused in scrubbing the plate.

"i searched for him in the thick of the snow. he collided pretty hard against a rock, there's blood all over him, and yet, i still hope he was alive." he sighed, but it’s more of an acceptance now. "in the end, all hikers are saved, just severely injured and might experience hypothermia. and casualty had only been one."

"i question myself everyday after that, i could've saved him. even as i wash my hands, scrub down from before or after surgeries, i still see his blood covered in my arms. i guess that had me obsessed with scrubbing it until it bleed and scarred."

sylus stared at zayne for a moment, caught between awe and the weight of the story he’d just heard. zayne’s voice had been calm, even detached as he recounted the events, but sylus could hear the undercurrent of pain that lingered.  

it wasn’t fresh pain—it had dulled over time—but it had left its mark.  

zayne, oblivious to sylus’s stare, rinsed the plate in his hands, setting it carefully on the rack before continuing. “it’s ironic, really. william was always the cautious one. he used to lecture me about being reckless, about rushing into things without thinking.”  

he chuckled softly, though there was no humor in it. “and yet, he was the one who… well.” he trailed off, shaking his head slightly.  

sylus shifted, gripping the dishtowel in his hands tightly. he wasn’t sure what to say—what could he possibly say to that? the way zayne spoke about it, with acceptance but also a lingering sense of self-blame, made sylus’s chest ache.  

“do you… still feel responsible?” sylus asked carefully, his voice quieter than usual.  

zayne paused, his hands resting on the edge of the sink. he didn’t look at sylus immediately, as if weighing his words.  

“sometimes,” zayne admitted finally, his gaze focused on the water swirling down the drain. “it’s hard not to, when you think about all the ‘what ifs.’ what if i’d noticed the snow? what if i’d been faster? what if i’d pulled him back instead of him pushing me?”  

he sighed, his shoulders rising and falling. “but i’ve learned to live with it. to accept that sometimes, no matter how much we try, no matter how much we wish we could change things… we can’t.”  

zayne straightened, grabbing a towel to dry his hands. he glanced at sylus then, offering a faint smile. “it’s why i try to be better now. as a surgeon, as a person. if i can’t save everyone, i’ll save as many as i can. that’s the least i can do.”  

sylus felt something tighten in his chest. hearing this side of zayne—the vulnerability, the humanity—made him realize just how much weight the man carried. zayne wasn’t just the stoic, perfect professor or the diligent, meticulous doctor. he was someone who had faced loss, who had been shaped by it, and who had chosen to move forward despite it.  

the scars on his arms suddenly felt symbolic, a physical reminder of a moment that had defined him.  

sylus wanted to say something, anything, but the words stuck in his throat. he’d never been good with emotions, much less expressing them.  

instead, he dried the last of the plates, setting them aside carefully before turning to zayne.  

“you know,” sylus began, his voice steady, “the fact that you even question yourself shows how much you care. most people wouldn’t. they’d blame the snow, the storm, anything but themselves.”  

zayne raised a brow, looking mildly surprised.  

“you’re the kind of person who wants to take responsibility,” sylus continued, leaning back slightly against the counter. “even when it’s not entirely yours to bear. that’s… rare. and probably why so many people trust you.”  

for a moment, zayne didn’t respond. his hazel-green eyes studied sylus, searching for something. then he smiled—a small, genuine smile that softened the usual sharpness of his features.  

“thank you,” zayne said quietly.  

sylus shrugged, trying to play it off as casual, though his heart was pounding. “don’t mention it.”

the tension eased after that, the two falling into a comfortable rhythm as they finished tidying up the kitchen. zayne’s usual composure returned, and sylus found himself feeling oddly… lighter, knowing this deeper side of him.  

as zayne began wiping down the counter, sylus smirked faintly. “you know, i think i might just call you ‘professor’ again after this. it’s fun watching you get all annoyed about it.”  

zayne turned, arching a brow in mock irritation. “you wouldn’.”  

“wouldn’t i?” sylus teased, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed.  

zayne shook his head, exasperated but clearly amused.

sylus grinned, and for a moment, the weight of the earlier conversation felt distant, replaced by the easy banter that had become second nature between them.  

but in the back of sylus’s mind, the image of zayne’s scars and the story behind them lingered. it only deepened the pull he felt toward him, the growing desire to understand every part of him, to be someone zayne could rely on—someone who could share the weight he carried.  

he wasn’t sure when it had started, but it was becoming harder to ignore.

~~~

the cafeteria bustled with noise—students chatting, trays clattering, the faint hum of conversation blending into an ambient roar. sylus sat at his usual corner table, quietly eating and scrolling through his phone, when yuu appeared, plopping herself into the seat across from him with a dramatic flair.  

sylus looked up, arching a brow. “déjà vu, much?” he muttered, vaguely amused.  

she ignored his remark, resting her elbows on the table as she leaned in. “so,” she started, her tone laced with curiosity, “what’s with you and zayne?”  

sylus froze mid-chew, his gaze sharpening as he processed her question. “what do you mean by that?”  

“oh, don’t play dumb.” yuu rolled her eyes, exasperated. “you know exactly what i mean. you’re making heart-shaped eyes at him like he hangs the sun and moon in your world.”  

sylus nearly choked on his drink, quickly setting the cup down as he glared at her. “i don’t,” he said firmly.  

“you do,” she shot back without hesitation, crossing her arms. then she groaned dramatically. “ugh, don’t tell me you’re still in your denial phase.”  

“okay, you’re being ridiculous and delusional,” sylus retorted, his voice flat as he stared her down. “there’s nothing between me and the professor.”  

yuu leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful as she rested her chin on her hand. “okay then, new question.” she raised a brow, her tone turning sly. “do you like him?”  

“what?” sylus scoffed, almost laughing at the absurdity. “no, i don’t. actually,” he added, narrowing his eyes, “are we even close enough that you can ask me these kinds of questions?”

yuu shrugged, completely unbothered by his hostility. “maybe not,” she admitted, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “but i know zayne enough to have the right to ask you these questions.”  

sylus leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he regarded her suspiciously. “and what exactly makes you think you know him so well?”  

“oh, i don’t just think it,” yuu said with a smirk. “i do know him. we grew up together, remember? i’ve seen every side of zayne—stoic, stressed, serious, even tipsy once.” she chuckled at the memory. “and let me tell you, it’s rare for him to let someone into his space as much as he’s let you in.”

"okay," sylus leaned forward, smirking, "and here's your answer. there's nothing between us and i dont like him in that way."

"I'm not convinced." she squints her eyes. sylus leaned back, resigned as he sighed. "whatever you say, kitten. but that's the truth."

"or maybe that what you want to believe." she crosses her arms, "you might have fooled the rest, but I'm pretty observant myself." she smiled, "you like him."

he sighed deeply, "look, what even made you reach that conclusion? what even counts as someone liking the other?"

"for starter, the way you stare at them is different. cold, distant and a bit mean to others, but you're soft and warm and caring to him." she clasped her hands together in excitement.

"and if i recall, none of that fits me." he deadpans.

"maybe you never realized it yourself, or just ignored and chalk it up as something normal." she pointed out. before sylus could even refute that, she continued, "second! you cant stop thinking about them. they're always in your head, and you're wondering what they’re up to, how they’re doing, did they eat or did they rest well."

"that sounds disgusting."

"hush, it's love."

sylus rolled his eyes, but he didn't confirm or deny it. which made her grin.

"so, you have thought about him, hm?"

"...none of your business."

she shrugged again, "very well. then, let me just give some helpful advice."

"don’t need it—"

"zayne is a difficult guy to get across with. he never gave a thought about relationships and feelings." she ignored him and continue anyways. "so, if you want him to be aware of you so you won't be alone with all your heart racing moments, maybe try and insert a bit of your presence.

yuu leaned forward again, lowering her voice. “do you know how many people would kill to live under the same roof as zayne? to have him trust them enough to share even a little of his private life?” she tilted her head, studying sylus. “but he chose you. ever think about that?”  

sylus’s jaw tightened, his gaze dropping to his plate. “he didn’t ‘choose’ me. he offered because of the fire. he probably felt obligated.”

“is that what you think?” yuu said, raising a brow. “because i’ve seen the way he looks at you, too.”

that made sylus pause. his head snapped up, and he stared at her, his expression unreadable.  

“excuse me?”  

“oh, don’t get me wrong,” yuu said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “it’s subtle—so subtle that most people wouldn’t catch it. but i know zayne. he’s got this little softness when he talks about you, this... gentleness.”  

sylus felt his heart thud in his chest, his mind scrambling for a response. “you’re reading into things too much,” he said finally, though his voice lacked its usual confidence.  

“maybe,” yuu admitted, though the mischievous glint in her eye suggested otherwise. “or maybe i’m just really good at noticing things.”  

sylus sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “what’s your angle here, yuu? why are you so interested in this?”  

“because,” she said simply, her tone softening slightly, “i care about zayne. he’s one of my closest friends, and i want to make sure he’s happy.” she smiled faintly, a genuine expression that caught sylus off guard. “and you... you’ve been around him long enough to make me curious.”

sylus stared at her, unsure of what to say. then sighed, leaning back against his chair, watching yuu with an exasperated expression as she sat across from him, radiating smugness. this was not how he envisioned his lunch break going.

“so let me get this straight,” sylus said slowly, folding his arms. “you’re giving me unsolicited advice about how to… what? seduce zayne? turn him into one of those guys who falls for his student?”  

yuu raised an eyebrow, unfazed by his sarcasm. “i’m saying you need to figure out if you actually like him and, if you do, stop being a coward about it.” she smiled slyly, resting her chin on her hand. “you’re the one spending all your time with him, living in his house, getting those personal moments. don’t waste it.”  

“waste it?” sylus scoffed. “you make it sound like i’m on some kind of deadline.”  

“you might be,” yuu shot back. “zayne doesn’t stay put. he’s always moving—working, helping, saving lives. you think he’s just going to stop and wait for you to figure yourself out?”  

sylus scowled. as much as he hated to admit it, she wasn’t entirely wrong. zayne was constantly busy, constantly out there making a difference. and yet, sylus could count on one hand the number of people zayne seemed to truly open up to. it felt… important, almost sacred, to be part of that circle.  

“okay,” he said after a long moment, his voice steady. “let’s say, hypothetically, i do like him. not saying i do, but let’s just play along. how do you even propose i ‘insert my presence’ without coming across as desperate or, worse, a creep?”  

yuu tapped her chin thoughtfully. “well, for starters, stop acting like his brooding shadow and be more… approachable. joke with him. flirt—casually, of course. make him notice you as someone worth looking at differently. maybe do something unexpected.”  

“unexpected?” sylus repeated, narrowing his eyes. “like what?”  

she grinned mischievously. “oh, you know… walk around shirtless, drop hints that you’re interested, or maybe show off that physique of yours a little.”  

sylus rolled his eyes so hard he almost saw the back of his skull. “what am i, some cheap romance cliché? that’s not going to work on someone like him.”  

“who says it won’t?” yuu retorted, leaning forward. “zayne might not be outwardly expressive, but even he notices things. trust me, he’s sharper than he lets on. the problem is he’s also ridiculously strict with himself—he’s not the type to act on a whim. if you want to get anywhere with him, you need to be persistent and make him see you differently.”

“you called him oblivious before, now he’s sharp…” sylus muttered, but he pondered her words, though he wouldn’t admit it aloud. it wasn’t as if he didn’t already spend an inordinate amount of time with zayne. hell, their lives were practically intertwined now. but seeing zayne as more than just a professor or guardian? that felt like crossing an invisible line he wasn’t sure he was ready to approach.  

and yet…  

he hated to admit it, but yuu’s words stirred something in him.  

Then yuu’s tone shifted, her teasing demeanor giving way to something more serious. she fixed sylus with a sharp gaze, her voice dropping. “but listen carefully, sylus. zayne’s been through a lot. he doesn’t need someone messing with his head or his heart. if you’re just fooling around, trying to see where this leads without caring about the consequences, i will make you regret it.”  

sylus blinked, startled by her sudden change in tone. he recovered quickly, his smirk fading into something more resolute. “i’m not that kind of person,” he said firmly.  

yuu stared at him for a moment, as if trying to gauge the sincerity of his words. then she nodded, her expression softening slightly.  

“good,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “because zayne’s important to me and to a lot of people. don’t screw this up.”  

yuu stood, grabbing her tray and preparing to leave. before she walked off, she glanced back at sylus with a knowing smile.  

“and one more thing,” she added. “if you keep denying your feelings, you’ll only make it harder for yourself. zayne isn’t the type to wait around, but he’s also not the type to push anyone. if you want something, you’re going to have to fight for it.”  

sylus watched her walk away, her words hanging heavily in the air.  

for a long moment, he sat there, staring at the spot where she’d been. then he leaned back in his chair, letting out a long sigh.  

“fight for it, huh?” he muttered to himself.  

the problem wasn’t fighting for it. the problem was figuring out whether or not he even wanted to. and if he did…  

what would zayne do?  

the thought sent a strange flutter through his chest, equal parts anticipation and dread.  

sylus groaned, running a hand through his hair. “what am i even doing with my life?”  

and yet, for all his protests, he couldn’t stop the way his thoughts kept circling back to zayne. always zayne.  

~~~

sylus wasn’t one to back down from a challenge, even if it was one he created himself. after mulling over yuu’s words (and maybe a bit of pride and spite fueling him), he decided it wasn’t fair that he was the only one constantly flustered.  

two can play that game, he thought smugly.  

if zayne was going to occupy his thoughts and mess with his emotions so effortlessly, sylus figured it was about time he returned the favor.

sylus leaned against the counter, watching zayne as he prepped lunch. the man moved with precision, cutting vegetables with the kind of focus and skill that made sylus a little jealous. even the simple act of cooking seemed like an art in zayne’s hands.  

“you’re surprisingly good at that,” sylus said, his voice smooth. “cooking, i mean. almost unfair how capable you are. if you ever get tired of being a surgeon or professor, you could open a restaurant and put everyone else out of business.”  

zayne paused mid-slice, turning his head slightly to glance at sylus. his expression was neutral, though the faintest smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “thank you,” he said simply, resuming his work.  

sylus raised an eyebrow. that was it?  

“seriously,” sylus pressed, stepping closer. “not only are you good with your hands, but you’ve got the looks to match. sharp jawline, striking eyes… you’re like some model chef off a magazine cover.”  

zayne stopped again, this time fully turning to face him. he blinked, his brows furrowing slightly, and sylus swore he saw a flicker of confusion cross his features.  

“what’s with you?” zayne asked, his tone tinged with curiosity but still light. “you’re not normally this complimentary.”  

sylus shrugged nonchalantly. “can’t i appreciate the finer things in life?”  

zayne’s lips quirked up into a smile—small, genuine, and maddeningly not flustered. “i’ll take the compliment then. thank you, sylus,” he said, returning to his cutting board.  

sylus stood there, momentarily stunned. that smile was not the reaction he was hoping for, though he couldn’t deny it looked good on zayne. too good.  

later, as they sat at the table eating lunch, sylus realized just how badly his plan had backfired.  

“you’re doing really well with everything lately,” zayne said casually as he picked up his coffee.  

sylus glanced up, raising an eyebrow. “huh?”  

“you’ve been keeping up with your studies and balancing everything else. it’s impressive, honestly,” zayne continued, looking at him with an unreadable expression. “not everyone can handle that kind of pressure so well.”  

sylus blinked. “uh… thanks?”  

“and you’re more considerate than people realize,” zayne added, his voice calm but sincere. “the way you helped me the other night when i was… less than my best? that was thoughtful of you.”  

sylus felt heat rising to his face, his fork pausing mid-air. “it wasn’t a big deal,” he muttered.  

“no, it was,” zayne insisted. “you’ve got a good heart, sylus. don’t sell yourself short.”  

sylus stared down at his plate, his throat suddenly dry. he wasn’t sure what to say, which was rare for him.  

the worst part? zayne didn’t seem to realize the effect his words were having. he was just saying these things, completely unaware of how sylus’s chest tightened with each compliment.  

“...what’s with you?” sylus finally managed, echoing zayne’s earlier question.  

zayne tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “what? can’t i appreciate the finer things in life?”  

sylus groaned, slumping back in his chair. “touché, professor.”  

zayne chuckled softly, and sylus swore he caught a glint of amusement in those hazel-green eyes.  

well, that didn’t go as planned.

But if compliments didn’t work, then subtle touches would surely do the trick.  

it wasn’t hard to find excuses to get close to zayne; the man was often engrossed in his routines or too focused on tasks to notice small shifts in behavior. sylus would slip in quietly, inserting himself into zayne’s space with careful precision.  

the opportunity presented itself one morning while zayne was in the kitchen. he was cooking, as usual, his movements precise and efficient as he moved between the stove and the cupboards. sylus leaned against the counter, arms crossed, pretending to watch passively.  

but then zayne stretched up to grab a jar from the top shelf, his fingers just barely brushing the bottom of it.  

sylus smirked to himself. perfect.  

without a word, he stepped in close behind zayne, his taller frame looming as he reached up effortlessly and grabbed the jar.  

“here,” he said, his voice low as he handed it to zayne. their fingers brushed as zayne took it, and sylus didn’t step back, maintaining the proximity just long enough to make it noticeable.  

zayne glanced up at him, his brows furrowing slightly. “thanks,” he said, though his tone held a note of curiosity.  

sylus shrugged nonchalantly, letting a faint smirk tug at his lips before he turned and walked away, leaving zayne to stare after him in mild confusion.  

later in the week, sylus found another opportunity. zayne was in the library, cleaning the floor-to-ceiling windows with a spray bottle and cloth. he’d pulled over a chair to reach the higher sections, kneeling precariously on it as he worked.  

sylus, passing by, clicked his tongue in disapproval.  

“seriously?” he said, stopping in his tracks. “i would’ve thought you learned your lesson after the last time.”  

zayne glanced over his shoulder, raising a brow. “it’s stable enough,” he said dismissively, returning to his task.  

sylus wasn’t convinced. he crossed the room in a few strides, stopping in front of zayne and placing his foot firmly on one of the chair’s legs to steady it. then, without hesitation, he placed his hands on zayne’s waist to secure him further.  

zayne froze for a moment, startled by the sudden contact. he glanced down at sylus, who stared back with an unreadable expression.  

“you’re reckless,” sylus said, his tone laced with a teasing edge. “i won’t always be around to catch you, you know.”  

zayne chuckled softly, though his smile was faint. “lucky i have my backup here today, then.”  

sylus’s grip remained firm, his hands warm against zayne’s sides as he tilted his head, his gaze steady and heavy. “don’t take advantage of my kindness, sir. i’m not your safety net.”  

zayne blinked at him, caught off guard by the weight of his stare. for a brief moment, he looked like he might say something, but instead, he turned back to the window, focusing on the streaks he’d been cleaning.  

“i know you will,” zayne said quietly, almost as if to himself.  

sylus’s chest tightened at the words, but he masked it with a faint smirk.  

“good,” sylus said, his tone softer than before. “just remember who saved you when you’re handing out grades.”  

that earned him a soft laugh from zayne, who shook his head and muttered, “you’re unbelievable.”  

sylus stayed where he was, holding the chair steady until zayne finished his work. his hands lingered on zayne’s waist for just a second longer than necessary before he finally stepped back.  

later, as sylus replayed the moment in his mind, he couldn’t help but feel a small sense of victory. zayne hadn’t been flustered exactly, but there had been a moment—just a moment—where sylus was sure he’d gotten through to him.  

but, of course, zayne being zayne, he’d brushed it off as naturally as ever.  

fine, sylus thought. if subtle touches weren’t enough to break zayne’s composure, he’d simply have to try harder.

~~~

sylus fought the urge to smirk as he moved to sit on the couch, his every step deliberate as he feigned mild discomfort. his chest rose and fell in controlled breaths, and he made sure his tank top clung just enough to hint at the muscles underneath.  

zayne, ever the responsible doctor, set his book aside and leaned forward, his hazel-green eyes scanning sylus with clinical precision.  

“where exactly does it hurt?” zayne asked, his voice steady and professional.  

sylus thumped his fist lightly against the center of his chest again, leaning back against the couch. “around here. feels tight, like i pulled something.”  

zayne frowned, his brows knitting together in concern. “did you overexert yourself? push too hard on your sets?”  

“maybe,” sylus replied, deliberately flexing his arm slightly as he gestured vaguely. “i might’ve gone a little too hard with the weights.”  

zayne leaned in, his hand hovering over sylus’s chest before pressing lightly against it. his fingers were warm, and the pressure was firm but careful as he examined the area.  

“does it hurt here?” zayne asked, pressing just slightly harder.  

sylus shook his head, trying to maintain his composure. “not really. lower, maybe?” he gestured vaguely again, leading zayne’s hand lower along his chest, though it wasn’t actually sore in the slightest.  

zayne followed the direction without question, his hand brushing the curve of sylus’s pec. “still no pain?”  

sylus swallowed, his pulse betraying him as it quickened under zayne’s touch. “no, uh… maybe it’s more internal?”  

zayne tilted his head, his expression skeptical. “your breathing seems normal, and your pulse doesn’t indicate anything serious.” his eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned back, his hand withdrawing. “are you sure this isn’t just some mild post-workout soreness?”  

sylus shrugged, trying to mask his disappointment that zayne had pulled away. “could be. you’re the doctor.”  

zayne’s lips curved into a faint smile, his gaze sharp and knowing. “if that’s the case, there’s no need for concern. rest and hydration should do the trick. and maybe… take it easy next time.”  

sylus huffed, leaning back against the couch and stretching his arms casually, making sure the motion emphasized his broad shoulders. “guess i’ll just have to listen to your advice, then. wouldn’t want to disappoint you, would i?”  

zayne raised an eyebrow, his smile growing slightly amused. “you’re unusually cooperative today.”  

“just trying to show my appreciation,” sylus said with a grin, leaning forward slightly so they were closer. “after all, you did go out of your way to help me.”  

zayne’s gaze lingered for a moment, and for the briefest second, sylus thought he caught something flicker in those hazel-green eyes.  

but then zayne leaned back, crossing his arms with an exasperated sigh. “sylus, if you’re trying to butter me up for something, just say it.”  

sylus blinked, his carefully constructed facade momentarily slipping. “what? no, i—”  

zayne’s smile turned knowing. “right. well, if you’re done with your theatrics, drink some water and stretch properly. no shortcuts.”  

sylus groaned, slumping against the couch. “you’re no fun.”  

“and you’re transparent,” zayne replied lightly, standing and grabbing his book. “but good effort.”  

as he walked away, sylus sat there, staring after him with a mix of frustration and begrudging admiration.  

transparent? maybe. but sylus wasn’t about to give up. not yet.  

~~~

the next attempt wasn't even on purpose. sylus was even taking a break from his ridiculous quest because it's been affecting him more than zayne.

he refuses to enjoy this one sided.

it was nighttime, he just finished showering. he only slipped on his sweatpants before the sudden urge to drink came.

not in the mood to put on his shirt, he left his room and went downstairs ti the kitchen. he didn't bother with the lights, it's just a short trip anyways.

downstairs was quiet, he assumed was already asleep as he entered the kitchen. he grabbed a glass and filled it, drinking it up and washed it again.

he was just too used to the fact no one will be at the kitchen at this hour, but apparently zayne thought the same.

so can you really blame them for not being able to expect company, especially not in the dark, which leads to them crashing against each other?

"careful!"

"zayne!"

and not wanting to crush the shorter one, sylus grabbed his waist and pulls him close, letting him cushion most of the fall as he groaned.

"are you okay?" hands checking up on him instantly, warm body on top of his. "did you hit your head?"

sylus wanted to answer, sitting up a bit but then he's fully aware of their position.

zayne was straddling him, on the waist. just like in that damn dream of his. he was still blindly feeling over his head, checking for wounds or blood. and it just registered to sylus that zayne was wearing shorts and a thin shirt.

is this what he usually wears for his sleep?

"sylus? what's wrong? you're not answering?"

his voice brought him back to reality, and he shook his head, "no, it's fine. i didn't hit anything. it's just my back that hurts."

"what? let me check." without thinking, zayne just leaned, his hands examining his back now. it's almost like they're hugging, and sylus felt his miuth going dry. they're so close, he can feel zayne's bare legs. it's dark here and he can feel zayne against him, his bare chest. and those hands that traces carefully around his spine. and the way zayne is sitting, he was so close to grazing sylus down there.

god damnit.

sylus was frozen in place, every nerve in his body alight with awareness. the dim kitchen, the quiet hum of the refrigerator, the cool tiles beneath him—it all blurred into the background. all he could focus on was him.

zayne.  

straddling his waist, his hands roaming sylus’s bare back with a focused touch that was far too clinical for the situation but still managed to leave sylus utterly flustered.  

“are you sure you’re okay?” zayne’s voice was laced with concern, his hands continuing their careful examination.  

“i’m—” sylus’s voice cracked, and he immediately cleared his throat, trying again. “i’m fine. probably just landed weird.”  

zayne’s hands paused, his fingers pressing gently against the small of sylus’s back. “here?”  

sylus sucked in a breath, his body stiffening. not there. anywhere but there.  

“y-yeah,” he managed to get out, his voice strained.  

zayne, oblivious as always, hummed thoughtfully and leaned in even closer to get a better angle, his face now inches from sylus’s shoulder. his breath was warm against sylus’s skin, and sylus swore he could feel the faint brush of zayne’s hair against his neck.  

“this doesn’t feel like anything serious,” zayne said, his voice low in the quiet kitchen. “probably just a strain. i can grab some ointment for you if it gets worse.”  

sylus couldn’t even form a coherent response at this point. his thoughts were a chaotic mess, split between the inappropriate heat pooling low in his stomach and the desperate need to get out of this situation before he lost his mind entirely.  

“zayne,” he said, his voice a bit too sharp as he sat up slightly.  

zayne stopped, his hands withdrawing as he leaned back to look at him. the concern in his hazel-green eyes was genuine, but the way he was positioned—his legs on either side of sylus, the faint moonlight highlighting the curve of his figure—made sylus’s heart pound even harder.  

“what’s wrong?” zayne asked, his brows furrowing. “are you sure you’re not hurt?”  

“i’m sure,” sylus said quickly, forcing himself to sit up fully and gently push zayne back enough to give himself some space. “it’s nothing. just surprised me, that’s all.”  

zayne seemed to hesitate for a moment before nodding, his concern finally easing. “alright,” he said, shifting to stand.  

sylus couldn’t help but notice the way zayne’s shorts rode up slightly as he moved, exposing more of his pale thighs. he quickly averted his gaze, cursing himself inwardly.  

zayne stood, brushing himself off before offering sylus a hand. “come on. you shouldn’t be lying on the floor like that.”  

sylus took the hand, his larger one easily enveloping zayne’s. he let himself be pulled up, though the proximity between them once again made his pulse race.  

“you shouldn’t be wandering around in the dark,” sylus said, his voice gruffer than intended as he tried to regain some sense of control.  

“you shouldn’t either,” zayne countered, crossing his arms with a faint smirk. “if i hadn’t bumped into you, i might’ve assumed a ghost was haunting my kitchen.”  

sylus huffed, rolling his eyes. “right. the ghost of a shirtless man.”  

zayne blinked, glancing at sylus’s bare chest as if noticing it for the first time. his gaze lingered for a split second before he quickly looked away, clearing his throat.  

“maybe next time, wear a shirt,” zayne muttered, the faintest hint of color dusting his cheeks as he turned toward the fridge.  

sylus stared at him, momentarily stunned. did… did he actually manage to fluster zayne for once?  

a slow grin spread across sylus’s face as he leaned casually against the counter. “what, feeling shy all of a sudden, professor?” he teased, his voice low and playful.  

zayne shot him a dry look over his shoulder, but the way he avoided eye contact gave him away. “don’t push your luck.”  

sylus chuckled, the tension in his chest easing slightly. for the first time in days, the power dynamic between them felt… balanced. and if he was reading things correctly, he might’ve just gained a small victory in this ridiculous game he’d started.  

“alright, alright,” sylus said, raising his hands in mock surrender. “i’ll leave you to your midnight snack, professor.”  

as he turned to leave, he caught the faintest glimpse of zayne shaking his head, though there was a small, amused smile tugging at his lips.  

he’ll take it as progress. 

~~~

sylus had come to terms with it.  

or at least, as much as someone like him could come to terms with feelings like these. he liked zayne—more than liked, probably. he couldn’t stop thinking about him, couldn’t stop imagining what it would be like for zayne to look at him in the same way, to maybe see him as more than a student or a housemate.  

last night had given him a glimmer of hope. that faint blush, the flustered glance—it wasn’t much, but it was something.  

so, fueled by both determination and the faintest hint of confidence, sylus decided to move on to the next step in his ridiculous quest: gifts. 

the idea wasn’t as straightforward as it sounded. sylus wasn’t going to buy flowers or something overly sentimental—no, that would be too obvious. he needed something thoughtful but subtle, something that would catch zayne’s attention without screaming i like you!

he started small, keeping it casual.  

that evening, sylus waited until zayne was in his home office, meticulously organizing papers for his next class. sylus knocked lightly before stepping in, holding the slim black box behind his back.  

zayne glanced up, adjusting his silver frames. “need something?”  

“not exactly,” sylus said, leaning casually against the doorframe. “i just thought you could use this.” he stepped forward and placed the box on the desk, sliding it toward zayne.  

zayne raised an eyebrow, setting down his pen to inspect the box. “what’s this?”  

“open it and see.”  

zayne complied, lifting the lid to reveal the engraved pens nestled inside. his fingers traced over the sleek metal, and his brow furrowed slightly.  

“sylus, this is… thoughtful.” he looked up, his gaze searching. “what’s the occasion?”  

sylus shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “no occasion. i just figured you’d like them. you’re always losing your pens, and honestly, your last one was a bit… sad-looking.”  

zayne huffed a soft laugh, shaking his head. “fair point.” he picked up one of the pens, testing its weight in his hand. “these are excellent quality. and the engraving… you really didn’t have to.”  

“i wanted to,” sylus said, his tone softer than usual.  

zayne smiled faintly, tucking the pens neatly back into the box. “thank you, sylus. i’ll make sure not to lose these ones.”  

~~~

the next day, sylus struck again. he waited until after dinner, when they were both lounging in the living room. zayne was reading a medical journal, his legs crossed neatly as usual, when sylus casually dropped the box of macarons on the coffee table.  

zayne glanced up, raising a brow. “what’s this?”  

“dessert,” sylus said, smirking as he took a seat opposite him. “thought you might want to try something new.”  

zayne opened the box, his eyes lighting up slightly at the sight of the neatly arranged macarons. he inspected them, his gaze lingering on the unusual flavors.  

“these aren’t from the usual place,” zayne remarked, picking up the pistachio rose macaron.  

“figured i’d expand your palate,” sylus teased, leaning back against the couch.  

zayne took a bite, his expression thoughtful before a small smile tugged at his lips. “not bad.”  

“not bad?” sylus feigned offense. “that’s premium pastry right there, professor.”  

zayne chuckled softly, taking another bite. “alright, they’re excellent. happy?”  

“very.”  

for the rest of the evening, sylus pretended not to watch as zayne steadily worked his way through the box, his usual stoicism softening into something almost relaxed.  

by the end of the week, sylus felt… satisfied. zayne had accepted both gifts with genuine gratitude, and while he hadn’t exactly been flustered, sylus could tell they’d left an impression.  

but more importantly, sylus realized he didn’t care about “winning” anymore. seeing zayne smile, watching him enjoy something sylus had done for him—it was enough.  

it wasn’t a conscious decision, but sylus found himself naturally easing into zayne’s presence rather than trying so hard to make him notice. somewhere along the way, he stopped worrying about whether zayne was flustered or unaffected and instead just... enjoyed being close to him.  

And the subtle gestures and moments became second nature.  

~~~ 

the afternoon was warm, the sun casting a golden glow over the garden as they worked side by side. sylus had taken over the heavier tasks—digging, moving pots—while zayne focused on pruning and arranging the delicate flowers.  

zayne’s bangs kept falling into his eyes, the strands sticking slightly to his forehead from sweat. sylus noticed it out of the corner of his eye and couldn’t stop himself from reaching out.  

“hold still,” sylus said softly, brushing zayne’s bangs away with a gentleness that surprised even him.  

zayne froze momentarily, his hazel-green eyes flicking up to meet sylus’s. his expression was unreadable, though there was something soft in his gaze that made sylus’s chest tighten.  

“maybe next time i should buy you a hair pin,” sylus teased, letting his hand linger for just a second longer than necessary before pulling back. “or a headband. with cat ears while i’m at it.”  

zayne blinked, the moment broken as he huffed a quiet laugh. “do that, and i might deduct your points.”  

“from what? my nonexistent attendance record?” sylus smirked, leaning back slightly to avoid zayne’s mock glare.  

~~~

after class one day, sylus lingered at the back of the lecture hall, waiting for the other students to filter out. zayne was at the front, packing up his notes and laptop with his usual efficiency.  

without a word, sylus walked down the aisle and began gathering the heavier materials—textbooks, a projector cable—into his arms.  

zayne glanced up, his brows raising slightly. “you don’t have to—”  

“i know,” sylus cut in, his voice casual. “but i will anyway.”  

zayne didn’t protest further, only giving a small nod of gratitude before they left the hall together.  

as they walked toward zayne’s office, the quiet between them felt easy, unspoken but comfortable. zayne broke it first.  

“what do you want for dinner?” he asked, his tone as mundane as if they were discussing the weather.  

sylus shrugged, shifting the books in his arms. “anything you make is fine.”  

“helpful,” zayne deadpanned, though there was a faint smile tugging at his lips.  

“well, you’re the chef. who am i to question the culinary genius of professor zayne?” sylus teased, giving him a side glance.  

“you’re insufferable,” zayne replied, but his tone was light, almost fond.  

they reached zayne’s office, and sylus helped set everything down on the desk. as zayne began organizing the materials, sylus found himself watching him, noting the way his movements were efficient yet unhurried, the way the sunlight streaming through the window caught the flecks of green in his hazel eyes.  

zayne caught him staring, raising a brow. “something on your mind?”  

sylus leaned against the desk, smirking. “just wondering what goes on in that head of yours, professor.”  

“work,” zayne replied flatly, though there was a hint of amusement in his gaze. “always work.”  

“boring,” sylus teased, pushing off the desk. “let me know when you’re done, so i can drag you away from all this for dinner.”  

zayne shook his head, but the faint smile on his face lingered.  

over the next few days, sylus found himself stepping into zayne’s life more naturally, without pretense or hesitation. lingering near him while he worked, sharing quiet conversations late at night when neither of them could sleep.  

it wasn’t about making zayne flustered anymore. it was about being close, being present, and letting zayne see him—not just as a student or a temporary housemate, but as someone who cared deeply for him.  

and the best part? zayne seemed to let him in, little by little, with every quiet smile and every glance that lingered just a bit too long.  

~~~

sylus stretched his arms lazily, glaring at the early morning sky as if it were personally responsible for his lack of sleep. he still couldn’t believe he was doing this—sacrificing his warm bed and precious sleep to jog at an ungodly hour with zayne.  

this guy better be worth it, sylus thought dryly, though the truth was already painfully obvious.  

zayne, meanwhile, was the picture of ease, swinging his arms in a light warm-up and occasionally glancing at sylus with a faint smile. he didn’t even look tired, his hair neatly tied back, his jogging outfit pristine.  

“you’re surprisingly awake for someone who claims not to be a morning person,” zayne teased, rolling his shoulders.  

sylus shot him a withering look. “i’m functioning purely out of spite at this point.”  

“whatever gets you moving,” zayne replied with a chuckle. “ready?”  

sylus grunted in response, falling into step as zayne started jogging at a steady pace.  

as promised, zayne led them along the scenic route, weaving through quiet streets and toward a small trail that overlooked the city. the air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew and the distant chirping of birds.  

zayne kept a consistent pace, glancing back occasionally to make sure sylus was keeping up.  

“not bad,” zayne said after a while, his tone teasing. “i thought you’d be dragging your feet by now.”  

“please,” sylus scoffed, though his breath came a little quicker. “i’m just not showing off my full stamina yet.”  

“is that so?” zayne smirked, picking up his pace slightly. “let’s see if you can handle this, then.”  

sylus scoffed under his breath but pushed himself to keep up, his long strides closing the distance between them. he wasn’t about to lose to zayne, not after sacrificing his precious sleep for this.  

by the time they reached the overlook, the sky was beginning to shift, streaks of orange and pink blending into the early morning blue. zayne slowed to a stop, resting his hands on his hips as he took in the view.  

sylus, panting slightly, followed suit. he leaned forward, hands on his knees, glaring half-heartedly at zayne.  

“you’re a sadist,” sylus muttered.  

“hardly,” zayne replied, grinning as he gestured toward the horizon. “look. it’s worth it, isn’t it?”  

sylus straightened, turning his gaze to the sunrise. the city below was bathed in soft light, the golden hues stretching across the skyline and illuminating the quiet streets.  

for a moment, sylus forgot his exhaustion. he glanced at zayne, who stood with a serene expression, the light catching in his hazel-green eyes and giving them an almost ethereal glow.  

“...yeah,” sylus murmured, though he wasn’t sure if he was talking about the view or the man beside him.  

zayne turned to him, a small smile playing on his lips. “see? not so bad, is it?”  

sylus huffed, trying to mask the warmth creeping up his neck. “don’t get used to it, professor. this doesn’t mean i’m waking up at the crack of dawn every day to jog with you.”  

zayne chuckled softly. “we’ll see about that.”  

on the way back, they walked instead of jogged, the morning air cooling their heated skin.  

“so,” zayne began, glancing at sylus. “what’s the verdict? will jogging make its way into your routine?”  

sylus smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets. “maybe. if you keep cooking breakfast afterwards.”  

zayne laughed, shaking his head. “ah, i see. you’re easily bribed with food.”  

only if it’s yours.

“guilty as charged.” sylus said instead.

they continued walking in comfortable silence, the occasional sound of birds and rustling leaves filling the gaps. sylus found himself glancing at zayne every so often, taking in the relaxed expression on his face, the way his hair fell just slightly out of place.  

if it meant getting moments like this with zayne, sylus might even consider setting his alarm earlier.  

maybe.

~~~

it's been a month and a half now that he lives with zayne. and it's been very... memorable. a week spent spiralling in an emotional crisis regarding zayne, then another week spent trying to remove whatever he felt for the man, then came acceptance and just sylus trying to sweep him off without seeming obvious, then just him not caring about anything anymore just as long as he could spend as much time with his professor.

it's weird how his impression of zayne went from cold, strict and a stick in the mud to something wise, charming and beautiful and soft. elegant, poised and always so well kept. sylus could go on honestly, and it would be endless.

a month and a half and he's already way too deep into this. it should be concerning but sylus didn't care.

he's content with whatever this is.

then came a phone call from his father.

it was just after dinner when his phone rang. they were both at the sink cleaning up their plates, sylus went over to the table to see who it was, and he frowned.

that old man never called him for no reason. and even when he does, it's always business and stiff conversations. as if he's just filling his monthly quota of checking in with your son so he wouldn’t fall lower in the worst father of the year ranking. (but he already is, honestly.)

"is something wrong?" zayne glanced over his shoulder when the phone still kept ringing. "if it's important, i can finish up by myself."

"no, it's nothing." sylus threw his phone back on the table, not in the mood to talk to that man.

zayne looked back properly now, he looked at sylus first then the phone.

"you should pick up, it's fine. there's only a bit left."

sylus bit his tongue, not wanting to say it's not important because he knows how much zayne misses his own parents and here sylus is not wanting to even speak to his own father.

and he's not really interested in sharing his sad and neglected tale about his distant father.

so, he nodded. "alright."

sylus grabbed the phone reluctantly, his thumb hovering over the screen as it continued to ring. he glanced back at zayne, who had already returned to the sink, humming softly as he cleaned up.  

how ironic, sylus thought bitterly. here was zayne, a man who cherished even the smallest connection with his parents despite their busy lives, and here he was, avoiding a father who never seemed to care.  

he sighed and finally accepted the call, pressing the phone to his ear.  

“hello.”  

“sylus.” his father’s voice was sharp and curt, as always. no greetings, no warmth—just straight to business. “i trust you’re keeping up with your studies. i’ve reviewed your latest reports.”  

“yeah, everything’s fine,” sylus replied, his tone clipped. he leaned against the counter, his free hand gripping the edge tightly.  

“you’ll need to ensure that you maintain your standing,” his father continued, as if sylus hadn’t spoken. “the board has been inquiring about your progress, and i’ve assured them that you’re fully prepared to step into your role after graduation.”  

sylus’s jaw tightened. of course, it was always about the company. never about him, never about his thoughts or feelings. just his usefulness as an heir.  

“i’ll handle it,” sylus said curtly, trying to end the conversation as quickly as possible.  

there was a pause on the other end of the line before his father spoke again. “and the incident at your dormitory. i trust it hasn’t interfered with your routine?”  

“it hasn’t,” sylus replied, his voice low. “i’ve been staying at a professor’s house temporarily. it’s fine.”  

“a professor?” his father’s tone shifted slightly, curiosity laced with skepticism. “i see. ensure that your living arrangement doesn’t compromise your professionalism.”  

sylus bit back a sharp retort, his grip on the counter tightening. “it won’t.”  

“good. that’s all for now.” his father’s voice was as dismissive as ever. “don’t disappoint me.”  

and just like that, the call ended.  

sylus stared at the phone in his hand for a moment, the silence ringing louder than his father’s words. he exhaled slowly, trying to suppress the bitter cocktail of frustration and anger bubbling in his chest.  

“everything alright?” zayne’s voice broke through his thoughts. sylus glanced up to see him drying the last plate, his expression calm but watchful.  

“yeah,” sylus muttered, tossing his phone onto the table. “same old, same old.”  

zayne didn’t pry, but his gaze lingered, as if he could see right through sylus’s attempt to brush it off.  

“want to talk about it?” zayne offered quietly, setting the plate down.  

sylus hesitated. part of him wanted to snap, to tell zayne it wasn’t his business, but another part—the part that had grown to trust zayne more than anyone else—considered it.  

“no,” sylus finally said, his voice softer this time. “it’s nothing worth talking about.”  

zayne nodded slowly, accepting the answer without pushing further. “alright. but if you change your mind…”  

“i know,” sylus said, managing a faint smile. “thanks.”  

zayne smiled back, brief but reassuring, before returning to wipe down the counter.  

later that night, as sylus lay in bed staring at the ceiling, he replayed the conversation in his mind. his father’s words, cold and calculating, echoed alongside zayne’s warm and steady presence.  

it struck him just how different they were.  

one demanded perfection without care, while the other gave understanding without expectations.  

sylus sighed, running a hand through his hair. he didn’t want to dwell on his father any longer. instead, his thoughts drifted to zayne, to the way he always seemed to notice when sylus was struggling, even without being told.  

maybe that’s why i like him so much, sylus thought. because zayne cared.  

and for now, that was enough.  

~~~

the evening air was cool and crisp, with a faint breeze rustling the leaves in zayne’s garden. the faint glow of the moon illuminated the space, giving the flowers and plants a serene, dreamlike quality. sylus sat across from zayne at the small garden table, the flickering candlelight between them reflecting off the wine glasses they held.  

the bottle of wine had been an unexpected addition to their night. zayne had returned from the hospital earlier, the bottle in hand, a gift from his mentor, dr. noah.  

“i don’t usually drink,” zayne had admitted as he opened it, “but it seems a shame to let it sit there unopened.”  

sylus smirked, leaning back in his chair. “and you thought i’d make the perfect drinking partner?”  

“more like i didn’t want to drink alone,” zayne countered, pouring the deep red liquid into their glasses.  

at first, their conversation was light, casual. they talked about mundane things—the weather, the plants in the garden, their day-to-day routines. but as the wine flowed and their glasses emptied, the conversation deepened.  

zayne’s stories came first, spurred on by sylus’s curiosity.  

“you snowboard?” sylus asked, leaning forward, his chin resting on his hand. “i can’t picture you on a board.”  

zayne chuckled, swirling his wine. “it’s something my friends got me into. it’s relaxing, in a way. you should try it sometime.”  

sylus raised a brow. “me, in the snow? you’d have to drag me there.”  

“i’ve dragged people to worse places,” zayne said with a faint smirk.  

they laughed, the sound echoing softly in the night.  

the conversation shifted again, moving into dislikes and peculiarities. sylus listened, a grin tugging at his lips as zayne confessed his hatred for carrots.  

“that explains a lot,” sylus said, gesturing toward the garden. “not a single carrot in your dishes or your garden. the mystery’s solved.”  

“carrots are overrated,” zayne muttered. “the world would be fine without them.”  

sylus laughed, leaning back in his chair.  

when it was sylus’s turn to share, his tone turned more reserved. his childhood, he admitted, was uneventful at best and bleak at worst. he glossed over the details, but zayne didn’t push. instead, he listened attentively, his gaze warm and steady.  

sylus shifted to lighter topics, mentioning his love for horseback riding and his mare, a sleek black beauty named onyx. “she’s stubborn, but i like her spirit,” he said with a fond smile.  

“you’re full of surprises,” zayne remarked. “and the organ? that’s an unexpected talent.”  

sylus smirked. “what can i say? i’m a man of many layers.”  

zayne shook his head, amused. “i can barely play a recorder. my music teachers gave up on me when i was ten.”  

“tragic.”  

“tragic indeed,” zayne agreed, chuckling. “anything that involves music and rhythm, i'm a lost cause.”

“even dancing?” sylus grinned.

“especially dancing.”

“i can’t imagine you being bad at anything,” sylus teased, his glass dangling loosely in his hand.  

zayne sighed, setting his own glass down. “i’m serious. i have two left feet.”  

“then let me teach you,” sylus said, standing and holding out a hand.  

zayne stared at him, his brows furrowed. “you’re joking.”  

“not at all.” sylus smiled, tilting his head toward the open patch of grass. “c’mon. you might surprise yourself.”  

perhaps it was the wine that made zayne agree, or perhaps it was the way sylus’s hand lingered patiently, his expression open and inviting. either way, zayne sighed and took his hand, letting sylus lead him to the garden’s clearing.  

their movements started awkwardly. sylus placed a hand on zayne’s waist, guiding him gently, while zayne kept glancing down at his own feet, muttering complaints every time he stepped on sylus’s toes.  

“you’re supposed to look at me, not the ground,” sylus said, his tone teasing but warm.  

“i’m trying not to kill you,” zayne retorted, glaring up at him.  

“you’re doing fine,” sylus reassured him, his voice softer.  

“i don’t see how this is helping me,” zayne said when sylus dipped him low, his hands gripping sylus’s shoulders for balance.  

sylus grinned, holding him steady. “like every lesson, you watch and learn from the teacher. keep your eyes on me.” his voice dropped slightly, his gaze steady. “you might pick up a thing or two.”  

their eyes met, the moment stretching longer than either of them expected. something flickered in zayne’s hazel-green eyes, a shift so subtle that sylus almost missed it.  

“you’re quite the casanova, aren’t you?” zayne murmured, shaking his head with a faint smile. “it’s a wonder why you haven’t had someone at your age.”  

sylus huffed a laugh, his arms tightening slightly around zayne’s waist. “i’m not interested in them.”  

zayne tilted his head, his smile soft but curious. “pity. you would make a lovely partner.”  

sylus’s grin widened. “does that mean i meet your standards?”  

zayne scoffed lightly, his tone playful. “you’re tolerable, i suppose. when you don’t speak much.”  

“harsh.” sylus chuckled, his grip shifting. “then maybe i should help my rating.”  

without warning, sylus wrapped his arms fully around zayne’s waist and lifted him effortlessly, spinning him in a wide circle.  

“what—sylus!” zayne exclaimed, his hands gripping sylus’s shoulders tightly. “put me down!”  

“this is part of the dance, too,” sylus said, his laughter mixing with zayne’s protests.  

“i swear, if you drop me—”  

“never.”  

their laughter filled the garden, bright and unrestrained, as sylus spun them once more before setting zayne gently back on his feet.  

for a moment, zayne looked up at him, his cheeks flushed, his hair slightly disheveled. his lips parted as if to say something, but instead, he shook his head, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.  

“you’re annoying,” zayne murmured.  

sylus grinned, his voice low and warm. “but you’re smiling.”  

and zayne didn’t deny it.  

~~~

"you're in an awfully good mood these days." lisa pointed out, raising a brow.

she was sitting in front of him in the cafeteria, sylus is starting to sigh at the amount of times these women just chose to take a seat with him.

"and?"

"it's creepy."

sylus rolled his eyes. he was waiting for zayne to finish up so they can go back together as usual. zayne texting has always been charming. short, dry and a bit of humour. it's very like him.

lisa just happens to be nearby so that's why she sat down with him.

"are you seeing someone?" she asked then, curious.

"no," but he hopes that he could soon.

"then, you like someone."

"... what's with the sudden questions? i feel like im being interrogated."

"your reactions are interesting. do you know what i major in?" she smirked, "psychology."

"right." he responded, indifferent. "and what?"

she shrugged, "im bored so let me try dig your head a bit."

"dont treat me like one of those crazies." he grunted.

and not soon after, they're joined by alice and yuu who was passing by. great.

"oh, what are you guys talking about?" alice sat down happily with yuu giving him a knowing glance and sat next to her.

"whatever is making this guy smiling like a lovesick idiot." lisa smirked.

"oh my god, sylus likes someones?" alice gasped.

and this is why sylus does not like having friends... or even making one.

“seriously, i don’t smile like an idiot,” sylus muttered, glaring at lisa, who looked like she was having the time of her life.  

“except you do,” lisa quipped, crossing her arms. “you’ve been grinning to yourself these days. and don’t get me started on how distracted you look. it’s like watching someone’s personal rom-com unfold in slow motion.”  

alice gasped dramatically, clasping her hands together. “sylus! are you in love?”  

sylus groaned. “why are you all so interested in my life?”  

“because this is juicy,” alice said, grinning. “you’re usually so closed-off and mysterious. now we know there’s a human under that broody exterior!”  

“i’m leaving,” sylus announced, starting to push back his chair, but yuu placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.  

“c’mon, sylus,” she said, her tone teasing but gentle. “let them have their fun. besides,” she added, lowering her voice just slightly, “maybe they’ll actually be helpful.”  

sylus hesitated, narrowing his eyes at her, but ultimately sank back into his chair. “fine. but don’t expect me to spill anything.”  

lisa smirked. “we don’t need you to. your body language is doing all the talking.”  

“stop analyzing me,” sylus grumbled.  

“so,” alice started, leaning forward eagerly. “who is it? give us a hint!”  

“no,” sylus said flatly.  

“okay, fine,” lisa said, brushing her hair back. “let’s start simple. what do you like about them?”  

sylus paused, caught off guard by the question. he glanced away, fiddling with the edge of his jacket. “...i don’t know.”  

“oh, please,” lisa scoffed. “you don’t blush like that over nothing.”  

“i’m not blushing!” sylus snapped, his ears undeniably warm.  

“yuu, is he blushing?” alice asked, grinning.  

“just a bit,” yuu said nonchalantly, sipping her drink.  

sylus groaned again, slumping in his seat. “you’re all insufferable.”  

“alright, let’s try a different angle,” lisa said, her tone turning almost professional. “how do they make you feel?”  

sylus blinked, staring at her. “what?”  

“it’s a simple question,” lisa said. “when you’re around them, how do you feel?”  

for once, sylus didn’t have a snarky retort. instead, his mind drifted to zayne—the way his voice softened when he asked sylus about his day, the way his gaze lingered just a bit longer during their late-night talks, the way his smile made sylus’s chest ache in the best possible way.  

“i feel...” sylus trailed off, his expression uncharacteristically soft.  

lisa and alice exchanged a glance, their smirks fading slightly as they noticed the change in his demeanor.  

“you feel what?” yuu prompted, her voice quieter now.  

sylus hesitated, then sighed. “safe,” he admitted. “and... like i don’t have to pretend to be anything other than who i am.”  

the table fell silent for a moment, the weight of his words sinking in.  

“wow, okay,” lisa said finally, leaning back in her chair. “that’s... kinda sweet.”  

alice nodded, her grin less teasing and more genuine. “it sounds like you really care about them.”  

“of course i do,” sylus muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.  

“well,” lisa said, her smirk returning. “you’ve got it bad, my friend. so what’s the plan?”  

“plan?” sylus repeated, raising a brow.  

“you’re going to confess, right?” alice said, practically bouncing in her seat. “i mean, you like them, they clearly make you happy, so why not tell them?”  

“because it’s not that simple,” sylus said, frowning. “i don’t even know if they feel the same way.”  

“which is why you need to take a chance,” yuu said, her tone more serious now. “zayne’s not the type to pick up on hints easily. if you want him to know how you feel, you’ll have to be direct.”  

sylus’s eyes widened slightly. “i never said it was—”  

“oh, please,” yuu interrupted, rolling her eyes. “we all know it’s zayne. you’re not exactly subtle, sylus.”  

alice gasped again, while lisa merely raised an eyebrow. “the professor? huh. didn’t see that coming.”  

sylus buried his face in his hands, muttering something unintelligible.  

“look,” lisa said, her tone surprisingly gentle. “if you really like him, you owe it to yourself to try. worst case, he doesn’t feel the same, and you move on. best case... well, who knows?”  

sylus lowered his hands, glancing between the three of them. their expressions were a mix of teasing, curiosity, and genuine support.  

“fine,” he muttered, standing up abruptly. “i’ll think about it.”  

alice grinned. “good. and if you need backup, we’re here.”  

“i definitely don’t need backup, especially from the likes of you.” sylus said, walking away before they could say anything else.  

but as he left the cafeteria, their words lingered in his mind.  

maybe it was time to stop hesitating. maybe it was time to let zayne know.  

~~~

and yet, sylus is still afraid.

so here he is, at the end of his second month, still holding back feelings and hiding.

this is a first for him to ever feel...unsure. everything in his life he's always got a great control on, but his feelings are an exception apparently.

it was almost time for their short semester break and sylus didn't have anything to do. luke and kieran had called to tell him about an upcoming social event with lots of business owners and high profile people. his father had said it's a good way to start stepping into their world seeing that he will be taking part of it soon.

but sylus isn't interested. and it's not like his father will personally drag him there himself, that man probably didn't care if he went or not.

he sighed, watering zayne's indoor plants just because.

speaking of him, zayne had some work at the hospital today. even during the weekends, he's busy and out. sylus at least could count it as a small blessing to have the time to think about what he's gonna do about his growing feelings.

should he even confess?

he's second guessing and hesitating again. he could just keep on being like this, everything's been fine anyways. sure, maybe there were moments that sylus couldn't help but think about kissing the man senseless, and he's had dreams of zayne that'd make him feel like a sinner in the morning after, and there are times those words almost slip. particularly when the atmosphere just felt too right, too warm and too intimate. he almost said it, those three words.

but he didn't.

and then zayne returned home much earlier than expected and he looked pretty happy with the slight bounce in his movements. it's cute.

"sylus, i'll be heading to snowcrest to meet up with my mentor. there's a cabin there that we can stay, do you wanna come?"

"what?" sylus stopped watering, staring at him like he grew two heads.

"it's almost break, and you did mention you didn't have any plans." zayne smiled, sitting down on the sofa and glancing at him.

sylus stood frozen, watering can still in hand, as zayne’s words echoed in his mind.  

a cabin? at snowcrest? with him?

he blinked, trying to process the unexpected invitation. zayne, sitting casually on the sofa, looked up at him with a soft smile, completely unaware of the internal chaos he’d just triggered.  

“what?” sylus finally managed to say, his voice flat with disbelief.  

“i said,” zayne began patiently, tilting his head, “that i’ll be heading to snowcrest to meet my mentor. he has a cabin there, and i thought you might want to come along. you mentioned you didn’t have any plans for the break.”  

sylus placed the watering can down on the counter with deliberate slowness, narrowing his eyes at zayne. “and you thought i’d just agree to spend my vacation on some snowy mountain with you?”  

zayne raised a brow, his expression calm but amused. “you don’t have to if you don’t want to. i just thought you might enjoy it. it’s peaceful, quiet... far from the noise of the city.”  

sylus huffed, crossing his arms. “you say that like it’s supposed to sell me on the idea.”  

“it’s also warm inside, and there’s hot chocolate,” zayne added with a faint smirk. “if that’s what it takes to convince you.”  

sylus opened his mouth to argue, but zayne’s small, teasing smile threw him off balance.  

damn it. he’s doing it again, sylus thought bitterly. zayne’s soft expressions were like a weapon—disarming and far too effective.  

“fine,” sylus muttered, leaning against the counter. “i’ll go.”  

zayne’s smile widened slightly, his hazel-green eyes brightening. “good. we leave tomorrow morning, so make sure you pack warm clothes. the cabin can get chilly at night.”  

~~~

sylus sat on his bed, staring blankly at the open suitcase in front of him.  

what the hell had he just agreed to? a weekend—alone—with zayne, in a secluded cabin on a snowy mountain. the sheer intimacy of the idea made his chest tighten, but not in a bad way.  

he groaned, running a hand through his hair. “i’m so fucking screwed,” he muttered to himself.  

the past month and a half had been a whirlwind of emotions he didn’t know how to handle. living with zayne had been far more... consuming than he’d ever expected. the man had a way of quietly settling into sylus’s thoughts, occupying space he didn’t even know he’d given.  

and now, with this upcoming trip, sylus’s carefully constructed walls were at risk of crumbling completely.  

should i tell him? the question gnawed at the back of his mind. part of him wanted to confess, to finally get it off his chest, but the fear of rejection kept holding him back.  

what if zayne didn’t feel the same? what if it ruined the easy camaraderie they’d built?  

sylus sighed, flopping back onto his bed. he stared at the ceiling, his thoughts a jumbled mess.  

“just one step at a time,” he muttered to himself. “survive the trip. focus on not being an idiot.”  

~~~

morning came, zayne was already waiting by the car when sylus stepped outside, his suitcase in hand. he was dressed warmly in a dark coat, scarf, and gloves, and he looked effortlessly composed as usual.  

“ready?” zayne asked, glancing at sylus as he loaded his suitcase into the trunk.  

“as i’ll ever be,” sylus muttered, sliding into the passenger seat.  

the drive to snowcrest was... surprisingly pleasant. the city streets gave way to quieter, snow-dusted roads, the mountains looming in the distance. the radio played softly in the background, and their conversation flowed easily, bouncing between light teasing and genuine curiosity about each other’s lives.  

zayne shared stories about his mentor, dr. noah—a brilliant but eccentric man who had been instrumental in shaping zayne’s career. sylus listened, fascinated despite himself, occasionally throwing in a dry comment that made zayne chuckle.  

as the car climbed higher into the mountains, the scenery shifted. snow blanketed the ground, and tall pines lined the winding road. the air grew colder, but the cabin’s promise of warmth felt closer with each mile.  

when they finally arrived, sylus stepped out of the car and stared.  

the cabin was nestled at the edge of a frozen lake, its rustic wood exterior blending perfectly with the snowy landscape. smoke curled lazily from the chimney, and the faint scent of pine lingered in the air.  

“wow,” sylus muttered, genuinely impressed.  

zayne smiled, stepping beside him. “it’s nice, isn’t it? dr noah lent it to me a few years ago. thought it’d be a good place to recharge.”  

sylus huffed, glancing at him. “you? relax? i’ll believe it when i see it.”  

zayne rolled his eyes but said nothing, leading the way to the cabin.  

after settling in and unpacking, they spent the evening by the fireplace, sipping hot chocolate as snow fell gently outside the window.  

the quiet intimacy of the moment wasn’t lost on sylus. he found himself watching zayne more than he probably should have—how the firelight played against his skin, how his lips curved as he smiled faintly at something sylus said.  

“this is nice,” zayne murmured, leaning back in his chair. “i think i needed this.”  

sylus raised a brow. “what, peace and quiet? or my sparkling company?”  

“both,” zayne replied smoothly, his hazel eyes meeting sylus’s.  

sylus froze for a split second, caught off guard by the sincerity in zayne’s gaze. he quickly masked it with a smirk, leaning forward. “careful, professor. you’re starting to sound like you enjoy having me around.”  

zayne’s lips curved into a faint smile. “maybe i do.”  

and just like that, sylus’s heart skipped a beat.  

he swallowed, his pulse thrumming in his ears as he stared at zayne. the words were on the tip of his tongue, but fear held him back.  

for now, he thought, this was enough.  

but as he watched zayne lean back and close his eyes, his face bathed in the warm glow of the fire, sylus knew he couldn’t keep holding back forever.  

~~~

on the next day, of course zayne had wanted them to try snowboarding first thing in the morning. that man was practically humming in excitement as he geared up.

"the snow is fresh and thick and the risk of avalanche is low. quit grumbling and get dressed." zayne shook his head, chuckling lightly at the just woke up sylus who's grumbling about the time as usual.

honestly, he's lucky that sylus likes him to not strangle him right now. but he would've asked for a lot of kisses as compensation.

...okay, that was a weird and dangerous thought. now, he's fully awake and realising how down bad horrendous he is.

sylus sat at the edge of his bed, glaring at the snow gear zayne had so thoughtfully laid out for him the night before. it was bright and far too cheerful for this ungodly hour. he rubbed his face, muttering under his breath about sadistic professors with too much energy.  

from the doorway, zayne’s amused chuckle drifted in. “still grumbling, i see. you know, i’d have thought someone as athletic as you would be more excited.”  

sylus looked up, deadpan. “it’s six in the morning, zayne. normal people don’t consider this a reasonable time to fling themselves down a mountain.”  

zayne rolled his eyes, stepping fully into the room. he was already dressed, his snowboarding jacket zipped up, his scarf tucked neatly around his neck, and his gloved hands clasped behind his back. he looked infuriatingly put together for someone about to hurl themselves down an icy slope.  

“now quit grumbling and get dressed.”  

sylus stared at him for a long moment, debating the pros and cons of launching a pillow at zayne’s perfectly composed face.  

instead, he sighed dramatically and stood, grabbing the gear. “the things I do for you, sir,” he muttered, half to himself.  

zayne’s faint smirk was audible in his voice. “noted. i’ll be sure to treasure this moment.”  

sylus paused mid-step, his brain catching up to his own words.

heat crept up his neck, and he hastily turned away, pretending to be preoccupied with his snow boots. “yeah, yeah. let me get dressed before i change my mind.”  

~~~

the trek up to the snowboarding area was, to zayne’s credit, breathtaking. the sun was just beginning to crest over the horizon, casting a golden glow over the snow-covered trees. sylus hated to admit it, but it was worth the early wake-up call.  

“beautiful, isn’t it?” zayne said, his voice softer now as he adjusted his goggles.  

sylus glanced at him, taking in the quiet awe on zayne’s face as he gazed at the view.

“yeah,” sylus muttered, looking away quickly before his thoughts could spiral further.  

zayne wasted no time showing off his skills on the slopes. he moved with practiced ease, carving smooth lines through the snow and occasionally glancing back to make sure sylus hadn’t crashed into a tree.  

“relax your stance,” zayne called out after sylus wobbled on his board for the third time. “you’re too stiff.”  

“i’m trying not to break my neck and die.” sylus grumbled back, his voice carrying across the crisp morning air.  

zayne laughed, gliding effortlessly to a stop beside him. “you’ll be fine. just follow my lead.”  

sylus muttered something under his breath but grudgingly complied, copying zayne’s movements as best as he could. slowly but surely, he found his rhythm, the thrill of speeding down the slope replacing his initial anxiety.  

it was going well—too well. sylus was starting to feel confident, maybe even a little cocky, when zayne glided in front of him, flashing a playful grin.  

“not bad for a beginner,” zayne teased. “think you can keep up with me now?”  

sylus smirked. “watch me.”  

he leaned into his turn, gaining speed as he tried to catch up to zayne. the wind whipped past his face, and for a brief moment, he thought he had the upper hand.  

then he hit a patch of uneven snow.  

“shit—”  

sylus lost control, his board catching awkwardly as he tumbled forward—straight into zayne.  

they landed in a heap, a flurry of snow exploding around them as they rolled to a stop. sylus groaned, lifting his head to find himself practically on top of zayne, their faces mere inches apart.  

zayne blinked up at him, his goggles slightly askew, his cheeks flushed from the cold—or maybe something else.  

“well,” zayne said, his voice laced with dry humor, “that’s one way to stop.”  

sylus stared at him, his heart pounding for reasons that had nothing to do with the adrenaline. for a split second, he considered closing the gap between them, just to see—  

but zayne shifted, breaking the moment as he pushed himself up slightly. “you okay?”  

sylus cleared his throat, quickly rolling off him and brushing snow from his jacket. “yeah. sorry about that.”  

“no harm done,” zayne said, adjusting his goggles and standing. he held out a hand to sylus, who hesitated for a moment before taking it.  

as zayne pulled him up, their eyes met again, and sylus’s grip lingered just a second longer than necessary.  

back at the cabin, zayne was recounting the day’s events with a soft laugh as they sat by the fire, nursing cups of hot chocolate.  

“i still can’t believe you took me out like that,” zayne said, shaking his head.  

sylus shrugged, his smirk teasing. “maybe i just wanted to make sure you didn’t get too far ahead of me.”  

zayne raised a brow, his lips twitching into a faint smile. “is that so?”  

“maybe.” sylus sipped his drink, his gaze lingering on zayne’s face as the firelight danced across his features.  

for the first time in a while, sylus didn’t feel the usual tension or fear. just warmth.  

and his heart settling into a steady, content rhythm.  

~~~

then came the next day, dr. noah finally came around afternoon. zayne greeted him with a hug at the door, ushering him inside as the old man chuckled and sat down at living room.

sylus took the liberty to serve them drinks, he nodded his head in greeting to him.

the cabin was warm and inviting, with the soft glow of the fireplace casting shadows across the room. sylus leaned back in his seat, sipping on a cup of hot chocolate as zayne and dr. noah exchanged pleasantries.  

zayne had been the perfect host, ushering the older man inside with an easy familiarity that sylus found endearing. the way zayne greeted him, a rare warmth in his smile, spoke volumes about the respect and fondness he had for the man.  

“this is sylus,” zayne said, gesturing toward him. “he’s one of my students—the one i mentioned the other day.”  

sylus raised a brow, glancing between the two. zayne talked about me? he wasn’t sure why, but the thought made him feel strangely happy.  

“ah, you mean your troublesome student?” dr. noah teased, his eyes sparkling with amusement.  

sylus’s fleeting joy came to a screeching halt. he shot zayne a pointed look. “is that how you describe me to people, professor?”  

zayne grinned, clearly enjoying himself. “don’t get too upset. it was all good words.”  

noah chuckled, his gaze soft. “zayne told me a lot about you. a good learner, pays great attention, does his work no matter the circumstances,” he listed, his voice warm. “and apparently, you make a good housemate.”  

sylus tried to hide the faint flush creeping up his neck, opting instead for a smirk. “boasting about me to others, i see.”  

zayne shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a hint of affection in his expression. “it’s true, after all.”  

as they settled in, the conversation shifted toward zayne’s time in med school. dr. noah was more than happy to regale sylus with stories of zayne’s earlier days, much to the younger man’s dismay.  

“compared to now,” noah began, his tone fond, “he was much more reserved and quiet. he was the youngest in his class, which made it a little harder for him to connect with his peers.”  

sylus glanced at zayne, who looked away with a slight grimace, already sensing where this was going.  

“but his classmates were actually quite fond of him,” noah continued, smiling. “even if he didn’t always notice.”  

sylus chuckled softly. “sounds about right.”  

“he’s always been brilliant, of course,” noah added. “but there were moments... let’s just say they were memorable.”  

zayne groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “can we not expose my past, please?”  

noah ignored him entirely, leaning forward as if to share a secret. “did he ever tell you about the time he accidentally locked himself in the morgue?”  

sylus’s eyes widened, a grin already forming on his face. “oh, do tell.”  

zayne groaned louder, slumping in his seat.  

“it was late at night,” noah began, “and zayne was working on an assignment that required him to examine cadavers. he was so engrossed in his work that he didn’t realize the janitor had finished cleaning and locked the door behind him.”  

sylus snorted, already imagining a younger zayne obliviously working away.  

“he didn’t notice until hours later,” noah continued, his smile growing. “by then, the lights were out, and the janitor was long gone. when he tried to get out, the door wouldn’t budge.”  

“i thought i was going to spend the night with the dead,” zayne muttered, covering his face with his hand.  

noah chuckled. “oh, it gets better. the janitor came back early the next morning and nearly had a heart attack when he found zayne standing by the door, pale as a ghost and asking for help. he thought one of the corpses had come back to life.”  

sylus burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. “you’re kidding.”  

“i wish he was,” zayne grumbled, though there was a faint smile tugging at his lips.  

“and then there was the time he fell asleep during a lecture,” noah said, his tone lighter now.  

“that’s not unusual,” sylus said, shrugging. “everyone’s done that.”  

“ah, but not everyone contributes to the class in their sleep,” noah replied, his eyes twinkling.  

zayne let out a long sigh, clearly resigned to his fate.  

“he was sitting in the front row,” noah explained. “the professor was asking the class a question, and suddenly, zayne muttered an answer—completely accurate, by the way—in his sleep.”  

sylus stared at zayne, stunned. “you’re telling me you sleep-talked your way into participation?”  

zayne shrugged, looking vaguely embarrassed. “it happened once.”  

“twice,” noah corrected with a grin. “and my favorite,” he continued, his tone mischievous. “the time he spent an entire night learning to play pool out of spite.”  

zayne groaned, sinking lower into his seat. “not this one.”  

“out of spite?” sylus repeated, his interest piqued.  

“someone told him he was too short to play,” noah explained, smiling. “so naturally, zayne decided to prove them wrong. he stayed up all night practicing at a local pool hall and came back the next day to challenge them.”  

sylus leaned forward, his grin wide. “and?”  

“and he wiped the floor with them,” noah said, chuckling. “that’s how he became so good at it.”  

sylus turned to zayne, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “so, that’s your secret? spite?”  

“sometimes, it’s a powerful motivator,” zayne admitted, his lips twitching into a reluctant smile.  

sylus laughed, shaking his head. “you’re full of surprises, professor.”  

as the stories wound down, sylus found himself looking at zayne in a new light. the composed, stoic man he knew had once been a quiet, determined student with his fair share of quirks and moments of vulnerability.  

and somehow, sylus found himself falling even harder.  

“you’ve come a long way,” noah said, patting zayne’s shoulder as they stood to clear the table. “you should be proud of yourself.”  

zayne smiled softly, “i had good people around me.”  

sylus’s heart gave a traitorous flutter, and he quickly busied himself with gathering the cups.  

maybe one day, he thought. i can be one of them.

~~~

zayne accompanied noah to go back to his home at night since he lived just nearby. and sylus began cleaning up and decided to take a shower.

it's refreshing to know more about zayne, anything about him is welcome. in fact, he wanted to know more.

sylus sat back on the couch, towel draped over his shoulders as his damp hair clung to his forehead. his muscles were finally starting to relax after a long day, and the warmth of the cabin’s fireplace made the moment even better.  

the sound of the front door opening and closing pulled him from his thoughts, and soon after, zayne appeared in the kitchen. there was a distinct spring in his step, his face lit up with an almost boyish excitement.  

sylus raised a brow, suspicious. “alright, what are you up to now?”  

zayne turned, his hazel-green eyes gleaming with mischief. “there’s a skating rink just down the hill. noah told me about it.”  

sylus blinked at him. “okay... and?”  

zayne leaned casually against the counter, crossing his arms. “we should try it out tomorrow.”  

sylus snorted, folding his arms. “do you even know how to skate?”  

zayne shrugged nonchalantly. “no, but it’ll be fine. we can practice.”  

“practice,” sylus repeated flatly, giving him a deadpan look. “do you know what’s going to happen? one of us is going to fall, and if we’re lucky, it’ll just be a bruised ego. worst case? we both get concussions.”  

zayne chuckled, brushing off sylus’s dramatics. “have a little faith in us. if you survived snowboarding, you’ll survive this too.”  

sylus huffed, running a hand through his hair. “i’ll hold you to that. don’t come crying to me when you end up sprawled on the ice like a newborn deer.”  

zayne smirked. “i’ll take my chances.”  

“and let me guess,” sylus said, tilting his head. “we’re doing this in the morning too?”  

“obviously,” zayne replied, his tone so casual it made sylus want to laugh and groan at the same time.  

sylus sighed, dragging his hand down his face. “fine. but i’m only agreeing because i’m curious to see how bad you are at this.”  

zayne chuckled, his voice warm. “that’s the spirit.”  

~~~

sylus had never hated early mornings more than he did in that moment. the cold air bit at his cheeks as he adjusted the scarf around his neck, the sun barely peeking over the horizon.  

zayne, of course, looked infuriatingly happy. he was already geared up, his breath visible in the frosty air as he tightened the laces on his skates.  

“remind me again why i agreed to this,” sylus muttered, tugging at his gloves.  

“because you secretly enjoy these little adventures,” zayne teased, his eyes glinting with amusement.  

sylus shot him a look, but before he could respond, zayne straightened and held out a hand. “come on. let’s get to the rink.”  

the skating rink was smaller than sylus expected, nestled within a natural dip in the landscape surrounded by tall pines. the ice glistened in the morning light, and the faint sound of skates gliding echoed in the crisp air as a few early risers moved across the surface.  

zayne stepped onto the ice first, his movements cautious but steady. “see? not so bad.”  

sylus followed, more out of obligation than enthusiasm. his first few steps were wobbly, and he grumbled under his breath as he tried to find his balance.  

zayne was already a few feet ahead, his arms outstretched for balance. “relax. it’s all about finding your center of gravity.”  

“easy for you to say,” sylus muttered, his arms flailing slightly before he caught himself.  

zayne turned to face him, skating backward with surprising ease. “you’re overthinking it. just—”  

his words were cut off as his foot caught on an uneven patch of ice, sending him toppling backward.  

“zayne!” sylus instinctively lunged forward, his hands grabbing zayne’s waist just in time to steady him. unfortunately, his own momentum carried them both down, and they ended up sprawled across the ice in a heap.  

“well,” zayne said after a moment, his breath fogging in the air. “that could’ve gone better.”  

sylus groaned, propping himself up on his elbows. “you were saying something about balance?”  

zayne chuckled, his cheeks pink from the cold—and maybe embarrassment. “point taken.”  

they stayed like that for a moment, catching their breath. sylus glanced down at zayne, who was lying beneath him, his hazel-green eyes sparkling with laughter despite their predicament.  

“you okay?” sylus asked softly.  

zayne nodded, his smile small but genuine. “yeah. thanks for trying to catch me.”  

sylus huffed a laugh, pushing himself up and offering zayne a hand. “next time, try not to take me down with you.”  

“we’ll see,” zayne said with a smirk, taking his hand.  

despite the rocky start, they eventually found their rhythm. sylus proved to be a quick learner, and soon he was skating circles around zayne, who—much to sylus’s amusement—was struggling to stay upright.  

“having fun yet?” sylus called out, grinning as he glided past.  

“shut up,” zayne shot back, his tone exasperated but good-natured.  

by the end of the morning, they were both breathless and laughing, their cheeks red from the cold.  

as they sat on a nearby bench, unlacing their skates, sylus glanced at zayne out of the corner of his eye.  

“you’re not half bad,” he said, smirking.  

zayne looked at him, his brows raising in mock offense. “not half bad? i think i deserve a little more credit than that.”  

sylus chuckled, leaning back against the bench. “alright, fine. you’re tolerable.”  

zayne huffed, shaking his head with a smile. “i’ll take it.”

and as they walked back up the hill, their shoulders brushing occasionally.

~~~

then at night, zayne just had to have the brightest idea to go stargazing.

in this snowy weather.

"i am not going to sit out there to watch little burning gasses in the sky and risk getting hypothermia," he grumbled, passing the now-clean plate to zayne.  

zayne’s lips quirked into an amused smile as he dried it off. “you’re no fun. i thought young people were supposed to be more adventurous.”  

sylus shot him a flat look. “you and your spontaneous plans will be the death of me. what next? scuba diving in the glaciers? feeding penguins? hiking in the forest?”  

instead of laughing it off, zayne actually paused, a thoughtful hum escaping him. “hiking in the forest doesn’t sound so bad—”  

“zayne.” sylus groaned, glaring at him.  

zayne finally laughed, his soft chuckle echoing through the kitchen. “but really, we should go stargazing. we’re leaving tomorrow, and it’d be a shame to waste this opportunity. who knows? we might even see the aurora.”  

sylus grunted in response, focusing on the dishes to avoid looking at zayne’s expectant expression.  

but the thought lingered. the idea of being outside in the snow sounded miserable—but huddling close to zayne for warmth? that sounded… tolerable. maybe even nice.

so like the fool he is, he agreed.

and now? sylus bundled up in his warmest layers, a thick scarf wrapped around his neck and a beanie pulled low over his ears. despite his earlier grumbling, he followed zayne out into the open expanse of snow behind the cabin, their boots crunching against the frost.  

zayne carried a thick blanket under one arm, his other hand holding a thermos. “see? it’s not so bad,” he said, his breath visible in the icy air.  

“i reserve my judgment,” sylus muttered, clutching the edges of his coat tighter around him.  

they trudged through the snow until they reached a small clearing surrounded by tall, dark pines. the night sky stretched endlessly above them, studded with stars that glittered like shards of ice.  

zayne spread out the blanket on a patch of flattened snow, patting the spot next to him. “come on, sit. you’re not going to freeze in ten minutes.”  

sylus sighed dramatically but sat down anyway, grateful for the thick blanket beneath him. zayne handed him the thermos, and he took a tentative sip—hot chocolate. of course.  

the silence that followed was surprisingly comfortable. the night was still, save for the faint rustle of the trees and the distant hoot of an owl. sylus tilted his head back, gazing up at the stars. he hated to admit it, but it was… beautiful.  

“you’re quiet,” zayne said softly, breaking the silence.  

sylus glanced at him, his expression neutral. “just thinking.”  

“about?”  

sylus hesitated, his gaze drifting back to the stars. “...nothing important.”  

zayne didn’t press, leaning back on his hands as he scanned the sky. “you know, when i was younger, i used to sneak out of the house to stargaze. my parents were always so busy, but i felt like… i could tell the stars anything, and they’d listen.”  

sylus turned to him, his chest tightening at the unexpected vulnerability in zayne’s voice. “do you still do that?”  

zayne smiled faintly, his breath fogging the air. “not as much. life gets busy. but it’s nice to be reminded how small we are sometimes.”  

sylus didn’t respond immediately, instead leaning back beside him. the cold crept through his layers, but the presence of zayne next to him made it bearable.  

“do you see that?” zayne suddenly pointed, his voice tinged with excitement.  

sylus followed his gaze, and his breath caught. the sky above them shifted, ribbons of green and blue unfurling like a celestial curtain—the aurora.  

“well, would you look at that,” sylus murmured, unable to tear his eyes away.  

zayne smiled, his gaze fixed on the lights. “worth it, right?”  

sylus turned to him, catching the way the colors reflected in his hazel-green eyes. he looked serene, completely at ease.  

“yeah,” sylus said softly, his voice barely audible. “worth it.”  

the temperature dropped further as the night wore on, and sylus found himself shivering despite the layers.  

“come here,” zayne said, noticing his discomfort.  

“what?”  

zayne opened his coat slightly, motioning for sylus to move closer. “you’re freezing. body heat helps.”  

sylus stared at him, caught between disbelief and curiosity. but the cold won out, and he shifted closer, awkwardly tucking himself against zayne’s side.  

zayne wrapped the edges of his coat around them both, his arm resting lightly across sylus’s shoulders. “see? not so bad.”  

sylus grumbled something incoherent, but secretly, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this… warm.  

they stayed like that for a while, the aurora painting the sky above them, their breaths mingling in the frosty air.  

sylus finally broke the silence. “you’re insane, you know that?”  

zayne chuckled softly. “and yet, here you are indulging me.”  

sylus huffed, unable to hide the small smile tugging at his lips. “yeah. here i am.”  

and for the first time, he wasn’t just tolerating zayne’s spontaneous plans—he was grateful for them.

until somehow, zayne just decided he wanted to take a closer look of the aurora.

"we agreed to sit and gaze, not a walk in the cold." sylus reminded with a raised brow.

"it wouldn't hurt to move to a better spot. now get up." he grabbed his arm and pull him up, dragging him up the small hill not far and sylus may be exasperated, but zayne in the snow is truly a force to reckon with.

it's like he changed. no more was he the same stoic and composed professor, but someone reliving his childhood days.

it was adorable, so how can sylus possibly turn him down?

when they got a closer view of the aurora, zayne pulled out his camera to take a photo.

"mom and dad would've love this." he muttered under his breath.

"planning to send them a postcard?" sylus stared at him fondly, his chest clenching at the sight of him.

zayne lowered his camera, satisfied with the photos. "yeah. it's been a while since our last exchange."

sylus only hum back, letting the silence fill the air. they stared at the sky in a bliss, sylus sometimes glancing at zayne.

until he noticed he was shivering. of course that man would forget his blanket. sylus huffed, shaking his head.

"you're shivering. we should head back."

"i'm not." he denied, "just a bit longer, until it ends."

sylus sighed, opening the blanket he has on his shoulder, "come here before you freeze to death." he expected zayne to just grab the blanket from him, but he only huddled closer to his side, wrapping it around him and went back to stare up the sky.

sylus was a bit at a loss, hand hovering in the air not knowing where to place them. "...you could have the blanket if you want."

zayne glanced at him incredulously, "and leave you to the cold? it's big enough for both of us, he snuggled closer innocently, "besides, you're like a walking heater right now."

"right..." sylus tried to scoff, hide his own flustered self. zayne was close that if sylus leaned he could just kiss his hair like this. and maybe if zayne turned his face a bit, look uo at him...

their lips could touch.

sylus tried not to indulge that thought too much, but it's hard not to.

instead, he just starts pointing out constellations to distract himself.

"that's the big dipper, isn't it." he pointed up, zayne following it, he nodded.

"and right over there is the archer." zayne pointed over to the right.

"that looks like a horse."

zayne was affronted, "no it's not, that's scorpio."

"but it really looks like one, see that's the head, then the body—"

zayne laughed, "you're ridiculous. then what's that? a bird?"

sylus tilted his head, smiling, "close. it looks like a dog."

"maybe i should schedule you to an optometrist." he chuckled.

and this close, they stare at each other again. the soft laughter dying down and left just a smile.

sylus wasn't even thinking anymore, all that he sees was zayne, and only zayne. and he just couldn't help but lean forward, his heart felt so full that it wanted to burst.

he waits to be pushed away or zayne pulling away.

the world seemed to shrink in that moment, leaving only the two of them under the vast, star-filled sky. the soft glow of the aurora bathed them in hues of green and blue, casting an ethereal light over zayne’s face as he closed his eyes.  

it felt like everything had led to this. every teasing smile, every shared moment, every time sylus had looked at zayne and felt his heart race—it all came rushing to the forefront, and there was no holding it back now.  

sylus leaned forward, his hand trembling slightly as it hovered by zayne’s cheek, not quite touching yet.  

then, gently, cautiously, their lips met.  

zayne’s lips were soft, slightly chilled by the cold but still warm enough to send a rush of heat through sylus’s entire body. he was tentative at first, testing, but when zayne didn’t pull away—when he instead leaned in just slightly, his gloved hand brushing against sylus’s arm—it was like the floodgates opened.  

sylus deepened the kiss, his hand finally resting on zayne’s cheek, thumb grazing the corner of his mouth. zayne responded in kind, his lips parting slightly, letting the kiss linger just a little longer, just enough to make sylus’s chest tighten.  

the blanket wrapped around them shielded them from the cold, but it was nothing compared to the warmth spreading between them. the snow beneath them, the chill in the air, the distant rustling of the trees—all of it faded into insignificance.  

when they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, breaths mingling in the frosty air.  

zayne’s eyes fluttered open, and for the first time, sylus saw something in them that wasn’t just casual or friendly. there was a flicker of something deeper, something that mirrored the way sylus felt.  

“you’re warm,” zayne murmured, his voice soft, almost teasing, but there was a hitch in his tone that gave him away.  

sylus chuckled breathlessly, his hand still lingering at zayne’s cheek. “and you’re freezing.”  

zayne huffed a laugh, his lips curling into a faint smile. “guess i’ll have to stay close, then.”  

sylus didn’t reply, instead letting his arm wrap fully around zayne, pulling him closer. zayne didn’t resist, nestling against his side as they both turned their gaze back to the aurora.  

the silence between them wasn’t awkward or uncertain—it was comfortable, filled with unspoken words that neither of them needed to say right now.  

for the first time, sylus wasn’t afraid. he wasn’t second-guessing himself or worrying about what came next.  

because zayne was here, in his arms, leaning into him like he belonged there.  

and that was enough. for now, that was more than enough.  

~~~

after a long while, they decided to go back the cabin, and sylus is starting to feel a bit of... nervous. anxious, maybe. or even scared.

so, what was that just now? did that count as a confession or what? did zayne feel the same way too? or was he just being kind and indulge in whatever sylus is up to because he's always been like that.

what are they now? together? or are they just going to pretend nothing even happened? if so, that's even worse than being rejected.

"i can hear you thinking," zayne almost chuckled, he's picking up their thermos and cups while sylus just kept refolding the blankets repeatedly. zayne decided to show mercy and walk up to him, planting a shy kiss on his cheek.

"we'll talk once we're inside the cabin, okay?" zayne stared at him.

sylus could only nod wordlessly.

"good. now, can you carry the chairs? my hands are full."

sylus is pretty envious that he can still remain calm even in this situation, but maybe that's why he's the older one here.

once they're inside the cabin, sylus propped the folded chairs against the wall and placed the blanket on the side first as he dusts away the snow covering him. zayne took his time removing his outer layer and scarf too.

just as sylus was untying his own boots, sylus felt warm hands removing his hat and unwrapping his scarf.

"hot chocolate?" he asked.

but remembering the overly sweetness of zayne's hot chocolate, sylus huffed, "tea, please."

"suit yourself. go ahead and sit down first. and...try to calm down." zayne smiled.

sylus sat stiffly on the couch, his hands clasped tightly in his lap as he stared at the flickering flames in the fireplace. the warmth of the cabin seeped into his layers, but it did little to soothe the whirlwind of emotions swirling in his chest.  

the uncertainty gnawed at sylus, making him fidget with the hem of his sweater.  

the sound of clinking cups and the soft hum of the kettle in the kitchen brought him back to the present. zayne moved with his usual grace and ease, setting everything in place as if tonight hadn’t been a pivotal moment that could change everything between them.  

“tea,” zayne said, stepping into the living room and handing sylus a steaming mug.  

“thanks,” sylus muttered, taking it from him. his fingers brushed against zayne’s, and the contact sent a small jolt up his arm.  

zayne took a seat on the armchair across from him, his own mug of hot chocolate in hand. the silence stretched, but it wasn’t awkward—it was purposeful. zayne was giving sylus time to gather his thoughts, to breathe.  

but sylus’s nerves only grew, the weight of everything pressing heavily on his shoulders. he finally broke the silence, his voice quieter than he intended.  

“so… what now?”  

zayne took a sip of his drink, setting it down on the small side table before leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. his gaze was steady, warm, and completely focused on sylus.  

“what do you want it to be?” he asked, his tone calm yet searching.  

sylus blinked, thrown off by the question. “i… i don’t know. i mean, i thought—”  

“sylus,” zayne interrupted gently, tilting his head. “i’m not going to make assumptions. i want to hear it from you.”  

sylus clenched his jaw, his hands tightening around the mug as he tried to steady himself. the words felt heavy, like they were lodged in his throat, but the way zayne looked at him—patient and expectant—gave him the push he needed.  

“i like you,” sylus admitted, his voice low but firm. “more than i probably should. and for a long time, i’ve been trying to convince myself it’s nothing, that it’s just… admiration or something stupid. but it’s not. i know it’s not.”  

he forced himself to meet zayne’s gaze, his heart pounding in his chest. “i don’t know if this is crossing a line or if it’s even allowed, but i can’t—”  

“it’s not,” zayne said softly, cutting through sylus’s rambling. “and you’re not crossing any lines. you’re allowed to feel this way.”  

sylus stared at him, his breath caught in his throat. “i… i am?”  

zayne smiled faintly, leaning back in his chair. “i won’t lie and say this hasn’t been unexpected. but if i didn’t feel the same way, i wouldn’t have let it get this far.”  

sylus’s grip on his mug loosened, his tension melting away as zayne’s words sank in. relief coursed through him, so intense it was almost dizzying.  

“so, what are we?” sylus asked cautiously, his voice quieter now.  

zayne chuckled, shaking his head. “we don’t need to label it right now. let’s just… take it one step at a time. but know this—i do like you, sylus. more than i probably should, too.”  

the grin that spread across sylus’s face was unstoppable, his earlier anxiety replaced by a lightness he hadn’t felt in weeks. “well, that’s a relief.”  

zayne chuckled again, standing up and crossing the room to sit beside sylus on the couch. he reached out, his hand brushing against sylus’s before gently taking it in his own.  

“are you calm now?” zayne teased, his hazel-green eyes glinting with amusement.  

sylus smirked, squeezing his hand. “i don’t know. maybe you should kiss me again, just to be sure.”  

zayne rolled his eyes, but the faint blush dusting his cheeks betrayed him. “you’re impossible.”  

but he leaned in anyway, his lips finding sylus’s in a kiss that was soft, deliberate, and filled with all the promises they didn’t need to say aloud.  

sylus couldn't believe this. he almost thought he's dreaming again.

that same dream of lavender field, but this time in a snowy cabin.

the both of them are just lounging at the couch now, hands interlocked as zayne was leaning against him, head on his chest and sylus occasionally kissing his hair.

jasmine, he smiled. he could get used to this. no, actually, it felt like he's already been doing this for so long. liking zayne felt so natural, so easy.

to think his stupid little crush will get to this point... perhaps he's one of the minorities whose feelings are reciprocated by their teachers.

"since when did it start?" zayne asked him, his voice low and quiet, not wanting to ruin the comfortable silence.

"maybe a week or two living with you." sylus answered.

"that quick?"

"you were tempting me."

"i did no such thing." zayne scoffed.

"your cluelessness is also one of them."

zayne grumbled, "be specific. when? because i dont think i remember doing anything outstanding to you."

sylus hummed a bit, drumming his fingers lightly around zayne's waist.

oh.

oh.

sylus froze for a moment. the memory of that morning in the kitchen flashing vividly in his mind again—the sight of zayne in his tight workout clothes, sweat dripping down his neck, the way his thighs flexed when he stretched... 

he cleared his throat, "not sure, it just kinda happened for me too."

zayne shifted slightly against sylus, his head still resting on his chest as he traced small, absentminded circles on sylus’s hand. the fire crackled softly in the background, casting warm light over the cozy living room. it was a picture-perfect scene of domestic bliss, and sylus still couldn’t quite believe it was real.  

“that’s a very convenient answer,” zayne teased, his voice laced with amusement.  

sylus smirked, his free hand coming up to play with zayne’s hair. “well, i didn’t exactly plan on developing feelings for you, professor.”  

zayne groaned softly at the title. “you’re going to have to stop calling me that when we’re alone.”  

“hmm, what should i call you then? zayne? babe? darling?” sylus teased, grinning when he felt zayne tense slightly at the last word.  

“none of the above,” zayne mumbled, but sylus could feel the faint smile against his chest.

“admit it,” sylus pressed, his grin widening. “you like it.”  

zayne didn’t reply, instead letting out a soft hum as if to dodge the question. but sylus wasn’t about to let him off the hook.  

“so, are you going to tell me when it started for you?” sylus asked, turning the tables.  

zayne tilted his head up slightly, looking at him with a thoughtful expression. “i think it was... when you helped me in the garden that day. you were patient, oddly gentle, even when i was giving you so many instructions. it surprised me.”  

sylus chuckled, raising a brow. “so, bossing me around made you fall for me? noted.”  

zayne pinched his side lightly, earning a laugh from sylus. “that’s not what i said,” he grumbled.  

sylus leaned down, kissing his forehead gently. “i know. you’re not the type to say what you really feel outright.”  

zayne sighed, a faint blush dusting his cheeks as he rested his head back on sylus’s chest. “maybe you’re right. but that doesn’t mean i don’t feel it.”  

sylus smiled softly, his heart swelling at the admission. “good. because you’re stuck with me now.”  

“lucky me,” zayne replied dryly, though the warmth in his tone betrayed him.  

the two of them fell into a comfortable silence, the weight of unspoken words now lifted. sylus tightened his hold around zayne’s waist, feeling an overwhelming sense of contentment.  

“by the way,” zayne said after a while, breaking the quiet. “you’re still not off the hook. i will find out what made you fall for me so quickly.”  

“good luck with that,” sylus replied quickly, hoping his face didn’t betray him.  

zayne raised a brow but let it slide, his fingers lacing more tightly with sylus’s. “i’m patient. i’ll figure it out eventually.”  

sylus kissed his hair again, hiding his grin.

~~~

they kinda just slept on the couch that night, thankfully it was comfortable enough that none of them suffered any back pain.

but it seems like sylus still isn't safe from zayne's morning ritual as he felt the other man stir awake at six in the morning.

"sylus."

he groaned.

"sylus, wake up."

"... can't we just sleep in?"

zayne sighed, "we need to pack up. we're going back home."

but sylus didn't move. so zayne took matters to himself. he shifted and climbed to his lap, shaking his chest incessantly.

sylus groaned louder this time, burying his face into the couch cushion as zayne continued his relentless shaking.  

“zayne,” he grumbled, his voice muffled. “you’re cruel. let a man sleep.”  

“we’ll miss our schedule if we don’t start now,” zayne replied, his tone far too cheerful for someone awake at this hour.  

sylus peeked out from under his arm, squinting at the sight above him. zayne was straddling his lap, his hands planted firmly on sylus’s chest as he shook him again for good measure. his hair was slightly messy from sleep, giving him an endearingly disheveled look that made sylus’s heart skip a beat despite the early hour.  

“is this how you’re going to wake me up from now on?” sylus asked, voice laced with mock irritation.  

zayne raised a brow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “if it works, then yes.”  

sylus groaned again, but this time his hands came up to rest on zayne’s hips. he gave a playful squeeze, making zayne twitch slightly.  

“you’re playing a dangerous game, professor,” sylus teased, his smirk growing despite his grogginess.  

“i’ve handled worse,” zayne shot back, unfazed. “now, are you getting up, or do i need to escalate this?”  

sylus chuckled, his voice still husky from sleep. “and what exactly does escalation look like?”  

without missing a beat, zayne leaned forward, his face mere inches from sylus’s. for a brief moment, sylus thought he might be going in for a kiss, but instead, zayne narrowed his eyes and said, “i’ll pour cold water on you. don’t test me.”  

sylus huffed out a laugh, shaking his head. “fine, fine, you win. i’m up.”  

zayne climbed off his lap with a satisfied hum, brushing off his clothes as if he hadn’t just used sylus as a human alarm clock.  

sylus stretched, groaning dramatically as he sat up and ruffled his hair. “you know, you could’ve just kissed me awake. would’ve been much more effective.”  

zayne glanced at him, his cheeks faintly pink. “noted for next time. now hurry up.”  

sylus grinned, the promise of a future morning kiss giving him all the motivation he needed to start moving.   

they washed up, had breakfast and started to pack. everything felt the same except, well...

they're now together, aren't they? it was still hard to believe it. it might feel like nothing changed in the air, probably because they've both started to see each other in that for a while, but now that they put it out in statements.

it felt thrilling. because now zayne can help him wrap his scarf for him like it's nothing, sylus can hug him and kiss his forehead like it's normal,

and they can just hold hands as they walked to the car to put their stuff inside.

"i'm gonna see noah for a bit, think you can handle the rest of it?" zayne said to him.

sylus smiled, "yeah, i'll start the car. go on ahead and take your time."

and again, like it's something so easy and natural for them, zayne went to this tiptoe and kissed him like they've been doing this for years. but the flushness of their face proved otherwise.

"i'll be back." he whispered, then pulling away and strolled across the snow, leaving behind a flustered sylus.

damn, he really can't wait to go back now.

sylus stood there for a moment, stunned, the warmth of zayne’s lips lingering like a phantom on his own. his hands hung limply by his sides, one still holding the duffel bag he was about to toss into the trunk.  

“seriously?” he muttered to himself, blinking as if to reset his brain. zayne had kissed him so casually, like it was the most normal thing in the world. and yet, sylus felt like his heart was about to burst out of his chest.  

he huffed a laugh, shaking his head as he finally snapped out of his daze and loaded the bag into the car. “that guy’s going to be the death of me.”  

sliding into the driver’s seat, sylus started the car to warm it up, leaning back as he waited for zayne to return. his fingers tapped idly against the steering wheel, his thoughts completely overtaken by the man who had just walked off like he hadn’t turned sylus’s world upside down.  

the past month and a half had been a whirlwind, to say the least. moving in with zayne, discovering the man behind the suit and professionalism, falling for him harder than he thought possible... and now, they were together.  

it was surreal.  

sylus ran a hand through his hair, exhaling deeply. “what the hell did i do to deserve this?” he murmured, a smile tugging at his lips.  

not long after, zayne came strolling back, his coat dusted with snowflakes. he looked as composed as ever, though the faint blush on his cheeks betrayed him.  

“all set?” zayne asked as he slid into the passenger seat.  

sylus glanced at him, unable to hide his smirk. “you kissed me.”  

zayne blinked, his ears turning pink. “i… yes. is that a problem?”  

sylus chuckled, leaning closer. “not at all. just didn’t think you’d be so bold.”  

zayne rolled his eyes, but his lips curved into a small smile. “get used to it.”  

“gladly,” sylus murmured, reaching over to take zayne’s hand in his. their fingers intertwined effortlessly, like it was something they’d been doing forever.  

as sylus started the drive back, their hands remained clasped, resting on the center console. the snowy landscape passed by in a blur, but all sylus could focus on was the warmth of zayne’s hand in his, the subtle squeeze of his fingers every now and then.  

for the first time in a long time, sylus felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be.   

~~~

from the cold snowcrest to the warm city of linkon, the environment changed from the white landscape to lushes of green and tall buildings. it's a pretty long distance, one that sylus and zayne filled with mundane conversations that had him giddy at the thought that they're almost acting like they're married or something.

before they knew it, they're already back to zayne's house right before the sun sets.

home.

and it finally hit sylus now that they're going back as something more than before. what should he do? what should they do first? there's a lot in his head, thinking and planning what changes need to be made.

the car was parked in the driveway and they both began to unpack their stuff back inside.

when they brought the last of it, the door closed and sylus felt his whole being felt like jumping out his skin. that as soon as the door closed, sylus' hands were immediately around zayne, his small waist, startling him from undressing his outerwear. zayne turned around to look at him, to hold sylus' heavy gaze filled with want. he smiled, huffing in mild exasperation, "can't even keep your hands to yourself for a minute?"

"not when it comes to you." sylus muttered, "you wont stop me, will you?"

"depends." he teased, "if you dont bore me, maybe i'll indulge you."

sylus smirked, then leaning closer to capture his lips. this time, he doesn't hold back.

after all those days being haunted by dreams of zayne, he finally has the real deal in his hands.

and he feels a little crazy and lightheaded with that knowledge.

zayne barely had time to react before sylus’s lips were on his, firm and insistent, pulling him into a kiss that felt like it had been building for months—because, in truth, it had. sylus’s hands tightened on zayne’s waist, drawing him closer as if he were afraid the moment would vanish like a dream.  

zayne let out a soft sound of surprise but didn’t pull away. instead, his arms slowly wound around sylus’s neck, fingers threading through silver hair, anchoring them together. the teasing smirk he wore moments ago melted into something softer, something sylus could drown in.  

the kiss deepened, slow and deliberate, as if they had all the time in the world. sylus poured every ounce of his feelings into it—the frustration, the longing, the quiet admiration he’d carried since the beginning. zayne responded with equal fervor, his usual calm composure cracking ever so slightly under sylus’s touch.  

when they finally pulled apart, both breathless, zayne’s hazel-green eyes searched sylus’s face. his cheeks were flushed, his lips slightly swollen, and sylus couldn’t help but smirk at the sight.  

“not bad,” zayne murmured, his voice soft but teasing.  

sylus chuckled, his hands still resting on zayne’s hips. “not bad? that’s all i get after holding back for so long?”  

zayne tilted his head, feigning thoughtfulness. “well, i could say it was excellent, but your ego doesn’t need any more fuel.”  

“fair point,” sylus conceded, leaning down to rest his forehead against zayne’s. he closed his eyes, taking a moment to simply feel zayne’s presence—his warmth, his steady breaths, the faint scent of jasmine that always seemed to cling to him.  

“this is real, right?” sylus murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “we’re not going back to pretending, are we?”  

zayne leaned back just enough to meet sylus’s gaze. “it’s real,” he assured him, his tone firm but kind. “and no, we’re not pretending anymore.”  

a weight sylus didn’t realize he was carrying lifted, and he let out a quiet laugh. “good. because i don’t think i can handle going back to how things were.”  

“neither can i,” zayne admitted, his lips quirking into a small smile.  

they stood there for a moment, the room bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun filtering through the windows. the house felt warmer somehow, as if it too recognized the shift in their relationship.  

“so,” zayne began, breaking the silence, “are you going to keep holding me hostage, or are we actually going to unpack and settle in?”  

sylus grinned, his hands sliding up to rest on zayne’s back. “i’m fine with staying like this a little longer. i mean, the bags can wait, can’t they?”  

zayne rolled his eyes, but there was no real protest in his body language. “you’re incorrigible.”  

“and yet, you like me anyway,” sylus teased, leaning in to steal another kiss.  

zayne sighed dramatically, though his lips curved into a smile against sylus’s. “unfortunately.”  

the teasing tone made sylus laugh, and he pressed zayne closer, savoring the moment. the house, the unpacking, and the rest of the world could wait. for now, he just wanted to hold the man who had turned his world upside down.  

this was their new beginning, and sylus planned to make every second of it count.

~~~

sylus wasn’t one for sentimentality, but ever since he and zayne became a couple, his days felt lighter, like the weight of the world had shifted ever so slightly off his shoulders.  

the smallest things brought him joy—catching zayne’s rare, unguarded smiles when he wasn’t aware sylus was watching, the way he hummed softly when he thought no one was listening, or how his fingers brushed against sylus’s during mundane tasks like washing dishes or tending to the garden.  

and then there were the nights.  

though they still slept in separate rooms, the routine they’d fallen into before bedtime was enough to make sylus’s heart race every single time. after the dishes were done and the house was locked up for the night, they’d meet in the hallway between their rooms.  

zayne would lean slightly against the doorframe, his silver-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, his hair slightly tousled from his evening shower. he’d look at sylus with that soft, knowing smile that sent a pleasant ache straight to his chest.  

“goodnight,” zayne would say, his voice low and warm, like the closing of a favorite book or a song.

sylus would step closer, resting his hands lightly on zayne’s hips as he leaned down to press a kiss to his lips. every time, it felt new, electric, like he was falling all over again.  

“goodnight,” sylus would whisper back, lingering just a second longer before letting go.  

they’d part ways, and sylus would lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, grinning like an idiot because he could still feel zayne’s warmth against his lips.

~~~

sylus woke up early, surprising even himself. he stretched lazily, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips as he remembered the previous night. the memory of zayne’s goodnight kiss lingered, and he let out a contented sigh before rolling out of bed.  

in the kitchen, zayne was already at the counter, a cup of coffee in hand and a tray of freshly baked croissants cooling on the rack. sylus leaned against the doorway, crossing his arms and watching the man move with practiced ease.  

“good morning,” zayne greeted without looking up, as if he could sense sylus’s presence.  

“morning,” sylus replied, striding over to wrap his arms around zayne from behind. he rested his chin on zayne’s shoulder, inhaling the familiar scent of jasmine mixed with coffee. “didn’t i tell you to wake me up if you were baking?”  

zayne huffed softly, though there was no real annoyance in his tone. “i figured you’d want your beauty sleep. besides, you’re here now.”  

sylus chuckled, brushing a kiss to zayne’s temple. “you spoil me, you know that?”  

“i thought you’d appreciate it.” zayne turned slightly in his arms, holding out a croissant. “try it. i used a new recipe.”  

sylus took a bite, humming appreciatively. “perfect, as always.”  

they settled at the table together, the early morning light filtering through the windows as they ate in comfortable silence.  

~~~

sylus couldn’t stop smiling. he noticed it during their errands, when zayne chastised him for picking out snacks that “aren’t good for you” but slipped a pack of macarons into the cart anyway. he noticed it when zayne huffed in exasperation after sylus pulled him into the garden to see a butterfly he’d found, only for zayne to stand there, fascinated.  

it was embarrassing how much joy zayne brought to his life, but sylus wasn’t about to complain. for the first time in a long time, he felt like he had something—someone—worth holding onto.  

and as the day wound down and the familiar goodnight routine played out once more, sylus knew one thing for certain:  

he’d never get tired of this. not the kisses, not the teasing, not the quiet moments of domestic bliss.  

because zayne wasn’t just his professor, his housemate, or even his partner.  

zayne was home.  

Chapter Text

his happy mood doesn't go unnoticed by only a certain people.

a new week has started and sylus went to his classes as usual. he knows when to separate his studies and his personal life. zayne knows this too so there wasn't a need to even remind him that during class, sylus will still address him as his professor.

but that doesn't mean he won’t stop smiling a bit when he attends his class.

it was only when sylus stopped by the cafeteria to wait for zayne to finish up the rest of his lectures that he was approached by yuu, alice and lisa.

"see? he's smiling like a creep again." lisa muttered to yuu, "it's been like that since the morning."

"yeah, i see what you mean."

"i can hear you." sylus rolled his eyes.

the three ladies, again, took a seat at his table without even asking him.

here they go again, sylus sighed. yuu, alice, and lisa didn’t seem the least bit bothered by his disapproving glare, each one smirking in their own way as they settled in.  

“seriously, what is it with you three always bothering me?” sylus grumbled, though there was no real heat in his tone.  

“because you’re the most interesting person on campus,” alice teased, resting her chin in her hand. “and also because you’re easy to read.”  

“too easy,” lisa added, eyeing him knowingly. “that grin of yours could light up the whole cafeteria. so, spill it. what’s got you in such a good mood?”  

yuu leaned forward, her gaze sharp and curious. “does it have anything to do with professor zayne?”  

sylus felt his face heat up, and he quickly took a sip of his coffee to hide his reaction. “i don’t know what you’re talking about.”  

“oh, come on,” alice drawled, leaning closer with a grin. “don’t play coy. you’ve been walking around like you’ve won the lottery. and knowing you, it’s not about money or grades. so, what gives?”  

“it’s personal,” sylus said firmly, though the faint blush on his cheeks betrayed him.  

lisa raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “personal, huh? so, it does have to do with zayne.”  

yuu smirked, clearly enjoying his discomfort. “let me guess. you finally confessed, didn’t you?”  

sylus nearly choked on his coffee, coughing as alice and lisa exchanged victorious looks.  

“oh my god, you did!” alice gasped, clapping her hands together. “you actually confessed to him!”  

“keep your voice, will you,” sylus hissed, glancing around to make sure no one else was listening.  

yuu leaned her chin on her palm, looking smug. “and judging by that reaction, he didn’t reject you.”  

sylus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “why are you all so nosy?”  

“because it’s fun,” lisa said bluntly. “and because we want to see how the campus heartthrob handles being in a relationship.”  

sylus groaned, but he couldn’t fight the small smile tugging at his lips. “fine. yes, i confessed. and yes, we’re... together now. happy?”  

alice grinned. “very. so, what’s it like? is he as serious in a relationship as he is in class? or is he secretly romantic?”  

“he’s... zayne,” sylus replied, a fondness slipping into his tone that didn’t go unnoticed by the trio.  

“god, you’re hopeless,” lisa muttered, shaking her head.  

“hopelessly in love,” yuu teased, earning a glare from sylus.  

“can we not make a scene about this?” sylus pleaded. “i’d rather keep this private.”  

“too late,” alice said with a wink. “but don’t worry. your secret’s safe with us... mostly.”  

sylus sighed, leaning back in his chair. “you’re all insufferable.”  

“and yet, you still hang out with us,” yuu shot back, smirking.  

sylus didn’t have a retort to that, so he simply rolled his eyes and waited for zayne to finish his lecture, all while enduring the trio’s relentless teasing.  

and while they talk, they were soon joined by xavier and rafayel.

"what are you guys talking about?" rafayel dragged a nearby chair and plopped down in between, xavier looked like he just woke up from his nap.

"oh, nothing. just that sylus is already happily taken." alice giggled.

"oh, jeez. someone actually tolerates you?" rafayel made a face at him, to which sylus nudged his leg roughly.

"jealous that someone likes me?" he smirked.

"i pity the one who's with you." rafayel pretended to wipe his tears.

"oh, you're so funny." he sarcastically retorted, scoffing.

"but seriously though, who is it? someone from your department?"

"nope," yuu grinned, "why dont you try guessing."

"hey, i didn't consent to this." sylus glared at them.

"c'mon, sylus. they'll found out about it sooner or later anyways. might as well tell them."

"judging by your words, it must be someone we know." xavier pointed out quietly, staring at sylus. "is it tara?"

"what? no. she already has a girlfriend."

"then, yvonne." rafayel snapped his fingers.

"i don't even know a yvonne." sylus deadpans.

"okay, then it must be simone. she's in business law."

"simone graduated, you idiot."

"aim higher," lisa hinted.

and that, made rafayel gasped, covering his mouth. "sylus, you minx! i knew you were reckless and wild, but seducing a lecturer?"

sylus rolled his eyes, “i did not seduce anyone, you idiot.”

“oh, so it’s true?” rafayel exclaimed, pointing at him with wide eyes. “you’re dating a lecturer?”  

xavier, though looking half-asleep, raised an eyebrow. “which one? you’re not that close to anyone, except... oh.”  

alice leaned forward, grinning. “they’re figuring it out! keep going, boys. you’re so close.”  

rafayel narrowed his eyes, rubbing his chin like he was solving the world’s greatest mystery. “let’s see... who’s been around him a lot lately? no, wait. who would tolerate sylus?”  

“really feeling the love here,” sylus muttered sarcastically.  

yuu smirked, her chin resting on her hand. “we’ll give you a hint: it’s someone who could put sylus in his place and still look good while doing it.”  

“that’s not a hint; that’s just obvious.” xavier sighed, leaning back.  

the room fell into a stunned silence for a moment before rafayel gasped again, smacking the table.  

“oh my god, it’s zayne, isn’t it?!”  

alice clapped her hands, laughing. “ding, ding, ding! we have a winner!”  

sylus shot a glare at her, then turned to rafayel. “if you keep shouting like that, the whole cafeteria’s going to know.”  

“are you serious? professor zayne?!” rafayel leaned closer, wide-eyed. “how? like... how?”  

“it just... happened,” sylus said with a shrug, though his flushed ears betrayed his attempt at nonchalance. “we started getting closer after the fire accident, and things just... progressed.”  

“progressed,” xavier repeated flatly. “this is the same zayne who grades essays like he’s dissecting hearts for fun?”  

“yes,” sylus said, rolling his eyes.  

“the same zayne who terrifies half the department into silence with one glance?” rafayel added, still in disbelief.  

“yes.”  

“the same zayne who—”  

“yes, that zayne,” sylus interrupted, exasperated. “god, you people act like he’s a different person outside of class.”  

“isn’t he?” xavier asked, clearly skeptical.  

sylus shrugged, smirking. “maybe if you spent more time with him, you’d see how great he actually is.”  

“define ‘great,’” rafayel said suspiciously. “because the zayne i know doesn’t exactly scream ‘romantic partner material.’”  

“well, he is,” sylus shot back defensively.  

yuu grinned, clearly enjoying the banter. “he’s been smiling like an idiot because of him, so i’d say zayne’s doing a pretty good job.”  

“i’m not smiling like an idiot,” sylus protested.  

“you absolutely are,” alice said with a laugh.  

xavier finally spoke up again, his voice calm but curious. “so... how serious is it?”  

sylus paused, his smirk softening into something more genuine. “serious enough.”  

that made the table go quiet for a moment, the teasing replaced by a sense of understanding.  

“well,” rafayel said, leaning back with a grin. “i’ll give you this: you’ve got guts, man. zayne’s not exactly the easiest guy to read, but if you’ve got him smiling too... maybe this really is something.”  

sylus huffed, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. “yeah, well... i guess i just got lucky.”  

“lucky indeed,” yuu teased. “just don’t mess it up, okay? zayne deserves the best.”  

sylus glanced at her, his expression softening. “yeah. i know.”  

and for the first time, the teasing seemed to fade into something supportive, the group moving on to other topics while sylus sat there, quietly smiling to himself.

~~~

somehow, he managed to get through with the whole group digging on him until zayne had texted him that he's all done. relieved, he gladly left the table but not without suffering their last words thrown to him.

"take care of the professor."

"don't be too rough with him."

"and use protection."

rafayel winked exaggeratedly and sylus flipped them off before he walked out of the building.

zayne was going to wait for him at the parking lot, and though sylus hates being one of those typical people that misses and thinks about their partner the whole day, sylus finds himself feeling a bit of that.

his mind kept wandering to zayne, the way he’d been so composed during class. that neutral, professional tone; the way his silver-framed glasses rested perfectly on his nose as he explained concepts with precision.  

it’s torture watching him like that, sylus thought, running a hand through his hair. how was he supposed to focus when the person he cared about most was right in front of him, so close and yet so out of reach?  

it wasn’t even the first time he’d caught himself staring during lectures. zayne, ever perceptive, had even glanced at him once or twice, his eyes narrowing slightly in what sylus swore was amusement. of course, he had to play it cool, taking notes like a diligent student, but his mind had been far from focused.  

finally, he spotted zayne leaning against the car, his dark coat catching the faint glow of the streetlights. he wasn’t looking at his phone or pacing impatiently—he was simply waiting, calm as ever, arms crossed and eyes scanning the parking lot until they landed on sylus.  

zayne smiled softly when he saw him, a smile that was only for sylus, and it sent warmth coursing through his chest.  

“you look like you’ve had a rough day,” zayne teased as sylus approached.  

“you have no idea,” sylus muttered, stopping right in front of him. he didn’t even care if they were in public at that moment. he reached out, grabbing zayne by the waist and pulling him into a hug.  

zayne stiffened slightly, caught off guard, but he quickly relaxed, his arms coming up to wrap around sylus. “what’s this about?”  

sylus buried his face in zayne’s shoulder, inhaling the faint scent of jasmine and mint that always seemed to linger on him. “i just... missed you.”  

zayne chuckled softly, his hand coming up to stroke sylus’ back in soothing circles. “we just saw each other a few hours ago, you know.”  

“doesn’t matter.” sylus pulled back just enough to look at him, his hands still resting on zayne’s waist. “it’s hard sitting in your class and not being able to—” he cut himself off, realizing he was about to sound like a complete sap.  

zayne raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “not being able to what?”  

sylus huffed, his ears turning pink. “you know.”  

zayne’s smirk grew, but he didn’t push. instead, he glanced around the parking lot before leaning in slightly. “we can’t stay here long. someone might see.”  

“yeah, yeah,” sylus muttered, but he stole a quick kiss anyway, earning a surprised chuckle from zayne.  

“get in the car,” zayne said, shaking his head but looking far too amused to be annoyed.  

sylus obliged, slipping into the passenger seat as zayne got into the driver’s side. the familiar warmth of the car surrounded them, and sylus sighed in contentment as zayne started the engine.  

as they pulled out of the lot, zayne glanced at him briefly. “they gave you a hard time, didn’t they?”  

sylus groaned. “you have no idea. they were all ganging up on me.”

“what did they say?”  

“just the usual nonsense. asking too many questions, making assumptions, telling me to ‘take care of you.’”  

zayne laughed softly, the sound like music to sylus’ ears. “well, i do feel cared for.”  

sylus scoffed, leaning back in his seat. “good. because i’m not going through all that for nothing.”  

zayne glanced at him again, his expression softer now. “you’re doing just fine, sylus.”  

for a moment, the tension of the day melted away, and sylus found himself smiling again.  

“i know,” he said, his voice lighter. “but once i graduate, i’m going to make up for all this sneaking around.”  

zayne chuckled, shaking his head. “i’m sure you will.”  

and as they drove home, sylus couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace, knowing that, no matter what, zayne was by his side. 

~~~

it was evening now, everything was calm and quiet. they had dinner, showered and was in the library for some light reading...

well, supposed to be reading.

books were laid forgotten at the side as sylus had zayne pinned down on the long couch, kissing him passionately. sylus couldn't get enough of him. his scent, his body and his lips.

he wanted more, and there was that greed of his bearing it's ugly head.

his fingers had roam around zayne's back, until it slipped under his shirt and feel up his skin.

zayne's breath hitched, and it almost drives sylus insane.

more, he wanted more. when his hands get dangerously low and near zayne's pants, he shuddered and called out to him breathlessly, "sylus, wait." his palm shoots out to push against his chest lightly. "slow down a bit."

and that snapped sylus back to him, he immediately pulled back, concern and guilt in his eyes. "sorry, was it too much? did i hurt you? are you uncomfortable?"

zayne chuckled airily, "no, it's fine. just...a lot. and you're going too fast."

sylus nodded, feeling relieved but still guilty. he sat up slowly, pulling zayne upright as well. "sorry...i should've controlled myself better."

"hey, its fine." zayne grabbed his hand. "i'm not going anywhere, we can take our time. one step at a time?"

sylus sighed, there's still a lingering feeling of fault, but he smiled, "one step at a time."

zayne smiled as well, "good." then leaned forward to kiss him again, but his hand accidentally brushed against sylus' crotch, making him flinch and grunt softly a bit.

zayne pulled away to see if he hurt him but...

he stared down and was met with a… welcoming sight. sylus must've realised it himself because he was looking away and not meeting his gaze at all.

"looks like someone is a bit worked up." zayne muttered with a soft chuckle.

"...my bad." sylus sighed, embarrassed. "i'll deal with it myself, dont mind it." he faintly smiled, kissing him again. "maybe i should head back first."

zayne looked like he was contemplating something real hard, but then he managed to grabbed his sleeve before he could get up and leave.

his ears were flushing red as he said in a small voice, "...i can help, if you want..."

sylus felt himself going still, for a moment he thought he heard wrong but zayne was still clutching to his sleeve.

"zayne, you don't have to." his gaze softened, looking down at him despite the slight twitch of his member at the offer.

no, he will not force him into anything he isn't ready for.

but zayne was still insistent. "we don’t have to do it all the way…" he stared up at him, those hazel green looked so wide when his pupils dilate. "but i...want to make you feel good."

the library was bathed in the warm glow of the evening lamps, the scent of books and faint jasmine in the air. sylus stared at zayne, feeling his heart beat faster, his body at war with itself. he wanted to say yes—of course, he did. but there was a part of him, the rational side that always kicked in at moments like this, that hesitated.  

“zayne…” his voice was soft, as if speaking too loud would shatter the moment. he reached out, brushing a strand of zayne’s hair behind his ear. “you don’t have to do this. i mean it.”  

zayne looked up at him, and there was something both nervous and determined in his eyes. he squeezed sylus’ sleeve, pulling him just a fraction closer. “i know i don’t have to. i want to.”  

sylus’ throat went dry. his body was still responding, no matter how much he tried to will it down. but he couldn’t just let himself lose control again—not if it might make zayne uncomfortable.  

“are you sure?” he asked, his voice laced with both hope and caution.  

zayne’s ears turned a deeper shade of red, and he nodded. “i trust you, sylus. and... i want to be closer to you.”  

that admission alone nearly unraveled sylus. he leaned in, cupping zayne’s face in his hands as their foreheads touched. “i swear, if you ever feel like stopping, just tell me.”  

zayne smiled faintly, his hand moving up to rest on sylus’ chest. “i will.”  

taking a deep breath, sylus leaned in to kiss him again. this time, it was slower, more deliberate, as if he wanted to savor every second. zayne responded just as tenderly, his hands tentatively resting on sylus’ shoulders before sliding down his arms.

sylus let his hands trail down zayne’s back again, slipping under the hem of his shirt just enough to feel the soft warmth of his skin. zayne shivered slightly, a quiet sound escaping his lips. sylus froze for a moment, searching his face to ensure he was okay.  

“i’m fine,” zayne murmured, his cheeks flushing deeper. “keep going.”  

encouraged, sylus let his hands roam a little further, his fingertips brushing the dip of zayne’s lower back. his touch was careful, reverent, and it drew a quiet gasp from zayne.  

“sensitive?” sylus teased softly, unable to resist a smirk.  

“maybe…” zayne mumbled, looking away. but the way he tilted his head back slightly gave away how much he was enjoying it.  

sylus kissed him again, this time trailing his lips down zayne’s jawline and to his neck. zayne’s hands clutched his shoulders, his breathing growing a bit heavier. with a subtle shift of his body, zayne found himself being manhandled to straddle sylus’ lap. his hands rested lightly on the broad chest.

when sylus pulled back, he caught zayne’s dazed expression, his lips slightly parted. “still okay?” sylus asked, his voice just above a whisper.  

zayne nodded, but his eyes flicked downward, toward the evidence of sylus’ arousal still pressing against his pants. he swallowed.

a soft gasp escaped zayne’s lips as sylus’ hands tightened around his waist, drawing and pulling him closer. they shared a gentle smile before sylus pulled him into another kiss, slower than the first.

their tongues danced languidly against one another, every stroke a whispered promise.

their embrace tightened, bodies molding into one.

hands explored, tracing the lines of muscle and bone, each inch touched whispering familiarity. a haze of arousal thickened around them as their kiss got a bit wet, messy.

then zayne moaned softly into it, pressing his hips forward instinctively, seeking friction for the heat pooling in his lower half.

sylus groaned, appreciating the more assertive side of zayne. his hands slid down to grip zayne’s firm ass, squeezing them gently, making the other gasped at the unexpected touch. instinctively, his hips bucked, rubbing their growing bulge together through their pants. he nipped sylus’ lower lip playfully before trailing kisses along his jawline, eliciting a groan low in his throat.

sylus’ fingers flexed, kneading the taut muscle beneath them as he took control of their movements, guiding zayne to rock slowly back and forth against him.

“ha…” zayne breathed out, his head tilting back slightly, exposing the long line of his neck. breath hitching when sylus’ hot mouth descended onto the exposed column of his throat, kissing and sucking lightly, marking him.

with a sigh, zayne ground down on sylus, desperate for more friction. sylus moaned approvingly and nibbled at his earlobe, his large hands gripping zayne’s ass tightly.

zayne moved his hips in small circles then, his hardness now evident through his clothes. sylus groaned into his neck, breath coming faster as the delicious pressure increased.

“god, you drive me crazy, you know that?” he murmured against skin, hands moving up to tug at the hem of zayne’s shirt. he wanted nothing more than to feel the soft heat of bare flesh against his palm.

zayne's hips stuttered as sylus began to tug upwards at his shirt, a blush spreading across his face and neck. he raised his arms willingly, letting sylus undress him.

sylus took his time peeling away the fabric barrier, leaving zayne bare from the waist up. for a moment, he just drank in the sight of him - pale skin, taut abs, and hardened nipples begging to be tasted. but his scarred hands were the first thing he laid his lips on. kissing each one from start to the end.

"beautiful," sylus rasped, looking up at zayne from under hooded lids.

zayne sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes fluttering shut as he felt each kiss. "look at me," sylus commanded softly. zayne opened his eyes, meeting his intense gaze.

moving upwards from his arms, sylus brought his mouth to his nipple, tracing around its peak with the tip of his tongue before taking it fully into his mouth. the action drew a low hiss from zayne.

zayne's head fell back, allowing sylus to switch his attention to the neglected bud. pleasure coursed through him, making his hips roll naturally against the taller.

"mmm, just like that," sylus whispered, smiling against zayne's skin. his teeth grazed the sensitive flesh as he flicked his tongue over the pert nipple.

zayne's hips responded, grinding against sylus in earnest. his hands gripped sylus' shoulders for support nails digging into firm muscle. sylus' hips lifted to meet zayne's thrusts, the friction building deliciously between them.

zayne's breaths were shallow, his grip tightening as the pace quickened. sylus' mouth released his throbbing nipple with a pop, his eyes locking onto zayne's.

zayne leaned back, his legs parting wider, inviting sylus closer. he groaned as he felt his hand snaked between them to grip zayne's hard length through his pants.

"oh god”, zayne gasped, biting his lip to keep from crying out as sylus massaged his throbbing length through the rough fabric. zayne rocked his hips against sylus' hand, begging silently for more.

zayne groaned as sylus began to grind his palm in circular motions against zayne's erection, intensifying the friction. "so good.." zayne panted, throwing his head back and closing his eyes briefly.

"i think we need to lose these," sylus said, tugging at the waistband of zayne's sweatpants.

zayne nodded wordlessly, lifting his hips as sylus hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his sweats and tugged them down. his cock tented the thin fabric of his boxer briefs, straining against the material.

as the sweats puddled around his ankles, zayne felt suddenly vulnerable, exposed. sylus noticed the change in demeanor and paused, waiting patiently until zayne looked at him.

zayne felt sylus ' gaze burn into him as if reading his thoughts. "it's okay, baby," sylus cooed, voice laced with understanding.

zayne looked into sylus' fiery eyes, reassurance filling him once more. he felt a soft blush spread across his face and neck as he relaxed into sylus' grip.

inching forward, sylus reached down and slid his hand inside zayne's briefs. the heat radiating from zayne's groin felt delicious as sylus wrapped his fingers around zayne's thick shaft, pumping it slowly.

zayne's lips parted, releasing a soft moan as sylus continued to pump his cock steadily. without breaking eye contact, he freed zayne's erection completely, watching the way it jutted proudly from his body.

a few stray drops of precum already glistened at the head of zayne's cock, earning a pleased rumble from sylus.

sylus leaned forward, his hot breath fanning across zayne's flushed cheek as he spoke into his ear, "let me make you feel good."

"w-wait," zayne panted out, "i want you to feel good too...”

sylus smirked at zayne's words, appreciation gleaming in his crimson irises.

"believe me, seeing you enjoy yourself gets me going." to emphasize his point, he ground against zayne. his throbbing arousal pressed insistently against zayne. his breath caught at the sensation of sylus' hardness against his thigh, a renewed surge of lust coursing through him.

"but- ngh, wanna feel good with you.” he managed to say. "i wanna come with you." and really, sylus thought zayne sounded so adorable. his pleading words sent a jolt of pleasure straight to sylus' aching cock.

"you are kiling me here," sylus groaned, kissing his lover roughly while cupping his naked

ass cheek possessively.

“let's see what we can do about that, then," sylus purred into zayne's ear, trailing feather-light kisses along his earlobe. "go ahead, take mine out first."

zayne's hands trembled slightly as he reached for the waistband of sylus' joggers, hesitantly tugging them down inch by tantalizing inch.

as zayne lowered the elastic band over sylus' toned abdomen, revealing more bare skin, he blushed deeply at the realization that sylus hadn't been wearing anything underneath.

zayne inhaled sharply as sylus' turgid length sprung free from its confinement, slapping wetly against his stomach.

tentatively, zayne gripped sylus' massive member, swallowing nervously at the sheer size of it. sylus exhaled a harsh breath as zayne's slender fingers wrapped around his length.

zayne stroked sylus gently, marveling at how velvety, smooth the steel-hard cock felt against his fingertips. sylus' breathing deepened as zayne tentatively explored the hot length in his grasp.

"keep doing that, zayne," sylus groaned encouragingly. his hips moved involuntarily, seeking more friction against zayne's tight grip. "that feels amazing."

zayne's own excitement surged at the sound of sylus pleasure-filled voice, without realizing it, he began to move his hips in synchrony with sylus, their rigid lengths rubbing together between their bodies.

"dont be shy, grab yours too and make us both feel good." sylus smiled encouragingly.

zayne's eyes flashed with surprise and excitement. in one swift motion, he gripped his pulsating cock alongside sylus, moaning as their sensitized flesh met once more.

holding his breath, zayne began stroking their cocks together as one, moan after desperate moan echoing between them.

zayne's breath hitched as sylus captured his gaze, their pelvises rolling in perfect sync. he could feel the pre-cum leaking from sylus'swollen crown, slickening his shaft as he pumped them vigorously.

sylus rolled his hips in counterpoint to zayne's rhythm groans of pleasure resonating from both men. his gaze bored into zayne, red-hot desire evident in their depths.

zayne's hand shook as he maintained the furious pace, his eyes darting back and forth from their joined cocks to sylus' heated gaze.

their panting breaths filled the air, mingling with the sounds of their interlocking grips. zayne's fingers squeezed tighter around both lengths, stroking faster as sylus' thrusts became more insistent.

's-sylus.." zayne whined, his hand faltered a bit, feeling sensitive now that he's close. sylus kissed him lightly, "hang on, i got you." he flipped them both so now zayne is laying down on the couch with sylus hovering above him. "keep your hand tight around us.”

zayne bit his bottom lip, nodding eagerly at sylus. he tightened his grip on their cocks as sylus began to move slow at first, the friction driving zayne wild with need.

"like that?" sylus asked, hips rolling forward and pressing their aroused lengths together as he repeated the movement in steady, measured thrusts.

zayne whimpered, pleasure spiking with each firm thrust of sylus' hips. "yes…like tha…haa..." he trailed off, lost in the sensation of their slick lengths rubbing together.

as sylus picked up speed, the tight space created by zayne's fist pulsed delightfully against his shaft. "faster," zayne urged breathlessly, bucking his hips up to match sylus' powerful thrusts. his insistence only spurred sylus to pick up the pace. their relentless stroking resulted in a mind-numbing pleasure building at the base of sylus' spine threatening to consume them both.

as the pleasure mounted, zayne's eyes fluttered closed, lips parted in rapture. sylus intense stare held him captive as he thrust faster, their precum lubricating the glove of his hand around their cocks. zayne's fingers tangled in silver hair, tugging him closer. their lips met in a searing kiss as sylus' hips continued to rock.

their tongues explored each other's mouths with increasing fervor. zayne's thighs tightened around sylus encouraging him to push deeper, seeking more closeness.

"zayne," sylus growled against zayne's parted lips, thrusting forcefully into his grip. his breathing grew heavier, harsher, as he moved against zayne with abandon.

zayne's breaths came in short pants as his hand worked furiously between them. he keened softly, arching into sylus with each thrust, his moans grew louder, echoing through the room as sylus thrust faster, driving him towards ecstasy.

then zayne's grip slipped, on their wet shafts as sylus rocked faster, his impatience apparent in each thrust, leaving their cocks smacking together lewdly.

“ngh, hah!”

in that instant, zayne's release claimed him utterly. hot ropes of cum shot forth from his pulsing cock, streaking across their chests as he shuddered violently.

“fuck." sylus groaned at the sight, his hips moving to grind his throbbing cock against the mess over zayne's abdomen. one, two, three and he's coming all over him.

a long deep moan erupted from sylus as he ground his orgasm to completion, smearing their combined releases across zayne's stomach.

zayne gazed into sylus' fierce eyes, panting and satisfied. sylus leaned down, capturing his lips in a slow, lingering kiss. zayne sighed contentedly against sylus lips, their foreheads resting against each other as their rapid breaths gradually returned to normal.

"wow," zayne finally managed, a hint of wonder coloring his words.

sylus hummed, pleased. "does 'wow' mean you enjoyed yourself?"

"i did," zayne confessed quietly, his hazel eyes searching sylus' crimson ones.

“good," sylus murmured, brushing a strand of dark hair away from zayne's eyes. "because i did too.” he leaned down, capturing zayne's lips once more in a soft kiss.

zayne wrapped his arms around sylus' neck, holding him close as their kiss deepened. their bodies were covered in remnants of their passion, warmth spreading through them despite the cool air.

zayne broke the kiss reluctantly, "you know, i haven't eaten anything since breakfast."

sylus grinned, "i can cook something up for us. after a nice warm shower, of course."

zayne's smile widened, "i like the sound of that."

~~~bonus~~~

there were times when zayne wouldn't be at home for three days straight due to hectic work at the hospital.

like on friday night, he'd receive an emergency call that had him rushing to the hospital. of course, he remembers to tell sylus and kiss him goodbye.

"i dont know when i'll be back but take care of the house and make sure to eat your meals." he said as he wears his coat and grabbed his bag.

"i know." sylus smiled, giving him just a short hug, "take care of yourself too."

he thought it'd be just a day, but who would've known it would stretch on until three days?

sylus almost wanted to call a taxi just to make sure zayne didn't faint or fall down somewhere without anyone noticing until on sunday late night he did return looking worned out and stressed.

he still looked tense from all the surgeries he performed back-to-back that sylus, who was waiting at the living room ever since he got his text that he was already back, made his way towards him and helped him with his stuff and his coat.

it was time for sylus to pamper him, and he was more than happy to help. he fed him, cleaned him, and carried him to bed.

the soft glow of the bedroom lamp bathed the room in a gentle warmth as sylus stared down at zayne, whose tired body was sprawled across the sheets. zayne’s hair was slightly damp, and his face was flushed—partly from exhaustion and partly from sylus’ lingering touch.  

zayne’s breathing was slow, his chest rising and falling as he lay there with his eyes closed, the tension in his shoulders refusing to leave him entirely. sylus frowned softly. it was hard to see him like this, so worn down from days of nonstop work.  

leaning down, sylus brushed a gentle kiss against zayne’s forehead, his lips lingering for a moment. zayne stirred slightly, a quiet hum escaping him.  

"want me to relieve you a bit?" sylus whispered, his voice low and soothing.  

zayne grunted softly, cracking open one eye to look at him. "...how?"  

sylus didn’t answer. instead, he leaned down to kiss him, his lips warm and deliberate as he coaxed a quiet sigh from zayne. his hands moved with the same intent, trailing down from zayne’s cheek to his chest, his touch firm but careful.  

zayne’s breath hitched slightly when sylus’ fingers traveled lower, brushing over his abdomen before lightly tracing his crotch. the action made zayne squirm, his face turning red as he gasped, his eyes flying open.  

“sylus…” he murmured, his voice trembling.  

sylus pulled back, his lips quirking into a small smile. “right here,” he said softly, his palm pressing gently against zayne’s growing arousal. “let me take care of you.”  

zayne’s lashes fluttered, his lips parting as his breathing grew heavier. he hesitated for a moment, his gaze meeting sylus’. the tenderness and care in sylus’ expression were enough to wash away any lingering doubts.  

“as long as you’re okay with it,” sylus added, his voice hushed as he kissed zayne’s knee, the blanket of affection in his tone wrapping zayne in warmth.  

zayne swallowed, the tension in his shoulders melting just slightly as he nodded shyly. “please.”  

sylus smiled, leaning down to kiss him again. his hands moved with more confidence now, gently cupping zayne through his pants and earning a soft whine in response. the sound went straight to sylus’ core, igniting a fire that he carefully kept in check. this was about zayne, about giving him something good after days of strain and exhaustion.  

his fingers made quick work of the drawstring on zayne’s lounge pants, sliding them down just enough to free him. zayne gasped, his face flushing deeply as the cool air of the room met his skin.  

“sylus…” zayne’s voice was a quiet plea, his hands clutching at the sheets as sylus’ fingers wrapped around him.  

“relax,” sylus murmured, his touch firm but unhurried. his thumb brushed over the sensitive tip, smearing the beads of arousal that had already formed. zayne’s head fell back against the pillow, his lips parting as a quiet moan escaped him.  

sylus took his time, his movements slow and deliberate, savoring every reaction he drew from zayne. the way his breath hitched, the way his body arched slightly off the bed, the way his voice broke into soft, breathy sounds—it was intoxicating.  

but sylus wanted more.  

he shifted, leaning down to press a kiss to zayne’s abdomen, just above his navel. zayne’s eyes fluttered open, his gaze dazed and filled with confusion.  

“what are you—?” zayne’s question cut off into a sharp gasp as sylus’ lips moved lower, his tongue darting out to trace along the base of his arousal.  

“trust me,” sylus murmured, his voice low and husky.  

zayne’s breath came in shaky pants as sylus’ mouth enveloped him, the sudden warmth and wetness making his body jerk involuntarily. his fingers clutched the sheets tightly, his head tilting back as a broken moan escaped him.  

“sylus—oh…”  

sylus worked slowly, his tongue swirling and teasing as he bobbed his head, his hands gripping zayne’s hips to keep him steady. zayne’s responses were everything—his quiet whimpers, the way his thighs trembled, the way he whispered sylus’ name like a prayer.  

the tension that had plagued zayne’s body for days seemed to melt away with each passing second, replaced by a building warmth that coiled tighter and tighter in his core.  

“sylus, i’m—” his words were cut off by a loud moan, his hips bucking slightly as his release washed over him.  

sylus didn’t pull away, his movements slowing as he helped zayne ride out the waves of pleasure. when he finally lifted his head, he pressed a soft kiss to zayne’s hip, his eyes filled with warmth and satisfaction as he watched the man catch his breath.  

“feel better?” sylus asked, his voice teasing but laced with genuine care.  

zayne could only nod, his cheeks flushed and his body trembling slightly as he stared up at sylus. he reached out, his fingers brushing against sylus’ cheek in a silent gesture of gratitude.  

sylus leaned into the touch, his lips curving into a small smile as he kissed zayne’s palm. “good. now get some rest.”  

zayne chuckled softly, his exhaustion catching up to him as his eyelids grew heavy. “you’re too good to me…”  

“and you deserve every bit of it,” sylus replied, pulling the blanket over zayne and pressing a final kiss to his forehead.  

as zayne drifted off to sleep, his body finally free of tension, sylus stayed by his side, watching over him with a fond smile. he’d do anything to keep this man happy, to see him at ease.  

after all, zayne was his now. and sylus intended to show him just how much he cherished him, every single day.