Charlie spent the entire morning rehearsing what he was going to say to Enkai.
The mirror had heard at least five different versions already.
"Enkai," Charlie said seriously to his reflection, standing way too straight, "I'm not gay, and I don't think this will work… but we can still be friends."
He even added a dramatic hand gesture for emphasis.
Then he immediately gasped and clutched his chest.
"No! I hate you, Charlie!" he shouted at himself, switching roles instantly. "I can't believe you'd do this after everything I've done for you! You heartless beast!"
Charlie paused, staring at his own reflection.
"…Okay, yeah. He would never react like that."
Enkai was calm. Collected. Annoyingly handsome. If anything, he'd probably just smile politely and move on with his perfect life.
Ugh.
"Who am I kidding?" Charlie muttered, rubbing his face. "He's ridiculously attractive. He probably doesn't even care. I'm the only one who'd lose here."
He groaned. "What if he's not even into me? What if I just embarrass myself?"
Charlie sighed deeply.
"He's definitely into girls," he concluded, nodding like he'd solved a mystery.
Right on cue, his phone buzzed.
Enkai: I'm here.
Charlie's heart dropped straight to his stomach.
"Hey, pretty boy."
Charlie froze.
Enkai stood by the open car door, one hand resting casually on the roof, sunlight hitting him like he belonged on a magazine cover. He smiled easily, like this wasn't doing irreversible damage to Charlie's sanity.
Why was he so effortlessly handsome?
Why was life so unfair?
And why was he polite on top of that?
Handsome bastard.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Charlie blurted out, suddenly self-conscious.
Enkai's gaze had lingered...slow, curious, unashamed...running over him in a way that made Charlie want to evaporate.
"You're showing a lot of skin," Enkai said lightly.
Charlie's brain short-circuited.
He was wearing loose brown shorts that hit just above his knees and a fitted sleeveless gray shirt that clung softly to his frame. The fabric was thin, catching the breeze, and his curls looked brighter than usual under the sun"warm, untamed, glowing. His pale skin almost shimmered, freckles faint but visible if you looked closely.
Comfortable. Casual.
Apparently… distracting.
"I... I'm hot," Charlie stammered, fanning himself awkwardly. "It's really hot today, you know."
His cheeks burned as he hurried into the car, avoiding Enkai's gaze like it might physically harm him.
Enkai chuckled quietly before getting in and starting the engine.
They were just about to drive off when Charlie suddenly reached out and grabbed Enkai's sleeve.
"Um… maybe we should talk."
Enkai stopped immediately.
"Okay," he said, turning toward Charlie without hesitation...leaning in a little too close.
Way too close.
Charlie's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Enkai's face was right there--calm eyes, soft expression, patiently waiting. Charlie could hear his own heartbeat louder than the car engine.
"I..." Charlie swallowed. "Umm…"
The words were stuck somewhere between his brain and his mouth, refusing to cooperate.
Enkai tilted his head slightly. "Take your time."
And just like that, Charlie's carefully rehearsed speech completely fell apart.
---
"Do you like guys?"
Wow.
Bravo, Charlie.
Ten minutes of silence and that was the best you could do?
Charlie immediately wanted the car to swallow him whole.
Enkai definitely hates me now, he thought, shame piling up neatly like folded laundry on his chest.
"Well," Enkai said casually, like he'd been asked what he wanted for lunch, "I go both ways. But I guess you could say I prefer guys."
Charlie blinked.
"…What a waste of good looks," he muttered before his brain could stop his mouth.
"What?" Enkai asked, eyebrows lifting.
"Nothing!" Charlie said way too loudly, forcing an awkward laugh that echoed painfully in the car. "Haha. Nothing at all."
Silence followed.
Charlie panicked.
Say something. Apologize. Explain. Do literally anything.
Why is he so quiet?
Of course he's quiet...you asked a weird question, idiot.
"I should probably..."
"Do you like me?"
The question hit him like a brick.
"Yes!" Charlie blurted out immediately. "I mean... I'm really sorry...wait, what?"
"You're sorry for liking me?" Enkai asked, amused. "I mean, I'm not surprised. I do have an irresistible charm."
Charlie froze.
…Huh?
Excuse him? What was this man on?
"Oh no, absolutely not," Charlie snapped, his embarrassment instantly mutating into rage. "First of all, who has been feeding your ego? That is a very shitty thing to say, you asshole!"
Enkai didn't even flinch.
"Should I work on my ego?" he asked calmly. "I could. Especially since I like you too. But you'd have to ask nicely."
Charlie's brain blue-screened.
"Wait... no...that's not how it's supposed to be"
Enkai's phone suddenly rang.
He glanced at the screen and sighed. "It's my secretary. This must be important. I'll be right back."
And just like that, he stepped out of the car, leaving Charlie alone with his thoughts--and his rapidly unraveling sanity.
"What the hell just happened?!" Charlie whispered, grabbing his hair.
"No... why did I focus on his ego instead of fixing the misunderstanding?" he groaned. "What is wrong with me?"
He slumped back into the seat.
"I've always been bad at communicating, but wow. This takes the cake."
I need to fix this, he decided, determination rising.
But then Enkai's voice replayed in his head, smooth and teasing.
I'll fix it if you ask nicely.
Because I like you too.
Charlie's legs went weak.
"…He likes me," Charlie whispered.
Suddenly, a sharp slap echoed in the car.
"Ow!" Charlie hissed, his right hand stinging.
"Get it together," he scolded himself. "He's just being nice. There is absolutely no way you believe all that."
Absolutely.
No way.
(He absolutely believed all of it.)