The lab door slid open quietly.
Nathan stepped in, hands in his pockets, scanning the room.
"Alex, I've been looking for"
He stopped.
Mid-sentence.
Mid-step.
Mid-thought.
Because right in front of him
Samantha and Alex were kissing.
Nathan blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then slowly leaned back against the door, folding his arms.
"…Wow."
Neither of them noticed.
Too focused on each other.
Nathan smirked.
This was too good.
"…I should leave," he muttered.
He didn't move.
"…But I won't."
A few seconds passed.
Then
Samantha pulled back slightly, her breath soft.
Alex was just about to say something—
When a voice cut in.
"So this is what you've been doing instead of answering your phone."
They froze.
Slowly
Very slowly
They turned.
And saw Nathan.
Watching.
Grinning.
Alex's brain stopped working.
"…Oh no."
Samantha blinked.
Then immediately stepped back.
Nathan pushed himself off the door and walked further into the lab.
"I knew something was going on," he said casually. "But this?"
He let out a low whistle.
"I didn't expect this level of progress."
Alex rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Nathan"
"No, no," Nathan said, holding up a hand. "Don't explain. I saw everything."
Samantha crossed her arms, trying to recover her composure.
"You're enjoying this way too much."
Nathan grinned.
"Oh, absolutely."
He walked in a slow circle around them like he was inspecting a scene.
"Let's break this down," he said. "You two disappear for a few hours… phones off… and then I walk in and—boom."
He gestured dramatically.
"Romance."
Alex groaned.
"Can you not?"
Nathan ignored him.
"How long has this been going on?"
"It hasn't," Alex said quickly.
Nathan stopped and stared at him.
"You're a terrible liar."
Samantha almost laughed.
Almost.
Nathan leaned slightly closer to Alex.
"Wow," he said quietly. "You're actually blushing."
Alex's eyes widened.
"I am not."
"You are," Nathan insisted. "This is new. I've never seen you like this."
Samantha glanced at Alex and yeah.
He was definitely flustered.
"…He is," she admitted.
Alex turned to her.
"Don't join him!"
Nathan laughed.
"Oh, this is gold."
Samantha shook her head, trying not to smile.
"You're unbelievable."
Nathan shrugged.
"I walk in on my best friend kissing the smartest girl on campus—what did you expect?"
"Privacy?" Alex muttered.
Nathan thought about it.
"…No."
He turned to Samantha.
"So… you're the reason he's been acting weird."
Samantha raised an eyebrow.
"Weird how?"
Nathan smirked.
"Distracted. Smiling at nothing. Checking his phone like it owes him money."
Alex sighed.
"Please stop talking."
"I can't," Nathan replied. "This is too important."
Samantha laughed softly this time.
"Let him talk. It's entertaining."
Alex looked betrayed.
"Really?"
She shrugged lightly.
"You started it."
"I didn't start anything!"
Nathan clapped once.
"Ah, denial. Classic stage one."
Alex ran a hand through his hair.
"I regret everything."
Nathan stepped back, still smiling.
"But seriously…"
His tone softened slightly.
"…I'm happy for you guys."
That caught both of them off guard.
Alex looked at him.
"You are?"
Nathan nodded.
"Yeah."
Then his smirk returned.
"…But I'm still going to make fun of you."
Alex groaned again.
"Of course you are."
Samantha studied Nathan for a moment.
There was something genuine in what he said.
Something real.
"…Thanks," she said quietly.
Nathan gave her a small nod.
"No problem."
Then he turned toward the door.
"Anyway, I came to drag you back to reality," he said to Alex. "The others are waiting."
Alex sighed.
"Of course they are."
Nathan smirked again.
"Oh, and don't worry…"
He paused at the door.
"I didn't see anything."
A beat.
Then
"Except everything."
He left.
Silence filled the lab again.
Alex closed his eyes.
"…I'm never recovering from that."
Samantha laughed.
"You'll survive."
He looked at her.
"…You're enjoying this too."
"A little."
There was a pause.
Then Alex smiled slightly.
"…Worth it."
Samantha didn't answer.
But she didn't disagree either.
Outside the lab, Nathan walked down the hallway, hands back in his pockets.
The smirk on his face slowly faded.
Replaced by something quieter.
Something thoughtful.
He glanced ahead, where the others were waiting.
Then looked away briefly.
"…Yeah," he muttered to himself.
"Good for them."
And for once
He meant it.