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It started with an invitation letter sent to the Akademiya Hospital HQ under his name.
It was also the only time he had the chance to carefully read them (thoroughly choosing which letters were essentials for him to sacrifice his only precious time to check on them), when he found out that he was supposed to attend a birthday dinner celebration tomorrow evening. Although he had plans regarding his earliest discovery at the outskirts of town, he had to postpone it for his friends' effort. He could use his invention as his reasoning to skip dinner, but come to think of it, it surely has been a while since he has time for a few drinks.
Alhaitham sighs at the numerous letters, mostly containing his confirmations regarding the dinner, before wiping his face with his hands. His friends aren't usually like this; go all out about a birthday celebration that's always celebrated every year. He attends every single one of them, but never ones for him. Usually, he would spend his special day with silence or a nap or two - he would rather spend it by being himself. Yet, ever since his friends come to notice about his birth date (he wonders whose fault it was), they've always been like this.
Also, what's with all these letters? Don't they have all those slim smart gadgets these days?
Running his fingers through his hair, he ponders whether he should reaffirm them about his present for the d-day or surprise them with his absence to the unknown city instead. Tapping his ever so expensive pen (he bought it by accident, it doesn't have his name on it), Alhaitham debates whether he should even attend his own birthday party, especially replying to all these letters that his friends decide to push on.
"Mr. Alhaitham?" an intern, he supposes his name starts with an S, knocks on his door before politely bowing to pay his respect as his junior.
"How can I help?" the scribe sighs before pushing the letters for a later matter.
"About the medicines that you've written, Dr. Chae Song-Hwa currently needs it. I was wondering if-," before the intern could finish his words, Alhaitham pulled out his papers before putting them in a nice folder and giving it to the younger lad.
"I've finished them," he says.
"Ah, thank you. I'll seek myself out then," Alhaitham was about to let the poor intern leave, that was until he called him again with a 'hey'. "Yes?"
"The café across the street," he clears his throat, untightening his tie. "Is it still open?"
The intern blinks before telling him, "it's almost 4 in the evening and the café closes at 10. Mr. Alhaitham, if I may ask, have you been put all nighter two days in a row?"
He frowned. Did he stay here for two days and he wasn't aware of it? Without answering it, Alhaitham dismisses the intern before deciding to check his time out. The intern did look like he was suffocated and was ready to burst in tears anyway. Changing his clothes, taking all the essentials letters home with him, then he clocks out to the nearest café that he has been spending his time at.
Come to think of it, he hasn't visited the quiet and unique coffee shop for a few days, also it has been a while since he saw the latter blond haired lad with a huge beaming smile while ordering his drinks. Despite the windy season, Alhaitham could not resist smiling at the thought of seeing the bright person that brings the light in his dull heart.
Upon entering the café, he was ready to turn his heels around when he saw Dr. Tighnari and his fellow head of police friend, Cyno, at one of his favorite tables. Over any days, should it be today? He still doesn't have the time to reply to their unnecessary letters. Much to his luck, before he could walk out from the place that should be decreasing his stress, his friends call out to him. Starting today, they are no longer his friends , he admits. And he will wear his noise cancellation earbuds no matter the circumstances, he will not make the same mistakes twice.
"I see we caught you just in time!" Tighnari grins. "If it weren't for Sahar, I'm sure you'll be still stuck up in that depressing office of yours."
Alhaitham did not respond to that as he took a seat next to Cyno. The other lad then smirks, "not really surprising that you'd be here. Do you have any idea how much Nilou put her effort in celebrating your birthday and yet here you are pouting?"
"Buy me a cup of coffee, and I'll answer one or two of your questions," was the only thing he said as he huffed and crossed his hands like a child throwing a tantrum.
Surprisingly, despite his grumbles, Cyno orders the coffee for him (one of the sweets which Alhaitham dislikes very much just to get under his skin). Although they were college buddies, spending 4 years together in different fields and still hanging out with each other, describes their friendship throughout the years. They used to have a bigger group of friends, but over the years, they disappeared and only the three musketeers remained. Alhaitham isn't the type to stay in one circle, however these friends are exceptional. Perhaps you could say that he owes them.
"This brings back some old days, don't you think?" Tighnari smiles. "It's been a while since we're all here talking and such."
"Elaborate 'and such'. I met this man literally just last night because he left his car at my house," Alhaitham bites as he glares at the head of police friend.
"I was drunk. Give me a break," Cyno rolls his eyes. "Who broke an ATM glass door and was claimed to be a thief at the crack of dawn? Literally, who went to the ATM at 2 in the morning!?"
"Mind your own business and work on those fragile doors instead. I didn't even push that hard," the scribe furrows his eyebrows, throwing another tantrum.
The raven haired doctor just smiles at their banter, genuinely missing these types of conversations. It has a different feeling than when they were still in college. Now that they've grown, entering adulthood, someone would be having his 23rd birthday soon, Tighnari would never miss the chance to have his friends after work at the coffee shop across his workplace. Despite being in the same HQ, Tighnari and Alhaitham seldom passed each other, mostly because they were in the different floors and occupations. Although Tighnari mostly has the busiest hour, Alhaitham would spend his days either napping in his office or burying himself with whatever a medical scribe would do.
"What twisted your pants, mate? Bugs eat your balls?" Cyno smirks as he keeps on provoking the birthday boy, which comes noticed as the scribe almost bites his head off if it weren't for his public image.
"Say another word, and I'll make sure no daylight would welcome you the next day," he warns him with those empty words.
Then, all too soon, the familiar barista, his favorite eye color with the brightest smile he hadn't seen in a while, Alhaitham looks up with a small surprised face. The barista, Kaveh, smiles awkwardly before announcing, "one iced vanilla latte?"
Tighnari smiles politely before refusing it, "I think you got the order wrong, my dear friend. We didn't order any sweet coffee, we all hate sweets."
"Oh?" Kaveh then looks at his little pad, those fingers that Alhaitham catches them doodling on whatever. Delicate and untouchable, if he were to dare to touch. "I'm pretty sure it's for this table-,"
"It's Alhaitham's," his other friend decides to, yet again, throw him under the bus.
As his name is being called, Alhaitham turns to him with a betrayal, "I didn't even order anything."
"No, you didn't. I ordered them for you since you were acting like a kid in the playground. Please, put it here. Thanks, Kaveh."
The barista laughs at the grimace on Alhaitham's face before reassuring the scribe, "don't worry, I made it less sugary. If it's too bland, there's a sugar sachets."
"No, umm, thank you," Alhaitham looks down, avoiding all those red eyes. Ugh, he's unusually embarrassed despite having a reputation. His heart could not stop beating against his ribcage despite not seeing him to his eyes.
"No worries! But hey, I barely saw you all like this before! Usually it's either him or the doctor with his friend," Kaveh smiles, resting his hand on his hips. "Are y'all friends?"
"We're not-,"
"We are," the police officer smirks at his friend who was about to refuse their friendship, as if he would let that happen. “The bestest friends.”
Kaveh laughs, the laughter that he always hears on each request he takes after him. Alhaitham's heart could not help but skip a beat at the heartfelt laughter, as if it was the funniest thing he had heard all day, which is a total lie with a man like him. Kaveh, in his perspectives, would bring springs into someone's winter by just his smile alone, let alone his extrovert personality that always makes the scribe stumble and question whether it was just for his eyes only or did he do things like that to any customers he sees.
"Have some seats and you might find out," Tighnari invites him.
"Don't mind if I do," the blond haired lad grins before taking the empty seat next to the doctor. "So, I assumed today's event is once in a blue moon?"
"A blue kitty has told me that Alhaitham has spent his days being a stuck up bastard locked up in his office for two days straight. Please, mind his body odor today," again, Cyno with all the tricks upon his sleeves, decides to press all buttons on his friend.
Grimacing at his friend, but still checking on his body by sniffing on his shirt. Is he that smelly? His gestures make Kaveh laugh even more, smiling at him with that bright pearl-like teeth smile, and oh... His heart flutters. Anybody would be so blind if Alhaitham didn't find Kaveh's smile to be angelic, even his heart would sometimes dare to jump out of his chest at the sight.
"Gosh, you've been in that awful office for that long? No wonder you haven't visited me in a while," the red eyed lad smiles, playfully noting that not only Alhaitham misses him, but Kaveh was expecting him to pay him a visit once in a while. "No wonder you look rather pale since the last time I saw you."
This time, Alhaitham unconsciously touched his own face and even turned to his fellow police officer friend to confirm about the skin tone that has changed abruptly. Laughing at his sudden insecurity, Kaveh reassures him that he still looks fine as always, he was only worried by the pale on his face since he hasn't been standing under the sun for a while. Surely, if it weren't for the barista's concern, Alhaitham wouldn't even dare to ask about his appearance. He does not wish that his looks would change anything for him, despite still not being able to ask the ever-so-good-looking blond hair and red eyed man out for a drink or dinner.
Despite the busy hour after work, Kaveh still makes sure to do his job while having a conversation with the former college buddies. Although they haven't met Kaveh, Alhaitham knows if they somewhat met before that winter tragedy , they would have become a perfect group of friends (his judges are never wrong, he would become the closest to Kaveh as well). As time passed by, Cyno was the first to call the night, telling them about Alhaitham's birthday preparation and that he hasn't done his part yet, which didn't come so much as a surprise to the scribe since he didn't ask for any of this if it weren't for the dancer of his friend, Nilou, who insisted on celebrating his 23rd birthday.
"Wait, what party are we talking about?" Kaveh blinks just as he finishes cleaning the counter on his last minute before closing the shop.
"Oh, didn't you know? Alhaitham is having a birthday party, and we sent him old-fashioned letters for it since it's the only thing that reaches him." the doctor says with a sarcastic smile before leaving with Cyno. "Can you imagine? We have to send him an actual letter for him to get to his own birthday party tomorrow."
"Your birthday is tomorrow?" Kaveh then looks at the green eyed lad. "I didn't notice!"
"Don't mind. They were just being a hassle," Alhaitham blushes slightly, covering them by scratching his cheek. "Also, I'm not difficult to be reached. They just relish getting on my nerves."
The barista laughs, "it sounds like you have nice friends, to the point they need to send letters as if it was the 15th century."
"Tell me about it," the scribe sighs before getting prepared himself, drinking the ever-so-sweet vanilla latte that he enjoys. As he was about to exit, he stopped, wondering if he should just leave and lose his chance all over again.
Tonight, he was actually having fun with his old friends because Kaveh and his bright personality was there for him, enough for him to tolerate all of the jokes by Cyno. He holds his breath before turning around, seeing the slimmer lad hum as he grabs the mop to clean the shop before he clocks out. And if Alhaitham closes this door, he would miss yet another chance to show how he feels after all these months - why he has been visiting despite his busy schedules, why he would stay until late just to see the red eyed lad walk to the nearest bus, and why he debates each time for dinner like picking the flower petals.
Taking a deep breath, Alhaitham then looks back. It's tonight, it has to be tonight.
"Kaveh," he calls, his voice comes out shaky to his surprise.
"Hmm?" the blond turns to him. "Do you need anything? I think there's still some leftover berry cookies for you. I know you like them."
He blinks softly, before blurting out, "you can come if you want."
There was a silence before Kaveh tilted his head in confusion yet his warming smile never drops once. "Pardon?"
"The party," the scribe clears his throat before looking away again. Since when does he feel his face turn hot? "What I-I'm trying to say is, umm, you can come to the party, if you want."
"Oh!" Kaveh grins. "Do I have to write you a letter too that I'd love to come?"
Chuckling, Alhaitham looks back, "No, really. Tighnari was just joking, he was just trying to annoy me as if being in the same place isn't enough to put me in distress."
The barista laughed cheerfully before he told him to wait, and wait is what Alhaitham does. He watches as the blond pulls out a pen and a paper from behind the counter, and little did he know it was an unofficial letter to consolidate that Kaveh will indeed attend his birthday party, and he would love Alhaitham to inform him the time and place so he would come. Although the paper is actually used for delivery notes, the scribe accepts them nonetheless with a smile as if it was the greatest gift he had ever received.
"It might be late for me to write a letter, but I hope this is enough," Kaveh smiles, and it would hurt his heart to see there was a color of peaches on his cheeks once he gave him the piece of paper contained of his neat hand-written hopeless letter regarding his party.
"I told you, this is unnecessary," the scribe mumbles, yet he gladly accepts him.
"Is there anything you'd like for your birthday? I can bake you a cake if you want," the barista smiles again.
Just be there, I'll be waiting . "That'd be nice. I'm sure everyone would love to taste your baking skills,"
"Ha! I'll surprise you!" Alhaitham smiles, looking back at him, he never felt so home by just a perfect smile. "Have a safe trip, Haitham!"
Waving back, Alhaitham walks back to his car and curses under his breath right after he climbs into the vehicle. What a disaster night, he forgot to ask the one thing he desperately wanted to ask. Just one genuinely smile from the barista is enough for him to forget everything, has he gone soft for him and his own reputation? The scribe lets out a sigh before reading the paper again while leaning on the seat, a frown appears on his lips before closing his eyes in defeat.
"I forgot to ask you out," he mumbles. "I forgot to ask you if you want me to take you home."
He bites his lip in frustration, "idiotic."
---
The next morning, Alhaitham, the Akademiya Hospital's scribe, went back to pay another visit to the café across from his workplace before dwelling into his mountain of work. With a white rose on his hand (there was a new flower store near his house that recently just opened and he was determined to get one for a certain blond), he walks in - a confident look on his face since today is his birthday, and nothing would ruin it. Much to his dismay, a female teenager is behind the counter instead of that usual perfect smile of a red eyed man.
"Good morning! How may I take your order, good sir?" the girl he has never seen before welcomes the scribe with a bright smile, a smile that will never outshine his favorite person.
"Where's Kaveh?" Alhaitham did not waste any of his time as he asked.
"Oh! Mr. Kaveh is out of town for a moment. He said something about a project he's been working on. Are you his friends? I can give him a heads up that someone is looking for him," she suggests.
"What kind of projects? I thought he only opened a coffee business," Alhaitham is taken back by whatever projects that Kaveh accepted.
They never took their greetings into another level, the scribe would never even consider their unpredictable meet ups as something precious as becoming friends. Although Alhaitham always has his excuse to see the twinkle stars in red colored eyes, and how the other lad would never have an exhausted expression on his face - despite all his efforts, it almost feels like a crime to have what they have as a friend.
"Don't you know? Mr. Kaveh is a freelancer architect. He always takes projects on days he wants to," Alhaitham hums at the new information, no wonder he always doodles on the empty napkins.
However, what doesn't sit right in his head, is why is he taking his architecture skill into a freelancing job? Does he not have a company to back him up? What about a firm for architects? Don't get him wrong, Alhaitham has sought a peek at all of his little drawings, buildings and such, and Kaveh has met every requirement he needed. So why freelancing? Is it because of his coffee business? Perhaps, there's someone he needs to come back home to, thus the day on or off for any projects he's taken?
Someone's waiting on him at home?
His jaw clenches before taking his leave, not exchanging any word to the poor young lady behind the desk. Once he arrived at his office, he put the white rose on a top of abandoned papers before taking his scrub and getting on with what medical scribes were supposed to do. Going from room to room as a medical scribe is both exhausting and relaxing, there are times communicating with a patient can be sufficient and other times when they are irascible. Days like these, most patients agitate him to death.
"What on earth are you talking about!? Who dares to say that I have chronic diabetes!?" one would yell.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Alhaitham groans, "for the last time, I am merely transcribing all patients' details to the EHRs. I have no right to change any crucial information, even if you bribe me."
And most days, it's like that.
There was a call once he arrived back to his office, his heart burst in anticipation but quickly dies down as he recalls that Kaveh was the one who gave him his number, and that wasn't even him in the first place - and all for that will be meaningless if Alhaitham did not take a break to send him a text, especially when he knows that the lovely barista lied about attending his party. What was his effort on writing that paper for if he's not even going to be there? Alhaitham sighs before closing his eyes, afraid if he entertains his thoughts even more, it would become a catastrophe for him and his health.
"Dehya?" he was even surprised when he got a call from someone he's been keenly trying to recruit her in this god-forsaken-sake hospital that is always in need of new scribes, and the lady decides to rile the other by saying that she will remain as the nation's mercenary.
"Oh, good, you answered. Nilou was close to crying her tears out," she does not sound very enthusiastic for whatever reasons she's calling.
"I'll be hanging up in 30 seconds if you act smart with me," he furrowed his eyebrows. "I'm having a bad day, so make it quick."
"You're such a complete mess, even though today's your birthday," Dehya chuckles, he could even imagine her twirling her hair as she continues to annoy him. "Anyways, I'm calling because Nilou is afraid that you won't be coming tonight."
"I already sent the letters back. You should get them this evening. I'm hanging up now," it shouldn't be like this, but before he could pay attention, he already put the phone down. He knows Nilou like the back of his hands, she's so easy to read that he knows that his previous behavior is enough for her to bawl her eyes out.
Alhaitham is hard to please or to be pleased, regardless, he never meant to hurt anyone's feelings. During his 23 years of living, today can’t be any messier than it already is, and he's already being pessimistic towards tonight. What would be the point of the party when Kaveh wouldn't even be present? Does he sound petty? Yes, because today's his special day, he demands everything to be perfect, even if Kaveh would be the last thing he has.
Back to Nilou, however, Alhaitham will apologize tonight. She is the first and foremost person to even bother to get everyone for his birthday, let alone himself isn't even looking forward to it. Notwithstanding all that, Nilou's dancing performance is something he's always eager to see. Dare to say, her dancing would be another gift that he would gladly take, even if those bright smiles of his favorite person wouldn't be there.
---
That afternoon, he came back to check on Kaveh, only to disappoint him all over again with a different lad. Haydar is the sweetheart that Rana always brings to the shop, to the point that Alhaitham even bothers to memorize their names. Although Haydar is the girl next door at Rana's place, she's always seen to be close to her, people would have mistaken them as sisters if it's for their different choice of clothes. Rana is a ranger who seeks part-time at Kaveh's place, and it's been a few months since she started working.
"Mr. Alhaitham!" she grins at the door which he just walked in. "I am so happy to see you! I've heard from Dr. Tighnari that today's your birthday. He's been very busy and even prepare a few things for you. Oh, where's my manners! Happy birthday, Mr. Alhaitham!"
"It's Mr. Alhaitham's birthday?" Haydar perks up at the adult conversation, before approaching the scribe with her stuffed lion. "Happiest birthday, Mr. Alhaitham."
Smiling briefly, he waves his hand in dismissal, "there's no need, but thank you, anyways."
"Is there anything you want? It's on the house! I'm sure Mr. Kaveh would say the same!" Rana grins, but she doesn't know that it clenches his heart by the thought of that name.
"Speaking of...," Alhaitham clears his throat before asking shamelessly, "is Kaveh back from... His projects?"
"Oh! I'm not sure if you know, but usually it takes Mr. Kaveh about a week to finish his project. He just went this morning," Rana explains, which makes more sense. The more he's trying to know from a third party, the more his heart breaks.
What did he even expect on his birthday?
"Is that so?" Alhaitham smirks. "Thanks, I'll see you around."
"Eh? Mr. Alhaitham, what about-," he was already out the door before Rana could say another word. "Oh... Gosh, he looks really sad. I didn't know he'd be this sorrowful."
"Is Mr. Alhaitham would be okay? He does not look like he's used to," Haydar, the sweetheart she is, frowns. "Isn't today his birthday? Shouldn't he be happy?"
"That's what I'm thinking. Maybe I should tell Dr. Tighnari about this, Mr. Alhaitham never looked like this before," Rana bites her nails before finally following her own suggestions by pulling out her phone. "Is not a crime to tell a friend about how he feels now, is it?"
Haydar only stares at the big sister as she makes the call for the doctor. She remembers Dr. Tighnari put her as his patient once, and she recovers from her illness in the blink of an eye. Ever since then, she would always give him a small snack as a token of his kindness. Throughout her process of recovery, Mr. Alhaitham stayed beside her as a scribe and also to make sure that she was doing well under Dr. Tighnari's order. They have been such good parents for her, thus it breaks her heart to see Mr. Alhaitham's change of expression despite today's his birthday.
"Is Dr. Tighnari not answering? Shall we get to his office instead?" Haydar fidgets with her stuffed lion as she whimpers.
Rana smiles reassuringly to the young girl before caressing her head, "if I don't reach him until 3 in the afternoon, we'll pay him a visit, hmm?"
"Yes, that'd be nice," she smiles. However, soon Tighnari answers to the frenzy of little young girls regarding his friend's health. The doctor almost mistook their alarmed behavior as something serious, just for him to notice that Alhaitham is depressed due to a missing puzzle in his birthday party.
"Did he say anything else?" Tighnari asks Rana from the phone while typing something to his computer, trying to match up with the scribe's schedule but only to find that there's no time for him to pass each other by.
"He asked about Mr. Kaveh and then left after we told him that he was out of town," Rana sighs. "Is he... Perhaps, looking for him?"
"Goodness, he is such a complete mess," Tighnari chuckles. "No need for that. We'll see him at the dinner. Just let him be."
"Oh? Um, will that be okay? He was really... I'd say, glum," the doctor smiles despite being on a call.
"No need to worry your head with a man like him. Truly, he will be fine. Just let him do whatever he wants in the meantime," Tighnari told them, which reassured them that Alhaitham is indeed fine.
Although Haydar is having a second thought, the two girls nod their heads. "If you say so," they said in unison.
---
"I'm picking you up from the hospital and this is the look I'm getting?" the police officer smirks at the scribe who has the most annoyed look that he has ever seen, mixed with pain after sitting on his desk for hours.
"I literally got a call from Nilou earlier this afternoon that she threatened to cry if I didn't come tonight. Don't start with me," Alhaitham sighs as he climbs to the 4x4 truck, somehow still wondering how his friend still manages to pull a car like this while all Alhaitham has is a 2020 sedan from a second hand shop. "You know what? Let me drive this car for us."
"It seems like you're a mess tonight," Cyno chuckles before throwing the car keys to his friend. "Please, do not hurt my baby girl."
"I will hurt anyone past this point," the scribe starts the car and drives them to the location that Nilou picks for them.
While being on their way, Cyno then breaks the ice by poking the elephant in the room, "seriously, what's wrong? I heard from Tighnari that you were upset. Something going on at work?"
It's not like he could ignore the obvious question, nor will Alhaitham avoid the puddle of concerns. His friends were just looking out for him, and the scribe appreciates it, however talking it out will only make him feel even worse. He always works on his own struggles by being himself, which means it only becomes a bother for him if anyone tries to make him talk it out. It's not like he is terrible in communication in general, the scribe prefers to keep his problems close to his chest instead of throwing them out. Mainly because he does not want to be seen as someone vulnerable who could not handle a little wind.
Also, he does not want to look like a brat just because Kaveh gave him an empty promise for his birthday. He is 23, for god’s sake, he should not be acting like a child. The blond haired lad, despite being surrounded by his friends, is the notable guest that he is looking forward to seeing, especially that he invited him out of the blue. Thus, the news of him being away shakes something in him, perhaps tears his heart just a little too much. He is fully aware of his friends' concern, but it was easier said than done; he does not wish to be in such a foul mood, but could you blame him?
"Same old days. I was just... Annoyed, per se," Alhaitham replies.
"I can worry about anyone I care about, so tell me if something's bothering you, will you? And don't give me that crap of 'I can handle it myself'," the scribe chuckles.
"You took the words out of my mouth," he sighs before finally surrendering himself by taking a deep breath. "Alright, I'll entertain you."
And so, under the red lights, Alhaitham told the least person he expected to share his weight of thoughts with. Cyno is known to be the very first person to be able to push any buttons, however Alhaitham is surprised at how attentive he was that night. He told him about the daily meet ups with Kaveh at his café just to see him, when they first met under the first fall of snowflakes, how he lost all his chances because he was a coward, and also the empty promise about a birthday party. He was anticipating a mockery, but much to his surprise, Cyno was more human than he seems to be.
"I get where you're coming from," the police hums. "With all that said, you can't expect Kaveh to come and jump into your arms just because you've become familiar with him."
He could not believe there would be a time where the green eyed lad would whine with a frown on his lips, "this is the issue. I'm... Not as courageous as I thought I was."
Cyno then turns to him before smirking at his usual little snarky comments, "you're such a complete mess that it makes you look stupid."
"What do you keep saying that? You're like the fourth person that's been telling me that," he rolls his green eyes before looking out at the window while they were in the traffic, if they took the long way, nobody needs to know.
Tonight should be the night where Kaveh becomes his date, or maybe sharing an early dinner just the two of them until Nilou's invitation. Speaking of Nilou, he should have respected everyone's efforts. If he's going to keep up with such misbehavior, he might as well just call it a night and dwell on his sorrows with a beer or two. Alhaitham is not always gentle on what he's facing, however having soft spots on people who are very dear to him just makes him feel like he should at least show some empathy for their efforts on getting them together on his special day.
Also, Cyno is right. Kaveh would never be able to read all the signs that he's giving, thus the idea of him choosing Alhaitham as more than friends would immediately be thrown out of the window. The scribe decides, maybe, he should give more clear clues about his invisible strings - then he might hit the jackpot. Should he start by complimenting his smile? Alhaitham has always been dying to tell the blond haired lad that he has such an enchanting smile, that makes his heart hurt to not be able to tell him bluntly all about it.
"Look, try to cheer up. Nilou took most of her time for you, so please, don't say anything rude. Also, Collei's here with Aether and his twin," Cyno grabs his shoulder. "I know what Kaveh did is unforgivable, but try to think that maybe he's taking the projects just for you. Try to assume that maybe, Kaveh is thinking the same thing as you, wishing he's here with you. So, cheer up, birthday boy."
Cyno's words ring up to him which makes him feel a lot better; he did not even consider how Kaveh might be feeling. He was busy thinking on his own that he did not even think twice about how the other lad might be facing, and a little smile appears on his face before exiting the vehicle once he sees the diner that his friends' rent out for tonight. Right, he should be enjoying his own birthday too, he could talk it out again with Kaveh for another day.
It was a delightful events. As expected, Nilous's dancing performance brought joy to everyone in the room, even Alhaitham embarking a smile for the first time that night. The twins, Aether and Lumine, also give him this surprising gift that brought him to tears - note the sarcasm, the twins literally made a lion keychain due to him hanging out with Haydar which it became the talk of the town. A drink turns to two, and the stars shifting, he wasn't aware that someone so late came barging into the diner with the most frazzled look.
"Oh, there you go!" Cyno, completely drunk at this point, nudges the birthday lad. "Isn't he the person you're looking for?"
The scribe could not help but blush, and turn his head towards the door. It isn't a lie anymore how he's been looking at the door, hoping that a certain someone would somehow knock upon it - and he's caught off guard how that picture is brought back to reality. That bright smile, adorable laugh, gleaming red eyes of his brought the warmth in his heart. If Nilou's performance isn't enough, Kaveh's sudden comeback is the greatest gift he's ever looking for.
However, Kaveh isn't alone.
"Where's the birthday man!? I got his cake!" there was a throb in his heart as he looked away, unable to resist anymore, a genuine wide smile appeared on his lips. He remembers.
"He's here, mate!" Cyno points his finger towards the birthday lad, and Kaveh quickly approaches him with a birthday cake that he promises.
The cake is a medium size with soft colored green, and a milky chocolate on the inside. There's a sign that says "Happy 23rd Birthday" with 23 numbers on it, still light up as if it was the only thing that brightens up the room. Alhaitham, as stoic as he usually was, broke down with a chuckle before looking up to the barista, hoping his green eyes could deliver all the messages that he didn't seem to send.
Thank you for coming.
I've been waiting.
I'm glad you made it back safely.
So much more, there is so much more he wanted to say - but the light in his eyes was enough for Kaveh to see all the signs that he must have missed. The barista blushes, smiling bashfully, before mouthing something that Alhaitham didn't expect him to say. Before he could interpret it to anything, his friends forced him to make a wish and blow out the candles, mostly because they wanted to taste the famous birthday cake that Kaveh made.
Once the atmosphere calms down, and the party goes on, Alhaitham approaches the barista with a drink and takes a seat next to him. At first, they didn't say anything, their hearts beat in synchronization, the apples of their cheeks turn peach as the room is full of crowds and yet here they are side by side as if they have been waiting for this moment. The scribe is unable to stop himself from smiling, almost cursing himself about how lame he may look right now. Kaveh, the light of the room, laughs at whatever his friends were saying, but still looks back at the scribe who hasn't said anything else.
"Aye yo, there's a dance! Where's the birthday boy?" Cyno, again with his drunken pranks, searches for him for a dance.
Despite refusing multiple times, Alhaitham's brain short circuits once he feels a slim hand on his arm. He turns to see a beaming grin of Kaveh, mentioning about a dance, then how could he say no? The scribe follows the blond haired lad's steps to the middle of the dance floor. The song is, dare he say, out of this world. How can you make a song with so many vulgar words in it and expect people to enjoy it? Alhaitham was close to groaning if it weren't for the way Kaveh dances in front of him.
"Hey, chin up, birthday man. It's your birthday!" Kaveh told him with a smile. "I literally begged Candace to drive me here last minute because I missed my train. Don't worry though, I baked the cake myself."
The cake is the least of his worries. "Candace?"
"You know, the girl who came with me earlier. I feel bad if she, at least, didn't enjoy the food, so I hope you don't mind her crashing the party," Alhaitham didn't say anything at it, trying to comprehend what Kaveh just told him.
"Is she... Someone you're close to?" he asks.
At first, Kaveh was staring at him before laughing, "she's my colleague. We were going to the same road, so I binged with her to get here or else, I might be too late for your birthday."
"So, you're not close?" Why didn't he answer his question properly?
Raising an eyebrow, Kaveh smirks, "are you close with your colleagues?"
The scribe grimaces at the thought of the intern under Dr. Chae Song-Hwa. Him becoming close with that kind of person? He'd rather swallow a cryo slime, or whatever it was he just came up with. Unlike his personality, Alhaitham laughs softly at his ridiculous deeds before following Kaveh dance - deciding to think that it wasn't his place to ask who's closer to him or not, even Alhaitham couldn't press himself as close as his friend.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I heard from Dehya that you were having a bad day at work," Kaveh started, and Alhaitham's heart hurt as he saw the blush on his cheeks. "Are you doing okay? With work, I mean."
Dehya? Oh, she called him during working hours, and she was the first to say that damned word to him as well. Alhaitham tries to recall why he was in such a sour mood back at work. Ever since Kaveh walked into the room, as cliché as it sounds, he almost forgot why he was sad and angry at the same time. Was he even having a bad day at work? The scribe shrugs before humming, trying to remember if he was ever in such a mood to the point that his friends caught up with his little whirling minds.
"No, not to my knowledge. I have no memory of having such thoughts," he said as he looked back at Kaveh who didn't say another word, much to his dismay. "Why? Were you worried?"
"I guess Dr. Tighnari was right," Kaveh giggles. "You were such a complete mess, weren't you?"
"Was I?" he thought for a moment. "I guess I was just lonely."
Alhaitham halts his dance, stares at the red eyed lad, shock is written all over his face. Unaware of his shifting expression, Kaveh laughs before being impulsive by pulling him down to press a small peck on his cheek. Flowers blooming, his heart soars, Alhaitham could not think as if felt his blood all piled up to the place where the barista kissed him. Everything turns into a slow motion in his mind, not a single voice could be heard but Kaveh's soul-stirring laughter when he saw just how much his kiss affected him.
"Did you just... Kiss me?" Alhaitham was so sure he looked too dumbfounded to care about his own reputation as he stared at the blond haired lad with such a stunned look.
The red eyed lad giggles before smiling demurely, "yes, I did. Why? Didn't you like it?"
His blood never runs so fast to the point he gets such a light head. Has he been reading this too much? What was the kiss all about? Why did Kaveh kiss him? Did he even kiss him? Alhaitham's thick walls broke down as he realized just how head over heels he is, and he finally understood all the words that were thrown at him.
You're a complete mess.
The words that mean just how a disaster he was when he knew Kaveh wouldn't be here, how he kept glancing at the door tonight, why was he keep coming back to the coffee shop across the street, and how his heart clenches just a little tighter at the handwritten letter that Kaveh made specially for him. He was in such a foul mood because he thought he wasn't here, because he thought the barista didn't keep his promise, because he thought of Kaveh.
Oh , he was indeed a mess.
The scribe, in the nick of time, recollected his posture with a confident smile before looking back to the gorgeous blond in front of him. "I liked it," he says as if he didn't like anything from him.
"Good," Kaveh blushes, somehow embarrassed that his act wouldn't reach him. "It'd be a mess if you didn't."
"Indeed," he smiles, taking a step closer. "Let me take you home. I don't want to be alone tonight."
The barista, his eyes so bright that made Alhaitham think that he's been waiting to be asked that question, grins so widely that it is possible for the scribe to smile back. "I would love to."
And that night, they ditch the party to get home together. Good thing Cyno is such a good friend that he kept the party going despite the missing birthday boy.
---
It was raining heavily the next day. Some say, rain after your birthday would bring you luck, thus there goes Alhaitham soaks in the pouring rain with his heavy and thick coat walking into the oh-so-familiar coffee shop across his workplace - hoping he wouldn't run out of luck to deliver the bouquet of white roses to a certain someone. Although he was late for work, he did not mind at all, he needed to see the person who made his 23rd birthday into such a blessing for him.
"Good morning, Mr. Alhaitham!" the teenager from the day before, a girl he isn't acquainted yet, welcomes him like every day.
"Where's Kaveh?" he goes straight to the point, not wanting to spend another second not being able to see those bright smiles of his.
"He's in the back. Would you wait for a moment, please? I'll get him for you," the female teenager walks back to the back, and Alhaitham never felt so relieved.
He knew Kaveh is going back to his project again, probably going on another leave this morning, however he was lucky to have caught him before he left. The information about him running back to Sumeru city for Alhaitham does sit nicely in his heart, however he feels guilty that the architect must run back and forth just for someone's birthday. Gripping on the bouquets just a little tighter, the scribe was very thankful to see him last night - dare to say that he brought these flowers just to see him smile, also to thank him for being there for him when he was a complete mess.
"Haitham?" a voice so smooth, it flutters his heart, the scribe looks up to see that Kaveh was indeed preparing for his departure. Despite the sad thought of being apart, the barista smiles upon his arrival before approaching him. "I don't think the shop is open yet, but you're an exception. Is it the usual?"
"No, I'm not here for coffee, actually," Alhaitham clears his throat. "I heard you'd be leaving this morning."
"Yes, you're right," Kaveh half-heartedly laughs before frowning with a remorseful smile. "I apologize for my sudden leaving. Is there anything you need from me?"
Without much words to compile, Alhaitham brings the white roses towards the brightest person in the room. He is like a glowing lantern during winter, and since it was raining, Kaveh really is that type of person to bloom any flowers in a storm. The flowers held many words that the scribe was unable to say; be careful on your way there, get some rest, you look lovely today, thank you for being by my side last night.
And Kaveh, aware of the exposed feelings from the green eyed lad, finally took all his words into his heart. He holds dear to it. What Alhaitham never knows is how much Kaveh would do anything for him, even if it's just a cup of coffee. Ever since that winter night where Alhaitham took shelter in his shop after a long jog , the blond would smile at him - hoping that he knows that these smiles exist because of him, because he thought of Alhaitham, regardless of the gap between them. Kaveh would do anything to make the green eyed lad to depend on him just as much as he was depending on the scribe.
"They're beautiful," Kaveh sheepishly smiles as he hides his red face behind the white roses. "Thank you."
"You know... Everyone told me I was a complete mess, but I'm aware of something that people mistook me for," the scribe smiles as he caresses Kaveh's cheek gently.
"What would the great medical scribe from Akademiya Hospital be mistaken for?" Kaveh smirks before snuggling back to the large hand on his cheek, they are surprisingly very warm despite the raining season.
"You complete me," he says, and Kaveh smiles. He couldn't argue with that. "You complete me so much, that means you can also make a mess out of me if you're not beside me. So, do you think you have time for dinner with me after your projects?"
Alhaitham is known to be blunt, sarcastic, and somewhat narcissistic. This side of him is only seen to someone precious to him, which includes Kaveh as well. So imagine his surprise when the scribe finally asks him out with such a short poet. Other people would try to sweep their significant others before asking them out, however in their case it is much different. Alhaitham was being honest about his feelings, exposing his beating heart to Kaveh, and asking him out. Which, so much in his luck, what Kaveh adores about him.
"You're such a mess," Kaveh giggles. "Sure, let's have a date tomorrow."
Writing is seduction. Good talk is part of seduction. If not so, why do so many couples who start the evening at dinner wind up in bed?
- Stephen King
THE END.