Aerel gently tapped Aerith's shoulder and held up his phone
On the screen, a message blinked quietly
Wanna come to my place?
Aerith's eyes widened slightly, surprise flickering across his face
After a brief pause, he smiled and replied
"Yeah… I'd like to."
Aerel's lips curved into a soft smile
Moments later, the band members returned, filling the room with noise and chatter
After wrapping things up, Aerith and Aerel left together,
walking side by side through the evening streets
City lights glowed around them, reflecting softly on the pavement
They stopped in front of an apartment building
Aerel glanced up, then back at Aerith
They had arrived
He unlocked the door and stepped inside, switching on the lights
The apartment was calm and quiet, decorated in soft, soothing tones—simple, warm, peaceful
It felt like a place meant to breathe in
Aerel turned to Aerith and gently gestured in sign language, asking him to sit and wait
Aerith nodded, taking in the quiet comfort of the space
Soon, Aerel began preparing food
The sounds from the kitchen were gentle and unhurried. Slowly, the aroma of something warm and delicious filled the apartment
Drawn by the stillness, Aerith stepped onto the balcony
He rested his hands on the railing and stared out at the city below
Lights shimmered endlessly, the night glowing with life—
a beautiful view, calm and comforting, just like the warmth surrounding him
Aerel tapped his shoulder again, offering him a chocolate shake
Aerith looked up, surprised, then accepted it quietly.
They didn't speak
They sat together on the balcony, shoulders close but not touching, watching the city glow beneath them The silence felt safe
After a while, Aerith broke it
"Can you show me how to say hey in sign language?"
Aerel smiled and nodded
Slowly, patiently, he demonstrated the sign—one movement at a time
Aerith followed, clumsy at first but trying his best
Aerel corrected him gently, encouraging with soft expressions
Then Aerel handed him a small book
Every sign was written clearly inside, each meaning carefully explained
Aerel signed again
Aerith looked at the book, then at him
"I… want to say a truth," he said quietly
"Is that what you said?"
Aerel nodded
Aerith took a deep breath
"Thank you… for saving me."
Aerel nodded once
Aerith shook his head slowly
"But you were the one who saved me."
Aerel lifted his hands and signed back
No,You also saved me that day
Aerith froze, staring at him
Aerel's hands trembled just slightly as he continued
You know what I was going to do that day
Aerith shook his head slowly, his chest tightening
Aerel swallowed and signed again, his movements slower now
I was going to die that day
Aerith's breath caught painfully in his throat
Aerel continued, the truth heavy but honest
That's when I saw you
You walked into the ocean, carrying so much pain
Aerith couldn't move, Couldn't speak
I was someone who had everything… and lost everything
You were someone who had nothing—
and still lost something you were holding onto
The city lights flickered softly below them, unaware of the weight being shared above
Neither of them spoke
But in that quiet,
they understood
They hadn't just crossed paths that day
They had stopped each other from disappearing
After a long pause, Aerel continued
I had a loving family
They loved me more than anything
And I had a twin—someone who loved me too much
His hands shook
My life was perfect…
until the end of high school
Aerel looked down
My parents died in an accident
Aerith felt his heart ache
After that, my brother became my whole world
He protected me since we were children
His name was Yerel
Tears filled Aerel's eyes
I didn't suffer alone
He stayed with me through everything
A shaky breath
Our lives were different
I studied after high school
He didn't
He worked part-time… did everything to take care of us,
even when I begged him not to
Aerel voice hands cracked
Whenever I scolded him,
I told him he was losing his life because of me
A faint, broken smile touched his lips
Yerel smiled and said it wasn't true.
Everything he did was out of love for me
Tears fell freely now
I was loved
I wasn't alone
His hands slowed
But he died… the day before our birthday
Aerith felt his chest tighten painfully
I still remember the call
They said my brother had been in an accident.
His fingers trembled
When I saw him… he was barely breathing
He was holding a present
For me
Aerel looked away
His last words were an apology
Silence swallowed the balcony
You know…
Aerel continued softly,
I hate looking into mirrors
Aerith looked at him
Because every time I do—
I see him
We look exactly alike
The city lights shimmered below them
And for the first time, Aerith truly understood—
some people survive not because they are strong,
but because love once held them together
Aerel continued, his hands moving painfully
I survived each day with difficulty
And with music
Music always helped me calm down,
ever since I was a child
He paused, fingers tightening slightly.
But that day…
I couldn't
The day I went to the ocean—
it was our birthday
Aerith's heart clenched
Aerel signed again
And then I saw you
Standing there… in the same state as me
His hands paused then continued
I don't know why,
but it felt like fate
A faint, fragile smile appeared through the tears
And I felt like my brother…
was gently pushing me,
telling me to help you
The night air wrapped around them
Two souls who had almost vanished—
held in place by music, memory,
and a love that refused to let go
Aerith didn't hesitate
He stepped forward and pulled Aerel into a tight hug
Aerel stiffened for a moment, then slowly relaxed,
letting himself lean fully into Aerith's warmth
Tears streamed down both of their faces, unspoken pain and relief mingling in the quiet night
The city lights flickered below them, but up here, in this small balcony cocoon, there was only them—two souls who had found each other amidst the darkness
Aerith whispered softly into Aerel's shoulder,
"I'm here… you're not alone anymore."
Aerel clutched him back, trembling, but for the first time in a long time, feeling safe, seen, and loved
And in that embrace, they cried together—