For the past week, Arcane has been busy creating math problems for exams at the school where he teaches. He has to make problems that are not too complicated and easy to understand.
Moreover, this is his first year teaching at the school, so he has to be able to help his students get good grades so that the principal will see him as a competent teacher.
However, because of his busy schedule, he had to spend a lot of time in front of his laptop. He would come home in the afternoon, continue creating math problems, make dinner, and then continue working until late at night.
Julian, who witnessed this, felt that he wanted to help him. But what could he do to help the man because he didn't understand math at all.
Moreover, mathematics was a subject he had hated for a long time, so he didn't understand how to help him.
"I can't cook to help make dinner. I also can't do anything to help him finish his work so he doesn't have to stay up too late. Then what should I do?" he thought in confusion.
That night, at exactly 11:42 PM, Arcane stretched his body after being exhausted from working. He sat on the living room sofa, with his laptop still on the table.
Next to his laptop were several books for reference. In addition, he had notes on math problems so that his students could find the answers.
"I still have a few problems to work on. It's very late now, and I have to submit everything at school tomorrow," he said, glancing at the wall clock.
As he was about to continue his work, Julian came in and placed a cup of coffee and some rice balls next to Arcane. He turned to look at him, feeling confused and a little surprised that Julian was still awake.
"What's up? Do you want to watch TV tonight?" Arcane asked him.
"No, I bought them for you. I stopped by the convenience store earlier and thought you'd be working late again. So I bought these three onigiri there so you wouldn't be hungry and made a cup of coffee for you," Julian replied.
He couldn't cook, but at least he could buy food outside to heat up and give to Arcane.
"You know, you don't have to do all this. I'm fine," said the man, taking off his glasses.
"It's okay, even if you say you don't need it, I'll still do it. So just take a rest for a bit and eat the onigiri."
Arcane was silent for a moment at Julian's response, who cared about him even though he told the young man he didn't need to do it.
"My hands will get sticky if I eat that onigiri. You Shouldn't have removed the plastic wrapping so my fingers wouldn't get sticky from the rice," said the red haired man, protesting but only to tease him.
"Huh? Oh, right... I did that so it could be heated in the microwave. I messed it up again," said Julian with a heavy sigh.
Even though he had good intentions and thought it was a good idea. But once again, he made a mess.
However, at that moment, he had an idea. Julian ran out of the living room, leaving Arcane a little confused. But it didn't take long for him to return and sit next to him.
"Since you don't want your hands to get sticky, I'll feed you. I just washed my hands, so they're clean!"
Without hesitation, Julian took one of the onigiri and held it to his husband's mouth. Arcane was a little surprised that Julian suddenly wanted to feed him. But since he was hungry and didn't want to get his hands sticky, he ate the onigiri from Julian's hand.
His face flushed slightly, hoping Julian wouldn't notice. He picked up the cup of coffee he had made for him and took a sip.
"Not bad. I thought you'd make it really bitter," he commented.
"Just because I'm bad at cooking doesn't mean I'm bad at making coffee! I know the right proportions for that!"
Arcane chuckled and continued his work with Julian sitting beside him, feeding him onigiri.
That night, Arcane felt more energetic and helped by Julian's presence beside him. He felt that his living room, which was quite spacious, wasn't too quiet, which usually made him feel lonely.
The food fed to him also filled his empty stomach, giving him energy even though he had felt exhausted before.
"Finally finished, it's almost two in the morning now." Arcane breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that her work was finally done. He then turned to Julian, who was sitting next to him. "You should—"
His sentence was cut short when he saw that Julian had fallen fast asleep on the sofa, still sitting upright and holding his cell phone.
"He's asleep, huh? You should be sleeping in your room, not here," he muttered.
He had been asleep since earlier while waiting for Arcane to finish her work. A slight smile appeared on his face, and
he immediately closed his laptop and tidied up the table.
Slowly, he lifted Julian's body, which wasn't too heavy for him. He made sure the young man didn't wake up from his sleep and walked him to the bedroom.
Julian, who was asleep, suddenly nuzzled his neck and giggled. Arcane immediately stopped in his tracks because he felt his contract husband's face and breath on his neck.
"Mnnn..." he moaned in his sleep. He looked like a cat being affectionate with its owner.
'Why is he suddenly being so sweet?' he thought, then continued to carry him to the bedroom and lay him down on the bed.
Arcane pulled the blanket over Julian's body and gently stroked his head. He felt that Julian was truly someone who wanted to help him, even though he had limitations in doing so. It warm his heart.
He couldn't cook, but he knew he could buy something to eat for tonight. Something that even Arcane himself hadn't thought of before.
He even accompanied him to work by sitting in the living room even though it was already midnight.
"You did everything well. I appreciate your hard work. Thank you for that. And..."
He moved closer to him and whispered softly in his ear. "I'm glad you're my husband, even if it's just a contract."
He left a brief kiss on Julian's forehead before finally deciding to return to the living room and tidy up the rest of his work.
"I won't ask for more than what I have right now."