"Hi!" Noah waved at him as Kai got into the car, quickly buckling his seat belt. 

"Have you changed your car?" Kai looked around the black BMW he didn't recognize.

"Oh no, it's my dad's. My car is in the garage for a service check-up. I had to borrow it from him." Noah's father does business all over the country, and his mum is a teacher in a local preschool. It's not a very rich family, but they are wealthy enough to have a comfortable life. Kai always has liked Noah's parents. They are good people. Not once did they try to impose something on Noah, letting him do whatever he wished to date whoever he wanted and make mistakes on his own. Giving him support and being there for him when he needs it. Kai envied Noah that kind of relationship he had never experienced himself.

"Jake is already there with Maya. Leo will join us soon. His classes are dragging a bit longer than he initially thought." Noah said as he drove them.

"Oh... Okay," Kai answered with such a low voice that Noah barely could hear him.

"You look nervous." Noah glanced at him.

"Surprised? You know how I am with strangers." Kai focused on the view outside the window.

"I know. No need to be a jerk about it. I hope you'll relax around them as I'm guessing you haven't been seeing a lot of people besides me in the last year." Noah stopped the car as the yellow light turned red.

"Did you honestly have to guess?" Kai snorted. "You, from all people, know well what my social life has been like over the past year."

"Mhmm. Indeed eventful." Noah nodded, not going further into the conversation. Reaching out his hand, he turned up the volume and began humming along with the song playing on the radio.

The place had a charming character. The walls inside were painted in subtle colours. Black wooden tables gave the interior some personality. Posters from old movies hung on the walls, little vases with fresh flowers were placed on the tables. They looked around and noticed the couple sitting at the table in the corner of the room. 

"Let's order something and after we join them," Noah said as Kai followed to the counter. A lovely middle-aged woman took their orders. After waiting a few more minutes for a coffee, they walked over to the couple engaged in the conversation.

"Hello!" A girl with brown hair and a bright smile waved in their way as they walked closer and sat in front of them at the table. She had an eccentric face, sharp but still giving you this warm look. She had a boyish figure, yet she was feminine and pretty. She had this aura around her that made you feel at ease. People like her were easy to approach. 

"Hey, this is my friend Kai that I told you about." He turned to look at Kai and pointed at the couple. "This is Maya and Jake." They greeted each other, and after a second, Noah started chatting with Jake about some projects for the classes they shared.

"Noah mentioned that you are childhood friends. That's nice." Maya smiled and looked at Kai with questioning blue eyes. 

"Mhmm, our parents were college friends and kept in touch after graduation. They enrolled us in the same middle school." Kai replied, keeping himself composed, but his heart was biting like crazy in his chest. He never knew what to talk about with the people he had just met. He didn't want to interrogate anyone or let them feel bored. It was always more comfortable with the people you already knew.

"I envy you. My childhood friends live their own lives and have already moved out of the country or city to study. We keep in touch, though." She paused, both of them taking a sip of coffee. "Noah mentioned you are an artist?" Kai glanced at Noah and back at her. 

"I graduated in arts..." He stopped talking when the auburn-haired man took a spot in front of him, next to Maya, who moved closer to Jake to make more space for him.

"I'm sorry, my classes took a bit longer than I expected them to be." He took off his jacket and held his cup of coffee between his palms to warm up.

"It's okay. We aren't here that long anyway," Jake said.

"Leo and this is Kai." Noah pointed at each of them, arranging a small introduction. They waved at each other, smiling. 

Leo went back to warming up with his cup of coffee, shifting his attention to the two boys talking about studies. Maya focused on Kai repeating her question from before they were interrupted. 

"So you are an artist?" Kai smiled when he heard the same question again leaving her lips. It made him feel that she was actually interested, not only pretending to initiate a conversation with him out of politeness.

"I guess." Kai shyly looked down at his hands. "I graduated from art. I specialize in graphics and illustration."

"That is cool. I think the ability to paint is amazing." Leo spoke as he met his gaze. Kai focused his attention on the man sitting in front of him. He was very handsome, one of the most beautiful guys he had met so far. Dim pale green eyes and lightly tanned skin, short and slightly wavy hair standing out in all directions. Kai was sure he could pull this look without any effort. At first glance, he seemed like a positive and radiant person. His low and soft voice matched his boyish face making him seem younger than his age. Kai felt a bit uncomfortable with the attractive man sitting so close to him, suddenly feeling cautious of his own looks. Kai reached out for his latte, clinging onto the last remnants of his confidence.

"Thanks. Are you also a literature student?" he asked Leo.

"Yes, I am in the same group as Noah and Jake." 

"We have to put up with this book club, unfortunately. They tend to start about some boring books or assignments without thinking about others less literature." Maya snickered and lightly punched Leo on his arm, who raised his eyebrow at her. "I'm in my last year of graphic design. I'm happy to have someone I have something in common with."

"I have something in common with him too!" Leo bounced suddenly when an idea came to his mind.

"Enlighten us, what?" Maya teased, smiling playfully.

"Our names have three letters. I bet there is more than that to discover," Leo said proudly. "I have a feeling I will outnumber you." He winked at her.

Kai laughed, and two other guys sent them a confused look. However, quickly returned to their conversation.

"So your name is not a shortcut from Leonard or something?" Kai asked him curiously.

"No, my parents had been too lazy while naming me. It's just Leo." Leo replied, feigning a sad voice at the end.

"Oh... I just realized that my name, Noah, and Jake happened to be four-letter names. How funny is that." Maya smiled, amused by her newly found revelation.

"That's true. I never noticed," Jake admitted.

"See, we all have got so much in common. Your names are three letters, our four letters, and it's five of us." Noah pointed. Everyone agreed, making small comments.

"That means we are all stuck for life with each other," Leo noticed and continued. "It's a fate."

"How is your writing going? I got into an argument with a lady from the library." Noah addressed his question to Leo.

"Again? Start giving back the books you keep before getting the new ones." Jake scoffed. Kai raised an eyebrow, not knowing about his friend's habits. 

"I'm kind of in the middle with it. With the writing, I mean. I just got stuck on one topic and can't figure it out." Leo responded, embarrassed.

"Middle?!" She repeated after him. "You said that it's going well." Maya looked at Leo, surprised. Jake and Noah looked at Leo with the same expression painted on their faces as Maya's.

"Oh c'mon, don't judge me. Research is complicated. Threw me in a block." Leo looked at them irritated, nervously scratching the back of his neck.

"I don't judge you, but you have a deadline, you know?" Said Jake, and Noah nodded to that.

"I know, but I can't do anything about it." Frustration was piling up in him. "I need to do more analysis and hopefully will finish that assignment on time."

"Oh well, then wait a little longer, and you will fail a year. You know that's an important part of your final work." Maya said ironically. 

"Thank you very much for your concern. I didn't know." Leo backed to her. She glared at him.

"Okay, leave him be. He will figure it out." Noah smiled and looked at Leo. "I'm sure about that."

"Thanks." He said, giving a small smile to Noah, relieved that the conversation was over. "How come we never met you before?" Leo turned his attention to Kai.

Kai froze in place at the sudden spot given to him.

"I didn't feel like introducing him to all of you annoying people. Simple as that," Noah responded quickly, while Kai lowered his head, staring at his cup. "There wasn't any occasion before."

"Then I'm glad such an opportunity finally came," Leo smirked. 

They sat a little longer before they parted ways. Maya talked about her designs, suggesting that Kai could try and do some online orders for graphic designs. 

"I'll check that. Thank you." Kai smiled at her and looked at Noah, signalling his willingness to leave.

"We will go now. It was nice seeing you all." Noah said to the group and stood up from his seat.

"I'm also leaving. " Leo followed them to the door. Maya and Jake decided to return to campus for their next class.

"Do you need a lift?" Noah turned his head to grinning Leo. "Of course you need."

Kai found himself looking every few minutes at Leo in the car mirror. His hair seemed so soft, and he had this urge to turn around to touch them. He followed the delicate lines on his face, impressed by the amount of positive energy radiating from him. Every time they passed something Leo liked, Kai could see his face soften, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"This street is always so busy. Is there any way to cut these traffic lights?" Noah questioned, bringing back Kai from his thoughts.

"I don't think so. Maybe you can check on maps or something," Leo moved forward, resting his hand on the side of Kai's seat.

"I don't want to get stuck in traffic every time." Noah lounged in his seat with a defeated face. "Maybe I should let you go by bus."

 Kai was grateful that Noah was a very patient and understanding driver.

Kai looked through his side window. He could feel the warmth emanating from his side.

"Finally!" Noah smiled and speeded up the car through the street. 

"The last time we were stuck there for ten minutes, and Noah had a bottle of water before we got in the car. His whining was hilarious." Leo smirked, and Kai chuckled silently.

"Say a word, and next time, you will walk."

Kai turned to steal a side look at Noah, immediately turning away his head. Leo leaned back in his seat, flustered as their faces were dangerously close to each other. They stopped at the front of a high building in the quiet neighbourhood where Leo lived.

"Thanks for the ride, and I hope to see you soon," Leo smiled. Kai watched him as he walked until Leo disappeared from his sight.