29 The Heart That Won't Stay Put

"You seem distracted again, cutie"

Darren's eyes darted to Tim. He was holding a book on his lap while staring at him. He has one raised eyebrow and looking at him questioningly.

Was he? He doesn't think he's distracted. He's just thinking and besides, it's not like they are conversing, right?

When he got that call, Darren stood up and went here at the library for a quiet session with his thoughts and then, Tim thinking something was off with his silence, followed him.

He wasn't distracted. He's just feeling overwhelmed with the things happening right now. Whether it was in a bad way or a good way, he didn't know. It's not like he's required to always speak, right?

He was seen in Heart Hotel and now, the hotel informed them he was seen in the Mall. What happens if they get nowhere? What happens if they were informed that he was seen in somewhere else too and not having to actually see him?

And something is not right here. Something is off. He can feel it. Something is off here.

Darren's being attacked by his overthinking skills again. One thing he's actually good at and it's not impressive. Sometimes, it's a burden especially when he needs to stay optimistic but his mind wanted him to be pessimist.

"I'm not" he answered after seconds.

"Yes you are"Tim quickly responded. "You've been staring at that particular shelf for 30 minutes, unmoving and so in deep thought."

"You've been distracted for three days. What is it?"

Darren furrowed his eyebrows. "What?"

"See? You're awfully fuckin' distracted. What's wrong?"

Darren blinked at him. Tim's stare is back again. He is at it again and Darren had no energy to try to fight his swooning. There's just something about Tim and his curses and flirty attitude but there's a whole new difference about him being gentle.

It makes him look like a gentleman. His gentle gentleman (excuse his redundancy because Darren cannot express it any other way. Ha!). Now, that sounded so good in his mind. Too bad he belongs to that single since birth club.

Darren got no experience how to contrast real concern to that social convention. That maybe someone is just trying to be sympathetic because it's the norm. And so, Darren relies to what his mind and heart is telling.

That Tim really is worried and concerned and not just to have something to talk about.

He shrugged, "I have my own life to think about because unlike you, I'm fun"

Tim chuckled, "Yup. For me, you passed that vibe check"

He then crosses his legs and smiled at him, seeming as if he was a psychologist waiting for his patient to speak. "You can tell me anything"

Yes, definitely a psychologist. A handsome, mind-twisted, tattooed, flirty git, and idiot psychologist.

"Have you ever wondered. . .

Darren decided to pause for effect and also to give himself an ample time to think where his question's really going. He had not think about what the actual question was at all.

Sometimes his mouth just speaks on its own so he let it have its moment especially when it is to insult the man in front of him.

"what is it like if you have some decency?"

Tim chuckled and shook his head, "You tell me" he smirked.

Darren just stared again. Mind swirling and suddenly, he was back on visualizing how their date should be. In the beach or in a yacht, or in garden, just them and the smooth music coming from the privately hired violinist or a pianist.

Oh my god, he is totally obsessing over it. That's a bad sign, right? He shouldn't obsess!

He frowned and decided to walk over to one of the shelfs to get himself a book. He searched for a book that's interesting to read. He has Charlotte Bronte, Shakespeare, Agatha Christie and many more.

Hmm, he's in for some Artur Conan Doyle. He nodded and tried to reach for it because it happens to be in the top of the shelf. His hand is not that long and he is not that tall and the ladder is apparently nowhere to be found.

He can hear Tim's laugh on the background and he grumbled, "Shut up idiot. Not everyone is built like a bamboo. There are some cute mushrooms too"

"Sure you are" he heard Tim replied.

"You are a ba- aaah!"

He gayly, yes, gayly, squealed in shocked when Tim's hand gripped both sides of his waist and easily, yes, easily, lifted him up.

Oh my god. T-this. . . Oh my god. Tim is lifting him up as if he weighed like feathers. He's lifting him up and intensely gripping his waist.

He gulped and blinked at the books he's currently facing. He's flushing and he can feel the hotness in Tim's palms. What is happening!? H-he didn't expect him to lift him up!

Oh my god heart! Steady. Steady. Oh my god! It's not! It's beating faster and faster the longer he thinks about Tim's hands on his waist.

Good thing he wore the fittest leather shorts he owns. He knows sooner or later he gotta flex those blessings. Well, it's not like Tim is facing it now anyways.

Darren turned his head and oh my god! He is! He is! He almost is! Shut up heart. Shut up. His buttocks levelled Tim's forehead. Yes. That's how high he lifted him up, that's how light he is or maybe he is that strong.

Darren would definitely need to check his blood pressure later on.

"Have you got it?"

Surprised at Tim's voice, he hastily grabbed a book that first met his eyes. Not bothering to check if it was Arthur Conan Doyle.

"Put me back down"

Darren yelped an 'op' when Tim was so fast in settling him down! Glaring, he turned around and smacked his arms.

"Warn me you idiot!" he groaned.

He chuckled and smiled and Darren stilled.

No one prepared him for the aftershock. No one prepared him for the end. No one prepared him to stay put when it comes to cliché moments like this.

That smile seemed more attractive than usual and Darren kept staring at it. His heart's practically begging to jump out of his chest and gallop around the area. Why is Tim's beauty looked so effortless? Darren's practically working hard everyday to maintain his own. Skin care there, skin care that, healthy foods there, healthy diet here. Wait, no, scratch the last two. No space for healthy food and diet because Tim's burning the meals.

Darren flushed even more when he realized how long he had been staring. He looked away and tried not to look back when Tim chuckled again. And he praised himself in his mind when he still managed not to look when Tim's knuckles brushed his cheeks.

"You're so goddamn cute when you're flustered" he murmured and chuckled again.

Right. Apparently, Darren is as flirty as him. Not just obviously but it happens in his mind.

He held his gasp when Tim lightly pinched his cheeks between his thumb and index finger, "So squishy and soft"

He tightened his hold in the book because his heart is hammering inside his chest. It's hyperventilating, screaming, and frantically beating. Why is Tim always like this?

Darren nibbled his lips and decided to look back. A blessing or a curse in disguise. He gulped when he saw Tim looking at his lips intently.

Oh my god. Just kiss him already.