Unexpected

Chapter 3

Sky couldn’t stop smiling. It had been two months since their wedding, and while Nani hadn’t exactly turned into a warm and loving husband, things had shifted – little by little, like the first hints of dawn breaking across the sky.

They still weren’t close, but the sharp edges in Nani’s words had softened, if only slightly. He still maintained a stoic exterior, his responses were still short, and he still gave Sky the occasional cold glare – but at least he wasn’t icing Sky out completely. To someone else, it might not have meant much, but to Sky, this was everything. Every small change, every subtle improvement felt like a victory, and as the eternal optimist he was, he celebrated each one quietly, holding onto hope.

This morning, Sky was finishing up breakfast when Nani walked in, dressed sharply as always. But today, there was a slight hitch to his step. Sky glanced at him, noticing that hint of annoyance Nani tried to mask.

“Everything okay?” Sky asked, his tone light and friendly.

Nani grumbled, setting his coffee cup down with a little more force than necessary. “My car broke down. Of course, of all days, it had to happen today.”

Sky’s eyes lit up. “Oh! Do you want a ride to work? I’d be happy to drop you off.”

Nani looked at him with that familiar cool expression, and for a moment, Sky thought he might get shut down. But instead, Nani sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. But don’t make a big deal out of it. I just need to get to work on time.”

Sky nodded, hiding his grin as he gathered his keys. “Of course, of course. Just think of me as your temporary chauffeur.”

Nani rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath, but he didn’t object.

On the way to Nani’s office, Sky couldn’t help but steal glances at him. Nani, oblivious to the attention, sat quietly in the passenger seat, his gaze focused out the window. But in the rare moments when Sky saw his face in profile – the way the sunlight caught his jawline, the way he absentmindedly tapped his fingers against his knee – he felt his heart beat just a little faster. Nani was beautiful in a way Sky couldn’t quite describe, all sharp edges and calm intensity.

As they neared the law firm, Sky cleared his throat. “Thanks for letting me drive you. I don’t get many chances to spend time with you, so...”

Nani turned, his eyes narrowing slightly. “This wasn’t me ‘letting’ you do anything. My car broke down. That’s all.”

Sky laughed, nodding. “Of course. Strictly situational. Still... I enjoyed it. And hey, if you ever need a ride again, you know where to find me.”

Nani said nothing, but Sky noticed his lips twitching slightly – maybe the ghost of a smile, maybe just a trick of the light. But to Sky, it was something, and he cherished it all the same.

---

Over the next few weeks, Sky continued to notice small changes in Nani’s behavior. He couldn’t exactly say that Nani was being *nice*, but he was... well, *less mean*. They didn’t bicker as much. Sometimes, they even had conversations that went beyond clipped, one-word replies.

One evening, after a long day, they found themselves sitting on opposite sides of the living room, both of them silently sipping tea. Sky took a deep breath, knowing he might be overstepping but feeling brave.

“Nani?” he ventured softly.

Nani looked up, his gaze calm but wary. “What?”

“I was just wondering... what do you do to unwind after work?” Sky asked, genuinely curious. He wanted to understand Nani beyond the walls he kept so tightly around himself.

Nani blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question. “Why do you want to know?”

Sky shrugged, keeping his tone casual. “I’m just curious. I want to know more about you, that’s all.”

Nani looked at him for a moment, his expression unreadable, before he sighed. “I usually read or go for a run. It’s not that interesting.”

Sky’s eyes lit up. “Reading, huh? That sounds peaceful. What kind of books do you like?”

“Law books, mostly. Case studies, history. Sometimes philosophy,” Nani replied, his tone distant but less curt than usual.

Sky nodded, impressed. “That’s really cool. I didn’t know you were into philosophy. I always thought those kinds of books were complicated.”

Nani scoffed, though without malice. “It’s not as complicated as you think. Philosophy is about questioning things, thinking deeply. It’s a way to make sense of... well, everything.”

Sky smiled, leaning forward with interest. “Maybe you could teach me a little about it someday.”

Nani looked at him, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “You’d be bored within five minutes.”

“Try me,” Sky challenged, his tone light but sincere. “You might be surprised.”

There was a long pause, and for a brief second, Sky thought he saw something soften in Nani’s gaze. But then, just as quickly, Nani looked away, brushing off the moment as if it were nothing.

“We’ll see,” he murmured.

Sky didn’t push further, content with the small steps they’d taken. That night, as he lay in bed, he replayed the conversation in his mind, reliving every look, every word. It was the most Nani had ever shared about himself, and it felt like a tiny crack in the walls Nani had so carefully built around him.

---

As the weeks went by, these small moments became more frequent. Nani still kept his distance, still maintained his air of indifference, but Sky could feel the difference. And he treasured every second of it – every look, every slightly softened word, every hint of a smile that Nani tried so hard to hide.

To Nani, these changes went unnoticed. He still told himself that nothing had changed, that he was keeping things just as they’d always been. But to Sky, each little shift felt monumental.

One evening, as they were finishing up dinner, Sky found himself laughing at a silly story he’d shared. Nani looked at him, and for the first time, there was something almost... amused in his expression.

“Sky,” he said, his tone begrudgingly soft, “you’re impossible.”

Sky grinned, holding back the urge to celebrate. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Nani rolled his eyes, but there was no edge to it. “Take it however you want.”

Sky knew better than to push, but his heart swelled with joy. This was progress – real, tangible progress. And even though Nani might not realize it, Sky knew they were moving forward, one tiny step at a time.

Every word, every shared glance felt like a small victory. And for now, that was enough for Sky. He’d take what he could get, hoping that one day, Nani might finally see him for who he truly was – not just an arrangement, not just an inconvenience, but someone who genuinely cared.