Winter solstice had just passed, and the sky was overcast and heavy, looking as though it could snow at any second.
Inside the classroom, the doors and windows were shut tight. Foggy condensation trickled down the glass in thin, watery streaks. Lucas lay slumped sideways on his desk, his eyes half-lidded, staring across the narrow aisle at another desk.
It was physical education class, and everyone else had gone down to the gymnasium. Lucas was the only one who had made up a vague excuse to stay behind and rot at his desk. He wasn't particularly sleepy; he was just far too lazy to move. So, to pass the time, he had been staring at that desk for the past half hour.
That was Ethan's desk.
It sat diagonally behind his own. Textbooks from the previous class were stacked neatly on top, while a scarf and a backpack hung over the back of the chair.
Suddenly, without warning, the scarf slipped. In the blink of an eye, it tumbled to the floor and crumpled into a soft heap.
"Ah..." Lucas let out a tiny gasp of surprise. He finally straightened his back and glanced around guiltily like a thief. Once he confirmed that no one was walking down the hallway, he slid out of his chair, walked quickly behind the desk, and leaned over to pick it up.
It was a knitted yarn scarf, seemingly handmade, soft and cozy to the touch with a simple, clean pattern.
It carried a faint, almost imperceptible scent.
Yet that trace of scent acted like a transparent fishing line, tugging at him, making him lower his head unconsciously, leaning in with nervous caution. The tip of his nose touched the soft knit, and the aroma grew distinct with every breath. Lucas found it hard to describe what it smelled like—it was simply the scent of Ethan, something he occasionally caught a faint whiff of whenever they passed each other in the halls.
In that instant, everything turned subtle. He was merely holding Ethan's scarf, yet he felt the surreal illusion of being held close against Ethan.
...It felt like being intoxicated, his face flushing warm.
This was way too creepy. If anyone saw him right now, they would definitely think he was a total pervert. Lucas knew this in his mind, and he knew he should put the scarf back right away and return to his seat to resume playing dead. But...
P.E. class wasn't over yet, right? Even if he dragged his feet a little longer, no one would come back early, right? As long as he put it back before the bell rang... right?
He felt like his mind was splitting in two. His body stayed frozen on the spot, feeling Ethan's lingering presence with every breath, while his brain engaged in a fierce debate, unable to reach a decision.
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