𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐃𝐒 .

16.

𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧'𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐯.

his stomach full and his bag packed, mahi'ai let out a little sigh of content as he held onto his black duffel bag, eyeing the brunette who came to a stop right in front of the house they had just circled back from a mere hour ago.

"t'anks." mahi'ai murmured in reference to the small container of cookies he held in his hand, looking over at zayn who had silently pulled aside to one of the multitudes of restaurants he seemed to know, silently beckoning to mahi'ai after the boy had mindlessly voiced his want for dessert on the way back. while he couldn't exactly be described as a perfect gentleman, the more time mahi'ai spent around him the more time it stroked the gentle admiration of the boy next to him, not only in his adoration for him, but in his perception of his character. despite the consistent nerve that hung around mahi'ai when around zayn, he found it increasingly easy to overcome. there was no doubt that zayn was intimidating; his silence was a mask he never seemed to take off, but it helped knowing it wasn't simply an expression of bias towards mahi'ai. zayn was easy to be around, and easy to be comfortable around, almost to the extent of a friend, something mahi'ai would definitely go as far as to label the brunette who he insistently told himself could be considered as nothing else.

even so, being around him to such a close extent and being treated so nicely didn't help. mahi'ai almost wished that he wouldn't be as agreeable, so he could give him a bad label- one that he was supposedly benefited by assigning him anyways. it would help resolve the conflicting feelings the mere sight of him imprinted deeper into his chest, something the hopelessly sweet boy couldn't help but to suffer, completely unaware of the special treatment he received that was not at all zayn's natural disposition.

"you welcome." zayn murmured, a bit confused as he stared over at the boy who unintentionally lingered. it wasn't that the brunette minded- it simply the way the boy seemed to open his eyes up to him in such an intense utpour zayn could practically see what was going on in his pretty little head. it sparked a sudden image- a faded memory of those golden eyes, always watching. zayn wondered if the familiarity of him made his presence feel so easy. he was not one to make friends, or seek them out, but he liked the odd boy's questions and sassy statements nobody else would've ever had the balls to even think of saying to the boy; he liked it, and he didn't know whether or not to like the fact that he liked it. despite the feeling of wanting to somehow acknowledge him, zayn stayed silent, slightly hesitating on his curiosity of the boy's sudden release who continued to stare.

" 'y you try to act so scary w'en you so sweet?" the boy wondered mindlessly, yet another example of his unfiltered speech that simply amused zayn.
"i ain't sweet. i like you. it would be different if i ain't."
"oh." the boy murmured, a bit breathlessly. panic immediately seemed to wash over the freckled boy's thoughts, soaring at the slightest verbatim used by the brunette who didn't know the true extent of the boys sensitivity before he simply ignored it, offering a smile. "finally. you ain't as a lil boy. you was so mean to me."
"when was i mean to you?"

"i'm just kiddin." mahi'ai murmured, his comical demeanor seeming to slightly dull, even further confusing the brunette who watched as the younger obviously tried to shake off some unknown feeling that lingered in his golden eyes. even while unexpectedly sarcastic, the boy seemed much too genuine to say something of the sort and not mean it; besides, the elder knew exactly what instance mahi'ai alluded to. it was one that had swum around his mind as of late when he saw the boy for some reason, but he couldn't begin to explain it- his words, or the hurt still seemingly fresh all over the younger's bodily language. zayn had found in many instances that his explanations, or the way he communicated never quite seemed to be enough for others; even if he tried to show them his true intent, it never ended up well. it had always been like that for as long as he remembered, the reasoning for his silence as mahi'ai glanced back up at him, unable to help his playful nature. "so friends, rig't?"
"i already said that."