Unexpected Surpise

Chapter 4

He was about to give up when he saw a familiar silhouette in the distance. A relieved sigh escaped his lips, and he placed his hand on his chest. A big stone fell from his heart when he finally found the other. As he got closer and closer to Ao'nung, he slowed his steps until he stopped at a sufficient distance. Ao'nung sat huddled on the edge of the bank, hugging his knees. He looked so vulnerable at this moment. Neteyam did not understand the sudden change of mood in the other person, he had never seen him so fragile and vulnerable. He just stood there, not interrupting the moment. He didn't know how to go to the other, what to do. He also doubted whether he was even allowed to ask the other about anything and whether Ao'nung would even answer.

Taking strength, he began to close the distance between the two of them. Neteyam tried to approach the metkayina as quietly as possible, fearing that even a single sudden movement might scare the other away. As soon as he got close, he carefully sat down next to him at a decent distance and continued to examine the fragile form. Ao'nung had clearly been crying not long ago. Neteyam heard it clearly from his breathing, he didn't need to see the other.

Now, for the first time, he felt pity for the ocean boy. He didn't know how to attract his attention. How could possibly help. He felt pathetic. He felt miserable because he didn't know what to do. But mostly because he had to admit, he liked that the other was suffering. Deep down he hated himself for it, but he thought he deserved it after what he had done. He finally gets back what he and his siblings felt for months. The feeling he caused them with his behavior and actions. Neteyam just wanted him to suffer a little longer.

Ao'nung started to feel the cool breeze blowing over his body, he knew it was time to go home. He slowly raised his head, then noticed from the corner of his eye that he was not alone. Alarmed, he looked at the other, opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out, his throat was completely dry. He felt the salty tears drying on his face, so he quickly turned his head in the other direction. He didn't dare look at Neteyam. Not in this condition. He felt embarrassed and pitiful. No one had ever seen him like this before. Not even his own sister. Trembling, he began to wipe his eyes and face roughly, trying to remove as much as possible all traces of what had happened in the previous minutes and hours.

"What's up?" Ao'nung shuddered at Neteyam's voice, which cut into the awkward silence between them.

"None of your business, forest boy". Ao'nung's voice was weak and dry. Neteyam was sure that if it wasn't so quiet around them, he wouldn't have heard the other. He carefully turned his gaze towards him and just stared at the boy.

Although Ao'nung didn't look in his direction, he could feel the pair of golden eyes looking at him exactly. He hated those golden eyes. He hated looking into the other's eyes. He hated how he became fragile with just one look. As he spoke with his eyes. He looked at him like he knew everything. As if he could see him . He wanted to hate him.

The minutes they spent in this position seemed like hours. Ao'nung felt the air getting heavier, and he felt his breathing getting harder. He inhaled sharply as he looked at the other with his hands clenched into fists. "Stop staring at me- "He made a mistake. He shouldn't have looked up to the other. The concern in the other's eyes only made him feel even more pathetic. The hidden worry that only he could see. Neteyam's face looked neutral, but Ao'nung felt that he could see everything. Neither of them spoke, but it felt as if they were having a deep conversation with their eyes. They didn't have to talk. A single look was enough for them to understand each other's feelings.

After a while, Ao'nung couldn't ignore the silent question in the other's eyes. He wanted to answer Neteyam. He felt he had to give him answers. But at the same time, he didn't want the moment to end. It was just the two of them there and then. As much as he wanted to deny it, he knew deep down that he was enjoying the attention he was getting from the other. After taking one last deep breath, he tore his eyes away from the Omatikayan and, exhaling nervously, buried his face in his hands. It hurt him. He hated it. He just wanted to escape to the pair of golden eyes again. Where, if only for a moment, he found peace.

"It's just..." A bitter laugh left Ao'nung's lips. "It might sound a bit selfish, but... Today was supposed to be mine. But everybody started ignoring me in the past few days. Especially today." The wry smile was still on his face as he played with his fingers in the sand. "Today was my birthday. I just wanted to have fun with my friends."

Neteyam continued to just sit quietly next to him, not looking at Ao'nung. He let the other's voice fill the space. He didn't know what to say. He wasn't even sure he should say anything.

After a few minutes of silence, Ao'nung's voice rang out again "Maybe you were right..." Neteyam suddenly turned his head, and as before, their eyes connected. But this was different. Ao'nung's eyes were empty, and the sight of his sad smile left only a bitter taste in his mouth. Metkayina turned her gaze back to the ocean"...I'm worth nothing. "

Neteyam's heartbeat quickened, and he only now understood it all. It was his fault. As the other felt like nothing. It didn't show from the outside, but inside he started to panic. He began to take in more air, and in his ears, he could only hear the beating of his heart. He wasn't serious. That's not how he wanted to express himself. He didn't think the other was worthless. He didn't want the other to suffer. Not because of him.

"I didn't mean it that way and you know that too! " His voice came out louder than it should have been. Despair completely overcame him. He had never hurt anyone like this before. As Ao'nung looked back at him, the air felt even colder. His pupils stared at him dilated, his eyes were dark, and he couldn't read anything from his face. "You didn't mean it..." he whispered the words into the air with deadly calm, as if they meant nothing. It's like it was all a lie. Neteyam bit his lip hard and turned his gaze towards the sand. He hated himself for being able to bring out this side of Ao'nung with a single sentence.

He stood up suddenly, his eyes still fixed on the ground. He stepped in front of Ao'nung and locked their eyes again. He looked determinedly at the one below him as he saw the question and fear in the blue eyes. He firmly held out his hand to help her. A gentle smile appeared on his face, confident that with this he could make the other's worries disappear.

"Come with me, Birthday boy"