The hum of the soldering iron filled the air, a rhythmic counterpoint to the soft click-clack of Kai's keyboard. Silas was deep in the throes of his Smart Home Energy Monitor project, his brow furrowed in concentration as he meticulously connected wires and tested circuits. The air was thick with the scent of solder and burnt popcorn, a testament to his late-night work sessions. A mellow melody from the turntable spun in the background, adding a touch of nostalgia to the scene.
He was reminded of the day he first met Kai, a memory that seemed so vivid, so real. He was nine years old then, sitting in his father's car, watching the sprawling villa come into view. The Ashworth residence was a modern castle, a majestic structure of sleek white stone perched at the heart of a manicured estate. Lush gardens, bursting with vibrant flowers and sculpted hedges, surrounded the house, creating a picturesque oasis. The air was thick with the scent of blooming roses and freshly cut grass.
Silas's father, Mr. Rivers, a distinguished lawyer, had brought him to work that day. He had seen extravagant houses before, but none compared to this. As they were greeted at the grand entrance by Bernie, the butler, a man in his 60s with a stoic demeanor and a crisp, black suit, Silas felt a wave of excitement wash over him.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Rivers," Bernie said, his voice a low rumble. "Mr. Ashworth is waiting in his study."
"Hello, Bernie," Mr. Rivers smiled, his voice warm and friendly. "This is my son, Silas. He's the same age as Kai."
"Good evening, young man," Bernie said, a rare smile gracing his lips.
"Good evening, sir," Silas replied politely.
As Bernie led them through the hallway, they saw a young boy walking towards them. "He must be Kai," Silas thought, his eyes widening in admiration. Kai was slightly taller than him, with a mop of dark brown hair and a shy smile.
"Great timing," Bernie said, stopping in front of a grand oak door. "I would like you to meet Master Kai. He's the youngest son of Mr. Ashworth."
Silas smiled. "Hi."
"Young master, this is Silas, the son of Mr. Rivers," Bernie said, introducing them. Kai smiled timidly, his eyes darting to the floor.
"Why don't you play with Kai while I discuss something with Mr. Ashworth?" Mr. Rivers suggested. "Will that be alright with you, Kai?"
Kai nodded, his gaze still fixed on the floor.
"We'll leave you two kids alone. Can you manage? Take him to your room and play," Bernie instructed. "I'll bring you snacks later."
"Okay," Kai replied, his voice barely a whisper. "Let's go."
Kai led Silas down a hallway, past a series of grand rooms, each more opulent than the last. Silas felt a sense of awe mixed with a touch of unease. Finally, they reached a large, bright room, filled with books, toys, and a gaming station. The room was neat and organized, a testament to Kai's meticulous nature.
"Your room is nice," Silas said, his eyes wide with wonder.
Kai shrugged, "Thanks."
Silas's gaze then fell upon a turntable sitting on a desk, a stack of vinyl records beside it. He pointed at it, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What's that?"
Kai hesitated, his voice barely a whisper. "It's a turntable. It plays vinyl records."
"Vinyl records?" Silas asked, his eyes widening further. "What's that?"
Kai shifted uncomfortably, his gaze dropping to the floor. "It's like... old music."
Silas's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Old music? What does it sound like?"
Kai looked at Silas, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. "It's... different."
Silas's curiosity was piqued. "Can you show me?"
Kai hesitated for a moment, his gaze dropping to the floor. Then, he took a deep breath and nodded.
"Okay," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "But it's kind of embarrassing."
Silas smiled. "Why? It looks cool."
Kai shrugged, his cheeks flushing red. "It's just... old-fashioned."
Silas shook his head. "Old-fashioned is cool! Can you show me how it works?"
Kai smiled, a hint of relief in his eyes. "Okay."
He picked up a record, carefully placing it on the turntable. He then took a small, silver needle and pointed it towards the record. "It goes like this."
He carefully lowered the needle onto the record, and a soft, mellow melody filled the room. Silas closed his eyes and listened intently, the music washing over him like a warm wave.
Kai smiled, a hint of pride in his eyes. "What do you think?"
Silas opened his eyes, a smile spreading across his face. "It's pretty mellow," he said. "I like it."
Kai smiled, a genuine smile this time, and a wave of relief washed over him. He had been so worried that Silas wouldn't like his music, but Silas seemed genuinely interested.
"Yeah, it's my favorite," Kai said, picking up another record from the stack. "Want to hear this one?"
"Sure!" Silas leaned closer, his eyes fixed on the needle as it glided across the record. "Can I try?"
"Okay, but be careful." He reached out and took Silas's hand, guiding it toward the needle. "Just like this." He gently lowered Silas's hand, and the needle rested on the record.
"I did it!" Silas beamed at Kai, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Silas tapped his foot to the rhythm, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "This is awesome!" he exclaimed. "What's this song called?"
"William Tell Overture, you always hear them in cartoons," Kai explained.
They spent the next hour listening to music, Kai sharing his favorite records with Silas. Silas was fascinated by the turntable and the vinyl records, and Kai was happy to share his passion with someone who actually appreciated it. As the afternoon sun began to set, casting long shadows across the room, Bernie entered, carrying a tray of cookies and lemonade.
"Snacks for the young gentlemen," he said, placing the tray on the desk.
Silas and Kai looked up, their faces lit with smiles.
"Thanks, Bernie," Kai said.
Silas nodded in agreement. "These look delicious!"
They spent the next hour enjoying their snacks and talking about everything from their favorite video games to their dreams for the future. Kai, who was usually shy and reserved, found himself opening up to Silas, sharing his thoughts and feelings in a way he had never done before.
As the evening wore on, Silas's father came to collect him.
"It was nice meeting you, Kai," Silas said, shaking Kai's hand. "I had a lot of fun."
"Me too," Kai replied, a genuine smile on his face.
As Silas and his father left, Kai stood in the doorway, watching them go. Kai looked back at the turntable, the needle still gliding across the record, and a smile touched his lips.
...
Hours melted away, the clock on the wall a silent observer to Silas's dedication. He was so engrossed in his work that he didn't notice the fatigue creeping into his limbs, the heavy eyelids threatening to close. Finally, exhaustion won out, and his head slumped onto the desk.
He drifted into a dream, a strange and surreal world. The dream, so vivid, so real, felt like a lingering echo. He was back in his desk, the familiar scent of solder and burnt popcorn filling the air. His fingers still clutched the soldering iron, the turntable spun a mellow melody, and his desk was a jumble of circuit boards and wires. But something was different. Kai was sitting beside him, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.
"Hey," Kai said, his voice a playful whisper. "You know, you're really cute when you're focused."
Silas felt a warmth spread through him, a sensation he hadn't felt in years. He couldn't help but blush, his gaze dropping to the floor.
"Hey... do you want to know a secret?" Kai asked, his voice barely a whisper, leaning closer.
Silas's eyes widened, "What?" he asked, his heart pounding in his chest.
Kai's eyes twinkled with amusement as he gently touched Silas's arm, his fingers brushing against the soft fabric of his shirt. "You're sexier when you're fiddling with those wires," he murmured, his voice a husky whisper as he leaned for a kiss.
"Silas!" a voice called out, sharp and urgent.
Silas jolted awake, his eyes snapping open in alarm, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs. He sat up, his head bumping into something hard, the jarring impact sending a wave of dizziness through him.
"Fuck," he groaned, clutching his head.
He looked around, disoriented, his mind still reeling from the dream.
"Kai?" Silas asked, his voice thick with confusion. He saw Kai sitting on the floor, cradling his face.
"What the hell happened? You startled me," Silas exclaimed, rubbing his throbbing head. He felt like he'd just been dropped from a rollercoaster.
"God, I think I broke my nose," Kai groaned, his voice muffled.
"You were dreaming," Kai said, his voice strained. "You wouldn't wake up, and I was trying to get your attention. I guess I leaned in a bit too close..."
"Sorry," he said, a wave of guilt wash over him.
"Sit on the sofa," Silas instructed, handing Kai a tissue. "I'll get you some ice."
"Thanks," Kai said, a faint smile playing on his lips. "What if my face swell?"
Silas chuckled, "It'll still be ugly." He winked and added, "But at least you'll have a good story to tell."
"Dude, I'm built to perfection," Kai declared.
Silas rolled his eyes, and sat beside Kai, "Here," he said, handing him the ice pack.
'Oww' Kai groaned. 'Nothing is broken right?' Kai touched his nose.
Silas leaned closer, studying Kai's flushed face. His nose was a bit red from the bump and nosebleed, but other than that, he looked... surprisingly cute. Silas blinked, startled by the thought.
"Cute?" he whispered, a surprised laugh escaping his lips. "Did I just say that out loud?" He quickly covered his mouth with his hand, his cheeks burning. He peeked at Kai, expecting a horrified look, but Kai was still focused on his nose, muttering something about "a good story to tell." Silas let out a relieved sigh, a chuckle escaping him.
"Maybe, charmingly disfigured?" he thought, hoping that was a better way to put it but it felt that he was digging himself into a deeper hole.
"I think it's fine," Silas said, trying to sound casual.
"Did you have a nightmare? You wouldn't wake up," Kai said, his voice laced with concern.
Silas was suddenly reminded of that weird dream. Maybe because he was affected by their act?
"It's nothing," Silas answered, averting his eyes. "So why are you here again on a Wednesday night? I am busy." Silas said as he gathered his hair and tied it up into a bun, leaning back on the couch. He looked like he was about to launch into a lecture about the importance of respecting a man's work space, but then he caught Kai's slightly hurt expression.
"Okay, okay," Silas sighed, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Maybe I could use a break. What are you up to?"
"I just thought we'd hang out," Kai answered. "Want a beer?" he offered, pulling bottles from his bag.
They settled in to watch a movie, a cheesy rom-com that Silas secretly enjoyed. They ranted about their professors, their school lives, and the general absurdity of it all, punctuated by sips of beer. The night faded away, and the charade, along with the memory of Sarah, seemed to slip from their minds. They were just friends, enjoying each other's company, laughing, and sharing stories.
Eventually, both drifted off to sleep, Silas on the couch and Kai sprawled out on the carpet, the soft glow of the TV screen painting the room in a warm, comforting light.
The next morning, Silas woke with a start, his head pounding. He was still on the couch, a blanket draped over him. He looked around, disoriented, and saw Kai curled up on the floor, fast asleep. He hadn't meant to fall asleep, and he certainly hadn't meant to leave Kai on the floor. He gently shook Kai awake.
"Hey," Silas said softly. "You okay?"
Kai blinked, his eyes adjusting to the light. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said, a sleepy smile spreading across his face. "Just a little stiff."
Silas chuckled. "Sorry about that. I guess I was more tired than I thought."
Kai shrugged. "No worries. It's not like I haven't slept on the floor before."
"Well, I'm going to make some coffee," Silas said, getting up from the couch. "Want some?"
"Sure," Kai said, stretching and yawning.