EPISODE 5
819 Words
The Invitation & A Surprise Gift
Nathan had finally returned to school, and things had settled back into their usual rhythm. Everything between him and Tristan was just as it had always been—filled with banter, teasing, and an unspoken bond that no one could break.
During lunch break, as they sat on the benches near the sports field, Tristan leaned back, stretching his arms lazily.
"Hey, Nathan," he said casually.
"Hmm?" Nathan looked up from his phone.
"There’s this party this Friday," Tristan began, a playful smirk forming. "I'm going. Wanna come along?"
Nathan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You? A party? Since when?"
Tristan scoffed. "Since forever, dude. I just don’t usually invite you because you’re a hermit."
Nathan rolled his eyes. "Well, surprise—I’ll come."
Tristan blinked, genuinely surprised. "Really? That easy? No excuses?"
Nathan grinned mischievously. "I have my own agenda."
Tristan narrowed his eyes. "That sounds suspicious. What are you up to?"
Nathan just shrugged, biting back a smirk. "You'll find out soon enough."
Tristan sighed. "Fine, but if you embarrass me, I’ll pretend not to know you."
"You say that as if you don’t already do that on a daily basis," Nathan quipped, making Tristan laugh.
---
A Gift from Ethan
Later that afternoon, Nathan was sitting in the quiet library, flipping through a book, when a shadow fell over his desk. He looked up to see none other than Ethan.
Ethan—the Ethan.
The guy Nathan had secretly liked for months now.
"Hey, Nathan," Ethan said, his voice soft yet warm.
Nathan blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Then, flashing his signature playful smile, he leaned back in his chair. "Hey, cute one. What are you doing here?"
Ethan shifted on his feet, rubbing the back of his neck. "I, uh… heard you were sick for a while."
Nathan tilted his head, watching him with curiosity.
Ethan held out a small bag, his fingers fidgeting slightly. "I, um… I wanted to bring you this. Since I couldn’t visit you at home, I figured I’d make it up to you now."
Nathan's eyes flickered to the gift before meeting Ethan’s again. There was something undeniably adorable about how shy he looked at that moment.
A slow, genuine smile spread across Nathan’s lips. "That’s really nice of you," he said, taking the gift gently. "You didn’t have to."
Ethan shrugged, looking down for a second before glancing back up. "I wanted to."
For a moment, silence settled between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Nathan could feel his heart hammering just a little faster than usual.
Ethan cleared his throat. "Also… don’t forget about Friday, okay?"
Nathan smirked. "Wouldn’t miss it."
Ethan nodded, then, before Nathan could react, he leaned in and placed a quick, soft peck on Nathan’s cheek.
Nathan froze.
By the time he processed what had just happened, Ethan had already stepped back, his face slightly pink. "See you then," he mumbled before hurrying away.
Nathan sat there, completely stunned, his fingers subconsciously brushing the spot where Ethan’s lips had just been.
Then, slowly, a wide grin spread across his face.
Damn.
He had a very good feeling about Friday.
---
Back in Class
Nathan returned to class, still clutching Ethan’s gift. He slid into his seat beside Tristan, unable to completely erase the smile from his face.
Tristan, who was lazily flipping through his notebook, glanced up. "Hey, Nat. How was the library?"
Nathan set the gift on the desk. "More interesting than usual."
Tristan’s eyes flickered to the bag. "What’s that? A gift for me?" he teased.
Nathan snorted. "In your dreams."
Tristan leaned closer, eyes narrowing. "Wait. Someone gave that to you?"
Nathan smirked. "Maybe."
Tristan gasped dramatically. "Oh my god. It’s him, isn’t it? The guy you like?"
Nathan didn’t even bother denying it. "Yep."
Tristan let out a low whistle. "Damn, okay. What’s the occasion?"
"He said it was a recovery gift since he couldn’t visit me while I was sick."
Tristan leaned back, arms crossed. "Whoa. Dude. That means he likes you."
Nathan chuckled, shaking his head. "You think?"
Tristan scoffed. "Nathan. He gave you a gift. That’s already a big move. Did he, like, say anything else?"
Nathan hesitated for a split second before muttering, "He, uh… kissed my cheek."
Tristan almost choked on air. "He what?"
Nathan grinned, enjoying Tristan’s reaction. "You heard me."
Tristan stared at him in disbelief before letting out a low laugh. "Damn, Nat. You better ask him out before some other guy swoops in."
Nathan exhaled, looking down at the gift in his hands. "I will, buddy. Definitely."
Tristan nudged him playfully. "Good. Because if you don’t, I will drag your stubborn ass to confess myself."
Nathan laughed. "Noted."
As the class went on, Nathan couldn't help but steal glances at the small bag on his desk, anticipation bubbling in his chest.
Friday was going to be interesting.
- Writer
