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"You coming, Aubrey?" – Kim turned around, starting her scooter up.
“…” - Aubrey had her back to them, and Kim quickly nodded, turning around.
“Catch you later, then.” – She glared at both Kel and Sunny before leaving. The taller looked back at Aubrey, not knowing what to really say.
“Aubrey…” – Kel started.
“Ugh...! Aaaaaugh!” – The girl fell to her knees, shoulders trembling. - "Why!? Why do you guys keep coming back? I just want you to leave me alone!"
Sunny watched Kel click his tongue, him and Aubrey yelling at each other for that felt like hours. He lifted his eyes from the ground, focusing on Basil behind Aubrey. He was still on his knees, trembling hands whipping away tears from his face. He looked miserable.
"You used to be friends!" – Kel pointed at her. - "We all used to be."
Basil got up, backing away. Aubrey was already on her feet, her wavy hair blocking Basil’s face from Sunny.
The delinquent’s shout snapped Sunny from his daze. Aubrey’s eyes were teary as she swung her bat in the air.
"Where were you when Mari died? Where were any of you!?"
She turned around and marched towards Basil, who stepped back until the grass under his feet was replaced by wood. The pier’s wood creaked under his weight. They couldn’t see her face, but Basil’s eyes were worried. Apprehensive.
Sunny’s body twitched, but he did not move.
"And you...you're the worst, Basil. How dare you show your face to me after what you did!" – She bailed her fists, hands shaking in rage until she gave up. Her shoulders sagged. Aubrey turned around, fighting against the tears. Basil’s voice was small and uncertain as he approached her.
“Aubrey…I-“
“Get away from me!” – Aubrey yelled, pushing Basil away.
Yet, the pier was too short and the blonde lost his balance. Basil fell into the dark, cold waters.
Aubrey took a step back. –“Shoot…”
Kel was already moving, running towards the pier. Sunny’s legs feel like concrete. His body was cold and his eyes were still focused where Basil once stood. He couldn’t move.
"What the heck, Aubrey! What are you doing!? You've taken this way too far!" – Kel’s voice broke as he yelled.
Aubrey gesticulated, panicking. – “Hold on! I-I didn’t mean to!”
The boy grabbed her arm, turning to Sunny with startled eyes. - "Sunny! Don't worry about Aubrey! I'll keep her busy-“ – He turned to her, gripping her tightly as she tried to pull her arm away. –“Just go get Basil!”
Sunny ran. His legs felt light and he ran past Kel and stepped into the pier. The water reflected the sky like a mirror with no end, and the darkness of it made him hesitate for a second. But Sunny jumped, letting the water swallow him whole.
It’s was cold.
Bubbles tickled his face as he sank, his eyes trying to see something in the dark, his hands reaching for a body that’s was not there. Sunny tried to move his legs but his chest felt tight and there was not enough air. His lungs fought for it and he gasped, swallowing water and bubbles.
He couldn't move his arms. It’s was so dark. So cold.
But he had to find Basil.
His insides were burning. He couldn't see anything, just darkness all around and the pressure of the water heavy against his body.
He reached for the depths, but his consciousness slowly faded to black.
-
“Sunny? Sunny! ” - Squeezing his shoulders, someone shook him violently. The voice was familiar, and Sunny opened his eyes with some difficulty, the sunlight being blocked by his friend's worried face. - "Sunny!" - Kel sounded relieved, smiling faintly as he rested a hand on his back, helping him sit on the wet grass.
Sunny coughed, pressing a hand against his mouth. He threw up some water, feeling his throat raw and sore. His lungs burned.
He remembered jumping in the cold water, stamping his feet, and trying to reach something. But he couldn't move, the bottom of the lake dark, ready to swallow him. Not enough air in his lungs.
But someone pulled him out of the water.
"Sunny...are you okay?" - The brunette asked, receiving a quiet nod. Kel turned around, looking at something near the lake, worried. - “Hero? How's Basil?”
The raven haired boy looked up, noticing Hero kneeling over Basil. They received no answer, watching the boy pull Basil’s wet shirt up, pressing fingers against his chest. His hands were shaking.
“Hero?” – Kel’s voice cracked.
Hero didn't answer, bending down to check the boy's breathing. He straightened up, resting his hands on Basil's chest, and began to push. The compressions didn't last long. Hero checked the breathing again, his ear close to Basil's lips. He went back to doing compressions.
Even from afar Sunny could hear Hero's heavy breathing.
His eyes few on Basil's hands stretched out on the grass. His skin looked paler than usual.
Sunny's ears started to ring. Kel said something. His brother did not answer, shaking his head. His movements seemed more frantic. Kel turned to Sunny, his lips moving but no sound coming out. He got up, walking towards Hero and Basil. He froze.
Vision blurring again, Sunny felt his hands sweating. Even though his clothes were almost dry, he still felt cold.
"I...I ...I didn't mean to..." - Aubrey was standing far away, her bat forgotten on the ground. Her blue eyes were glued on Basil. She shook her head, eyes terrified. -"I-I..."
“Enough, Aubrey!” – Kel yelled. His eyes were teary as he glared at her.
Hero continued the compressions. His shoulders were shaking.
"I told you! I didn't want to push him!”
"Look what you did! This is all your fault!”
"I didn't w-want to!"
Hero continued the compressions. Kel stood up, marching over to Aubrey.
The two were arguing, but all Sunny could hear was his own breathing.
Basil's wet hair on the grass, strands sticking to his ear and cheeks.
Sunny remembered a cold night years ago.
"Uhm...ah~. Tasty. Grandma is so good at making pies, don't you think, Sunny?” - Basil placed his fork down on the empty plate, licking his lips before turning to his friend with a smile.
The two were in a pillow fort next to Basil's bed, stuffed animals surrounding them. Basil had heated two pieces of pear pie in the microwave to eat while looking at the photo album again. From a safe distance, of course. Sunny chewed his last bite calmly to savor the taste, putting the plate aside. He nodded, and Basil laughed softly at his puffed cheeks.
The blonde pointed at a photo of Mari and Aubrey, specifically at the flowers at the bottom of the photo. They were a little unfocused, but Sunny found them, in a way, familiar.
"I have a vase of these flowers near the kitchen!" - Basil pointed out. - “They are called Galanthus. Or more popularly known as Snowdrop. They mean hope and beauty, did you know? I think they would look better in the bathroom...but grandma really likes them in the kitchen.”
Sunny pulled his legs close to his chest, letting Basil snuggle up next to him. Their shoulders touched, and he was so warm. Sunny tried to not get distracted.
“They're not very easy to grow...but I think that all flowers come with their price. Some flowers don't like the sun very much, others don't like to be indoors...it can be a little confusing at times.” - He turned the page and eagerly pointed at a picture of Sunny and Kel. - “Do you remember this day? It was so hot! Kel was all sweaty…”
"And Mari bought us popsicles." - Sunny mumbled. Basil's eyes lit up.
"She did. My banana popsicle wasn’t that tasty...ah! Please don't tell Mari, okay?” - Smiling shyly, he looked at him sideways.
Sunny nodded. The photo album lay open between them, resting on Basil's thigh and a blanket. Even so, as much as the photos carried so many memories and good times, Sunny found himself paying more attention to his friend than to the photos.
Basil was always so careful with things. Always so kind and always doing his best, even if he couldn't see how good he was. The blonde pointed at the pictures and smiled, laughed and his eyes wound shine with longing and happiness. It was overwhelming the feeling that Sunny felt inside his chest. Every time Basil turned to him and smiled, an invisible thread pulled at his heart.
It wasn't a foreign feeling at all, when he looked at Aubrey he felt the same. Almost. Around Basil he just didn't know what to do. Didn't know what to say. So he would just listen, and if Basil held his hand or bumped shoulders with him, his young little heart would give little flips.
When Basil handed him a newly taken picture, their fingers brushing momentarily.
When he removed his gardening gloves and his hand felt hot and sweaty against his.
When Basil fell asleep and laid his head on his shoulder, his eyelashes casting shadows on pink chubby cheeks.
His smile. His shyness. His compassion.
His heart was a traitor. These feelings were supposed to be a secret, but his pulse raced when he saw Basil.
Being with him...time seemed to slow down. Both of them in their own little bubble. Sunny wished he could stare at the blonde for hours. That's not creepy, his heart would say, that’s love.
Basil traced the caption of the photos with a finger, his cheeks red. He could feel the weight of Sunny's gaze.
"U-Uhm...Sunny? What is it? You’ve been staring at me for some time now…"
Blue eyes met his shyly. Sunny's pajamas felt so hot all of sudden. Not able to think of anything else, he pointed at the clip on Basil's hair.
“Oh? My hairclip? W-What about it? ” - Basil raised a hand to his hair, touching the flower. -"Do you like it? I decided to try something new...it's cute, r-right?”
"Yes." - Sunny felt his face warm. - “Looks good on you."
The gardener smiled. -"Ah, that's good! Maybe I should buy other types of flowers? I took the simplest one, just to test it out. But I'm glad you like it!”
He never understood why his opinion was so important.
Basil looked down at the album. They were already on the last page, some blank pages ready to be filled in the future.
"Should we stop here and go brush our teeth?" - He closed the album, placing it carefully on his bed.
Sunny nodded, and Basil took his hand.
The softness of the blankets.
Breath with the smell of mint.
Basil's soft hair on his pillow, Sunny running his fingers through the strands in the middle of the night.
A night's sleep without nightmares.
Sunny stood beside Hero. His shoulders were shaking, hands clutched to Basil's wet clothes.
Lifeless blue eyes stared at the sun.
“Ah! Sunny, a shell! ”
Basil ran to towards him, a pale shell in his hands. It was so small, but it had its charm. The blonde smiled, turning it over on his palm with his finger.
“Isn't it pretty? Maybe I can make a necklace...but...I don't think it would suit me very much.” – He sighed.
The salty beach wind ruffled Sunny's hair. Basil held his beach hat in place with a hand, closing his eyes to avoid sand in his eyes. The waves washed over their bare feet.
It was a beautiful day for the beach. Almost perfect for Basil, who was wearing more than usual clothes on a beach. He got sunburned way too easily.
Kel and Aubrey were arguing again, the brunette throwing watermelon seeds at the girl. Basil smiled at the sight.
"Hehe...it seems that not even on a beach day they stop fighting...oh, poor Hero..."- The older boy was now scolding his brother and Aubrey. Mari seemed content in just watching.
Sunny continued to walk. He turned to Basil and waited for the blonde to catch up. Carrying the slippers in his hands, the gardener put the shell in his shirt pocket before following Sunny away from the group.
"So, Sunny, how's the piano practice going?" - Basil looked at him. - "Mari always says that you're practicing almost every day, right?"
Sunny nodded, even though he was slowly starting to hate practicing. Having to redo his mistakes over and over until Mari approved. His fingers were starting to ache and his right arm to hurt. Each day Mari would get more and more impatient, even if she tried to hide it. Her fingers would bang the piano keys when he made even the smallest mistake, her shoulders tensing up.
But he would never tell that to Basil. He and the others worked so hard to get that violin for him.
"Really? You must be very tired. I can't wait for the recital. I mean...you're excited too, aren't you?”
Sunny looked at him, surprised. Basil still had the same smile on his face, his eyes genuine.
“What’s with that look? We would never pressure you to do anything you don't want to, Sunny. What matters is that you're enjoying it, right?” - The blonde kicked the wet sand as they walked, putting his hands together and playing with his fingers. - "Y-You know...it's important to me that you are happy. You're...uhm...my best friend..."
The sun was slowly setting on the horizon. Its rays bathed Basil's flushed face. His eyes were bluer and deeper than the sea that surrounded them.
"So, if you want to let off some steam...I'll always be here for you, okay?" - The boy flushed even more. -"I-I-I mean, talk, y-you know? Haha..."
Sunny felt his heart burn.
He nodded, feeling his ears warm.
The smell of salt
The hot sand
Blue eyes
Summer
He reached for Basil’s hand.
Kel was back at Hero’s side. Sunny could hear Aubrey sniffing behind him.
"Hero? He's...no...Basil isn't..." - Kel's eyes fell on the body. He shook his head, legs weak. He swayed in place, his lips trembling as tears formed in his eyes. - "N-No...ah...Sunny...don't look..."
The older brother buried his head in his hands.
"I'm sorry." - Hero murmured. His voice broke. -"I'm sorry."
Kel fell on his knees, trembling fingers caressing blonde bangs.
Sunny felt his legs moving on their own.
He turned around, unfocused eyes.
"Sunny, do you believe in soulmates?"
The boy opened his eyes, finding his friend lying next to him, closer than usual. Basil looked awkward, pulling a loose thread from the blanket they were lying on. They had just finished watching the last movie of the night, and everyone was already asleep.
Or at least Kel, who snored not far away.
The raven haired blinked.
"Y-You know...uh, they're people who were born for each other ... they complete each other." - Basil looked at him, pressing his lips together. - "And they always meet in the end, even if they have been reborn in different cities or countries...they always find their way to each other." - The blonde smiled, cheeks flushed. -"Do you believe?"
Sunny nodded hesitantly just to see Basil's smile widen. The two boys looked at each other, the silence filling the room. Bashfully, Basil raised his hand and touched Sunny's nose. Sunny watched Basil's hand, holding his breath.
His heart was almost beating out of his chest.
Basil's fingers moved down his face, tickling his cheeks. He pressed his fingers against Sunny's lips, and when he realized what he was doing, pulled his hand away quickly.
“Ah! Sunny, so-sorry...!”- He whispered, face red. -"U-Uhm, I don't know what I'm doing...I just..."
Sunny opened his eyes, barely realizing that he had closed them. He took Basil's hand, feeling how hot his skin was. Basil muttered under his breath, watching Sunny place his hand back against his cheek again.
The hand on his face was comforting, warm and soft. The flower boy watched him with wide eyes, dilated pupils. He tentatively squeezed Sunny's cheek, laughing softly at the glare Sunny gave him.
"Sorry." - He whispered again, smiling playfully. -"I couldn't resist."
Sunny couldn't take his eyes off Basil, feeling the boy touch and caress his face, touch a lock of hair and push it behind his ear. Basil placed his hand on his cheek again, and Sunny felt his eyes go heavy with sleep. If only they could stay like this forever.
"Su-Sunny...the recital is next week, isn't it? Uhm...”
Sunny opened his eyes.
"I...I have something to tell you, after the recital, okay?" - Basil stammered, withdrawing his hand and resting it between them. - "So...even if you feel anxious, I want you to look forward to it...alright?"
A million possibilities crossed Sunny's mind. It could be anything...but his selfish heart longed for something almost impossible. But maybe, just maybe...his feelings for him weren't so far from the truth. If he could only tell Basil how he really felt. If he could only tip his head a little more, touch his lips with his own…
Sunny covered Basil's hand with his, squeezing it gently. He nodded.
Even in the dark of the room, Basil's smile beamed.
The blonde scooted closer, their foreheads almost touching. Basil's cheeks were warm, and his breath so inviting.
Sunny felt the anxiety in his heart dissipate just a little bit.
He would wait. He could wait.
“Sunny…my soulmate…I think I found him.”
"No...I...I didn't..." - Aubrey covered her mouth with shaky hands, falling to her knees. She shook her head, sobs muffled.
Sunny walked towards her
The baseball bat was lighter than he thought.
You loved him and she killed him.
The girl raised her head, a shiver shooting up her spine as she stared into Sunny's eyes. Her lips trembled as she pleaded for his forgiveness, backing away. She kicked the grass, horrified, as Sunny approached.
Sunny swung the bat.
You loved him and she killed him.
So much blood.
Kel ran, Sunny's name on his lips
You loved him and she killed him.