Keep me in distant sight

Chapter 2.1 : Just longing to kiss

"Oh, that's pretty"

The bright red of the Orange Afternoon shines upon him as he crouches down near the river. His eyes take in all the gorgeous colors of the sky, the clouds drifting, the smells of the ground wafting through the air. This is a great day, he decides as he stretches, groaning when his hollow bones popped. His veins still sing the win of last week. Tonight his town will hold a celebration - he just can't wait! This one ought to be good considering all the wins they had accumulated throughout the cycle. He just hopes his friends will be kind enough to spare the village of their... flirting, let's say.

His training had finished earlier than usual, which is nice because he's itching to write. Thankfully, training has rendered his body loose and his head blissfully peaceful. For today, he feels invincible and ready to tackle the worlds with his bare hands. Although, now that he settles alone, there's giddiness spreading through. The best part of his day is about to start.

He has everything prepared and tucked in his bag, always ready, but today he can take his time describing the place and what he sees - he's sure he will love it! He always says his country is bleak, gloomy and not pretty enough to be written about. Granted, from what the meager information he could obtain from him, it doesn't look like a nice place. At all. He says it's polluted, destroyed, dying but they make do with what they have because they don't have a choice. He had told him before that he had never seen flowers or plants that weren't within a "book" (is this the correct word? He would have to ask again), thus, he had taken it upon himself to draw, write and expose everything his country had to offer. It makes him happy, he had told him. Sometimes a bit sad that they couldn't share the same view but he trusts the Three Sisters to grant his wish and bring him here, with him.

In the meantime, he gets to chat with him from time to time, exchanging what happened on both sides, comforting him and being cheered up in return. Lately, he has seemed... calmer, when they talked. Less anxious than he was before. When they had started talking, he was prone to bouts of frenzy (another word he needs to ask about), writing until there were no places left to scribble on and then not responding for days. Of course, he was sorry but it wasn't like he, himself, was angry. He had understood and continues to understand his situation. It has gotten better the last few circles, though. He's calmer in his words, yet definitely no less sweeter. If anything, maturity had offered him a better way with words and phrases that can leave him flustered and hearts bursting at their seams.

(And it's kinda weird to think they're approximately, give or take a few hundred circles, at the same point in their lives. Uh. At least they can meet with the same thoughts and wishes for their shared future)

(He can't wait!)

(He will be there, someday, watching the same sky. He's sure. It can't be anything other than a happy ending)

It's not easy, where he lives. It would be easier if he was there already. They are all waiting for him. His family, his friends, his town, the whole country... He's vibrating from excitement these days. He's just... a little bummed by the news he had received last time. He didn't expect his parents to suddenly die even if he had told him they were far beyond the usual lifespan (which, honestly, doesn't make any sense to him since others had said they used to live longer but what does he know). He helped as much as he could but he couldn't hold him like he wanted to. He hopes his brothers and sister were there for him - well of course they are, he scowls to himself, they are really close and supportive of each other. Not for the first time and certainly not the last, he thanks them in thoughts. Who knows how he would be faring without such a strong support at his sides. As for him, he's sad he can't meet the parents of his special someone. His own are more than ready to welcome him, back in his childhood town of Piuzel.