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“The Moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” Riki wasn’t much of a talker, but the view in front of him was breathtaking, he wanted everyone to know. Sunoo nodded, watching the Moon, shivering a little as the cold air hits. Riki leaned back on the bench, the Moon’s really beautiful.
xx
Sunoo and Riki had been friends since year 1. Riki, who was a small and shy dude, and Sunoo, who liked making new friends, were paired as seatmates. Days go by and they became closer. It’s been 4 years and people have said they’re like 2 peas in a pod, attached by the hip. Where there’s one, there’s always the other. Riki had grown a lot throughout the years, surpassing Sunoo it height, yet he was still the shy dude who people thought was cold at first glance. Sunoo stayed by his side no matter what, making sure Riki was never misunderstood.
Riki realized that over the years, maybe the eyes that he saw the very first time, were the eyes that made him dive deep enough that he doesn’t want to get out. His feelings for Sunoo had blossomed over the 4 years. All the good and bad emotions with a little bit of something he couldn’t describe until one night. They were just lounging on the dorm couch, basking in each other’s presence. Riki had his eyes closed until Sunoo spoke up. “Have you ever wished I was fluent in Japanese?” Not quite an odd question, Riki has heard weirder questions than this. Riki shrugged, “It’ll be nice.”
Sunoo sighed but his smile was evident, “I’m taking lessons.” Riki applauded the effort, feeling happy that his best friend was taking on a new challenge. “Because I want to be closer to you.” Then it hit Riki. All this time, he couldn’t describe the fuzzy feeling he gets whenever Sunoo does something for him, with him. Riki had to sit with himself for a few days after, sorting out his head, his heart. “I like him…” But Riki was slightly afraid. What if Sunoo doesn’t feel the same way? What if he ruins the friendship that they’ve built for years? What if—“He’ll understand, right?”
So, Riki kept it in. He admired from the side, watching Sunoo be Sunoo. He does drop hints here and there, but Sunoo only returns a smile, every single time. Riki doesn’t feel upset, doesn’t feel too disappointed. As long as he still has Sunoo by his side, he thinks he can keep it in for as long as he can.
xx
Sunoo loved the Moon. Loved sitting and watching the moon for hours. Loved taking pictures of the moon. Loved anything related to the moon. Riki had pointed out how Sunoo is the epitome of the Sun, yet he loved the Moon. Sunoo gave him a lingering look, Riki couldn’t understand. But that didn’t stop Riki from showing Sunoo the moon every chance he gets. Their chat gallery had a hundred over moon pictures, from different angles, from different cities.
xx
“I’m taking the exam tomorrow.” Sunoo eased into Japanese pretty fast now. Riki was helpful enough to converse with Sunoo in Japanese, except there was a lot more slangs, profanities and metaphors used. Sunoo would say that learning profanities would be the easiest way to sound fluent. They always switch to Japanese if they wanted to gossip, or if Riki wanted to tease Sunoo, or if it was just the two of them. Sunoo was more comfortable now, catching all the metaphors, slangs and the underlying meaning of things. Riki tried using more complicated implications, but he knew Sunoo would eventually understand him from different aspects. “Good luck, Sunoo.”
xx
Sunoo felt a little anxious during exam day. He studied for years; he couldn’t fumble this. Riki stood at the entrance of school, feeling just as anxious. He passed Sunoo a piece of paper, folded so carefully. “You got this!” Sunoo returned him a smile that could rival the Sun, running to school with confidence that he would pass. Riki waited there, watching as Sunoo’s figure get smaller and disappeared into the school.
Sunoo had about 30 minutes before the exam started. He waited at his locker, carefully unraveling the letter Riki gave him. Sunoo was a little stunned that it was written in full Japanese, but this was a good time to test his skills.
[ Hi Sunoo,
It’s been a while since you started learning Japanese. You said you learned it to get closer to me, I am honored. I’m not exactly sure why I chose to write you a letter but seeing the moon yesterday night reminded me of you. “The Moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” Is what I always say. And I stand by that.
You got this! Good luck, Sunoo. I know you’ll kill it.
Yours truly, Riki ]
Sunoo’s lips curled into a smile subconsciously. The Moon is beautiful, isn’t it?. “It really is.” Sunoo pockets the letter in his notebook, placing it nicely in his locker. He walked to the exam room with lighter steps.
xx
“There’s a supermoon in two days. Wanna see it together?” Sunoo nudged his best friend. Riki scoffed, “Like I have ever rejected you.” They shared a laugh, light and comfortable. Riki doesn’t want to overthink it, as long as he gets to see Sunoo’s smile, he will keep it in. He thinks he’s contented with just watching Sunoo from the quiet. Sunoo who healed him without doing much, Sunoo who calmed him from just being there, Sunoo who understood him better than anyone else, better than Riki knows himself. Riki smiled, heart settled at a comfortable state, he doesn’t want to get out of this.
xx
The supermoon has got to be the prettiest moon he’s ever seen. Sunoo had dragged him out to their usual bench; a thin blanket draped over both their shoulders. They sat in silence, watching the moon reveal itself. It was gleaming under the attention of thousands. Although silent and not as overpowering as the Sun, the Moon stood tall, lighting up the world in a calm manner. It was silence between the two, staring deeply into the moon, everything around went by slowly.
“Riki,” Sunoo’s voice a whisper, not wanting to interrupt the moon’s attention. Riki hummed a reply. “The Moon’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Riki turned towards Sunoo, heart picking its pace. It was the first time Sunoo has ever told him that. And he said it in a way Riki would understand him perfectly. When Sunoo turned to look at him, Sunoo eyes held so much emotions. Riki didn’t think this day would come. You understand, don’t you? Sunoo conveyed, his hand finding Riki’s, slowly intertwining their fingers. Riki squeezed his hand, “When?”
Sunoo leaned back on the bench, still holding Riki tightly. “For a year now.” Riki’s eyebrow twitched. “I know, I realized it late.” Sunoo pulled Riki to lean back, finding a comfortable position, resting his head on Riki’s shoulder. Riki relaxed, leaning his own head on Sunoo’s. “Sorry it took me this long to say something back.” Riki shook his head, messing their hair a little. He looked up, the moon was looking down on them with pride. “I’m happy.” He truly is, Riki would fly to the moon and kiss her if he could. “I like you, Riki.”
And maybe, nothing would change. They would still be the two peas in a pod, the duo who is attached by the hip. Maybe it’s been like this for a while, but they were content with how things were. The whisper of a confession, during a cold night, bundled under a blanket on a bench they’ve claimed years ago. “You’re my moon, Riki.” The Sun had loved the Moon since the beginning. And the Sun, bright and warm, will continue loving the calm and loyal Moon.