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"There is something wrong with Anaxa", Kaveh sighed deeply as he slumped beside Alhaitham on the couch.
Alhaitham looked up from the coffee that he was slowly slipping and asked, "Why do you say so?"
Kaveh sat up straight and replied sincerely, "Didn't you notice? Today when he came over, he acted really strange!"
"Strange?", Alhaitham cocked his eyebrow, "in what way?"
Kaveh left a sigh of frustration "In every way!"
Kaveh raised a single finger, "When he comes over on weekends, he usually tries to stick around until dinner but today? he left right after lunch!"
Alhaitham nodded.
Kaveh raised a second finger, "Usually, he does take a couple of books from the bookshelf everytime he leaves. I've noticed this everytime since he moved out. Everytime he'll take only two. But today? He took out 4!"
"Mhm", Alhaitham acknowledged.
Kaveh raised a third finger, "The coffee powder he packed, it actually doubled! Well, I did ask him if he is having any trouble or if he is not returning home next weekend but he dismissed both"
"Ohh..", Alhaitham listened, sincerely.
Kaveh raised a fourth finger and even lowered his voice dramatically, "I saw him sneak into his own room quietly.. and he actually searched for the recipe book we gave him when he first moved out which he casually said he would never need!"
Alhaitham raised both his eyebrows and shook his head, "definitely something strange", yet his tone was filled with a tease as if he was just amused at Kaveh's reaction more than their son's strange behavior.
Kaveh rose a fifth finger and said all the more seriously, "Most importantly! He asked me to pack an extra portion of lunch! And he said he would have it for dinner or if he feels hungry in between. What nonsense. Who doesn't know he is extremely picky and likes to eat foods fresh and hot. Does he think those lies can deceive me!", Kaveh continued, "Alhaitham! do you think...", Kaveh seemed deep in thought before asking tentatively, "he is raising a puppy?"
Alhaitham's lips curled and he intertwined his five fingers with Kaveh's raised five fingers, brought in near his lips and placed a soft kiss, "That's your conclusion?"
Kaveh still frowned deeply, "What else can it be?"
Alhaitham played with Kaveh's fingers, "Hmm.. do you remember when you started buying everything double?"
"Hm? Isn't it obviously when I—", Kaveh's words stuck in his mouth. Alhaitham smirked, "—when you moved in with me"
Kaveh shook his head, "Absolutely impossible. I would rather believe he adopted a puppy!"
The puppy stood in front of the door to Anaxa's shared apartment, just that this puppy had two legs, two hands, gorgeous blue eyes and strikingly handsome features, now looking at the person in front of him in amusement.
Anaxa lifted his eyebrows, "Move? Or are you planning to just let me stand here with all these in my hand?"
Phainon's friendly smile immediately returned to his face overcoming the surprise, "it's just.. you brought so many things back from your home?"
"Hm", Anaxa's answer was succinct.
Phainon moved the luggage to the center of the hall.
Anaxa slowly unpacked, and anyone could say that it didn't look like a single person luggage but for two people atleast.
"Ah.. so many?", Phainon blurted out.
"What? I cannot have so many?"
Phainon immediately waved his hands, "No, I didn't mean that. You can obviously have as many as you would want!"
"But.. it's just that..", Phainon hesitated a bit, "if you feel if you can't finish it all, we can share."
The corners of Anaxa's lips slightly rose. The fish successfully took the bait. Anaxa pretended to think, "Let me think about it.."
Isn't he a little too good at pretending.. Phainon could completely see through Anaxa's actions. Last week Phainon moved into this new shared apartment. Though this roommate wasn't exactly the friendly type, it wasn't difficult for Phainon to find a way to start conversations with this roommate. Though it always ends with his roommate being extremely annoyed, he really couldn't help it. He usually knew his boundaries and limits but with Anaxa he always wanted to test those boundaries.
Three days ago, when he went shopping he bought an extra pair of takeaway and shared it with Anaxa. So to return the favor, this person was walking in such a circle.. when he could simply say he brought an extra portion of lunch, an extra pack of coffee powder, extra books for him.. and even a recipe book..
His roommate was.. really cute.
"Have you thought through?", Phainon asked seriously but it was more that he knew there was nothing for Anaxa to think through.
"What if I say no?", Anaxa rebutted.
Shit. Took it a step too far.
Phainon raised his hands in defeat, "Haha, take your time, think through.. think well.. I'll turn on the TV?"
"Whatever", Anaxa replied.
The moment Phainon turned on the tv, a guy's voice rang out, "Baby, I've known you for enough time now. Saying one thing when meaning another, if you say No, doesn't it mean you agree?"
The remote in Phainon's hand slipped as he looked back at Anaxa who was glaring at him.
"I really don't know what show this is! I'm innocent!"
Anaxa sent him a death glare, opened the extra portion of lunch his dad packed for him and inserted the spoon violently. As if he was stabbing a certain someone.
"When I say No, it means a No. I'll eat it myself"
Phainon immediately relented, switched off the tv and ran to Anaxa's side, "Let me have a taste of your dad's cooking, okay?"
Anaxa finally calmed down, not completely. "Next time you cook, you can try the tips in recipe book. My dad specifically worked on this for me."
The next time Kaveh brought up a conversation about Anaxa to Alhaitham was three months later.
After his series of worries that day, Kaveh genuinely believed Anaxa was raising a pet and carefully advised him not to give coffee or home made foods to pets cause it might harm them instead. Kaveh told him to keep the place neat and tidy when living with pets and even asked whether he should come over someday to clean up the place for him if he is too busy with his studies to which Anaxa firmly refused.
He had no idea why his dad was advising him as if he was raising a pet at home— but he simply acknowledged his dad's good intentions and didn't talk back.
But before Anaxa could leave, Alhaitham gave him a sidelong glance, "Pet?"
"No", Anaxa refused.
"Roommate?", Alhaitham questioned, yet it held a meaning deeper than simply roommates.
"Yes."
Alhaitham suddenly switched the topic, "There is a new version of noise cancelling headphones. Do you want to try?"
Anaxa's eyes lit up very subtly, "Can I?"
"Ofcourse", Alhaitham held out a box.
Anaxa reached out to take it, "Thanks.." but before he could grab it, Alhaitham pulled his hands back and raised his eyebrow.
Anaxa's expression was bored, as if he was long used to this trick of his dad, "Thank you, dad."
The equilibrium lasted for three months until —
"There is definitely a problem with Anaxa", Kaveh shook Alhaitham awake at the middle of the night.
Alhaitham hummed and pulled Kaveh into his arms, "say it"
"His braid today, it's not the way he usually wears it!"
Careless brat. Alhaitham thought to himself.
"Maybe he wanted to try something new."
"Stop covering up for him!", Kaveh released himself from Alhaitham's arms, turned on the night lamp and looked at Alhaitham sincerely, "Why do I feel like you two are in cahoots? Alhaitham, be honest with me. Did he tell you something that he didn't tell me?"
Sorry for selling you out, son.
Kaveh continued, "Did he actually develop an interest in finally trying out new things?"
Well, you are still safe for now.
"The scent he wore today was different, the way he braided his hair was different. Even his hairband was not the same black/white color he usually wore.", Kaveh looked seriously at Alhaitham, "Even when I told him many times to go for shopping more, try out new things young people like. He never listened."
"He's still growing up.", Alhaitham casually commented.
"That's true. It's really nice to have a pet. He finally has interest in things beyond simply science"
"He should thank your genes then", Alhaitham leaned in for a kiss.
"hmppp— wh—", Kaveh soon forgot the retort as the night lamp was once again turned off.
Phainon's fingers slipped through Anaxa's hair as he gently pulled them into a braid.
"My dad almost found out", Anaxa replied.
"Hm?"
"Actually, he must already be sure. It's not almost"
"Well, didn't you say your dads started as roommates too?", Phainon completed the braid and sat near Anaxa on the couch.
"And so?"
"He must be extremely perceptive."
"But my other dad seemed to have misunderstood something.. he thinks.." Anaxa looked at Phainon sincerely and replied, "I'm raising a pet"
Phainon laughed aloud until he bent over, "How is that possible! It's obviously me who is—" he looked at Anaxa's glare and his remaining words changed, "the pet. The pet. Haha"
But Anaxa's frown deepened, "I really don't want dad to keep misunderstanding. But your performance evaluation time is still 3 months away."
"Hmmm..", Phainon leaned closer, "how about.. you take me home and introduce me as a friend? Let that be a part of the boyfriend evaluation too?"
"Don't even think about it", Anaxa outright denied.
It's really getting difficult to get his then- roommate now to-be boyfriend to follow his hidden agenda now.
The progress to their current state in the last 3 months.. it might be because they were doing their major in the same university but different majors so they spent most of their time together that they were naturally drawn to each other. Additionally, Phainon integrated every part of their lives together from breakfast to dinner that Anaxa himself knew he was looking forward to spend every moment with this person.
To a person who was cold and withdrawn and his words that sounded crazy to everyone's ears, a person like Phainon who was willing to offer warmth, support, companionship and listen to him without judging him, was rare. And on top of that, Anaxa has to agree that every brush of their fingers still sends his heartbeat into a disarray.
Yet he simply couldn't accept that he fell for Phainon so quickly, and proposed a 6 month trial time.
"You win", Phainon pulled Anaxa into his arms, "I'll wait for another 3 months", he sniffed his own scent on Anaxa's clothes and happily closed his eyes.
Three months later when it was the weekend, Alhaitham and Kaveh finished their usual morning routine and awaited their son to return home.
Kaveh kept feeling an unusual premonition from the morning and brought it up with Alhaitham, "I felt like something is really about to happen.."
And right at that moment, the doorbell rang.
Kaveh took a deep breath and opened the door... he was greeted with a stranger, who was almost as tall as Alhaitham, still not quite, wore an extremely bright smile on his face and held up two packs of groceries in his hand, "Uncles, hello!", the person outside greeted enthusiastically.
Kaveh smiled awkwardly, "well hello? you are..?"
Alhaitham replied from behind, "must be the puppy you were curious about"
Phainon's face twisted awkwardly with a smile and Kaveh's face froze with a shock.
Anaxa pushed Phainon away and walked in front of a shocked Kaveh, "Dad, this is my boyfriend, Phainon"
"Oh.. the status upgrade was rather quick", Alhaitham commented.
Kaveh turned to look at Alhaitham, "what did you knew?"
Alhaitham replied as if he was really innocent, "I told you everything I suspected. Its really your son's roommate"
Kaveh still couldn't completely comprehend what was going on but he quickly asked the two to come in and replied apologetically to Phainon, "I'm sorry. I was overcame with shock right now that I did not even greet you properly. Phainon, right? Give me those groceries. Go inside and take a seat!"
Anaxa, who was left outside, casually walked in, well, it was his home anyway, he doesn't have to be invited in.
Phainon replied politely, "I'll carry them! It's my fault, uncle! Suddenly showing up at your door without informing you must've caused you great shock."
"You're Anaxa's boyfriend. Just call us dad just like he does!", Kaveh led Phainon to the kitchen to put the groceries.
"He gained the approval already?", Anaxa's expression was blank but secretly he was overjoyed.
"He already passed the most difficult test, didn't he?", Alhaitham casually asked, while pushing the cookies in the plate towards Anaxa as they both sat on the couch.
"Hmm?", Anaxa questioned.
"In our home, who is the most difficult to please?"
Anaxa immediately fell silent.
From the kitchen, came a series of laughter. Phainon and Kaveh immediately hit it off. They both were rather friendly personalities and Phainon was extremely good at cooking too.
"No wonder he carefully sneaked out the recipe book. It was to make you cook! He made you cook from the very first week? See, where did he learn this bad habit from!"
Phainon laughed, "It's mainly because your cooking is really good that even when he lives away he always misses it!"
"You're really good with your words. Aren't you spoiling him a little too much?", Kaveh asked in return.
"Well, isn't it what you want to see dad?", Phainon smiled. Though he said it casually, Kaveh could see Phainon was genuinely serious about his relationship with Anaxa and that he genuinely loves his son.
He could have never imagined that his son would bring back a boyfriend home this soon after moving out. But talking more with Phainon, Kaveh could understand why Phainon managed to move his difficult son.
The kitchen was filled with laughter and chatter. And in contrast, the sofa was rather quiet except for the few conversations but it was nevertheless very warm.
After lunch, it was time to leave.
"Make sure to come with him every weekend!", Kaveh sincerely invited.
"Seriously, dad?", Anaxa was really surprised with how his dads immediately accepted Phainon's existence.
"Of course, or do you still plan on testing him?", Kaveh narrowed his eyes
Anaxa immediately turned to Phainon, "you.."
Phainon raised his hands in defeat, "I really didn't say anything"
Before Anaxa could retort, he pulled Anaxa into his arms and turned to bid goodbye to Alhaitham and Kaveh before quickly walking away.
Alhaitham closed the door and pulled Kaveh into his arms, though there was no first meeting with parents for them, the memories of early days were still fresh in their memories.
"You're just as beautiful as back then", Alhaitham tucked a strand of blonde hair behind Kaveh's red ears.
"Alhaitham, today isn't about us—", Kaveh's retort was weak.
"Why not? Everyday for me is about my beautiful wife."