"Hey, is that Eujae?"

Poll immediately looks down from the mall's indoor balcony, following Cloud's gaze, his eyes raking the ground floor for the mentioned guy. When he can't find him, he turns to his friend with a glare. "Stop shitting me."

"I'm not. I really thought I saw–" Cloud stops and stares at Poll as if he realizes something. "Wait, why are you mad at me that you can't find Eujae? Do you actually want to see him?"

"What? Why would I want to see him?" Poll asks, his cringe noticeable.

Before it turns into a stupid conversation, Poll decides to walk out of there. He is pretty sure his friend can manage to wait for his girlfriend alone while said girlfriend is shopping for god-knows-what.

"I'll go to the art supplies store for now. Just let Tem know when she gets back," he tells his friend though he knows he will be back before his sister does. Girls like to take their sweet time when buying something after all. And his twin sister is no different.

He looks up as he tries to remember the location of the art supplies store. "What floor is it again?" he asks to no one in particular.

"Top floor beside a watch boutique," Cloud answers.

"Oh yeah." He looks at his friend. "Thanks, man. I'll be back."

He starts to walk for the escalator which is closer to them but quickly reconsiders when he thinks about where they currently are. They are on the first floor and the store is on the fourth floor which means he needs to take three separate escalators to arrive at his destination. Spinning on his heels, he saunters to the direction where the elevator is.

He stops in front of the door and peeks at the hall lantern. The arrow indicates that the elevator car is going down from the third floor. After a couple of seconds, the door opens, revealing six passengers inside. Two of them get off.

One of the four remaining people, a guy who looks around his age, gives him a look that says 'Quickly get in if you're going to get in.' Next to the guy, an older woman speaks softly, "Ground floor?"

Poll smiles at the woman politely and shakes his head to answer her. He doesn't like to stay inside an elevator for too long so he decides to get in once it's going up again.

The door closes and when the hall lantern flashes G,—ground floor—Poll presses the call button. He waits for another few seconds for the elevator car to reach him again.

When the door opens, Poll notes the lone person inside. He assumes the person came from the ground floor because he didn't see him earlier. The guy is wearing a blue sleeveless hoodie on top of a white t-shirt. His hood is pulled over his head and he is busy with his phone so Poll can't see his face clearly.

Deciding not to give it any more thought, he steps inside the elevator.

And stops dead. His eyes widen in disbelief as he gets a good look at the guy's face. At that moment, Poll feels like time has stopped with him. Vaguely, he hears the soft ding of the elevator as the door closes behind him.

Everything moves in slow motion as Poll watches the guy look up from his phone. He stays still until those eyes meet his.

Gold. His eyes are gold today, with specks of lime green and dark brown. Anyone who is well acquainted with the guy can easily tell that those are contact lenses. Poll knows he always wears colored contacts and they are usually blue or brown.

But today, they are a stunning shade of gold. The same shade Eujae wore during their first day in college, during the first time they saw each other.

Recognition and surprise briefly cross those golden eyes, and then they are gone. Poll blinks, realizing that Eujae is staring at him impassively.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Poll blurts out. It is a reflex, a question he always asks every time he sees Eujae in unexpected places.

He walks to the corner of the elevator, opposite Eujae, and waits for the guy's comeback.

One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. Nothing. No response.

Perplexed, Poll peeks at Eujae, wondering why he is not saying anything at all. Eujae is quietly browsing—or whatever he's doing—on his phone again.

Poll is certain that Eujae heard him and if the jerk is his usual jackass self, he had fired his sardonic reply by now. He had already retorted with something like 'I don't remember you owning this place, Apollo.' But based on the way he keeps silent and avoids giving Poll any attention, it is obvious that he is not his usual jackass self.

What the hell is up with him?

The elevator stops. Looking at the indicator, Poll learns that they are on the third floor. He follows Eujae with his glaring eyes when the door opens and the jerk wordlessly steps out. A group of noisy teenagers comes in but Poll pays them no heed as he is busy figuring out what he feels about Eujae's behavior. He is dumbfounded and irked, sure, but it feels like there is something more.

Seething, Poll gets off the on the fourth floor.

What the fuck was that? Did he just fucking ignore me? Who does he think he is, acting all high and mighty like that?

Poll halts in his track, a look of horror coming across his face as he realizes what his thoughts were trying to suggest. He remains frozen in place and ignores the people who are giving him weird looks.

And why the hell do I sound disappointed that that jerk ignored me? What the hell do I fucking care?

He sighs. That has totally dampened his mood. He should have just stayed in his room and watched anime if he knew it was going to happen.

"Unwind, my foot," he grumbles and begins to walk. That jerk can ignore me all he wants for all I care. Hell, I'm glad I don't have to hear his annoying remarks anymore.

When the art supplies store comes into his view, he increases his pace. Pausing at the entrance, he glances at the shop next to it. And for the nth time, he freezes.

"What the fuck?" The words come out before Poll can stop himself.

It seems like the jerk holds the same sentiment judging from his displeased expression.

Poll looks around and notices the escalator just a few feet away from where they are. "Did you just get off on the third floor to take the escalator up here? What the hell is wrong with you?" he asks incredulously.

Eujae sends him a cold look. "I don't think that's any of your business, asshole." That's all Poll gets from him before he enters the watch boutique, leaving Poll gaping at his retreating form.

And right there and then, Apollo Torres feels like screaming again.