The morning air was fresh, carrying a faint chill that danced on their skin. Kaein woke up first, stretching lazily before glancing at the bed beside him. Lior was still curled under the sheets, his dark hair scattered across the pillow, soft strands catching the dim sunlight slipping through the curtains. His breathing was calm, childlike, and for a second Kaein just watched him, feeling an unexplainable warmth bloom inside his chest.
A thought flickered through Kaein's mind—If someone else were to see this face so close every morning… could I bear it?
"Still asleep…" he whispered to him , smiling faintly. For a fleeting moment, he wished this could last forever—waking up to the same room, the same person, the same warmth.
He quickly shook his head and stood up. "Wake up, sleepyhead. We promised we'd explore today," he said, deliberately cheerful, masking the heaviness under his chest.
Lior stretched lazily, glancing at him with a half-smile. "I didn't promise. You decided. I just got dragged along."
"Then let's call it… you being taken hostage by my vacation," Kaein shot back playfully, tossing a pillow at him. Lior caught it midair, laughing softly, but his gaze lingered a little too long on Kaein's face.
By the time they left the resort for the day, the town was already awake. Their first stop was the wide open field near the center, a place where people gathered for morning exercise. The field was alive with laughter, stretching bodies, and the rhythmic beats of music from portable speakers.
"Looks like half the town decided to exercise today," Kaein muttered, taking in the sight.
"Do you want to join them?" Lior asked, smirking slightly. His tone was teasing, but there was a flicker of challenge in his gaze.
"Me? No way. I'd embarrass myself," Kaein replied, waving his hands.
"Afraid you'll lose to the old man stretching over there?" Lior chuckled, pointing at an elderly man doing perfect squats with the ease of someone decades younger.
Kaein shot him a mock glare. "Shut up. At least I'm not pretending to be superior while secretly avoiding exercise."
"Oh?" Lior tilted his head, his smirk widening. "Want me to prove you wrong?"
Before Kaein could respond, Lior joined a small group of locals doing warm-up stretches. His posture was confident, movements fluid, and before long, he was chatting with a woman about his form. Kaein's jaw tightened almost instantly. The woman laughed, giving Lior tips and even reaching out once to adjust his arm.
Kaein stood at the edge of the field, arms crossed, pretending to be uninterested. But his eyes betrayed him, following every small interaction. Something in his chest stirred—something hot, uncomfortable.
"He's just stretching," Kaein muttered to himself. "It's nothing."
Yet his stomach twisted. The image of Lior smiling at someone else, even over something so trivial, gnawed at him. A childish part of him wanted to march over and pull Lior away, but instead, he kicked the grass lightly, acting as if he wasn't bothered.
"Would Lior laugh like that with others too? Would he share that carefree look with someone else when I'm not around?", Kaein thought.
When Lior finally returned, his expression smug, Kaein immediately tried to act normal.
"You were staring," Lior said casually, as if reading his thoughts.
"I was not."
"You were."
"I wasn't."
Lior chuckled, brushing past him. "It's fine. I didn't know you could get jealous of exercise partners."
Kaein nearly tripped over his own feet. "Jealous? Don't be ridiculous."
But the tips of his ears betrayed him, glowing faint red.
---
After leaving the field, they headed to the farm nearby. The air smelled faintly of hay and earth, and cattle grazed lazily under the sun. Children ran around feeding goats while couples took pictures with the horses. Lior seemed at ease here, his calm eyes softened by the quiet countryside atmosphere.
The farmer's children excitedly guided them, offering fresh milk and showing them how to feed calves.
Kaein leaned down, carefully feeding a calf with both hands cupped. The little animal nuzzled against his palm, and his expression softened into something Lior rarely saw—a gentleness so unguarded, so natural.
"Don't stare too much, you'll scare the poor thing," Kaein teased suddenly without looking up.
Lior coughed, quickly averting his eyes. "I wasn't staring. Just making sure you don't get bitten."
"Right," Kaein chuckled. But deep down, he thought: If only you'd admit when you look at me like that.
Later, when one of the farmer's daughters offered to take them around, Kaein noticed Lior smile warmly at her polite chatter. Something sharp tugged at his chest. He trailed a step behind them, forcing himself not to frown. Why do I feel like a jealous fool over something so small?
Meanwhile, Lior, aware of Kaein's silence, found himself wondering: If someone else stood beside him like this, would I even have a place in his days?
Neither said a word, both masking the storm with casual smiles.
"Do you remember our childhood?" Lior asked suddenly as they walked past a row of cattle. "Back then, we wanted to run away to places like this."
Kaein smiled faintly. "Yes. And we actually made it this time."
For a moment, silence fell between them, filled only by the sound of cows chewing and distant laughter. Both of them thought the same thing but didn't dare say it aloud: It's different because you're here with me.
As they stopped by a small pond, a group of kids came running. One of them tugged Lior's sleeve. "Mister, can you help me hold this rope? The calf doesn't listen to me."
Lior crouched down with a gentle smile, his large hand steadying the rope as the child laughed happily. The sight sent an odd pang through Kaein's chest. Lior looked so natural like this—gentle, warm, approachable.
Kaein's heart clenched with a thought he couldn't shake: If one day Lior shares this smile with someone else, what will I do?
It was a childish jealousy, but it grew louder the longer he stood watching.
When Lior returned, Kaein forced a grin. "Looks like you're popular with kids, too."
"Jealous again?" Lior teased, his tone light but his gaze sharp, like he was testing something.
Kaein scoffed, "Keep dreaming." But his heart raced.
---
As the day slowly faded, they finally reached the beach for the evening. The sky burned orange, reflecting on the restless waves. Families played in the shallow water, friends shouted as they chased each other, and couples sat close, whispering in tones drowned by the sea.
Kaein and Lior sat side by side on the sand, their shoes discarded, the tide tickling their toes. Neither spoke at first; the beauty of the moment was enough. But inside, both of their hearts were anything but calm.
Lior glanced sideways. The glow of the setting sun painted Kaein's profile in gold, highlighting his sharp jaw and the gentle curve of his lips. He thought," What if this moment belonged to someone else? What if he smiles like this with another person, not me?"
Meanwhile, Kaein's mind swirled in the same storm. Watching couples laugh together near the water, he couldn't help but imagine: 'Would Lior ever sit like this with someone else? Would he ever share this quiet sunset with someone who isn't me?'
The thought dug into him, sharp and unbearable. He clenched his fists in the sand, hiding it behind an easy smile.
"You look serious," Lior finally said.
"I was just thinking," Kaein replied softly, eyes still on the waves.
"About what?"
Kaein hesitated. For a heartbeat, he almost said it. Almost confessed everything his heart screamed. But instead, he exhaled and shrugged. "About how beautiful this place is."
Lior smiled faintly, hiding his own thoughts the same way. "Yes… beautiful."
They sat in silence again, both pretending to admire the sunset, both wrestling with the same jealous, aching question: Am I the only one you'll share this with? Or will someone else take my place?
The waves kept crashing, as if mocking their unspoken confessions.
"This place feels… different," Kaein said quietly. "Like the kind of place you'd want to remember forever."
Lior's eyes lingered on the horizon, though his words were meant for the man beside him. "Some things are worth keeping in memory. Not because they'll last forever… but because you want them to."
Kaein's chest tightened. He turned to look at Lior, illuminated by the fading sunlight. For a reckless second, he thought about what it would be like if they could stay like this every day, without unspoken fears or hesitation.
But then, laughter from a young couple running past broke the moment. The sound reminded both of them of a truth they hadn't voiced: their bond felt deeper than friendship, yet neither dared risk naming it.
Instead, Kaein picked up a seashell, tossing it gently toward the water. "If one day… you find someone else to share sunsets like this with, just—don't forget me, alright?" He tried to sound casual, but his voice faltered slightly.
Lior turned sharply, eyes searching his face. For a moment, he wanted to shout—It's you. It's always you. But instead, he gave a crooked smile, masking the tremor in his heart. "Idiot. Who else would put up with you?"
The playful insult carried a weight neither could deny. The sunset bore witness as two hearts beat faster, bound by unspoken longing and quiet jealousy—yet still afraid of reaching across that fragile line.