Chance encounter in Japan

The Art of Proximity

Mike spotted them first on a busy Tokyo street, just outside a quaint café. As soon as he saw him, something inside Mike stirred—an inexplicable urge to be near him. He brushed off the feeling as mere curiosity. With a confident stride, he approached, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips. "Fancy seeing you here, Alex," he greeted, speaking to his friend, but looking at the boy dressed in the yellow and black striped shirt, his voice light but teasing.

First looked up, momentarily caught off guard, his face lighting up with a bright smile. "Mike! What a coincidence..." he replied, his tone shy and clearly pleased to see him. Mike smiled, "I believe we haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting, and you are?" He asked with a raised brow, "First... Chalongrat, nice to meet you P'" he said with a shy smile as he bowed. Alex sensing the strange tension, whacks Mike on the arm with a role of the eyes and ushers them all inside declaring her hunger.

Inside the café, they found a cozy corner table, the noise of the bustling street fading into the background. Mike leaned forward, his eyes fixed on First, watching him nervously stir his tea. He couldn't understand why he felt drawn to First, but he chalked it up to the excitement of having a new admirer. "I hear you're a fan of mine. How flattering," Mike said with a playful smile, trying to keep things casual.

First fumbled with his teaspoon, his cheeks reddening as he tried to contain his excitement. "I... I've admired your work for years, basically everyone in Thailand is a fan of you" he confessed softly, his voice tinged with sincerity.

Mike's smile grew, though he felt a strange tightening in his chest at First's words. He leaned back, attempting to appear nonchalant, even as he felt an inexplicable pull toward the younger man. "Well, maybe I should give you a reason to admire me even more," he teased, the words coming out more softly than he intended, almost betraying his inner conflict.

Despite himself and his impending work load, Mike continued to find excuses to spend time with First (and in conjunction Alex)
. They wandered through a bustling Tokyo market together, weaving between colorful stalls. Every time their hands brushed, Mike felt a spark, a thrill he didn't want to acknowledge. He told himself it was just fun, enjoying the company of someone who looked up to him. But as the day went on, his laughter became more genuine, his touches more lingering.

At a quieter stall, Mike paused, pretending to be interested in a small trinket. He picked it up and turned to First with a grin that felt both playful and sincere. "A little something to remember today by," he said, handing the trinket over, their fingers brushing in the exchange.

First's face lit up, his smile soft and grateful. His eyes, filled with admiration, met Mike's, and for a moment, Mike's heart skipped a beat. He pushed the feeling down, telling himself it was just the joy of being admired. But the way First looked at him, with such open admiration and something deeper, made it harder to keep denying the pull he felt.

As they stood there, the world around them seemed to blur, leaving only the two of them in their own little world. Mike's mind raced with conflicting thoughts—his usual confidence shaken by an emotion he wasn't ready to name. Despite the confusion, he couldn't help but seek out these moments, craving First's presence more with each passing day.

He told himself it was just admiration and that his feelings were all in his head. But as they shared another lingering look, Mike knew he was lying to himself. And yet, he still wasn't ready to face what that meant.

---

A few days later, Mike found himself waiting outside First's hotel later that evening. He convinced himself it was just a coincidence, a convenient stop on his way back to his own hotel. But deep down, he knew he wanted to see First again. Leaning against a lamppost with his hands in his pockets, Mike scanned the street, trying to look casual.