A little farther down the narrow path, Kyle spotted an empty bench and hurried to claim it. Darren sat down beside him and placed their drinks — a bubble tea and a coffee — between them.
Kyle leaned back against the bench and brought the hot dog to his mouth. The smell of mustard and smoked sausage tickled his nose immediately, sharpening his appetite.
Golden leaves drifted through the air above them. Birds flew high overhead. Wrapped in a pleasant fatigue and quiet contentment, Kyle took a large bite.
Darren watched him with an oddly satisfied expression. Then he began to eat as well.
A silence, unburdened by tension, fell between them.
Kyle was completely absorbed in eating. He reached for his drink — and accidentally brushed Darren's hand resting on the cup beside it.
A jolt ran through his fingers. A faint shiver traveled up his arm. His gaze instinctively lifted to Darren's face — and found him already looking back. Kyle glanced down at their hands. Then back at him.
Darren smiled faintly, restrained but warm.
Kyle looked away, then slowly brought his gaze back to his drink. This time, he picked it up much more carefully.
He felt warmth creep across his cheeks and took a long sip, hoping the cold drink would cool him down, if only a little.
"Do you like it?"
Kyle nearly choked. He cleared his throat and looked at Darren, puzzled.
"Hm? What?"
"The drink."
"Oh. The drink," Kyle let out a silent sigh and smiled. "Yeah. It's really good."
The next moment, Darren leaned closer.
Kyle watched in confusion as Darren leaned toward the cup in his hand, wrapped his lips around the straw, and took a small sip.
"Hm. Not bad," he said, leaning back. "Though a little too sweet for my taste."
Kyle's gaze caught on the cup — or rather, on the straw — as he tried not to look at Darren. He swallowed, hesitated for a moment, then took a sip.
Even the cold drink could no longer help him stay composed.
"Nice place," Darren said.
"Yeah."
"I've never been here before."
For some reason, that surprised Kyle. He finally looked up at Darren.
"Not even on a school trip?"
Darren shook his head.
"Your parents never brought you here?"
"Nope," Darren shook his head again. "They were always too busy. And somehow... I never really got around to it either."
"That's a shame..." Kyle murmured. "Well, at least you made it today. Better late than never, right?"
Darren looked away — somewhere toward the roof of the aquarium building. His expression remained calm, but something like regret flickered in his eyes.
"You're right," he said. "I'm glad I finally got to come here because of you."
He fell silent for a couple of seconds. Then, as if just remembering, he added:
"And because of Meg. Even if she couldn't make it."
"Yeah..." Kyle said with a hint of disappointment. "The biggest instigator — and she's the one who didn't show up."
Darren gave him a brief smile.
"And you? Has it been a long time?"
Kyle nodded.
"A long time ago. When I was a kid. My mom used to bring me. Back when she was still…"
He stopped. His eyes dropped to the nearly empty cup in his hand.
"…So I'm glad I got to come back." A faint smile touched his lips.
Darren set his coffee back on the bench and leaned back.
"Then we should come again sometime," he said.
"Maybe," Kyle replied, a little uncertain.
"Or somewhere else," Darren added.
Kyle shrugged. Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Almost reluctantly returning to reality, he pulled it out and checked the notification.
"Megan's finally free. She's heading home," he said. "Oh... It's already ten. I didn't even notice how late it got."
"Do you need to get going?"
"Yeah."
"Then let's go," Darren said. "I'll drive you."
"You don't have to. I can just get a taxi."
"No need. I'll drive you," he insisted calmly. "Besides, Meg will chew me out otherwise."
"Well..."
Kyle looked at the cup one last time. At the straw he'd chewed up out of habit. He took the last sip and tossed the empty cup into a nearby trash can.
"Alright."
They got up from the bench and slowly made their way toward the parking lot.
Without either of them noticing, the distance between them gradually narrowed. Every now and then their shoulders barely brushed against each other — yet neither of them moved away.
As they crossed the square, now wrapped in darkness, the streetlights behind them slowly flickered to life. Before long, their light spilled onto the path ahead, illuminating the way to the parking lot.