Chapter 102 - Waking Up (2)

Their days remained the same as the semester came to a close. Save for some minor hiccups here and there, they were still the same with each other if not for the small changes in their lives. So small and so natural that Aki did not realize it until after a few days of doing those things.

For one, the amount of subtle touches and covert glances increased.

Liam reached the counter at the same time as Aki. Their eyes met and their gazes lingered to each other far too long to be considered normal.

It was Aki who broke the eye contact first, scratching a finger to his cheek as he recited the order. "One raspberry mocha parfait and one caramel graham cracker parfait for table number twelve," Aki said.

He spoke in a clear tone that surprised himself for being able to sound casual and unaffected when he was anything but calm as his heart sped up, knowing Liam was standing close to him.

After Aki was done, Liam uttered his order, "Two iced mocha latte and one caesar salad."

Aki sneaked a peek, sending a sideways glance, and the corners of his mouth lifted every time he caught Liam doing the same thing. When their gazes met again, Liam gave Aki the briefest and smallest smile, usually reserved for Aki. The smile was gone as soon as it came as though he had imagined the whole thing. But he knew he did not. And it was that thought that added spring to his steps the entire day.

Someone coughed, intruding at their moment. Aki searched for the source of the sound, only to find Mia staring directly at them, looking as unamused as ever. When the two of them stared at her, she deliberately rolled her eyes at them and turned her deadpan stare at Liam, "Your shift's done. Get out." She mouthed the last words.

Liam snorted and Aki lowered his head to hide his giggles. They were used to Mia using her strict headmistress vibe every time she caught them that they just laughed it off. Liam jerked his head to his cousin as a response then walked towards the staff room but not before patting Aki on the shoulder as he passed by.

"I'll text you later."

That he did. They were to go to the supermarket to buy their stock of food. Aki waited at the university gate until a group of people came out of the building. One person stood out and was looking right at him. Liam stared back at Aki as if they were the only people in the world.

At that moment, a fleeting thought crossed Aki's mind -- maybe Liam liked him too. That, or he really was imagining signs that were not there.

If it was just about signs, then the biggest telling was probably the biggest change in their daily activities…

"What are we going to watch?" Liam asked as he scrolled through the list on Netflix on his laptop.

Aki, lying on his stomach beside Liam, said, one side of his mouth raised, "Annabelle?"

Liam scrunched up his nose and continued to scroll, ignoring Aki's suggestion even as the other laughed beside him.

"Anything action? Sci-fi maybe?" Aki turned on his back, resting his head on Liam's lap. "I'm fine with anything really even if it's a series."

This had been one of their nightly rituals. After dinner, if the two of them were at home, they would camp at Liam's bed, watch movies, fall asleep and wake up together.

Even if Liam's late or Aki's on the closing shift, Aki would crawl his way inside Liam's bed. It was as if they had an unspoken rule that Liam had to keep his door unlocked for Aki to come and go freely.

That night, Aki lay beside Liam, thinking about the same thought that circled around his head the entire day -- if it was Liam, maybe he could...