Max suddenly stopped running which made Fluke bump into Max's broad back.
"Oh! Sorry!" Fluke stood straight and picked up his bag that dropped just now.
"We are here." He looked at the shop and said.
"Where are we?" Fluke asked looking at the same shop.
"It's really hot today. Let's have some ice-cream."
"Really?"
"Let's go."
Max opened the door for him and they got in. There was a long queue in the counter.
"I guess we have to wait for long." Fluke scratched the back of his head.
"You sit somewhere. I'll wait in the queue." Max suggested.
"No, let me stand. You just finished your practice under the sun." Fluke insisted.
"No! You sit under the fan and relax. I'm use to such heat."
"But it's...."
"Fluke?" Someone tapped Fluke on his shoulder while both of them were arguing.
Fluke was suddenly bewildered. It was Mike standing next to them.
"Fluke? You said you'll..."
"Oh Mike! Hey! Hello! You are here too?" Fluke was stammering. He looked at Max who was flushed too.
"Yes! This is the shop I was telling you about. But you said you'll..."
"I...I was heading home but...I saw the shop and ...started craving for some ice cream." Fluke lied.
"So you came with Max?" He asked.
"I...umm..." He looked at Max.
"No! I just met him here." Max spoke.
"Ya...ya..." Suddenly Fluke's heart reacted. I felt sad, a little sad.
"It's a long queue. You too carry on. I just remembered something. I'll go now. Bye!" Max was about to leave.
"But won't you buy any ice cream?" Mike asked him.
"It'll take time. I'll have it some other day." Saying this, he gave a look at Fluke. Maybe his eyeballs showed him the direction where he'll wait for him. And he left.
"Mike! The queue is too long. I'm afraid mom has to wait alone. I'll also leave then. Bye." Saying this, Fluke too ran out.
As Fluke came out, his eyes scanned the whole road searching for Max. Finally he saw him waiting for him at the far end. He ran to him.
"Umm...sorry Mochi! I thought we'll have some ice creams before going home but..." He lowered his head.
"It's fine! We are here. The shop is here. We can have it any day." Fluke tried to console him.
"Let's head home then."
Fluke nodded.
"Oh Fish!" Max exclaimed.
"What? What happened?" Fluke asked him looking at his frustrated face.
"Oh no! I completely forgot I'd to buy some books for my tuition class today."
"Tuition? You have tuition class today?" Fluke had no idea about that.
"Relax! The teacher always comes at 9." He added, "Mochi! I don't want you to move with me. Rather you go and wait for me in my apartment. I'll see you at home then."
"Hugh!"
"It's 1313" He suddenly said some random numbers.
"----"Fluke plainly looked at him with surprise.
"It's my door's lock."
"You changed the lock?" Fluke suddenly felt low. "But why 1313?" Although he was unhappy that Max changed the number that itself carried so much meaning to it, he was also curious with the numbers that Max generated this time.
"Umm..." He smirked. "The English alphabet 'M' is ranked 13. Mochi and Mocha, so its 13 and 13." He explained.
"-----" Fluke's heart skipped a beat. This wasn't what he imagined.
"Why are you so red? Mochi! Go to my apartment before you get heat stroke." Max said looking at Fluke's red face.
'How should I explain him that he's sole reason for that? His apartment's door lock is our initials? O God!! I am blushing. It is his words that made me blush.' Fluke thought.
"Mochi! What are you thinking? Go!"
"It's 1313 right?" Fluke was literally blushing hard.
"I'll see you at home." He whispered. "Bye!" He ran away saying that.
Fluke too went in the direction of his apartment blushing hard. At times he was also giggling and smiling confusing the strangers at the road.
When he reached his apartment, he entered the code and the door opened. Fluke smiled as the door opened. He went in and closed the door. Hesitatingly, he sat down on the couch. At an instant he flashbacked about yesterday's incident. How they started to study and ended up getting clingy. How he was about to kiss and his mother appeared.
Fluke gulped.
Suddenly he felt an unfamiliar breeze of air surrounding him. He could visualize Max's mother's eerie nature and her intimidating eyes.
He gulped again.
Suddenly he could hear the door opening. It was Max. He came back with some books in his hand.
"Did you wait for long?" Max came in and asked.
"No."
"Why don't you have some cold drink? It's in the fridge in the kitchen. Please help yourself." After saying that, he went to keep his things in his room.
Hesitatingly, Fluke went to the fridge and opened it. He saw the packed food stuffs and the drink which he told was his favourite. He took out two cans of Max's favourite drink and kept in on the table. Then he sat back on the couch and waited for him.
"Sorry! I just washed up." He came back with his wet hair. The towel was hanging on his neck while the water slowly dripping from his hairs straight to his cheeks and chin and ran down over his neck. He wore a black vest and shorts that looked extremely hot on him.
"I...I..." Fluke was lost at his beauty.
"So you remembered my choice? Thanks Mochi!" Max came near and grabbed a can.
Fluke too grabbed the other can and started to sip little by little. Also he didn't forget to peek at him time and again.
"Let's start with grammar today. I bought some reference books." He handed three books to Fluke.
"Hey! Where did you get them? The last time I went to buy, it was out of stock. You are so lucky Mocha." Putting the can on the table, Fluke started scanning the books.
"You can take them now. I've already revised them." He said sipping his drink.
"Really? Are you giving them to me?" Fluke looked at him with his sparkling eyes.
Max nodded.
"Thanks Mocha! You are the best." Fluke grabbed the books near his chest with joy.
"Best what?" Max shifted a little towards him.
"-----"
"Best what?" Max asked again. Perhaps he was now teasing him.
"Best...boyfriend..." Fluke blushed at his own response.
"Why are you red again?" Max patted his hand on Fluke's temple making him blush some more.
Fluke gulped in tension.
"Are you not well?" He now touched his cheeks.
"I...I..." Fluke's mind was blank. The heartbeat from his left chest was serious. He could feel every beat was hitting hard on the walls of his chest.
"Mochi! Mochi!" Max's hand now was running slowly down to his neck area. His fingertips prickling Fluke at every inch he touched.
Fluke gulped. He squeezed his fists and sat motionless on that couch. He could hear Max's expansive breath. Fluke gulped again.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! CRAAAAANNNNNNKKK!
Suddenly the opening of his main door echoed in the room. Max pulled off his hand and jumped up. Fluke too got startled. He was getting déjà vu. This exactly happened yesterday itself. 'Holy Shit! Not again! I can't face his mother today again! She's too stern! HELL!!!!' Fluke thought.
They both stood statue in their positions and focused at the person coming in.
"Maxi!" A girl's head tilted inside the main door.
"Jennie!" Max exclaimed a sound of relief.
"Hey Maxi! What are you doing today?" A girl of our age wearing a jumpsuit came in.
"Jennie! You shocked me. Hugh!!" Max took a sigh of relief.
"What? Did I scare you? Oh you have a guest?" She looked at Fluke.
"Ya..come in! He...he... He's my friend Fluke. We were having a group study today." Max looked at me and continued, "She's Jennie, my next door neighbour."
"Hi Jennie! Nice to meet you." Fluke curved his lips and greeted her.
"I bought some berries and Greek yoghurt. Shall I wash some for you two?" Jennie looked at both of them.
"No! I'm good." Fluke said smiling at her.
"Please sit! I'll have them later." Max told her gazing at her.
"Let me put them in the fridge." Saying this, she went straight to his kitchen, opened his fridge and started to put her things inside.
"Let me help." Max too went to help her.
Fluke could sense something cooking from a distant. His heartbeat was unfamiliar. 'What is this? Why is my heart aching? What is this unfamiliar pain? Am I being jealous??' Fluke thought.
"Did aunt come yesterday? I thought I saw her?" She finished keeping those things and now she was coming towards Fluke.
"Yes! But she went to Japan today." Max followed her.
"Shall I ask mom to make your dinner? Or will you come at our place?" Jennie seemed flaunting. Fluke could feel her gaze.
"No! I've enough at home. Thanks by the way." Max was continuously smiling at her.