Ken and Alex are now in college. They have both almost decided what they want to study. Ken decided to major in Computer Science, and Alex chose the same.
It hasn't been that long since they started sharing a room. The awkwardness from the first day disappeared as if it had never existed.
Ken always studied before sleeping, while Alex usually joined him and just watched. Ken was a passive learner, while Alex was an active one. If Alex attended the lectures, that was enough for him. It didn't mean he never studied—he just didn't make it a routine. Instead, he revised everything for hours during the weekends.
While academics were going like this, Alex became popular as always because of his welcoming attitude. Ken was forced to be more active because of it. Professor Robin even suggested that Alex take a minor degree in English, and he had started attending those classes too.
As usual, after coming back from the court, Ken decided to study while Alex watched over him.
Ken was completely focused.
Alex was completely bored.
"Can you study later?" Alex asked.
Ken heard him and understood exactly what he meant, but still asked, "What?"
"I mean, it's been so long since we hung out."
"Oh man, we are always—"
"Always studying, bro! Going to college, basketball, sleeping—it's all a routine now. And it's not like we're spending time with each other. We're always doing something else!" Alex pouted dramatically and made a face nobody could resist.
"What the..." Ken looked at Alex but couldn't finish because of the expression in front of him.
"I'm already wearing the same clothes. I heard there's a nice place near here. Let's go. Do you want to change?" Alex asked excitedly, already knowing Ken wasn't going to say no.
"I need to change," Ken replied.
He walked to his shelf and changed into his hoodie.
The two of them walked under the moonlight.
Ken kept his hands in his pockets while Alex hooked an arm around him and practically walked beside him while scrolling through his phone.
Ken was basically guiding a blind person.
"Look at this, bro," Alex suddenly said. "They say only love at first sight feels magical. Do you agree?"
Alex looked at Ken.
Ken stopped walking.
Alex immediately thought he had triggered Ken's memories about Noel and tried to speak again.
"I think this is the place," Ken said, looking around.
Alex felt embarrassed and wanted to disappear.
Suddenly, Alex let go and jumped toward a nearby bench.
But he almost collided with a passing scooter.
No—he would have collided with it if Ken hadn't reacted fast enough.
Thankfully, Ken grabbed Alex and pulled him back before he hit the two-wheeler.
"Watch where you're going!" the driver shouted before riding away.
At this point, Alex knew this walk had been a terrible decision.
To make things worse, Alex was still in Ken's arms like a princess being held by her prince.
Adding everything together, Alex was now visibly blushing.
That finally broke the moment.
Ken noticed the blush and immediately straightened both himself and Alex.
Then Ken started laughing.
Not normal laughing.
The kind of laughing that looked painful.
"What's so funny?!" Alex shouted.
Ken couldn't stop laughing.
"You don't understand..." Ken said between laughs. "Everything that happened in the last few seconds was hilarious. And your face! I didn't know taking a walk like this could be so much fun."
"Sure, you're having fun," Alex groaned and sat down on the bench.
At the same time, tears started forming in Ken's eyes because he couldn't stop laughing.
"Don't laugh so much. God knows when you'll embarrass yourself next," Alex said, trying to stop Ken from laughing even harder.
"So you admit you just embarrassed yourself?" Ken asked with a warm smile.
"You know moments like this are almost impossible to happen. So I have to make sure I'm enjoying it."
"Laugh all you want. I'm going back," Alex said sulkily as he stood up from the bench.
But Ken grabbed his arm and pulled him down.
Unfortunately, Ken made a small calculation mistake.
Alex landed directly on his lap.
Both froze.
Their faces were only inches apart.
They locked eyes.
Neither of them knew what had happened.
Neither could think.
Neither moved.
The moment felt hot despite the cool breeze and moonlight around them.
The sound of approaching footsteps finally brought them back to reality.
Alex stood up immediately.
Ken released his grip.
"What was that?" Alex thought.
Ken was thinking the same thing.
Why did that feel so intense?
They sat in silence for a moment.
Then a familiar voice interrupted them.
"Fancy seeing two studious people in this park on a date."
It was Jane.
She had arrived with her boyfriend.
Both Alex and Ken looked at her as if she had committed a crime.
Trying to ease the situation, Jane quickly said,
"Meet my boyfriend, Walt."
She pointed at the tall guy beside her.
"Walt, these are my juniors. The popular ones I told you about."
Ken stood up and shook Walt's hand.
"You're pretty popular at the café too," Walt said.
Both Alex and Ken looked at him in surprise.
"What do you mean?" Alex asked.
"Two basketball players with genius-level brains? Students talk about you guys all the time," Walt replied with a smile.
"I understand that. Then why did you say Ken is popular?" Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Don't mind him," Ken said, grabbing Alex's arm. "He's always like this."
"He likes teasing everyone. He wasn't even at the café," Jane added.
"I knew it," Alex muttered to Ken like a little kid who had finally proven he was right.
Ken nodded in agreement.
"So you two are dating?" Walt asked again.
Immediately, Alex and Ken moved away from each other and stared at him in disbelief.
"He's teasing you guys," Jane reminded them.
"We should get going. It's getting late. Bye."
Soon, they parted ways.
Alex and Ken returned to the dorm.
After reaching their room, they changed clothes and got ready for bed.
The room fell into complete silence.
The silence lasted longer than usual.
"You asleep?" Ken finally asked.
"Nope," Alex answered.
"Why?"
"I don't know."
Alex turned his head toward Ken.
"Why aren't you sleeping?"
"I was thinking," Ken replied while looking at Alex.
"About what?"
Alex turned his whole body toward him.
"About what you asked earlier."
"What?"
"About love at first sight."
A sudden chill washed over Alex's body.
To Be Continued...