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Matthew loves him. He loves Matthew back.
Gia knows what love is because of him. Matthew gives him toys, feeds him, plays with him, gives him hugs and kisses, and he makes him happy.
Matthew thinks Gia’s a baby, but Gia thinks Matthew’s a baby too. He knows it when he watches him out the window; Matthew’s just like him. So he loves Matthew like the baby he is.
Out the window, Gia sees the garden of yellow flowers that Matthew walks through before a yellow blur lets him in. When Gia watches Matthew come home, he catches Matthew wiping off any trace of yellow from his body.
He has nothing to hide; he still loves him the same.
“Bye, aegi. I’ll be back soon!” Matthew kisses Gia’s head and scratches the back of his ear. He always kisses Gia’s head before saying goodbye.
He comes home with a happy greeting. “Aegi, I’m home!” Matthew chirps, petting Gia before going straight to his room to change his clothes.
Gia walks in front of Matthew, blocking the way. After sniffing his jeans, Matthew picks him up and hoists him over his shoulder, stopping him from further inspection. “You might get hurt if you smell me, aegi.”
Why would it hurt? Matthew is a baby when he’s covered in yellow. Gia loves his baby Matthew.
He kisses Gia’s head and leaves the house with nothing but his phone. He brushes away petals from his pants, returning home with an accomplished Gundam model and rosy cheeks.
He kisses Gia’s head and skips to the yellow boy’s house with a car model kit. He ruffles through his hair to leave no trace of pollen, coming home empty handed and full of smiles.
He kisses Gia’s head, he smells like soap and powder going out the door. He thoroughly cleans his shoes on the doormat, smelling strongly of fried chicken, pickles, and sunlight.
Gia hides behind the curtain to watch Matthew run around with his yellow friend. They chase each other in front of his house. Matthew’s laughing with his friend, it’s a nice sound.
Gia loves when Matthew laughs, it feels good when he lays on his lap and Matthew’s tummy happily shakes while he falls asleep. One time, Gia fell from the tall shelf. Matthew scolded Gia while laughing. ‘Aegi, don’t go up my shelf! I don’t want you to get hurt.’ He could still hear Matthew’s chuckle while inspecting his legs to make sure he didn’t break anything. He gives kisses all over, proud of him for falling unscathed. Gia acts coy under the outward joy of Matthew’s love.
The yellow boy trips over himself, thankfully the tall grass cushions his fall. Matthew checks up on him with a hearty laugh. The boy pulls Matthew down to join him on the grass, accidentally bumping Matthew’s cheek against the ground. He laughs too while wiping Matthew’s cheek with his thumb and inspecting it for any pain. He kisses Matthew’s now-clean cheek before turning away, hiding himself from Matthew’s excited loud teases.
Later on, Matthew stands on the sidewalk and the yellow boy helps him pat away all the remnants of flowers on him. Yellow boy brushes him with his hands, using the opportunity to pet Matthew. With a once-over and a nod, Matthew’s all clean. No more traces of yellow.
“Aegi, I’m back!” Matthew greets, brighter than ever. He kisses Gia’s head with a giggle.
There’s nothing he needs to hide. Gia already loves him. He’ll prove it to Matthew.
In the morning, Gia sneaks out the door. He sprints to lay in the garden of flowers that make Matthew a baby. He stares at Matthew’s figure through the window, hoping Matthew looks his way as he lays in the garden of buttercups: I love you, baby. See, it doesn’t hurt.
Gia’s suddenly hoisted up from his armpits, supported by the butt. “Gia?” The yellow boy inspects him carefully, ensuring no flowers stuck onto his coat. He gently cradles him while scratching his ears. Before Matthew can panic, already frazzled through the window, yellow boy crosses the street to knock on his door.
The boy presents Gia as Matthew opens the door. “Aegi’s home!” Yellow boy stays on the doormat.
“Gia!” Matthew picks him up, immediately planting kisses on his head. “Don’t scare me like that. I was worried you got hurt.”
The yellow boy laughs sweetly and Gia can feel Matthew’s smile form against his fur.
“Say ‘thank you’ to Taerae! He carried you all the way here!” He holds Gia to face the yellow boy—Taerae. Icy blue eyes look straight into dark golden ones.
Gia cranes his neck closer to Taerae, coming close to bump his nose on Taerae’s forehead.
Taerae laughs at the gesture, scolding Gia with a smile. “My garden is dangerous for you, aegi. If you want to join us, I’ll come over next time.”
“You will?!” Matthew beams, his chest is vibrating in joy.
“Of course. Anything for the aegi.” Taerae laughs, petting Gia’s ears.
“Just for Gia?” He teasingly pouts.
“Is Gia the only aegi here?” Taerae leans in to give Matthew a quick peck.
When Taerae leaves, Matthew and Gia go back inside, watching him from the window until he makes it inside his house.
So next time, Taerae enters their door.
“For aegi,” he shows a collar with a buttercup charm on the side. “Non-toxic to cats.” He explains with a smile, clipping the collar around Gia’s neck.
“For jagi,” he gives a sweet kiss on the swell of Matthew’s plump cheek before Matthew pulls him into a warm hug.
Gia jumps on the windowsill, placing himself above Taerae’s head. He gently paws Taerae’s ear, blinking slowly at the two of them, welcoming his babies home.
Matthew loves Taerae.
Gia knows what love is because of him. Matthew gives him toys, feeds him, plays with him, gives him hugs and kisses, and he makes him happy.
Matthew loves him. He loves Matthew back.