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“ You know what I like about space?”
“ What is it, my dear Columba?”
“ It’s endless . Eternal. Infinite. It gives off such a lonely yet ethereal feeling. Such an empty but fulfilling emotion. Beautiful, helpless, where we, the gods, for once, are nothing compared to the universe.”
Aromos was never bothered by Columba’s mood swings or feelings. Although he would admit that it was sometimes a struggle to deal with his constantly changing temperature, he considers it as one of the duties he had to do as a friend to the newer Star god.
At times, Columba was energetic and full of life. He would smile and entertain, and perform one of his dances to make other people happy. At times like these, Columba reminded him of himself (with less dancing). He didn’t know if Columba was really happy entertaining, or if he just felt the need to make the others happy.
At other times, Columba was mellow and sad. He was silent, self deprecating, and dark. His skin would be a pale hue and the constellations that Aromos drew across his back wouldn’t glow. He looked like he was becoming more and more like the space around them. Empty, sad, lonely. Ironically, those were the things that made his beauty shine more, but in a different light.
Aromos hated to admit it, really. Perhaps he was selfish, for thinking that Columba’s sadness was a beauty. But maybe he was right. Maybe some things were meant to be beautiful- even sadness.
It reminded him of his mentor and father figure. His chest clenches whenever he thought of him, but even if he was gone, the memories of when they were together were one of the safe places he could go when he couldn’t even trust his own mind.
He remembers it vividly. His mentor talked about space and the stars and constellations. He mentioned there was both life and light in each one of them, but it was unimaginable to reach. He talked about how big the universe was, and how there were limits to even the greatest of Gods, like him.
When he looked at Columba again, it was like his mentor’s words were painted across his body. He was the definition of what made the universe so eternal yet so helpless. He was like the unknown. The pure definition of what they couldn’t reach. The emptiness of space.
A statue. Aromos repeated again, A living statue.
He was curious. He was curious of how Columba felt during his never ending misery of the statue punishment. He was curious of the helplessness and loneliness he felt. He was curious of the question if Columba ever properly healed from it. Did he feel the same misery Aromos did when the death of his mentor fell upon him?
Today was one of the nights where the aurora lit up the dark sky. It’s an event that happens not that often, but not rarely either. But as star gods, they are made to appreciate every single light that appears in the darkness of space.
The aurora was a veil of golden greens and amethyst purple, hanging over the space like a gift for every being in the universe, even the gods.
But looking at Columba standing there, his white cloak that matched Aromos’, the bright light of the aurora light shining on his skin, richening the essence of his beauty- Aromos was somehow led to believe by the magnificent scene he was seeing that the universe was made for Columba only. For them.
“ Aromos, have you told the kids about the aurora light? They seem to really like it,” Columba says to him, a brief moment spent before he looked back at Aromos.
“ Oh, yes. They’ve all known about it- from their- wha-app- whatse-”
“ Whatsapp, you mean?”
“Ah, yes! Whatsapp!”
Columba let out a snicker and turned his body fully to him. “Why do you find it so difficult to memorize technology names?” He asks, one eyebrow raised. “ I’m a star god, not a human, Columba,” Aromos replies, walking to him.
The two gods were now standing beside each other, witnessing the scenery above them.
“ I’m glad that I proposed the idea of having a glass dome. This is absolutely brilliant, isn’t it?” Aromos turns his head curiously. “ It’s like we are in the open air- except we’re not. We’re separated by a glass wall but it’s like the sky is right in front of us.”
Aromos was too lost in Columba’s eyes to properly answer. “ Ah yes. It is indeed beautiful.”
The other God suddenly stretches out his arms and spins his body around, almost excitedly, as they both look at eachother, one confused and one happy. Aromos was happy over the fact that this was one of the days where Columba was happy, but yet, something just felt missing. He was embarrassed by how close he was Columba, how he felt like he was nothing compared to him. How could he even look him in the eyes, without thinking that the God, like the universe, was off-limits to him?
“ It’s like we’re the only ones in the universe, don’t you think?” Columba smiles, his eyes bright and shining with wonder. “I like that feeling. Makes me feel more special than ever.”
You’re always special to me, Columba. Aromos thought.
“ It’s like we’re the only ones here. And nothing else matters.”
Aromos repeats it over and over again in his head, nothing else matters. Nothing else matters except you and me .
“ And it's a scary, lonely feeling. But it’s beautiful, actually. There’s an underlying touch of peace between the lines of emptiness. You know?”
Aromos hung his head low. Columba seemed to tower over him. He felt small. Inferior. But it was not because of what Columba had said or done, but rather his existence as a whole just made him feel like a wallflower.
He knew he had felt this feeling before. It was too familiar to be new, yet too unfamiliar for Aromos to properly grasp what it was.
Right. His mentor.
He always felt his mentor was better than him in all aspects. He was better at philosophy, better at managing, better at socializing, better at being wise, better at powers, better at being a God- he could go on forever.
And now, the side of him that made him feel so simple compared to the complex things that surround him has been awakened again. By another God. But this time, one as young as him.
He shouldn’t feel so jealous and selfish of such a small thing. He knew Columba would never mock him but he still felt like if not Columba, then he would mock himself.
He didn’t deserve space. He didn’t deserve to talk, or take up air, or do anything when someone as special as Columba was around him. It would be taking something that wasn't meant to be his if he did.
But still, looking at Columba again, words flooded into his head of all the things he wanted to say to him. He wanted to say how much he meant to him, how much he mattered, how different he made him feel- how special he-
“ Like we’re the kings of the universe.” Aromos suddenly says amidst the silence.
Columba turned his head around. “Kings?” He repeated. “Wait, we?”
It was too late when he realized what he had just said. Columba’s expression lay blankly and speechless across his face, and the aurora was no more part of his main focus anymore. The bright light felt more dim and instead came from Columba. Perhaps he had said too much. Perhaps he shouldn't have opened his mouth in the first place. Perhaps he was too stupid for thinking he deserved to talk when the great God was there.
Now, it almost seemed like Aromos was hinting something to Columba. But he wasn’t hinting anything, right? What would he be hinting anyway? The fact that Aromos thought Columba was the greatest of Gods so therefore he was off limits to being Aromos’ lover?
Well, woops.
His hands trembled. He knew he shouldn’t have freaked out over such a small comment, but he did. Maybe if he said more it wouldn’t seem too obvious, but it was too late for that now. Now, the only thing that lay between them was silence.
He looked at Columba again. But, the God just smiled at him.
“ Kings, eh?” Columba nudged Aromos’ shoulder playfully. “ I like that!”
Columba had a way with smiles.
He then sat Aromos down on the cold floor, then he rested his head on a pillow from the shelf and remained facing upwards to the ceiling. Despite every single thought that flooded Aromos’ head, the aurora remained still. Despite how he thought everything was a mess and how the aurora's light had dimmed, it was still there. Alive, bright, and existing.
It kinda got Aromos thinking, honestly. Maybe not everything was a mess, maybe not everything was the end of the world. Time, nor space doesn’t stop for anyone. Despite everything that happens in the Gods’ lives, they don’t bow down to anyone. They just exist at their own pace, without a care in the world.
Despite being star gods, they never really knew where Space came from. After all, space was the start of everything. Aromos recalled Columba saying that even if the greatest star gods said they knew the answer, Columba doubted them.
Aromos thought that maybe it was meant to be that way. Maybe the mystery of space was never meant to be answered. Maybe some things were better off alone and let still than intervened with. Maybe that is part of the reason why it’s so beautiful.
But when he saw Columba again, him in his beautiful robes and unimaginably long hair, the constellations across his bodies that shone, somehow connected to the light above them. The love Aromos had for the God was not one of those things. He can’t imagine living the rest of his life quiet and still, his desire for Columba unrequited.
After all, the universe didn’t bow down to anyone. The universe will keep living, even if Aromos had his whole life downhill and broken.
Amidst the silence that was not unfamiliar to them, Columba spoke again.
“ You know, sometimes you act like those lifeless souls who won’t do anything unless they’re told to.”
“I don-t understand-” Aromos hurried, his fists clenched and his shoulders tight.
“ You don’t speak up unless you’re told-”
“ You’ve enchanted me, Columba!” Aromos exclaims, loudly, sitting up in a jolt. Columba stares blankly.
“ You have bewitched my whole being and soul. And- I can’t bear to look at you again without knowing your true feelings for me.”
Aromos looks away, his ears red and cheeks flustered. There was a brief moment of silence before he was the one who spoke again.
“My dear Columba, I want you to kiss me.”
Columba was speechless and had his jaw hung open. “Well, that’s a start.”
He scoots over to Aromos and lays his gentle hand on his lap. Aromos looked down and he intertwined his fingers with him. Like a puzzle that was meant to be put together, everything seemed to fit. Aromos finally takes a deep breath to see Columba who was now smiling.
“ Eh, I don’t find kissing too entertaining, honestly.”
“ Oh, then-”
His words were suddenly interrupted by a sudden touch of Columba’s lips on his cheek. It was short and sweet. Aromos didn’t have enough time to process everything. “That will work, eh?” He says with a chuckle.
Aromos tightens his grip on the other god’s fingers, trying to hold back a breath of relief. He looked into his eyes again, and everything was okay. Everything seemed fine. Everything seemed still.
“ Yes, yes it will.” He says finally.