Fated Exchange [AkkAyan]

Chapter 10: The Echoes of the Past

Akk had settled into Ayan's world more than he ever thought possible. Every day, he found himself uncovering new layers of Ayan's life, each one more intricate than the last. Living as Ayan had opened his eyes to the beauty and sorrow Ayan carried within him, and the more he learned, the more he felt compelled to protect him. But even as Akk grew closer to Ayan's struggles, he couldn't shake the feeling that time was slipping through their fingers-that their unusual connection was drawing them together even as it threatened to tear them apart.

---

One humid afternoon, Akk (in Ayan's body) was wandering through a local art supply store, hunting for materials Ayan would need for his next project. He wasn't entirely sure what he was looking for, but the sight of brushes, canvases, and paint tubes was comforting in an unfamiliar way. Art had become a strange refuge for him in this borrowed life-something he never expected to appreciate, yet found himself drawn to.

As he reached for a set of charcoal pencils, a familiar voice broke his focus.

"Ayan?"

He turned, heart hammering, to see Mew standing a few feet away, a look of surprise and delight lighting up his face. Akk's stomach twisted. He hadn't seen Mew much since the swap, and although he knew about Ayan's feelings for Mew, facing him felt... complicated.

"Mew! Hey," Akk greeted, forcing a casual smile.

Mew walked closer, his expression softening with genuine warmth. "I didn't expect to see you here. It's been a while."

"Yeah, things have been... busy." Akk could feel his cheeks warm as he remembered Ayan's lingering unrequited love for this man. He wasn't sure how much of those emotions were spilling over, but seeing Mew in person made it difficult to keep his feelings in check.

Mew chuckled, his gaze shifting to the supplies Akk was holding. "Getting back into art, I see. I'm glad to see you're keeping up with it."

Akk hesitated, realizing he couldn't fake Ayan's artistic passion. "Yeah, I, uh... I guess I've just been trying to reconnect with things I love."

Mew's smile faltered slightly, as if he sensed something unspoken. "You sound... different. Like there's something weighing on you."

Akk swallowed, feeling the weight of Ayan's heartache and the uncertainty of their swapped lives hanging between them. "Life's just been... complicated lately. But I'm managing."

Before Mew could press further, Akk's phone buzzed. It was a message from Lila, reminding him about an upcoming business meeting-a world he had to step back into as soon as he left this store.

"Sorry, I have to go," Akk said, offering Mew a tight smile. "Maybe we can catch up properly sometime?"

Mew's gaze lingered, his eyes soft with understanding. "Of course, Ayan. Just... take care of yourself, alright? You don't have to carry everything alone."

Akk nodded, grateful for the words, even though they felt like they were meant for someone else. As he left the store, he felt a pang of regret. Ayan's feelings for Mew were still unresolved, tangled in a web of longing and fear. And even though Akk didn't understand the depth of those emotions, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness that neither of them could fully let go.

---

Later that evening, Ayan, still in Akk's body, was at home preparing for dinner with Lila. Though he and Akk had agreed to keep their interactions with close family and friends to a minimum, Lila's insistence made it impossible to avoid her forever. Ayan felt a mix of guilt and anxiety every time he looked at her, knowing that she had no idea about the swap and was speaking to a stranger wearing Akk's face.