Unexpected

Chapter 2

Sky’s morning began as it usually did: waking up a bit before Nani, preparing breakfast, and leaving it neatly arranged on the table. He’d learned not to expect a “thank you” or even a comment on the food, but he wasn’t one to give up easily. After all, he was married to Nani – an arrangement he hadn’t planned but was now determined to make the best of.

And today, Sky had a little surprise planned. They’d been married for a week, and despite Nani’s coldness, Sky held onto hope. They’d been through so little time together – who knew what another week, or month, might bring?

He smiled as he poured his coffee, glancing up just as Nani walked into the kitchen, dressed impeccably in a black suit that looked like it was made for him. The tailored fabric hugged his lean frame perfectly, emphasizing his sharp jawline and the quiet intensity that drew Sky in despite himself.

For a moment, Sky froze, caught entirely off guard. He’d always known Nani was handsome – anyone would notice that. But today, with the morning sunlight casting a warm glow over him, Nani looked almost… ethereal. Sky felt his heart skip a beat.

He snapped out of it, clearing his throat and offering a warm smile. “Good morning, Nani! You look amazing today.”

Nani paused mid-step, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at Sky, who was grinning ear to ear. There was something in Sky’s gaze that made his heart flutter – a pure, unguarded admiration that he wasn’t used to. But he quickly dismissed the feeling, reminding himself why he was here, why he needed to stay strong and aloof. This was temporary.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Nani replied coolly, brushing past him to reach for the coffee pot.

Sky laughed, brushing off the cold response. “What? I can’t compliment my husband now?”

Nani ignored him, pouring his coffee with precision. “If you think this little show of affection will change anything, you’re wrong, Sky.”

Sky’s smile faltered for a split second, but he quickly shrugged it off, his usual bright energy bouncing back. “It’s not about changing anything,” he said, taking a sip of his own coffee. “It’s about being honest. I think you’re incredible, Nani, and I don’t see anything wrong with saying that.”

Nani let out a frustrated sigh, setting his coffee cup down with a little too much force. “Look, I’m only tolerating this arrangement because I have no choice. Don’t think for a second that I’m going to play along with your little fantasy of being the perfect husband. I’m not interested.”

Sky’s heart sank, but he held onto his optimism. He could sense the barrier Nani was keeping between them, and he wasn’t blind to the flashes of warmth Nani occasionally let slip. But for now, he’d give him the space he seemed so determined to keep.

“Alright, alright,” Sky replied, holding up his hands in surrender, though his smile didn’t waver. “I’ll back off. But, you know, if you ever change your mind, I’ll be here.”

Nani rolled his eyes, finishing his coffee in silence before standing up to leave. He picked up his briefcase, ready to head to his law firm – his sanctuary, the place where he could forget this sham of a marriage, where he could focus on his work and his plan to walk away in a year.

“Have a nice day, Nani!” Sky called as he walked out the door, waving despite Nani not even looking back.

---

At his office, Sky tried to focus on work. As the CEO of a successful corporation, his days were filled with meetings, decisions, and responsibilities that demanded all his attention. But today, he found his thoughts drifting to Nani. He couldn’t forget the way Nani had looked that morning, his sharp features softened by the light, his beauty striking in that dark suit.

*Snap out of it, Sky,* he scolded himself, shaking his head with a sigh. He needed to stay focused if he wanted his business to keep thriving, and daydreaming about his aloof husband wasn’t exactly productive.

But the day passed slowly, and Sky couldn’t shake the image of Nani from his mind. Every time he caught himself thinking about him, he chuckled, feeling like a lovesick teenager. Maybe he was just being foolish, but he couldn’t help it – there was something about Nani that had gotten under his skin.

---

At the law firm, Nani buried himself in his work, grateful for the distraction. Here, he was in control, respected, and untouchable. This was his space, a world he’d built on his own terms, far from the tangled mess of his forced marriage.

And yet, every now and then, he’d find himself thinking of Sky’s silly grin, his puppy-like energy, the way he’d looked at him that morning – so full of admiration and warmth. *Stop it,* he told himself firmly. He wasn’t about to fall for Sky’s innocent charms. He was in love with Dew, and he would walk away from this marriage as soon as he could.

Still, he couldn’t deny that Sky’s energy was something he’d never encountered before. He had tried his best to push him away, to show him how little he cared, but Sky remained unfazed. Even this morning, after Nani had been so cold, Sky hadn’t wavered. That kind of relentless optimism was unfamiliar, and… strangely compelling.

But he couldn’t afford to let himself get drawn in. Not now, not ever. This was temporary – he had to keep reminding himself of that.

---

That evening, Sky returned home, determined to keep things light despite Nani’s continued coldness. He prepared dinner, a simple meal but one he’d carefully chosen to match Nani’s tastes.

As they sat across from each other, Sky tried to start a conversation. “So, how was work today?”

Nani didn’t look up from his plate. “Busy. As usual.”

Sky nodded, undeterred. “You must be good at what you do. I mean, running an entire law firm? That’s impressive.”

Nani glanced at him, one eyebrow raised. “Is this another one of your attempts to get closer to me?”

Sky chuckled, his tone gentle. “Maybe. I just want to know more about you, that’s all.”

“Well, there’s nothing to know. Just focus on your own life, Sky. This… arrangement doesn’t need any of your ‘bonding’ attempts.”

Sky’s smile softened, though a hint of sadness crept into his gaze. “Alright, I’ll give you space, Nani. But I’m here if you ever need… anything.”

Nani looked away, his heart giving a slight, unwanted flutter. He hated how, despite his best efforts, something about Sky was starting to chip away at his defenses. The warmth, the sincerity, the sheer persistence – it was all so frustratingly genuine.

But he couldn’t let that get to him. He was here for a year, and then he’d be free.

As the evening wore on, Nani kept his responses curt, his demeanor cold, hoping to maintain the distance between them. And yet, every time he glanced at Sky, his heart betrayed him with a tiny flicker of warmth he tried desperately to ignore. Because in his mind, he was still with Dew, still holding onto the life they’d planned – a life that didn’t include Sky.

And so, the night passed in quiet tension, both men navigating the delicate balance between patience and resistance, each holding onto their own truths. But even as they moved through their routines, neither could deny that something had begun to shift – something fragile, something uncertain.