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"Great to see ya again! See ya soon!" Luca Balsa flashed a bright, toothy grin and closed the till with a swift bump of his hip as he handed his nth customer that afternoon their change. "Have a great day!"
It was an impossibly hot August day and the heat seeping from the kitchen into the shop-front was not making his job any easier. He wiped the sweat beading at his brow with the back of his sleeve, glancing up at the clock with a sigh of relief. Thanks to the irritating heat, the day had dragged on and on. Luckily, his lunch break was just about to begin! There was a grocery store a block or so over where Luca usually bought lunch from, and today he was especially looking forward to buying a big bottle of ice-cold water to cool him off. It was just what he needed to get him through the rest of the day without succumbing to death's callings.
After asking a colleague to cover the till for him, Luca wasted not a second freeing himself from his humid confinement. He exhaled through his nose as he felt a soft gust of breeze graze his brown tufts, passing by the train station attached to the bakery. On the way there every day, he enjoyed looking at the trains passing by through the railings. He'd never really had the opportunity to take a train before, but it looked fun. It took no longer than ten minutes to queue up and buy his lunch, but as he made his way back to work to eat in the bakery's garden something peculiar caught his eye. There was a man clad in white trying to coax a wild boar away from the tracks using an apple and some berries. Or maybe he was trying to tame it. Admittedly, he was not doing a job worth commending, bones rattling as he trembled, but what brought the crowds in to observe this spectacle was his ghostly pallor. His hair was as light as could be, too.
Bustling beside him, Luca could hear the priggish whisperings of prattlers rattling about the man's jarring complexion; how they could not help but jolt in horror at the demon, how mortifying this monstrosity was, how he was evil and cursed. The baker could not disagree more - there was no scientific evidence to support their claims of demonic entities and curses! And it was cruel to mock the man like that, what a bunch of lowlifes. As Luca drank in the sight of him, he couldn't help but behold his unique charm, boney form trembling like a jar of loose change on a beggar's piano and all. Luca wished he could get a closer look. He struggled to bypass the obstructions of his face but managed to see enough through the increasing congregation to confess that he was the most mesmerizing man he had ever laid eyes on. Sure, he had seen him around and about before, they worked in the same complex, but it wasn't until this particular moment that Luca paid any real mind to him. His head was always too occupied with his daydreams and wacky invention ideas.
It seemed the man didn't know he had an audience until he heard a child shout, "Eat him!" followed by malicious roars of laughter from other children. He snapped his head around, hesitant - but he couldn't help himself, and frowned. One of his eyes was covered by long fair hair, but the other was scanning the horde in what the baker could only assume to be horror. The hat he wore shielded his face from the sun but even so, his red eye was as clear as day. It was like a glimmering ruby glinting in the camera flashes (or perhaps his eye was so shiny because of the tears welling up in his ducts.) For a moment Luca expected him to say something, defend himself (he sure looked like he wanted to) but instead, he returned his attention to the animal with a frown.
Deciding it was weird to continue staring, and not wanting to be grouped in with the disagreeable mob, Luca hurried back to eat before his lunch break ended.
The eccentric appearance of the man refused to leave his mind. The urge to study the albino man lapped at the corners of his conscience. It was a matter of time until he gave in. Luca Balsa was inquisitive to his core, a slave to his curiosity; he wanted to see him again.
Neither would've expected this brief encounter to be the beginning of something much bigger.
The following day Luca arrived at work earlier than usual in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the man before his shift started. A closer look at his face was all he needed, he told himself. He'd read about albinism before and seen pictures of those affected by the condition, but this was the first time he'd seen someone with it in person. The night before, he had even decided to do some extra research on the subject! It was fascinating! Just one more look at him and then he'd leave him alone. Definitely.
The man took no less than fifteen minutes to show up and Luca studied each and every one of his features with eager eyes. He followed him silently, pretending he was some sort of secret agent on a top-secret mission. His eyes practically twinked in awe as he gawked at the train conductor, watching him fish a key from his pocket and unlock the door to what he supposed was the station staff room. Assuming no one was around, the man disappeared inside, leaving the door ajar.
Edging closer, Luca watched carefully through the gap as the subject of his interest opened a locker and shoved a small bag inside. Luca held in an irritated huff when his head disappeared behind the locker door. He needed to get a good look at his face! Why was he making this so difficult? Not like it was his fault, but still!
Then he locked the locker with a smaller key than he used to enter and tucked it away in his pocket again. The baker made sure to take a mental note of which locker was his before scampering away to start his shift. Maybe it would come in handy. After all, he was still curious about him (and Luca was far too curious for his own good). He just had to find a way to get his attention. And get his attention he shall, brain already whirring away with ideas and schemes!
By lunch, he had crafted a genius plan! Shortly before his break began, he put aside some chocolates and a cream bun in a little paper bag, shoving them out of sight in the staff fridge. He subtly paid for what he had taken and announced to his coworkers that he was going for his lunch break. Once someone took over the till for him, he hurried to snatch the bag and execute his scheme.
Luca snuck into the train station, eyes darting left and right making sure that the conductor wouldn't suddenly appear right behind him. That would ruin the surprise. Was it a surprise? Would he even appreciate it? He bit his lip and knocked at the staff room door. There was no answer and he knocked again. He was about to give up, but then he noticed the door was unlocked, ajar again but just barely. Luca checked to make sure the coast was clear one last time before slipping into the room. He really ought to close the door properly when he left otherwise some madman might get in! Luca excluded, of course. Well, not really, he supposed - he truly was mad when it came to science and mathematics.
He navigated through the row of lockers until he reached the man's. Never had he ever been so thankful for his brain's cooperation - his memory was horrific, but just this once it seemed to comply. But even so, Luca tried to force down the lump growing in his throat. He pulled the bobby pin holding back his fringe out of his face and picked the small lock, fiddling with it until it popped free. The inside of the locker was emptier than expected. Hanging up was a blue jacket, a shovel stood leaning against the back of the locker, and dumped at the bottom was his bag. There was a shelf at the top but it was empty, the perfect place to leave a gift.
But just then it dawned on him that he was technically doing something illegal. If someone walked in right then, what would he be able to say to defend himself? Maybe he should just call this all off and pretend none of this had ever happened. Then he could keep the treats for himself and not have to worry about getting arrested! Or, he could quickly shove the bag in, shut the locker, and get the hell out of there.
But no, he was in far too deep to back out now, so he placed the bag inside with a steady hand as if the locker was rigged with alarms and closed the door tight, making sure to shut the door behind him when he left. Heart thumping in his chest because yes! He'd accomplished his mission! he sprinted off to buy his own lunch before it was too late.
The conductor let out a heavy groan as he slumped into a chair in the staff room. His body ached from loading and unloading countless amounts of luggage - it wasn't his usual job to do so, but his colleague had been so adamant about wanting to trade jobs for the day that he couldn't find it in himself to say no. And boy did he regret it. It was just then his colleague walked in, stretching his arms above his head. Norton Campbell.
"Thanks a lot fer helpin' me out, Andrew. What a day! Whew."
"Uh, yeah, it's nothing," Andrew looked up in response to his name. He offered a sheepish smile. "But I won't do it again. Just thought I'd let you know."
"Nah it's fine. I've had my fun," he beamed, opening his locker. "Can't wait to get home, ya feel me?"
Andrew nodded. "Yeah."
Norton picked up his bag and slammed his locker shut. "Oh yeah, did ya bring my magnets with ya? Yer not gonna tell me ya forgot them again, are ya?"
"No, no, they're in my bag, give me a second." With a huff, Andrew pulled himself from his chair and opened his locker. Then he paused. "Uh, Norton?"
"Yeah? Ya brought the magnets didn't ya?"
"I did but that's not it," Andrew's gaze did not leave the paper bag staring back at him. With hesitant fingers, he plucked it from the shelf. "Is this yours?"
Norton's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Dunno, what's in it?"
"Um..." He peeked inside. "A cream roll and some chocolates? They're not mine."
And Norton knew they weren't his either. But finders keepers, right? "Yup, mine. Dunno how it ended up in ya locker but thanks a lot for giving 'em back. Naib will love the chocolates, ya know how he is."
Oh. That made sense, Naib had a huge sweet tooth.
The bag was snatched out of Andrew's hand while he searched his bag for the magnets. "Here," he said as he handed them back, hoisting his bag over his shoulder as he stood.
Norton checked them over for any scratches and, satisfied, pocketed them. "Sweet. I'll see ya tomorrow then," he said as he passed by his colleague. "Bye!"
"Uh, y-yeah. Goodbye."
Andrew stood alone staring at the door.
What on Earth...?
After cashing up and closing the shop, Luca made his way over to the bar across the street. A friend worked there and he had much to tell her. He swung the door open, immediately engulfed by the heavy scent of beer and amateur drunken karaoke. Demi was already working her shift and offered an enthusiastic wave to the baker as soon as they locked eyes, gesturing for him to sit at the bar.
Of course, he obliged, "Hey Dems! How's it going?"
"Luca! Hey! Wanna drink? It's on the house!" she chimed, yelling over the idle chatter and dreadful singing.
"Nah, it's on me! Gimme whatever, you decide," the baker replied and waited for the barista to return with their drinks. "Thanks, Dem!"
She slid Luca's card back over to him. "I said it's on the house! Been savin' this for you, you know! No buts! Now, I can tell you've got gossip. Seen any pretty boys you wanna gush about lately?"
Luca considered it for a moment. Would he really say the ghoulish looking man was pretty? Sure, he wasn't conventionally "pretty". He was whiter than chalk, lanky and skinny, and his crimson eyes could be compared to fresh blood, but he didn't look scary per se. More like...enthralling, alluring maybe. In a way, he was kind of like a mouse. Cute. "Something like that, I suppose. It's actually, ah, more of a fascination."
"Infatuation?" Demi pushed, "C'mon, Lu. Tell me about him, don't be shy."
"It's not a crush, he just looks real cool, y'know? I dunno how to put it. I've never seen anyone like him before. It's riveting! His skin is paler than snow! Whiter than paper! And his eyes...they're like garnets. I wish I could get a closer look though." he lamented, taking a swig of the Dovlin. "Demi, this is good! I need to come see ya more often, huh?"
"Told ya I've been saving it," she gloated with a wink. "Mixed it just the way you like! Also, I think I know who you're talking about."
Luca's eyes widened. Did this mean he could learn the albino's name? "You do? The guy from the station?"
"Yep. He's lovely, good choice Luca," Demi beamed in approval. "He's actually a regular here, but he never orders anything besides water. I've offered to buy him a drink before but he was very adamant about refusing because he couldn't pay me back. Poor guy thinks he doesn't deserve such kindness." She frowned.
"Yeah! That's him!" Luca shot forward in his seat, palms pushing him over the counter. "How often does he come in? Is he here?"
"No, not today, Lu. He sticks to quite the routine, never stays too late," clarified the barista. "He usually comes in on Tuesdays and Thursdays after six and is gone by nine. Sometimes he doesn't come in at all."
"I see... He is up early so I guess that makes sense," Luca dropped back into his seat, a little disheartened. "What's his name?"
Demi scoffed in disbelief. "What? So you haven't even spoken to him yet?"
"Well, not exactly? C'mon Dems, please?"
"Pack it in, Balsa," Demi flicked his nose. "If you want to know then you should ask him yourself."
After a few fruitless days of sneaking snacks into the man's locker to no avail, Luca decided it was time to up his game. No, he was not going to meet him face to face. No way was he gonna take Demi's advice head on! Not yet, anyway. Besides, what was he even meant to say to him? Hello, can I stare at you like a creep real quick? Hell no! Instead, Luca had realized that there was an indirect method of communication available. At first, he considered asking Demi to relay the man messages for him but it was very unlikely that she would actually do him that favor, so naturally, it was all left up to him. That's why at that moment Luca was scavenging through countless drawers searching for something to write on.
A sticky note or even a sheet of paper would suffice. It needed to be small enough to fit in the paper bag, but big enough for his handwriting to be legible. Not everyone was gifted enough to determine what on Earth Luca's scribbles were meant to be - it was almost unbelievable that they were words. After a few more minutes of digging, Luca's hand resurfaced from the cabinet with a piece of card and a roll of masking tape. He supposed it would do for now; he could buy something better to write on after work.
He plucked the marker pen resting on his ear and scribbled down "Enjoy!" in big letters, signing it off with a smiley face. Then, he made his way back to the staff fridge as per his new routine and taped the note onto the bag. Today Luca had given his object of admiration a couple of brownies and a chocolate cookie. The brownies had been baked fresh that morning so he was especially hopeful that the albino would like them.
Excusing himself for his lunch break, Luca snatched the paper bag and scurried off to plant the desserts. If he was being honest, he didn't exactly know why he couldn't just talk to the man. It would be a lot easier than sneaking around and trespassing every afternoon, good intentions or not. But the thought was daunting. He didn't know what he could possibly say without creeping him out, like a stranger shoving food into his locker every day wasn't weird enough. The mere thought of being face-to-face with him made his heart drum against his chest.
But just as Luca prepared himself to approach the station staff room door, it swung open, and a light figure emerged. Luca jumped back. The man wasn't following his usual routine? He was never around during Luca's lunch hour! It was an instantaneous reaction - he couldn't stop himself - in an attempt to hide from the man he admired, Luca threw himself behind a trash can, peeking out from behind to watch with intent.
Luca only barely caught a glimpse of him, but it was just enough to make out the shape of his captivating features. His nose was pointed and narrow, a prominent bump ever so slightly protruding from the bridge. It was a trait only visible from the side, an angle Luca had never been able to study him from. Fascinating! His jaw was sharp, strong, thin lips pulled into a frown. Luca observed in awe as flaxen wisps were threaded through gloved fingers like sand falling through an hourglass, and tucked behind an ear delicately. The train conductor gave a soft sigh, stretching his arms above his head with an audible crunch of bones popping back into place before trudging back to work.
The baker slid his back down the wall with a hand clutching his chest. His heart pounded like running, adrenaline coursing through pulsing veins. That was the closest Luca had ever been to him! Stupefied, Luca buried his head in his hands and tried to recall all those striking features. This time, he'd gotten a proper look at his face. His brow was furrowed, smooth creases defined by the pronounced grooves on his forehead - or rather what was visible of it, anyway. His eye was soft like roses, though sunken like wilting. Eye bag drooping as if heavy, a huge indicator of his exhaustion from countless sleepless nights.
In a way, it reminded Luca of himself. He, too, was plagued with incalculable restless nights, evident from the dark circles beneath his eyes like purple shadows. He tossed and turned relentlessly, insomnia racking his brain with rigorous rancor. The difference between them was that Luca was practically fuelled by caffeine and the man was likely far from it. It was how the baker kept himself up and running, raring to go with an upbeat demeanor and a wide smile! Perhaps Luca should give him an energy drink, or maybe some coffee. But that could wait for another time!
At that moment, his top priority was planting the bag in the locker, and with minimal effort (and maximal paranoia) as usual, he did. Then it was time to sneak off back to work.
He hummed softly as he opened his locker to see yet another brown paper bag waiting for him. Over time he had become accustomed to this routine of discovery, however this time he noticed it came with a mysterious little note - "Enjoy!" - in unfamiliar handwriting. His eye darted back and forth between the bag and the note gingerly and turned towards the other two men in the room. "I think you put your lunch in my locker again, Naib."
Norton and Naib had been doing this for a while. Somehow they kept managing to misplace their lunches, it was unbelievable really. How does one confuse their own locker with someone else's after working together for so long? Andrew made sure he locked it up good and proper, too. But his efforts were redundant, it seemed, because every afternoon the little paper bag would somehow materialize before him, almost like out of thin air.
Naib smirked, moving over to lean on the locker beside him. "Yeah? What's in the bag?"
"Brownies."
He held his hand out for the bag expectantly, to which Andrew simply complied. "Yup! They're mine! Norton, you want some?"
Yep. Just Naib and Norton being imbeciles again. Messing with him as usual.
"No, Naib, we gotta stop this," he said, so pointedly that Naib's expression plunged from an ear-to-ear grin to a look of pure confusion - a face that read What are you doing?
The train conductor scowled. "Stop what?"
"Andrew...it's about time we come clean to ya," Norton continued. His eyes held a hollow tenebrosity which Andrew couldn't help but rip his gaze from. "Ya've been giving away yer lunch every day now. And uh, ya see, it's not ours."
Well, the cat had been let out of the bag. The jig was up. "Sorry, we took advantage of your kindness," Naib continued, though the drool at the corners of his mouth betrayed his apology. "It looks like someone has been leaving you gifts. You should keep 'em, it's rude to give gifts away."
Andrew pretended to understand, despite being completely dumbfounded. "R-Right." But they had to be messing with him still. Who in their right mind would give Andrew gifts? The concept was absurd. It had to be a joke. "Are you sure it wasn't you guys messing with me?"
Norton rolled his eyes, "Yes, Andrew. Just enjoy yer lunch, or whatever."
No other words were exchanged as Andrew sat down at the table, left alone in the now-empty room. He plucked the note off the bag and traced calloused fingers over the letters as if they worked like braille. Oh, how he wanted to know who was toying with him.
Who are you? he asked himself, What do you want from me?
He analyzed the simple word as if deciphering hieroglyphics, cogs turning like clockwork in his skull. And then it dawned upon him - he was a genius! Whoever wrote the note was the one who left the bag! Obvious, yes, but Andrew knew just how to weed out the perpetrator. Right in front of his face on the bag was the bottom of a logo. Most of it had been scribbled out, but it was there. Andrew's face broke into a grin. That anonymous gift-giver would be caught red-handed!
The next morning, Luca arrived early again. Unfortunately, it wasn't to spy on the pretty stranger. It was his turn to set up shop and prepare the day's worth of baked goods. Just as Luca was adjusting the "Open!" sign on the door, a white blur probed his peripheral vision. It was him! The stranger! Luca bit his lip to contain a squeal, what a stroke of luck!
He didn't look in Luca's direction as he passed. In fact, he wasn't looking anywhere in particular at all. His gaze held a far-away sheen, clouded over with a dullish radiance. A prickly heat tingled around Luca's ears; he really couldn't get enough of those enthralling rose-red pools, pretty as lotus petals, and he staggered back in a full-bodied shudder that made his knees feel weak. If only the handsome stranger would catch him if he fell. On second thought, Luca feared he might die if the object of his affections stumbled upon him in such a meek state. Still, it wasn't like it was illegal to fantasize.
Swallowing the lump that had slowly accumulated in his throat, Luca gave his warm cheeks a few light slaps in an attempt to compose himself. Instead, he realized how clammy his hands had become and wiped his hands down his shirt to dry them off. In all honesty, he felt rather giddy. Just being able to see the man made his heart skip a beat.
Luca knew he was very inquisitive. He always had been. Though, he was starting to question whether the fuzzy curdling inside him was really just a fascination...or perhaps something more. Maybe Demi was right.
Luca Balsa spent the majority of every day daydreaming of pearls and rubellites. He was the perfect distraction. Whether he was serving customers, baking in the kitchen, or lying in bed with his eyes trained on the ceiling, his heart fluttered whenever the man crossed his mind. He couldn't get enough of him. If his memory didn't restrict him, Luca would've drawn him over and over just to make sure he never forgot how pretty the man was.
He blinked wearily as he snapped out of his trance, focusing back in on reality. In his hand was a piping bag he was using to decorate the freshly baked stock for the day, and, not that anyone else would know, his gift to his fixation. He had already marked out a separate portion to give away before he was swept away by his earlier fantasies. He found that every time Luca was in charge of decorating duties, the ornamentation became more and more eccentric each time. Part of his charm, perhaps. Luca had been doing this for a while now, so long in fact that he'd lost track of how long it had been since this all began. Nonetheless, he enjoyed himself, thinking about how one day he would be able to share cakes and cream with him face-to-face. That's why he had to work extra hard! The way to a man's heart was through his stomach!
His heart sang as he skilfully piped the cake border, little buttercream swirls curling around the edges. Today he was feeling...hm, sugar flowers? Hearts seemed a little too forward. Besides, Luca was sure they had some leftover gumpaste roses in the fridge. That would definitely make his espionage much smoother. He was swift to retrieve them and delicately stuck the flowers down like a tiny bouquet on the marked out slice with a touch of buttercream. Perfect!
Luca cut the slice out and put it in the fridge on a paper plate, he'd bag it later on when it wasn't so dainty to touch. He had to finish decorating the rest of the cake.
Days passed and both Luca and Andrew were eager to cross paths with each other. While Luca wanted to get another peek at him, Andrew was aiming to apprehend the scoundrel pampering him in the act. He was closer to seizing them than ever!
Sure, he was monstrous. And, yes, he knew he would forever be an outcast. But one thing Andrew was cognizant of was that he was not an idiot.
He'd been saving the bags and wrappers for a short while now, piecing together little parts of the logos that weren't scribbled out or otherwise blemished, and his hard work had paid off handsomely. The gifts he had been receiving were from the bakery next door; this meant that all Andrew needed to do now was expose the zealot trifling with him. And he knew exactly how he was going to do it! Of course, it didn't reveal much about the culprit at all - anyone could access the bakery (and break into the staff room, apparently) - but nothing would change the fact that Andrew Kreiss was solving the puzzle!
A verbal onslaught frothing and fizzing in his head, Andrew snatched a pen from his bag and tore a page from his notebook. He was going to find out what the perpetrator wanted from him once and for all. He slapped the paper on the table, pen quivering in his strong grip. He thought hard, brows furrowed harshly in concentration as he contemplated how he would phrase his message. But in the end, he supposed it didn't matter because Andrew knew exactly what answers he needed.
Arranging the note and pen neatly on his locker shelf, Andrew gave himself a sanguine smile of satisfaction. He was certain that he would unravel this mystery!
And to do so...Andrew decided he needed to be a bit rebellious. He had already figured that the culprit infiltrated his locker between his arrival and during the afternoon, so surely handing over his train shift to Norton and Naib while he patrolled the station wasn't too irresponsible of him. Okay, it was way too nonchalant of him, but he needed to know who was spoiling him! The prospect definitely had to be somewhere at the top of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. If he didn't find out, he was sure he'd perish. Andrew just hoped they would accept his proposal.
He checked his watch. No one was around. Leaving for a momentary toilet break wouldn't hurt, would it? He'd be right back.
Luca peeked around the corner. The coast was clear! He broke into a sprint to reach the staff room without being detected. He knew by now that it would be empty, no one was around at this hour so he didn't need to rush with the locker. It wasn't surprising when he found the door was left unlocked, pushing it open with minimal effort. Luca picked the lock and as he went to set the bag on the shelf, he was met with quite the spectacle.
There was a slip of folded paper and a pen waiting for him. Addressed to him, in fact. Luca picked it up with cautious fingers, unfolding it slowly before reading the neat little words jotted across the page.
𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱.
𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦.
𝘐𝘧 𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘥? 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴?
- 𝘈𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘸
Luca's cheeks burned. His name was Andrew! That was so cute! It suited him. The syllables tasted good rolling off his tongue.
Luca turned the paper over and wrote his response with a smile.
Andrew watched through the gap in the open door. The culprit was there! Right there in his locker! It was frustrating beyond belief that the locker door covered their face, but Andrew could tell it was a man. He thought so, anyway. And it wasn't Naib or Norton because he made sure they were both entertained. So that meant...this was the real perpetrator.
He heard his locker close with a click - an indicator for Andrew to hide so he wasn't caught snooping. Not like he wasn't meant to be! This stranger kept breaking in!
The door opened and Andrew slipped behind a nearby pillar. He was pale enough to practically blend in with it. He heard the door close and, with a small chuckle (Andrew would be lying if he said it wasn't attractive) the man began to flee the scene. Andrew didn't catch any of his features, but that was fine. He'd caught him, and for now that was satisfying enough. Now he just needed to check his locker!
As anticipated, there was a response left for him along with a little paper bag. Andrew eagerly read the scrawny reply.
𝐻𝑒𝓁𝓁𝑜 𝒜𝓃𝒹𝓇𝑒𝓌! 𝐼 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓂𝒾𝓈𝑒 𝐼 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓃𝑜 𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈. 𝐼 𝒶𝒸𝓉𝓊𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒷𝑒𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒾𝒻𝓊𝓁.
𝐼'𝓂 𝓈𝑜𝓇𝓇𝓎 𝐼 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒𝓃'𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒻𝒶𝒸𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒻𝒶𝒸𝑒, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝐼'𝒹 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓃𝑔𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉.
𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓌𝑒 𝓂𝑒𝑒𝓉 𝓉𝑜𝓃𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒶𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓀 𝒶𝓉 𝒟𝑒𝓂𝒾'𝓈 𝒷𝒶𝓇? 𝒟𝓇𝒾𝓃𝓀𝓈 𝑜𝓃 𝓂𝑒! 𝒩𝑜 𝓃𝑒𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝓅𝒶𝓎 𝓂𝑒 𝒷𝒶𝒸𝓀!
𝐼 𝒽𝑜𝓅𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝑒𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒
(𝐼'𝓁𝓁 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝓇𝑜𝒹𝓊𝒸𝑒 𝓂𝓎𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻 𝒾𝓃 𝓅𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑜𝓃)
It was a bit disheartening that Andrew wasn't given his name, but the idea of actually meeting him made the world spin beneath his feet. It was...exciting! He was absolutely going to go, he just hoped he wouldn't be shown up.
Luca's chest felt too tight, like he was an inflatable and the air was being squeezed out of him. He was waiting for Andrew to arrive, but he wasn't even sure if he wanted to meet. Demi had been trying to reassure him for the past twenty minutes, but she eventually gave up when she realized she was making him panic even more. Almost like an apology, she slid the occasional shot of...whatever she decided to give him across the bar with a flourish.
"What if he doesn't show up?" he had said.
"He will, Lu. Andrew's a babe," Demi had replied, a thumb rubbing soothing circles into his arm. "Just give me a heads-up when you want me to bring you two some drinks. It'll be fine!"
Luca kicked his legs against the bar stool. "But what if I scare him? Or what if he does show up and I die because of how cute he is?"
"You won't die, Luca," she snorted, "At least not from infatuation-induced anaphylactic shock. I'm more likely to kill you than Andrew, believe me. He's sweet."
Shaking his head, he stumbled off the stool. "I gotta go save a table, Dems. Pray for me."
Demi gave her biggest smile and held up enthusiastic crossed fingers.
Another ten minutes passed before Luca was starting to give up hope. The bar was bustling with life, but there was still no Andrew. He supposed he would give it another five minutes, and if he didn't show up after that, Luca would leave. It wasn't until Demi called Luca's name that Luca snapped his head around to check where she was pointing.
The baker's face erupted into smiles.
There he was! "Andrew!" he called out. The man spun around searching for whoever yelled his name, eyes scanning his surroundings with extreme attentiveness like a rabbit in headlights. Luca called out for him again, this time waving Andrew over when they finally locked eyes.
Andrew stumbled over with sheepish steps, stopping about a meter away from him."Um... Hello?"
Luca gasped, finally able to see him up close. Andrew was far more attractive than he ever imagined, skin as pale as moonlight, smooth as ivory. His eyelashes were like dandelion seeds, dainty and long, soft as silk, he'd bet. They contrasted so pristinely against his cherry-red eyes like scarlet banksias. He almost didn't register his words, already rendered speechless by the allure of the man in front of him.
"I got your letter," Luca fumbled for words. Why was he getting so bashful already? Where had all that prior confidence gone?
"I got yours too," Andrew slowly sat opposite him in the booth. Luca could tell he was still on high alert. "What's your name? Do you really think I'm beautiful? You're not making fun of me, are you?"
Producing a paper bag from beneath the table and handing it to the albino, Luca flourished a kind smile. "My name is Luca Balsa, I work in the bakery next door. I brought these for ya. And I do think you're beautiful. You're the most breathtaking man I've ever seen."
Andrew was silent, his expression unreadable. It was like he was considering his next move, pondering a response, examining each and every one of Luca's features. Luca was about to chip in again when Andrew all of a sudden stood up. "You're lying."
Huh? Bile rose in his throat, heart reduced to stone like a punch in the stomach. After all his efforts, Andrew was going to leave! He couldn't let that happen.
"I'm not, I swear," Luca pleaded, standing to meet his gaze once more, "You're-You're astonishing! You look like an angel." He reached across the table to place a hand on top of Andrew's. His skin was warm. "Please. Please stay."
Andrew's glare bore holes into his soul, analyzing each and every gesture offered. "All right. I'll take your word for it. My name is Andrew Kreiss."
"Andrew Kreiss..." Luca muttered, like tasting the syllables on his tongue, "It suits ya. I like it."
"Why are you doing this to me, Luca Balsa?"
Luca cocked his head to the side. "Hm?"
Andrew pressed on, "The notes and the bags of food. Why?"
In all honesty, Luca didn't have a reason. At first, he simply wanted to be able to study him more. But then it developed into something more than that. Thoughts became daydreams and daydreams became fantasies. He caught himself engrossed in the albino's luster on multiple occasions, wondering what his hands would feel like in his own, and wondering what his voice sounded like. He finally acknowledged the truth he had tried so hard to deny: it was a crush. He liked Andrew.
Luca snagged the inside of his cheek with his teeth as he searched for the right words. "Well, uh. Just because I wanted to, I guess. I didn't know how to approach you."
"Don't you think I'm rude?" insisted Andrew. It was like an interrogation, voice unwavering yet still so unsure at the same time.
"Of course not! I think I'd react the same if someone did this to me, too," he reassured him. And it was true, Luca wasn't the best with suspense. He was too inquisitive! Curiosity killed the cat, that he knew, but satisfaction brought it back! But that was beside the point. Luca decided it was time to steer the conversation back where he wanted it. "Ya really oughta try some of Demi's Dovlin! She makes the best mixes, believe me."
Andrew shook his head. "You really don't have to..."
"Nuh-uh! I already told ya drinks were on me!" Luca grinned from ear to ear and raised a hand to grab Demi's attention. "All I want in return is your friendship."
Brain like a spinning top, Andrew's face twists into that of perplexion. "Why would you want to be my friend?"
"Because," Luca began, "you're interesting. I wanna get to know ya, Andrew. I dunno if you believe me just yet, but I'll make ya believe!"
Still mulling it over, he accepted Luca's answer with a nod. "I'll be your friend on one condition, but don't think I'll trust you so easily."
"What's the condition?"
"Stop breaking into my locker!" he scowled.
"You got it!" the baker exclaimed in triumph, just in time for Demi to place two pint glasses in front of them. "Hey, Dems! Ya brought the Demi Deluxe, right?"
"That's right!" she hollered, "A special mix to keep this date rolling!"
Andrew jolted, looking between the two, desperately alarmed. He seemed to recoil in on himself. "A date?"
"Demi! It's not a date!" Luca scolded, although it was more of a pitiful attempt to console his new friend. "Don't scare him off like that!"
She mock pouted, unapologetic. "Aww all right, I'm sorry. Enjoy the rest of your evening boys. Let me know if you need a refill." She leaned towards Andrew and lowered her voice, "Luca can be a bit forward, but he means well. Give him a chance, will ya?"
"What did she say?" Luca asked once Demi sauntered back to the bar, idly chatting with the men reeking like beer.
Andrew opened the paper bag and retrieved one of the sugar-coated donuts, breaking it in half with boney fingers. "None of your business. Share this with me?" It came out like more of a question than a demand.
Taking a sip of the Dovlin, Luca shrugged. "Only if ya eat first."
Half of the donut was shoved in Luca's direction, giving him no choice but to take it. "No, I'll only eat if you eat. It's awkward to be stared at while eating."
"That's fair. I guess ya win this one!"
Luca felt his lips curl upwards as Andrew returned the gesture, chuckling lightly. He never expected Andrew to be so soft-spoken, but it only served to make his heart flutter all the more. There was something about the way Andrew's pale cheeks dimpled when he smiled that caught his eye, just like his infectious rumblings of the soul.
As he lifted his dazed gaze to meet that deep pool of claret, Luca could've sworn that he could see gerberas and yarrows and subtle carnations swept across a fiery horizon within the windows to his very being. It wasn't the threatening void of civilization that presented itself in his eyes, no, what he saw was the wondrous expanse of the universe in all of its marvelous glory. It made Luca feel at ease, a pleasant warmth rising in his chest.
The longer he beheld, the more he noticed his own reflection in the other's eye, and, at peace with himself, at last, he finally felt all his worries melt away. Every line, curve, and angle of his face seemed to work together to seamlessly create something more beautiful than the sum of its parts. And in the light of the sunset, his silky hair framed his face like a porcelain painting. Andrew Kreiss was exquisite; the more he looked the more he would find.
The two continued to revel in each other's company until they were too tired to talk any more.
They talked about all sorts of things, though it was Luca who took the liberty of carrying the conversations. Andrew didn't mind one bit - he much preferred to sit back and listen keenly. Andrew was reluctant to talk about his past, defensive walls built high and mighty, but Luca didn't mind. Just being able to sit across from him and drink in his ethereal countenance was enough to satiate his curiosity.
Andrew was quiet but opinionated, shy yet bold, personality as much of a contrast as his appearance. Easy on both the eyes and the ears.
It was gratifying beyond words to see Andrew loosen up and have fun. The pink tints to his usually smoke-white skin complimented his eyes. It wasn't like Luca had any room to talk; his own rosy cheeks were hot to the touch, like on fire, as he gazed at Andrew with a hand propping his head up.
Luca couldn't have asked for a more perfect night.
They met early every morning to grab a coffee and send each other off to work with a smile. After work, they met again and talked about their day. Twice a week after work they would head over to the bar and relish each moment in each other's company. As time went on, Andrew became less cold and allowed himself to enjoy himself from time to time. Andrew's smile was serene. Luca wished Andrew wore it more.
Luca was setting up shop when Andrew yelled out for him. He spun on his heels, heart jumping at the sight of the albino sprinting towards him. "Hey, Andrew! I didn't know if I was gonna see ya this morning," he greeted him, evidently relieved. A growl shook the air between them and Andrew shot his gaze away. "Ya good there? Hungry?"
"Sorry," he mumbled. His fingers fiddled with his coat sleeves, a nervous habit of his Luca had picked up on. "I was in a hurry this morning. I didn't want to miss you before work..."
"Aw, it's no big deal if we don't get to see each other before work, Drew. We've got the whole day to talk. don't we?" Luca beamed. "How about we meet for lunch today? On me, of course."
He shook his head sadly. "I don't want you to spend your money on me. I'll be fine," Andrew said, but hi the loud growling of his stomach said otherwise.
Luca bit the inside of his cheek. He'd rarely ever seen Andrew eat; he knew eating in public was something he was self-conscious of, but as of lately Luca had noticed just how lethargic the train conductor was. "Hey, Andrew," he started, "ya been eating properly?"
Andrew looked taken aback. "What?"
"Have ya been eating properly, Andrew?"
He shrugged, unsure. "I mean, I guess?"
Luca frowned. His mind had been made up. From then on, he wouldn't let Andrew go hungry. "I'm bringing ya breakfast and lunch starting tomorrow and there is nothing ya can do to stop me."
"But-!"
"Nope! Don't wanna hear it! We're eating lunch together today too!"
For a moment Andrew said nothing. He looked defeated. Then with a content sigh, he gave in. "Thank you, Luca."
When Andrew blessed him with that adorable smile of gratitude, he felt as if he had been winded. Luca fought for breath, the air escaping his lungs as he searched for the right words to describe how...how enchanted he was. It was about time to acknowledge that his attraction to Andrew was much more than mere curiosity. Hell, it was probably more than just attraction at this point. He could lie to himself all he wanted, but his body sure couldn't. Even if Luca wanted to deny his feelings, the rhythmic pounding in his heart and head betrayed him.
Luca Balsa was infatuated.
A month had passed since the beginning of their friendship, so the pair decided it'd be nice to go out to watch the fireworks. There was supposed to be a public firework display at the local park that night and since admission was free, it was easy to convince Andrew to accompany him. As they waited for the show to begin, Luca and Andrew found an isolated spot on the grass, lying side by side under the moonlit effulgence.
He never considered himself a spiritual man, but Luca was entranced by him, hanging onto each and every word that left the sanctuary of Andrew's lips. His heart throbbed, elated that at long last Andrew was expressing his devout passion. Even if religion was something Luca would never understand, the mere sight of a smile tugging at his lips warmed his heart in a way the sun never could.
"Am I boring you, Luca?"
"Course not. I love listening to ya, Andrew. It makes me so happy to hear ya talk so freely," Luca chuckled, voice laced with pure adoration. "You're so interesting. What was your life like when you were younger? Were ya always so religious?"
"Mm." Was the only form of response Luca received. "Let's watch the fireworks, Luca."
Andrew was immovable. His walls were built high and mighty. His past was shrouded in mystery and no matter how hard Luca tried to prise him open, the vault of Andrew's mind stayed cemented shut.
Throughout the duration of their friendship, he had assumed that Andrew just didn't want to open up, didn't want to contribute to conversations. He had been too fixated on bombarding him with affection and attention that he neglected to realize the reason behind his silence. All this time Luca had been so ignorant. "Is it...painful to talk about your past?"
Andrew turned his head away, teeth sinking into cracked lips. "Yes, but that's not the reason I won't talk about it."
"Then may I ask why?"
For a moment the whole world fell silent. A communal loss for words. The entire universe waited with bated breath.
"It's because I don't want your pity. I don't want you to look down on me, nor do I need your commiserations. But most of all, I don't want to scare you away," He rolled onto his side, he didn't want Luca to see his tears. "I don't deserve the kindness you give me, but I still accept it. You must think I'm greedy. You make me feel weird. No one has ever shown interest in me before you came along, and I don't know why my heart hammers every time I look at you. You're all I think about and I don't know why!"
His words sliced through the crisp air, like Church bells ringing through the miasma. "Andrew..." Luca sat up slowly, gaze softening on his shivering form. "The first time I laid my eyes on you, I knew ya were the most captivating being in existence. At first, I couldn't comprehend why just seeing ya walk by sent butterflies rushing through my stomach. It took some time to realize how I felt about'cha. Your voice is soothing and mellow, it makes me feel at peace. I could listen to ya forever, Drew. I find myself smiling whenever you cross my mind."
"Thinking about you makes me happy too," he whispered.
Luca chuckled. "I'm glad. It's a relief to know I'm not the only one, ya know? I adore everything about'cha. You're never afraid to speak your mind, you're strong and handsome and kind. You have the purest heart and I love listening to you ramble about your passions. I really enjoy spending time with ya, and I'd love to spend even more by your side."
"Do you mean that?"
"Of course I do."
Andrew turned over to meet Luca's eyes, taken aback by the sincerity in his soul. "I think...I have feelings for you. Is that selfish of me to say?"
"Not at all. I've wanted to call ya mine since I first saw ya," he smiled. "I never thought I'd confess so early, but I like ya, Drew. I really do. As more than a friend. It may be too soon, but you fascinate me."
Once again, the conductor looked like he was about to cry. "Aren't you ashamed for having those feelings for me? I'm a freak. You deserve someone smart and caring and humane!"
Luca took hold of his hands, clasping them securely in his own. "And that's exactly why I want you, Andrew Kreiss. You're as human as they come. There is nothing ya can do to change my mind."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing."
Andrew's stoic expression broke into a calm smile that set Luca's heart ablaze. He was so cute. "Luca Balsa, you are the only antidote I have to this world. Because of you, my life isn't so bleak. Thank you."
He shuffled closer to Andrew tucking his head snugly under his chin. Luca never expected the feeling of his body so close to his own to feel so right."By ya side is my favorite place to be."
"Is it okay if I hold you, even just for a little while?"
"Only if you promise to wrap your arms around me and never let go."