Pavitr sat across from me at his dining table with books and highlighters spread out between us. Auntie Maya brought us tea and snacks, then left us to ourselves. With Pavitr being so busy lately, this study date was the first time in weeks that I had gotten some time with him. I cherished every second from the moment we sat down together after school to now, as the sky darkened and the sun slowly disappeared behind Mumbattan.
“Pav, do you—” I yawned into my hand.
He looked up from his notebook. His headband had been long discarded, so the hair that he didn’t tie up was hanging in his face. It was the first time I’d seen his face in half an hour. “Are you tired? We can call it a day if you’d like.”
I shook my head. “No, no…I’m alright.”
“Okay. What were you going to say?”
I tapped my pencil on my notebook. I completely forgot my question. “Um…what was it… Oh, I was going to ask if you’d be free this weekend. There’s a new movie coming out and I wanted to see it with you.”
His legs found mine under the table, from there he found my chair and pulled me closer. “I’ll have to see, but if I can go I’ll pay.”
“You don’t have to.”
He smiled and brushed the hair out of his face. “I don’t, but I want to.”
“How much more do you have on your worksheet?” I rested my cheek on my palm. “I’m about halfway through.”
Pav looked at his notebook. “I already finished.” He flipped back a page. “About an hour ago.”
Of course. “Then what have you been…” I gestured to his notebook, “working on?”
“I’ve been drawing.”
“Oh, that’s—”
“It’s you.” Pavitr flipped back to the page he was on and turned his notebook to me. “Look, I drew it while you were nodding off earlier. You’re so cute when you’re sleepy.”
He had drawn it all in pencil, but it was so intricately detailed and somehow perfectly captured the lighting and how soft my skin was in contrast to the hard table. Pavitr really paid attention to every little detail and captured it all in a picture. Of course Mr. Perfect could draw so beautifully.
“Pav…”
He pointed to the picture, not bringing his eyes off of it. “Just look at yourself. I couldn’t do you any justice, but I just couldn’t let the moment pass while you were working. You’re so handsome, (Name).” He looked at me again. “I’m sorry, I got carried away.”
“It looks amazing, Pav. I love it.”
He put his notebook back down. “I can help you with your homework.”
“Please,” I sighed, reaching across the table. “I’m stuck.”
***
“Thanks so much.” I leaned against Pav’s side. “I love you.”
He wrapped his arm around me. “I love you too.”
“I missed this.” I looked up at him. “Being able to cuddle up with you, even if we’re studying. It’s been months now.”
He rubbed my arm. “Yeah…”
“Is everything alright, by the way? I never got the chance to ask.”
He pulled his arm away. “I actually…nevermind.”
“Is it a sensitive topic?” I carefully asked as I sat up. I held his arm. “That’s okay if it is, you don’t have to tell me.”
He kissed me on the forehead. “You’re so understanding. I promise I’ll tell you. Now just isn’t the right time.”
“That’s okay. Some things are too sensitive for study cuddles at the table.”
He laughed. “Maybe, but no time is wrong for me to tell you how much I love you.”
I kissed him. “Good, because I love you too.”
He grabbed the bottom of my chair and pulled me closer. “Come here.”
“I’m here.”
“Come here.” He pulled me into his lap. “You’re just…so handsome.”
I smiled and kissed him. “And you’re so sweet.”
He grabbed my hips and rubbed circles with his thumbs and licked his lips.
“Mm, you taste like chai.”
He kissed me again and I grabbed the sides of his shirt. One of his arms wound around my waist and the other cupped my cheek.
“Pav,” I mumbled.
“Shhh.” He pulled me closer and kissed me again. “Don’t say too much.”
I pulled away and lifted part of his shirt up. “No, Pav, are you wearing another shirt?”
His eyes widened and he fixed his shirt. “(Name), I…um—I…”
He moved my hands and refused to meet my eyes.
“Are you hiding something?”
“It’s not—I’m not hiding anything to be worried about.”
I cupped his cheek and pressed my hand against his chest. His heart pounded against my palm. “Pav, look at me. Calm down.”
His eyes met mine briefly.
“Breathe with me, come on.”
“I’m fine.” He took a deep breath. “Just…promise me you won’t freak out.”
“What is it? You’re making me nervous, Pav.”
“No, no, don’t be nervous. It’s not bad, I promise. Just watch, okay.” He pecked me on the forehead. “Eyes on me.”
Pavitr grabbed the sides of his shirt and looked at me before he slowly peeled it upwards.
“Pavitr,” I whispered, staring at the bright red and blue spandex suit underneath his shirt. “You’re…”
His shirt fell to the floor.
“Spider-Man.”
He grabbed my hands. “(Name)...”
“You’re Spider-Man.” I pulled my hands out of his. “You, Pavitr Prabhakar, are Spider-Man. My boyfriend is Spider-Man.”
“I am.”
I grabbed his cheeks. “Pav, you’re Spider-Man.”
He nodded, a smile beginning to replace the worry. “I am.”
“You’re my boyfriend, and you’re Spider-Man.”
Pavitr kissed me. “I am.”
“I’m sorry, it’s just…so much to take in.”
“I understand.”
“Pavitr,” Auntie Maya called.
“Yes, Auntie?”
I jumped off of his lap and he slipped his shirt back over his head.
“Can you bring me my glasses?”
“Yes!”