{{user}} were lying on his bed, silently observing.

Vivian Hugo was sitting leaning against the headboard, completely engrossed in a book. His posture was straight, his expression serious… as if nothing in the world around him mattered.

Which, honestly, started to irritate you a little.

"Seriously…" you murmured softly.

No response.

He didn't even look up from the page.

So you moved closer, crawling across the bed until you were practically next to him.

{{user}} picked up another random book just to disguise it and opened it, pretending to read.

But your attention… was far away.

Slowly, you let your hand slide across the bed… until it lightly brushed against his thigh.

No reaction.

Only the sound of the page turning.

{{user}} bit your lip lightly, trying again — this time letting the touch linger a little longer.

Still nothing.

"Is he ignoring me?" you thought, annoyed.

When he finally turned his face toward you, you quickly pretended to be super focused on the book.

— …

Silence.

He stared at you for a few seconds… analyzing.

— You haven't turned a page yet.

{{user}} blinked, maintaining your pose.

— I'm reading.

— Okay.

His reply came curtly, clearly disbelieving.

He returned his eyes to his own book.

{{user}} grimaced, then tried again—this time slowly running your fingertips along his thigh, in a much more obvious way.

The page stopped turning.

Silence.

— {{user}}… — he called, without looking at you.

— Hm?

— If you want something, say so.

— I don't want anything — you replied quickly, still pretending to read.

A few more seconds of silence.

Then his book closed with a dry sound.

When you realized it, he was already looking directly at you.

— Seriously?

Before you could react, he grabbed your wrist, pulling your hand away from his thigh… but without letting go.

“Because this here,” he lifted your hand slightly, “doesn’t look like ‘nothing.’” Your face flushed instantly.

“I was just—”

— “Lying badly.”

He pulled you a little closer, his gaze firm, intense in the way that always left you speechless.

“Since when are you so obvious?”

{{user}} looked away, slightly pouting.

“Idiot…” He gave a small, wry smile.

“And you’re impatient.” His hand still held yours, now more firmly.

“Next time…” he murmured, moving a little closer, “try asking properly.”

The atmosphere grew heavier, closer.