The Grapevine

Chapter Five

Sean needed a break. After hours of dissecting his professor's notes on advanced calculus, his mind was foggy. With his favorite hoodie thrown over his head and his grocery list in hand, he decided it was time for a well-deserved baking session. Baking always managed to quiet his thoughts, each measured scoop and whisked ingredient giving him the mental clarity he needed.

He was in the baking aisle, squinting at different brands of flour when a familiar voice called out behind him.

"Well, if it isn't my rumored boyfriend."

Sean turned to find Eric standing there, an amused grin tugging at his lips. He wore his usual confidence like an accessory, leaning casually against the cart he was pushing, looking every bit as effortlessly cool as he did on campus.

"Fancy seeing you here, of all places," Eric said, as if fate had orchestrated their meeting.

"I didn't take you for the grocery-shopping type," Sean replied, attempting a casual tone as he placed a bag of flour into his cart.

Eric laughed, rolling his eyes. "And I didn't take you for the baking type. What, is this your secret hobby or something?"

"Sort of," Sean admitted, not sure why he felt the need to explain. "I bake to unwind."

"Interesting," Eric said, raising an eyebrow. "Well, I came here to grab some snacks, but it looks like I ran into something better."

Sean chuckled despite himself, his usual guarded demeanor relaxing a bit around Eric's easygoing nature. There was something refreshing about the way Eric carried himself, as if he didn't care about the rules or the expectations that seemed to dictate Sean's world.

They ended up pushing their carts side by side through the aisles, chatting about random things—favorite movies, places they'd like to visit, even arguing over which ramen brand was better. Sean found himself enjoying the exchange, surprised at how naturally they fell into conversation.

As they reached the snack aisle, Eric picked up a bag of chips and threw it into his cart before turning to Sean, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

"You know, I've got this idea," he began. "How about we grab dinner after this?"

Sean blinked, taken off guard. "Dinner?"

"Yeah. You know, food, drinks, talking. I promise I don't bite—unless you're into that," he added with a wink.

Sean laughed, shaking his head. "And what makes you think I'd say yes?"

"Because," Eric said confidently, "you don't seem like the type to turn down free food."

"Fine," Sean said, rolling his eyes but smiling. "But just so you know, I'm holding you to that free food part."

Eric's grin widened. "Deal."

They left the store together, Eric pulling his car into a parking spot near a small Korean barbecue restaurant. The place was cozy, with tables tucked closely together and the scent of grilled meat filling the air.

As they waited for their food, Eric started yapping about his classes and, more specifically, his struggles with one of them.

"I'm pretty sure I'm on the brink of failing," Eric admitted, leaning back in his chair with a sigh. "Math has never been my strong suit."

Sean raised an eyebrow. "Really? I wouldn't have guessed that."

"Oh, I hide it well," Eric joked, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—a vulnerability that he usually kept under his confident facade. "But honestly, I could use some help."