“Xander...”

“Xander...”

“Hey, Xander!” Wendy shouted at her friend from across the empty café. Alexander had been wiping the same spot on the counter for the past fifteen minutes. Ever since yesterday, Wendy had been worried about Alexander, who had been in a daze throughout their entire shift. 

Whether it was from his strange encounter with Mr. Yamashita the day before, or from learning about Mr. Yamashita’s secret past with his father, Wendy knew that it had greatly affected Alexander, who until now had a laid-back energy around him. 

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Wendy walked over to her friend and carefully laid her hand on his shoulder. Alexander gave a heavy sigh, and Wendy knew that a long, drawn-out conversation was about to happen. Luckily, the café wasn’t too busy, and they were about to close up shop soon anyway. 

“Yeah, nothing to worry about,” Alexander mumbled, but Wendy wasn’t convinced. However, Wendy sensed that this would be something he should talk about with his father. She decided to change the topic. She cleared her throat.

“Have you heard?” Wendy said. “There’s a hot, new transfer student in our grade! I heard he’s going to be in your gym class tomorrow!” 

Alexander scoffed. A new student in their class was the least of his worries at that moment, with how hung up he was over his father. He did appreciate the effort, however, and faked a smile. 

“How hot are we talking?” Alexander decided to play along. 

“Hotter than you,” Wendy responded in turn, and Alexander gave a genuine laugh. Even if it was at his own expense, this back-and-forth banter of theirs was just what he needed after learning about his family’s hidden drama. “Although you can be the judge of that,” Wendy shot back and winked, and Alexander felt the blood rush to his cheeks. 

“Hey!” Alexander shouted back. “It’s not like that! I’m not like that!” Wendy chuckled at how defensive her friend had gotten. Even if he was, as he says, like that, it wasn’t like she would see him any differently. 

Ring, ring, ring!

The sound of windchimes resonated from the door to the rest of the empty café. A young man, roughly the same age as Alexander and Wendy, strolled toward the counter in an elegant stride. Alexander felt as if he could sense a magnificent aura emanating from the man, as his heart began to flutter. He wondered why. 

The man wore a flashy blue and white corduroy jacket, whose sequins glistened under the light fixtures situated above him. It was the type of jacket that might have been popular two or so decades ago, yet it didn’t look at all tacky on the man whose smile exuded confidence. 

Alexander found himself perusing over the man’s face, which he had to admit were easy on the eyes. With a lightly tanned complexion and warm, auburn eyes which radiated a refreshing feeling that would captivate one who had the misfortune of staring deep within, Alexander had to admit that the man must have come straight out of one of those idol groups that have taken the world by storm. 

Seeing the faint blush forming atop Alexander’s cheeks, Wendy giggled softly, catching both Alexander’s and the man’s attention.

“Hey, Byron,” Wendy greeted the man, who gave a smile in turn. Alexander couldn’t help but stare, and the man quickly noticed and smiled at him even brighter. Alexander felt his face grow warm and tingly, and the man laughed. God, this was embarrassing. 

“Didn’t expect to see you working here, Wendy,” Byron said, his words rolling off the tongue effortlessly. He turned to Alexander and held out his hand. “My name’s Byron!” The man smirked, and Alexander was taken aback. 

“A-Alexander!” he stammered. He took Byron’s hand in his, as he proceeded to give him an unsteady handshake. “My name’s Alexander!” 

“I can see that,” Byron smirked, pointing at Alexander’s name tag. Wendy turned away to stifle the laugh she had been trying to hold, as Alexander tried his best to hide his ever so reddening face.

Soon after followed a moment of silence, as Alexander awkwardly continued to hold onto Byron’s hand. Wendy cringed at was transpiring before her, and so she decided to break the ice.

“Xander here’s going to be in your gym class this semester,” Wendy mentioned, nudging Alexander to the side. As if holding a hot pan, he let go of Byron’s hand to save him from further embarrassment. 

“Xander...” Byron repeated to himself, the syllables of Alexander’s name in Byron’s baritone voice melded together into a sweet melody. “Can I call you that from now on?” 

“By all means!” Alexander answered back, and Byron gave him a friendly smile. 

Soon after, Byron turned to Wendy and continued to speak to her. By then, Alexander had regained his senses, becoming conscious of the ever-present thumping in his chest. In a desperate attempt to clear his head, he took a cloth and continued to wipe the counter, never realizing that he had done so already.

“Anyway, I’m here on a mission,” Byron spoke to Wendy, and Alexander looked up from the counter, listening in. “My old man came here to buy a cake for me last night.” He paused and shot Alexander a smile. “He says he forgot his wallet here, so I was wondering if I could have it back.” 

The awe-struck look in Alexander’s face soon turned into a look of horror. He grimaced. Could he be the son of Mr. Yamashita from the day before? Wendy gave Alexander a knowing look, before turning back to speak with Byron. 

“I’m gonna go get my supervisor,” Wendy stammered, excusing herself as she made her way to the offices upstairs, leaving Byron confused. Before they knew it, Alexander and Byron were left alone.

For the next few moments, Alexander stared down at the floor, refusing to look Byron in the eye. Then, almost out of nowhere, Byron soon hurled a scream, as if he had realized something. Alexander looked up, to be met with a mortified look on Byron’s face. 

“Don’t tell me, did he do something strange to you yesterday?” Byron asked, the look in his eyes panicked. Alexander gave a hesitant nod, his breaths becoming hitched as if in a panic. 

“I’m so sorry,” Byron gave a desperate apology, and Alexander took in the troubled look that grew on the other’s face. “My dad could be like that sometimes with the people he meets!” Byron’s face was beginning to redden, as he continued to stammer over some incomprehensible ramblings. 

Noticing Byron’s suddenly shy demeanour, a far cry from the confidence he gave out  moments before, Alexander felt more at ease and chuckled.

“Don’t worry about it,” Alexander said, shying away from Byron’s stare as his face began to grow warmer. Relieved, Byron took both of Alexander’s hands in his and smiled. Although Alexander was startled at the sudden contact, he knew that he was able to trust this man whose attractive yet clumsy disposition made his heart melt. At least the son was less weird about the whole situation than the father, Alexander thought.

As if on cue, Wendy made her way down the stairs with Alexander’s uncle Javier, who had Mr. Yamashita’s wallet in hand. Javier stopped, his eyes narrowing as he witnessed the scene unfolding between Alexander and Byron. Javier appeared alert and protective, his posture rigid. Wendy gave a loud snort and chortled, but Javier remained silent, his attention fixed entirely on the stranger holding his nephew's hands. Alexander soon caught onto that and clammed up, as Byron was taking a painfully long time to let go. 

Maintaining a steady, watchful gaze, Javier walked over to Byron and held out Mr. Yamashita’s wallet, which Byron confirmed as his father’s. Letting go of Alexander, he took the wallet in his hands and placed it in his bag, apologizing for his father’s carelessness. Javier stood there stiff and unwavering. 

As Alexander listened in on the conversation, he noticed how Javier appeared to be assessing Byron with sharp, searching eyes, paying particular attention to his jacket. It was as if Javier was sizing the man up, the look on his face aloof and disapproving.

Alexander peered towards Byron and noticed how he began to feel intimidated by his Uncle Javier’s domineering stare, as if he was telepathically telling Byron that he was overstaying his welcome. Taking the hint, Byron waved the three goodbye and headed toward the door. 

Just as Javier was about to sigh in relief, Alexander called out Byron’s name out of instinct, catching his attention as he opened the door. The windchimes rang, as the cold October air made its way into the store. As if the world was on pause, Alexander stammered, trying to search for the words he would say next. Then, as he caught a glimpse of the “Now Hiring” sign taped on the door, Alexander pointed to the post and called out to him.

“You should come work here with us!” 

Wendy smiled at the declaration, surprised at Alexander’s sudden moment of boldness. Javier stood there, his eyes wide as if he saw his world falling apart. 

After a few moments of consideration, Byron turned around and made his way back to Alexander. Alexander’s cheeks reddened from his sudden outburst and tried to step back, but this did not go unnoticed. 

Byron chuckled and shouted “I’ll think about it!” He shot him a cheerful wink and waved goodbye, leaving the store. Almost in turn, Javier turned away, retreating with a grim, steely focus on the threat that had just walked out the door, his footsteps heavy and authoritative as he ascended the stairs. 

Wendy placed a hand on Alexander’s shoulder, giving him an ever-so-knowing look. “Are you sure you’re not like that?” Wendy teased Alexander through her smirk. 

“I’m not!” Alexander retorted, before grabbing a dish cloth to continue wiping the counters where he left off. Wendy shrugged and went back to the cash register, although she noticed how the nape of Alexander’s neck turned redder by the second. She paused and turned toward Alexander.

“But even if you are, I’ll be there to support you,” Wendy reassured, before turning right back around to finish emptying the cash register. Alexander scoffed and turned back around to finish wiping the counters.

The more Alexander pondered on the peculiar exchange he had with Byron just then, the more troubled he soon became. He’s not like that, so he said to himself. It was impossible for him to feel that way toward Byron, Alexander thought.

There was no way he could have a crush on a guy, much less the son of his father’s ex.