Chapter Four: Fun

They went to the park, not anywhere serious because Syne didn't want that. He wasn't interested in going anywhere fancy, they'd already gone to have dinner at a restaurant– which Chris sweetly paid for.

  At the house, for some reason, Chris didn't stand by the door, instead, he stayed in his car as he waited for Syne to walk out. When asked why he did that, Chris defended himself by saying that he didn't want Syne's parents and siblings to see him. It seemed Kayne really didn't go back on his word on threatening him. It was really funny.

  The park was beautiful, especially as there were kids playing around. Syne admitted to himself internally that he was enjoying the scene. 

  Syne always knew that he was good with kids and loved them too. He'd come to that realization early in life and that's why he decided to become a pediatrician. Because of him being an A straight student, people were surprised when he didn't apply for medicine. Well, it's not like they were going to pay his fees or anything so their opinions didn't matter.

  They didn't really do much at the park because Syne wasn't willing to try anything and just wanted to look at the kids playing, while Chris decided to watch Syne watching the kids. They were simply exchanging small talk under the natural air and seemed pretty content. Then Chris fell asleep and Syne came back to his senses as he felt his head on his shoulder.

  Turning slightly to look at him, he smiled. For some reason, seeing Chris unconscious and without his usual intense gaze on him, was refreshing. Now he could look at him properly without feeling nervous. Unfortunately, before he could properly look at him, he felt Chris shift a bit on his shoulder and then his belly let out a loud groan, waking Chris up instantly.

  "Uhh", Syne said, cheeks red in embarrassment. "Sorry for waking you".

  "It's cool", Chris said, grinning, eyes looking a bit red from sleep he'd just had. "I should've realized that you'd be hungry".

  "I could buy us something", Syne said hurriedly.

  "You don't need to…"    

  He stood up quickly, ignoring Chris' protest and ran over to the food stand.

  "Thanks", Chris said in appreciation as Syne returned. "I could've gotten us food though".

  "I'm happy to do the job".

  Chris nodded, biting into his sausage rolls. "How long have we been here again?"

  Syne shrugged, mouth full. "Most likely more than one hour".

  "Wow. I guess we were too focused on watching the kids", Chris said. "Especially you", he added.

  Syne chuckled. "Yeah… I guess you didn't have that much of a nice time seeing as you fell asleep and all". 

  "I guess I just wasn't expecting you to be so excited to see kids, you know".

  "Well, I'm almost a full-time pediatrician so…" he said, shrugging.

  "Good point".

  "Look, maybe we could go out somewhere else some other time?" His brows furrowed as he wondered why he'd just blurted that out. He wasn't planning on getting any closer to Chris and here he was offering to go somewhere with him again.

  He prayed silently that he'd refuse.

  "That'd be nice", Chris responded, an excited look on his face.

  "Yeah…" Syne said. "Well, I should probably get home". 

  Chris pouted. "Why?"

  Syne rolled his eyes. Chris was acting so freaking cute for his liking.

  "Because it's getting late".

  Actually, it was barely four o'clock, but Syne really wanted to go home and sleep. Yes, sleep, because he had nothing important to do. He just wanted to go back home.

  It's not like he didn't like Chris anymore or anything, it's just that he didn't want anything to be more awkward than it already was. He could see how nervous Chris was in trying to start up a conversation and how he was avoiding his eyes sometimes– maybe it was him doing the avoiding– and he just couldn't endure it anymore. Of course, he didn't regret  confessing to him but he just didn't expect them to be so awkward next to each other like this.

  "It's not even evening yet". Chris glanced at his phone.

  "I'm aware", Syne murmured.

  He almost jumped out of his skin when he felt as Chris leaned close and placed an arm around his shoulders. 

  "You know, there's a carnival like a mile away", Chris whispered. 

  "Uh-huh", he muttered. 

  "Would you like to come with me?" Chris added.

  "W– well…" Syne was unsure. "I've never gone to a carnival before. How do you even know there's a carnival?"

  Chris smiled. "I know you've never gone to one before. Also, I know there's a carnival because an acquaintance of mine told me".

  Syne sighed. "Okay".

  It's not like it's his car, or he was paying for anything. Everything was free, no loss for him. He was sure Chris was going to do anything he wanted to do, seeing as he was trying to 'get with' him now.

  "I'll text my family and tell them where I am". He paused. "Or, where I'm going, to be precise".

  Chris smiled happily. "Great". Then he pecked him on the cheek quite loudly.

  Syne was scandalized and Chris laughed at his facial expression.

  "Sorry about that", he apologized.

  "How could you just kiss me like that?!" Syne said, covering his face with his hands and avoiding his eyes.

  "I didn't kiss you on the lips, Syne. It doesn't count as anything too weird, it's not like I haven't done it before".

  Syne had to agree with him on that. He took out his phone and texted his parents and siblings– definitely not his friends, since he didn't want to bother them. Speaking of friends… he really had to tell them about he and Chris' situation, which they would surely not approve of. 

  He switched off his phone, slipped it into his pocket and turned to the handsome man beside him.

  "Let's go".

    *****

  "That was…" 

  "Amazing? Great? Fun? Wonderful?" Chris inputted.

  Syne had to laugh at Chris's enthusiasm. It was cute.

  They were sitting in the car, doors open as they ate their cotton candy– that Syne demanded for…nicely.

  "Yeah, all of those things", he agreed. "I've never seen such wonderful things before".

  "Because you've never been to a carnival", Chris pointed out.

  Syne nodded. "Yeah. I should probably let loose sometimes and go to events".

  Chris smiled. "I'd be happy to help out anytime". He turned serious. "Don't have too much fun though, having a planned future's good too".

  Syne tilted his head to look at him. "What's with the serious face?"

  "Just stating facts".

  "You're not wrong", Syne said. "All work and no play is no good, same with all play and no work".

  He'd seen what too much of each had done to people around him. Some of his ex-classmates, friends and even family members didn't end up well just because they didn't balance the two.

  Still in his thoughts, Syne shivered a bit as he felt something warm on his hand. It was Chris' hand. He couldn't say anything though, because he was fascinated with how flushed the other man looked. 

  In response, he just smiled.

  "What?" He asked, glancing at the other man's hand.

  "The mood changed, so I didn't know what to do".

  Syne laughed heartily. He really was cute, quite surprising for someone he thought was so confident and strong. 

  "We should go now", he said, watching as Chris removed his hand from on top of his.

  "Okay". 

  They closed the car doors as Chris started the drive to Syne's home.