The Love Algorithm

Chapter 12: Terms and Conditions

William couldn't stop thinking.

Not about muffins. Not about the weirdly good ramen place near his apartment.

Just... Est.

The awkward posture on the couch. The almost-shy way he'd held the coffee cup.
And the fact that he showed up. Really showed up — at William's door, with muffins.

There was something under that cool exterior. Something real.
And William? He wanted the world to see it. Or at least, himself.

So on Sunday afternoon, after pacing his apartment twice and rewriting the message four times, he finally hit send.

William:
I can come back on one condition.

I'll try not to disturb your work. But I don't like working in an environment where there's no human touch.

So, everyday — after work or during lunch — you'll spend time with me not talking about work.

Also, team dinner on Fridays. Even if "team" means just you and me.

You can invite others. I'm fine either way.

He waited.

Read the message back and cringed.

Est (finally replying):
But you already agreed to come back.

William grinned. He could see the confusion on Est's face.

William:
I'm thinking otherwise now.

It all depends on whether you agree to my condition or not.

Then — nothing.

For an entire hour.

William sat on the floor. Got up. Sat again. Nearly deleted the message history twice.

Was it too much? Did I push him? What if he actually doesn't want me back?

He hovered over his keyboard and began typing:

"Hey, I was just trying to pull a prank on you—"

Ping.

Est:
Ok.

That was it.

Just: Ok.

William leapt off the couch, let out an involuntary whoop, and high-fived the air.
He couldn't stop grinning for a full ten minutes.

Monday morning.

He walked into the lab with a muffin bag in one hand and a smile that could power the building's backup generator.

"William!" Santa cried, practically launching himself at him.

He stumbled back a step, laughing. "I was gone for, what, a week?"

"Too long," he said, squeezing tight. "The vibe in here was tragic."

Est, sitting two desks away, glanced sideways.

Expression: blank.
Jaw: tense.
Hands: paused over his keyboard for half a beat too long.

It wasn't rage. Or discomfort.
It was... something William couldn't quite name.

Jealousy?

He raised an eyebrow in Est's direction, sauntered over, and leaned against the desk just like old times.

"Good morning, Dr. Emotional Firewall."

Est looked up, visibly unsure whether to frown or combust. "You're late."

"I brought muffins," William replied, holding up the bag like a peace offering. "That grants me a ten-minute grace period."

Est blinked. "That's not how grace periods work."

"Too late. I already made it a rule. I'm in charge of morale now."

Est sighed, typing something — probably a way to disable company Wi-Fi.

The morning passed with quiet activity. William reviewed the new schema structure with the junior researcher team, cracked two jokes that made Santa snort, and didn't so much as glance in Est's direction — until lunch.

He walked by Est's desk and gave it a light tap. "Time to fulfill your contractual obligation."

Est sighed again. "We didn't sign a contract."

"I screenshotted your 'ok.' It holds up in meme court."

They ate on the rooftop — quieter, less formal than the lab. William unwrapped his sandwich. Est pulled out a meticulously packed bento.

"You made that?" William asked, surprised.

"I prepare meals in advance. Efficient calorie distribution."

"That's... depressingly precise."

Est looked at his food. "It helps with structure."

William nodded. "I get it."

A beat.

Then: "Did you always like structure? Even as a kid?"

Est paused mid-bite. Something unreadable passed over his face.

"I learned to prefer it," he said carefully. "It was easier to navigate the world that way."

William watched him. "What about fun? Friends?"

"I had a few. Briefly."

"What happened?"

Est shrugged. "They didn't stay."

William didn't push. But he didn't change the subject either.

"Maybe they just didn't know what to look for," he said softly.

Est met his gaze — not defensive, just... still. "What do you think they missed?"

William smiled. "A lot."

They returned to the lab in companionable silence.

Est sat down, opened his console, and began typing.

William watched him for a second longer than he should have, then went back to his seat.

But for the rest of the day, Est's screen flickered slower than usual.
His thoughts ran a little less straight.

Because structure? It had never been this... distracting before.