The door closed behind them with a soft click. Saval dropped the keys on the entryway shelf, next to a pile of mail he hadn't opened in days. The house smelled like it had been sealed shut, as if the air had fallen asleep while he was gone. He turned on a lamp in the corner, and the warm light filled the space with an almost immediate calm.
—Not too bad —said Semiel, looking around—. I thought it'd be a mess.
Saval shrugged as he took off his shoes.
—I left everything sort of ready before heading to your place… but we still need to move some stuff. Tomorrow I want to stream early, like around nine or ten.
—In the morning? That early?
—Yeah, I haven't done one at that time in a while. It's like… a different audience, different energy.
—Makes sense —Semiel smiled and went straight to the dining table, where there were some cables, a forgotten mug with dried coffee stains, and a notebook filled with scribbles—. Well then, let's get to work.
They spent the next half hour organizing the desk, adjusting the camera, cleaning the mic, and making the background of the room look less chaotic. Saval moved a half-dead plant out of frame while Semiel folded a blanket that had been draped over the back of the chair.
—This looks better —said Saval once he finally sat down and looked at everything from the stream's perspective—. What do you think?
—Looks good. You seem like a functional adult.
Saval chuckled softly.
—Thanks, I guess.
—After putting away the last cables and setting the lights for the next day, they both collapsed onto the couch, exhausted. They hadn't done that much, but the silence in the place made it feel like they had.
—Should we order something to eat? —asked Semiel—. My treat.
—You don't have to pay...
—But I want to.
Saval hesitated for a second, then nodded.
—Pizza, then.
—Perfect.
While Semiel placed the order on his phone, Saval went to the kitchen for glasses and a bottle of soda he had stashed away. There was no ice, but it didn't matter.
—You know what we're watching while we eat? —asked Saval when he came back—. Or are we just talking?
—Whatever you want —replied Semiel, sitting cross-legged on the couch—. Though I don't mind just talking.
The pizza arrived in less than twenty minutes. The box steamed when they opened it, and the smell filled the room with a comforting mix of melted cheese and toasted crust. Saval grabbed a slice, still hot, and hissed when some sauce dripped onto his finger.
—It's good —he said with his mouth half full.
—I know. This place never misses.
They ate in silence for a while, only the low sound of the TV accompanying them, playing some random documentary neither of them was really watching. When only two slices were left, Semiel set his glass on the table and turned slightly, looking at Saval.
—Hey —he said.
Saval glanced at him.
—Hm?
—This. Being here. With you. Sorting your stuff, eating pizza, talking about nonsense… it makes me happy.
Saval swallowed slowly, without looking away.
—I don't know, I guess... I just wish these kinds of moments lasted longer. Forever, if they could —added Semiel in a calm voice, without drama, almost like he was thinking out loud.
The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable. It felt more like a pause in the conversation than an emptiness.
Saval left his half-eaten portion on the plate.
—I feel good with you too —he said—. You make me feel at peace. And I really appreciate that you're always here with me.
Semiel was looking at him, with an expression that was hard to read.
—But I love you as a friend —Saval went on—. And I want us to stay that. Friends. No matter what happens.
Semiel didn't look away. He just took a slow, deep breath.
—Alright —he said after a few seconds.
Saval wanted to say something else, but at that moment his phone buzzed on the table. He picked it up, slightly raising his eyebrows.
—It's Mia —he murmured.
Semiel looked down, as if suddenly interested in the texture of the couch.Saval answered.
—Hello?
Mia's voice sounded cheerful on the other end. She asked if he was free the next afternoon —a movie they'd been wanting to see together had finally come out. Saval hesitated. He looked at Semiel, who said nothing.
—I don't know if...
—Go —interrupted Semiel, without raising his voice—. It'll be good for you to get out.Saval looked at him.
—Are you sure?
—Of course. You don't owe me an explanation.
There was a pause on the call.
—So? —said Mia, with a soft laugh.
—Yeah, let's go —Saval replied.
They talked for another minute, said goodbye, and Saval placed the phone face down on the table. He looked at Semiel again, but he was already gathering the empty plates.
—I'll wash them, okay?
—You don't have to...
—Let me do it.
And without waiting, he went to the kitchen.
Saval stayed on the sofa, staring into nothingness. His body felt full but his chest a little tight. Like when something makes you happy and sad at the same time.
After a few minutes, Semiel came back. They turned off the lights and said goodbye without many gestures, a calm goodnight. Semiel would sleep in the guest room bed. Saval in his own.Each locked themselves in their room.
Saval lay down staring at the ceiling. He thought about Mia, the movie, how he had felt a few days ago talking with her. He thought about what Semiel had said. About his hand holding his before the ice cream fell. About the shared laughter, about the comfortable silence.And then he kept staring at the wall, unmoving.
Semiel, on the other hand, lay on his side. He looked at the silhouette of the lamp slipping through the hallway under the door. He thought about everything he hadn't said. About everything he didn't need to say, because it was already said in other ways.
He closed his eyes.
Silence was the only thing they shared that night.