Chapter 6: Passing The Time

Stephen's POV

Lunchtime with Max and Eric was a delightful experience. Amidst their mature and amiable company, the flavors of the food seemed to intensify. It was a soothing moment, one I cherished deeply.

However, catching Eric off guard earlier had been a truly unforgettable event in my life. Although surprised, I recalled him mentioning that it was his first time traveling on public transportation. Coming from a wealthy family, private vehicles were a customary part of his lifestyle. But today, he decided to step out of his comfort zone and try something new.

I couldn't help but feel happy for him. It signaled his growing independence. I knew he had plenty of help at home, with butlers and maids always ready to assist him. If he ever attempted to do some cleaning on his own, they would swiftly swoop in and take care of it.

However, there was an enigmatic incident that occurred today. When our eyes met during that moment of catching him, something inexplicable passed between us. His sapphire blue eyes sparkled up close, and I felt a strange sensation.

It wasn't the usual surge of heroism or lightness that accompanies helping someone. No, this was different. It felt as though a gentle breeze had blown through me. It's probably nothing... I couldn't be sure if Eric felt the same way. But his cheeks flushed instantaneously when our eyes connected, suggesting he might have experienced something too.

Enough of these musings, I assured myself. It was probably just my imagination playing tricks on me. Eric is a kind person, and I didn't want to complicate things between us.

After finishing our lunch, Max had to rush back to her class at 1 pm, and I saw no reason to linger alone. It was much nicer to spend time with Eric than by myself. I wondered what Eric and I could do on campus while waiting for our next class. Perhaps we could watch something on Netflix, although I knew selecting a movie would consume a significant amount of time.

As we stacked our trays and plates, placing them aside with our cups, utensils, and the remnants of our meal, I noticed that Eric seemed a bit bloated. Perhaps the bento I suggested and the coffee jelly I had given him were a bit too much. The important thing was that he enjoyed it, and I had a feeling he might order it again in the future.

As we walked towards the shuttle stop, Eric appeared quieter than before, lost in deep thought. I wondered if something was bothering him, perhaps related to our earlier encounter. I hoped not. Should I discuss it with him? It felt necessary, but considering that we had only just started hanging out, I feared crossing a line. Yet, I couldn't bear to see him downcast and lost in thought all day.

Eric had always been like this since high school, and I had never been able to intervene. Now that we had the chance to spend time together, it frustrated me that I still couldn't make a difference. It was enough to make me question my abilities as a friend. Maybe I should try to distract him from his thoughts.

"Eric," I called out as I walked alongside him, but he didn't respond. "Uhm, Eric..." I tried again, but still no answer. Finally, I tapped his shoulder gently. "Are you okay?" I asked, relieved when he finally turned his attention to me.

"Oh, Stephen!" he exclaimed, surprised. "Yeah, I'm fine," he responded a touch uneasily.

"Uhm, any ideas on how to pass the time later?" I inquired.

"I'm not sure," he replied, his voice thoughtful. "I was planning to continue reading a book I started yesterday, but it feels selfish to do that when we're waiting together."

"What book are you reading?" I asked, my curiosity piqued as I considered myself a fellow bookworm.

"I'm currently reading 'What If It's Us.' It's a story about two teenage boys who meet in a New York post office and get separated by a flash mob," he explained.

"Oh, there's no need to give me the blurb," I interrupted, realizing I had already read that book during the summer.

"Wait, you read books?!" he exclaimed, surprised by my admission.

"Yes, I do," I responded with a smile. "What made you think I didn't?"

"Nothing... It's just that I've never seen you reading anything other than school books," he explained.

I understood his point. Reading fictional books in the presence of Stan and the others could be challenging, so I only indulged in them privately at home. Who knows what they would do if they caught me reading one? They had been nothing but jerks to me.

"What genre are you into?" he asked curiously.

"Contemporary Romance. You?" I inquired.

"Same here..." he replied.

That was one thing we had in common, not that it was surprising considering how widely popular books are. I found myself growing more curious about his other interests. With several hours of waiting until our next class, we needed something to occupy our time.

Perhaps we could watch a movie together on his laptop or mine? But then again, I couldn't be certain if my movie recommendation would resonate with him. I supposed I would find out soon enough.

Upon our return to the campus, Max had already headed to her class, leaving Eric and me in the Mezzanine on the upper ground level. We chose a table in the far corner, near a window. At that moment, the area was relatively empty and provided a tranquil and comfortable atmosphere.

I retrieved my laptop and suggested to Eric that we watch a movie together to pass the time. However, we were faced with the daunting task of selecting a film. It wasn't that we had vastly different tastes, but the sheer abundance of options overwhelmed us. Each time we found a potential choice, one of us would suggest another, believing it to be better than the previous one. If I were being honest, we would never decide if we continued down this path.

After ten minutes of futile searching, we unexpectedly settled on watching Hell's Kitchen. I couldn't quite recall how we arrived at that choice, but something about it felt right. At the very least, it would keep us entertained during the long hours of spare time throughout the semester when studying wouldn't occupy us.

As we immersed ourselves in the show, Eric's phone suddenly rang. Apologizing, he excused himself to answer the call, and I paused the episode, waiting for his return.

Taking advantage of the break, I reached for my phone and noticed a message from Max, sent a few minutes earlier, inquiring about how things were going. I hoped she wasn't overly concerned about my delayed response, as I had forgotten to take my phone off silent mode.

"Yeah, things are going great so far. We're watching Hell's Kitchen, but I had to pause because Eric is on the phone right now. Sorry for not replying immediately," I quickly typed and sent my response to Max.

Curiosity took hold of me, wondering what Max was up to since she no longer had someone to chat with. Knowing her extroverted nature, she was probably attending every party she was invited to, engaging in lively conversations with everyone present.

"That's great to hear. Class is currently boring as we speak, and what's worse is that I can't talk to anyone. The professor is so strict, forbidding the use of phones or laptops during class. He insists we take notes diligently and discourages any form of interaction even when I struggle to comprehend the lesson. Whenever we ask for clarification, he responds with a dismissive remark, implying that we should have already understood," Max shared her frustrations.

"That sounds terrible, although the phone restriction is quite normal... Wait, how are you texting right now?" I asked, genuinely puzzled.

"I'm using screen mirroring on my laptop. But of course, I have to be careful when the professor is nearby or checking our screens," Max explained, her resourcefulness evident.

"That's both smart and sneaky," I remarked, impressed by her ingenuity.

"I know. Anyway, I should get back to class. He's asking questions now..." Max concluded our conversation.

"Good luck!" I replied, feeling a sense of gratitude for our exchange.

Upon Eric's return, he immediately rummaged through his bag. After a moment, he retrieved a thermos and unscrewed the cap, releasing a fragrant scent of lavender that wafted through the air, captivating my senses.

"That smells amazing. What is it?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued.

"It's green tea with lemon and lavender," Eric responded, taking a sip. "Would you like to try?"

"Sure, if you don't mind," I replied, eyeing the cap he offered me.

"Go ahead," Eric said with a warm smile.

Taking a sip, I discovered that the tea was everything I had hoped for. "This is delicious. Did you make it?" I asked, handing the cap back to Eric.

"No, my butler did," he revealed. "He gave me his thermos so that we could enjoy our usual afternoon tea, even though we're not at home," he added, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia.

"Are you okay?" I asked, sensing a tinge of sadness in his tone.

Eric nodded. "I just miss those times. And I'm sure he does too," he replied, referring to his butler.

"Maybe we can have afternoon tea together sometime," I suggested, hoping to brighten his spirits.

Eric's face lit up, and a smile graced his lips. "I guess we could... But not right now, of course. We'll have our tea soon," he replied, his voice filled with newfound enthusiasm.

"Why not now?" I probed further, eager to seize the opportunity.

"Because we're in the middle of watching Hell's Kitchen," he explained, gesturing toward my laptop. "Let's finish the show first, and then we can savor our tea."

"Okay, fine. But you owe me," I teased, a mischievous grin spreading across my face.

With our tea plans set aside for the moment, we settled back into our seats, resuming the show. However, I couldn't resist stealing glances at Eric as he passionately discussed and voiced his opinions about the events unfolding on the screen. There was an unspoken connection between us, an inexplicable bond that kept growing stronger with each passing moment.