An Unexpected Connection

Bonus 4 - beautiful

As Raihan and Alejandro worked late one night, Raihan noticed that Alejandro had been drinking a lot of whiskey. "Hey man, are you okay? You've had quite a bit to drink," Raihan said, concerned.
Alejandro shrugged. "Just needed to take the edge off, you know?" he replied.
Raihan nodded, understanding the stress Alejandro was under. "Well, let's get you home then. I'll make sure you're okay," he said.

When they arrived at Alejandro's apartment, Raihan helped him to his bedroom and sat him down on the bed. He noticed Alejandro's scars and tattoos for the first time, and was struck by how beautiful they looked against his skin.
Without thinking, Raihan reached out and traced one of the scars with his finger. Alejandro flinched at first, but then relaxed as Raihan continued to trace the lines of the scar.

"You're beautiful, you know that?" Raihan said softly.
Alejandro looked up at him, surprised. "What?"
"I mean it. You're beautiful," Raihan repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.

Alejandro smiled, feeling a warmth in his chest that he had never felt before. He reached out and took Raihan's hand, pulling him closer. "Thank you," he said, his voice husky.
They sat like that for a few moments, just looking at each other. Then, without saying a word, they got up and walked to the bathroom. They turned on the shower and stepped in together, the warm water cascading over their bodies.

As they washed each other's hair and bodies, Raihan continued to trace the scars and tattoos on Alejandro's skin, marveling at how each one told a story. Alejandro opened up to him, telling him about how he had gotten each scar and what it meant to him.
Raihan listened intently, his heart full of compassion and understanding. He knew that Alejandro had a rough past, but he also saw the strength and resilience that lay within him.
When they were done showering, they wrapped themselves in towels and sat on the edge of the bathtub. Raihan took Alejandro's hand in his and looked into his eyes.

"I meant what I said earlier. You are beautiful, scars and all. You've been through so much, and yet you're still here, still fighting. That takes so much courage," Raihan said.
Alejandro felt a lump form in his throat as he looked at Raihan, his heart overflowing with emotion. He leaned in and kissed Raihan gently on the lips, his fingers tangling in Raihan's hair.
They broke apart after a few moments, both of them breathless. Raihan looked at Alejandro with a newfound intensity.

"I want to be with you, Alejandro. I know it's complicated, but I can't help how I feel," he said, his voice shaking.
Alejandro looked at him, his eyes shining with tears. "I want to be with you too, Raihan. I never thought I could feel this way about someone, but you've changed everything for me."
They hugged each other tightly, feeling a sense of peace and belonging that they had never felt before. In that moment, they knew that they were meant to be together, no matter what obstacles lay ahead.