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The leaves from the nearby trees rustled as a gentle breeze flowed through the land. The quiet yet still audible sound of crickets chirping filled the air, the calmness of the night only being broken by the sound of someone treading on the grass. The boy held out a lantern, allowing him to see where he was walking as he moved across the grass field with light footsteps. Not long after, his destination came into sight, prompting him to turn off his light and sit down. The one he had sat next to merely took a quick glance in his direction, turning back to gaze at the sky with hands propping him up from behind and his legs stretched out.
“Andrew, why couldn’t we just talk back at the camp? I don’t understand you sometimes, really…” The boy let out a sigh, and a chuckle rang out from beside him in response.
“Dante,” The long-haired boy turned his head towards him. “Considering the words I wish to say, it’d be a horrible idea to expose it to potentially prying ears, no? Unless I misremembered, I do believe I mentioned that it was something important.” His tone was light, teasing even. Dante sincerely hoped that the area was dim enough at that moment, not wanting the other boy to notice the light pink that dusted his cheeks.
“...Fair point, I won’t argue.” He let out a small laugh of his own. “So, what was it that you wanted to say? It’s already awfully late into the night, best we hurry back lest your eyebags get even worse from a lack of sleep.” Dante lightheartedly joked back.
“You know I’d easily stay up for the rest of the night. Just say the word, and I’ll do as you ask to the best of my ability.” Andrew replied immediately, letting out an exasperated huff to Dante’s surprise. “Haven’t I told you countless times already? I’d sacrifice anything for you.” He added, keeping his gaze locked with Dante’s as his eyes narrowed. Andrew’s gaze softened after a while, smiling at his with the same charisma he always showed the other.
Dante wanted nothing more than to pull his mask back up to cover his flushed face and look away at those words. He knew the longer-haired of the two had always had a knack for teasing him, and with time he gradually learnt how to suppress any reaction that would’ve given his flustered state away. Yet even the nonchalant him could only watch helplessly as the weird pounding in his chest became more pronounced, heartbeat quickening solely due to the presence of the boy beside him.
“You’re just joking, again.” He tried to play it off with a facade of calmness, closing his eyes to prevent any trace of his inner turmoil from leaking out.
“Mhmmm. Believe what you will, if that’s what makes you feel better.”
The chirping of crickets filled the air once more as the two fell into silence. Dante reopened his eyes after he felt it drag on for what he deemed too long, turning his head only to find out that Andrew had been staring at him all this time. His face then flushed again, this time due to the intensity of the gaze cast upon him. He faked a cough, turning to stare blankly at the trees situated to the left of them as an attempt to hide his face.
“So, what was it you wanted to tell me?” He spoke softly, wanting nothing more than to leave and hurry back to the campsite. Staying here would only cause him to be further enraptured by the one who had called him here in the first place, and he knew all too well what it was like to bear the burden of a complex love.
However, Andrew only let out a soft hum as a reply, turning his gaze to the sky. His head cocked to Dante’s direction before he shifted his sitting position, sitting upright instead of supporting his weight with his arms. A hand of his was moved to rest on Dante’s shoulder afterwards, the motion causing the latter to jolt slightly in surprise.
“Didn’t mean to scare you, apologies.” He laughed, and Dante noticed a hint of sheepishness in his voice. “Though, I dragged you all the way out here for a reason, so I’d like for us to stay for a while longer before we… have to eventually part.”
“...Sure.” Dante croaked out softly, eyes widening for a split second before he directed his gaze away and towards the ground.
He groaned inwardly. Now not only had he just dug his own grave, he further embarrassed himself too. Even though he wanted to get back as quickly as possible, he still agreed to Andrew’s request to stay here longer. He knew he was a rational person, but he just couldn’t figure out why his mind would always short circuit whenever it comes to the boy beside him.
…It’s not like anyone can say no to someone as beautiful as Andrew, right? Especially if he’s currently bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, with the breeze gently blowing through the soft strands of his hair…
Dante caught himself mid-thought, and the realisation finally shattered the denial he’d held for so long. He had fallen deep into the rabbit hole that was love, to the point he couldn’t help but just stare helplessly at a non-existent exit.
Love was a pesky little thing, he thought to himself. Despite the agonising heartbreak it had caused him in the past — and his will to make sure it would never happen again — he still couldn’t help himself. It was almost like an inevitable fate that drew him to the boy, like how the stars would forever stay twinkling brightly in the sky. Even so, he knew he could never reach those celestial beings no matter how hard he tried; resulting in the gaping hole in his heart to never be filled. He would just have to settle with watching from a distance, staring longingly as the star lay just out of his–
“...ante? Dante Fontana Rosa, you awake?”
Andrew’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts, his dazed self blinking a few times as he readjusted to his surroundings.
“Yes, sorry. My mind was just… in a weird place.” Andrew frowned at those words, his reaction a quizzical one to Dante. He nearly yelped after realising how close they were to each other, flinching away slightly. He composed himself, looking at Andrew only to notice a bitter expression on the latter’s face.
“Is… there something wrong?” He asked slowly, confused as to what could’ve offended him that badly.
“The only thing that’s ‘wrong’ is the fact that you’re thinking about something else whilst I’m here with you.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, eyebrows furrowing more. “Why can’t you just–” Andrew suddenly froze, seemingly holding himself back from saying more but eventually shifting back to where he had sat before instead.
“Nevermind, forget what I said.” A sigh escaped his lips after he muttered those words, deciding to turn his attention back to the sky. “...Come admire the stars with me instead?”
“Sure...” Dante replied hesitantly before shifting his gaze upwards as well, trying to distract himself from whatever that earlier display from Andrew was.
Was that jealousy he heard coming from the latter? It couldn’t be, not if it was because of someone as out of his league as Dante. Maybe he had been hallucinating? Considering how he had been pining for Andrew just seconds before, that would be a reasonable explanation. But why would the normally calm and perhaps even aloof boy suddenly let out an outburst of frustration?
He did wish Andrew didn’t move away so quickly, though. That brief moment when their breaths mingled from the close proximity was probably the closest he would ever get to fulfilling his wishes.
“...Isn’t the night sky a wonderful thing?” Dante’s ears barely picked up Andrew’s words, with how quiet his whisper had been. He replied with an absentminded nod, deciding to keep his mouth shut to prevent any of his thoughts from accidentally leaking out.
“I’m glad you agree, Dante.” He hummed, letting a bout of silence pass by before he continued.
“The mesmerising allure of the stars that grace the vast expanse of our skies. And the celestial body that’s unique to our planet…”
“The moon. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
Dante’s breath hitched at those words, his entire body turning stiff as his attention was brought back. He knew that Andrew was one of the top students of their school, excelling specifically in English and Literature too. There was absolutely no way he didn’t know what he was implying with those words, right?
“And what exactly… Do you mean by that?”
Dante had to make sure. He had to know if all those teases and jokes were simply just that, or if they were perhaps something more.
“You’re smart, I don’t think I have to explain it to you, right?” Andrew turned to face him with a smile on his face and a softened expression.
“So?”
He looked at Dante expectantly, patiently awaiting a response. What he didn’t know was that the latter was overwhelmed and on the verge of fainting, a rapid current of emotions crashing into him and rendering him speechless.
“I-” His voice came out softer than expected, causing him to immediately clear his throat before attempting to speak again. He wanted nothing more than to be completely forward with the other boy right now, to let out all the feelings he’d been bottling for so long.
“It is, Andrew. In fact, the moon is so unbelievably beautiful that I’ve spent every second of my life thinking about its beauty ever since I laid eyes on it.” He let out an awkward chuckle, his face slowly heating up after realising just what he had said.
He peeked over at Andrew, expecting the boy to cringe at his words. To his surprise, he instead saw something rare from the latter. The astonishment was evident on Andrew’s now flushed face, his eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. Dante’s face scrunched up a little as he let out a laugh, every bit of embarrassment from before fading away immediately.
“Your face is really adorable while red, you know?” Dante couldn’t hold himself back at the sight, a wide grin slowly creeping its way up to his face.
“Adorable?!” Andrew looked like he was about to collapse from shock, and Dante noticed that he was purposefully exaggerating his expression and way of speech. “Of all things I’ve been called in my life, never once has anyone called me ‘adorable’...”
Dante couldn’t help but laugh at Andrew’s reaction, finding the vehemence of his reaction from such a small matter amusing. The longer-haired of the two sighed resignedly, shifting closer to the other.
“Whatever. It’s worth the embarrassment if I can get you to laugh like that.” Andrew matched his grin with one of his own, nudging his shoulder.
“Now… could you grant a selfish request of mine? Since we’ve discovered that our feelings towards each other are mutual…” He paused, cocking his head slightly to the side innocently. “Allow me to plant a kiss on your cheek, if you will?”
It was Dante’s turn to be taken aback, his eyes widening slightly and face flushing red at the request. He contemplated it for a moment, closing his eyes halfway and directing his gaze momentarily to the ground. It was almost unreal with how bizarre the situation was, his belief of an unreciprocated love suddenly shattered within minutes.
“...Alright.” He whispered as softly as he could, locking gazes with Andrew.
Dante waited with bated breath as Andrew slowly moved a hand to his cheek, gently cupping it. He felt his heart begin to beat faster as the taller boy leaned closer, deciding he was too cowardly to watch it all happen and squeezing his eyes shut. Not long after, he felt the wisp of a breath on his face, as if the person before him was hesitant. The uncertainty didn’t last long, however, as something soft pressed against his cheek just seconds later, causing his face to heat up instantly. He cautiously opened his eyes after the feeling on his cheek went away, meeting Andrew’s gaze again.
He looked at the other boy with a fake pout, narrowing his eyes as the latter began to laugh. And although it was embarrassing to admit it, he wanted the other boy to do it again, eventually deciding that it was worth it to swallow his pride and ask.
“Andr–” But before he could finish, Andrew moved again, positioning his hand between Dante’s cheek and the back of his head…
And without warning, he leaned forward and pressed their lips together.
Dante sat there with his eyes widened for what felt like the millionth time today, so dumbfounded to the point his entire body froze. The only thing he could focus on at that moment was the feeling of unbelievably soft lips pressed against his own, something the him of the past would’ve never thought would happen.
It was then Andrew opened his eyes, meeting his gaze with a half-lidded one. The latter could feel the other boy’s lips curl up into a smile, as if proud that he managed to turn Dante’s face so red, so quickly. If not for the fact that his mouth was preoccupied, he would let out a scoff at how big the ego of his dear star was. Instead, he chose to close his eyes and embrace the moment, gently moving his hand to cup Andrew’s face as well.
The two boys stayed in this position for what seemed like an eternity, the heartfelt moment only ending after they pulled away to catch their breaths. They sat there in silence for a long while, both of them basking in the afterglow of their affection.
“That was…” Dante breathed out softly, staring at Andrew with awe-struck eyes. “Wonderful.”
“Oh?” Andrew laughed, and Dante decided right then and there that sound would be his favourite in the world. “Not mad that I did it without permission?”
“...I couldn’t help it, sorry.” He added on without waiting for a reply, smirking ever so slightly. “When I saw your face turn that red from what was a simple peck on the cheek, I just had to know how much more endearing you’d look if I kissed you for real.”
“I never knew you were this much of a sweet talker.” Dante exaggerated a sigh, nudging Andrew’s shoulder lightly.
“Only around you, my shining light in the dark.”
Dante gave Andrew a look that was basically telling him that he had just proved that point, earning himself the euphonious sound that was the laugh he had quickly grown to love. They then stared at each other in silence once more, simply admiring the beauty of the other wordlessly. The two turned their gazes to the starry sky after a while, intertwining their fingers as Dante rested his head on Andrew’s shoulder.
Under the gaze of no one but the cosmos above, Dante determined that he would do anything for this moment of newfound affection to stay forever. As he closed his eyes and smiled, he thought to himself…
He should’ve never assumed that the star he had hopelessly yearned for was out of reach, not when its glow had been guiding him all along, illuminating his path like a trusted lantern’s light.