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The bustling night of Caravan Ribat has died down and the two roommates are walking home from Alhaitham’s impulsive shopping, saying he cannot pass the opportunity to buy. Kaveh can only complain because Alhaitham shouldered their survey expenses in the desert.
“Book covers, bookmarks, pens, and a lamp...Seriously? Just make sure you use these. If I see you letting these rare goods gather dust, I’ll secretly drink all the wine you’re storing.” Kaveh complains while checking the two paper bags they’re holding.
“Why reveal your plan? I will store it in a safe with my biometrics as a lock, then.”
'So petty.' Kaveh thought.
They walked on the trail chatting side by side, shoulders touching. They don’t mind, though. This kind of proximity has been normal to them lately. Who knows when it changed?
Seven minutes passed, and both heard a faint sound of people singing. There was smoke visible in the sky too.
Kaveh asked, “Who’s celebrating at this hour in this area?”
“Must be a family tradition. Looks like someone has a birthday today.”
Kaveh looks at him strangely because of how detailed the comment he made.
The gray-haired man shrugged and went ahead. “Let’s just see. I think we will pass by them.”
The moment they arrived, the two were welcomed by two kids shouting “A guest! A guest!” And they got… dragged.
“H-hey, wait!”
Well, Kaveh was the only one who got dragged by those small hands.
When they arrived, Alhaitham’s attention was caught by the man dressed as Eremite, sitting in front of the bonfire. It’s the man who got into an unnecessary fight with Alhaitham three months ago because he was mistaken for a robber in a temple (he was just researching).
Alhaitham raised a brow while the man was taken aback by seeing him once again. Nothing special in this story.
The kids let go of Kaveh who was panting and Alhaitham stood beside him, close enough to hear the faintest sound their bodies would make.
Kaveh caught his breath before asking, “What are you staring at?” Kaveh also looked in the direction of the man. “Who’s that?” He whispered to Alhaitham’s ear and looked at him unconsciously intently. That tickled something inside him. Maybe that was his ear hair or somethin’.
Alhaitham shifted his attention to Kaveh and whispered too, “He was the Eremite I fought back when I was researching a temple three months ago.” They formed an unwritten and unsaid rule that if one of them whispers, the other will answer quietly. Kaveh once said people should talk discreetly outside. Alhaitham somewhat agreed with his point of view.
Kaveh pondered for seconds and then giggled, holding onto his junior’s left arm. “Honestly, I won’t blame him for mistaking you as a thief when you were all covered in black.”
“Repeating yourself, I see,” Alhaitham remarked.
During that time, he unexpectedly got skin rashes from sunlight while exploring. Alhaitham decided to finish his work instead of going home, so he covered himself up to avoid further exposure.
The kids went back and this time, with an elderly man and woman. The elderly woman is holding a flower crown of Mourning Flower. Kaveh sensed that one of them would have to wear it. He then imagines Alhaitham with it which makes him giggle quietly.
“It’s you again, young man. It seems you have someone with you” The elderly man greets Alhaitham.
Seriously, what’s going on with you today?
Alhaiham can see through what his senior is trying to say with his look.
“Hahaha. You look confused, pretty boy. I owe a lot to him. He helped us put out a fire when we celebrated my birthday four months ago and saved me from a group of Treasure Hoarders two weeks ago.”
That put a sweet smile on Kaveh’s face.
He thought, ‘He’s so nice.’.
“I was just passing by, you don’t have to worry about that.” Alhaitham declared.
“You don’t have to worry about having a debt to you as well.” The elderly woman sweetly said as she encircled her hand on her husband’s arm.
“Very well. Looks like I can’t argue more. Anyway, I think that crown will look good on my companion.” He quickly turned around the conversation to the flower crown made from Mourning Flowers. The way the crimson color blooms reminds Alhaitham of Kaveh’s eyes. It turns out that Alhaitham wanted to see Kaveh wearing it too. Since Alhaitham had already worn a flower crown last time, he could get away with wearing it this time—hitting two birds with one stone.
Meanwhile, Kaveh had no time to react or remark about Alhaitham’s savior moment ‘cause of what he did.
“Huh? Why me?!”
It should be you!
The kids got excited by Alhaitham’s statement and held Kaveh’s hand again.
“Yeah! You look like a prince fairy so we purposely asked for a spare crown for you!” the little girl said.
“Come! Let’s dance, mister fairy.” the other girl invited. Some children are easily enchanted by beauty. Luckily, Kaveh isn’t a kidnapper; he’s just a pushover for cute things (like desert foxes).
Alhaitham was invited to sit as some people and Kaveh started a big circle around the bonfire. His gaze was fixed on the man, who seemed to radiate more as he basked in the firelight. Kaveh is holding the hands of two children, but why does it seem like he is clutching on Alhaitham’s heart right now? With his sweet pretty smile plastered on his mouth that pours out honey of sound when he giggles, how can anyone bear that?
“Quite a deep gaze, eh? Are you guys a couple?” The Eremite teased, setting himself beside Alhaitham without prior notice.
“...Do we look like a couple to a stranger?”
“At least your proximity gave it away. Nothing platonic must be going on with how you stick together.” The Eremite recalled their manner of whispering and talking. Alhaitham and Kaveh’s body movements are not common among close friends. It’s something you cannot look away from once you see them.
Romantic, then.
Alhaitham thought of something that gave him a little smile. “I see.”
Kaveh and Alhaitham left thirty minutes later as it was getting late. Added to their shopping items is the flower crown the children insist on bringing. At home, they did their usual night routine and proceeded to bed. Kaveh’s mind and body were so worn out from all that. Alhaitham, on the other hand, was deeply thinking of something else.
After that day, Kaveh noticed something different about Alhaitham. That junior of his has been keeping a distance from him when they’re together. Normally, the space between should amount to seven inches or less. Presently, it’s been about ten inches.
“Call me delusional but I am an Architect, Mehrak. I’m the best with measurements, you know that.” She makes an expression showing she is not even accusing him of anything.
Kaveh is alone in their home currently and has been ranting to Mehrak because he can’t face Tighnari and Cyno yet about this matter. It’s only been five days. He can’t figure out if Alhaitham has become conscious of their touches and distance or if he’s the one conscious of not being near to him these days.
Ugh…Is this really a big deal?
“What did happen that day? Was I too smelly from the sun that he didn’t wanna be around me anymore? No, it can’t be. He should have made a joke about it already…or he’s just being considerate of me? Maybe…he gets hard now when close to me?” Kaveh blushed at his latter assumption.
“Sigh. I should stop overthinking this. I’m gonna talk to him about this.” Well, Kaveh is a changed man. Life’s too short to hold back things. How ironic that becomes when it comes to their relationship .
He got up from the divan and went to the kitchen to prepare their dinner. Alhaitham will be home soon.
They just finished everything that needs to be done for the night. Alhaitham is inside the bathroom and Kaveh, with pajamas on, is waiting outside. He’s been practicing the structure of his question for three minutes. He senses that Alhaitham is done and panically moves aside.
“What are you doing?” Alhaitham asks while ruffling his wet hair with a towel.
“Uh none.” Kaveh avoids his eyes.
“I see you’re onto something. Alright, good night.” His junior turns around to get ready for his bed.
“Um, wait! Truthfully, I have…a question.” Kaveh blurts out, not moving from the spot where Alhaitham found him. When Alhaitham turned to look at him, he didn’t move either.
Kaveh nervously asks, “Are you keeping your distance…from me? Why?”
Oh well. That was supposed to be a question , not two questions.
Alhaitham's eyes flickered for a moment because Kaveh looked like a lost puppy. He composed himself and feigned ignorance. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t take me for a fool. I am good at math. The proximity between our feet and shoulders changed.” Kaveh looked to his right side because he could not say those words while looking at him.
Alhaitham almost let out a laugh at how silly that sounded from Kaveh. “Hmm. Does it bother you?” He continues to press him.
Kaveh looks at him grumpily and crosses his arms. “Hah! Would I ask if it didn’t?!”
“Do you mind if someone mistakes us as a couple because of our closeness?”
“What? A couple? Like b-boyfriends?” Kaveh stutters. He cannot say those…kinda intimate words which now associate them together.
Alhaitham waits for his answer and starts decreasing their distance. Kaveh took a step back.
“N-no. I…guess,” Kaveh answers as he drifts his eyes down.
“So, the idea of being boyfriends is fine too?”
Alhaitham keeps walking forward while Kaveh keeps walking back. A spiral in his eyes can be almost seen because Alhaitham is confusing him right now. He just wanted to resolve the mystery of their lost proximity.
“Aghh! Why do you keep asking me when I’m the one who asked first?”
Kaveh cannot walk back anymore. The proximity he’s finding is in front of him now. From his breath, he can smell mint. From his red pupils blending with that gorgeous teal iris, he can see himself.
“I tried to see if you will notice.”
What the fuck? “What does that even mean?” Kaveh asks confusingly.
That you like being close to me.
Deep down though, he knows what Alhaitham implied. Alhaitham smiles at him and stares at his hair.
“You know it, Kaveh.”
Ugh…this man!
“I think adding a veil to the back of the flower crown would suit you. If you wear that and dance in front of me, I might consider answering your question.”
Kaveh was surprised by the absurd request, but his nape and ears turned red at the thought of Alhaitham imagining him in it.
“Too bad. I’ll only allow you to imagine and dream of me wearing it.”
Alhaitham looks pleased as he takes a step back.
“Alright. I’ll go to bed now and try to.”
His junior was actually serious because Kaveh was the only one left outside, dumbfounded. He exhaled loudly and went to bed as well, too exhausted to follow Alhaitham.
An hour later, Kaveh’s bedroom door opened slightly, and a gray head peeked through the gap. Alhaitham walked inside to find Kaveh curled up under the comforter. He took the flower crown from his work desk and crouched beside Kaveh’s bed.
Alhaitham took a moment to admire the flower crown before leaning in to kiss it. He gently placed it on Kaveh’s head.
Admiring the view, Alhaitham whispered, “Pretty.”
End.