Felix sat at a small corner table in the campus café, the warm aroma of mint tea mingling with the faint hum of quiet conversation around him. His textbook lay open in front of him, a highlighter loosely held in his hand, though he hadn't marked anything for the past fifteen minutes. The soft jazz playing over the speakers provided a soothing backdrop to the scene, while steam curled gently from his half-empty teacup.

His focus had wandered—to the courtyard beyond the large glass windows, where his roommate stood with Ash. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the oak trees, casting dappled shadows across the pavement as Felix watched with a tightening chest. Ash leaned in, pressing a kiss to his roommate's lips, and Felix's jaw tensed involuntarily. The way Ash moved, smug and self-assured, made Felix's stomach churn with a mixture of jealousy and frustration.

A soft weight against his thigh broke him from his brooding. He glanced down to find a grey tabby cat curling up on his lap, its purring audible even over the café's background noise. A second, bigger white cat pawed at his shoulder before making itself comfortable, draping lazily across him like a scarf. Felix chuckled despite himself, his free hand instinctively moving to scratch behind their ears. The cats' soft fur provided a welcome distraction from his turbulent thoughts.

"You two really know how to pick your spots," he murmured, his voice soft. "Not that I mind." The cats purred louder, vibrations resonating against his chest and for a fleeting moment, the tension in his chest eased.

Then his gaze shifted back to the window. Ash was walking away, his attention already somewhere else, leaving his roommate standing alone under the oak tree. Felix's stomach twisted again as he noticed the slight frown on his roommate's face. They deserved so much better than someone who couldn't even spare them a full moment of attention. Someone who actually saw them, who treated them like they mattered.

The grey tabby cat stretched on his lap, interrupting his spiral of thoughts. Felix adjusted it gently, his fingers stroking its silky fur. He tried to focus on the warmth of the animals, on the comfort they brought, but the image of his roommate standing there lingered in his mind. He had to force himself to look down at his textbook again, though the words blurred on the page.

He didn't notice his roommate approaching until the white cat on his shoulder gave a faint meow. Felix looked up, startled for a brief moment before his expression softened into a warm smile. He quickly adjusted his posture, sitting up straighter as he closed the textbook. The cats shifted slightly but stayed curled in place, seemingly unbothered by the new presence.

"Hey," he greeted, his voice warm and steady despite the small flutter in his chest. He gestured to the chair across from him, his blue eyes meeting theirs. "I was just about to grab another tea. Care to join me?"