message in a bottle | soudam

Day 18: Halloween, Part II

''These are the Four Dark Devas Of Destruction,'' he began, eyes keen and sparkling. Gundham opened the cage and gently removed a small fluffy creature. Its fur was white and brown and it appeared to be sleeping. ''This is 'Mirage Golden Hawk' Jum-P. He is the lowest in ranking, but of course he is important. Would you like to hold him?''

Gundham presented the hamster to me and I gently took him in my hands. The warmth that emanated from the small animal heated my hands pleasantly, and his fur brushed against my pale skin. I watched his flank rise and fall as he breathed. As I looked up, I saw that Gundham had also been gazing at the hamster in my hands. ''Next is 'Supernova Silver Fox' San-D,'' he announced as he took a second hamster from the cage.

I listened intently as he introduced each rodent and could tell that looking after them and communicating with them was a true passion of his. I had noticed the gleam in his heterochromatic eyes and the way his cracked lips curled upwards when he admired them. I had noticed his pale cheeks gaining the slightest colour and his steady breathing grow slower as he held the creatures in his gentle hands. Each of these reactions I savoured unknowingly, and it was only when Gundham placed them back in their cage and his face returned to his regular emotionless state that I realised how much I wanted to make him happy. Strangely for someone who I would still refer to as no more than an acquaintance, I felt some sort of deep need to be the reason for that smile.

Gundham dragged me from my trance once again with his deep voice. ''Would you like to meet my other animals further into my home?'' he offered kindly.

''Oh, sure,'' I nodded cheerfully.

Gundham led me down the stairs again. Nearing the last step, I heard a click in the door - someone was coming into the house. I froze. The door swung open and a loud, female voice rung into the corridor. ‘‘Gundham! I'm home!’’ This must be Gundham's mother, I realised. Gundham peeked around the corner. ‘‘Hello. I am showing Souda the animals, we shall not disturb you.’’

I took a temtative step forward to see Gundham's mother standing there. ‘‘Oh! I assume you are Souda? Gundham won't tell me but I'm sure you're his boyfriend~’’ she trilled, a grin coming over her features. My face turned red - we had only met properly a few days ago! ‘‘N-no,’’ I answered, confused.

She winked at me and I noticed Gundham's face had turned a rosy pink and he had lifted his scarf over his mouth. ‘‘Do be quiet,’’ he grumbled to his mother. He pushed past her across the corridor to the room across from the stairs and beckoned for me to follow, which I did diligently. ‘‘So-’’ I began.

‘‘Please erase that from your memory,’’ Gundham huffed. His face was now so unlike the happiness I had come to cherish. ‘‘What's up?’’ I asked innocently, cocking my head to one side.

Gundham's chest rose and fell as he took a couple of cautious breaths. ‘‘In short- I'm bi. I told my mother a few days ago and she will not let it go.’’ My eyes widened - Gundham didn't look like the kind of person not to be straight. But, as I had assumed when I had first seen the intimidating highschooler's softness with his hamsters, Gundham held plenty of secrets. ‘‘Th-that's cool!’’ I smiled at last.

He smiled for barely a second. ‘‘Hm. My mother wants me to go to the Halloween parade. I apologise, but it begins in an hour. It may be wise to leave now before she comes down in her ‘costume’.’’

I frowned, then realised my father would be home in a little while. I couldn't let him know I had gone out, especially not to someone's house. ‘‘I should probably be going then - anyway my dad will get home soon.’’ Gundham nodded slowly, his face awkward.

a/n: u can probably tell this part was hella rushed im very quickly losing motivation do write :D