WE ARE ALL CAVED IN

Epilogue

A cold breeze. Shining stars in the sky. City lights. Bottles of drinks. A bonfire. Hotdogs. Four great friends sitting on a mat, watching the amazing view with their hoods up and a tent already set up.

Ymar and Onyx were sitting next to each other, holding hands and gazing at the vast, beautiful view.

The sound of crickets and faded city noise, combined with a soft wind breeze, made the whole night romantic and perfect.

"Just want to remind you that you guys are really good actors," Onyx said to Jameson and Carl, who were sitting together.

The two laughed, and Carl took a swig from his beer bottle.

"Are we? Well, we didn't want to hide it from you... the whole thing? It was really Ymar's plan," Jameson said.

Ymar turned to Onyx and smiled. "Chill, okay? It was my plan, yeah. It was hard for me too. Not seeing you for a long time was torture," Ymar said, holding Onyx's hand. "See that tally on that tree trunk? Those are the days I waited for you here," he added.

Tears formed in Onyx's eyes, and before they could fall, Ymar wiped them away and kissed Onyx on the forehead.

"You guys are making us jealous," Jameson teased, glancing at Carl, whose cheeks were already turning red.

The bonfire started to dim, so Jameson added a few dry branches they had collected earlier.

He also took the hotdogs from a nearby container and placed four sticks over the fire.

"So, what's your plan after this, guys?" Ymar asked seriously while staring at the stunning view and the twinkling sky. "I'll rest for this school year. I'll go back to school next academic year. This year was really a struggle for me; it gave me a lot of pain but also the love of my life," Ymar said, looking at Onyx and leaning in closer. "I found you," Ymar whispered to Onyx.

"For real, this year was a struggle. Maybe I'll go somewhere peaceful, somewhere green, maybe like an adventure," Carl said, taking a drink from his beer.

"Me? I don't know. I'll go with the flow, I guess," Onyx said. "How about you, Jameson? What's your plan?" Onyx added, flipping the hotdogs over the fire.

"M-me? Well, maybe... I'll go where my babe goes," Jameson replied. Ymar and Onyx exchanged surprised glances at Jameson's answer.

Ymar frowned. "What? You have a babe? Who? You guys aren't telling me anything... I'm pissed," Ymar said, pouting playfully.

Jameson laughed. "Well..." He looked at Carl, reached out his hand, and Carl took it, and they held hands. "Well... how can I say this... we are dating. Carl and I are dating," Jameson added.

Ymar's eyes widened in surprise, but there was satisfaction in his eyes too.

"For real?" Ymar asked.

"Yes. Remember when I asked you if it was okay to like someone of the same gender? I asked because... I don't know... I felt like I had feelings for this weird guy here," Carl said, nudging Jameson.

"Who's weird, huh? And... hey... you liked me already, like back then?" Jameson teased, laughing.

"You guys are great. I mean... congrats. You found your partner... like me, I have Ymar," Onyx said, turning to Ymar, who still had his mouth open in surprise. He was happy.

"W-wait... since when? I mean... I'm really happy for you guys. I knew you'd end up together. I just needed confirmation, and yes! It's confirmed," Ymar said. "So, it's four guys. Two couples. Watching the beauty of this scenery," he added.

The hotdogs were ready, and the four of them ate. They were happy together, holding hands, drinking their beers, laughing, and watching the sky, the city lights, and the distant sea. It was just perfect.

"Let's not get drunk, okay? Let's drink but stay sober. Getting drunk isn't healthy; it makes us forget things that need to be remembered and solved. I wish we all stay sober, always!" Ymar shouted, raising his beer bottle.

"Yes! Sober!" Jameson shouted.

"Sober!" Onyx and Carl echoed.

The night went well. They enjoyed watching the night sky while drinking beer and eating hotdogs.

The sky kept twinkling. A comet passed through. The waves from the distant sea were audible. The crickets chirped. The firewood crackled. Everything was going well.

Ymar lay down on the mat, and Onyx lay on his arm. Ymar gently kissed Onyx, who responded passionately. Everything felt like it was in slow motion—the world turning, the setting sun, the orange-red sky, the soft breeze, the hill, the chirping birds, the city sounds. Everything felt like a movie.

Ymar's lips on his made Onyx's mind go wild. He kissed Ymar back, making him smile in the middle of their kiss.

"I love you, Ymar, forever and always," Onyx said amidst their kisses.

The cold breeze. Everything was perfect. He had the man he loved. They were kissing, sharing the love they had waited for. Onyx loved him so much.

"I love you, Onyx! Forever and always!" Ymar shouted into the horizon, followed by laughter.

Onyx leaned on Ymar's shoulder as they held hands and watched the sunset, sipping their beers moderately.

"I wish we're always like this," Onyx said, tears of joy falling from his eyes.

"We will be like this, always," Ymar replied, tightening his grip on Onyx's hand.

They were happy. They were content. For that night, they believed they were in a better place, within their partner's embrace.

And they hoped that they would never experience being caved in, again.

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THE END