Wrong Number

1

"I think I have feelings for someone," Cyno said, sitting down on Alhaitham's bed. 

"Oh..." Alhaitham nodded, turning the page in his book. He had to read this entire thing by next class, and wasn't having a good time. "That's nice." 

"He is in one of my classes and has these really cute fluffy ears," Cyno stared at his hands, trying to imagine what it would be like to touch them. "I've never felt this way about someone before." 

"You haven't?" Alhaitham turned the page again. "Not even for me?" 

"You're....different," Cyno furrowed his eyebrows, pulling his hood down over his face. "Not quite a friend but not quite family either." 

"Are you going to ask him out?" Alhaitham asked. 

"No," Cyno shook his head. "He has feelings for someone already. I would only get rejected." 

"Really? Who?" another page turn. 

"You." 

"What?" Alhaitham looked up from his book, turning slowly around in his desk chair. "Who did you say he was?" 

...

Alhaitham had the (un)fortunate status of working as a tutor in the library which meant he saw the absolute limitations of college students and their ability to understand grammar. One of his coworkers (who he only realized was his coworker recently upon a conversation with Cyno) happened to be Tighnari. Apparently that's where the so-called crush began. At the library. When he was a tutor. One of his most unflattering faces to show to people and someone managed to crush on him when he was like this? Alhaitham didn't understand. 

"Why do you keep asking me to be your tutor?" Alhaitham pressed the space in between his eyebrows. "You spend your whole session staring at Tighnari and not listening to a word I'm saying. What is your goal here?" 

"Well," the blonde leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms, "I can't very well request Tighnari or I'll make a fool of myself because I'm crushing on him, you know?" What is it with everyone telling him about their feelings for Tighnari? What is it about Tighnari everyone is so drawn to? 

"Are you making any progress?" Tighnari's ear twitched as he stopped in front of the table the two were at. 

"For us to make progress, he would have to listen to my advice first," Alhaitham crossed his arms. 

"Haha, giving Alhaitham trouble like usual, Kaveh?" Tighnari smiled. 

"I don't mean to... I just get distracted..." Kaveh confessed. 

"May I talk to you for a second?" Alhaitham stood up, gesturing for Tighnari to follow him. Confused, the male did as he was told. "I've often been told I don't have a way with words so I'll get straight to the point: do you have feelings for anyone at the moment?" Alhaitham crossed his arms. 

"W-what?" Tighnari's face flushed as his ears twitched. He glanced around, scratching his cheek. 

"Haaaah," Alhaitham pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long sigh. "Drop the act, Tighnari, I know you don't have feelings for me so which one of the two people who are obviously interested in you do you have feelings for?" 

"What are you talking about?" Tighnari's tail dropped as his ears fell flat against his head. He took a step back, looking more scared about being confronted than angry. 

"I'm not dense, I just don't give a shit, and I know what someone acts like when they have feelings for me," Alhaitham pointed at Tighnari, "you definitely don't but for some reason you've told people you do. I've wracked my brain about this but the only conclusion I can come to is you don't want to hurt someone's feelings, so you lied. Which one. Whose feelings do you not want to hurt?" 

Tighnari glanced at the distance between him and the wall. He took advantage of it and grabbed Alhaitham's hand to position him in something of a kabedon. His ears perked up, twitching, and he gave Alhaitham a kiss just as Kaveh turned the corner. Cyno happened to turn the other corner. But only one of them ran off in a different direction panicked. The other walked toward the two. His hands shoved into his hoodie pocket. 

"Why'd you force a kiss on Alhaitham?" Cyno asked. 

"What do you mean? Shouldn't you be assuming he kissed me?" Tighnari blinked, dumbfounded a second time today by a stoic looking guy. 

"When are you going to let go of my hand?" Alhaitham asked. 

"Oh, right," Tighnari released it and Alhaitham walked in the direction Kaveh ran. 

"Alhaitham asks before he does anything. He wouldn't have forced himself on anyone, not even for a kiss," Cyno pulled his hood down over his face. "Why'd you kiss him?" 

"It's complicated," Tighnari forced a laugh. 

It didn't take Alhaitham long to find Kaveh. He didn't run very far, probably hoping Tighnari might run after him. He drew with a stick in the dirt and didn't even notice that Alhaitham sat down next to him. When he did notice, he was a bit startled, and thought about running away again. 

"Are you going to tell me about how it's all a misunderstanding? Or are you here to gloat about your newfound relationship with the guy I like?" Kaveh asked. 

"Neither." 

"What? Why?" Kaveh dropped the stick, turning to face Alhaitham. 

"Would you believe me?" Alhaitham continued staring straight ahead, not turning his head to return the eye contact. His hand rested on his headphones, fidgeting with them as they lay around his neck. 

"No." 

"Then what's the point in wasting my breath?" 

"You're not going to at least try to comfort me?" Kaveh frowned, poking Alhaitham with his elbow. 

"Not really my strong suit." 

"Then what was the point in following me?" Kaveh snorted. 

Alhaitham stared at the dirt and then slowly shifted his gaze to Kaveh. He paused, looking at the way the rays of light managed to hit those blonde strands. "To make sure you were okay." 

"I'll be fine, I think, so let's get back to the library before you get in trouble for slacking off on the job," Kaveh stood up, stretching before wandering off. 

"Shit," Alhaitham put his headphones over his ears, grabbing his shirt over his heart. "I think I have feelings for someone, too, Cyno."