Heart, Body & Soul (MxM)

Chapter Two

'I kind of had one small drink before dinner. But I'll be very slow, is that okay?' Ivan walks behind him to his car. For a man whose shirt is ruined, Ivan seems to be holding no grudge against Riyaan, in fact, he seems rather calm to his surprise.

'Yeah, sure.'

'Really? Not scared for your life?'

'You seem to be in control.' Riyaan gets in the car after Ivan opens the door for him.

'Uh, can you get the seatbelt? We don't want to be violating the laws,' Ivan says after fastening his own seatbelt.

Oh.

There's literally one time in his life when he entered a car, and he had no idea how to fasten a seatbelt. And it's too late to watch a YouTube tutorial now. These are the times he thinks he will have to struggle his way to live a fulfilling and responsible life, just the way everyone does every day.

'Can you do it for me, please?' He says with a smile, looking at Ivan. He'd rather have Ivan think he is weird than think he cannot fasten a seatbelt.

'Oh!' Ivan says with surprise. Riyaan thinks he is going to make a joke, but he unfastens his own seat belt and moves to fasten his. 'There you go.'

'Thanks.' That was easy. He could have just fumbled around for a bit and would have found it.

Soon they were driving away from Kris'. And after a few minutes, Riyaan wonders if it's awkward and if he should ask for some music. But..

'What do you study?' Ivan asks after they hit the main road.

...a conversation is fine too.

'I'm doing my bachelor's in Fine Arts, distance education.'

'Ah. I see. Why distance?'

'I have a full-time job.' Ivan looks at him for the first time. This allows Riyaan to see his eyes up close, and for a moment, their eyes lock.

'So you're ambitious.'

'Not much, just enough. I guess.' He replies. 'What about you?'

'I own a security business with Preet. We have a team. I also manage some of my family business.'

'What is that like?'

'At the security firm, right now we are looking for better professionals in our team. So until that happens, it's a very busy life. The family business gets tough sometimes of the year but otherwise, it's fine. Been doing that for a while.'

'Do you like it?'

'It's not always sunny. But that's my job. So, what's the point of attaching emotions?'

'Right.'

'What's your job?'

'Marketing.'

'And what's that like, do you like it?'

'I like the work, I learn a lot. But hate the management.'

'What's wrong with the management?'

'My manager.'

'What's wrong with the manager?' Ivan lets out a soft laugh. Riyaan feels he should get out of the car, it's too much. He's too beautiful with the right set of eyebrows, and hair waves at the right places. As if he had his hair done by a professional.

'The manager micromanages.' Riyaan cannot help but break into a smile too and get shy just by looking at Ivan's face.

'So.. a micromanager? Complain about him?'