You're enough (Neteyam x Ao'nung)

Chapter 5 : Swimming Lesssons

I turn around and see him. He looks worried, about what? I stand still watching him, barely blinking. "Why'd you leave?" he looks genuinely concerned as he searches for my eyes. "I, didn't feel like staying" I answer honestly, knowing that a lie won't help me here.

"Ok, maybe we could practice swimming now?" he changes the subject and nods his head towards the open water. I smile at the fact that he is not going to pester me about the fact that I left the table early. "How about, we start at the rock we were at last time?" I point just under the horizon where I can see a small cluster of rocks.

"Sure, race?" he asks and I nod, knowing that I would probably win. "three, two-" before he finishes the last number, he dashes into the water swimming away. I stand there dumbstruck for a second before remembering that this is supposed to be a race.

I run into the water and start swimming as fast as I can to catch up with the Omaticaya boy in front of me. Soon enough, I catch up and surpass him. I jump onto the rock, victorious. "I win!" I do a fake little victory dance as Neteyam hoists himself onto the rock as well and just sits there catching his breath.

"So, what are you going to teach me?" he looks at me and for a second I forget that we are having a conversation. Geez Ao'nung, focus!

"How about we start with, swimming technique?" I suggest and he nods, slipping back into the water. I follow him until we are far enough away from the rocks not to get cut from the jagged edges. "What exactly am I doing wrong?" he asks me and I think back to when I saw him swim earlier.

"You put too much pressure on your legs, use your arms as well" I think up and he just stares at me, confused. "When you are swimming with your head above water, try to use your arms to propel yourself" I demonstrate by swimming a small bit with a breaststroke technique. He nods and tries it himself, not doing half bad.

"And underwater, you should bring your arms out like this..." I demonstrate yet again this time by pushing myself forwards through the water. He nods, yet again, and does as I had showed him. He picks it up surprisingly fast and improves in the techniques as well.

"How about we take a break from the water, I can continue teaching you some sign language?" I offer, seeing how he is completely out of breath from swimming back and forth. He nods and I climb onto the rock, I hold out a hand for him to do the same.

Once we are both seated on the rock, I start to show him some of the more complicated signs, which he also picks up quickly. We continue doing this, without noticing that the sun is starting to sink lower down in the sky. Behind the horizon, the sun slowly dies, taking the light of the day with it.

"I think we should stop now" I suggest as he notices the lack of light at the same time as me. "I don't feel like going back though" he responds, sounding like a child. "Aren't you hungry now?" I ask him as I chuckle at his immature behaviour. "no." he says it like he is disgusted by the thought.

"Okay? Why not?" I shuffle closer to him, he watches me do so in caution. "I don't get hungry, I am a warrior." he looks down at his lap and fiddles with his hands. "It doesn't make you weak to want to eat, It's a basic necessity" I put my hand under his chin and pull his face up.

He looks into my eyes in silence like I had just said something that did not make any sense. "Come" I grab his hand and pull him up, not telling him anything else. He hums in response and lets himself get pulled to the edge of the rock. "Hold your breath" I instruct and feel his hand tense up as he inhales.

I jump into the water and pull him up so that his back is against my chest so that I can swim without worrying about him. I resurface with him still hugged against my chest.

"You okay?" Letting go, I feel his heart beating very fast. "Yea, I-I'm fine!" he says it in a high and rushed voice. I put my hands on his shoulders and spin him around to face me. "You sure?" I look into his eyes but he does not react.

"wait here" I walk away, not waiting for a response as I go to grab some food. When I return I see him standing in the same position as before, he literally hadn't moved. "Here" I hand him a piece of leavened bread (WE LOVE LEAVENED BREAD) and keep one piece for myself.

"I told you, I'm not hungry" he tries to put the bread back into my hand but I don't let him. "I know, but can you eat it anyways? For me?" he rolls his eyes and puts the bread into his mouth. I do the same and pull him down by the shoulder so that we are both sitting side by side in the sand.

"What?" I ask him when I notice that he is staring at me, quite intensely. "Nothing!" he looks down before continuing "I should get back home, my parents will be worried." I nod slowly in response.

He stands up and starts walking away but pauses for a second first. "Goodnight fish lips" he calls back to me and I chuckle before responding. "Good night forest boy" I call after him and hear him chuckle as well as he runs away.

After I can't see him anymore, I get up myself and head towards my family's marui. "What are you doing Ao'nung?" I whisper at myself as I approach the entrance. "Yes Ao'nung, what ARE you doing" I look up shocked. "Why did you stay up so late boy?" I stare at my father and apologize, walking past him to my mat.

"Goodnight" I speak out but to no avail, no answer is heard. I close my eyes and try to sleep, the only thought running through my mind being Neteyam. His golden eyes, his beautiful hair, his sweet voice, and his thin waist.

I love this boy...

AS A FRIEND! I MEAN, WHAT?