Their Parallel Universe ✓

Chapter 35

"Is there a problem? Did you realize that you were wrong about liking me after all?"

It pains him to hear the dispiritedness in the other man's voice. His heart throbs even more when he recognizes the male twin's downcast gaze and the way he presses his trembling lips tightly as if he's trying to choke back his emotion.

Eujae has no idea what made Poll ask the questions. All he knows is that he doesn't like seeing the crestfallen expression on the usually fiery man's face, can't bear to witness the shine slip off his sun's eyes.

"No. No, of course not, Apollo," Eujae replies in a hushed, placative tone. He moves his left hand to give a comforting squeeze on Poll's shoulder while his other hand ends up on the latter's face, gently cupping his cheek and making him turn at him. Once their eyes meet, Eujae rests his forehead against Poll's before continuing, "I like you, and believe me, there's no way I'm ever going to think that these feelings I have for you are a mistake."

Biting his bottom lip, Poll clenches the front of Eujae's shirt. Whether it's the reflection from the light or the tears that he's trying to hold in, his eyes appear glassy. And how Eujae wishes he was wrong about the latter.

"Then... why does it feel like you're keeping your distance from me?" Poll asks, his voice small, shrouded by hesitation. Even the hand that's gripping Eujae's collar keeps trembling. "You told me you like me and you were gonna be serious about pursuing me. You said you missed me and couldn't wait to see me again. But since this morning, you haven't really done anything. You avoided sitting beside me in the car, and then you chose Cloud to share a tent with. And just a while ago, you could have..."

Poll drops his head once more and lets go of Eujae. Appearing uncertain, his next words come out barely audible. "Even when it was a good chance to kiss me, you didn't do it. It seems like you didn't want to do anything with me."

As the admissions dawn on him, Eujae's eyes widen. Poll has misunderstood his actions, but he blames himself for not being able to make it clear to him. He should have been more careful about it. He should have known someone as clueless as Apollo would come up with those negative assumptions.

Unable to stand watching him be dejected any longer, Eujae gathers Poll in his embrace, wrapping an arm around his middle. All the time, Poll remains passive, neither rejecting nor reciprocating the hug.

"No, that's not it." With his other hand, Eujae strokes the back of the male twin's head in an effort to put him at ease. He curses under his breath, internally criticizing himself for making Poll unhappy again. Granted it was not intentional, but when will he ever learn to avoid dismaying him? "I'm so sorry for giving you the wrong impression. I didn't mean to make you this upset, Apollo, but I'm telling you I'm not avoiding you, alright? I admit I might have tried to put a little distance between us, but... Shit, I'm sorry. It wasn't because of what you thought it was. And I didn't think it would make you this troubled."

Eujae draws away slightly, just so he can brush his lips against the smaller man's temple.

Aside from the indignant pout, Poll doesn't respond. He keeps his gaze down, refusing to look at Eujae, even when the man holds his face in between his hands and places a quick kiss on his forehead.

Eujae carries on with reassuring Poll in a loving, almost imploring tone. "I still like you as much as I did the day I confessed to you, so don't think otherwise, okay? Maybe these feelings I have for you have grown even stronger since then. And it's not true that I didn't want to do anything with you. On the contrary..."

Longing surges through Eujae when Poll still won't spare him a glance. He wants to see the twinkle in those eyes again, wants to take in the view of glee swimming in the beautiful sea of brown.