Don't Criticize me!

⇠Temptation is Sweet⇢

When Oscar opened his eyes, he let out a low groan, rolling over onto his side. A hand ran down his stomach, and the male froze, peeling the blanket off him. His stomach was still bloated—not too bad where it would show if he wore something baggy—but still enough for Oscar to scrunch up his nose and pinch the thin layer of fat. As the male explored the thin layer, a spark of excitement ran through him. It felt nice to be able to let go and indulge in a few sweets, but then fear engulfed Oscar. If he continued indulging, he'd be like every other food critic working from home because they gained too much weight. Sighing, Oscar stood, grabbing a baggy sweater and slacks, before walking down to the kitchen. I filled a mug of coffee, then grabbed a muffin from the small basket on the counter. Then the male headed to the small balcony, looking out to the city.

Oscar worked through lunch, closing his lap as the male leaned back in his chair. As his stomach growled softly, placing a hand on his still-bloated belly, Oscar glanced back at the kitchen, chewing the inside of his cheek. Against his better judgment, Oscar grabbed his keys and wallet quickly, left his hotel room, and rushed toward the small cafe across the street. The small bell above the door chimed softly, causing Nigel to glance up from the bowl he was mixing. A large smile formed on his face as he slid the bowl to the side, washed his hands, and approached the front counter.

"Coming to my shop twice in one week must be my lucky day." He grinned. 

"Don't be so happy; there was nothing to do at the hotel, and all the other shops didn't look decent enough." Oscar scoffed, rolling his eyes. 

Nigel made a noise in the back of his throat. "Glad my tacky shop could meet your standards," he said. 

"Don't think too hard into it; I wouldn't want your pretty head to inflate more." The chubby male replied. 

Nigel barked out a laugh. "Is there anything specific you were looking for?" Nigel quizzed. 

"Something light; I'm still full from yesterday," Oscar said. 

Nigel smiled, his eyes observing the other male for a few moments before nodding his head, and rang a few items up on the register. "12.30," he said. Oscar paid and went to find a small table, pulling out his phone and scrolling through his social A few moments later, Nigel came to his table, setting a small cup and a plate with a ham and egg sandwich down on the table. "I heard tea is good for digestion." He smiled. 

"Thank you, Nigel..." Oscar whispered as the other male bowed and disappeared behind the counter.

Oscar sipped his tea for a few minutes, watching Nigel work. Feeling his cheeks darkening, he couldn't fall in love with someone in just two days, could he? Even if he was in Paris, it wasn't normal to fall for a stranger you barely met; it was even stranger to fall in love with someone just for their food. Oscar's eyes shifted down to his stomach, pawing at his stomach for a moment before shaking the thoughts to the back of his head. He was being stupid; it was the city affecting his way of looking at Nigel. After today, he would go home, write his article, and forget about the man. After finishing his food, Oscar stood, feeling his stomach drop slightly. The feeling sent another wave of excitement to Oscar. Feeling his cheeks darken again, the male mentally shook his head and quickly left.

Back in his hotel room, Oscar slumped down on the couch, burping loudly. The male slowly lifted his sweater, grabbed a handful of pudge, and shook it. Oscar was nowhere near fat; he was estimated to look chubby. Oscar couldn't admit feeling great; it was a feeling he had never experienced before. Half of him wanted to continue; he'd been working way too hard not to indulge every once in a while, but the other half was afraid. If he continued gaining weight, then he wouldn't be able to travel, which was one of the reasons why he wanted to start this job. After his mother passed, Oscar felt trapped at home, and traveling was his way of feeling some sort of freedom.

Would he feel trapped if he stayed with Nigel? Would the other male even want him too? Shaking his head, the man let out a groan, digging the heels of his hands into his eyes. It shouldn't be this hard for him to choose; if he gained weight, he might have a chance with Nigel, but there is also the possibility that he'd never date bigger people. If that was the case, then he shouldn't mess with the perfect job he's ever had in his life. Oscar laid his arm over his face, blowing out air as he stared up at the ceiling. Oscar lay on the couch for what felt like hours before he rolled off the couch and walked back towards the balcony. Opening his laptop, Oscar drove into his work but only managed to type a few paragraphs before his eyes started shifting down to the small cafe.

Oscar watched Nigel mop the floor for a few minutes before the lights kicked off. Shortly after, the male slipped out of the doorway, locked the door, and spun on his heels. Nigel went to put his headphones in when he noticed Oscar on the balcony. The younger male smiled and waved. Swallowing thickly, Oscar found himself waving back, heat coiled in his stomach as his palms started to sweat. The pair stared at each other for a long moment before Nigel glanced down at his feet, slid his headphones into his ears, and started walking off into the night. The older male watched him disappear around the corner before he slammed his laptop closed and rushed back into his hotel room. He locked the double doors swiftly, leaning against them while setting his laptop on the desk next to him. Oscar let out a small groan, gently hitting the back of his head on the door. Forming a first at his side, this couldn't have gotten any worse.