Chapter Text
Alhaitham was born with a silver spoon into a world where he could enjoy the finer things in life. Though he was never spoiled, his parents made sure that he didn’t grow to become a man who depended on his family’s wealth.
Alhaitham grew to be a pragmatic and smart man who knew how to handle finances like the back of his hand. He helped around in their company and even made decisions in his father’s stead, all the while juggling the challenges that being in the 2nd year of a Software Engineering course brings.
A young man who’s a dean lister in a prominent college, one who was well-versed in the world of business.
What was he doing, standing by the line of people who were waiting for the Samiel passenger bus to arrive, when his car was in the parking lot?
“Alhaitham… is that you?”
That voice, Alhaitham could’ve sworn his heart skipped a beat. He felt like he was dragged back to highschool. To the times where they were close, inseparable even.
“Kaveh.” Alhaitham breathes. “It’s me.”
· · ─────── · ·
Despite having been born into a family that was more than well-off, Alhaitham did not go to a private school in his younger years. His parents believed that private schools were a business– their goals were money, not quality education.
Alhaitham was then sent to a public school, a reputable one that had a great name and record. Rukkhadevata Memorial National High School.
“The school where dreams… come true!” A chorus of students sang during their morning ceremony every monday, it was their school hymn that everyone had memorized.
Naturally, Alhaitham had it memorized too. After the song finishes, a teacher goes up to the front holding a microphone. “Good morning students, I’m Faruzan as some of you might know.”
“They’re really keeping us here?” Dehya complains, fanning herself by tugging on her collar over and over. “It’s hotter than a desert.”
Alhaitham’s other classmates agree, he doesn’t react. Faruzan, the teacher in front, hushes the students and then continues with her announcement.
“All that announcing for some math competition?” Dehya huffs as she slouches on her seat when they get back to their classroom. “Nilou, our beautiful muse, who’s your bet?”
Nilou, who was arranging her notes, blinked at the sudden question. “I’m sorry?”
“The teacher said there was going to be a representative for each grade level for the competition, who do you think is going to represent the 9th grade?” Dehya wraps her arm around Alhaitham’s shoulder who lets himself get tugged. “I call dibs on Alhaitham.”
Alhaitham nods as though he’s been enlightened. ”So you do listen sometimes.” Dehya lets the boy go, gently pushing him away. “‘Course I did, genius! What else was there to do? Besides, that teacher's voice was something you could not ignore.”
Nilou chuckles. “Can I bet on him too?”
The whole class suddenly goes quiet when their adviser enters the room. The adviser greets the class and the students readily greet back, then she calls on a particular student. “Alhaitham, let me speak to you for a moment.”
Alhaitham briefly catches a glimpse of Dehya, who winks at him.
Dehya and Nilou’s bets were on the spot, now Alhaitham was in a room with Faruzan who was briefing them about the upcoming Regional Math Olympiad. By the way she talked, Faruzan was determined to coach them to victory.
Their review sessions were scheduled in the afternoon after their classes and would last an hour or two.
In their review sessions, it was obvious that Faruzan had a fondness for one specific student, the 11th grade’s representative. It was for good reason, this student was bright.
Kaveh, Alhaitham heard the others call him, was not only bright in the sense that he was smart. He had a mastery over trigonometry and basic calculus, reciting formulas like a poem verse in literature class.
But also bright in the sense that Kaveh had blonde hair, sharp carmine eyes and a smile that could reach the heavens. Bright in the way he approached his juniors and helped them whenever they were too shy to ask Faruzan questions. He explained patiently and never came off as patronizing.
Kaveh noticed that one of his juniors never asked him any questions, or even spoke with him much for that matter. This afternoon, he finished his worksheet early, so he approached his 9th grade junior, wanting to create rapport with everyone. “Alhaitham, right?”
Alhaitham nods, “Yes.” Kaveh glances at his junior’s worksheet, which was already completed. “Oh, so smart!” Kaveh marveled, “How’d you get this one? Oh, and this? I actually never learned the proper solution to this.”
Alhaitham blinks, Kaveh was still looking at his worksheet. The junior then grabs his scratch paper where he solved and starts explaining, he figures that Kaveh would be bored after a minute. But he forgot that it was his senior Kaveh he was talking to, not someone else.
The blonde gave Alhaitham his full attention as he told of his solutions and reasoning. Alhaitham didn’t miss the way Kaveh’s eyes twinkled after he finished. “What books do you read?” The senior asks out of genuine curiosity. “The way you approach problems, it’s perfect.”
“The library books. I bring some of them home.” Alhaitham answers and the senior nods, hooking his palm to his chin. “No special books…” Kaveh smiles that bright smile. “Then it must be you that’s special.”
Every afternoon, the pair of senior and junior would talk after they finished their individual worksheets. As the days passed, their conversations of numbers and algebraic letters morphed into friendly conversation– then to a lunch invitation.
Alhaitham didn't even notice it happening, but now he always had his lunches with his senior. They would eat at Kaveh’s favorite spot, a bench under the canopy of a big Adhigama tree.
“The competition’s tomorrow.” Kaveh stares at his lunchbox, the junior only nods in response.
Alhaitham did not like the feeling blooming in his chest, like he was about to lose something. How did he get so used to this routine in the span of a little more than a month? What if after this competition, Kaveh wouldn’t find the need to talk to him anymore?
What if all of this accompaniment was simply what Kaveh believes is his duty as a senior?
Alhaitham drowns all of what he deems childish thoughts in a thick swallow.
“Don’t tell me— is my little junior nervous?” Kaveh teases waiting for Alhaitham’s witty retort, but it never comes. “Haitham, it’s alright to be nervous.” The senior smiles comfortingly. “The junior I know can take on anything with that big brain of his, but it’s alright if he can’t take on everything.”
“Don’t worry, even if you get last place, you’ll always be the best to me.” Kaveh grins. “Don’t get last place though– Madam Faruzan would combust!” Alhaitham couldn’t help but let out a chuckle and Kaveh laughs with him.
Kaveh had the completely wrong idea, he was never nervous for some competition. But now, he realizes that whatever he was nervous about, it was needless.
Alhaitham remembers why he’s grown used to this senior of his in the first place. Kaveh stuck like honey wax– and who could resist that doting brightness of him? Little Alhaitham certainly couldn’t.
“The school where dreams… come true!” A chorus of students sang during their morning ceremony every monday, it was their school hymn that everyone had memorized.
Naturally, Alhaitham had it memorized too. But as he sang, his eyes wandered through the crowd, down to where the grade 11 students lined. He catches a glimpse of a bright smiling face, who surprisingly was looking at him as well.
Kaveh waved at him, beaming.
Alhaitham forgot a word in the hymn.
“Congratulations to all our amazing students who participated, you all did exceptional!” Faruzan was holding a microphone, commending the students she coached for the Regionals Math Olympiad before the morning ceremony ended. “Of course, a huge round of applause to our Grade 11 and Grade 9 Representatives, Kaveh and Alhaitham, for getting first place and advancing to the Nationals!”
Kaveh and Alhaitham were called to move forward and the students clapped. Dehya cheered loudly, “That’s our classmate! Yeah!”
Kaveh nudges his junior with an elbow and whispers. “Never doubted you.”
Alhaitham smiles.
They’d have to review for Nationals, don’t they?
· · ─────── · ·
“Alhaitham,” Kaveh looks elated, but the tiredness in his voice is prominent. “You’ve grown so big.” The blonde laughs in pleasant disbelief, “You look great.”
Alhaitham can’t find the words, it seemed like a dream. All this time, thinking of blonde hair and carmine eyes– missing them. Missing Kaveh.
These feelings he tried to will away, thinking it was just a juvenile infatuation. A junior's affection for his senior.
Alhaitham now knew he was fooling himself. He knew he was fooling himself when he chased blonde hair in a mall. He knew he was fooling himself when he followed carmine eyes to the passenger loading area.
He knew he was fooling himself when his heart skipped a beat when he heard Kaveh’s voice again.
“You look great, too.” Alhaitham replies with nothing but the truth, in his eyes. But Kaveh takes it as a white lie, shaking his head. “I look horrible.” The blonde says. “Just got out of a shift.”
Kaveh was holding his black shoes, the faux leather was worn and full of creases. He wore a waiter’s uniform and rubber slippers. Far from the perfumed, gold watch, ironed luxury brand polo, dashing bachelor figure that Alhaitham was.
Kaveh wasn’t ashamed of his job. He was working earnestly and honestly, that’s what’s important. But sometimes, he can’t help thinking of what could’ve been– what he could’ve achieved if the circumstances were different.
Alhaitham still thought he was the most beautiful thing he could lay his eyes on. Under the artificial light of the fluorescent LEDs, despite the exhaustion in his eyes. Kaveh was beautiful.
They both sat down on one of the cement benches and talked. Alhaitham was reminded of the conversations they had under the Adhigama Tree. But it was different, Kaveh did not have the blissfulness he once had the liberty of having when they were in highschool.
They weren’t kids anymore.
“Software Engineering?” Kaveh enthused. “Let me guess, Akademiya?”
Alhaitham remembers Kaveh mentioning that it was his dream college.
“I study there, yes.” Alhaitham answers and Kaveh grins. “Of course you do.” The blonde sighs contentedly. “Wish I could’ve gone there too, then you’d be my junior again.”
Alhaitham wanted that more than anything. “Where do you go?” Kaveh rubs a smudge off his shoes. “I used to go to Samiel State Uni. It was the closest to our house in the desert province.”
“You left Sumeru City?” Alhaitham’s voice rasped a little more than he’d liked.
“After my graduation.” Kaveh sighs. “I didn’t want to, but we needed to. My father couldn’t handle his job anymore, we couldn’t afford living in the city.”
Alhaitham wondered where he’d gone. He remembered those times clearly. Because near the end of that school year, Kaveh was distant.
Whenever they talked, the senior seemed like he was distracted or his mind was somewhere else.
Alhaitham assumed that he was just busy, Kaveh was graduating after all.
Alhaitham never expected that after his senior’s graduation, he wouldn’t see Kaveh for a long time.
"I'm sorry, Alhaitham." Kaveh looks at him, regretful. "I never said goodbye to you."
"There's no need to be sorry." Alhaitham answers, though he knew that he, for so long, wished that Kaveh did say goodbye.
Then he wouldn't have felt so lost.
"Look at you, so mature." Kaveh smiled apologetically. "I really am sorry, Alhaitham."
"I don't— I don't know what I was doing at the time. I felt so afraid and angry at the world." Kaveh sighs. "It isn't an excuse."
"You're taking the bus to Samiel?" Kaveh blinks at the Alhaitham's question, then he answers. "Yes, I also take the bus here. Good thing the Grand Bazaar doesn't properly open until 11 am."
Kaveh smiles. "Come to think of it, it's my day off tomorrow."
Alhaitham loved that smile more than anything.
He never was angry at Kaveh for leaving without farewell. He knew his senior had his reasons— he'd never hurt his junior intentionally.
"It's getting late." Alhaitham looked at his wristwatch, the hands turned to 12:50 am.
"Oh, I'm sorry for keeping you." Kaveh is quiet for a moment, then he takes out his phone. "Would you maybe like to keep in touch… before you go?
Kaveh says it sheepishly.
"No." He spat out, which makes Kaveh hold his breath.
Alhaitham slaps himself in his head.
"I meant, I'm not going yet." Alhaitham clarifies and Kaveh exhales in relief. "You scared me."
"Well, I wouldn't force you to keep in contact. I understand." Kaveh doesn't get the chance to feel bad when Alhaitham suddenly stands up, a hand in his pocket that reached for his car keys.
Kaveh looks up as he's seated, then he realizes how tall Alhaitham actually is now.
"I'll drive you home."
Kaveh's eyes widened.
"Really?" The blonde abruptly stands up, "Ah, but it'll be too much trouble for you." He scratches his neck.
"I wouldn't offer if it was trouble." Alhaitham says. It's true that Samiel was a province almost two hours away from the city, but nothing was trouble to Alhaitham when it came to Kaveh.
Kaveh was still hesitant, then suddenly the others waiting for bus also stood up.
The bus had arrived.
"Thank you, Alhaitham. But it's really alright." Kaveh smiles. "You should go home, it's late."
Alhaitham's heart sinks.
Kaveh's leaving again.
"Kaveh, your number." he reminds and takes out his phone, tapping his way to add a new contact.
"Oh, of course!" Kaveh puts out his palm and Alhaitham hands him his phone. "Don't forget to text me, alright?"
Alhaitham nods. "I won't forget."
Kaveh purses his lips into a sweet smile, but it gets cut short when he suddenly remembers the bus. "I have to go."
Kaveh steps forward and Alhaiham watches him go.
Oh, Alhaitham loathed to see him go.
Which is why he was pleasantly surprised when Kaveh stopped in his steps and quickly went back to Alhaitham.
"Haitham." Kaveh calls, Alhaitham hums in response. "Let me hug you."
Alhaitham opened his arms up and Kaveh rushes in and embraces him tightly. Alhaitham hugs back, and though he didn't want it to be obvious— it seemed like he didn't want to let go.
"I missed you." Kaveh mumbles, his warm breath makes the hair on Alhaitham's neck stand.
"I missed you too."
Alhaitham missed him more than anything. His laughs, his words, his smile, his warmth.
It was a short embrace, but with its tightness, Alhaitham's perfume might've stuck on Kaveh's clothes.
Alhaitham likes the thought.
"Drive safely, okay?"
With that, Kaveh truly bids goodbye.
The blonde waves to Alhaitham as he steps into the bus, still carrying those worn shoes in his other hand.
The bus leaves and Alhaitham is left to his thoughts. He walks back to the parking lot, to his car.
As he drives back home, he imagines how it would be if Kaveh was sitting in the passenger seat.
He'd let Kaveh play his favorite songs on the stereo. Alhaitham would listen to Kaveh sing along, like how he would in highschool.