Chapter 7

• Darius:-)
• After the date yesterday night. I knew Cyrus would want to know more about what I told him. I'm sure he must have even googled some stuffs. That is why I decided to pick him up for breakfast and probably answer any questions he might have.
• I drove to a quaint little breakfast shop nestled between two towering buildings, not too far from my office. The kind of place that had an old-school charm—wooden tables with mismatched chairs, soft yellow lighting that made everything feel cozy, and a chalkboard menu scrawled with daily specials. It wasn’t the sort of place I expected someone like Cyrus to frequent, given that he worked at a breakfast joint himself. But I knew he’d prefer the privacy here, away from his coworkers who might raise an eyebrow if they saw me with him.
• As we stepped inside, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon greeted us, and the soft clink of silverware against plates added to the warm ambiance. The walls were adorned with local art, and the floor creaked under our feet as we made our way to an empty booth by the window. The light spilling in from outside bathed everything in a warm, inviting glow.
• Menus were already laid out on the table when we sat down. The edges were a little frayed from wear, but the pages were still legible. The waiter, a young man with a friendly smile and an apron that had seen better days, walked over to us with a notepad in hand. He greeted us with a nod, and after we exchanged pleasantries, he handed us the menus.
• I glanced at the list of breakfast options: eggs benedict, avocado toast, pancakes stacked high with syrup, and freshly baked pastries. The kind of menu that could make anyone crave breakfast at any hour of the day. I could hear Cyrus flipping through his menu beside me, the soft rustle of paper adding a casual backdrop to our conversation.
• We took a moment to decide, penning down our orders on the notepad. Cyrus, always the simple one, opted for a stack of fluffy pancakes with a side of bacon, while I went for a more traditional choice: scrambled eggs with toast and a hot cappuccino.
• Once we had jotted everything down, I called for the waiter, who appeared promptly. He took our order with a nod, his notepad now filled with our breakfast preferences. The sound of his footsteps echoed as he moved toward the kitchen, leaving me with a sense of anticipation. I could already imagine the comfort of the meal arriving in front of me, but it was the conversation I was focused on.
• Sitting across from Cyrus, I noticed his eyes darting to the menu and then back to me. I knew he had questions. It was only a matter of time before the conversation turned deeper, more probing. But for now, we sat in comfortable silence, each of us waiting for the other to speak.
• After the waiter took their orders, I leaned back slightly, giving Cyrus a moment to breathe. I could see the wheels turning in Cyrus’s mind. I had a feeling that Cyrus might have even Googled some things already, trying to better understand what we talked about last night. That was a good sign—it meant Cyrus was interested, curious. That was the first step.
• “I know last night was a lot,” I said, my voice calm and steady, allowing the words to sink in slowly. “And I can imagine you’ve got some questions. I thought it’d be good for us to sit down this morning, no rush, just to talk more. Whatever’s on your mind.”
• I watched Cyrus carefully, waiting for him to respond, to open up. I didn’t want to push too hard, but i could tell that Cyrus was still processing, still trying to wrap his mind around everything he’d learned.
• The quiet hum of the shop filled the space between us, but I didn’t mind the silence. It was a peaceful kind of stillness, the kind that allowed Cyrus to think without feeling pressured. I knew that Cyrus was still figuring out where he stood on everything, and I respected that. I wasn’t going to rush him into anything.
• When Cyrus finally spoke, his voice was soft, but I could hear the curiosity laced within it. "I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said... about little space... and I looked up a few things." He paused, a slight nervousness still evident in his posture. "I just... I want to understand it better. What it really means, you know? Is it... something I should try? Or just something to think about?"
• My heart warmed at the question. Cyrus was trying, trying to understand something that was new and a little outside his comfort zone. “It’s okay to take your time with it,” I reassured him, my voice soothing. “There’s no rush. It’s about what feels right for you. You don’t have to try it right away. But it’s okay to think about it, to see if it’s something that helps you feel more at ease. We can take it one step at a time, together.”
• Cyrus nodded slowly, as if he were absorbing the words, the reassurance. I could see that the wheels in his mind were still turning, but this time, it seemed like the hesitation was starting to fade.
• The waiter returned with our breakfast and we ate in silence, I knew Cyrus was still thinking so I remained silent to give him space. Once we finished eating, I waited for Cyrus who was still enjoying his tall glass of chocolate milkshake. He looks like a kitten as he drank his drink, the foam of the chocolate milk gave him a moustache. Before I knew it, I was leaning in to help him clean it off. "Thanks."He whispered.
• " Are you ready to go?"I asked him. He has already finished his drink and looks so satisfied. Seems like chocolate milkshake is his favourite, I should always remember that. He nodded and we stood. I placed money for the bill, along with a tip for the waiter and we walked out of the shop.
• In the car, I drove Cyrus to his place of work. "To make this more easier and safe for you. We can draw up a contract." I said to Cyrus. "A contract?" he asked. "Yes, a contract for the relationship, since you are trying it out. Maybe for a month, with rules and limits and conditions. And I will make sure to not cross any limit." I told him. "Okay, let's do that." He said. "You can come to my office after your shift, and we will go over the first draft and make some changes." I told him.
• “Alright,” Cyrus said, a little more firmly now, as if he was finally feeling more settled in the situation.
• We pulled up to his workplace, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of calm settle over me. I knew that we were taking things slowly, that there were still questions to answer and boundaries to respect. But I also knew that we were moving in the right direction, and that meant more than anything.
• “See you later,” I said as he opened the car door.
• “Yeah,” he replied, his smile more natural now. “Thanks, Darius.”
• As he walked into the building, I sat there for a moment, the quiet hum of the city outside filling the space around me. I was looking forward to what the next steps would bring, knowing that this was just the beginning of something real.