When study sessions turn into something more than just notes and formulas.
The engineering lab was nearly empty, the hum of machines and flickering fluorescent lights the only sounds in the late evening. Fah had promised himself he would focus entirely on finishing his robotics project tonight—but when Tawan appeared, carrying a stack of medical texts, that focus flew straight out the window.
"You're still here?" Tawan asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Deadlines don't care about rainstorms or dinner," Fah muttered, rolling his eyes.
Tawan plopped down beside him, stretching and nudging Fah lightly. "I guess we're both doomed then. Want some company?"
Fah hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah… I guess I do."
They worked quietly for the first half-hour, occasionally exchanging notes and ideas. But soon, the silence between them became comforting, not awkward. Their shoulders brushed, and Fah realized that each little touch made his chest tighten in a way that wasn't unpleasant.
"You know," Tawan murmured after a while, "I never thought I'd actually enjoy these late-night study sessions."
Fah glanced at him, surprised. "Really? You've always acted like you were too busy for this kind of… mundane stuff."
Tawan shrugged, eyes softening. "Maybe I like being around you. Even if it's just notes, formulas, and circuits."
Fah's heart skipped. "Even if it's just me making a mess of things?"
Tawan smiled, leaning a little closer. "Especially then. You make life… interesting."
Fah laughed softly, a blush creeping onto his cheeks. "You're impossible."
"And yet," Tawan said, brushing a stray strand of hair from Fah's forehead, "here we are. Impossible together."
For a moment, time seemed to pause, the machines humming faintly in the background. Fah realized that the fluster, the teasing, and the small touches weren't just playful—they were signs of something real, something deeper than he had allowed himself to admit before.
He swallowed, voice low. "Tawan… I think… I really like this. Us. All of it."
Tawan's eyes softened, a rare vulnerability shining through his usual smirk. "I was hoping you'd say that. Because I feel the same."
The rest of the night passed in quiet conversation, shared smiles, and the soft comfort of knowing that, for once, the world outside didn't matter. All that mattered was the two of them, together, navigating chaos, laughter, and something sweet, messy, and entirely theirs.