The next morning, Kai woke up with one problem. He couldn’t stop thinking about Adrian’s hand. It was ridiculous. Completely ridiculous. Kai stared at the ceiling for several seconds before pulling the blanket over his face. “Get a grip.” His own voice sounded unimpressed. Unfortunately, his heart didn’t seem interested in listening. Last night hadn’t been dramatic. There had been no grand confession, no extravagant gift, and no ridiculous promise that they would spend every waking moment together. Just dinner. A walk. A conversation. And Adrian holding his hand as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Kai turned onto his side. Then immediately remembered the way Adrian had looked at him when he’d said, I like you too. His face warmed. “Why did I say that?” A knock sounded on his bedroom door. Before Kai could answer, Noah pushed it open. “Are you awake?” “No.” Noah stared at him. “You’re talking.” “I’m sleep-talking.” “You’ve been awake for twenty minutes.” Kai sat up. “How do you know?” “Mum sent me to wake you up ten minutes ago.” Kai glanced at the clock. He was late. Again. “Why didn’t you wake me?” “I wanted to see how long you’d suffer.” Kai threw a pillow at him. Noah laughed and disappeared down the hallway. Kai got dressed quickly, grabbed his bag, and hurried into the kitchen. His mother placed breakfast in front of him. “You need to eat.” “I will.” “You always say that.” “And I always survive.” His father looked up from his chair. “That’s not something to be proud of.” Kai smiled. “I’ll be careful.” His phone buzzed. Kai instinctively reached for it. His heart gave a small, embarrassing jump. Not Adrian. Ethan. Ethan: You’re alive? Kai typed back. Kai: Unfortunately. A second message appeared. Ethan: Good. I need you alive for today’s anatomy lecture. Kai slipped the phone into his pocket. Then paused. He hadn’t realized until that moment that part of him had been hoping to see Adrian’s name. That realization followed him all the way to university. ⸻ By lunchtime, Kai had already convinced himself he was being perfectly normal. He attended lectures. He answered Professor Carter’s questions. He argued with Ethan over a textbook. He even managed to finish half of the sandwich he’d brought from home before Ethan stole the other half. Everything was normal. Except Kai kept checking his phone. Once. Twice. Then again. Ethan finally noticed. “Are you expecting an important message?” “No.” “Then why do you keep looking at your phone?” “I’m checking the time.” Ethan looked at the clock on the wall. “The clock is literally five feet away.” Kai ignored him. Daniel approached their table carrying two coffees. “One for you.” He handed a cup to Kai. “Thanks.” Daniel smiled. “I remembered you like it without sugar.” Kai nodded. “That’s thoughtful.” Ethan watched the exchange carefully. Daniel sat down beside them. “Are you free after class?” Kai hesitated. “I have work.” “Right.” Daniel’s smile remained, but something in his expression changed. Not anger. Not jealousy. Just understanding. “You’ve been different lately.” Kai looked at him. “Different how?” Daniel shrugged. “Like you’re somewhere else even when you’re here.” Ethan suddenly became very interested in his textbook. Kai frowned. “Am I?” “Sometimes.” Daniel took a sip of his coffee. “Did something happen?” Kai thought about last night. Adrian’s voice. His hand. The quiet way he’d said he could wait. Kai looked down at his coffee. “Maybe.” Daniel studied him for a moment. Then he smiled. “Whoever it is, I hope they make you happy.” Kai looked up. There was no accusation in Daniel’s voice. That somehow made it harder. “Daniel…” “It’s okay.” Daniel stood. “I’ve got class.” He gave Kai a small smile before leaving. Ethan waited until Daniel was out of earshot. Then he leaned across the table. “Well.” Kai sighed. “Don’t.” “I didn’t say anything.” “Your face did.” Ethan grinned. “Your face is doing more talking than your mouth these days.” Kai rolled his eyes. But his smile didn’t disappear. ⸻ Across the city, Adrian was having a very different morning. His office was filled with people. Executives. Legal advisers. Department heads. Everyone had something to say. Adrian listened, asked questions, made decisions, and moved through the meeting with his usual efficiency. Nobody would have guessed that, sometime around ten that morning, he had looked at his phone three times. Marcus noticed. He always noticed. The meeting finally ended shortly after noon. Adrian closed the folder in front of him. “That’s all.” The executives left. Marcus remained. “You have lunch with the investment committee at one.” “Move it to two.” Marcus raised an eyebrow. “Why?” “I have work.” “You always have work.” Adrian looked at him. Marcus smiled innocently. “Just pointing out a fact.” Adrian ignored him. His phone was still on the table. No new messages. He wasn’t expecting one. At least, that was what he told himself. Then he remembered Kai’s smile the night before. And the warmth of Kai’s hand in his. Adrian leaned back. For a man who had spent most of his life controlling every detail around him, he found himself strangely comfortable with something he couldn’t control. Wanting someone. Marcus watched him quietly. “Sir?” Adrian looked up. “What?” “Nothing.” Marcus picked up the documents. “I’ll move the meeting.” When he reached the door, Adrian spoke. “Marcus.” “Yes?” “Do you think I’m being distracted?” Marcus turned around. There was a pause. “Would you like the honest answer?” “No.” Marcus smiled. “Then no.” He left before Adrian could respond. Adrian almost smiled. Almost. ⸻ That evening, Kai worked his restaurant shift. The place was crowded, and there was barely enough time to breathe. By nine, his feet hurt. By ten, his shoulders ached. By ten-thirty, he was exhausted. Yet when his shift ended, Kai found himself standing outside the restaurant with his phone in his hand. Nothing. He stared at the screen. Then laughed quietly at himself. “Seriously?” He put the phone away. A moment later, it buzzed. Kai pulled it out immediately. This time, it was Adrian. Adrian: How was your day? Kai stared at the message. A smile slowly appeared on his face. Kai: Busy. The reply came almost immediately. Adrian: Mine too. Kai smiled. Kai: That’s a very exciting conversation. There was a pause. Then: Adrian: I’m trying. Kai laughed. He could almost hear Adrian saying it in that calm, serious voice. Kai: You’re doing terribly. Adrian: I’ll improve. Kai stared at the screen. Something about that answer felt strangely intimate. Not because Adrian had said anything romantic. Because Adrian was trying. For him. Kai typed slowly. Kai: You don’t have to. The response took longer this time. Adrian: I know. Then another message appeared. Adrian: I want to. Kai’s smile faded into something softer. He didn’t know what to say to that. So he told the truth. Kai: I missed talking to you. Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again. Finally: Adrian: I missed talking to you too. Kai stood beneath the restaurant’s fading lights, staring at those words. For the first time, the distance between them didn’t feel like distance. It felt like something they were both choosing to cross slowly. No rushing. No promises. Just one message at a time. Kai slipped his phone into his pocket and started walking home. Halfway down the street, he stopped. He smiled to himself. Maybe missing someone wasn’t always painful. Sometimes, it was simply proof that someone had become important.

The Things We Don’t Say