(wip) catching feelings

“Kalim,” Jamil suddenly says, his eyes narrow and oddly determined as he watches Kalim flip a page in the packet he’s holding in his hands.

“Hm?” Kalim replies inattentively. He doesn’t look up from the thick stack of papers in front of him. Tapping the edge of his magical pen to his chin in apparent deep thought, he scribbles something into the half-filled table in the center of the page.

“You should kiss me.”

“I know, I know, I’m almost finished, I promise. Just – wait.” Kalim freezes, then slowly meets Jamil’s hard gaze with a bewildered look on his face. “What?”

Burning brightly, the candle-lit brass lanterns set on the floor beside them flicker at the command of the cool desert wind entering from the vast windows of Kalim’s dorm room. In the shock of silence, the air grows ominously still, but Jamil pays it no mind.

“Aren’t you curious? Kiss me,” Jamil scoffs impatiently. He doesn’t have all night.

“What…are you talking about?” Kalim gapes, his breath noticeably caught in his throat. It’s hilarious how wide his round, crimson eyes are, Jamil thinks cynically. The audacity of him to act so clueless and innocent right now.

“I heard about what you said the other day,” Jamil explains dismissively. “You’re looking for someone to practice kissing with.”

Kalim inhales deeply, staring dumbly at Jamil before he sheepishly scratches the back of his head.

“How did you – no, where did you…?” he stammers awkwardly. He twists at his magical pen apprehensively.

“Floyd,” Jamil replies a bit too quickly, throwing his fellow basketball club teammate under the bus.

“How would he–”

“Jade must have told him,” Jamil shrugs, figuring it sounds plausible enough for the silver-haired boy fidgeting in his seat across from him to believe.

Kalim presses his lips closed as he processes the unforeseen betrayal. Clearly rattled, he tears his gaze away from Jamil’s intense stare and buries his face in his hands.

“Ah…” Kalim groans, sighing in dismay. “He said he wouldn’t tell anyone…”

Spotting the dark flush spreading across Kalim’s cheeks, Jamil hides the emerging grin on his face with a dry cough.

“Anyway, you can’t just practice with anyone. Remember who you are,” Jamil says flatly, placing his elbow at the edge of their shared desk and resting his chin in his open palm. “As your loyal and humble servant, you can practice with me without fear of exposure or gossip.”

“It’s not like you’ve kissed anyone before either,” Kalim grumbles into his hands, seemingly ignoring Jamil’s mocking argument.

“…”

“…”

“…That’s not the point,” Jamil snaps in exasperation. “Look, if you want to do this, then just use me. You better not have already started asking around.”

“…I haven’t,” Kalim admits reluctantly, still not looking up from his hands.

“Good.”

“…So mean,” Kalim mutters almost inaudibly, but Jamil catches the bitter remark anyway. He smirks. “…Fine, Jamil, I understand.”

Exhaling slowly, Kalim removes his hands from his face and looks back up, straight into Jamil’s arrogantly satisfied eyes.

“On one condition,” Kalim adds carefully.

“Sure.”

“You can’t fall in love with me because of this.”

Not registering the breath he’s holding, Jamil stares blankly at him and swallows thickly. A long moment passes between them in silence.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”