Chapter Text
“Did you say or do something to him?” his friend whispered.
“I didn't even know him until you introduced us?”
Maybe they did meet by chance but Phainon is sure he would remember that inconspicuous body of his along with those red tattoos. And titans, have you seen his build? No amount of layers would hide them.
But his luck seemed to run dry as Mydei treated his very existence like a parasite.
Yesterday, Caelus introduced Phainon to Mydei in a Korean BBQ restaurant near campus. He learned that Mydei is around his age, only a year older, and is in business major.
Then a weird phenomenon happened during the BBQ.
“So, Mydei, do you work out?”
“What is it to you?”
Phainon only blinks at the unexpected answer.
“Um, I was just curious because you have a nice build. Where do you workout?”
He tried to maintain a friendly attitude but Mydei, for some reason, shut down the conversation before it even started.
“Just eat your fill.” Mydei said, always glancing at the bowl.
Caelus could only watch the two interact in awkwardness and tried to fill in the blanks.
“Ah right, Phainon is majoring in veterinary medicine! He doesn’t look the part but he’s a huge nerd.”
“Partner, we’re in the same faculty. Doesn’t that make us both nerds?”
“Nope! You’re always super stocked talking about animals and stuff. I still have chills when you brought home a huge tarantula in your hand with a big smile.”
Phainon could only laugh, waving off his embarrassment. So much for first impressions, oh well.
He glances at the man beside him to see at least what expression Mydei had, only to meet with a cold stern gaze in return.
This guy hates his guts.
Phainon looks at his partner again, giving him some kind of signal. Blinking in SOS, not sure if he gets it but thankfully he nods.
“Yo Phainon, give Mydei some room and sit beside me.” He pats the chair beside him.
Now with their current position, Phainon felt more comfortable and leaned in to whisper something to Caelus.
“Partner, did I do something wrong?”
“No, you definitely didn’t. And trust me, Mydei is usually a chill guy. I wonder what’s up with him today.”
They both look at the person across. Golden eyes staring daggers at them, even Caelus couldn’t help but flinch a little. Then suddenly, Mydei stood up, gave Caelus money back, and left in a hurry.
Phainon sat there in shock. He wonders what he did to fuel such hatred from a stranger.
“I’ll talk to him later.” Caelus said. Partner is so sweet.
That was the end of their night. Phainon doesn’t really mind the guy’s attitude towards him. Numerous fellow students wore the same disdain but he didn’t expect it from someone within Caelus’s circle.
Caelus always has a better eye for people, he could tell if someone is genuine with them or has an ulterior motive. He remembers one time a guy with glasses, similar to him, was very passionate about animal biology and ways to cure its ailments.
He looks normal to Phainon yet Caelus pulled him aside and told him to be careful around his new found friend. Phainon thought he was joking but the stern gaze on his face told himself to take this seriously.
Then Phainon tried to spend less time with the guy but suddenly, he was cornered in the bathroom stall. It was a hazy memory. What he remembers was someone brushing the corner of his face before Caelus rushed to him, grabbed his wrist and ran away together. Shouting “I knew that guy was up to no good!”
It stings.
His face stings.
From that day forward, Phainon has an irrational fear of going to any public bathrooms alone.
It was embarrassing, yes. Like a child being afraid of the dark. Phainon had told Caelus several times he’s going to be fine. And he went in alone once! Before something heavy weighted in his chest, making it hard to breathe normally.
He must’ve taken too long in the bathroom because Caelus went in rushing to find him. He doesn’t remember being glued to the cold floor before Caelus lifted him up by supporting his weight. His knees felt weak, there was a faint throb.
Did he cry?
He doesn’t remember.
What remained was the comforting, patient presence from his friend.
He never asks what happened to that guy. It was a long time ago and Phainon doesn’t want to talk about it. And Caelus never brought the topic up.
Anyways, it’s all in the past.
Today Caelus called to meet him at a cafe across from yesterday's BBQ place. When he was about to order, a familiar blonde hair greets him in the usual flat toned voice.
Mydei, in his uniform, looked at him in a surprised way before returning to a calm expression. Treating him like a stranger.
“What’s your order, Sir?” His tone was polite. It was like talking to another version of Mydei.
“I’ll have ice chocolate please.”
“Your order would be ready in 10 minutes. We will call your number here on this paper. Thank you.”
Phainon took his number and before he walked to an empty table, he looked back and said in a hushed tone.
“I had no hard feelings from last night.”
Truly. He understands if Mydei dislikes him even without any logical explanations. Something about him just does not click with Mydei. It’s a shame, he wanted to become friends.
Not expecting an answer, Phainon walks without looking behind. Missing the way Mydei opened his lips before closing them.
After waiting several minutes, he picked up his order without batting an eye towards the register. Phainon sat down and waited for his friend. It was only 14:12, they were supposed to meet at three.
Swirling his drink around was always comforting. The sound of ice clinking at the glass, keeping his thoughts at bay.
Then he heard the chair in front move. Did Caelus arrive early?
Phainon flinched when he saw the same piercing gaze from last night. His mind wonders around the possibility that maybe, just maybe, he did something and is unaware of it.
Let’s rewind from last night’s rendezvous. Phainon interacting with Mydei? He gritted his teeth. Mydei interacting with Caelus? Polite. Phainon moving and continuing to chat with Caelus? Double the aggressiveness.
Could it be..?
Phainon wants to hit his head. How could he be so blind! Of course Caelus would tinkle someone's interest someday. He is charming, interesting, and just knows what to say.
Now look at Mydei! Protecting what is theirs by silently threatening Phainon. Don’t you worry Mydei, he might have known Caelus since birth but Phainon has 0 interests in a romantic relationship with him.
Proud of his newfound knowledge, he smiled widely. Which causes a frown on the other’s face. Whoops, that might cause a misunderstanding. He needs to clear it up.
“Don’t worry, I’m not interested in romantic relationships.” He assures.
Mydei now gapes at him. It’s a funny look. His previous scowl was gone but why does he look heartbroken? Phainon had just basically opened a path for him!
Pause. Hold on.
Does Mydei want it to be a competition?
To have a rival, to make sure he was the one first to hold Caelus’s hand and declare his love? Does Mydei feel unworthy if Phainon backed down so easily?
Wait, but Phainon doesn’t like Caelus that way. Should he just pretend to do so? Ah wait, Mydei was already pissed when he leaned close to Caelus so he just needed to do his usual routine.
Phainon can’t believe he gets to play cupid for his best friend.
‘Don’t worry, Partner. I’ll return your kindness.’
Mydei coughs, interrupting Phainon’s thought process of planning how to get the two together. Well, he could do it much better later when he’s alone.
“I’m sorry. For the way I acted yesterday. I was nervous.”
Phainon tilted his head, confused. Why is he apologizing when he was the one who was in the way?
“Don’t be.” He smiled politely, “I know you must have certain opinions of me. I could say… You dislike me right?”
Now it was Mydei’s turn to look confused.
“What?”
Now they just look at each other in a stupid way. Mydei’s arms still crossed.
“Is it not? Is ‘dislike’ not the right word?”
“It’s not.”
“Then hate?”
Mydei suddenly slams both arms to the plastic round table, looking distressed as he leaned forwards.
“What?! No! I-” he paused when other customers looked at the commotion. Mydei sighs and continues, returning to his original position, “I don’t hate or dislike you. Seriously, give yourself at least a credit?”
Phainon laughs at this, a little loose this time, “Not when you seemed to always glared at me all the time. Really, it’s fine if you admitted you just don’t like me.”
“Caelus told me about this.” He mumbles but it fell dead ears to Phainon.
“What were you saying?”
“I said if I were to hate you. I wouldn’t approach you.” Mydei said in a much clearer tone.
Well if you put it that way, Phainon supposed he jumped over the hill with this one. They’ve only met once, it wasn’t very fair of him to label Mydei ‘Oh this person hates me’ and left.
“True.” Phainon nods, “Well if you don’t hate me and I don’t hate you, should we be friends?”
He’s now a little more hopeful on his quest to match these two. If Phainon is friends with Mydei, or at least the two could occasionally message each other or hangout, then surely he could concoct a plan more easily.
“What if I want something more?”
Something..more?
Mydei sighs again, he must’ve looked confused and tried again. Is the blond sure he doesn’t hate him?
“You surely aren’t that dense.”
“Oh!”
Mydei looks hopeful
“Oh you mean like best friends?”
That glint of hope dissipates.
Wrong again?
But Mydei didn’t complain or push further, “Yeah, something like that.”
They exchange numbers.
Phainon thought their little interaction was over since Mydei was working before he approached Phainon. But to his surprise, the man ordered his own drink and came back.
Mydei scoffs, “Wipe that face off, you think I’ll let you go now?”
It clicks. Mydei wants to know more about Caelus, doesn’t he? The thought of Mydei pursuing his friend like a prince chasing his betrothed. How romantic.
“How did you meet Caelus, Mydei?”
“Around two to three months ago.”
Was it love at first sight then? Mydei did mention being nervous, now it made a lot of sense.
“What do you think of him?”
“Caelus? Well…”
Wow, he really does like his partner when it takes him this long to think all of the words to describe Caelus.
“Easy to talk to, super energetic, and I guess he’s fun to be around.”
“Hmm, I see.”
“...Why are you writing notes about this?”
“Nothing just, data about you.” Phainon hides the fact it’s for keeping track of Mydei’s knowledge about his best friend.
“Enough about our mutual friend, I want to hear more about you.”
To defeat your enemy, well, rival in this context, you must know them. And Phainon is happily participating in his own downfall.
“I guess I like animals.”
Mydei chuckles, “I heard about it yesterday about you bringing a tarantula into Caelus’s home.”
“It was a non-venomous one! And it looks super cute. My sister even gave it a pink..”
“?”
“Oh yeah, a pink bow at that time.”
Phainon drinks his ice chocolate, his throat feels funny. He can’t have that, his plan was going smoothly.
“Um, I guess I hung out with Caelus a lot too. We usually eat at the campus’s cafeteria and lounge around in the library. You could find us in either of those spots if you want to hang around with us.”
“Don’t you have any other friends besides well, Caelus?”
“I don’t.” He smiled, “He's my only precious close friend I have in my entire life. And I cherished him deeply.”
Mydei looks.. off. His expressions meld something akin to worry. How kind.
“We actually knew each other ever since we were babies! I was a few minutes younger than him so maybe that’s why he treats me like a younger brother more than anything.”
“But I ended up taller than him. Caelus was pissed when he couldn’t reach my head now without tip toeing.” He laughs and Mydei laughs with him.
“I heard a lot about you from Caelus.” Mydei confesses, “And just like you said, he really does like looking out for you.”
Phainon smiled at this, “I wish I could do more for him too. I really do nothing but trouble him.”
“HKS, Caelus looks up to you a lot too you, know?”
“He.. does?”
Suddenly, the idea of talking about this topic more made him feel bashful. Should he change the topic?
Phainon spins the remaining chocolate hidden below the ice. “I’m glad then.”
Not a smooth one but at least now Phainon could add another topic.
“Hey, I never get to hear your answer about where you workout at?”
Mydei seemingly wants to go back to the previous topic but plays along, “At the campus gym actually.”
“What? No way! I do too! How come I never saw you? There’s no way I could’ve missed that inconspicuous body of yours.”
Mydei chokes on his drink. Phainon never realized how pink it is. His drink and his face.
“I-” He coughs once more, “HKS, do not ever describe me in that word again.”
Phainon doesn’t know what that means, assuming it’s probably a curse word.
“No seriously. I think I’m in love-”
Mydei chokes again.
Sheesh, take it easy. No one is going to take your drink.
“-of that body of yours. You look like someone from one of those models in magazines. And your tattoos are so cool. Like seriously, doesn’t that hurt?” He sips the last of his sweet drink to replenish and continues.
“Anyways, we should definitely workout together sometimes! Maybe even Caelus could come.”
Work must’ve been tiring today. Mydei looks like he was about to pass out.
The rest of the evening blends into one. His conversation with Mydei was enjoyable. A good listener, sometimes awkward but always tries to understand whatever topic he comes up with.
“Don’t you know that scientists never found out exactly how eels reproduce? They all just swim into one spot that is the Sargasso Sea, the center of the Atlantic Ocean and come out with baby eels.”
“Why don’t they just use cameras?”
“They did! But I heard it went offline after a certain part. I guess those cameras were too expensive to lose again.”
Their drinks were left empty, leaving only melted ice on the bottom. When the clock strikes at 4, Phainon not knowing how much time had passed was about to message Caelus.
Turns out at 3, Caelus said he couldn’t make it because he promised Dan Heng to finish his assignments first. Phainon laughs at this.
“What's so funny?”
“Hm? Oh, nothing. Caelus got dragged by Dan Heng to finish his assignments first since he tends to procrastinate.”
“You said you don't have any other friends?”
Phainon tilts his head, “Yeah? Dan Heng is Caelus’s friend. I don't think Dan Heng even knows I exist.”
He got up, the chair creaking at the push. He gathered his belongings and was about to say goodbye before Mydei suddenly held his wrist.
“Mydei? What's wrong?”
“Um.” The other seemed shocked at his own actions, “Let's hang out some other time.”
“Oh sure! I'll ask Caelus when he's available.”
The grip tightens, “I mean, the two of us. Not with Caelus. If it’s okay with you?”
Phainon looked up from his phone, the other hand was still held by Mydei’s gentle yet stern hold. Phainon doesn’t understand him now, does he want more information about Caelus? He guessed he ran his mouth too much about himself. And it comes to this.
“Sure.” He smiled, politely again. “Just text me anything you want to know.” About Caelus of course, he doesn’t say.
Then they part ways.
At that time, Phainon didn’t know his decision today would cause him a change of heart.
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Extra :
It worries him, how Phainon seemed to downplay everything.
A bad habit he noticed ever since Phainon lived with his adoptive parents.
His grades were no joke yet he only smiled and said “It’s all thanks to you, Partner. If you had rejected my offer to study together, who knows what grade I’ll get.”
In the next quiz however, Phainon and him studied in their separate homes. Yet the reaction was nearly the same. No celebrating, no hugging, only quietly folded the paper and tucked it into his bag.
When Caelus asked “How much did you get?”
His best friend only answered, “I passed.”
It’s the same with traumatic experiences. Caelus wishes he could punch that asshole for touching Phainon but his friend only smiled and said he was glad all of it was over.
‘What do you mean by over?! You had no problems going alone but because of that bastard, you can’t even step foot in one!’ Caelus screamed internally.
A ban was simply not enough!
Not only did he witness Phainon’s breaking point, he was also frustrated at how Phainon just acted like nothing happened.
Be angry! Be scared! Anything but that damn plastic smile of his!
He couldn’t say anything because Phainon, his best friend ever since he was little, trusted him to say nothing and just be there for him.
And if Caelus breaks that sense of security.
He knows damn well everything will shut down.