Of Sunflowers and Other Surprises

1.

Of Sunflowers and Other Surprises

1.

Akk never liked flowers.

At least that's what he thought, before Ayan showed up at his front door with a bunch of sunflowers wrapped in a cone made from crinkled newspapers pages. The bouquet was so big that his petite figure almost disappeared behind it.

''I have something for you,’’ he was struggling to hold it, yet Akk knew he had been carrying it for a while, since there were no flower shops whatsoever in the area. ‘’but I warn you: you’re going to water them every day, I won’t let you kill them.'' that being said, he pushed the flowers against his chest, finally being able to stretch his arms.

Akk took it stupidly, too stunned to understand what was going on and too whipped not to accept anything his boyfriend gave him by reflex. He let his gaze wonder from the flower to his boyfriend a couple of times. ''Why?''

''Because they're living beings, Bigfoot.'' Ayan explained with fake patience, eyebrows arched to emphasize the obvious.

Akk snorted, rolling his eyes. Why did I have to pick this one?

''No, I mean, what’s the reason you got me flowers?''

Ayan smiled at him gleamingly, revealing his white teeth as his eyes formed twin crescents. Akk's stomach did a – tiny, insignificant – backflip at the sight. Oh… that’s why.

''These flowers are exactly like you, love.'' he approached Akk and dropped a delicate, barely perceptible peck on his lips. ''At night, when they are afraid of the dark, they tend to withdraw into themselves.’’

‘’And what do they do then?’’

Ayan looked at him like he wanted to blurt out a ‘’thank you for being alive’’ out of nowhere like he always whispered when Akk was sound asleep by his side, but he answered to his question instead: ‘’they wait for the Sun to return.''

Akk nodded as if things were finally clear to him. He paused for a second, dipping his nose in the pretty petals to inhale the perfume. ''That makes sense, it’s exactly what I do when you're not with me.''

Ayan made a strangled noise out of surprise. ‘’that was cringe, let me unkiss you a million times, I want every kiss I’ve ever gave you back.’’

‘’Ayeee!’’ was the last thing he managed to scream before the door shut behind their tangled silhouettes.