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The summer air flew by Brisbane as the sun is shining brighter as it is. Just by the local park a group of dogs gather around for another friendly game of cricket.
The trees surrounding the area gave the place natural shade and the rustling of the leaves indicated that casual winds visited the area making the place suitable for playing.
All ages and breeds of dogs can be seen here at the park. Some where enjoying their books, others where having their long awaited picnic dates while the latter where playing.
Tiny, a great dane, was just about to throw a cricket ball to another batter when just by the corner of his eyes he saw something red approaching.
"Hey mate!, Playing cricket again?" The red dog shouted from a far. Looking at the dog, a red australian kelpie was in view alongside another smaller version of him.
"Oh hey, Digger" Tiny said giving the ball to someone in order to continue the game while he entertain his friend.
As the great dane approaches the kelpie, he slowly realizes that, the smaller version that he brought has a resemblance to him.
"Hey Digger, this your brother?" Tiny asked.
"Yeah, this is Rusty. He wanted to see how cricket is played" Digger explained as he gave Rusty a noogie in the head.
"Oh that's great, well you brought him to the right place" Tiny said before kneeling down to Rusty's height and extending his paw to introduce himself.
The small australian kelpie reached out to the paw and gave a shake as the two gave smiled at each other. Tiny rose up again and dusted himself before looking at Digger.
"How about you Digs, wanna play?" Tiny said using his endearment name to his mate.
"You bet mate" Digger said as he led Rusty out to the field. Tiny watched the sibling go near the cricket field as he himself followed as well. Both him and Digger have been friends since there primary years and the kinship grew stronger when they realized that their interest for cricket is on par with each other. They support the same team, have the same idols and they also have the same signed Tshirt of that idol.
As years go by, the kinship turned to something much more, they felt like true brothers. As they reached their secondary year, Tiny felt more than brotherhood to Digger, he felt love. Not only because his interest is the same to his but because of the adventures they had and the characters he possessed.
The feeling of kindness whenever he talks to him or to others, the level of understanding and patience he gives to those who needs help and especially the love he gives out towards others especially to his family. Tiny at first thought the feeling he felt where just confusion, just a sense of 'looking up to him' but it changed when that event occured which solidified his feelings for him.
"Hey Tiny, you coming?" Digger shouted as he was holding a cricket bat and wearing a full body armor.
Tiny snapped out from his train of thought before shouting an 'okay' before jogging back to the field. As he reaches the other end of the cricket field where to bowler is he was handed the ball.
"You prepare to bat, Digger?" Tiny said warming up his arms, neck and hand as he constantly transfer the cricket ball from his left to paw to the right and vise versa.
"Was born ready Tiny, give me your best shot" Digger replied as he adjusted his helmet and bat. Tiny shrugged and steeped a few meters back to prepare for a pace attack.
The field was silent as the two friends looked each other in the eye. A sudden breeze passed between the court and with the single nod of the batter, Tiny ran as he prepared to throw the ball. Even with the right equipments, getting hit by the ball will give you bruises. So the best thing you can do to avoid that is hit or not hit the ball at all.
Digger wanted to impress his little brother as Rusty was sitting by the sidelines watching how he is going to respond to Tiny's pace attack. Giving a quick glance to Rusty he looked back at Tiny before nodding at him to signal that he is ready. Tiny responded with him running and throwing the ball, Digger kept his eye on the ball, the bat ready. Like an archer to his target, Digger successfully hit the ball which resulted with the ball flying outside the boundary.
Everyone clapped at the successful hit as Digger still can't believe he hit that, normally he would miss that as Tiny's pace was his weakness.
"Digger that was great" Tiny shouted as he clapped. He approached his friend to properly congratulate him for the hit. He smiled at how Rusty approached his big brother and gave him a hug, which was returned.
"That was amazing, can I have a turn?" Rusty said excitedly, tail wagging so fast indicating his excitement. Digger laughed as he patted Rusty in the head.
"Did you understand the rules on how to play?" Digger said removing his body armor.
"Yeah, I read about it and watched a few tutorials on DogTube" Rusty said. Digger smiled at that showing off his pearly white teeth and sharp canine.
"Oh come on Digs, let him play. He came prepared and wanted to experience the game" Tiny said helping Rusty convinced his older brother.
"Well... Okay..." Digger said which gained a big smile from Rusty. Tiny gave a small laugh at the small red kelpie's enthusiasm to the game. He watched Digger put the protective equipment on his younger brother when my name was called from behind.
Looking back I saw a German Shepard about our age approach me. I waved back to which he returned the gesture.
"Hey Lance" I said.
"Hey man, I can't find the ball. Do you have an extra?" The German shepherd said scratching his head. I nodded and pointed at the chest just under the tree. That is where all the great dane's cricket equipments was placed.
"Okay thanks man, sup Digger" he said before leaving the place. Digger already finished placing the armor on Rusty and allowed him to play on the field.
"Hahaha your brother is cute" Tiny said looking at the energetic red kelpie.
"Yeah, to think I used to be like him when I just first discover the game cricket" Digger responded looking at the field.
"Hahah true, you were so excited that time when I introduced you to the game" I said. Both of us were now sitting on the grass under a tree enjoying the shade its giving.
"You know, it's been to long since we hang out like this. Just here enjoying the place. No homework to stress on" Digger started adjusting his cap.
"True, it felt like forever since we last played cricket. With all the tests and assignments. I never knew stepping into highschool will be so much stressful" Tiny replied.
Both laughed at the memories they shared while they started off their freshmen years.
Digger and Tiny have done everything together, from studying to late night practices of cricket just to get in the team. Their bond was unbreakable.
Tiny never really have a memory of when both of them are not together. Yeah, sometimes both maybe busy with their individual lives like how the great dane is busy teaching kids from the local parks on how to play cricket, and with the red kelpie busy taking care of his siblings, while his dad in the army. Those were the only times the two were not seen together.
As another friendly wind visited them again, the great dane decided that now is the moment he is going to confess. World be damn if he don't accept, at least he hadn't wasted this perfect opportunity to let out his feelings.
"Umm... Digs, you know we've been friends since middle school right?" The great dane started, nervousness slowly creeping into every inch of his nerves.
Like a movie scene, Digger looked at him, his hair flowing with the wind. His cap was now beside him. I don't know what filter was in the great dane's eyes that made the red kelpie more attractive. "Yeah? Why'd you ask?" He said with complete confusion.
Tiny was in awe, it almost as if he doesn't want to confess now just so we won't ruin this scene. Well, their is nothing he could do now, swallowing his nervousness he confessed.
"It,s just... I... I can't keep this anymore. I like you" the confession made by the great dane was responded by an enthusiastic reply.
"I like you as well mate" the red kelpie said smiling at the great dane.
Tiny blushed at his statement but it hurts that he didn't actually get the full statement. But he can't blame him, swallowing his pride again he clarified.
"No dude, I mean... I... Like like you, as in could we be more than just friends?"
...
Silence was met by the great dane. Digger just looked at Tiny with the most confused and shocked face. Tiny being embarrassed by this decided to take it back by saying 'its a joke' before standing up to escape the embarrassing moment. Just before he could fully stand up he was pulled back down to his butt by a firm grasp on his left paw. He fell down ungraciously and just when he was about to apologize to him for the joke, he was met with a kiss on the muzzle.
Tiny's world came crashing down, Digger was kissing him, not on the cheek, not on the forehead but on the lips. His first kiss was he's best friend. Not fully registering what's happening he pulled away.
"Uhhhh ... Um.. what was that?" Tiny explained, an blush covering most of his face, Digger being a red kelpie, his fur is actually, well RED, so the blush isn't obvious.
"Sorry, T, it's just well I don't want you rambling anything before you here my side of the story" Digger said using his endearment on the great dane, his paw still holding Tiny's paw.
The world stood still to this two dogs, no outside factor could destroy this moment. Despite Tiny's embarrassment, he just looked down but didn't move giving his permission for Digger to explain.
"T, you did not know how much I wanted you to say that" Digger started. Tiny was shock at the revelation but opted to remain silent in order for the red kelpie to continue.
"I wanted to make the first move but I am afraid that I might read the message wrong"
Tiny was confused, how will he read the message wrong when he was the one not responding to the subtle signs he was giving to him since freshmen. He looked up to face Digger with curiosity and was met with a face filled with love.
"What do you mean?" The great dane asked.
"It's just well... You sometimes present yourself with so much confidence that I thought you don't swing the way I do" Digger said embarrassingly which made the great dane look at him dumbfounded.
Silence took over between the two, the background noise of the kids playing cricket filled the space, leaving a type of white noise for the two to just enjoy. After a few minutes of Tiny processing the information he laughed.
The laugh made by the great dane made the red kelpie confused opting him to ask his friend what he'd said wrong. The dog ignored him and opted to release the laughter that had built inside him.
The great dane recollected himself, calming down from his high and proceeded to do one of the smartest things to do to a confused dog. He launched himself to Digger in order to give him a hug which made them fall to the grass with Tiny above the red kelpie.
"Oh you idiot, that was me trying to work my efforts to at least give you a sign, but your dense brain can't comprehend those signs" Tiny said chuckling. Digger looked confused but slowly understand the meaning behind it and started to chuckle which made the latter above him to chuckle as well.
Both dogs stayed at that positions for who knows how long. If time could just rewind, this would have been his favorites scene. Digger deciding to hit base he gave the great dane a hug pushing him down to his body and giving him a kiss on which the dog above him responded.
Both the dogs engaged in a fiery and passionate kiss that if both were not in a public park, they must have already reached third base.
While both was busy with their own little world, they didn't realize that a little red australian kelpie approached them with a smug look. Deciding to cut them off before something would happen that would cause him to bleach his eyes, the smaller version of the red kelpie cleared his throat which made the two teenager to scramble off each other in a disheveled mess.
Digger looked at the perpetrator who decided to ruin their moment and was glad to see Rust. Being the over protective brother that he is, he gave the smaller version of himself a quick scan to see any limping and bruising. To know that their is none, he was satisfied before giving his little brother a glare.
"Hey Digger, good to know you finally gained your love" Rusty said chuckling as he decided to sit beside his brother.
Digger rolled his eyes and decided to give Dust a side hug while messing with his head fur. Tiny on the other hand was still embarrassed by the revelation of what they done and to top it off, on how they were find out by his his lovers younger brother.
Fixing himself up, the great dane looked at how the siblings play fight enjoying the moment and preserving the scene in his head. Deciding to make himself known, he asked Rusty about the practice game. The small australian red kelpie looked at him and smiled giving him a two thumbs up.
Tiny gave a smile a decided to pat him in the head. The three decided to enjoy each other's company as the kids in the park slowly lessened with the arrival of the orange hue in the sky. The three decided to stand up and proceeded to the court where Tiny's cricket materials sprawled out.
The three spend the remaining time cleaning the materials and safely putted it inside the chest. Tiny proceeded to count off the cricket ball when he realized that another ball went missing. Deciding to ask Rusty about it, he just sheepishly smiled and apologized before running towards the gate of the park. Digger saw this and laughed, apologizing to his boyfriend before promising to buy him two more cricket balls.
Tiny just shook his head and chuckled to himself. Taking one good look at his things and satisfied that everything is complete,sans that two cricket balls, before closing the chest before putting it in a red wagon. Dragging the wagon with chest on it, he approached Digger and gave him a hug and kiss.
"Thank you... for everything" Tiny said face in the red kelpie's chest.
"I love you.." Digger said returning the hug
"I love you too"
Both the dogs wagged their tails before proceeding to walk outside the park gates, talking about the latest news on the sports world.
"You know, you kelpies' always hit the ball far out the boundary line" Tiny said realizing something. Digger just laughed at this statement, deciding to not comment on it as the two enjoyed walking back home.
The park is always home to to many, from small critters roaming around to different wildlife inhabiting the place. It became a destination of relaxation and fun, but for today the park became a witness of a young love ready to grow and blossom.