Late afternoon light spilled through the dorm window, warm and lazy after a long day out.
Lucien was sitting at the desk, glasses on, pretending to review notes from the trip. In reality, he had read the same sentence three times.
Behind him, there was suspicious silence.
Too suspicious.
Then—
Fabric rustling.
A drawer closing.
And Adrián's voice.
—This is tragic.
Lucien didn't turn around.
—What now?
Adrián was standing in front of the mirror, shirt lifted slightly, twisting his torso left and right like he was preparing for a fitness commercial.
—Look at this.— he muttered. —I really got fat during these two days. I need to get back to the gym.
Lucien slowly lowered his pen.
Turned his head.
Adrián had a toned torso. Not exaggerated. Not sculpted like marble. Just naturally defined. Lean lines. Visible abs when he flexed slightly.
Absolutely no sign of "tragic."
Lucien blinked once.
—You ate three extra meals.
Adrián squinted at his reflection.
—Exactly.
He sucked in slightly.
—There. See? Ruined.
Lucien stared at him in disbelief.
—That's called breathing.
Adrián ignored him and turned sideways, checking angles.
—My definition is gone.
Lucien stood up slowly and walked closer, stopping a few steps behind him.
—You're delusional.
Adrián glanced at him through the mirror.
—You don't see it?
Lucien looked.
Unfortunately, he did see it.
Very clearly.
Which was the problem.
—No.— he said flatly.
Adrián flexed slightly.
—Be honest.
Lucien crossed his arms.
—You're fine.
Adrián lowered his shirt halfway but didn't fully drop it.
—Fine isn't optimal.
Lucien exhaled slowly.
—You've been without a gym for forty-eight hours.
Adrián frowned at himself.
—Discipline never sleeps.
Lucien stepped closer without thinking.
—You're being dramatic.
Adrián looked at him again through the mirror.
—So you're saying I don't look worse?
Lucien held his gaze.
—You look the same.
A pause.
Then, quieter—
—You look good.
Adrián blinked.
Lucien immediately realized what he'd said.
Too late.
Adrián slowly lowered his shirt.
—Good?
Lucien straightened.
—Objectively.
Adrián's mouth curved slightly.
—Objectively?
Lucien adjusted his glasses.
—Don't make it strange.
Adrián turned fully to face him now.
—You were staring.
Lucien did not break eye contact.
—I was evaluating your unnecessary crisis.
Adrián stepped closer.
Not too close.
Just enough.
—And your conclusion?
Lucien's voice remained steady.
—Go to the gym when we get back.
A beat.
—But stop pretending you gained weight in two days.
Adrián studied his face for a moment.
Then smirked.
—You noticed.
Lucien rolled his eyes and walked back to the desk.
—You were standing in front of a mirror like a distressed influencer.
Adrián laughed under his breath and flopped onto the bed.
—Still. Good to know I'm "objectively" good.
Lucien didn't look back.
But his ears were slightly pink.
And Adrián definitely noticed that too
Lucien turned in his chair, the soft squeak of it cutting through the quiet.
—Look at this— he said, lifting his iPad and angling it toward Adrián, his expression suddenly more awake, more… alive.
On the screen, there were doodles.
But not just doodles.
Clean lines, soft shading, tiny details tucked into corners like secrets. Little characters, expressions, notes scribbled in the margins. It was chaotic… but intentional.
Adrián leaned back against the bed, one arm behind his head, eyes half-lidded as he looked.
—You call these doodles?— he muttered.
Lucien ignored that completely.
—So basically— he began, already shifting closer, sitting on the edge of the bed without asking —this one here represents emotional imbalance, right? But not in a literal sense. It's more like… a conceptual distortion of perception.
He zoomed in dramatically.
—You see how the eyes are slightly asymmetrical? That's intentional. It reflects internal instability. And the line weight— look at the variation— it's heavier on one side to symbolize emotional pressure.
Adrián nodded slowly.
—Yeah.
Lucien kept going.
—And this— this is where it gets interesting. The small scribbles around the head? Those aren't random. They represent intrusive thoughts. Not fully formed, just fragments. That's why they don't connect.
Adrián nodded again.
—Makes sense.
Lucien pointed again, more animated now.
—And the posture— slightly hunched— suggests defensiveness, but also exhaustion. It's like the body is protecting itself while collapsing at the same time.
Adrián blinked once.
—Deep.
Lucien didn't stop.
—Exactly. It's layered. Because if you look closer— here— the hands aren't fully drawn. That's intentional too. It's about identity loss. Lack of control. The idea that you're present but not… complete.
Adrián nodded again, same calm expression.
—Yeah, yeah.
Lucien narrowed his eyes slightly.
—Are you actually listening?
—Of course I am.
—Then what did I just say?
Adrián didn't even hesitate.
—Something about… emotional instability… and hands disappearing.
Lucien stared at him.
—That's not even—
—No, wait— Adrián added calmly, lifting a finger —intrusive thoughts. Scribbles. Pressure. Conceptual… something.
Lucien paused.
…That was actually close enough.
He looked back at the iPad, then at Adrián.
—You're annoying.
Adrián smirked slightly.
—And yet I'm still your audience.
Lucien huffed softly, but there was a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
—Anyway— he continued, quieter now —it's not finished yet.
Adrián tilted his head.
—It's good.
Lucien blinked.
—You weren't even paying attention.
—Didn't need to.
A small pause.
Adrián's voice stayed casual.
—You like it. That's enough.
Lucien looked at him for a second longer than necessary.
Then turned back to his iPad.
—…I do.
Adrián closed his eyes again, settling back into the pillow.
Still nodding slightly…
Even though Lucien had stopped explaining five seconds ago.
Adrián stretched lazily, grabbing his phone from the bed as he stood up.
—I'm going to the lobby restaurant to get some food and come back— he said, already heading toward the door.
Lucien didn't even look up from his iPad.
—Bring me something— he said, completely serious, like it was an obligation written into law.
Adrián stopped at the door, hand on the handle, and turned his head slowly.
—"Something"?— he repeated, raising an eyebrow. —That's your order? Just… something?
Lucien finally glanced up, unimpressed.
—Yes. Something edible. Preferably not suspicious.
Adrián scoffed softly.
—You're unbelievable.
—And yet— Lucien replied, tapping his pencil against the screen —you're still going.
A pause.
Adrián smirked.
—What if I bring you the worst thing on the menu?
Lucien shrugged.
—Then I'll complain.
—You'll complain anyway.
—Exactly.
Adrián let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he opened the door.
—You're so high maintenance for someone who eats like a bird.
Lucien frowned slightly.
—Excuse you, I eat selectively.
—Yeah. Selectively annoying.
Lucien rolled his eyes and went back to his iPad.
—Just don't take too long.
Adrián stepped out into the hallway.
—No promises.
—Adrián.
He paused again, sighing.
—What.
Lucien looked at him this time, more directly.
—No mushrooms.
Adrián stared at him for a second.
—You could've said that earlier.
—You asked.
—I didn't.
—You implied it.
Adrián shook his head, half smiling.
—You're impossible.
Lucien gave a small, satisfied nod.
—And yet… you're still bringing me food.
Adrián huffed under his breath and finally left, the door clicking shut behind him.
Lucien stayed there for a moment, staring at the screen… before muttering quietly to himself—
—If he brings mushrooms, I'm ending the friendship.Chapter Six
Late afternoon light spilled through the dorm window, warm and lazy after a long day out.
Lucien was sitting at the desk, glasses on, pretending to review notes from the trip. In reality, he had read the same sentence three times.
Behind him, there was suspicious silence.
Too suspicious.
Then—
Fabric rustling.
A drawer closing.
And Adrián's voice.
—This is tragic.
Lucien didn't turn around.
—What now?
Adrián was standing in front of the mirror, shirt lifted slightly, twisting his torso left and right like he was preparing for a fitness commercial.
—Look at this.— he muttered. —I really got fat during these two days. I need to get back to the gym.
Lucien slowly lowered his pen.
Turned his head.
Adrián had a toned torso. Not exaggerated. Not sculpted like marble. Just naturally defined. Lean lines. Visible abs when he flexed slightly.
Absolutely no sign of "tragic."
Lucien blinked once.
—You ate three extra meals.
Adrián squinted at his reflection.
—Exactly.
He sucked in slightly.
—There. See? Ruined.
Lucien stared at him in disbelief.
—That's called breathing.
Adrián ignored him and turned sideways, checking angles.
—My definition is gone.
Lucien stood up slowly and walked closer, stopping a few steps behind him.
—You're delusional.
Adrián glanced at him through the mirror.
—You don't see it?
Lucien looked.
Unfortunately, he did see it.
Very clearly.
Which was the problem.
—No.— he said flatly.
Adrián flexed slightly.
—Be honest.
Lucien crossed his arms.
—You're fine.
Adrián lowered his shirt halfway but didn't fully drop it.
—Fine isn't optimal.
Lucien exhaled slowly.
—You've been without a gym for forty-eight hours.
Adrián frowned at himself.
—Discipline never sleeps.
Lucien stepped closer without thinking.
—You're being dramatic.
Adrián looked at him again through the mirror.
—So you're saying I don't look worse?
Lucien held his gaze.
—You look the same.
A pause.
Then, quieter—
—You look good.
Adrián blinked.
Lucien immediately realized what he'd said.
Too late.
Adrián slowly lowered his shirt.
—Good?
Lucien straightened.
—Objectively.
Adrián's mouth curved slightly.
—Objectively?
Lucien adjusted his glasses.
—Don't make it strange.
Adrián turned fully to face him now.
—You were staring.
Lucien did not break eye contact.
—I was evaluating your unnecessary crisis.
Adrián stepped closer.
Not too close.
Just enough.
—And your conclusion?
Lucien's voice remained steady.
—Go to the gym when we get back.
A beat.
—But stop pretending you gained weight in two days.
Adrián studied his face for a moment.
Then smirked.
—You noticed.
Lucien rolled his eyes and walked back to the desk.
—You were standing in front of a mirror like a distressed influencer.
Adrián laughed under his breath and flopped onto the bed.
—Still. Good to know I'm "objectively" good.
Lucien didn't look back.
But his ears were slightly pink.
And Adrián definitely noticed that too.
Adrián stretched lazily, grabbing his phone from the bed as he stood up.
—I'm going to the lobby restaurant to get some food and come back— he said, already heading toward the door.
Lucien didn't even look up from his iPad.
—Bring me something— he said, completely serious, like it was an obligation written into law.
Adrián stopped at the door, hand on the handle, and turned his head slowly.
—"Something"?— he repeated, raising an eyebrow. —That's your order? Just… something?
Lucien finally glanced up, unimpressed.
—Yes. Something edible. Preferably not suspicious.
Adrián scoffed softly.
—You're unbelievable.
—And yet— Lucien replied, tapping his pencil against the screen —you're still going.
A pause.
Adrián smirked.
—What if I bring you the worst thing on the menu?
Lucien shrugged.
—Then I'll complain.
—You'll complain anyway.
—Exactly.
Adrián let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he opened the door.
—You're so high maintenance for someone who eats like a bird.
Lucien frowned slightly.
—Excuse you, I eat selectively.
—Yeah. Selectively annoying.
Lucien rolled his eyes and went back to his iPad.
—Just don't take too long.
Adrián stepped out into the hallway.
—No promises.
—Adrián.
He paused again, sighing.
—What.
Lucien looked at him this time, more directly.
—No mushrooms.
Adrián stared at him for a second.
—You could've said that earlier.
—You asked.
—I didn't.
—You implied it.
Adrián shook his head, half smiling.
—You're impossible.
Lucien gave a small, satisfied nod.
—And yet… you're still bringing me food.
Adrián huffed under his breath and finally left, the door clicking shut behind him.
Lucien stayed there for a moment, staring at the screen… before muttering quietly to himself—
—If he brings mushrooms, I'm ending the friendship.
The door clicked open again not too long after, the faint noise of the hallway slipping inside before it closed behind him.
Adrián walked in with a small paper bag in one hand and two drinks in the other, kicking the door shut with his foot.
—You better be alive— he said, setting everything down on the table. —Because I fought three people for this.
Lucien didn't even look up at first.
—You didn't fight anyone.
—In my mind I did. Very aggressively.
Lucien finally glanced over, eyes immediately landing on the bag.
—Did you get mushrooms?
Adrián paused on purpose, slowly pulling things out one by one.
—Let's see…— he said, dragging it out. —Food… drink… disappointment…
Lucien narrowed his eyes.
—Adrián.
He smirked, placing a container in front of him.
—Relax. No mushrooms. I enjoy being your friend.
Lucien opened it carefully, inspecting it like a critic judging a five-star restaurant.
—Hmm.
—"Hmm" what.
—Acceptable.
—Acceptable?— Adrián repeated, offended. —I went downstairs, stood in line, ignored people, came back up, and I get "acceptable"?
Lucien took a bite, chewing slowly, thinking.
—Yes.
A pause.
—It's good.
Adrián dropped dramatically onto the bed.
—Unbelievable. No appreciation.
Lucien took another bite, calmer now.
—You want appreciation?
—Yes.
Lucien swallowed, then looked at him.
—Thank you.
Adrián blinked.
—…That's it?
Lucien nodded.
—That's all you're getting.
Adrián scoffed, grabbing his own food.
—You're so stingy.
—And yet you keep feeding me.
—That's because you'd starve without me.
Lucien raised an eyebrow.
—Bold assumption.
Adrián pointed at him with his fork.
—You literally ordered "something."
Lucien leaned back slightly, holding his drink.
—It worked, didn't it?
Adrián stared at him for a second… then laughed under his breath.
—You're actually ridiculous.
Lucien took a sip, satisfied.
—And you still came back.
Adrián shook his head, smiling faintly as he started eating.
—Yeah… I did.
_________________________________________
Four days.
That's all it took.
Four days of noise, lights, rides, chlorine, bad food, worse decisions… and somehow, it still felt short.
And now—
They were back.
Back to the gray walls.
Back to schedules.
Back to the slow, suffocating routine of university.
Adrián called it a prison.
Lucien didn't disagree.
—
The classroom felt smaller than usual.
Or maybe it was just the contrast.
Adrián sat slouched in his chair, one arm resting lazily on the desk, eyes fixed on the board… but not really seeing it.
The professor kept talking.
And talking.
And talking.
—So if we analyze the structural implications—
Bla, bla, bla.
—We can observe that the theoretical model—
Bla, bla, bla, bla.
Adrián blinked slowly.
The voice had turned into background noise somewhere around ten minutes ago.
At this point, it didn't even sound like words anymore.
Just… sound.
—…and that's why the concept becomes fundamental in—
Bla.
Bla.
Bla.
Adrián shifted slightly in his seat, glancing sideways.
Lucien looked exactly the same.
Sitting straight.
Glasses on.
Eyes on the board.
Expression completely blank.
Like he was trying to pay attention…
…but failing silently.
Adrián leaned a little closer.
—Do you understand anything? —he muttered under his breath.
Lucien didn't even look at him.
—No.
A pause.
—You?
—Absolutely not.
Another pause.
—Good.
Lucien finally blinked, just once.
—He's been talking for twenty minutes.
—Thirty.
—That's worse.
Adrián exhaled slowly, dragging his hand down his face.
—We were at an amusement park two days ago.
Lucien nodded slightly.
—Now we're here.
—Tragic.
Lucien's lips twitched just a little.
Not a smile.
But close enough.
At the front, the professor turned around, still speaking like nothing had changed.
—Any questions?
Silence.
Not a single soul moved.
Adrián leaned back in his chair.
—Yeah, I have one.
Lucien turned slightly.
—Don't.
—When do we leave?
Lucien closed his eyes briefly.
—Don't say that out loud.
Adrián sighed dramatically but stayed quiet.
Barely.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
A small piece of paper slid onto Lucien's desk.
He looked down.
Adrián's handwriting.
Messy.
Unbothered.
"Let's skip next class."
Lucien stared at it for a second.
Then slowly grabbed his pen.
Wrote something back.
Pushed it over.
Adrián read it.
"No."
He frowned immediately.
Looked at him.
—You're boring.
Lucien didn't look away from the board.
—You're irresponsible.
Adrián leaned closer again.
—We just came back from vacation.
—Exactly.
—That's more reason to not be here.
Lucien finally turned his head slightly.
—That's not how that works.
Adrián smirked.
—It is for me.
A pause.
Then, quieter—
—Come on.
Lucien hesitated.
Just for a second.
Adrián noticed.
Of course he did.
—See? You're thinking about it.
—No, I'm not.
—You are.
Lucien exhaled softly, looking back at the board again.
The professor was still talking.
Still going.
Still…
endless.
Another pause.
Then—
Lucien spoke, low.
—After this class.
Adrián blinked.
—What?
Lucien adjusted his glasses.
—We leave after this class.
A beat.
Adrián grinned.
—I knew it.
Lucien didn't react.
—Don't make it a big deal.
—It is a big deal.
—It's not.
—You're literally skipping class.
Lucien glanced at him.
—You're a bad influence.
Adrián leaned back, satisfied.
—And yet… here you are.
Lucien looked forward again.
But this time—
He wasn't even pretending to listen anymore
The bell rang.
Finally.
Not loud enough to feel like freedom… but enough.
Chairs scraped.
Backpacks zipped.
People started leaving like they had just been released from something they didn't sign up for.
Adrián stretched in his seat, arms up, back cracking slightly.
—Freedom.
Lucien stood up calmly, fixing his sleeves.
—Temporary.
Adrián glanced at him.
—So… we're leaving?
Lucien didn't answer immediately.
At the front, the professor spoke again.
—Reminder. If anyone starts skipping classes again, your grades will be affected.
A collective groan filled the room.
Adrián froze mid-movement.
Slowly lowered his arms.
—…That sounds like a threat.
Lucien picked up his bag.
—It is.
Adrián clicked his tongue.
—Wow. They hate happiness.
Lucien adjusted the strap on his shoulder.
—Or they like attendance.
Adrián stared at the door for a second.
Temptation.
Freedom.
Risk.
Then—
—Fine.
Lucien glanced at him.
—That was fast.
—I like my grades.
—You were ready to leave five seconds ago.
—Growth.
Lucien rolled his eyes slightly and walked out.
Adrián followed.
—
The rest of the classes dragged.
Not as bad.
But not good either.
Just… there.
By the time everything ended, the sun was already lower, the day feeling heavier than it should.
—
Adrián's apartment.
Quiet.
He dropped his bag near the couch, running a hand through his hair as he walked in.
—Finally—
The door opened behind him.
No knock.
No warning.
Just—
Click.
Adrián didn't even turn around at first.
—You know, normal people knock—
He turned.
Lucien was already inside.
Like he lived there.
Like this wasn't unusual.
Which… it wasn't.
Adrián stared at him for a second.
Then leaned slightly against the counter, arms crossing.
—You don't have your own apartment a few floors up?
Lucien closed the door behind him, calm as ever.
—Yes.
—Then what are you doing here?
Lucien walked past him without answering, heading straight toward the couch like he had a reserved seat.
—Your place is closer.
Adrián blinked.
—Closer to what?
Lucien dropped his bag down and sat, already getting comfortable.
—To not going upstairs.
A pause.
Adrián stared at him.
—…That's your reason?
Lucien leaned back slightly.
—Yes.
Adrián let out a short laugh, shaking his head.
—You're unbelievable.
Lucien glanced at him.
—And yet, you gave me a key.
—That was a mistake.
—You say that every time.
—Because it is every time.
Lucien ignored that completely, looking around briefly.
—Do you have food?
Adrián scoffed.
—You just walked in.
—And?
—And your first question is food?
Lucien looked at him, serious.
—Yes.
Adrián stared at him for a second…
Then sighed, turning toward the kitchen.
—You're actually a problem.
Lucien leaned back into the couch, completely unbothered.
—You'll survive.
Adrián opened a cabinet.
—Barely.
A pause.
Then, louder—
—Why didn't you just go to your apartment?
Lucien rested his head back, eyes half-lidded.
—It's quiet there.
Adrián froze slightly.
Turned his head just a bit.
—…And?
Lucien shrugged.
—Didn't feel like it.
A small silence settled.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… there.
Adrián grabbed something from the fridge.
Closed it.
—So you came here instead.
Lucien nodded once.
—Yes.
Adrián leaned against the counter again, watching him.
—You're annoying.
Lucien didn't even open his eyes.
—You've said that already.
—And I'll say it again.
—Okay.
A pause.
Then Adrián walked over, tossing something lightly onto the table in front of him.
—Eat.
Lucien opened one eye.
Looked at it.
—Acceptable.
Adrián blinked.
—You didn't even try it.
Lucien closed his eye again.
—I trust my judgment.
Adrián stared at him…
Then laughed under his breath.
—You're impossible.
Lucien shifted slightly on the couch, already settling in like he wasn't leaving anytime soon