Oneshots [IdentityV]

Twisted Hopes [Florian x Aesop]

If I had to say what I love about you, there would be no end to it. Despite how close we are, our hearts are still distant. But being able to see you is enough for me, admiring your smile, listening to your voice. We're friends, and that's enough.

Or so I try to tell myself.

Sometimes I find my mind wandering in fantasies of how it would feel holding your hand and intertwining our fingers, touching your lips and being embraced in your arms. I don't know if I want to take it slow or if I'm afraid to break this casual bond between us.

How would you react if I told you those three words that I keep in my heart? They've only been here as long as a blossom but my heart already is swollen by spring. I know you're not much different from other people I've met and yet, something about you just brings me so much happiness it can't be understood by reason.

It's so obvious I think you're the only one who still isn't aware. I don't know how I would react if you knew, so for now, please just let me watch you silently as always.

"Are you coming, Aesop? The others said they would study at the cafe for a change of pace."

"Eli- Mhm, let me just grab my things..."

Honestly, this was the kind of invitation Aesop would usually refuse, but how could he when it was Eli who asked? Even if it was crowded, he was fine with it if it meant spending more time with him.

Thankfully, there weren't many people because it was a weekday. Aesop followed a step behind him until he sat at a table where others were already here. He knew them all somewhat so at least it wouldn't be as awkward as he expected. He glanced around a bit as he sat in a free seat, and his heart jumped for being next to Eli.

He recognized that guy named Luca Balsa. At first, he couldn't help but feel envious of him for being Eli's best friend before he got to know him himself, though he was relieved to learn he was already dating someone and they were simply friends, and in the end they ended up becoming friends too.

The other one... They never really talked much but he remembered his name being Florian Brand and he didn't know anything about him besides that he was another of their friends. He didn't think much of him, he also seemed a bit stupid with that wide smile plastered on his face constantly.

"I can't wait for the break to come, ugh- Do you guys have anything planned, if not we should hang out or something." said Luca as he leaned backwards against his chair, his head dropping on the side.

Eli laughed at Luca as he closed his notebook.

"Sorry, I'm spending the break with my girlfriend."

Aesop's heart skipped a beat at that sentence. Luca likely guessed it as he looked towards him anxiously, and took it upon himself to inquire more.

"Y-You have a girlfriend-? How come I never heard of it-"

"You're always stuck in some invention of yours when I do so you probably weren't listening," replied the blue-eyed man while raising his eyebrow. "We've been dating for quite some time but then I chose a degree in this city so we haven't been able to see each other for a while."

"Mhm, is that why you always go back home even during some weekends?" asked Florian.

At this point, Aesop had stopped listening to their conversation. His mind couldn't think of something else but the fact that Eli was already dating someone. To be honest, it wasn't like he never thought about it, but the latter had never mentioned anything about it in a semester so he simply assumed that he was single.

So... what now?

"Aesop? Are you okay?"

A familiar voice and a tug on his shoulder brought him back on earth. His eyes met Eli's and he froze on the spot.