Mason isn't sure why he's fussing over his appearance so much. He isn't usually the kind of person to let himself be bothered by things as trivial as a lock of hair sticking out from the top of his head.

But right now, as he sits waiting for the boy who was originally supposed to arrive before him, he can't help but card his shaky fingers through his hair several times in a single minute.

Although he isn't anxious, with how nervous he feels at the moment, he might as well be.

He glances at the doors again, and as if on cue, Ayaan enters. His eyes look around the place while Mason notices how calm he looks. It's not long before their eyes meet after, right after Mason stands up from his seat and gestures for Ayaan to let him know where he is.

"Hi," Ayaan greets right as he reaches his table, eyes regarding Mason with a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry for calling you over to meet like this out of nowhere again. And for being late."

Mason shakes his head. "It's all good."

After they're seated and Ayaan is ordering something that Mason doesn't pay attention to, his mind is throwing thoughts at him with the speed of light.

What is it that Ayaan would want to talk to him about? Even with the events of the wedding, he doesn't know where the agency stands. Ayaan did say he didn't know whether he wanted to go ahead with the wedding or not... right?

So what can this be about?

Mason absentmindedly stares at the other boy, taking into account his hair that looks a little unruly for once. He also looks a little tired, but there's no dullness in his eyes.

Ayaan clears his throat.

Now that makes Mason straighten up in his seat and stop staring.

"I had something to tell you, and I didn't want to do it over text."

Mason nods, trying to ignore how his heart feels like it's in his throat.

"Don't freak out on me, yeah?"

Yeah, that helps. Mason tries to swallow back the knot that forms in the middle of his chest. With eyes a little wide, he nods anyway.

"Okay," Ayaan murmurs. Repeats it once. Then again.

Mason can't stand the way his hands are about to start shaking so he goes for the glass of water sitting in front of him and takes a sip.

Then, he hears Ayaan's voice sounding uncharacteristically timid. "I... like you."

Needless to say, Mason chokes on his drink. Afraid that he's going to drop the glass, he sets it back down on the table and feels tears fill his eyes when the water gets in his nose. Ayaan silently passes the now-red-faced boy a tissue, patiently waiting as Mason coughs and coughs some more.

Ayaan contemplates going over to pat his back but decides against it.

He wonders if he should have waited a little. He did just get there. And they haven't known each other long.

Then he looks up at Mason again, who now looks a little calmer save for the occasional coughs and hiccups, and a voice inside him tells him that he's waited to feel this way about for someone for a little too long.

Mason is wiping his eyes with the tissue when Ayaan speaks again.

"Are you alright?"

The curly-haired boy nods, his eyes covered. "Just... give me a moment." His voice has gotten nasally and breathless, and Mason hates it. If his face wasn't red because of the wheezing, it would be because of embarrassment. Sometimes he really, really hated being so pale.

"Of course."

Mason feels the back of his neck burn and he just wants to dig himself a grave and lay in there for all eternity.

Of all the things, he reacts to a confession by almost suffocating to death?

Well, maybe not that dramatic, but it doesn't take away the awkwardness of the situation.

"You don't have to say anything," Ayaan says softly as if reading Mason's blank mind. "Just hear me out." He says the last part as a question, and Mason reckons he's asking for permission. So he nods silently.

"I liked a boy back in Uni," Ayaan reveals, albeit a little hesitantly, and Mason gives him his undivided attention. "I didn't... have the courage to date him. Not openly anyway. My parents aren't the most accepting people on Earth and that's... putting it mildly."

Mason nods once again as a sign for him to continue. He of all people doesn't need the details on what it's like to have close-minded parents.

He tries not to scoff at his own thoughts. Homophobic, he reminds himself internally. Call them like they are. Don't make excuses for them.

"With time, I had to let the whole thing go," Ayaan continues, and Mason tries not to let his lips turn down at the way his voice gets vacant. "I never told them. Stopped talking to him because I was worried they'd find out and then that was just... that."

Mason almost reaches out to place his hand on top of Ayaan's. Almost.

"I only did what they asked me to but I never really thought they would expect me to marry someone... a girl so quick," he murmurs, tracing shapeless figures on the table with his index finger. "I didn't even question it, though. They just tell me what needs to be done, and I go along with it."

Mason is definitely frowning now. There are lines between his eyebrows as he listens to the older boy.

"I didn't think I would question it," Ayaan says quietly, finally raising his face to look at Mason. "Until you came around."

Hazel eyes averted, Mason fixes them on the crumpled tissue in his hand. "Do I... remind you of him?"

Ayaan lets out a sigh, making Mason look back up. "No, Mason. You remind me of the fact that I don't like women."

The said boy's lips part in surprise and Ayaan has to quickly look away. He's thankful his skin is a little dark. Because his blush would have been very, very obvious otherwise. Don't think about it. Not right now.

"I talked to the girl I was supposed to get married to," Ayaan continues as if he didn't just suppress the strongest urge to kiss Mason, ignoring the way his voice cracks a little. He clears his throat. "Avni and I are a lot alike when it comes to forceful parents."

Mason holds his breath, and the knot in his chest loosens as soon as Ayaan says,

"We're not getting married."

-

Staring at nothing, Mason blinks once.

"It's not just that I wanted to confess to you," Ayaan had said, and if Mason wasn't frozen, he would have smiled a little at the older's shy smile. "I wanted to mostly thank you for giving me the strength to actually stop my parents from dictating my life any further."

The car bumps a little, and his head feels uncomfortable against the window it was resting on. He straightens up and stares at the road.

"I really like you, Mason." Mason closes his eyes and tilts his head back to rest it against the seat, the corners of his lips tilting up. "You don't have to say it back. Not right away, anyway. Take your time. And if your answer doesn't match mine, we can just be friends, if you'd like that."

Mason slowly opens his eyes, staring at the roof of the moving cab.

When he finally gets home and steps in, he feels a little airy. Gwen confirms it for him when she raises an eyebrow at him as soon as he's in her sight.

"Are you... drunk?" Her voice is incredulous.

Mason shakes his head, trying not to grin. "Nope."

Gwen turns around and rests her back against the counter, folding her arms across her chest as she regards him with curiosity.

"Where were you?"

He moves around her to grab himself a glass of water. "Y'know... around."

She nods, turning back around. "With Ayaan then. Okay."

Mason almost chokes on his water again. Can people stop doing that to him?

"What? How did you-"

"I know everything, kid."

He takes a pause. "Ah, shit, Gwen, I just realized I indirectly made us lose a very good deal."

Gwen flips around to give him a dirty look, now holding a spatula out in his direction threateningly. "You think I care about that? That of all things, Mase? Really?"

He scratches the back of his neck.

"Oh, my God. I hate you."

He sets the mug down, raising his hands in surrender. "Look, I'm sorry. But-"

"Nothing," she interrupts, her expression the most serious he's ever seen. "I repeat, nothing is more important to me than your happiness is. Remember that."

Mason looks down at the floor, nodding quietly.

"He told you about the cancellation?"

He nods again.

Then, "Wait... you know?"

Gwen shrugs, going back to stirring something in the pot. "I know everything."

Mason is amused for a split second at the timing of her words, then shakes his head to get rid of the witch-related joke in his mind.

"Tanvi told you, didn't she?"

Gwen doesn't reply, pretending like she's immersed in whatever she's cooking.

"Gwen."

She ignores him.

"Gwen."

"Mason," she replies in the same tone and Mason can't believe this is the same girl that basically raised him.

Maybe she forgot to raise herself in all of the havoc he probably caused in her life.

"How did Tanvi know? Did Ayaan tell her?" he tries again, but Gwen just shrugs again, trying not to smile.

Mason groans in exasperation, flipping around to shut himself inside his room, muttering under his breath. "Women." There's a loud thud that echoes in the house, and Gwen finally lets a giggle escape.