Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

It's midnight, and you can't sleep.

You turn over to look at him, so peaceful and calm in his sleep. You can't help but gaze lovingly at those features. Something pulls you towards him, makes you want to meet those soft, luscious lips. But you can't. You're his friend. You can't risk ruining your friendship with him.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

He doesn't stir.

You just lie there, thinking only of him; his smile, his hair, his scent. You take in his scent for a moment. Fabric softener, with a hint of mint. You lean in just a little to take in his scent a little more.

"Ah."

He shifts away from you. You are a little hurt by this, but as you keep staring at his back, you can make out shuddering. What's happening? you wonder, leaning in closer.

That's when you hear a faint sob. You dismiss it as your imagination, but as it gets louder and louder, you get more and more worried. What was happening?!

You sit up, crawling out of the futon and looking at his face.

His face is twisted into an expression of pain, and as you look closer, you can see tears trailing down his face. It horrifies you to see him like that, and, thinking he is having a nightmare, you reach a hand out to him to wake him.

"...Mom... Dad..."

He grabs your hand and squeezes it, pulling you towards him. The smallest of smiles graces his face, and you calm down. He stops crying, instead pulling you in for a tight hug.

"...miss you..."

You hug him back to comfort him, but the reality quickly sinks in.

He was an orphan. That was why he had never invited you to his house; he had lost the privilege to live in it a long time ago.

You lose awareness of your surroundings, but you realise that your vision is blurred. With tears. And that you're kissing him, tasting his sweetness. You quickly pull away, disgusted at yourself. But he doesn't stir.

You let the tears fall, scared of yourself. What did I just do?!

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

It's 1 AM, and you fall into a teary-eyed sleep, the scent of fabric softener and mint never fading away.
_

You open your eyes to a sunlit bedroom and the delicious scent of cooking. You sit up, taking in your surroundings.

The door clicks open and your attention is drawn straight to it when you see who is at the door.

He is holding a tray with two plates of pancakes, smiling in a way that would have made you melt.

Instead, you burst into tears.

-end-