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Happiness and Reo were parallel lines that longed to defy the geometric rules that governed them. Ever since he could remember, he had twisted and curved the lines to force them to meet. At certain intervals, they deviated from the norm and zigzagged together, like meandering rivers, but the flow of popularity, success, and all the things in between never colored his world with genuine brightness. No matter what he gained and experienced, it all dimmed and failed to stir his soul to soar.
That was until he met Seishiro Nagi, his treasure.
It was a chance meeting on a regular day back in April. The cherry blossoms bloomed around him, and a white rose began to stealthily take root inside his chest. The more time he spent with Nagi, the greater the garden grew. The petals floated around, settling into the empty holes inside him that were once filled with boredom and feigned feelings mimicking joy.
He couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment Nagi tangled up in his soul, giving it the wings it sought after to finally fly freely, nor the precise point at which Nagi rented a room to reside at the back of his mind. Though,somehow he seemed to always find his way to the front, knocking on every thought and demanding entrance. He took control over every string of thoughts, tiptoeing his way into his dreams too.
Encountering and being intrigued by him was sudden, like the sky cracking open and striking him with lightning, but falling this deeply in love was like a book slowly spreading its pages, a forgotten forest of faint dreams softly waking up from its sleep. This love snuck past him, swathing the midnight dullness of his world with a honeyed dawn that sparkled like fireflies.
But this love always rendered him speechless, blowing away all the confidence he had always proudly poised himself with and leaving him bereft of words. Everything flowed easily through rivers of words whenever he spoke to Nagi, yet when those admissions of love dipped into the stream, it froze, unable to surge to the surface.
If only nature could speak, then perhaps the rustling leaves of autumn could sing of his love, or the winds of winter could carry it toward Nagi. It was merely wishful thinking. All he could do was live with his internal spring, his budding bloodstream, and his blossoming heart, concealing everything. Still, he wasn’t the best at tucking his feeling away, for they hid in plain sight, translating themselves in the way they infiltrated his muscles, launching his arms to touch Nagi..hugging him, ruffling his hair, squishing his face, or expressing whichever love language his body wanted to speak through in the moment. It lingered too in the way everything about his treasure was like a paintbrush, tinting smiles across his face and in the way it glittered in his eyes, melting them into violet pools. Perhaps the mind always kept its secrets, but the heart was an open book manifesting itself in all types of ways.
It was the most evident secret ever. But, as long as it wasn’t verbalized, he was safe..Though, safety was laced with sadness. He wanted nothing more than to open the door of his heart and guide those emotions out, but fear patrolled the area, scramming them back in. Nagi was freedom, happiness, love, and laughter. Nagi was home.
And I do not wanna get kicked out of my home...
**
The day slowly unveiled as soft, golden-colored hues spilled across the sky. The sunset cast its warm glow all over the park. Reo walked around, taking in the shimmering scenery while waiting for Nagi to come back from the bathroom.
As he scanned his surroundings, his eyes landed on a crowd of dandelions blending in with the grass blades near the tree. His mind brought forward a silly myth he had heard once, that if you blow all the seeds off in one breath while thinking of your beloved, then it means they love you back.
It’s stupid..
So stupid..
Yet, against his better judgment, he bent down, pinching the dandelion’s stem right beneath its puffy head and holding it upright.
This is ridiculous..It’s all his fault!
He absentmindedly brushed his thumb against the stem. The hesitation lasted for a moment before the urges won.
He pursed his lips, gently blowing at the seeds.
It did not work. Some of the seeds remained attached while the others floated away. When he followed their movement, his gaze landed on Nagi, who was approaching him.
At least carry my feelings to him while you’re at it..
Why do you feel down..You’re not letting some dandelion made-up tale crush your romantic dreams, are you?
All your dreams will come true…Just you wait!
“Reo?” Nagi was suddenly right in front of him, his face close..way too close. He studied him as if waiting for an answer.
“Oh um, Nagi..did you say something?” Reo asked, still holding onto the dandelion.
“What are you doing?” Nagi tilted his head, eying the little wishing plant. “Did Reo make a wish?”
Reo nodded. Nagi remained quiet for a moment, his gaze lingering on the dandelion before asking, “Can I try?”
“Yeah, give it a go.” Reo handed it to him, their fingers brushing together for a fleeting moment. Reo hated how such a simple, quick graze like this one tugged at his heartstrings. You touch him all the time, get a grip, Reo!
Nagi blew on the remaining seeds, letting the wind carry his secret wish away. Curiosity grappled Reo, sowing seeds that he knew were going to bloom into endless questions, so he asked right away instead. “What did ya wish for?”
“Hm..” Nagi hummed, looking right at Reo, “for us to be together forever”
Those words settled over Reo like spring rain, gently soaking straight to his heart. That sensation pulsed continuously, squeezing his heartstrings enough to make music, hammering in his chest and ringing in his ears. He grinned, burying down the urge to grab and kiss him. Instead, he settled for wrapping an arm around him and walking by his side. “We will be together forever. I promised, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, Reo promised.” Nagi nodded, walking toward the bench underneath the tree branch. He sat down, and Reo joined him, but his mind was elsewhere. Why didn’t Nagi ask him what his wish was? Maybe that was for the best. If Nagi had asked, Reo may have slipped over his words. He didn’t need that right now.
“Reooo..” Nagi whined softly. “I want a popsicle..There’s a store right next to the park, but..don’t wanna walk all the way there..”
“Heh.” Reo mused, giving him a quick pat on the head. “Alright, one popsicle coming right up.”
He rose to his feet and left to get him his lemon popsicle. He didn’t need to ask, for he knew all of Nagi’s choices by heart. He memorized his favorite things, his little quirks, yet he could never venture into his heart and learn its language. Nagi..what am I to you?
When he came back, he settled on the bench next to Nagi and scooted closer and closer until their knees glued together. “Here you go. Wait, let me open it for you.”
“Thanks, Reo.” Nagi drawled. He was facing the other way, watching a cat frolicking around in the grass. Before unwrapping the popsicle, Reo noticed there was a leaf in his hair and leaned forward to remove it. “There’s a leaf in your hair.” He announced, though he wasn’t entirely sure why.
“Hm?” Nagi turned around abruptly at the sound of his voice, unaware of how close Reo’s face was to his. Reo didn’t have a single second to move away before their faces bumped together, their lips meeting.
Reo’s brain hindered for a moment. The universe poured down a bucket of frigid water right over it, freezing it up completely. But then, the world faded away, melting into warmth. Nagi’s lips were so warm.
Before he could even register what just happened, a loud “meow” broke through the silence. The cat Nagi was observing a moment ago pounced directly onto Nagi.
“Whoa!” He instinctively lurched forward, straight into Reo again. Their lips brushed together, lingering for a second longer this time. A stifling sensation squirmed beneath his lungs, and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe.
The cat carelessly curled up in Nagi’s lap and purred, blissfully clueless about the kiss it just orchestrated.
Neither of them moved or pulled away, a formidable force freezing them in place.
What just happened? Did we kiss??!
It wasn’t a kiss, it’s fine, it’s fine..just a bump! …Right?!
Reo’s heartbeats accelerated in an attempt to win a freaking marathon.
What’s wrong with me? This is so stupid! Let me just ignore it. Yep.
He backed away slowly, cautiously, like there was an invisible glass barrier there that he was on high alert not to touch and shatter. His eyes darted around the park as he balanced his clammy palms on his knees, pinching and fidgeting with the fabric of his pants. He hoped his embarrassment didn’t tiptoe its way to the surface, but he could feel the redness creeping down his forehead and toward his neck.
“Reo?” Nagi called softly. Reo only warmed up further underneath the burning sensation of Nagi’s gaze through his periphery. He knew he couldn’t just stay silent forever.
“Hm?” He asked, turning to him slowly.
“It’s alright.” Nagi assured him, which only heightened Reo’s awkwardness. So he noticed! Ugh..Of course he noticed.
“What’s alright?” Reo asked, feigning ignorance, “Oh, the uh..bumping faces thing? Totally fine!”
“Yeah.” Nagi nodded, taking the popsicle from Reo to open it himself before it melted. “It didn’t mean anything, so don’t worry, Reo.”
Oh.
Right..It didn’t mean anything.
Why would it…Just let it go, Reo.
But how do I let it go?!
He tried, he really did, to drill through the walls of his brain and drag those thoughts out by force, but they had a will of their own, refusing to listen to him, the damn pests!
He unwrapped his popsicle and avoided looking at Nagi, summoning his inner umbrella to shield himself from the ceaseless clouds drenching him. It didn’t mean anything. That’s what he said..and he’s right.
It didn’t matter. Nagi didn’t think of him the way he did. Why would he care about their lips brushing together? While loving Nagi was a current rushing through him, he couldn’t even get a glimpse of how the weather was like inside Nagi’s heart. A slight tinge of sadness twitched within his chest, interlacing with threads of disappointment. He wanted a reaction out of Nagi, even if it was for nothing but a fake kiss. Man, he even got a better reaction out of him when he beat him in that stupid video game last night. Did this first kiss not warrant at least a blush!! Hmph.
Wait..First kiss?! No! It was just a collision of faces, a completely accidental one! I’d be damned if I didn’t let our actual first kiss be romantic as hell..Well, if we ever get one.
Has he kissed anyone before..? Hmph..not possible..right?!
**
A few days passed and Reo let the waves carry that incident away from his shore and into the deep sea.
Today, they were facing the rival school’s football team, and every fiber of his being was locked on winning the game. No love, and wishing on dandelions for feelings to be returned. His vision narrowed down to the goal as he scored, everything else blurring into the background and being kicked off the field.
There we go. No distractions or sadness, just victory.
He sprinted across the field, shielding the ball as the opponents closed in on him. With a sharp turn, he angled his foot with perfect aim and passed the ball to Nagi, freeing it from the barricade. “Go, treasure!”
“Yes, boss.” Nagi took the ball effortlessly. He always dominated the field like it was nothing, and that’s why they all burned with jealousy watching the lazy genius, opponents and teammates alike.
His precious treasure made it impossible for anyone to steal the ball away. He leapt into the air and fired it straight into the goal. “Man..I need a long nap.”
“You’ll sleep as much as you want later.” Reo assured him, “now stay focused.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Reo caught the other team’s players shooting nasty looks at his treasure. It filled him with pride to know that Nagi’s exceptional genius irritated everyone. That meant he terrified them, a beast they could never tame on the field despite his laziness. But, if anyone dares to hurt his beloved..
His gaze then landed on an opponent eyeing Nagi, trouble written all over his face and sliding off of it. He rushed closer, but before he could manage to do anything, the other boy kicked Nagi’s ankle, sending him stumbling forward.
“Whoa!” Nagi tumbled down, and the one thing that kept him from falling face-first into the grass was Reo. He planted face-first into him instead.
Their lips smacked together, hard.
Oh, come on, not again!
Apparently, the universe had discovered a new hobby, getting a kick out of placing him in different scenarios, but refusing to grant him the kiss he desired. It tipped him slightly over the cusp of a kiss, dangling him there for a second before yanking him right back to reality: It meant nothing.
Yep..nothing! Just bad timing..Just a free sample without giving you the real deal.
But man..the feel of his soft lips against mine is..
Nope. Stop that. Reo.
But..how do I stop thinking about it after this teasing sampler! The universe was just bullying me at this point.
Once Nagi pushed himself upright, Reo followed a second later, mustering what remained of his grace and forcing his operating system to function properly. He immediately tilted his face away to conceal the rose petals scattering all over it. Nothing moved but his beating heart. If he stared hard enough at the grass, maybe it would open up a portal, and he could bury himself in the dirt and disappear until this was all over.
Sigh. He couldn’t avoid Nagi’s gaze forever. He peeked at him in an attempt to decipher any change in his expression, but not a single hint of embarrassment flashed across there, nothing at all. Nagi sat there calmly while Reo burned, the relentless scab of neediness throbbing inside his very soul while his rationality buffered. A jolt of rhythmic, rushing beats pulsated through him, flashing that kiss in bright, glowing flickers. Man..How doesn’t he react at all?!
“What a pain..” Nagi huffed, glancing over at Reo, “is Reo okay..?”
What a pain, huh, I could say the same!
Reo just nodded. Suddenly, his finger was possessed by a spirit that refused to be ordered around by him. It bent to its own will, drifting to his lips and brushing over them lightly before lingering there for a moment.
“Are you hurt?” Nagi asked, concern etched all over his face. He slid over to Reo, gaze dropping to his lips. His finger hovered in the air for a second before reaching closer, lower.. Reo’s soul almost left his body, rushing to the emergency exit. He hastened to choke back a not-so-dignified squeak and quickly shook his head, backing away slowly before Nagi could touch his lips.
A nervous gulp echoed in his throat before he finally spoke properly, “Nah, I’m fine.”
Totally fine…
Though, his racing thoughts were about to fly headfirst into the brick walls of his brain. Was the dandelion he’d blown on cursed? Had its seeds carried his wishes to some petty entity mocking his love and dooming him to ghost kisses? Maybe it had thrown him into a prank show: “So you want to kiss Nagi Seishiro?”
Well, if that was the case..Then I’m going to cradle these memories within my fingertips to preserve it for as long as I can..even if they were all accidents..Mannn..
Reo strapped on his mask and hoisted himself to his feet. His lips tugged upward in a grin. “Alright, no one got hurt, but I’ll make sure they will be once we kick their ass.”
“Yes, boss.” Nagi stood up with him.
He’s so perfectly fine, huh..? How lucky. Hmph.
Reo sighed and looked around, only to find their teammates’ eyes on them. They were all regarding them with knowing looks, and some were chuckling. He tried to ignore it, but when he went back into position, he could hear whispers of, “it’s about damn time,” and “I bet Mr. Nonchalant is celebrating on the inside. He finally got to kiss his prince.”
Reo’s glare dug into the back of his teammate’s head. Shut up. Leave him out of this, he telepathically threatened him.
Ugh.
He shook his head, praying for the waves to help him ebb those thoughts away once more. Though, more than anything, he wanted to sit on that damn shore, scribble down his feelings onto papers torn from his heart and mold them into boats, letting them float from his sea toward Nagi’s. Perhaps then they’d finally reach him.
Nagi didn’t seem to care or let these stupid accidental kisses affect him in any way, and so Reo decided to lock them up too. The chambers of his heart were crowded enough already. What’s more unsaid feelings squeezing in? He poured all his focus into the game and got revenge for that foul by helping Nagi score three more goals. They always succeeded at everything they put their mind to, their synergy was unmatched in every aspect. Yet, Reo couldn’t rely on that silent understanding forever. He had to use his actual words to let his love flow. Telepathy wasn’t going to do the trick, unfortunately. Sigh, if only the language of Nagi’s heart displayed subtitles on top of his head or something.
**
For the next few days, the kisses haunted Reo like an annoying, spiteful ghost. The harder he tried to bury those nagging thoughts away, the more its will to possess him amplified. The ghost would float into his dreams with a projector, displaying the kisses again on the biggest screen it could find within the rooms of his subconscious. Then, it got creative, scripting its own kisses. In his dream, his precious, adorable treasure lay peacefully with his head resting on his lap. He would reach up with his hand and gently cradle Reo’s nape, pulling him closer and closer until their lips met for real in a soft, sweet kiss. Then, just when Reo melted into it, the ghost would snicker and yell “Cut!” the second the kiss deepened. Petty bastard.
He had to play pretend, like he wasn’t agonizing over a few trivial kisses, if he could even label them as kisses. And so, he lifted the curtains and pulled off the grand theatrical act of denial, pretending there weren’t a hundred tabs open in his brain, all frozen on the moments his and Nagi’s lips met, with some romantic melody playing somewhere in the background that he couldn’t pinpoint. Stupid..Stupid.
By the following weekend, he had adjusted to some sense of normalcy within his Nagi-spellbound inner world. He had pushed those face-collision accidents into the farthest drawer of his mind. Or so he thought. No matter how hard he shut the drawer, the memories kept slipping back through the cracks. The Nagi-painted thoughts and longings always came back to unfurl like a flower with enchanting fumes at night, making his brain play every moment on a loop.
One of his dad’s business partners had invited him to try out his new fitness center earlier, so on Saturday, he decided to go and dragged Nagi along with him by promising him all the snacks he wanted afterward. In hindsight, it wasn’t his smartest idea. The combination of sleep deprivation and watching Nagi workout wasn’t mixing well. He avoided looking right at him and went to try out the different equipment.
Boredom always visited him too quickly. It was his most familiar guest by now. He walked around until his eyes landed on the bouldering wall. Hm. Interesting.
“What’s Reo doing?” Nagi caught up to him.
“I wanna climb that,” Reo said, turning to Nagi with a smirk. “Wanna join me?”
“Seems like such a hassle..” Nagi yawned, already completely drained by fatigue even though he’d barely trained. He sat down on the padded mat, leaning back while propping himself up by his elbows. “I’mma rest here.”
Reo chuckled, shaking his head. “Don’t fall asleep.”
“But the mat is comfy..” Nagi’s words were muffled by another yawn. He stretched, his eyes lazily following Reo’s every movement.
At first, all was well. He climbed up the wall effortlessly, smooth sailing. Not that he thought it’d be any different. He’s Reo Mikage, afterall, and excelling at all sports was branded into his superpowers. But suddenly, the sleep deprivation won and a wave of dizziness slammed into him. He maintained his balance as much as he could, but his footing wobbled, and he slipped, falling down with a yelp.
“Reo!” Laced with super-sonic speed, Nagi was beneath him in an instant to catch him. Reo fell straight into his arms..But, of course, momentum played its little trick. Their foreheads narrowly escaped colliding, but their lips didn’t. The impact carried them backward, sending them sprawling onto the mat with Reo lying on top of him.
Oh, fuck! This did not just happen. We did not just kiss again!!!
This had to be a joke! Cursed dandelion spirit, I bet you’re laughing right now.
“Ughh..” Reo groaned. The pain, however, was nothing compared to the kiss-sparked fireworks setting off inside him. His chest vibrated with racing beats as his heart threatened to leap out of his ribs and sprint down the highway.
”Reo? Reo..are you okay?” Nagi’s voice was colored with concern.
Reo gulped, eyes darting toward Nagi’s lips. Did I chip his tooth? Oh please no. Am I just the worst kisser ever?! “Are you hurt, Nagi?”
“Are you?” Nagi knit his eyebrows together, regarding Reo with the softest gaze. Those damn adorable eyes held Reo captive, warming him like the softest blanket. “I’m fine. But Reo fell..You really worried me..”
“I’m alright..Just got a little dizzy..” Reo’s hand rested absentmindedly across Nagi’s chest. Oh..he’s been gaining muscle-
Now is not the time!
He dragged his scurrying thoughts back by force and yanked his hand away like it had been electrocuted. “I just didn’t sleep well last night..” Or the night before that, or the one before that..because of you.
He looked down at Nagi, the way his adorable fluffy hair clung to his forehead, the way his cute nose scrunched slightly, how his gentle eyes were still searching his face for any hint of pain. It suddenly hit him, how he was pressed into Nagi, legs touching. To make it worse, the kiss rushed back again, and the mini Reo inside him found the drawer he had stuffed the previous kisses into, yanking it open and flinging them all in the air. A damn tornado, with him whirling in the middle.
He stared at Nagi, fighting off the urge to hold his face and kiss him senseless, for real this time. He’s so close, right there beneath him. If I lean in and he lets me..
No! Reo..you’d be crossing the line! You’d actually run way past it that it would become a blurry speck in the background!
Ughh..These kisses are driving me crazy..
The pink paint spilling inside him darkened and melted into pools of velvet that flooded him. All these accidental, tempting brushes of their lips, and having Nagi so close, knocked all the other colors out of him and pumped his blood faster and faster. He didn’t know what else to do but hide, and the only thing near him was, well, Nagi. Without overthinking it, he buried his face against his neck, hoping he could just pin this on his dizziness.
He’s so warm..
Reo melted into it, burrowing his face snug into his neck, inhaling his scent and letting his warmth cloak him like a shield. No embarrassment or fears, just tenderness.
Just Nagi.
Just Nagi and I..cuddling on the safety mat..just Nagi’s scent filling up my lungs..what am I doing?!
Before he could pull away, Nagi’s fingers ran through his hair with one hand, while the other instinctively held him close, his touch lingering more than it should. A content sigh slipped past his lips before he could stop it. Man..Reo..relax. Blend with anything just like a chameleon. Fake nonchalance. Don’t panic..Don’t do anything stupid either.
He pulled back slightly, just to gaze at Nagi’s face, eyes drifting to his lips. As soon as Nagi noticed, Reo immediately straightened up. “Are you sure I didn’t hurt you?”
“Mm..I’m sure.” Nagi hummed. “Though..if you did hurt me, would Reo kiss it better?”
Reo bolted upright, spluttering incoherent words before smacking Nagi’s shoulder. “Wha-what! Don’t mess with me!”
“Oof..” Nagi huffed, pulling himself up. “Did I upset Reo?”
Reo sighed, commanding his stuttering heart to settle. “No, it’s fine.”
Though, nothing was fine. He didn’t know when he became this love-sick mess, stumbling over words he once uttered so confidently, wishing on dandelions, dreaming of kisses almost every night. It’s your fault, Nagi!
Though, it was the sweetest fault he wouldn’t trade for the world. His only hope was for the echoes of his heart to reach Nagi’s.
“Reoo..” Nagi whined, “you promised me snacks..We trained enough, don’t you think?”
“Well, I know I did.” Reo chuckled, smacking his shoulder. “Though you hardly trained at all!”
“Not true.” Nagi pouted slightly, “I trained, and now..Reo promised me a reward. But..Reo needs rest first.”
“Alright, alright, you demanding sloth.” Reo smiled fondly, ruffling his hair before bending down. “It’s fine though, I don’t need rest. Hop on.”
“Reo?” Nagi’s voice was tinged with an undernote of confusion. “You just fell because you’re tired. You shouldn’t give me a piggyback ride.”
Reo scoffed. Nagi rejecting a piggyback ride made him feel like he was on his deathbed. It was just a slight dizziness! “There’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“You need to rest..” Nagi turned on his heel to walk away. “Come, Reo. If you want, I’ll carry you for a change.”
“Huuh? I can walk just fine!” Reo hurried after him, the pink hues dusting his cheeks once more.
Though, that’d be nice..
Very nice..Stop imagining it.
“Ask your driver to come pick us up.” Nagi took the lead for once. “In the meantime, let us sit somewhere. You need to go home and lie down for a while. Then we can go get my reward.”
“I’m fine, Nagi!” Reo insisted. “Really. We can go get snacks as I promised.”
“It can wait till later..” Nagi didn’t back down. “Reo..really worried me.”
“Ah, um..I’m sorry for worrying you Nagi.” Reo softened up, giving Nagi’s cheek a quick pat. “Okay. I’ll rest for a bit.”
Hearing that, Nagi’s shoulders visibly relaxed, “Yay.”
Oh wow..So, this is how it feels like to be fussed over by Nagi?
How nice..
—
For the past three weeks, ever since that sweet incident at the park, Nagi had been walking on a tightrope. Every brush of his lips against Reo’s, every little kiss shrouded within their bumping faces, was the pair of scissors slowly cutting through that rope. He was a few threads away from falling into the pit of no return, holding his Reo and kissing him until he couldn’t breathe anything but him, until Reo became his lungs, his heart, his.
And damn, did he want to fall. He wanted to sever that rope himself, snapping the remaining strings holding him back, to reach into his ribs and open the door of his heart, freeing all the love letters he wished to mail.
It was so easy to fall when it came to Reo. Reo, who seeped straight into his soul and cast his magic, changing it into a canvas of the brightest, most beautiful colors, wiping away the grey clouds and painting glorious, shining suns. How could anyone not love him?
Actually, cross that..stay away from him, he’s mine..Well, I hope he will be. Let my heart be the lucky one to hold him inside it forever..
He’d been agonizing over well-dressed words for an excruciatingly long time now, designing the perfect confession that would be worthy of his best friend, his universe. The world itself got tired and called the shots, directing kissing scenarios with the cat, that dude on the opposing team, and the bouldering wall as the paid actors. Though Nagi hated that last one for hurting Reo. But since Reo was completely fine after that, he didn’t fully resent it. He got to hold the world in his hands,even if it was just for a few minutes, and the warmth of Reo’s breath still lingered on his neck till now.
He wanted to barge into that celestial control room and demand some more kisses. Perhaps he could become the paid actor, leave a banana peel in the hallway and dramatically fall on Reo, making sure to angle it correctly so their lips would meet. Maybe during their next game, he could talk to the opposing team, to keep fouling him, but to make sure they did it at the exact right moment. Maybe…
No. That still wouldn’t be enough.
Was he meant to lay his love upon Reo’s mouth by chasing after fleeting lip-grazing moments like catching fireflies, heaping fluttering traces of kisses together to create a real one? Such a fate would be cruel..very cruel. And he was good, wasn’t he? Reo’s good boy deserved to be rewarded with a lot of kisses..
Accidental ones could never satiate the yearning seed of fire blooming inside him. It was way too close to exploding.
**
On Friday, Reo dragged him along to the school festival. Reo had taken part in organizing some of the events, but he was finally free to spend his time with Nagi. They strolled around, taking in the decorations all around them. Well, Reo did that mostly. Nagi barely registered anything because Reo outshined everything around them. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from him. Reo was always extra cute when excited. Admiring his face and getting lost in it was like walking through a field brimming with the fairest flowers. Liveliness gleamed all over him like an angel’s halo as he talked about everything they saw around them.
Themed cafes, lots of different performances, and food stalls, a haunted house..so many activities to pick and choose from, but all he wanted to do was cling to Reo and be fed by him, which Reo was always very generous with. They passed by different cafes, where Reo kept buying snacks for the two of them to share. Nagi opened his mouth each time, and Reo never refused, feeding him with a smile glued to his face. Life was so perfect.
Suddenly, Reo looped his arm around Nagi’s as he headed toward the haunted house. It spanned across several floors. Each one transformed its classrooms into eerie chambers with different creepy atmospheres, and a particular one was designed to form a scary, sprawling maze.
“Let’s go in here!” Reo flashed him a grin, “it seems fun.”
“Hmm..I dunno..” Nagi drawled, inching closer to Reo and basking in the warmth of their connected arms. “Seems like a hassle.”
Reo’s grin widened. He crept closer, resting his chin on Nagi’s shoulder. A rush of tenderness swept through him as he fought off the spirits of longing haunting his own rooms. Reo..I want to kiss you so bad..
“Scared?” Reo teased him, snapping him out of his haze.
Scared? Hmph. As if. He had played far too many horror games to be fazed by jumpscares and cheap tricks, especially those put on by their schoolmates. It was just a hassle to walk through this place. “Nah. Are you?”
“Of course not!” Reo huffed, scurrying to the entrance. “Let’s go in! First to get scared loses.”
“Hm..what do I get if I win?” Nagi asked.
“Whatever ya want! Doesn’t matter though, cause you won’t win.” Reo smirked.
“Whatever I want..” Nagi hummed. “But Reo already gives me whatever I want?”
“Oh, that’s true.” Reo rested his hand under his chin. “Hm..well..you get a free pass to skip football practice and replace it with a gaming day!”
Or a kiss..can I have that instead?
“Prepareee to be spooked!” The boy at the entrance dressed as a ghost exclaimed, moving aside so they’d enter. “And please do not break the props..and try not to punch the actors.”
The minute they entered, darkness swallowed them into a black abyss. Nagi could not see anything in front of him.
“Uh..” Reo broke the creepy silence settling in around them. “I’m not scared or anything. But, it’s safer to hold hands so we stay close to each other since we can’t see.”
“Yep. Totally.” Reo didn’t have to tell him twice. He immediately reached out to intertwine his fingers with Reo’s. Reo held on tightly to his hand as they started maneuvering their way through the pitch black area. Nagi wanted to be stuck here forever if it meant holding Reo’s hand. It was amazing, being lost together through these hallways. He hoped they would never find the exit.
Reo walked slightly in front of Nagi, still gripping his hand. “I’ll protect ya, treasure!” He puffed proudly.
“You’re gonna break my bones by how hard you’re gripping my hand. Are you sure you’re not scared?” Nagi couldn’t see it, but he knew Reo was glaring with his adorable scrunched eyebrows.
“I’m just holding your hand tightly so you don’t trip or something!” Reo huffed. “Is it just a dark hallway with nothing? That’s lam-ah!! The hell is that!”
“Just spiderwebs.” Nagi reached upward, shuffling the cascading fake webs out of the way. “So, Reo is not scared, huh?”
“I’m not!” Reo exclaimed. “It’s just gross and-”
The sudden flash of lights silenced Reo as he quickly grabbed onto Nagi’s sleeve. He rolled his eyes when he noticed Nagi’s sidelong glance. “I’m not scared. Just..adjusting to the light.”
Heh..Reo’s so cute.
There were several doors to choose from. Reo opened the first one they saw and stepped in, with Nagi following behind him. It was an eerie room with fake lockers made out of cardboards. The walls had fake blood splattered all over them.
“Hm. This ain’t scary at all.” Reo huffed, letting go of Nagi’s hand as he observed the room, walking between the rows of lockers. “Just red paint all over the walls and cardboard. It’s pretty amateur-”
A bloody hand popped out of the cardboard, gripping Reo’s wrist. A scream escaped Reo as he jumped backwards, landing into Nagi. Nagi’s body always moved on its own when it came to Reo. He quickly wrapped a protective arm around him. Man, if only Reo was facing the other way..This could have been another paid actor kiss situation, with quite literally an actor. But the world wasn’t nice today, hm.
“I’m fine, I’m fine..I’m fine.” Reo blurted out, either to himself or to Nagi. “I don’t like this room. Let’s try another.”
“Reo got scared first..” Nagi stated, but Reo suddenly had selective hearing as he strode out of the room. So cute..
Nagi trailed after him. He took a few steps behind Reo before leaning forward. “Boo.”
“Nagi!” Reo rolled his eyes. “It’s not funny.”
Man, scared Reo encased his heart with a sheet of unparalleled warmth. He was too adorable for his own good. Resisting the urge to hold him and have their first real kiss was proving to be way more difficult than he thought. His mind tried to keep him away from submerging himself in the river of no return, but every other part of him wanted to float away and make his dreams come true. He didn’t want to return anyway. His only fear was that Reo wouldn’t want the same, that he would let go of his hand once they reached the light.
When they arrived to the second floor, the lights were flickering, flashing a variety of spooky hues. Suddenly, chilling laughter and uncanny sounds blasted through the speakers as a bunch of actors disguised as various creepy urban legends crept toward them. Reo turned away, hiding in Nagi’s chest. Ah..this is the best day of my life.
But before he could hold him close, Reo straightened himself up with grace. “Okay, fine. I was a little spooked, but I’m totally fine now. The costumes aren’t even all that! It’s all mediocre. Yeah, I’ll protect ya!” He held onto Nagi, his hand shivering within Nagi’s grip, but he assumed an air of confidence no matter what as he ran away with Nagi, escaping the actors.
Hm..if you keep clinging to me like this, I will gladly keep being protected.
They ran into a room, and Reo closed the door shut. It was decorated with the usual spooky props, fake blood, skeletons..but something felt off. There was no one here, and the lights were all on.
“Hm.” Reo paced around the room before reclining back on the desk, propping himself up with his hands sprawled against it. “There’s nothing out of the ordinary here.”
“Should we check another room?” Nagi asked.
“Yeah, this is bori-”
“Boo!” A student with creepy, zombie makeup jumped out from behind the desk, nearly startling Reo right off it.
“Wah!” Reo yelped, throwing a punch on reflex.
“Hey!” The student yelled, but the second he realized it was Reo, his anger evaporated. “Oh, Reo! Sorry for scaring you. You okay?”
“You’re breaking character.” Nagi commented. “Not very professional.”
“Well, we aren’t professional actors..” The boy retorted.
Reo chuckled, standing up properly. “Nagi..Anyway, I’m fine.”
They went back into the hallway to look for another room to explore. Reo walked close to Nagi, shoulders brushing together. “How come they’re all scaring me only..”
“Well, you’re quite unfortunate tonight..” Nagi hummed. “And I’m used to jumpscares..It’s okay though..I think your yelling is cute.”
Reo’s head reoriented itself to the side on instinct. He always did this..boasted about himself and how amazing he was, yet the second Nagi complimented him in any manner, his face would be painted pink and he’d avoid eye contact like the floor was lava.
“You can’t just..say things like that.” Reo huffed.
“Like what, the truth?” Nagi asked, splashing deeper pink hues into the pool on Reo’s cheeks.
“Uh, um.” Reo stumbled over his words for a moment before straightening up and grinning. “Anyway! Let’s check out the maze.”
“Okay.” Nagi nodded. “I can stay close and protect Reo.”
“Hey. I don’t need protection. Besides, it’s my duty to look after my treasure!”
“But, I like protecting Reo too.”
Reo argued back, insisting he didn’t need it, but Nagi could see the smile ghosting across his lips as they went up the stairs.
They explored different rooms until they reached the maze, and Nagi prayed that it would last longer. Reo’s cute shocked gasps and the way he clung to him like a sloth to a tree branch whenever he got jumpscared were worth all the walking. He’d pay the actors extra to keep popping out of the dark.
Once they were at the maze, Nagi walked in front of Reo without argument. He took the narrow routes on purpose so Reo kept bumping into him. Hats off to whoever came up with this though, for he was starting to get irritated and confused. “We walked here already, didn’t we?”
“Ughh..” Reo sighed, standing in front of the opening to another fake hallway. “We are just walking in circles. Where’s the damn exit?”
“Reo, behind y-”
Before he could manage to warn him, a ghost popped up from behind Reo, putting his hands on his shoulder.
“Wah!” Reo yelped, stumbling forward into Nagi. And there it was, the magical right angle at the perfect time. Reo’s lips brushed against his, and Nagi cursed his inability to freeze time and make that second multiply by endless intervals.
Still, the world was nice today after all. Everything was okay again.
Cool cool cool cool, stay cool, Nagi. Don’t let him sense the furnace inside you.
He stabilized Reo with a hand on his shoulder, masking the yearning and desire foaming inside him with his usual nonchalance. He did his best to prevent the love harbored in his heart from permeating to the surface and making Reo feel even more awkward than he already did, but he couldn’t help the way his eyes sparkled. Sorry..Reo. Don’t feel bad. “Are you alright?”
“How do you not-” Reo exclaimed, lips jutting out in an imperceptible pout that disappeared like an ephemeral passing cloud. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
But Reo looks upset..Did I do something wrong? Does he hate that these kisses keep happening..? Nagi’s heart clenched at the thought, but it swept the pain away, melting into the warmth of that short-lived kiss.
He didn’t want to bombard him with questions and worsen the shyness he sensed, and so he changed the topic. “We need to find a way out of here before more ghosts target you..”
“Are you like, ghost repellent?” Reo chuckled, easing Nagi’s heart. “No one even tried to scare you.”
Maybe they found you cute too..
Oh wait. I don’t like that idea.
And so, they continued their journey through the labyrinth until they found their way out. Reo was targeted by the actors, and Nagi was haunted too, by the ghost of the less-than-a-second kiss still dwelling upon his lips. Man..this is not enough.
**
“I’m tiiredd.” Nagi yawned, face burrowed between his arms as he struggled to get off his desk. All the other students had left the classroom. Only he remained there, and, well, Reo, who came to his class to pick him up so they could leave together.
Reo sighed softly, leaning against the half-closed door. “Nagi,” he said, “we gotta go to practice.”
“Hm..” Nagi peeked up at him, “can I cash in the haunted house reward, then? Reo said I can get a free pass to skip football practice and go play video games instead.”
Reo pinched his brows together, failing to counter. “I did say that, didn't I?”
“You did.” A surge of forsaken energy wafted through him at the thought of going back home with Reo. He stood up, walking closer to him. “Can we go play video games at your place then?”
“Well, I promised, so fiiine..We can skip practice today.”
“Yay.”
Before Reo could turn to leave, the door flung fully open, hurling him into Nagi’s arms. Their faces bumped together, lips smacking for a flash, just like his heartbeat.
“Oh, sorry!” One of Nagi’s classmates said as she entered. “I forgot my book here. I didn't notice someone was behind the door..”
Reo straightened up, eyes landing on anything but Nagi. “It’s alright.”
Awkward silence permeated the room as she took her sweet time looking for her book. Once she was gone, Nagi glanced at Reo. “Shall we go then?”
Reo closed the door shut, turning to Nagi with a pout. “Enough is enough, why are you never affected?!”
“What do you mean?” Nagi asked calmly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Is Reo mad?”
Reo’s features contorted slightly. “This keeps happening..We have had enough accidental kisses to form a real one! But..you’re so unbothered..It doesn’t mean anything to you! Will we just ignore it forever?” Every single word struck a chord, reverberating in his ears, his head, every inch of him. How could Reo think that?
That’s not fair..Step into my heart and you’ll see every little moment shared with you framed on its mantle..How could it not mean anything to me?
“Reo-”
“I can’t ignore it anymore!” Reo blurted out. “I..I..”
“Reo..” Nagi repeated, taking slow steps toward him until Reo backed into the door. He leaned close enough that their noses brushed together. But all of a sudden, his words waved goodbye and ran with the wind. How can he reduce those feelings to words anyway? How can any word be worthy of Reo, the visible incarnation of ethereal light? Slowly, he reached for Reo’s hand and squeezed it with a gentle grip, dragging it to his chest, and placing it on his racing heart. “Don’t say it doesn’t mean anything to me when you own every pulse. Can you feel it? Its rhythm beats to your touch..to you.”
Reo stared at him, eyes widening and cheeks flushed in the cutest pink hues. Silence stretched on and on, twisting Nagi’s stomach into knots as he waited. “Reo?”
Reo’s hand stilled on his heart, letting every beat vibrate straight into his own veins. “Nagi..I don’t get it.” His eyes flickered softly, meeting Nagi’s gaze with inquisitive longing, letting their guard down. “Your heart beats for me? Nagi..are you saying you..you like me?”
“Like you?” Nagi muttered softly. “No I..”
Noticing the sad change in Reo’s expression, Nagi quickly found his words again, not wanting to be misunderstood anymore. “That’s too..small a word, Reo..It cannot contain my feelings. They overspill..I..”
Suddenly, he was the one blushing as the redness pooled over his ears, but he looked his love in the eye, wanting his words to engrave themselves into Reo’s soul so he’d never think otherwise again. “I love you, irretrievably, wholeheartedly. I have been agonizing over those kisses, Reo. The longing to kiss you for real has been keeping me up at night. Every single one made me want you more.”
Every breath flowing out with his words ghosted over Reo’s skin as Nagi leaned even closer, his lips a hairbreadth away from Reo’s. “The only reason I acted like everything was chill was so Reo wouldn’t feel bad..Because Reo was all cute and flustered when the first accidental kiss happened and..I didn't want Reo to be embarrassed. So, I kept pretending nothing was happening. But..I..”
Words couldn’t convey anything anymore. He closed the distance, pressing his lips against Reo’s. Reo gasped, blushing profusely and freezing for a moment before he registered the kiss and melted into it, closing his eyes contentedly. Nagi’s eyes remained open for a few seconds longer to take in Reo’s beautiful expression as he kissed him. He tattooed it into his eyelids and shut them, sinking into the tenderness surging through his ribs as he finally kissed him, and oh, did he want to drown until all that filled up his lungs was Reo.
He braced one hand against the door while the other slipped into Reo's hair, fingers threading through the soft strands as he kissed him fervently, deeply, pouring out all the unspoken poems of his heart into it. All the words he failed to say every time flowed effortlessly into the moment. Slowly, the kiss softened. He felt Reo smile against his lips, and it gave his heart the most pleasant squeeze. He wanted more. He wanted to kiss him forever. Every time he pulled back for some air, he dove right back in for another kiss, then another, until finally, he melted into him, nestling into his shoulder and breathing him in. Thank you to the cat and every other actor that played their role in leading us here..Thank you, universe, for making me sit on those stairs at sunset..The sun outside was setting while the one shining in my personal sky rose the moment Reo bumped into me..Fate nudged us forward, and we will be together forever.
“I love you..” His words echoed against Reo’s neck. “When life was just a pain for me, you built a door to your heart and granted me the key, letting me enter a room full of light that colored my world..You’re the breath of fresh air after being buried in darkness for so long..So please, Reo..Never think that any speck related to you doesn’t mean anything to me. Your mere existence means the world to me.”
“Nagi..” Reo finally spoke, a giggle as sweet as a robin’s song slipping out of him as he wrapped an arm around Nagi, pulling him even closer. “I love you so much, treasure, more than anything in the world. Why did it take you this long to tell me..”
“And why did it take Reo this long?” Nagi huffed into his skin.
Reo let out a soft chuckle. “Guess we were both afraid of nothing, huh?”
“Mhm.” Nagi hummed. “Now I can kiss you every single day..you don’t have to keep falling on me.” You can keep falling for me though..
Reo laughed, grabbing Nagi’s face and launching an attack of kisses targeting every inch of it. His forehead, eyelids, cheeks, nose, jaw, and lips were smothered with kisses. Nagi accepted his fate happily.
They both had so much to say, countless confessions pressing against their hearts. But for now, they translated them into endless kisses shared in the classroom.
There would be time to talk later, as they had a whole lifetime ahead of them to talk, and to love.