watermelon mojito

part 10: "You look good, Troy."

Three months had passed since that night when everything fell apart between Troy and Rich. The weeks that followed had been a blur of heartache and regret, but somehow, Troy had managed to pick up the pieces and move on. He had reconnected with David, his ex-boyfriend, and over time, they had fallen back into a familiar rhythm. It hadn’t been easy, but Troy had finally started to feel like himself again. The memories of Rich still lingered, but they no longer held the same power over him.

Troy and David had recently moved in together, and things were going well. It was comfortable, easy in a way that felt reassuring after the chaos of his breakup with Rich. David was kind, steady, and had a way of grounding Troy when his thoughts threatened to spiral. It wasn’t the same passionate whirlwind that he had experienced with Rich, but it was good—good enough, Troy told himself.

One night, they decided to go to the movies together. It was a rare chance to unwind after a long week, and Troy was looking forward to it. They picked an indie film that David had been wanting to see, something quiet and artsy that matched the mood of their evening.

As they approached the ticket counter, Troy’s heart stopped. There, behind the counter, was Rich. The sight of him after all this time sent a jolt through Troy, his breath catching in his throat. Rich looked different—his hair a little shorter, his eyes a little more guarded—but it was unmistakably him.

Troy hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. He hadn’t expected to run into Rich, and seeing him now brought back a flood of memories that he had tried so hard to bury. But David was by his side, and Troy knew he couldn’t just turn around and leave. He had to face this.

With a deep breath, Troy approached the counter, trying to keep his expression neutral. “Two tickets for *The Silent Path*,” he said, his voice steadier than he felt.

Rich looked up, and for a moment, their eyes met. There was a flicker of recognition in Rich’s gaze, a brief flash of something that Troy couldn’t quite place. But then it was gone, replaced by a polite, distant professionalism.

“Sure,” Rich said, his voice calm and measured. He printed the tickets and handed them over to Troy, their fingers brushing ever so slightly as the exchange took place. The brief contact sent a shiver down Troy’s spine, a reminder of the last time they had touched, back when things were simpler—when a watermelon mojito had been the start of something new and exciting.

But this wasn’t the same. The spark that had once been there was dimmed by time and distance, and the silence between them felt heavy, laden with all the things left unsaid.

“Thanks,” Troy mumbled, quickly pulling his hand away as he took the tickets. He glanced at Rich, searching for any sign of what he might be feeling, but Rich’s expression was unreadable. There was a tension in the air, a sense that both of them were holding back, unsure of what to say, if anything at all.

David was already heading toward the theater entrance, and Troy knew he couldn’t linger. With a final, fleeting glance at Rich, he turned and followed David, his mind racing. He tried to shake off the encounter as they found their seats, but the memories kept creeping back in, refusing to be ignored.

They settled into their seats, and the theater lights dimmed as the ads began to play. Troy tried to focus on the screen, but his thoughts were elsewhere, swirling with the past. He could feel David’s presence next to him, solid and comforting, but the ghost of Rich’s touch lingered, impossible to ignore.

As the final ad ended and the screen went dark in preparation for the movie to start, Troy couldn’t take it anymore. He needed air, needed to clear his head. He turned to David, giving him a reassuring smile. “I’m going to the bathroom real quick. Be right back.”