The morning unfolded in a slow, peaceful rhythm. Ocean lay nestled under the covers, watching the soft light filter through the curtains. The weight of Skyler's absence beside him was unfamiliar but comforting. For the first time in a long time, the stillness of the morning felt calm rather than suffocating.
He could hear faint sounds coming from the kitchen—a soft clatter of pans, the quiet hum of Skyler moving about. His mind drifted, still caught between the haze of sleep and the surreal feeling of the past day. Was this real? The thought kept circling in his mind, as though at any moment, he would wake up to find that none of it had happened.
Ocean shifted under the covers, pulling them closer to his chest, grounding himself in the reality of the moment. Last night had been so... unexpected. Not just the confessions, but the way they had both allowed their walls to fall, if only for a little while. Skyler had been so patient, so gentle, holding back just enough to give him space to breathe. It was almost overwhelming how much care and love radiated from him.
And now here he was, in his apartment, making breakfast as if they had done this a thousand times before.
After what felt like an eternity, Ocean finally sat up, his feet touching the cool floor as he gathered the strength to move. It still feels like a dream, he thought to himself, running a hand through his hair.
The smell of something sweet filled the air, drawing him toward the kitchen. When he entered, he found Skyler at the stove, focused and intent, flipping pancakes with practiced ease. It was such a simple scene, but it hit Ocean in the chest like a wave.
Skyler glanced up and caught his eye, a soft smile breaking across his face. "Good morning again," he greeted, his voice light and teasing. "I hope you're hungry."
Ocean's brows furrowed slightly as he stepped further into the kitchen, leaning against the counter. "You're... making breakfast?"
Skyler chuckled, nodding as he placed a fresh pancake on a plate. "I figured I owed you at least this much after everything."
Ocean stared at the plate, his heart racing for reasons he couldn't quite explain. It was just breakfast, but it felt like more.
Skyler noticed the way Ocean was looking at him, and his smile softened. "I made your favorite," he said, as he turned back toward the blender. "Pancakes and banana milkshake. I hope that's still your favorite..."
Ocean blinked, his heart skipping a beat. How does he know that? The question formed on his lips, but it didn't come out. Instead, he stood there in silence, staring at Skyler as though seeing him for the first time.
"Do you... how do you know that's my favorite?" Ocean finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Skyler glanced over his shoulder, his expression gentle. "Because I've been paying attention, Ocean. I've always been paying attention." He turned back to the task at hand, pouring the banana milkshake into two glasses, and continued speaking as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"I remember you ordering this at the cafeteria a few times back when we first started university. You'd always grab a banana milkshake with your pancakes, and I guess it just stuck with me." Skyler's voice was soft, but there was a tenderness in it that made Ocean's heart ache. "It's simple, but I thought it might bring back good memories."
Ocean was quiet, still processing what he had just heard. He remembers... he knows.
The realization washed over him like a warm wave, filling the empty spaces that had been lingering in his heart for so long. Skyler wasn't just someone passing through his life—he had been there, quietly, all along. Watching, listening, caring.
"Skyler..." Ocean began, but his voice faltered. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know how to process the fact that someone had been paying attention to him in ways he hadn't even noticed.
Skyler finished up, wiping his hands on a towel before turning to face Ocean fully, his gaze soft and filled with understanding. "You don't have to say anything," he said gently, walking over and placing the plate and glass in front of Ocean on the counter. "I just... I wanted to do something small. For you."
Ocean stared at the pancakes, the smell of them making his stomach rumble despite the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him. He looked up at Skyler, a thousand questions in his eyes, but all that came out was a quiet, "Thank you."
Skyler smiled again, that same warm, reassuring smile that made Ocean feel like everything was going to be okay. He reached out, gently brushing his fingers against Ocean's hand before stepping back. "Come on, sit down. Let's eat."
Ocean hesitated for a moment before finally sitting at the small table. Skyler joined him, sitting across from him, their legs almost touching beneath the table. They ate in comfortable silence for a while, the quiet clink of forks against plates the only sound filling the space.
But even in the silence, there was something so profoundly comforting about it. This wasn't a dream—the warmth of the food, the simplicity of the moment—it all felt too real, too good to be anything but reality.
Ocean took a sip of the banana milkshake and glanced at Skyler, who was busy with his own plate. "I didn't expect... this," he said quietly, breaking the silence.
Skyler looked up, his eyes meeting Ocean's. "What do you mean?"
"This," Ocean gestured around them. "You. Knowing these things about me. Doing all of this. I just... I didn't know you cared like this."
Skyler's expression softened, and he set his fork down, leaning forward slightly. "Ocean, I've cared about you for longer than you know. I've been here, waiting for a chance... just waiting for you to see me."
Ocean's chest tightened at the sincerity in Skyler's words, his heart pounding in his chest. He had seen him. But only now, in the light of everything, did he realize just how much Skyler had been there, quietly watching, quietly loving.
Skyler reached across the table, his hand finding Ocean's once more, and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You don't have to say anything right now. I just want you to know... I'm here. For whatever you need."
Ocean looked down at their hands, the warmth of Skyler's touch grounding him. He didn't have the words to express what he was feeling, but in that moment, he knew one thing—he wasn't alone anymore. Skyler had been there, quietly waiting, and now, he wasn't going to let go.
As the morning stretched on, the two of them stayed at the table, talking about everything and nothing. The conversation flowed easily, like it always had, but there was a new layer of understanding now—a deeper connection that had been waiting beneath the surface.
And as Ocean finished the last bite of his pancakes, he realized that maybe—just maybe—this wasn't a dream after all.
TBC. 🩵
