Silas's POV

The air in the ECE lab crackled with a mix of excitement and nervous energy. Silas, perched on a stool, his brow furrowed in concentration, was staring intently at a jumble of wires, circuit boards, and a blinking LED display. He was surrounded by the remnants of his latest design project, a testament to the challenges and triumphs of his senior year.

"Okay, Silas," he muttered to himself, "just one more wire. Then you can finally test this thing. You've been working on this for weeks, and you're not going to let a few stubborn wires ruin everything." He carefully connected the final wire, his fingers trembling with anticipation. He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping across the chaotic landscape of his workstation. "Alright, here goes nothing."

He flipped the switch, and the LED display flickered to life, a triumphant burst of light in the dimly lit lab. A wave of relief washed over him, followed by a surge of satisfaction.

"Hey, Silas, you're a genius!" A voice boomed from behind him. He turned to see Marcus, his friend and fellow engineering student, beaming at him with a mischievous grin.

Silas chuckled, a sense of camaraderie washing over him. "Thanks," he said, shaking his head. "It's not as easy as it looks. This thing has been giving me fits for weeks."

Marcus leaned in. "So, what is it? A robot that can do your laundry? A device that can automatically make pizza?"

Silas laughed, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "No, Marcus, it's not that exciting. It's just a prototype for a smart home energy management system. It's supposed to optimize energy consumption and reduce waste."

Marcus's face fell. "Oh, come on, Silas," he said, his voice laced with disappointment. "That's not nearly as exciting as a robot that can make you a sandwich."

Silas shook his head, a playful smirk on his face. "I'm afraid you'll have to settle for a robot that can save you money on your electricity bill," he said. "It's not as glamorous, but it's still pretty cool."

Marcus sighed, a dramatic gesture that made Silas laugh. "Alright, alright," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. 

"How about I treat you to a sandwich for now?" Silas suggested.

Marcus face lit up, "Wait, you're offering me a sandwich? Are you sure? I mean, I'm not going to complain, but this is a big deal. We're talking about a sandwich here. A culinary masterpiece."

"Alright, alright, I get it. You're a sandwich connoisseur. But seriously, I'm hungry, and I think you could use a little pick-me-up after all that work." Silas said laughing.

Marcus grinned, "Well, in that case, I'm willing to make an exception. But only because you're my friend. And because I'm really, really hungry."

"Silas chuckled, "Yeah, sure. Class is about to end, so let's head out right after this. But I'm warning you, I'm not paying for any fancy gourmet sandwiches. We're sticking to the classics.".

"Beggars can't be choosers, my friend," Marcus said, winking.

As they continued to work on their projects, Silas couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He had come a long way since his freshman year, when he had been overwhelmed by the sheer complexity of electrical engineering. He had learned so much, not just about circuits and software but also about himself. He had discovered a passion for design, a thirst for knowledge, and a newfound confidence in his abilities.

The project had consumed him so completely that he'd almost forgotten about the deal with Kai.

...

Silas's stomach rumbled, a symphony of hunger that echoed through the bustling coffee shop. As they settled at a table, Silas's gaze fell upon a familiar figure across the room.  

His heart sank.  

"Kai," he muttered, his voice a low groan. "What the fuck is he doing here, of all the coffeeshops near the university, they chose this one?"

Marcus, oblivious to Silas's sudden anxiety, was already engrossed in the menu, his eyes scanning the list of sandwiches with a hungry gleam. "Hmm, the 'Triple Decker' looks tempting," he murmured, his voice a mix of contemplation and anticipation.

Silas, however, couldn't focus on sandwiches. His eyes were glued to Kai, who was deep in conversation with his mother and a woman. A pretty woman. She had long, dark hair, piercing blue eyes, and beautiful smile. And she was sitting across from Kai, his mom beaming at them both.

"What's wrong, Silas?" Marcus asked, his voice laced with concern. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Silas forced a smile. "Nothing," he said, trying to sound casual. "Just... thinking about the sandwich. The 'Triple Decker' sounds delicious, doesn't it?"

Marcus nodded, still oblivious to the drama unfolding across the room. "Absolutely," he said, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "But I think I'm going to go for the 'Spicy Italian.' It's got a little kick to it."

Silas, however, couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in his gut. He knew this was just the beginning of a very long and very complicated journey. Or maybe he was just being paranoid. Maybe it was just a one-time thing, a quick favor for a friend. He hoped.

"Hey, Silas, you okay?" Marcus asked, noticing Silas's tense posture and the way his gaze kept darting towards the other table. "You've been staring at that table for a while now. Is that...Kai?"

"You're right, it is him." Silas replied.

"He took a deep breath, trying to steel his nerves. He couldn't help but glance across the table. She's beautiful, and she looks like she's nice too. She could be Kai's type. If he likes her, then there's no need for me to pretend, right? Silas contemplated, a glimmer of hope flickering in his chest. That's for the best.

Kai's back is facing them so he couldn't really tell what his expressions are.

"Whoa, she's beautiful, isn't she?" Marcus said, his voice a mix of admiration and amusement. "You know her?"

Silas quickly averted his gaze, trying to appear nonchalant. "Nope, hurry with your order, just get me the same thing, I'm starving." He said, trying to change the subject.

"Is she your type?" Marcus asked, his eyebrows raised in playful curiosity.

"Huh? Where did that come from?" Silas replied, his voice a little too high-pitched.

"Well, you keep looking at their direction," Marcus said, a smirk playing on his lips.

Silas felt a wave of heat creep up his neck. He couldn't help but feel a little guilty, his gaze darting back to the other table. He couldn't deny that the girl was beautiful, and he couldn't deny that he was feeling a strange mix of emotions. He was supposed to be helping Kai out of a difficult situation, but he couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, this whole charade was unnecessary. If Kai was genuinely attracted to this girl, then maybe he could be free from this whole charade.

"Just get me the sandwich," he said, his voice a little strained, trying to mask the turmoil inside. He finished his meal quickly, eager to escape the coffeeshop.

Marcus excused himself to use the restroom, and upon returning, Kai saw Marcus and immediately noticed his presence. Kai looked back and a knowing smirk played on Kai's lips as he locked eyes with Silas across the room. Silas felt a shiver run down his spine.

"Let's go," Silas said hurriedly, pushing back his chair. Just as he was about to get up, Kai was already standing in front of their table, greeting Marcus.

"Fantabulous!" Silas muttered under his breath, his annoyance evident.

"So," Kai said, a playful glint in his eye, "I told my mom you were here too. What a coincidence, right?"

"It sure is," Silas replied with a forced smile, trying to maintain a semblance of composure.

"Come on, she wants to see you. It's been a while," Kai urged, his voice laced with a hint of persuasion.

"Maybe next time," Silas said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Looks like you're in the middle of something."

"No, she really wants to see you. Excuse us for a bit, Marcus," Kai said, tugging Silas's arm and leading him towards their table.

Marcus gave a little nod. 

"Hey," Silas whispered, his voice barely audible over the din of the coffeeshop.

"What's the matter?" Kai asked, his eyebrows raised in amusement. "You're acting like I'm dragging you to your execution."

Silas hesitated, his eyes darting between Kai and the other table. "I just... I'm not sure I'm ready for this," he said, his voice a low murmur.

"Ready for what?" Kai asked, his voice a playful whisper.

"You're only going to say hi," he said, a wry smile playing on his lips.

They reached Kai's table. "Hi, Mrs. Ashworth, how have you been?" Silas said warmly, leaning in to kiss her cheek. Kai's mom had always been kind to him, treating him like family.

"I'm fine, darling. You haven't visited us lately. Seems you're busy with school," Mrs. Ashworth said, her voice tinged with a hint of concern.

"Yes, I'm in my senior year, so it's been hectic," Silas replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "But I'll come visit when I'm free."

"I understand," Mrs. Ashworth replied. "I want you to meet someone. This is Sarah Beckett."

"Hi, I'm Silas Rivers," Silas greeted, extending his hand. He couldn't help but notice how genuinely kind Sarah seemed.

"Hello, I'm Sarah," she said, a warm smile lighting up her face. She's even more beautiful up close and he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for the charade they were about to play. 'Please just fall in love already, Kai,' Silas thought,

Silas turned to Kai, "Marcus is waiting for me, we have a project to finish," he said, trying to excuse himself.

"I'm sorry, but I can't stay long, Mrs. Ashworth. We have to go back for our next class," Silas added, hoping to sound more convincing.

"Oh, I'm sorry for holding you up. This is such an unexpected meeting," Mrs. Ashworth replied.

"It's okay, ma'am. It's nice meeting you, Sarah," Silas said genuinely.

"It's alright," Sarah replied, her smile unwavering. "See you at school."

Silas blinked, completely thrown off by her casual remark. 

'huh??'

"Huh?" Silas managed to stammer, his voice a mix of confusion and disbelief as he turned to Kai.

"Yeah, see you," he replied, regaining his composure as quickly as he could. "I'll be going, Kai." He hurriedly left the table, not waiting for Kai to respond.