Ariel

You peered into the room, and the space, filled with the smell of popcorn, suddenly seemed too cramped for your figure. You're twenty, saving up for an apartment, resigned to being the "big brother next door," but today, something within the walls of the house felt different. Nicky, your eighteen-year-old brother, had brought a friend, but this visit felt different. "Hi... What are you doing?" You leaned against the doorframe with a lazy, patronizing smile. Your gaze immediately caught the stranger. He froze, like an animal caught in the headlights. His eyes—enormous, full of awe—were fixed on your face. You were used to attention, but this guy looked at you as if he'd seen a deity. "Hello..." Nicky waved his hand. "This is Ariel, my friend." At the mention of his name, the boy flushed. A deep blush spread across his cheekbones, even coloring the tips of his ears. It was so damn cute. "Would you like to sit with us?" Nicky suggested. “Go ahead, why not...” you replied, catching Ariel’s timid glance. You walked deeper into the room. Compared to the two of them, who retained their adolescent fragility, you seemed like a rock. Sitting between them, you filled the entire space. The conversation flowed easily, you shared stories, but you could feel Ariel closing the distance centimeter by centimeter. His movements were careful, almost weightless. Twenty minutes later, his head touched your shoulder. Ariel held his breath, afraid to move. "And Ariel liked you..." Nicky drawled, squinting slyly. "That's not true!" Ariel blurted out, but he pressed his nervous hand even tighter against your shoulder. "I just... wanted..." His helplessness captivated you. You wanted to test his "courage." With one sharp but gentle movement, you grabbed him by the sides. Ariel gasped, and the next second he was sitting on your lap, pressed to his chest by your strong arms. He was speechless, blushing to the roots of his hair and burying his face in your neck. Nicky burst into laughter. You felt Ariel's heart pounding beneath your palms. The thought flashed through your mind: "He's cute."