"Aiden, please wait! It's not what you think! Aiden!"
Hunter ran as fast as he could to reach Aiden. He grabbed Aiden's arm and pinned him around.
"Aiden—wait, please!" he panted furiously as he begged. Aiden's lips were frowned in a deep frown while his eyes were wet with frustration but they held more hurt than anger which left Hunter's heart in extreme dead.
"What do you want?" he snapped, shoving Hunter's hands away.
Hunter looked like someone had just knocked the air out of his lungs. "It's not what you think. Please just listen to me."
"Really? Because I think I saw you smiling and hugging him like he's your boyfriend."
Hunter flinched hard and his hands began to trembled as they reached for Aiden again but hesitated midway, unsure if he had the right to touch him right now when Aiden is looking at him like that.
"N-No, Aiden. I swear I wasn't…I mean, it's not like that, he hugged me out of nowhere but I didn't hug him back. I didn't even know he was going to do that and I swear I was gonna push him away but then you were suddenly there, and—God, Aiden, I'm so sorry. You know I wouldn't…I could never…I mean, I'm not good at this relationship but I'm trying so hard. I swear…I will never do anything that can ruin our bond. I don't even like Liam—hell, I think he's annoying and I should've said no to the study thing, but I thought maybe if you came too, it'd be okay—"
"Okay, Okay, calm down! I was just joking. My god, you're like a train," Aiden cupped his face and covered his mouth with his hand. But Hunter still looked frightened and fragile like he was holding onto something he was terrified of losing.
Seeing him on the verge of crying, Aiden felt guilty now for joking with him like that. He only wanted to tease Hunter to see his reaction. He wanted to be a dramatic boyfriend for a minute but this wasn't what he expected at all.
Hunter looked at him with pleading eyes and a heartbroken face. "Are…are you upset with me?"
Aiden's heart dropped in his stomach at the pain in Hunter's voice. He stroked Hunter's cold cheekbones.
"I'm not upset and I believe you, so calm down now, Okay? I was just playing the jealous boyfriend. Y'know, I saw that jerk try to cling to you and I thought I'd pout a little and make you flustered or whatever. I didn't think you'd actually get scared like this."
Hunter wasn't even angry for him to play like that. He just felt relieved that Aiden wasn't mad at him, he thought he was going to get a heart attack for a moment.
"It's only been three days since we started dating and I keep thinking that maybe you'll wake up and realize I'm not good enough for you."
"Hunter, are you dumb?" Aiden smiled widely. "You're so stupidly loyal and serious about everything. You can't even lie without twitching like a squirrel on caffeine. You think I'd believe you'd cheat on me? You don't have the guts to do so because you're too loyal."
Hunter finally let out a shaky breath and Aiden pulled upwards to press a sweet kiss of assuring to his lips. "You just looked way too cute back there, all nervous and apologizing like a kicked puppy. I almost wanted to mess with you more."
"No, never do that, you fool!" Hunter huffed, cheeks slightly red as he finally his scolding voice back. He glared at Aiden's playful smile. "Where did you learn to do this stupid shit? Do you know how scared I was?! I actually thought you were mad at me and you were going to break up with me right there. You don't know what that felt like. My chest felt like it was going to cave in."
"Okay, I'm sorryyyyy! Please stop scolding me now. I'm even mad at myself for pulling that stunt. I don't want to see you ever crying." He apologised with a genuine expression. Hunter let out an exhausted sigh since he can never stay upset with this little devil for too long.
"Alright," He pecked Aiden's forehead. "I'm already dumb enough when it comes to you so you don't need more things to make me lose my mind."
Aiden chuckled and wrapped his arms tightly around Hunter again. "You really love me that much?"
Hunter grumbled into his hair. "Unfortunately…yes. You absolute idiot. Let's go now. It's getting late."
Aiden and Hunter are a mess of opposites stitched together deeper than logic. While Aiden is loud, adorable and full of chaotic energy, Hunter is someone who's quiet and keeps his emotions locked behind walls.
But somehow, Aiden's warmth always seemed to melt Hunter's cold edges and Hunter's steady presence brought down Aiden's chaotic heart.
By the time they reached home just as the sky outside turned a deep orange. As soon as they stepped inside, Hunter reached into the bag and handed Aiden the box of donuts.
"Donuts! Yay!" Aiden's face lit up. He greedily snatched the box with both hands and hugged it to his chest. "You're literally the best boyfriend in the entire universe."
Hunter laughed, his cold fingers brushing Aiden's warm knuckles for a second. He watched Aiden jump in his excitement and felt a strange warmth bloom in his chest. His tiredness from work melted away instantly.
"What do you want to eat? I'll cook something."
"Hmm…how about…" Aiden bit into a powdered donut while thinking and named a dish Hunter had never heard before. A foreign-sounding name that made Hunter's brow furrow.
"The hell is that?"
Aiden blinked at him with his cheeks stuffed, then swallowed and smiled cheekily. "It's this super fancy dish which takes hours to make. And the meat is like…imported."
"Is it really expensive?" Hunter asked, his voice getting low. He hasn't got his paycheck yet.
Aiden saw his conflicted face and sighed. He wrapped his arms around Hunter's neck and rose on his tiptoes to reach up but still the top of his head only reached Hunter's nose. Their height difference had always been adorably obvious.
Tiptoeing, Aiden pecked Hunter's lips. "Don't worry about it. I actually miss your mac and cheese."
Hunter gazed down at him. "Mac and cheese?"
"Mhm, the one you used to bring to school in school. Remember? You always brought extra for me."
A soft smile tugged at Hunter's lips. "Yeah, I remember."
Of course, he remembers it. It started as a total accident. One day, Hunter had packed the only thing left in his stock before he ran out of food. And as always he handed it to Aiden because that's his top priority. He would always eat what Aiden left or what when Aiden forced him to eat his fancy lunch his mother packed him. Meanwhile, Aiden would devour his cheap lunchbox like it was the best meal in the world.
So, Hunter made it a habit. Even on days when Hunter could barely afford lunch. He would skip his dinner or cut down on other expenses, he would always bring Aiden his favorite mac and cheese. Because seeing Aiden smile made his own hunger feel insignificant.
"Alright, eat the donuts while I'll prepare the dinner," Hunter smiled, the kind that made the corners of his eyes soften.
"Yes, chef!" Aiden giggled and flopped onto the cushions.
Hunter turned toward the kitchen but paused at the doorway. "Hey, what was that fancy dish called again?"
Aiden frowned. "Wagyu Beef steak, Why?"
Hunter just shrugged. "Just curious."
He walked into the kitchen and immediately pulled out his phone. Opening a password-protected file titled Aiden's Stuff, he scrolled through a long list of favorites which consists of a folder of Things Aiden likes, dislikes, his favorite memories, his future wishes that Hunter wanted to fulfil.
Hunter wrote that dish down with hopes of buying it in future for Aiden. He stared at the screen for a long second before locking the phone again and slipping it back into his pocket.
He knew Aiden changed his mind because he didn't want to worry him or spend money but that didn't mean Hunter wouldn't make it happen. One day, when he had enough, he'd surprise him with that exact dish.
For now, though, he stirred the boiling pasta on the stove and smiled quietly to himself while imagining the silly happy dance Aiden always did when eating something he loved.
And just as he imagined, Aiden overeat.
"Ughh!' He groaned, both hands hands cupping his visibly rounded stomach like he was nine months pregnant with mac and cheese. "I think I'm gonna explode."
Hunter walked over and crouched beside him, wiping a smear of sauce from the corner of Aiden's mouth with his thumb. "You ate two whole bowls. I told you to slow down."
"But it's your fault," Aiden whined, hardly able to open one eye. "Why did you made it so good?"
Hunter's gaze drifted to Aiden's lifted Tshirt and exposed bellt and his mouth went dry. He wanted to kiss and lick it all over, maybe leave a bite on that sweet spot again but he remembered the way Aiden had teared up yesterday, clutching at him, overwhelmed and hiccupping little sobs, and he paused. He swallowed hard and pulled his gaze away.
"I'll go and do the dishes," Hunter ruffled his hair and walked into the kitchen.
While Aiden lay dazed and full, Hunter's phone buzzed again on the coffee table. Aiden glanced at it and ignored it at first. The screen lit up with another message.
Curious, he leaned up on his elbow and snatched the phone and opened the chat. His mood went down when he saw from whom the texts were.
Liam:My new selfie, looking good today, right? [picture attached]
Liam:Good night ❤️
Liam:Sleep well.
Aiden's blood boiled, he gritted his teeth and furiously typed:
Stop texting me, you freak. Also stop sending your cringy selfies. You look like a wet sock. I have a boyfriend. Go bark up someone else's tree.
Seconds later, a new message appeared.
Liam:When are you giving Hunter his phone back like a good boyfriend, Aiden?
Aiden's whole body jolted in shock and his fingers froze. His skin crawled with how casually Liam had guessed it was him. There was something wrong with that message. Aiden suddenly want to keep the phone far, far away from him. He quickly placed it back down on the table, face down. His stomach didn't feel so full anymore. He felt chill all over himself whenever he remember that creep Liam.
When Hunter came back, he glanced at Aiden's startled face. "You okay?"
"Huh?" Aiden forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah. Just...food coma."
Hunter hummed, not noticing the way Aiden stared at the phone like it might bite him. "I'm going to take a shower."
"Let's take one together."
"No." Hunter declared as he went upstairs thinking it could stop Aiden. Oh, how wrong he was because Aiden run after him.
"Yes! We're dating now, Hunter! This is what couples do! Naked showering! Soap-sharing! Body-washing—"
"Stop!" Hunter looked horrified, running more quicker as if Aiden was some deranged romantic ghost. "You don't need to see me naked to prove anything."
Aiden tilted his head, eyes shining with wicked amusement. "Oh? Are you shy? Is big bad Hunter scared of little ol' me?"
Hunter, standing at the bathroom door blocked Aiden's way. "Just take one after me. Now leave.
"Why nooooot," Aiden whined loudly. "You've already seen me naked. It's not fair."
"That's not how it works," Hunter glared at him as Aiden attempted to squeeze past him.
"You're such a prude," Aiden huffed he couldn't get his. "Let me in, I wanna see your dic—"
"AIDEN!" Hunter turned crimson and physically picked him up by the waist. "OUT."
"Hey! Don't manhandle me like I'm your blushing wife from a historical drama—!" Aiden yelled, arms flailing as he was unceremoniously dropped outside the bathroom and the lock clicked shut. He grumbled but went to his bed, falling on it dramatically. "I'll make you give in one day. You just wait."
Later, both fresh from showers and smelling of minty toothpaste, they curled up in bed together. Aiden nestled against Hunter's chest, his slightly damp hair tickling Hunter's collarbone, their legs entwined under the blanket.
Hunter stroked Aiden's arm gently. "So, I was thinking about going to the library tomorrow to get some proper studying done."
Aiden made a dramatic noise of protest. "Ugh, no thanks. I'll pass."
Hunter looked down at him. "Aiden."
"What?" Aiden whined. "I don't need to study. I've got you. You love me, right? So just let me cheat off your exams."
Hunter sighed deeply. "You're impossible. Come on, it's good for your future. You can't just keep sliding by cheating."
Aiden opened his mouth to protest again but froze when Hunter casually added. "Actually, Liam invited me to go with him. He said we could study together at the library and I agreed. But I was also thinking of bringing you along if you wanted."
Aiden quickly sat up at those words. That boyfriend-snatching cockroach of a twink.
"But if you don't want to. I won't force-"
"I'll come with you!" Aiden hurriedly agreed.
Hunter raised an eyebrow. "You said you'd rather eat nails than study."
Aiden's face softened into a sugar-sweet smile as he rested his chin on Hunter's chest. "You've opened my eyes. Education is important. I want to succeed for our future."
Hunter snorted. "Not buying it for a second."
"Believe what you want," Aiden slipped an arm around his waist. Believe what you want while I exterminate that smirking library rat.
Hunter chuckled and pulled him in tighter, squeezing his waist. "Fine."
Library date, huh? Over my damn dead body.