Vira cleared his throat. Saka turned back, his expression instantly changing to his trademark playfulness.
Vira said nothing but went and sat next to Saka, his legs dangling on the side of the cliff, leaning backward, as he stared at the moon.
Saka sat next to him, waiting for Vira to say something.
After a few minutes, he broke the silence. "Sem! You were supposed to say what you felt about the play, not sit quietly."
Vira looked at Saka and spoke quietly. "You were mesmerizing."
Saka was surprised. The compliment caught him unaware, and he blushed. He laughed and said, "When you say that, I don't know how to react."
Vira didn't smile. He continued to look at the moon. Saka stared intently at Vira's face, searching for some expression. The moon emphasized on the slightly visible gnash scar, which glowed silver.
He unconsciously touched the scar, tracing the line with his thumb, as he held Vira's cheeks with his palms, his eyes fixed on the scar.
Vira instinctively pushed him back. "What are you doing?" He asked gruffly.
Saka was jolted back to reality. He looked genuinely upset. "I'm sorry sen. It looked a pretty silver. I just thought it was beautiful. My hand acted on it's own, I'm really sorry."
Before Vira could react, Saka excused himself and walked away, in the direction of the temple.
Saka was shocked by his own reaction. He locked himself inside the meditation room and slid to the floor. No one would be able to guess where he was.
He then let his brain process information. His mind blanked out the moment Vira pushed him. His brain was so focused on the beautiful sliver of a scar, it made Vira look like the silver dragon from the tales of yore. A giant and kind serpent with a gnash by a dragon slayer. The gnash reminded the dragon that he hadn't fallen yet, a scar would heal with time. It also made him realise that its size and might were no match against the perseverance of the dragon slayer.
They later become friends, or something like that. The tale was too old and had too many versions.
In the moonlight, he looked like a silver dragon. The black, wind blown hair, the dignified thoughtful expression.. but most importantly, that scar.
His hands had moved on its own accord. And when he touched it, it was smooth, silken, and just glided across his face.
Saka banged his head on the floor. What had he done? He had just molested his teacher.
Vira would never talk to him anymore. Infact, he would be lucky if Vira didn't report him.
Saka felt depressed as he cursed his stupid instinct.
It was time to do more meditation. With the level of self control he had, he doubted he'd last a year, forget about the "will wait for lifetime" part.
Vira cursed himself the moment Saka walked away. He tried to run behind but Saka disappeared before he could catch upto him. He will explain himself when they meet at school. But what could he explain?
Vira hadn't intended to hurt Saka. He was just shocked. When Saka outlined the scar with his finger, he felt the line burn.
The intensity of Saka's stare threw him off balance. But it was with love, and admiration. Vira could tell that.
He touched his long forgotten scar. For the first time he felt he could walk with pride. Someone still found him fine the way he was. To be called beautiful, the words hit Vira and he blushed.
He was completely losing himself to Saka. But for the first time in his life, he wanted to give the relationship a try.
He went back to his place, unable to get Saka's intense stare out of his head.
By the time Akat came back, with Maw Lava on oneside and uncle Karn on the other, Vira had prepared dinner and set up Akat's room.
He was in no mood to eat, he just wanted to retire to his room and muse on his thoughts, but it became impossible.
Vira got to know about Akat uptil the time he left for Marina. Maw Lava compared him to a monkey that Vira couldn't bring himself to imagine.
Vira realised one thing. He had unconsciously drowned himself in self pity, while the people around him had carried their scars as their armour, and proudly marched forward, daring life.
He would become that sort of person too. If he couldn't exude confidence, how could he expect Saka to rely on him?
It was a bit after midnight when the guests left.
Just when Vira was gearing up to sleep, Akat came up with one more request.
"Can I sleep with you?"
Vira felt fully awake now. "What?"
"Vira, I am scared of ghosts. Ever since the accident, if I am alone at night, I feel like I hear things.
I slept with Auntie when she was alive, and Prapit became my roommate after that. Even now, at work, when I sleep, Kenta sleeps with me.
Please?"
Who would expect that the uber cool sen had this cute side to him? Vira thought to himself.
"I have no problem, I'll get your bed to my room."
Akat looked relieved. "Thanks Vira, I know I'm asking a lot from you. I promise to pay you back in anyway I can."
Vira shook his head. "No sen," he said firmly, "Friendship is not business."
Akat did not expect that from Vira. "Did you fall in love?" He asked Vira.
"Why sen?" Vira couldn't be that obvious!
"From a guy who always distanced himself, to a guy who is willing to share his room, that too, with a guy who was a colleague one week back, who is now considered a friend, don't you think it's a huge leap?"
Vira did not answer Akat. He didn't have to.
How was he going to manage hiding this till graduation day? He had no idea.