He’s surrounded by girls!

Aster couldn't help but blush the moment that he realised that Calix was walking in his direction. He also was not able to resist the urge to feel a tinge of jealousy towards Calix's entourage. He buried his face in his phone and started walking towards Calix.

Just act natural, Aster. Pretend you don’t know him.

Aster could hear his heart thumping out of his chest, and heat rushing towards his face.

Just a while more and I should be past him…

What happened next would become the most embarrassing situation that Aster had ever faced in all his eighteen years. He felt his face smack right into what felt like a shoulder, and his phone clattered down onto the ground. Stumbling back a few steps, Aster realised that he had walked straight into Calix.

He was stunned for a good second, initially because he had unexpectedly made physical contact with someone, but after he had processed that, he started once again admiring Calix's beauty, before realising exactly what he was doing.

"I'm… sorry…" Aster mumbled, his face now flushed red with embarrassment.

"It's cool." Calix replied nonchalantly as he bent down to pick Aster's phone up. 

Aster, not realising that Calix was already picking up his phone, bent down to grab it too. As Aster saw Calix's hand grab his phone, he looked up at the same time that Calix did, and their eyes locked onto each other.

Aster reached for the phone only to realise Calix was doing the same. As their hands brushed gently against each other, Aster looked up to find Calix's piercing eyes staring straight back at him.

Aster saw the same eyes- the very same eyes that had charmed him a year ago. Endless galaxies swirled in his eyes that were coloured like the night sky. The very same night sky that Aster saw every night as he went home after studying for hours in school, which reminded him of the eyes he had seen on that fateful day. Those eyes fueled him with determination. With purpose. With passion.

I don't know how it's possible for his eyes to be even more dazzling, but somehow, they are.

"You… okay?"

Aster came back to his senses, his nostalgic thought bubble having been popped by Calix's query. 

"Yup. Sorry."

"Sorry"

They both apologised at the exact same moment. This flustered Aster further, his face turning redder than a garnet. Aster stood up fully and turned around, ready to leave.

"Your phone."

Calix gestured to the item he was holding in his hands. All this while, Calix's unconcerned expression had remained plastered on his face.

His hands are just the right size… They're perfect.

Aster caught himself before he could fantasise anymore. 

I need to leave at all costs. Any more of this and I'll drown in my awkwardness.

"Oh, right, thanks."

Aster bowed in thanks and was about to finally escape when he heard another voice he recognised. 

"Wait, I remember you! You’re one of our prospects! Aster, right?"

It was Hazel.

Crap. 

Aster looked at his arm, where one would usually wear their wristwatch.

"Oh! Look at the time, I’m going to be late for class!"

Aster fought off the stupor that he was in and scurried off as fast as his poor legs could carry him.

Calix's stoic demeanour gave way to an expression of slight confusion as he exchanged glances with Hazel, who shared in his confusion as well.

He isn't even wearing a watch. And why is he running back the direction he came?

***

The strumming of Aster's light blue guitar filled every corner of his living room as he crooned a mellow tune. He was on his couch, back propped up by a flower-patterned cushion. His living room gave off claustrophobic energy, with barely enough space to fit the furniture within. 

Ash leaned against the wall, in between a mounted shelf that had a plastic sunflower, a duck plushie and several framed pictures of Aster with his father. With his arms crossed, Ash looked around aimlessly, his boredom crystal clear on his face, communicated through his furrowed eyebrows and scowl.

"You’ve been practising for an hour. Why don’t we go to your bedroom and do something more fun?" Ash winked, with a sly smile on his face.

Aster rolled his eyes.

"Not today. Just let me practise for the audition."

Ash let out a heavy sigh, a dismayed scowl painted on his face.

"You and your audition. Why are we even hanging out then?"

Aster remained intensely focused on his guitar plucking and ignored Ash. 

"Bah, whatever. Just tell me when you wanna do something more exciting than practising for some lame audition. Make sure you don’t let it get in the way of our Fri-dates." Ash grumbled as he opened the door leading out of the apartment

"Sure, whatever, I guess."

Ash slammed the door shut. Aster put his guitar down and buried his head in his hands. The sudden silence that had enveloped the room provided a stillness, something that Aster had not felt for a while. It presented him with the opportunity to contemplate.

Aster glanced at the guitar he had been practising on. It has not been brought out of the house for so many years. He sighed. Would Mom be OK with him bringing it out? Aster knew she would, especially if she knew his exact reasons for auditioning.

But what about Ash?

Aster's focus shifted. Ash was good to him, sometimes at least. But it would be hard to balance time between him, school and Central Crew.

Why did I even let myself get into this situation?

*****

The cold January air surged through every alleyway and street, but Aster felt some semblance of warmth and comfort. It was still the first day he had spent with Ash, who was now barely a metre apart from him, but at the very least, the silver tongue that Ash possessed had lulled Aster into a sense of security over the several hours that they had spent together.

"Will you be my boyfriend?"

The words that Ash uttered startled Aster.

Boyfriend? What does that even mean? I guess there’s nothing to lose… but…

Before Aster could finish his entire thought process, he found his response shooting out of his mouth.

"Sure, why not, I guess?"

*****

Why didn’t I say no?