Chapter 4

Soren woke up before Juno did, he stayed awake for a while, looking at the ceiling. The room was dark except for the light coming in from the edge of the curtains. Juno was still asleep beside him, on his stomach, one arm lying loosely on the sheet breathing slowly like he didn't have a single thing to worry about.

Soren watched him for a moment then he looked back at the ceiling.

He got up quietly, picked his clothes off the floor and went to the bathroom. He showered, got dressed, did everything in the order which he always did. When he came out, Juno was still sleeping. Soren stood at the window with a cup of coffee from the machine on the counter and looked out at the city outside. It was just past six, the streets were still quiet with a few cars driving through.

He wasn't thinking about anything in particular.

The sheets shifted behind him.

"You're already dressed."

Juno's voice was rough with sleep, Soren didn't turn around immediately.

"I have an early morning," he said.

"What time is it?"

"Few minutes past six."

He heard Juno sit up slowly, exhaled and then go quiet. After a moment Soren turned around, Juno was sitting up in bed with the bedsheet on his lap, his hair all over the place, looking at Soren with those dark eyes that were soft from sleep. He glanced through the room once then back at Soren.

"Did you sleep at all?" Juno asked.

"A little."

"Me too," He stretched his neck to one side and winced slightly. "There's no more coffee, is there?"

"The machine is on the table."

Juno looked at it then got up without any fuss and went to it. He didn't seem bothered at all about walking around in just his underwear in a stranger's hotel room at six in the morning. He made his coffee, came back and stood beside Soren at the window and they both looked out at the city without saying anything for a while.

The morning lingered between them quietly.

"So," Juno said after a moment.

Soren looked at him.

"Last night.." Juno turned his cup slowly in his hands, "that was not what I expected when I sat down at that bar."

"What did you expect?"

Juno thought about it, "honestly? To drink something embarrassing, feel sorry for myself for an hour or two then go home." He looked at Soren, "you were not part of the plan."

"Neither were you," Soren said.

Juno smiled at that genuinely and stared out of the window. There was a comfortable silence between them again. Outside, a delivery truck was making its way slowly down the street below, the city was going about its morning completely unbothered.

"Does it bother you?" Juno asked again, "that you didn't plan it."

Soren considered the question longer than he intended to, "i don't think so."

Juno nodded like that was a reasonable answer, he didn't push further.

"You never told me your name," he said after a moment.

Soren looked at his cup, "No I didn't."

"Are you going to?"

"No."

Juno nodded again and took a sip of his coffee, he didn't push for it or make anything out of it. He just stared back at the window, Soren stood beside him and neither of them moved away from each other.

There was a knock at the door, they both turned towards it.

"Good morning sir," The voice on the other side said, very calmly and professional. "It's just a reminder that you have an early meeting and your documents are ready on the private floor. Your mother also called, she said she couldn't reach you and she wanted to remind you about the dinner for next week friday."

Juno looked at Soren.

Soren looked at the door, "thank you, i will be up shortly."

The footsteps moved away down the corridor.

The room went quiet again.

Juno turned his coffee cup slowly in both hands, he didn't say anything for a while. He just looked around the room again, slower this time, taking in the suite, the heavy curtains, the floor, the way the staff knocked on the door at six in the morning to remind this man about his schedule like it was completely a normal routine.

He looked at Soren.

Soren stared back at him and said nothing.

Juno nodded once like he was taking note and observing quietly then he finished the rest of his coffee. He set the cup down on the nightstand and went to pick up his clothes from the floor. He got dressed without rushing, Soren stood at the window and looked at the city. He was very aware of every sound behind him without turning around.

Juno picked up his phone and his sweater.

He stared at Soren once again for a moment then Soren turned to face him.

"Last night," Juno said.

Soren waited.

"It was the best night I've had in a long time." He said it simply then he smiled and walked to the door.

He had his hand on the handle when he stopped.

"Whoever you are," he didn't turn around. "You should smile more, It would do a lot for that face."

He opened the door and walked out, the door shut behind him.

Soren stood at the window and looked at the door for a while. Outside, the city was waking up slowly, the streets getting busy, the morning sun becoming warmer. He finished what was left of his coffee even though it had become cold.

His phone buzzed on the nightstand, he walked over and picked it up.

It was a text from his mother.

Mama🌟: honey don't forget the dinner next week and do not be late. Oh…please, also try to bring someone too.

He put the phone down on the nightstand and stood there embracing the quietness of the room, he didn't move for some time.

The bed was still slightly unmade on Juno's side, the two coffee cups sat on the nightstand, the city outside kept going, completely indifferent.

Soren picked up his jacket from the chair and put it on.

He had a meeting to attend.