The café was warm, filled with low chatter and the pungent scent of roasting coffee. A jazz band sent its smooth sound over the vast expanse of crowded tables. Seated by the window, Hyuga bent his head over his sketch book, silently absorbed in the task of laying out the scene around him. His pencil glided across the page; he glanced around frequently to take in the exact detail of a certain mug or a woman's blouse. Incessantly, he flipped the dark bangs out of his eyes.
"Hey, Hyu."
Rafael slid into the seat before Hyuga, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the table. Hyuga looked up, startled, as Rafael's shadow blocked his light. The strawberry-blond gazed at him with warm green eyes, a gentle smile playing on his lips.
"Rafael," Hyuga murmured, leaning back in his chair. He brought a hand up to loosen the plaid scarf wrapped about his neck. "I didn't notice you come in."
"Have you been waiting long?" Rafael asked, his voice low, smooth—a bedroom voice, Hyuga realized. The Japanese man felt a flush begin to heat his pallid cheeks. For the first time, he noticed Rafael's freshly pressed black suit, accented by a silky red tie.
"N-not really," Hyuga replied quietly. He was suddenly self-conscious of his own plain, homely clothing—the tattered pea coat that had been his father's, the thick wool scarf that his mother had made. He laid his pencil down across the page of his sketch book, averting his eyes.
"What were you drawing?" Rafael glanced down at the sketch. He noticed a waitress clearing a table nearby and waved her over.
"Oh! Ano..." Hyuga moved the pencil aside, hair falling over his eyes as he bent his head. "Just the café. The professor asked us to keep a sketch book. We're supposed to do at least one sketch per day, small stuff, usually, but I haven't done a full scene in a while."
"It's looking good, Hyu," Rafael chimed.
The waitress approached their table and they ordered their coffees, Rafael's a mocha with a triple shot of espresso, Hyuga's black. The waitress whisked their orders away, weaving through the cluttered tables back to the bar.
The fidgeting pair was silent for a few moments, Hyuga brushing the hair away from his face, Rafael shifting in his seat. Finally, Hyuga cleared his throat softly.
"I didn't know we were going formal today."
"What?" Rafael raised an eyebrow, leaning forward and cocking an ear toward his companion.
"The suit," Hyuga said. "What's the occasion?"
"Oh," Rafael chuckled. "This? It's nothing. I just wanted to look good for you." He looked at Hyuga, his charming grin widening.
Hyuga blushed at the frank confession. He swallowed, biting his lip.
"You didn't have to do that," he said, offering a nervous smile. "I feel under-dressed."
"Oh, no! You look great, Hyuga."
Hyuga raised his eyes to meet Rafael's, and their gazes locked for a brief moment. Hyuga recognized the want in Rafael's stare, the unnerving lust that was suddenly so obvious. The dark-haired man had to look away; he tried to think back to the last time they'd been together and realized that their last tryst had been over three weeks ago. His face heated. He could feel Rafael still looking at him, undressing him with those bright green eyes. The thought sent goosebumps racing down his spine.
The waitress returned to their table, setting the heavy mugs down before them. She made an offer that Hyuga couldn't quite catch, something about pastries, but Rafael sent her away with a thank-you. Then it was just the two of them again. Hyuga moved his hand to clutch at the handle of the mug, staring down at the steam wafting up from the dark, aromatic coffee.
"So," Rafael began, flexing his shoulders as he got comfortable in his seat. "How do you like your studies?"
Hyuga glanced up at Rafael, caught off guard by the sudden change in mood. Rafael sipped his coffee, steady green gaze watching Hyuga expectantly.
"They're, ah... They're alright. I enjoy them."
"Are you getting along okay at the university?"
"I guess so. Things are different here in America, certainly. I'm not quite used to everything yet."
They continued to chat, exchanging pleasantries as they nursed their coffees. Hyuga gradually began to relax as Rafael talked to him about art and school. Occasionally, their tongues would switch to Japanese, and this eased Hyuga, made him feel more at home. The time passed quickly; when the waitress brought their check Rafael immediately reached for his wallet.
"I've got it, Rafael," Hyuga offered.
"Oh, no, Hyu. I'm not about to let the university student pay."
Hyuga laughed quietly, sweetly, and Rafael smiled.
"I'm twenty-seven years old, Rafael. I can pay for my coffee."
"Probably so," Rafael mused, "but this is my treat, along with this." Rafael reached down to pull a heart-shaped box of chocolates from his bag, setting it on the table before Hyuga. "Part one of my Valentine's Day gift to you."