The mall was crowded when Victor and Ryan entered.
Ryan looked around excitedly while Victor walked beside him carrying two shopping bags already.
"Before we start shopping," Ryan said suddenly, stopping near the entrance.
Victor looked at him.
"What?"
"I want chocolate."
Victor stared at him for a second.
"You dragged me here for clothes and the first thing you want is chocolate?"
Ryan shrugged.
"I just want one."
Victor sighed and grabbed Ryan lightly by the wrist.
"Clothes first. Chocolate later."
Ryan groaned dramatically while being dragged toward the clothing section.
"You're a terrible mentor."
Victor smirked.
"And you're a very childish mentee."
They spent the next hour walking through different stores.
Ryan tried several shirts while Victor leaned against the wall watching.
Ryan held up a jacket.
"How does this look?"
Victor looked at him quietly.
Ryan frowned.
"You didn't even look properly."
Victor walked closer and fixed the collar slightly.
Now he looked at Ryan carefully.
"Better."
Ryan froze a little when Victor's fingers brushed near his neck.
"Yeah… okay… I'll buy this one."
Victor noticed the small reaction and smiled to himself.
Later they walked through the crowded mall corridor.
Someone suddenly bumped into Ryan from behind.
Before Ryan could lose balance, Victor grabbed his wrist quickly.
"Careful."
Ryan blinked.
"I'm fine."
Victor didn't let go immediately.
Ryan noticed but didn't say anything.
After a second Victor released his hand casually.
After finishing most of the shopping, Victor suddenly stopped in front of a small store.
"Wait here."
Ryan looked confused.
"Why?"
Victor didn't answer and walked inside.
A minute later he returned holding a chocolate bar.
Ryan's eyes lit up instantly.
"You remembered!"
Victor handed it to him casually.
Ryan opened it immediately
and took a bite.
The smile that appeared on his face was bright and genuine.
Victor stared at him without realizing.
That smile…
It felt strangely warm.
Ryan noticed him staring.
"What?"
Victor reached forward and gently adjusted Ryan's messy hair.
"You look ridiculous."
Ryan pouted while holding the chocolate.
"You bought it for me and now you're insulting me?"
Victor chuckled softly.
"Eat your chocolate."
Soon they headed to the parking lot.
Ryan sat in the passenger seat while Victor started the car.
A moment later Ryan frowned.
"My seatbelt isn't working."
Victor leaned over.
"Let me check."
The seatbelt was stuck slightly.
Victor pulled it harder.
As he leaned closer, their faces suddenly ended up inches apart.
Ryan stopped breathing.
Victor froze too.
For a second the world outside the car felt quiet.
They could hear each other's breathing.
Ryan's heartbeat started racing.
Victor noticed it.
And strangely his own heart began beating faster too.
Their eyes met.
Neither of them spoke.
Then Victor quickly pulled back and fixed the seatbelt.
"It's fine now."
Ryan nodded quietly.
Neither of them mentioned what just happened.
Victor started driving.
When they reached Ryan's house, Ryan opened the door to leave.
Victor handed him a small bag.
Ryan looked inside.
Another chocolate bar.
"You bought two?"
Victor shrugged.
"You looked like you'd
complain if I didn't."
Ryan laughed softly.
"You're nicer than you pretend."
Victor didn't reply.
Ryan waved before walking inside.
But as he entered the house, he felt something strange in his chest.
A warm feeling.
Why did my heart beat like that earlier…
Meanwhile Victor sat in the car for a moment longer.
A memory appeared in his mind.
Flashback
On the freshers day Victor had been standing with the other seniors.
That was when he first noticed
Ryan in the crowd.
The cheerful boy laughing
with his friends.
Victor didn't know why, but he kept glancing at him.
If I get a mentee… I hope it's that guy, he thought jokingly.
But Ryan never came that day.
Victor assumed he was unlucky.
The next day the list changed.
"Ryan Parker," someone called.
Victor looked up.
"That's your mentee," another senior told him.
He got the record and looked at his photo he realised it was boy from freshers day.
Victor blinked in surprise.
Seriously?
But later something else surprised him.
While Adrian opened his wallet, Victor accidentally saw a family photo inside.
Ryan was in the picture.
Victor pointed at it.
"Who's that?"
Adrian answered casually.
"My brother."
Victor almost choked.
Your brother?!
Since then, Victor had felt a little nervous.
Dating Adrian's brother sounded dangerous.
(End of flashback)
Back in the present, Victor leaned back in his seat.
"Why am I thinking about
him this much…"
That night both of them lay
in their beds.
Ryan stared at the ceiling.
Victor did the same in his apartment.
Ryan kept remembering:
Victor buying chocolate.
Victor grabbing his wrist in the crowd.
Victor adjusting his hair.
Victor leaning close in the car.
Ryan buried his face in the pillow.
Why does my chest feel like this…
Across the city Victor sighed quietly.
For the first time in a long time—
he couldn't stop thinking
about someone.
And that someone was Ryan Parker.