"I'll give it to you."
Hearing those words, Karel's eyes lit up. He spun around, his gaze locking onto Arthur's face, now etched with visible tension. Karel wasn't excited about getting the answer key.
He was more than capable of figuring out the problems himself. What truly thrilled him was seeing Arthur waver.
The man who was usually so composed, so unshakeable, now appeared vulnerable in front of him. His mood soaring, Karel wrapped his arms around Arthur, pulling him into a tight embrace.
The warmth of the gesture began to melt the tension from Arthur's face, and slowly, a smile curved his lips.
Seizing the moment, Arthur returned the embrace, pulling the shorter man closer. His fingers gently threaded through Karel's short, black hair, enjoying the soft texture.
The subtle scent of blueberries drifted up from Karel's hair, and Arthur inhaled deeply. It was a scent he had missed, a scent that signaled—his Karel was back.
As Karel began to feel the heat rising, he reluctantly loosened his hold. But before he could pull away completely, Arthur, unwilling to relinquish the warmth, suddenly pressed his lips against Karel's.
Karel's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly succumbed to the intoxicating sensation. It felt like a swarm of butterflies had taken flight in his stomach.
He didn't pull away. Instead, he tentatively parted his lips, granting Arthur access.
For Karel, this was entirely unfamiliar. He'd seen his university friends and colleagues engage in similar displays of affection after long, stressful days. But because he was attracted to men, he'd never had a girlfriend.
Besides, in his previous life, he'd been twenty-eight and single for far too long. He'd never experienced anything like this before his life was tragically cut short.
This kiss, soft yet intense, was an opportunity Karel wasn't about to miss. Though his movements were initially a little stiff, he quickly learned to match Arthur's rhythm.
Arthur's hand, which had been gently stroking Karel's hair, now moved to the nape of his neck, deepening the kiss. Karel responded in kind, raising his own hand to wrap around the taller man's neck.
After a few minutes, Karel began to feel breathless. He tried to break the kiss, but Arthur was reluctant to release him. A flicker of frustration sparked within Karel. He deliberately bit down on Arthur's lower lip, causing the man to flinch in surprise.
Arthur instinctively pulled back, his eyes meeting Karel's as if he were the one who had been wronged.
Karel let out an exasperated huff, then turned away, collapsing back onto the long sofa.
Arthur, despite the lingering sting on his lip, approached Karel with a gentle smile. He sat beside him, his hand resuming its soothing strokes through Karel's short hair.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, his eyes pleading, "I just missed you so much."
"Whose fault is it that there was a problem in the first place?" Karel retorted, feigning annoyance.
Arthur, feeling a mixture of exasperation and affection, playfully ruffled Karel's hair until it resembled a lion's mane.
"Ten more minutes until class starts."
Karel's lips were pouted, his shoulders slumped dejectedly at the parting. "Okay," he sighed.
Seeing the reluctant expression on Karel's face, Arthur offered a rare, subtle smile.
"You're the one who said I had to go to class," Karel grumbled, tilting his head to look up at Arthur. "Should I just ditch it?" His eyes lit up at the thought of skipping class.
Arthur chuckled softly, shaking his head as he carefully smoothed Karel's now-disheveled hair. He was relieved that Karel hadn't reacted negatively to his earlier hair-ruffling antics.
Realizing that time was running short, Arthur reluctantly broke the embrace.
"I'll see you later," he whispered close to Karel's ear, his lips brushing against his earlobe.
"Mmm," Karel hummed in response, nodding obediently like a kitten.
Without another word, Karel headed for the door. But just as his hand touched the handle, a voice stopped him.
"Don't get too close to Daniel anymore," Arthur said, his tone calm but firm.
Karel simply smiled, turning back to close the distance between them until they were almost touching.
"My deal with Daniel is over," Karel whispered. Then, without hesitation, he stood on tiptoe and gave Arthur a soft, fleeting kiss on the lips.
Without waiting for Arthur's reaction, Karel slipped out the door, leaving Arthur speechless.
Arthur stood frozen, like a statue suddenly stripped of its ability to move, his mind still processing what had just happened.
The warmth of Karel's kiss still lingered on his lips, the sting from the earlier bite now forgotten. A few seconds later, reality slowly returned. His ears began to burn, the blush spreading across his face.
But when he glanced at the door, Karel was gone. A strange sense of emptiness settled in his heart.
Arthur shook his head, checking the time on his watch. He began to gather his books, preparing to head to class.
Then, it struck him—Science class.
Wasn't that Karel's class?
Suddenly, he felt a surge of renewed energy.