Fatigue.
That was all Asher felt as he slowly opened his weary teal eyes. The world around him came into hazy focus, his body heavy with exhaustion. He lay on wet, mushy sand, his fingers instinctively caressing its cool, gritty texture as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. The remnants of yesterday's storm were evident in the damp earth beneath him, the scent of rain still lingering in the air.
Turning his head to the side, Asher's gaze landed on a silver-haired girl sleeping peacefully beside him. Her serene expression contrasted sharply with the turmoil of the previous day. His eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly averted his gaze, feeling a flush of embarrassment creep up his cheeks.
He turned to the other side, seeking a distraction. There, Sunny lay in a deep, yet troubled slumber, his face contorted with discomfort even in sleep. The sight made Asher grimace, the memories of their harrowing ordeal flooding back with unsettling clarity.
With a groan, Asher lifted his head and stared up at the clear blue sky. The contrast between the present calm and the chaos of yesterday was stark. The storm had passed, leaving a pristine expanse above, unmarred by clouds. The tranquillity of the moment was almost surreal after the intensity of their battle.
Asher's mind replayed the events that had led them here—the desperate struggle against the monstrous foe, the excruciating pain, and the relentless rain that had drenched them to the bone. Each memory was sharp and vivid, the echoes of their fight lingering in his body and soul.
He took a deep breath before bringing his torso up, the weight of fatigue still pressing down on him. "Huddled together for warmth and slept as though they were dead, too tired to make someone keep watch," he muttered under his breath, reciting the exact words from the novel that seemed eerily prophetic now.
Turning back, he saw Cassie gripping Nephis like an oversized teddy bear, while Nephis slept on her side, her hand stretching out in Asher's direction. Sunny, on the other hand, had his right arm beneath his head as a makeshift pillow, his left arm extending toward Asher as well.
Asher blinked, clearing the haziness from his eyes. He noticed Nephis's and Sunny's hands on top of each other, forming a surprisingly large and flat area. This was where Asher had laid his head, using their hands as a pillow. A smile tugged at his lips as he remembered Nephis's concern about him having a concussion and Sunny's silent nods of agreement.
His expression slowly shifted to a frown as he continued to stare at their intertwined hands. A sad smile broke across his face as he thought, 'How could I forget that I, too, am a Sunphis supporter... ironically, that's coming from a guy with a photographic memory.' Asher's pupils continued to focus on their hands, feeling a returning haziness as he remembered Nephis's promise.
"I will protect you."
He recalled all the 'fun' arguments he had with Sunny. The haziness grew as he looked at the bigger picture, 'Why the hell am I even going after Nephis when these two are clearly meant for each other?'
He knew they were fated to be together.
He knew that Sunny—his friend—would like Nephis in the future and that Nephis would feel the same.
He knew... that he had no place between them.
He knew he didn't even belong here.
Or anywhere, for that matter.
He couldn't quite explain the turmoil inside him. It felt as if he were slowly stealing someone's girlfriend. It felt as if he were betraying his only friend.
Asher got up and wiped away the few tears that had escaped his eyes. While wiping his tears, Asher realized something.
"My hands are healed," he whispered, staring at his hands in disbelief.
'Of course they are you, Idiot! If Nephis healed Sunny, it's only logical she would heal you as well!'
Asher walked up to the cliff nearby, letting out a tired sigh as he yawned and stretched his arms toward the sky. The morning light cast long shadows over the crimson labyrinth below, the intricate patterns of coral-like formations glowing faintly in the early sun. He felt the cool, damp air on his skin.
"Oh, you're awake."
Asher turned around, startled, to see Sunny yawning and scratching his dishevelled black hair. Asher took a quick step back, his heart racing. 'That was a close one! It would've been super awkward if Sunny saw me crying!'
"Yes, I am," he said in a deadpan tone, trying to mask his emotions as he continued to stare out at the labyrinth before them.
Sunny simply nodded, his expression mirroring Asher's blank stare. He got up and walked over to join Asher, both of them gazing at the horizon in silence. The sky was a blend of pastel hues, the remnants of the storm clouds still lingering in the distance, casting a moody atmosphere over the scene.
A period of silence ensued the only sound was the distant call of strange creatures from the labyrinth below. Both boys stood with blank expressions, their minds heavy with unspoken thoughts.
"Nephis will take some time to wake up. She exhausted herself after healing the both of us," Sunny finally broke the silence, his voice carrying a note of concern.
"I see," Asher replied, his voice flat, his eyes fixed on the horizon. He didn't bother to look at Sunny, his mind still processing the emotions that stirred within him.
Sunny cracked the knuckles of his left hand, the same hand he'd donated as a pillow for Asher, a small but clear gesture of his displeasure. Asher glanced at him for a brief second before turning back to the late sunrise that painted the horizon with warm golden hues.
Both boys stood in awkward silence, each aware that the other was trying to start a conversation but struggling to find the words. Sunny, socially inept and severely lacking in communication skills, found it difficult to express himself. Asher, on the other hand, was terrible at handling serious conversations, always preferring to deflect or downplay his emotions. It was like a scene out of Love is War, where both were too proud or too awkward to make the first move.
Eventually, Sunny sighed, breaking the silence. He continued to look at the sun, its light reflecting off his thoughtful expression. "About yesterday," he began hesitantly.
Asher gave him a side glance, waiting for him to continue.
"I-I don't really remember the details well, but you saved both me and Nephis yesterday..."
"Your point?" Asher replied flatly, his eyes reverting to the horizon, not wanting to delve too deeply into the emotions tied to those events.
Sunny turned his face towards Asher, his voice low and a faint blush coloring his cheeks. "T-Thank you."
Asher's face immediately contracted with disgust as he took a few steps to the side, away from Sunny. "Sunny, I'm sorry, but I am not gay."
Sunny's eyes widened in shock before narrowing in fury. "WHO ARE YOU CALLING GAY, YOU BASTARD! I WILL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT I AM THE STRAIGHTEST MAN IN THE WORLD. TWO WORLDS EVEN!"
"Uh. Really?" Asher snorted, maintaining a deadpan expression.
"And why the hell are you acting deadpan like Nephis anyway?!" Sunny demanded, pointing his finger at Asher, who responded with a quizzical look. "Eh? I was?"
"YES!"
That's when their eyes met, both seizing all expressions as they locked gazes. Sunny peered deep into Asher's eyes, which seemed to hold within them a fragment of the cosmos itself—vast, mysterious, and infinitely complex.
Asher, in turn, found himself lost in the depth of Sunny's gaze. Sunny's eyes, dark as a moonless night, seemed to pull him into an endless abyss. There was a raw, unspoken intensity in those eyes, something, he couldn't quite put his hand on.
A few seconds went by.
.
.
.
Suddenly, Asher broke into laughter, a deep, genuine sound that echoed across the cliffside. Sunny followed suit, his laughter blending with Asher's in a symphony of mirth. They clutched their stomachs, unable to contain the hearty, almost delirious laughter that bubbled up from deep within.
There was no specific reason for their laughter. It wasn't the result of a joke or a shared memory. It was more like a release, a cathartic outpouring of all the tension, fear, and exhaustion that had built up inside them. It was as if the sheer absurdity of their situation had finally hit them, and all they could do was laugh.
They collapsed onto the wet sand, the damp grains cool against their skin as they continued to laugh uncontrollably. The remnants of the rain from the previous night had left the sand moist and slightly sticky, clinging to their clothes and skin. The laughter eventually subsided, leaving them breathless and lightheaded, lying side by side with the sky stretching infinitely above them.
As the echoes of their laughter faded, a serene calm settled over them. Sunny, still smiling, turned his gaze to Asher. "Hey, Asher."
Asher, his breath still coming in short gasps from the exertion of laughing, looked over at Sunny. "What?"
Sunny's smile widened as he turned his eyes back to the sky, the clear blue expanse reflecting in his dark eyes. "Why did we even laugh?"
Asher let out a soft chuckle, his grin broadening as he too looked up at the sky. The sun was climbing higher, its warmth beginning to chase away the lingering chill from the rain. He could feel the dampness of the sand beneath him, grounding him in the moment.
"No idea."
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A/N
I genuienley liked writing this Chapter. It's stuff like this that makes writing so worth it and I am going to miss this feeling. I already was half done with this chapter and thought 'might as well.' On side note, I am leaving on the 30th of May so I still have 4 days and if I have time, I will write another chapter.
I also wanted to say I am super happy having you guys as readers and hope you guys have the patience to stick around if I do decide to continue uploading spontaneously.
If this book ends here. I think it's a good chapter to end, no?
*sigh*
Alas, stuff like this just happens in life and you got to deal with it. I should to write this goodbye for my other book as well, but I really wasn't happy with the writing of the other one compared to this one and I did kinda abruptly stop uploading. But, if you want to check out a COTE fanfic in case you are bored, I think mine has a good plot since it did come in the top 20 ranking twice, not sure about the writing though.
Anyway! Rapping up, your lovely Author-chan out!