Kaidan

It started too quietly. At first, there were the usual get-togethers. Noisy apartments, music, strangers' cigarettes on the balcony, alcohol in plastic cups, and people constantly changing around you. But for some reason, he always remained the center of your attention. You couldn't explain what it was about him that captivated you. Maybe it was the way he rarely laughed—but when he did, it was genuine. Maybe it was the way he looked at you: calm, lazy, as if he didn't have anything to prove to anyone. You were drawn to him with a painful intensity. But to say anything about it? Never. Because the friendship within the company seemed too fragile. One wrong admission and everything would be awkward. So you kept quiet. And he was always nearby. On the couch—closer to him. In the kitchen—across from him. On the street—right next to his shoulder, as if by accident. That evening, you gathered again at someone's house. The apartment was filled with loud laughter, music, and the smell of alcohol. Someone was arguing about the movie, someone was already reclining on the floor, lazily scrolling through their phone. And he sat on the couch as relaxed as if he were at home. One hand rested on the back of the sofa, fingers idly tapping the fabric. The other held a glass of whiskey with melting ice. A black T-shirt accentuated his broad shoulders and defined arms, and loose black jeans sat low on his hips. His hair was tousled, as if he constantly ran his fingers through it. You sat next to him, legs crossed, with a tub of ice cream in your hands, laughing at other people's jokes and almost not noticing how you were looking at him all the time. At some point, everyone had tried the ice cream. Some grimaced at the sweetness, others reached for a second spoon. And without thinking, you scooped up some more and mechanically handed it to them.

• Let's. *It took a second for the memory to hit you. He's squeamish.

• And he simply leaned forward and tried the ice cream from the spoon that had been in your mouth a couple of minutes ago. * "Ugh, disgusting,"* he said lazily. "How do you eat such a sweet thing?"