Chapter song: This Charming Man - The Smiths
After the day of rigorous cleaning, both boys had worked up quite an appetite. Agares suggested making dinner, and Julius, too tired to argue, agreed readily.
They enjoyed a simple bowl of pasta in a surprisingly comfortable silence. It wasn't until the end of the day, when they were preparing for bed, that a significant problem arose. The rooms still reeked of cleaning products—a consequence of their late start on the chores. The thought of going to bed with those harsh chemicals lingering didn't sit well with Agares.
Fortunately for Julius, he had avoided using strong chemicals in his room, so he was fine. But Agares was clearly troubled.
"Why don't we share a room tonight?" He proposed.
Agares' eyes widened at the suggestion. It wasn't until he had finished speaking that Julius realized the potential awkwardness of his offer.
"Oh… Uh, I mean, if you don't mind," Julius stammered.
Damn it, me and my big mouth, why would he want to room with—
"Alright," Agares said, surprisingly accepting the proposal.
Julius blinked in surprise. "Huh?"
"If you really don't mind having me room with you—"
"Of course not, please make yourself at home… or, uh…" Julius winced at his own awkwardness.
Why am I acting like such an idiot?
After their nightly showers, the two boys settled into Julius' bed. Julius lay as stiff as a board, making a conscious effort not to touch Agares, who appeared completely unfazed by their close quarters.
As Julius mentally recited the periodic table to distract himself, he reflected on their day. Cleaning had been exhausting, and he couldn't fathom how Agares managed to do it every weekend.
"You get used to it," Agares said, breaking the silence.
Julius turned, startled. "Did I say my thoughts out loud?"
"Yes," Agares replied, a hint of amusement in his otherwise detached tone.
Julius shifted to face Agares, careful not to make contact. "...What is it?" Agares asked, noticing Julius' gaze.
"You don't have to answer this if you don't want to, but I'm curious—why do you feel the need to do all this?"
Agares was silent for a long while, making Julius wonder if he had fallen asleep. Just as he was about to check, Agares' voice broke the silence.
"It's a force of habit," Agares began. "I grew up in a strict household where it was required of me to keep the house neat and tidy."
Julius noted that Agares used the singular "me" instead of "us," recalling that Agares had a brother, Aenaes. He was tempted to ask more about Agares' family but decided against it. Prying into Agares' private life would be intrusive, especially since they barely knew each other. The fact that Agares had already shared this much was surprising.
"To be honest, I haven't cleaned this much in my entire life," Julius said, trying to lighten the mood. "My mom's tried many times to get me to clean, but I just can't bring myself to do it. She always says that no matter how well off you are, knowing basic life skills like cooking and cleaning is important."
"Your mother is a wise woman," Agares said softly.
"That she is," Julius replied, stifling a yawn.
"It's late. We should get some sleep." Agares said.
Julius nodded his head, and soon fell into a deep sleep. Agares, however, lay awake, staring at Julius. He was perplexed by why he felt so comfortable with Julius, enough to almost reveal his deepest secrets. He also recalled an inexplicable anger when Julius mentioned someone from his past. And why had he agreed to share a room when the house had an extra room for emergencies? Under normal circumstances, Agares would never have considered sharing a space.
As he pondered these questions, sleep finally overtook him.
The following morning, Agares awoke to find himself in an unfamiliar setting, startled to see Julius beside him.
"Why am I—" Agares began, but then remembered the events from last night
and relaxed.
He studied Julius: his honey-colored hair, the warmth of his body, the delicate features of his face, and the subtle scent of his skin. Despite not being one to focus on appearances, Agares had to admit that Julius was striking. His multi-ethnic background gave him a unique appeal, and despite not being active in sports recently, the definition of his muscles was still evident.
Agares found himself entranced, and without thinking, he reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from Julius' forehead. The movement caused Julius to stir, and Agares immediately pulled back and got out of bed, wondering what had come over him.
As Julius woke up, he saw Agares donning his robe and seemed perplexed.
"Morning," Julius said, his voice still heavy with sleep.
Agares took a deep breath and turned around. "Good morning," he said, his tone distant.
"Thank you for letting me use your bed. I'll be on my way now."
Agares quickly left the room, as though fleeing, leaving Julius baffled.