As Tiwa's eyelids flutter open, he sees slices of the sky through the canopy of tree branches leaning against each other overhead, solitary stars scattered here and there. He keeps his eyes wide open for as long as he can because he thinks if he takes his eyes off of them for a moment, they will escape from him. He doesn't want that. He doesn't want all this to disappear and lead him back to his depressed state again. Maybe whatever is happening in his life wants to teach him a lesson about what he really wants, where he wants to be, and where he needs to be.
He turns to look at Pravat, who lies next to him without saying anything. He knows the alpha is still awake because he can almost hear his distinct, pronounced heartbeat in the absolute silence. Probably worrying about something or thinking about their future. His bones feel tired, and his mind is hazy, and then he hears Pravat's body roll over, the sound reverberating through the earth and into his bones. He watches him sit up and toss the blankets off his body, jumping up from the ground in a frenzy.
"What happened?" Tiwa asks confusedly and sits up, blinking slowly. He can feel tufts of hair sticking up on the top of his head, absurdly.
"Come on, let's go," Pravat says, his back to Tiwa, his voice muffled, putting his jacket back on and bending down to grab all their belongings that are littered around the clearing.
Despite his confusion, Tiwa gets up and follows Pravat without hesitation. They quickly douse the fire, pack their things, and load everything back into the car.
Tiwa suddenly feels totally awake, like he's been hit with a jolt of electricity. It seems like one of those restless, reckless nights that bursts with the frenetic energy of the crowd in the arena with blood thrilling. And they have just ended up wandering the streets, embracing each other's arms. The world feels so, so big, but like all of it belongs to them, and they don't think they will ever come down.
When they get back onto the highway, Pravat presses the gas pedal down onto the floor, speeding over the empty road with bright headlights cutting a path through the night and the terrain blurring around them. His hands are tight on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the road, and his jaw is set determinedly, as if he has a real purpose now, a real destination.
Tiwa is not sure if they're heading to Seoul now, but whatever it is, Pravat will handle it. He trusts him with his whole heart. Sighing, he moves closer and holds him by the arm while leaning against him and closing his eyes. It feels good.
His eyes blink open as he smells the fresh, earthy air filling his nostrils and realizes they are getting closer to the coast. The gusty nighttime breeze blows through his hair, making him feel dazed and almost drunk. Instead of rolling up the window, he closes his eyes and tilts his face, letting the air ripple across his skin, not wanting to miss out on any of this experience.
They cross the bridge onto the small island, and Pravat slows down as the road eventually runs out at the very edge of the land. He just parks the car and gets out immediately with no explanation, running around to open the door for Tiwa and holding his hand out to be taken. His lips curve up the slightest bit as Tiwa's face flushes dark with colors that glow in the moonlight as he takes the offering hand.
Pravat smiles, leans in, and kisses Tiwa. He goes so still for a second, and then his mouth parts against Tiwa's, slowly kissing him like it is the most natural thing in the world, like it's not a surprise at all, threading his fingers into Tiwa's hair and guiding him closer. Tiwa touches his palm to Pravat's chest, and he can feel the heart thundering through the chest.
They break apart after a minute or two, and Tiwa just stares at Pravat with teary eyes, probably thinking about something. Pravat shakes his head and kisses him again, soft and brief, his fingers splayed gently on Tiwa's cheek, their foreheads touching for a second before he pulls away. He reaches for Tiwa's hand again and says, "Let's take a walk."
They take their shoes off and stroll down the deserted shoreline side by side, and Tiwa closes his eyes and tips his head back, breathing in the breeze coming off the water. Pravat's fingers brush against his own every so often, and he glances across at him and catches his eye, and Pravat just wordlessly smiles at him. It feels like they are the only two people in the world, surrounded by the calming sound of the waves and the gentle touch of the wind.
And then Pravat just stops, like he's been compelled by a sudden irresistible impulse, and he's dropping his shoes on the ground, and then he's shucking his jacket off, and then the rest of his clothes, carelessly and hastily, letting them fall scattered onto the sand. Tiwa just stares at him, open-mouthed, in shock, wondering if Pravat has gone mad.
Ignoring Tiwa's stunned expression, Pravat starts walking toward the water in only his underwear. It jolts Tiwa back to reality as he tries to comprehend what is happening.
"Are you insane?" Tiwa asks, standing in the same spot as if he's been tethered to the earth, folding his arms tightly across his chest. "It's probably freezing in there."
Pravat turns around and walks over to Tiwa, grabbing his wrist instead and pulling him along while Tiwa tries to resist. "Come on," he says, like a dare, mischief twinkling in his eyes.
He drops Tiwa's hand after a moment, standing expectantly by the shore, looking like he belongs there with the sea gently rolling behind him. "Let this sea know our unsaid love story first," he declares.
Tiwa gazes out at the sea, contemplating the words, before letting out a sigh. He starts shedding his clothes and leaves them in a crumpled pile next to Pravat's, who grins widely at him.
He follows Pravat into the water gingerly, gradually acclimatizing to the temperature. It's not as bad as he thought it would be, but the cold water still shocks his skin. He slowly wades in until the ground disappears beneath his feet, allowing himself to float on the surface. On the other hand, Pravat goes all in, running through the shallows before diving into the waves and letting the water submerge him completely.
Tiwa spends a few long moments trying to stop his body from shaking before Pravat resurfaces a couple of yards away, turning around to face him, laughing wildly, and brushing wet hair out of his eyes. Pravat meets his gaze again, unblinking, and Tiwa forgets how cold the water is. It just feels like all the unsaid things wash off him for the first time.
Pravat wades closer, and they just stare at each other for a charged moment, and it's suddenly too much, so Tiwa splashes water right into his face. Pravat curses and laughs. He tries to retaliate, and Tiwa dodges his effort, but then Pravat changes the rules mid-game the way he always does and starts tickling him. Their laughs, scuffles, and incoherent swears at each other seem to echo around them like they're filling up the whole earth.
They lazily float around for a while, staring up at the stars, and Tiwa wishes he would never leave that place. It feels good—really good. He jumps and snaps out of his thoughts when Pravat wraps his arms around him from behind and presses hard, open-mouthed kisses on his neck. Tiwa moans and shuts his eyes when Pravat's chest brushes against his back at the surface of the water, hands skimming over his waist, warm even in the freezing water. He releases his pheromones unconsciously to coax him.
And then, when he opens his eyes, he realizes he's not in the water anymore. Instead, he lies on the shore, with Pravat hovering over him. He pulls him away by the neck and stares into the brown eyes, which are dark enough to drown him in. Swallowing hard, he runs his fingers over Pravat's face and gives him a heartwarming smile to appreciate his efforts.
Leaning in, Pravat kisses Tiwa's lips tenderly, greedily exploring his mouth as Tiwa gasps in response. Tiwa's hands grasp onto Pravat's hair as their bodies press together, igniting a wave of pleasure that pulsates through him. Every inch of his body tingles with excitement as he arches his back, feeling a rush of sensation overwhelm him. Pravat eagerly consumes every sound that escapes from Tiwa's lips, completely engulfed in their intimate moment.