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If someone were to ask Radical how he was doing, he would tell them that he was fine, because that was the truth. He was not upset, not jealous, and not strung up over something other people wouldn't be.
It was only when sweat began pooling in his palm and rubbing against the game controller in an unpleasant way did he notice that he was holding his controller too tightly. Unfortunately, that break of concentration sent his virtual car off the track, losing his spot in the race and quickly losing the game.
"0/4 Rounds Won!" The game banner displayed in bold font on the screen, as if taunting him. On impulse, he threw the controller away from himself and cursed a profanity that would surely get him into trouble if anyone heard.
His head pounded, and he finally released his jaw from the strenuous grip he didn't realize he was holding.
Glancing away from the TV, his eyes landed on the kitchen not far from where he was sitting. A cup of tea would be nice right now.
One step after another, he recalled the steps he had watched over a dozen times before, his memory slightly hazy as he attempted to recreate his favorite tea recipe crafted by his best friend, Five.
Hurriedly, he took a sip, only to spit it back out almost instantly, the burn on his tongue throbbing as a reminder of the dumb mistake he'd made by not allowing it to cool.
Five always warned him about the temperature, reminding him to wait for it to cool before drinking it so he wouldn't burn himself.
He glared down at the steaming cup of tea like it had purposefully set out to harm him. He figured if he glared hard enough, he could intimidate the tea into taking Five off his mind.
It wasn't working.
He frowned, already bored from waiting for the scalding tea to cool and his eyes drifted to look around the kitchen.
A couple dishes in the sink that Radical and Teddy had collectively used and hadn't cleaned yet. Teddy is always on his case about how he slacks when its his turn to clean it, but he hates cleaning dishes so much.
He moves his head to look at something else, he doesn't wanna think about arguing with Teddy again. The calendar on the wall had a picture of a kitten, another thing bought and hung by Teddy. Each day was marked off by a large red X until February 13th, which was today.
Two days ago, Radical was on a walk, he was going to see Teddy because he wanted his input on something, and happened to pass by Five talking with Umi. And Radical would never do anything like eavesdropping because of course he's too cool to be caring about what other people have to say, but he just so happened to overhear a part of their conversation as he was passing by.
“Oh, I just realized I’ve been talking about myself this whole time. What about you? Did you have plans for Valentine's Day?”
“Yeah, actually! I'll be going out with someone.”
Five's response took him by surprise, that's all. Radical didn't care at all if they had plans with another person that Radical didn't know about. Five is allowed to see whoever they want, Radical doesn't care if they do.
Except maybe Radical would have appreciated being told that they were going to be going out with someone else. Radical lingers on the question in their mind of why Five wouldn't tell them, or why Five would hang out with someone else. Not that he cares. But Five going on a date cuts into their plans of playing video games and watching movies together at their house.
So instead of hanging out with him and having an awesome fun day they're going on a date with a person Radical probably doesn't know that they hadn't told him about. Tomorrow.
He was swiftly snapped out of his vicious staring contest with the calendar from a buzz notification coming from his phone. Seems the calendar had won this round yet again, another loss for Radical today.
Five
Hey Radi! I was wondering if you were busy today?
RADI
YES IM VERY BUSY
Five
Oh, you are?
RADI
…WHAT DID YOU NEED
Five
Well, there is a new part of the game that was updated with a new section of the map. Did you want to check it out with me? I heard there was a beach added.
….Okay that actually did sound fun. But doing anything with Five sounded fun.
He hesitated as he stared at the screen and thought back to what he heard Five said.
He shook his head dismissively, he doesn't care what Five does or who they hang out with! Radical is perfectly fine and not upset, so there's no reason to care about any of it. Pushing back any weird feelings, he brings his fingers to the phone keyboard and texts back.
RADI
OK YEAH
Five
Okay! I'll see you soon! :)
Radical glanced back down at his tea, it seemed cool enough to where he could drink it without burning himself.
Finally, he took a sip from the tea and grimaced. It didn’t taste anything like how Five made his tea.
He poured it down the sink in disappointment.
Tea- 2 Radical- 0
_ _ _
Radical didn't really care about the map. Nothing too interesting was added, only a new gazebo, a flower field and of course the beach like Five promised. Radical would be more interested if they added dragons or weapons. Maybe next time.
But Five didn't come unprepared. They had laid out some of Radical's favorite snacks onto a picnic sheet laid out onto a spot on the beach; letting Radical take the lead in the conversation and conversing as they normally would do.
However, today was strangely different. They weren't usually a talkative person, but right now they were weirdly quiet in the way that they didn't chip into the conversation as much and let Radical lead most of the conversation by himself. They also kept spacing off, like there was something on Five's mind that wasn't in the present moment. It dug under Radical's skin more than he would like to admit.
“FIVE.”
“Hm?” Five snapped to meet his gaze, “huh, sorry, what were you saying Radi?”
“ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING?”
“Yes, sorry, I've just been a little distracted.” Five offers him an apologetic smile, but Radical doesn't immediately fall into it like he normally does.
Radical instead turns away, feeling frustration and fear creeping up into his chest as he prepares himself to ask a question he doesn't wanna hear an answer to. “Am I boring you?”
Five, noticing the mood shift, jumps in, “Ah- Radi, it's not like that. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings-”
“WHATEVER.” Radical stands, suddenly just wanting to go home and forget about this whole thing.
“Radi!”
“I DON'T NEED YOU.” Radical begins walking away, ignoring Five’s desperate pleas to come back.
“Please don't go-”
“WHY DON’T YOU HANG OUT WITH YOUR OTHER FRIEND?” Radical yelled suddenly and impulsively, the truth of what Radical was feeling spilling out of him like it was trying to escape him every second of these last few days.
There was a pause in the air. “...What?”
Radical was already kicking himself for saying anything, but he was in too deep to back down.
“OR WHATEVER YOU CALL THEM.”
Cautiously, Five moved a little closer to Radical like he was a skittish animal, clearly trying to get Radical's attention in a gentle way. But Radical didn't budge, and his eyes remained fixated on the grass gently swaying in the wind below him.
“Who?”
Radical kicked a pebble that was sitting innocently below his feet. “YOU TELL ME. I GUESS YOU HAVE PLANS WITH THEM TOMORROW OR SOMETHING.”
Five, coming to a realization, sighed. “..I shouldn't have said anything to Umi. She's such a gossiper.”
Radical felt something close to hurt well up in his chest, like this was Five confirming something real that he didn't want to be true.
"Radi," Five spoke softly, soft in the way that he hadn't witnessed Five speak to anyone else in; gentle and patient in the manner no one else would bother to give him. It felt familiar and safe. It was enough to get Radical to peek out from under the brim of his hat at them.
“I was actually planning on making this a surprise,” Five said sheepishly, before frowning, “but I guess that wasn't a good idea.”
Radical frowned, watching them carefully and in confusion as Five stepped closer, closing enough distance where Five could reach out and grab Radical's hand, but allowed enough room for Radical to back away if he wanted to.
“Radi, would you go out with me for Valentine's day?”
Radical blinked, “But what about the other person?”
Five laughed, “There isn't another person, Radical! You were the one I was going to ask out.”
“HUH?!” Radical said, feeling his face feel abnormally warmer than usual. “ME?”
“Yes!” Five affirmed, “unless you don't want to..?”
Radical nodded eagerly, getting another laugh out of Five.
_ _ _
Radical concentrated solely on beating Five's butt, holding the game controller like his life depended on it.
“YES!” Radical shouted, throwing his hands up. “THREE IN A ROW!”
Behind him, Radical feels Five shift to place the controller down before sinking back into their original position on the beanbag. “Ok, I think I've had enough of that game for today. Would you like some tea?”
“YES” Radical replies quickly, allowing Five to push him off to head to the kitchen. “WE SHOULD WATCH A MOVIE.”
“Which movie would you like to watch?”
Radical thinks, “A Christmas movie.”
“Dearie, Christmas was two months ago.”
“PLEASE FIVE I WANNA WATCH ONE.”
Five contemplates, “Fine, but I get to pick out which one we watch.”
Radical was going to protest but Five handed him the cup of tea while briefly caressing his hand with a gentle warning that its hot before they moved to grab the remote.
Radical took a sip of the tea, and the warm sweet taste flooded his mouth, and he happily sipped it. It was perfect.