Ict bl oneshots

13 . Rishab - Shreyas ( Just friends!?)

"You're early," Rishab said, glancing up from his book as Shreyas stumbled into the room.It was morning 1 am.

"Couldn't sleep," Shreyas replied, rubbing his eyes. "The city's too loud."

The room was a mess, clothes strewn across the floor and half-empty takeout containers littering the coffee table. The TV played a muted cricket match in the background, casting flickering blue light across the walls.

"You should've called," Rishab said, placing a marker in his book and setting it aside. "We could've done something."

Shreyas shrugged, dropping onto the couch. "I didn't want to bother you."

Rishab's apartment smelled faintly of old pizza and the lingering scent of incense. A warm breeze whispered through the open window, carrying the distant murmur of traffic and the occasional laughter from the street below. It was a stark contrast to the quiet suburb Shreyas had left behind to move to the city for university.

"You know you're not bothering me," Rishab said, turning off the TV. He leaned back, stretching his arms over his head. "What's up?"

Shreyas sighed, his eyes scanning the bookshelf before settling on a dusty guitar in the corner. "Just thinking about home, I guess."

Rishab sat up, his eyes following Shreyas' gaze. "Missing it?"

"A little," Shreyas admitted, plucking at a loose thread on the couch cushion. "Everything's so... different here."

"You'll get used to it," Rishab assured him, his voice low and soothing. He patted the seat next to him. "Come on, tell me what's really going on."

Shreyas hesitated before scooting closer, his leg brushing against Rishab's. "It's just... I don't know if I can handle all this. The classes, the noise, the people."

Rishab nodded, his hand landing gently on Shreyas' shoulder. "It's a lot to take in at first. But you're not alone."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the air between them seemed to thicken. Then, with a self-conscious laugh, Shreyas looked away, breaking the tension. "Thanks, man. I just needed to get out of my head for a bit."

Rishab squeezed his shoulder. "Anytime."

💞💞💞

They sat in silence for a few minutes, the only sound the soft rustle of pages as Rishab picked up his book again. Shreyas felt the weight of his unspoken thoughts pressing down on him, a secret he hadn't even admitted to himself yet. But as he looked at Rishab, his mind began to wander, and suddenly, he wasn't thinking about the city or school anymore. He was thinking about the way Rishab's hair fell into his eyes when he read, and the comforting warmth of his touch.

The room grew hotter, or maybe it was just his cheeks. He swallowed hard, trying to push the feelings aside. But as the minutes ticked by, it became increasingly difficult to ignore the electricity that seemed to crackle in the air.

"Want some tea?" Rishab offered, standing up.

Shreyas nodded, his eyes following Rishab's movements as he moved to the kitchen. The way his T-shirt clung to his muscles made his heart race. He had to tell him. He had to tell him now. Before it was too late. Before he lost his nerve.

"Rishab," he began, his voice barely above a whisper. "There's something I need to say."

Rishab paused, his hand on the kettle. "What is it?"

Shreyas took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. "I think... I think I might be..."

The kettle began to whistle, the sharp sound cutting through the silence. Rishab turned it off and faced him, his expression curious. "What? What's going on?"