Sleep refused to come.
Elias lay on his back, staring at the ceiling as moonlight spilled faintly across the room. The villa was quiet—too quiet. Every sound felt amplified: the distant surf, the rustle of palm leaves, the slow rhythm of his own breathing.
Malik's absence that day had left a hollow in him he didn't know how to fill.
He turned onto his side, reaching for his phone, then stopped himself. He didn't want to seem needy. Didn't want to admit how deeply the silence unsettled him. With a frustrated sigh, Elias pushed himself out of bed and pulled on a hoodie, the fabric still warm from the day.
Maybe the beach would help.
The sand was cool beneath his feet as he walked, the night air brushing against his skin like a whisper. He carried his sketchbook under his arm, unsure whether he'd use it or just hold it like a shield. The moon hovered high, silvering the waves and stretching shadows across the dunes.
That's when he saw him.
Malik sat on the old wooden bench near the dunes, hood pulled up, elbows resting on his knees. A thermos was cradled in his hands like something precious.
Elias slowed, heart stuttering. For a moment, he wondered if he should turn back—give Malik space. But Malik looked up, sensing him, and his face softened instantly.
"Couldn't sleep either?" Malik asked.
Elias shook his head, stepping closer. "I thought you left."
"I did," Malik said. "Just for the day. Family stuff." He hesitated, then added, "I should've told you."
Relief rushed through Elias, so sudden it made him laugh. "You scared me."
"Sorry," Malik said quietly. "Didn't mean to."
They sat side by side, close enough that Elias could feel Malik's warmth through the thin layers of fabric. The ocean breathed steadily in the background, like it was listening.
Malik handed him the thermos. "Chamomile. Helps when your thoughts won't shut up."
Elias took it, their fingers brushing. The contact lingered—soft, deliberate. He swallowed, then sipped. Warmth spread through his chest.
"You think too much," Malik said after a while.
Elias tilted his head. "I do not."
"You do," Malik replied with a small smile. "You get quiet. Like you're somewhere else."
"And what do you see when I'm 'somewhere else'?" Elias asked.
Malik's gaze stayed on the waves. "Someone beautiful," he said slowly. "Someone scared. But strong."
Elias' breath caught.
Moonlight traced Malik's profile—the slope of his nose, the curve of his mouth. Elias turned toward him without meaning to, drawn in by something tender and fragile.
"Why do you see me like that?" Elias whispered.
Malik looked at him then, eyes open and unguarded. "Because it's who you are."
The moment stretched, fragile as glass. Elias' chest tightened with emotion he couldn't name. Instead of speaking, he leaned his head gently against Malik's shoulder.
Malik stilled—just for a second. Then he relaxed, tilting slightly so Elias fit better against him.
They stayed like that, sharing warmth, breathing in sync, until the night wrapped around them completely.