there’s a midsummers event tomorrow at the park, and there’s going to be fireworks
do you want to go together?63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqoIosYxi3
For sometime in a while, Kaelix was asking in text. He knows what day it was tomorrow, the circle he’d marked on his calendar was pricking his eyes, making them well up. He didn’t want to risk letting Zeal hear the possible crack in his voice. The man’s too sharp to hide anything from. He wanted Zeal to remember his bright smile when he thinks of him, not his ugly crying face. He wanted to leave a perfect last impression in Zeal’s mind, just like how it’s the best photo that’s kept in an album.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwugRODrfnZ
For what feels like an eternity later, Zeal’s response popped up on screen.
Zeal: You’re not working tomorrow?63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeutD33jgl
Kaelix: nope, i’d cancel it anyways if there was63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DakMIMR8X
Because you’re that important, Kaelix thought, but he kept those words to himself.
Zeal: Sure, see you there tomorrow63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IWnXTDCk8
Zeal was typing on his computer, finishing up the things he was working on before packing it away in boxes. As he clicked on the send button, a message popped up on screen.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubCIXeLUId
Message scheduled63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAqFdJIEJl
He lets out a sigh of relief and began packing up the computer. Sharp sound of boxing tape rips the air, sealing the top of the last box, along with the remaining time they have.
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLFAeMDEE1
-1 day until Zeal leaves for uni
Zeal watches as Kaelix pops a candy in his mouth, it was the third one today. But considering Kaelix’s sweet tooth, he might’ve had more before they’ve met up.
“I thought you were supposed to be on a strict diet?”
“Doesn’t hurt to have a cheat day every once in a while.”
Lies, the sweetness was there to mask the rising bitterness. His sense of taste was going dull with all that candy he's been eating, yet the bitterness still stands.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kICK0leZP
They were conversing like any other day, or at least it’s what it seems like. Something was between them, occupying the remaining space between, making it harder to breathe. The both of them refused to acknowledge the elephant in the room, hoping that it would eventually take the hint and walk away on its own.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8QNRJHRfD
Running away was never the solution, but it has always been the easier option. Both emotionally and physically.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhldrQgI2hG
There was something between them, a glass pane, perhaps. One that would shatter ever so easily, if either one of them tried. But neither of them made the move, two cowards were they.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwR4RlMX1wz
“It’s quite crowded here today.” Zeal commented.
“There’s fireworks after all.”
“I can see the hype.”
“We can leave if it’s too overwhelming.”
“No, it’s fine. This is fine.”63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCJpKH3WVA
Night falls, people gathered up into crowds. Perhaps it was the surrounding crowd, providing the courage and support; perhaps it was the darkening sky, showing and reminding the loss of time; perhaps it was something magical in the air, prompting and urging feelings to be said. Unsaid feelings he had locked deep down has quietly picked the lock, escaping through his lips as they were vocalized. All before Kaelix could realize, as they stood and waited in among the crowd.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0RBLFWegm
“You know, I’ve never believed in anything they’ve said about you.”
“They?”
“The people at school. They say that you’re dangerous, a bad influence, nothing good would come out of you. They warned me to stay away from you. But I’ve always liked to see and feel for myself, then make my own conclusions.”
“What’s your verdict, then?”63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sJWyY96lc
There was a long pause, Zeal looks at Kaelix in silence, waiting for his answer. The crowd has fallen quiet, their beating hearts thumping too loudly in comparison. Anxiety floods the air, was it from Zeal, or Kaelix? Or maybe the both of them? There was no way to tell. He saw Kaelix take a deep breath, turn to face him, and-63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡur1raCHACC
“They were wrong, completely wrong.”
The glass cracked.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj4nPjfWj8
Fireworks shot into the sky at that very moment, waking up the world. Sounds of fireworks launching, people gasping in awe, their roaring heartbeats, all noise flooded the air all at once. Despite all the disruptions, Zeal could hear Kaelix just fine.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrDnQM9WzV
“You’re the nicest person I’ve ever met.”
Then creaked.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7Renb0cQV
Boom63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuelOeuXDHT
Colorful flames illuminated their faces in colorful hues, Kaelix turned his head back to watch. Explosions drowning the rest of his words as he whispered them, as if he didn’t want them to be heard, or perhaps it was only a mutter to himself. Even though Zeal was ripped off of sound, he could rely on vision and the movement of Kaelix’s lips.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6WJEMwXTy
“I love you so much.”
And with that, it shattered.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uuCDblFXN
Zeal has heard this phrase over the course of the past two weeks over and over again from Kaelix’s mouth, to the point he was starting to get used to it. But this time, it’s without the usual exaggeration, without the following shower of praises. This time, it was calm, serious, holding an entirely different meaning and value. The words were supposedly light as a feather, but held the weight of a stone, dropping into Zeal’s heart causing ripples and waves. You’d think that lies weigh much more on the heart, yet it was sincerity.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxmn9P69x1
Zeal reached to hold Kaelix’s trembling hand. He could feel the prep stiffen in surprise, relax, then finally responding the gesture by doing the same. No words were exchanged, yet there was no need. What was left unsaid had already been spoken.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIMhmV86CI
Thank you.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcOe5GY6CM
Perhaps love has already sprouted for far longer than they’ve realized. Maybe it was back when Zeal held Kaelix’s hand while playing horror games; maybe it was back when Zeal brought Kaelix the honey tea; maybe it was back when they did their duet; maybe it was back when they had a coffee date; maybe it was back when Kaelix pinned the earring; maybe it was back when Kaelix treated Zeal’s wounds; maybe it was back when Zeal protected Kaelix in that alleyway. Maybe, It was that one moment in school, a glimpse of an eye, a brush of a shoulder. Memories presented themselves like slideshows, one scene after the other in rewind, backtracking to the day it all started.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGcHCspGmW
Unfortunately, it was too late when they’ve come to discover this sprout of love. How it was forced to wither in time, with them unable to do anything but stand and witness. Two weeks, 14 days, 336 hours have came to an end. How it sounded so long, but felt so short at this very moment. The two of them stood in silence, hands firmly held as they watch the fireworks burn their brightest, then fade away into the night sky. Shooting stars without the capacity of carrying wishes, no matter how much they wished that they could.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47n8neeHHn
Explosion of fireworks mark the time, chiming in the place of the bells as the clock strikes twelve. Fairy godmother’s blessing has worn off, the sea witch’s spell has reached its expiration.
It was time to wake up.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ypYgxbqyl
63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpZNrp0xxy
-0 days until Zeal leaves for uni
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