Chapter Text
Week 1
[I]
Ivan liked to pray. He wasn’t a catholic, a christian or of any religion at all. The feeling of some deity, or deities of a higher power, all knowing, felt reassuring for Ivan. It was a coping mechanism for him. He still believed in science and evolution but he had just declared the two topics are not mutually exclusive.
He prayed this morning. It was 6 in the morning but the clouds still hugged each other in swelled up tears. Normal cold weathers were normal to Ivan, but this petrichor smell was throwing him off. The dry soil wetting after a warm sunny day made him unbearably cold unlike the snowy winters. The humming of the computer keyboards and shuffling made it a tad warmer.
“Heyyy Braginsky got here early”
The German man welcomed through the dim fluorescent lights.
“Good morning, err…”
“Gilbert Beilschmidt, I know I know”
That name was familiar to a past colleague of Ivan. He clambered down his memories till he remembered a firm name. He sat down on the chair as he asked the man behind the panel.
“Like—Ludwig Beilschmidt?”
The man seemed utterly impressed.
“Yeah, that’s my brother. How’dycha know him?”
“I used to work at this café, owned by an Italian guy and your brother.”
“Oh gee, didn’t know he meant what he said with Feli…”
Gilbert whispered himself.
“What was that?”
“You didn’t know they’re dating?”
Then Gilbert proceeded to blabber more about his brother’s spouse and him. Ivan was quietly listening as he went on and on.
Gosh, Gilbert is so chatty. Ivan’s eyes felt the need to drop before looking through a window to wake himself up. He saw a digital device in the corner for a split second. He strained up straight and squinted his eyes through the glass; there was nothing. He thought of nothing as he brushed it off.
The entire evening has gone well. A few coworkers complimenting the scarf he had worn today.
In the shuffles of papers and heels of running to home, the Lithuanian teased about Alfred might snatching it. Although he hadn’t seen Alfred the whole day, he felt warm about the joke. He’s not sure of himself if he’s supposed to feel that way.
Week 2
[A]
It’s fine, it was just the lighting that made him look nice and fit. There’s nothing wrong with that. Obviously. His red room was locked. For a good reason, since the bleach has burnt the equipment which risked of skin burns and poison.
He’s been going to this café. The coffee was magnificent, or what he thought. It was just the lattes and generic black coffee with the specialty of some pastries being average. The aroma was intense that others could smell the caffeine out of Alfred that had stuck to him for the past days. It was like the days in University where he would go to bars and cafés to wait for people to befriend him. Except, there’s no one he approaches. He just silently sits and eat there while playing sudoku.
[I]
It was weird.
In Ivan’s eyes, he couldn’t stop thinking about work. It was work. But the thoughts were vague. Papers crinkling, staplers clicking and soaked magazines circulate in the air. He felt like not wearing his gloves today at all. The hot air in the room made it crazy to adapt to the heat. It was scorching hot to the point Ivan stood up and walked to the fridge to cool off.
Great. There was nothing in the compartment.
The Russian sighed and walked back to his space until he bumped shoulders with someone. Their fingertips brushed and Ivan sensed the other’s has skin was scarred. He looked up to apologize but their gaze met instead.
It was Alfred. The latter reciprocated the stare till an awkward feeling crept up to his neck, causing him to look away. Ivan felt funny that it didn’t sit right at all. He felt unsettled and embarrassed about it the whole time he sat in his seat.
He left him nervous about the thought of not apologizing for the whole day.
His eyes itched to Alfred in the evening. Everyone was leaving except for the extra farmers, perfect. He stood up and his footsteps clicked more quiet than before as he approached the man.
He nervously twirled around his fingers and called out Alfred in a low voice.
“Hey—uh I’m sorry about the rude bump in the afternoon. I forgot to say sorry sir.”
[A]
Alfred curled up. His eyes peaked up in surprise.
“Are you seriously apologizing to me for that?”
“You didn’t really need to do that.”
Ivan sighed in relief. Just as he was about to go, Alfred grabbed his wrists.
“Wait you’re leaving, right?”
Ivan nodded. He glanced down to see his fingertips worn out of corrosive substance. That felt strange to him.
“I know you just started work but can you help me with something?”
Alfred knew that he’d agree so he pointed at his chart.
“You see this section? I did the function but it’s not showing in the correct order.”
“Are you sure? It’s a really simple function in there.”
Ivan bent down near the monitor, he leaned in the screen as he palmed the mouse on Alfred’s hand and moved the cursor to navigate the ascending button.
The latter felt almost weird till Alfred actually began to pay attention to the monitor.
“Th—there you have it.”
Ivan stood up and backed away while the man thanked him. Alfred’s smile made Ivan feel at ease.
“I’m gonna go now Alf.”
“Be safe.”
Alfred had never expected for Ivan to call by his nickname. A kaleidoscope of butterflies warm up inside his chest. He breathed heavily and at last, he packed his things up, and ran straight home instead of dropping by the café like he originally intended to. The purple and orange hues of the sunset ray casts on his face as he crossed the roads. He couldn’t help but contemplate about what just happened to the place where he nearly crashed a car.
He didn’t notice it, that’s all that matters.