"When are you leaving to your parents?" Leo asked Kai when they were walking back home after Kai picked him up from University. The weather was favourable for walks, it was sunny, and the cold wind was rubbing their cheeks from time to time. Despite this, they could feel the warmth coming from above.

"Hmm. Christmas Eve is on Thursday. I could leave in the morning, I guess." Kai said without enthusiasm. "I don't know how long I will stay, but I would rather come back as soon as I can."

"I understand. How are you getting there?" Leo asked, walking arm to arm, staring at the ground.

"I may take a train and then a bus." Kai looked to the side and pointed at the grocery store. "Shall we get some coke to go with the pizza? Noah will tear us apart if we won't."

"Sure." He smiled. "I will be leaving on Tuesday, but I thought that I could come and get you whenever you want, and you could spend some time with us?"

Kai stopped in front of the store and looked at Leo, who was smiling shyly. He thought for a long minute as he wasn't sure if that is not too big of a step for them yet. But looking from the other side, who was there to judge what was the best for them?

"I would like that. I hope your family wouldn't mind me. I don't want to interfere." Kai laced his fingers with Leo and squeezed his hand gently.

"They like you, and my mother asked about you when I called her yesterday." Leo gave him a light peck on the lips and pulled him into the store.

They walked in between the isles to the shelf with the cold drinks. And after they headed to the cash register, Leo started chatting with the cashier. Kai stood there, puzzled as a blond lady, who now Kai knew as Sandy, happily shared her plans for Christmas with her boyfriend. Leo stood a few moments longer than needed when Kai was by the door waiting impatiently.

"Are you that friendly with all cashiers in the stores? How do you even come to know her?" Kai glared at him while they walked to Kai's apartment, both holding a bottle.

"I'm popping up often to grab something on the way to your place. It's weird not to talk to her when she is always there." Leo said, taken aback.

"Uhuh," They stood in awkward silence while lift took them up. Leo kept glancing at him from the side, visibly troubled as he couldn't figure out the silent treatment Kai gave him. In the kitchen, Kai put shoppings into the cupboard. Leo sat down on the sofa and held his phone, ready to start making the order.

"Regular pepperoni?" Leo looked at him, but Kai didn't turn back.

"Yes, thank you." He said.

"Is there anything wrong? Why are you upset?" Leo asked.

"I'm fine," Kai spoke and joined him on the sofa turning on the TV.

"You are so not fine, and you know that."

"I will be fine, just please leave it for now, okay?" Kai turned his head and silently begged him to drop the topic. He wasn't sure what to tell him. How to explain the uncertainty he gained after considering all the little signs that might have led Leo to understand that he wasn't enough.

Leo sighed and nodded, wrapping his hand over Kai's shoulders, pulled him close against his side.

"But we will talk about it whether you want or not, later." Gently rubbing circles on Kai's arm, Leo murmured in his ear.

"I can't believe she has feelings for me or maybe obsession? How am I supposed to work with her now?" Noah groaned.

"Just ignore that part if she is not too obvious," Leo said, and Kai agreed with him.

"It's not that easy. That girl is starting to be too overbearing, like ivy that wraps around me and will eventually choke me to death." Noah covered his forehead and rested his elbow on the armrest of the armchair. "What should I do..."

"Report somewhere?" Kai suggested at what Noah and Leo frowned in disagreement while glaring at him.

"Where? Who will take this seriously in the first place? I can't tell if she has mental issues or is just obsessed." Worried, Noah rubbed his head, "I will ask my dad. Usually, he knows what to do and how to deal with people."

"Yes, that's a good idea. Your dad is smart in those things." Leo agreed with him. The bell rang, and they got up to make some more space on the table for a pizza.

Leo wasn't the biggest fan of it, and usually, he got chips and cheese as a side dish. When it wasn't enough, he would have a piece from Kai's, who always ordered pepperoni as that was the only pizza Leo would eat.

Noah continued explaining the story in detail with the girl he had met a month ago when they started preparing the event for high school students. Telling them how they went for a coffee a couple of times and how she started being around him in places he never saw her before. 

There was a situation when she argued with his friend for hugging him after lectures ended. That situation made him concerned about how dangerous she may become to Noah and the people around him.

I have tried to talk to her, but she is so oblivious and making me believe it's me who is trying to create a problem where there is none," Noah said when he got to the end of the whole story. 

"This sounds very serious when you put everything together like that. I will keep checking on you and maybe try to stay on distance from her and University as much as you can." Kai worriedly looked at Noah and to Leo for silent support.

"She is weird. I give her that." Leo mumbled with his mouth stuffed with chips.

Leo decided that the best for him will be to stay the night with them in Kai's apartment. Both were afraid to let him go home alone when they have noticed how upset and anxious he was.

 The best for his friend was to do not stay alone until he would calm down to make sure he will not do anything stupid out of impulsiveness. The issue seemed more serious when everything that happened was said out loud. He had had conversations now and then about her with the group, but it was only briefly mentioned and never considered a thread. 

Noah slept on the sofa. When they left the living room, he looked calm and peaceful, much different from the nervous mess he had been before. Kai tried to be composed and supportive, but at the same time, he was confused about facts and possible exaggerations under the emotional pressure they were all.

"What are you thinking about?" Leo asked Kai when he joined him in bed.

The lights were off, and Kai was lying in bed while blankly looking at the ceiling.

"Nothing, really. I'm worried about him, but I don't know what I can do." Kai sighed.

"I know, but the most important is to be there for him. I hope that is just something easy to deal with, and with advice from Noah's father, he will be just fine." Leo rolled on his side and pulled Kai in a side hug throwing his arm over Kai's chest. "He will be fine. What upset you so much in the grocery store?"

"Do we have to?" Kai groaned and tried to roll out from Leo, but he held him tight, not letting Kai push him away. Kai quickly gave up, trying to free himself from a firm embrace but instead bringing a deep frown on his face.

"Yes." Leo didn't move, patiently waiting for Kai to talk.

"I don't want to talk about it. It's stupid. Besides, I'm fine now." He groaned.

"Do you remember what we have promised to eachother?" Leo slowly closed the distance between their faces and kissed his cheek. "Communication, darling."

Kai expression softened, and he wanted to let go and tell him everything he would ask. Respond to the most irrational questions. Somehow he couldn't do it. He lost his voice, and some invisible force kept him in a grip he couldn't break. He wanted to cry in frustration. What he almost did. His body started to shake, and his breath elaborated. Leo pulled and hugged him against his chest. Kai buried his face in a crock of Leo's neck while Leo calmingly rubbed his back.

"Shh, it's okay. I'm sorry for forcing you to talk." He repeated to soothe Kai. "You can tell me when you will be ready."

"I'm sorry. I should..." Kai started, but Leo cut him off.

"It's okay. Just calm down for now, and we can talk later."

Leo held Kai until both of them fell asleep. He didn't want to stress his boyfriend anymore or forcing him to talk against his will.

The thought that Kai couldn't open up to him and say anything that bothered his mind did upset him. Leo knew that their relationship would be bumpy at times. It did scare him, but looking at the man by his side, he thought of how it's worth it.