University Trip...
Saturday. 6:30 a.m.
The campus parking lot was still half asleep. Cold air. Pale sky. Students holding coffee like survival equipment.
Adrián arrived first this time.
And then he saw him.
Lucien was walking toward the buses wearing the blue sweater.
The blue sweater.
The one with the small stitched bear in the center.
The one Adrián had called unnecessary months ago.
He paired it with simple jeans and clean white sneakers. Effortless. Balanced. Soft.
And his hair—
His fringe fell completely over his forehead, covering it fully. No careful styling back. No sharp precision. Just soft strands resting over his brows, framing his eyes.
It made his eyes stand out more.
Made his face look younger.
Sweeter.
Attractive in a way that felt unfair at 6:30 in the morning.
Adrián forgot to walk for half a second.
Lucien stopped in front of him.
—You're late.—
He adjusted the strap of his bag.
Adrián stared.
—You're wearing it.
Lucien blinked once.
—It's clothing. That's typically what one does with it.
Adrián stepped closer, examining him shamelessly.
—You said it was unnecessary.
Lucien's jaw shifted slightly.
—It is unnecessary.
—Then why are you wearing it?—
Adrián tilted his head.
Lucien looked away briefly.
—It was clean.
Adrián let out a quiet laugh.
—You look cute.
Lucien froze.
—Don't.
Adrián grinned wider.
—No, seriously. The hair? The sweater? The little bear? This is criminal.
Lucien instinctively ran a hand toward his fringe but stopped halfway.
—It's comfortable.—
He said, composed but slightly stiff.
Adrián circled him once dramatically.
—Jeans. White sneakers. Soft blue. You look like the main character in an indie film.
Lucien narrowed his eyes.
—I will push you off this parking lot.
Adrián leaned in slightly.
—You know what's worse?
Lucien held his gaze.
—What?
Adrián's voice dropped just enough to feel intentional.
—You look attractive and adorable at the same time. That's dangerous.
Lucien's ears turned slightly pink.
—You're exaggerating.
—Am I?—
Adrián's eyes lingered for a second too long—
The fringe makes your eyes stand out more.
Lucien swallowed lightly.
—Stop analyzing my face.
Adrián smirked.
—You do it to me all the time.
Touché.
The bus doors opened behind them.
Students began boarding.
Lucien adjusted his sleeves, regaining composure.
—You said this sweater was unnecessary.—
He reminded him calmly.
Adrián shrugged.
—I was wrong.
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
Adrián stepped closer as they walked toward the bus.
—Keep it.—
He said quietly—
It suits you more than you think.
Lucien didn't respond.
But as they climbed onto the bus, he didn't push his fringe back.
He let it fall exactly where it was.
And Adrián noticed
_________________________________________
The bus was already half chaos by the time they climbed in.
Backpacks stuffed overhead. Laughter too loud for that hour. Someone arguing about playlists. Someone already asleep.
It was a four day trip.
Which meant overpacking.
Which meant their bags were already stored beneath the bus.
Lucien slid into the window seat without discussion.
Adrián took the aisle.
The bus vibrated faintly as the engine started. Voices overlapped. Music leaked from someone's speakers in the back.
Lucien leaned his head lightly against the window.
Cold glass.
Outside, the city blurred slowly into motion.
Adrián stretched his legs slightly into the aisle.
—Four days is excessive.—
He muttered.
Lucien hummed faintly in response.
He had meant to stay awake.
He really had.
But the early hour. The cold morning. The constant studying from the past week. The rain from the night before.
It all caught up.
His posture slowly softened.
His crossed arms loosened.
His head tilted slightly to one side.
He blinked once.
Twice.
Adrián glanced at him mid-sentence.
—You're not actually going to fall asleep in the first ten minutes, are you?
Lucien straightened slightly.
—I'm awake.
His voice said awake.
His eyes said otherwise.
The bus hit a small bump.
Lucien's head shifted again, tilting faintly toward the aisle.
He blinked slower this time.
Adrián watched quietly.
Lucien tried to focus on something outside.
Failed.
His head dipped forward just slightly.
Then to the side.
Then back.
He forced his eyes open again.
—I'm fine.—
He murmured, barely audible.
Adrián smirked faintly.
—Sure you are.
Another turn in the road.
This time Lucien's head leaned farther.
Slowly.
Unintentionally.
Until it rested against Adrián's shoulder.
Silence.
Lucien stiffened faintly for half a second.
Then… didn't move.
His breathing evened out.
Adrián glanced down.
The blue sweater.
The soft fringe still falling over his forehead.
Eyes closed now.
Completely asleep.
Adrián shifted just slightly, adjusting his shoulder so it was more comfortable.
—Unnecessary sweater.—
He muttered under his breath.
Lucien didn't respond.
The bus remained loud.
But somehow, in that small space between window and aisle,
it felt quiet.
He left Adrián "alone."
Not exactly alone.
Lucien was literally right there, asleep on his shoulder.
But alone in the sense of bored. Trapped. Immobile.
Adrián had one earbud in, music playing softly while he scrolled through his phone with his free hand. Every now and then he glanced down at Lucien.
Still asleep.
Very asleep.
His head rested comfortably against Adrián's shoulder. The blue sweater slightly wrinkled at the collar. His fringe still perfectly in place, falling over his forehead like it had been styled by divine intervention.
It had been hours.
The bus ride was long. Too long.
At some point, Adrián's shoulder stopped existing.
Not numb in a normal way.
Numb in a catastrophic, this-is-how-limbs-die way.
He shifted slightly.
Big mistake.
Lucien instinctively leaned closer in his sleep.
Adrián froze.
—Unbelievable.—
He muttered under his breath.
He could have woken him.
He should have woken him.
But he didn't.
Instead, he endured it.
Scrolling. Music playing. Shoulder slowly surrendering to fate.
After nearly an hour of being used as a human pillow, Lucien stirred slightly.
Adrián immediately pretended to be deeply invested in his phone.
Lucien shifted, lifting his head just enough to adjust.
His eyes fluttered open.
For a second, he didn't move.
Didn't fully sit up.
He just stayed there, half-awake, still leaning lightly against Adrián's shoulder.
Blinking slowly.
Adrián didn't look at him.
—You done hibernating?—
He asked casually.
Lucien's voice came out soft.
—How long?
—Long enough.—
Adrián replied.
Lucien straightened slowly.
His hair was still perfect.
Of course it was.
He ran a hand lightly through it anyway, checking.
Adrián winced slightly as he moved his shoulder.
Lucien noticed.
—What?
Adrián shrugged.
—Nothing.
Lucien narrowed his eyes.
—Your shoulder.
Adrián tried to rotate it casually.
Immediate regret.
—It's fine.
Lucien stared at him.
—You didn't move.
—You were asleep.
A pause.
Lucien processed that.
—For how long?
Adrián hesitated.
—About an hour.
Lucien blinked.
—You're exaggerating.
Adrián raised an eyebrow.
—I lost circulation, Lucien.
Lucien looked almost… guilty.
Almost.
—You should've woken me up.
Adrián shrugged again.
—You looked tired.
Lucien didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he sat there for another minute.
Then two.
Then five.
Not fully awake.
Not fully moving.
Just staring ahead while the bus hummed along the highway.
Adrián glanced at him.
—Are you rebooting?
Lucien exhaled slowly.
—I'm thinking.
—That's dangerous.
Lucien finally turned toward him.
—Next time, wake me up.
Adrián smirked faintly.
—There will be a next time?
Lucien held his gaze for a second.
Then looked forward again.
—Statistically probable.
Adrián leaned back in his seat.
His shoulder still half-dead.
Worth it.
_________________________________________
They dragged their bags into the hotel lobby after four hours on the bus. Not long enough to be exhausted. Just long enough to be irritated.
The place buzzed with voices, rolling suitcases, and the echo of shoes on polished floors.
The teacher clapped her hands once.
—Alright, everyone. Quiet down.
The noise softened.
—For this four-day trip, you're getting your roommates by roulette.
A wave of reactions rippled through the group.
—Roulette?
—That's not fair.
—No way.
The teacher lifted a clipboard.
—No complaints. Whatever the wheel decides, that's final.
They waited.
Names started being called.
Some students sighed in relief.
Others looked like they had just lost a legal battle.
Then —
"Lucien Moreau and Adrián Castillo."
Adrián froze mid-step.
Lucien blinked once.
That was it.
At least they weren't alone. A few unlucky students were assigned single rooms, which somehow felt more tragic than sharing.
They took their keys and walked to the dorm floor.
The room was simple. Two beds. Two desks. One narrow window with city lights bleeding through the curtains.
They began unpacking.
Zippers opened. Hangers clicked.
Adrián broke the silence first.
—Out of everyone —he muttered— I got to roommate with you. So unfortunate.
Lucien didn't look up.
—Unfortunate? —he repeated, calm.
Adrián tossed a hoodie onto the bed.
—Yeah. My luck is terrible.
Lucien closed his suitcase with a soft snap.
—It's four days.
A pause.
—Try not to suffer too loudly.
Adrián smirked despite himself.
—We'll see who suffers.
The door clicked shut behind them.
Four days.
And roulette had a strange sense of humor.
Later that night, their room was quiet.
Not completely silent.
But compared to the hallway, where laughter echoed and doors kept slamming, it felt almost isolated.
Dim lamp light filled the space.
Lucien sat on his bed, back resting against the headboard, one leg slightly bent. His glasses rested neatly on his nose as he read, the soft blue sweater sleeves pushed up just enough to reveal his wrists. A book open in his hands. Focused. Calm.
Adrián lay across his own bed, one arm behind his head, the other holding his phone above his face. The screen light reflected faintly in his eyes.
Scroll. Scroll. Pause. Scroll again.
Silence stretched between them.
Comfortable.
Adrián glanced over.
Lucien hadn't moved in minutes.
—You're actually reading? —he asked.
Lucien didn't look up.
—I usually do that when I hold a book.
Adrián rolled his eyes.
—It's a trip. You're supposed to relax.
Lucien flipped a page.
—Reading is relaxing.
—That looks academic.
—It's fiction.
Adrián shifted onto his side to face him.
—You brought glasses just for aesthetic purposes, didn't you?
Lucien finally looked up slowly.
—They help me see.
—You look like you're about to critique my life choices.
Lucien's lips curved faintly.
—I could.
Adrián smirked.
—Do it.
Lucien adjusted his glasses slightly.
—You've been on your phone for thirty minutes and accomplished nothing.
Adrián blinked.
—That was personal.
Lucien returned to his book.
—Accurate.
Adrián stared at him for a second longer than necessary.
The glasses.
The sweater.
The soft concentration in his expression.
He looked—
Too composed.
Adrián locked his phone and tossed it onto the bed beside him.
—You know —he said casually— you look different with glasses at night.
Lucien didn't react immediately.
—Different how?
Adrián shrugged.
—Quieter.
Lucien glanced up again.
—The room is quiet.
Adrián held his gaze.
—That's not what I meant.
A pause.
Lucien slowly removed his glasses and set them on the bedside table.
—Go to sleep.
Adrián smirked faintly.
—Make me.
Lucien turned a page deliberately.
—Don't tempt me.
Outside, someone laughed loudly in the hallway.
Inside, their room stayed calm.
Contained.
Like something was always just about to happen,
but never quite did.
_________________________________________
Morning did not arrive gently.
It arrived with knocking.
Loud. Repeated. Persistent.
"Wake up! Breakfast in twenty minutes! We're leaving for the zoo!"
Adrián groaned into his pillow.
Lucien opened his eyes immediately, disoriented for half a second before remembering.
Four-day trip.
Hotel.
Shared room.
Adrián.
Another knock.
"Up!"
Lucien sat up, hair messy in every direction. He reached for his glasses blindly.
—We're awake.— he called out, voice still rough.
The footsteps moved away.
Adrián rolled onto his back dramatically.
—The zoo? At eight in the morning? That's illegal.
Lucien stood up, stretching slightly.
—You complain before consciousness fully loads.
—It's a talent.
They moved slowly at first.
Lucien went to the bathroom, splashed cold water on his face. The shock helped. He brushed his teeth with mechanical precision, then stepped aside when Adrián knocked on the door impatiently.
—You take too long.
—I take the correct amount of time.
They switched places.
Adrián showered fast. Too fast.
When he came out, hair damp and slightly messy, Lucien glanced at him briefly before looking away.
They changed.
Lucien chose something simple. Light shirt. Jeans. Clean sneakers.
Adrián pulled on a loose t-shirt and adjusted his hair in the mirror with unnecessary focus.
—You checking yourself out?— Lucien asked calmly.
—Quality control.
Lucien scoffed softly.
They packed small bags. Water bottles. Phones. Wallets.
Lucien made sure the room key was in his pocket twice.
Adrián grabbed it once and trusted fate.
The hallway was chaotic again. Doors closing. People half dressed. Someone already laughing too loudly.
They went downstairs for a quick breakfast. Coffee. Toast. Something fast.
Then outside.
Two buses waited.
The air was cooler than expected.
Adrián shoved his hands in his pockets.
—If a monkey steals my phone, I'm blaming you.
Lucien adjusted the strap of his bag.
—Why me?
—You look like you'd negotiate with wildlife instead of running.
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
—I absolutely would not run.
—Exactly.— Adrián nodded.
They boarded the bus again.
This time more awake.
Less sleepy.
More energy in the air.
Students talking about which animals they wanted to see. Someone arguing about taking pictures.
Lucien slid into a seat by the window again.
Adrián dropped beside him.
—If there are pandas, I'm staying there all day.— Adrián said.
Lucien looked at him.
—You are easily entertained.
—And you're emotionally attached to fictional dogs.
Lucien stared at him.
Adrián smirked.
The bus engine started.
The city passed by slowly.
And somewhere between the teasing and the movement of the road,
another day of the trip began
with them sitting just a little closer than necessary.
________________________________________
By the time they returned from the zoo, the sun had drained half of everyone's energy.
The hallway was louder than usual. Doors opening. People arguing about whose photos were better. Someone complaining about walking too much.
Their room, however, felt calm the second they stepped inside.
Adrián dropped onto his bed dramatically.
—My legs are suing me.—
Lucien closed the door behind them and set his bag down neatly.
—You spent twenty minutes staring at otters.
—They were holding hands.— Adrián defended.
Lucien rolled his eyes faintly but didn't argue.
Adrián unlocked his phone and started scrolling through the pictures.
Swipe.
Swipe.
Pause.
He smiled slightly.
Lucien noticed from his desk, where he was taking off his watch.
—What?
Adrián didn't look up.
—We took a lot.
Lucien walked closer without making it obvious he was curious.
Adrián tilted the phone slightly so Lucien could see.
There were pictures of everything.
The giraffes.
The lions half asleep in the shade.
A blurry monkey mid-jump.
Then—
A photo of Lucien standing near the glass of the aquarium exhibit. The light from the water reflecting softly against his face. His glasses slightly slipping down his nose. Completely unaware he was being photographed.
Lucien blinked.
—When did you take that?
Adrián shrugged.
—You looked focused.
Lucien narrowed his eyes slightly.
—Delete it.
—Why?
—Because I wasn't aware.
Adrián zoomed in slightly.
—You look calm.
Lucien tried to grab the phone.
Adrián pulled it away.
—Relax. It's a good picture.
Lucien sighed.
—You should've warned me.
Adrián kept scrolling.
There were selfies too.
One of them both squinting in the sunlight.
Another where Adrián looked normal and Lucien looked like he was tolerating existence.
Adrián laughed quietly.
—You look like I forced you to be there.
Lucien crossed his arms.
—I was evaluating the habitat conditions.
—You were watching penguins.
Lucien didn't respond.
Adrián's scrolling slowed.
He paused on one more photo.
It was subtle.
They were walking. Someone else had taken it.
They weren't posing.
Just side by side.
Close.
Lucien glanced at it.
Neither of them spoke for a second.
Adrián locked his phone gently.
—Not bad.— he muttered.
Lucien looked at him.
—The zoo?
Adrián shook his head slightly.
—The day.
Lucien's expression softened almost imperceptibly.
—You're sentimental.
Adrián lay back against the bed.
—Don't ruin it.
Lucien returned to his side of the room.
But this time, the silence between them felt full.
Not empty.