Sea waited outside the university building, leaning against a pillar and checking his watch. Wind's class was just about to finish, and Sea had been looking forward to their walk. It had become a quiet little routine for the two of them, a way to unwind after a busy day and enjoy each other's company without the complications of their past rivalry.
When Wind finally appeared, stepping out of the building and glancing around for Sea, his eyes softened when he spotted him. A small smile crept onto Wind's face as he walked toward Sea, his usual confident stride a little slower than usual.
"Hey, ready for a walk?" Sea asked with a casual smile, his voice warm and welcoming.
Wind nodded, but as they started walking, he shivered slightly. It had gotten colder than expected, and he pulled his jacket tighter around himself, hoping the chill would pass.
Sea noticed immediately. His eyes flickered to Wind, and without a word, he gently reached for Wind's hand, surprising him. The moment their hands touched, Sea's fingers curled around Wind's, his grip firm but gentle. He pulled Wind's hand into the warmth of his jacket pocket, guiding him closer to keep him warmer.
"There," Sea said softly. "You're not going to freeze on me."
Wind blinked, his heart racing from the sudden closeness. His hand felt so natural in Sea's, and the warmth of Sea's jacket surrounding their hands made him feel safe and comfortable. He didn't pull away, allowing himself to lean in just a little, savoring the moment. It was easy to forget about everything else when Sea was this close, when it felt like the rest of the world didn't matter.
For a few moments, the two of them walked in silence, just enjoying the shared warmth and quiet of the night. But as they turned a corner, their peaceful moment was interrupted by loud voices.
"Sea! Wind!" A voice called out from behind them, and both of them immediately pulled their hands apart. They quickly glanced at each other, both of them flustered as they tried to act casual.
Their group of friends Babe, Jam, Gun, Yota, Tan, May , Autumn, Minnie, and Fai appeared out of nowhere, laughing and chatting, completely oblivious to what had just happened. Wind and Sea both looked at each other, their cheeks flushing as their friends approached.
Gun smirked. "What's going on with you two? You look... different."
Before Wind could stammer out a response, Mae grinned and said, "Hey, we're all going out for drinks tonight! It's the last chance we'll have before the end-of-term tests. You're coming, right?"
Wind quickly nodded, relieved to be distracted. "Yeah, sure."
Sea smiled and nodded as well. "We'll meet you all at 8."
The friends cheered in excitement, and without a second thought, they all dispersed, agreeing to meet up for drinks later. Wind and Sea shared a quiet look, both of them still flustered from the near-miss of their hand-holding moment.
"Man, that was close," Wind said, his voice a little breathless from the sudden rush of emotions.
Sea gave him a soft smile, his fingers still tingling from the contact. "Yeah, but it's fine. We'll have time to figure things out later."
The two of them walked off together, their hearts racing in sync as the night air felt warmer than before.