Victor sat frozen in the dim light of the coffee shop long after Damien had disappeared into the night. The door swung shut with a soft chime, but the sound felt distant, muffled, as though it had occurred in another world entirely. His fingers still tingled from where Damien's hand had brushed against his. He glanced down at his coffee cup, now lukewarm and untouched, feeling suddenly out of place, as if the ground had shifted beneath him, but he hadn't quite realized it yet.

He was a mess.

There was something thrilling about Damien, sure—something magnetic, that undeniable pull that made everything feel... alive. But there was also the unsettling feeling that he had just stepped into a world far beyond his reach. That kiss, that damn kiss—it was a promise, but what was it a promise of? And more importantly, why did it feel like he was the one who was being tested, like he was the one who had to figure out if he could keep up with whatever game Damien was playing?

Victor had never been good at reading people, not like Damien. He didn't know how to decipher the subtle shifts in expression, or the unspoken things that were always hanging between people when they interacted. Damien made everything look so effortless, as though he had been born with the world already at his feet. And Victor? He'd always been the observer—the guy who stood back and watched life unfold, too afraid to step into the chaos.

But Damien had seen him. He'd really seen him, in a way no one else had. And now, Victor couldn't shake the feeling that something big had shifted between them. That kiss had unlocked something—something dangerous and new—and he wasn't sure if he was ready for it.

Victor shoved his hands into his pockets, standing up abruptly and pushing his chair back. The air in the coffee shop felt thick, stifling, like he couldn't breathe properly. He needed to get out of here, to clear his head, to try and make sense of everything that had just happened.

He stepped outside into the cold night air, the crispness of it biting at his skin. He welcomed the chill, feeling it sharp against his face as he walked aimlessly down the sidewalk. He didn't have a destination in mind—he never did, not really. He liked the anonymity of wandering, of being just another person in the crowd, hidden behind his oversized hoodie and the shield of his own thoughts.

But tonight, everything was different. He couldn't escape the feeling that something was pulling him, like an invisible thread was connecting him to Damien, drawing him forward even though every part of him wanted to resist.

As he walked, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Victor paused, pulling it out, half-expecting a message from one of his friends. But the screen was blank. No new notifications.

Then a single name appeared at the top: Damien.

Victor's breath caught in his throat. He hadn't even realized Damien had his number.

He tapped the message open, his hands slightly trembling.

You still thinking about me?

Victor blinked, staring at the words as if they were a riddle he couldn't quite solve. What was this? What did Damien want now?

He hesitated, fingers hovering over the keyboard. The old, familiar voice in his head—You're not enough, don't get too close, don't fall for it—tried to warn him. But a new voice, softer, more daring, pushed back. Maybe you deserve this. Maybe you deserve to feel wanted.

Victor typed quickly, without thinking.

Yeah. I am.

The response came almost immediately.

Good. I'll see you soon. Don't forget about me, alright?

Victor's heart stuttered in his chest, a mix of excitement and panic twisting in his stomach. He stared at the screen, unsure of how to feel. What was this? What had he just agreed to?

He walked a little further down the street, the weight of Damien's words lingering like a shadow, his phone still clutched tightly in his hand. It was too late now to back out, wasn't it? Whatever this was—this... connection, this pull—it wasn't going to let him go so easily. And for reasons Victor couldn't fully explain, a part of him didn't want it to.

Maybe it was the way Damien made him feel seen, like he wasn't just another invisible person passing through the world. Or maybe it was the danger—the thrill of something that felt so reckless, so alive. Whatever it was, it had ignited something in him, and now, there was no turning back.

Victor stopped walking and looked up at the sky, the darkened stars faintly visible between the gaps in the city lights. He didn't know what was coming next, but he had the sinking feeling that the storm Damien had warned him about was already on its way.

And this time, Victor wasn't sure he wanted to hide from it.