Chapter 15

Gabriel found the day to be unbelievable, and with everything happening in a way he hadn't expected. Now, looking back, he found it difficult to comprehend what just happened.

He had prepared himself for the shock, for the initial moment of disbelief. But what he hadn't prepared for was the subtle intensity in Ryden's gaze. It was a quiet but powerful thing—there was a palpable want in his eyes, a tension that Gabriel could almost feel in the air between them.

Every look they exchanged and every small movement they made conveyed a deeper understanding than words could ever express. And then Gabriel kissed Ryden on the cheek, it seemed to be the pinnacle of all that had been developing between them.

He knows deep down it's the correct move. He sensed it in the way Ryden held his hand as they walked side by side all the way to their apartment complex. There was a longing in his touch, in the way he held his hand longer than necessary upon arriving at their location. It was evident he wanted a little more.

Even though it was brief, Gabriel's kiss served as a reassuring gesture and a means of testing to see if there was anything deeper that could fill the gap between them.

Gabriel watched intently how Ryden's reaction unfolded in front of him. The way his face flushed, he also noticed how his breath hitched and the way his gaze turned to the ground first before meeting his eyes again. Everything seems to fall in place. There was a deeper connection between them, more than friendship.

Ryden's reaction made it undeniable, it was clear now, Ryden felt the same way.

"So," Gabriel broke the silence. His face flushed, heat creeping up from his neck to his cheeks. He could feel the warmth spreading across his skin, a mix of nervousness and excitement.

"Yeah," Ryden added quietly, almost to himself. His attempt at a casual tone was weak, but it was all he had in that moment.

"We are?" Gabriel said his voice faltering slightly as he tried to wrap his mind around the words. 'This means we both like each other, right?' He thought.

He looked directly into Ryden's eyes, looking for confirmation on his expression, but Gabriel couldn't help but wonder whether he had misread things. Was this thing for real? Did Ryden feel the same way?

Before negative thoughts and self doubt start consuming him, Ryden responded, "In a relationship?" His voice was nervous, but filled with a bit of certainty.

While Gabriel's heart seemed to calm down, his mind continued to rush. "I—I think so," he replied, his voice quieter now, unsure and certain at the same time.

"Only if you want," Ryden said while gesturing between them. For a little while, his hand lingered in midair, perhaps attempting to physically grasp the gravity of the situation and make sense of it. His eyes flicked to Gabriel, as he was obviously having trouble thinking, "I just… I just realized all of this right now." His words came out almost too fast.

Gabriel observed him with a mix of silent amusement and understanding. Ryden appeared to have lost his usual poise and was just babbling for a while. In a way, it was charming. The weight of their unspoken relationship was starting to weigh heavily on him, as he watched Ryden's mind seemingly speed ahead of his words, he couldn't help but smile slightly.

Ryden ran a hand through his hair, this is the second time he has done it tonight. "I didn't expect any of this." He continued, he seemed almost too self-conscious as his voice faded into a low laugh.

Gabriel's heart warmed at the sight of how honest Ryden was. He stepped forward a little, closing the distance between them again, his own anxiety blending with the affection that was growing within him. He responded softly, "Hey," in an assertive yet composed tone. "It's okay. You don't have to have all the answers right now." He gave Ryden a comforting glance, implying that there was no need to rush or over analyze things. "We're figuring it out as we go."

Ryden paused for a moment, his eyes locking with Gabriel's, his shoulders relaxed slightly, as if the pressure had lessened just a little. "Yeah," Ryden said, he took a deep breath, in a way he had at last given himself permission to accept the reality of what was happening between them. "Yeah, I guess we are."