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"You comfortable, Nath?" Alya asked, placing a pillow under his head.
"Yeah...thanks..." Nathaniel slurred. "I hope I don't puke in your bed."
The brunette woman laughed. "I hope so too." Despite laughing, Alya cautiously put a bucket next to him. She then laid next to him, staring at the ceiling.
Nathaniel seemed out of it. His pupils were blown and his face was flushed. Alya presumed he'd leave in morning since he was in no shape to do so right now.
The androgynous man shuffled sloppily. "I'm sorry you have to take care of me."
Shs turned to him. "What? I don't mind!" Alya said. "Besides, we've been meaning to catch up!"
Nathaniel and Alya reside in the same university, but the Art and English building are on two separate floors. Through the rush between classes, the two adults would sometimes see each other on the staircase. Maybe a glance or a wave, but never real time to talk.
Alya wouldn't mention it but she's noticed how much of a looker Nathaniel has become. His hair became increasingly longer, the ends touching the bottom of his back. The red mini curls around his face suited him.
The brunette woman remembered all the jokes about him sharing a resemblance to Ariel, but now it holds real weight. He was more than a beautiful fish.
The height gap between them is closing, but Alya is still taller than Nath. Poor guy could never actually grow. (Lmao)
Alya had noticed Nathaniel was now eyeing her closely, completely silent. For a second, the blogger assumed he fell asleep with his eyes open.
"...Why are you looking at me like that?" Alya asked curiously.
"I feel less sick when I look at you." Nathaniel responded, smiling.
His wordplay definitely improved.
"Oh!" Alya said shortly. She was flattered, obviously, but had no idea if it was a compliment or a literal statement. She stayed silent, surpressing her smile.
"You definitely look prettier up close." The brunette voiced smoothly. The alcohol was talking for her. Sort of.
She wasn't lying. Out of impulse, Alya got her fingers in between the illustrator’s long hair, and began twirling it.
"Really?" Nath asked. "You think so?"
"Of course! You're a real stunner!" She affirmed.
Nathaniel's lips transformed into a big smile, while his cheeks were ambushed in red. He giggled childishly, elated by her comments.
Despite being completely wasted, Alya felt like she could talk to Nathaniel forever.
It was no longer just waves and glances, but a real conversation.
Nathaniel spoke. "So why did you make everyone leave? I considered you as more of a party animal."
"Me? A party animal?" Alya chuckled. "Usually...but I have more important things to do now. I just really wanted a good night with my friends!"
The artist started poking her shoulder in a giddy manner. "AWwwWw, You consider me as a friend?"
Alya responded, dazed. "Wish it was more, but yeah."
Honesty is great. But this is too honest. Alcohol and hallway crushes don't mix.
"More?" His ginger eyebrows furrowed.
"Ugh....sorry, I don't know what I'm saying." Alya groaned while turning away from the illustrator.
"No...come backkkk..." Nathaniel slurred. "You're beautiful too!" That was all his alcohol-soaked brain could think of.
"I...never said anything about beauty." Alya said, still turned away.
His brain is completely jumbled up.
"Oh? Well, I still love you!" Nathaniel was no longer making any sense. "I wanna see your face again!"
For some reason, Alya rotated herself, facing the redhead again. Something about his bubbly attitude was contagious to her intoxicated self.
Nathaniel tapped Alya's nose while making the "boop" sound, all hyperactive like.
"You and alcohol doesn't mix very well, I see." Alya laughed a little. The androgynous man only smiled at her comment.
Nathaniel's voice got lower, sounding more serious.
"I'm glad you're here." He said shortly.
"This is my dorm, of course I'm here," Alya's eyes flickered between his cerulean eyes and freckles. She shuffled closer to him.
"I know, I meant..." Nathaniel waves his arm around lazily. "Here — next to me."
The brunette didn't know how to respond to that. Her heart fluttered in a peculiar way. Instead, she replied with a different sentence.
"Am I sobering up?"
Nathaniel got close to her face and spoke lowly. "Maybe? I can’t tell...your eyes are huge."
"Is that a compliment?" Alya questioned the illustrator. Their noses were practically touching.
"Yeah." He whispered.
With that, Nathaniel finally leaned forward and kissed her, their lips connected in what felt like forever. Alya's peach lipgloss swapped with Nathaniel's cherry lipstick, it was sweet and divine. When they pulled apart, they just stared at each other. Neither of them knew what was supposed to happen next.
"That was nice." Nathaniel abruptly spoke.
"It was." Alya replied.
The redhead asked sadly. "Should I go?"
Alya only brushed his bangs out of his face and kissed him again — this time, with more conviction. Nathaniel blushed intensely while her hand caressed his freckled face.
Nathaniel visited Alya more often after that.