Until You [BL]

Chapter 10 - A sprinkling of sugar

Term seems to pass by in a blink of an eye. Finals is in a couple of weeks and revising needs to be started now. Unfortunately, River's phone started acting up that morning and before lunch time automatically powered itself off and no matter how River tries, refuses to turn on. She asked Fallon if they can go to Power Mac after class. She's going to inquire about her apple care plan and in case her phone's not salvageable anymore, get a new one immediately.

At Power Mac later, as River inquires at the counter, Fallon decided to browse the iPads displayed. He wanted to get a newer iPad since his iPad Air has been with him for like forever it seems. As he was testing an iPad Pro, he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Hey Fallon!" It was Alfred, the guy he met when he and Ash were at the buffet. He's with a couple of guy friends.

"H-hey!" Fallon mimicked softly.

"About to buy a tablet?" Alfred inquired.

"Considering it but I am actually with a friend who's looking for a new phone." Fallon informed him rather uncomfortably.

Alfred, sensing Fallon's awkwardness said, "Ah ok. We'll go ahead then." to which Fallon just nodded.

As Alfred and the 2 guys left Power Mac, one friend commented: "Gwapo and looks well mannered, Boyfriend material."

Alfred fake punched his friend on the biceps saying, "Don't even think about it, he's Alexis' boy!"

His other friend gasped and the one who commented exclaimed, "Alexis? Hidalgo? No chance then...bummer!"

***

After their Power Mac visit, where River ended up buying a new phone and Fallon not buying the iPad he's eyeing, Fallon and River decided to have coffee and pastries at the ground floor of the mall.

"So Falls, how are you and Ash?", River teasingly asked Fallon

Fallon looked at her with a little frown and immediately denied, "There is no me and Ash. Please don't say things like that at school or people will think I have delusions over Ash."

"Oh please, anyone with eyes can see that he treats you differently. For one, nobody will go out of their way to have lunch with you that often considering our faculty is isolated from the rest of the univ. Also, why would he message you so often about his whereabouts if he is not interested in you?" River pointed out.

Fallon sighed but did not speak for about a minute. Then as if resigned to his fate of finally admitting something he rather not divulge,

"The thing is, Ash is so handsome, one will forget his line of thought if they look into those molten lava eyes. He is so handsome, people will think they are special to him if he give them even just a bit of attention. He is so handsome, people will low-key hate you when you are close to him.

He's handsome in all the ways one can be called handsome. He's good looking, he's smart, he looks scary but he's really nice. A kind of handsome that's coming from inside him, from the goodness and the confidence he has as a person. Ash is so handsome, it's so hard to be friends with him. "

'And I mean it in all the ways that last phrase can be interpreted', Fallon Added silently

River's eye brightened as she listens to Fallon's speech. "Aww Falls, you seem to like him a lot."

"Yes – Maybe, I don't know. But what I do know is that, although I'm afraid to lose him as a friend, I am also starting to get scared that I am too close to him. I cannot afford another loss River."

After saying that, Fallon's face lost all color because a person appeared right outside the coffee shop's glass wall whose shadow were casted on him and River. When he looked up, he was greeted with Ash's serious face.

"I was looking for you. You ignored my messages." Ash complained as he stood beside River's chair and looking at Fallon's face. He then turned to River saying, "Archer's idling outside waiting for you. Go before he gets a ticket."

River secretly waved her fingers at Fallon as goodbye then walked fast towards Archer who's signaling for her to hurry up.

Ash sat down on the seat vacated by River and glanced at the menu board of the coffee shop. He then faced Fallon asking, "Want another slice of that?" pointing at his cheesecake.

"No, I'm fine, go ahead and order."

Ash got in line at the counter and returned to the table after he placed his order.

He reached out between them for Fallon's hand. Not really holding them but more of playing with his fingers by plucking at them like guitar strings. "So, did you buy a new iPad?", Ash asked after a server placed his coffee on their table.

Fallon confused, "How did you know I was considering buying an iPad?"

"Alfred messaged me." Ash explained.

"Oh, no I ended up not buying it because..." Fallon's words were interrupted because a server placed a sticky cinnamon roll on their table.

"You ordered this? Told you I don't want another pastry." Fallon complained.

"Tsk, it's for me."

"Huh? Thought you don't like sweet things?"

Ash looked straight into Fallon's eyes, completely enveloped both of Fallon's hands, and said, "I crave a sprinkling of sugar every now and then. ", and before he finished his sentence, his right hand reached out towards Fallon face then his thumb rubbed Fallon's lips. Ash followed his own thumb's action and looked at Fallon's lips that he is rubbing while slightly biting his own lower lip.