Beyond Bromance ♡ (Boy x Boy)

-Six-

Theo

The wheels struck the ground with a powerful jolt, and the cabin resonated with the sound of seat belts clicking open in unison. Immediately after landing, the plane erupted into a whirlwind of activity as passengers hurried to retrieve their hand luggage from the overhead bins, muttering impatiently about disembarking quickly. Ulrik, seated in the middle, observed the chaos with a smile as bright as ever, even amidst the bustling scene.

"Come Ulrik! Mom says we should try to catch the bus that's about to leave!" he heard two lively twin sisters exclaim as they miraculously maneuvered through the crowd to reach him. Their light curls bounced around their faces as they eagerly awaited his response.

Ulrik's eyes flickered back to Theo for a brief moment. It was just a glimpse, but it conveyed a mix of regret and profound sadness. Then, his attention was captured once more as the girls grasped his arms and gently yet firmly pulled him out of reach.

Theo leaned heavily against the seat back, allowing his gaze to wander over the vacant airplane seats. He could still sense the lingering presence of the passengers who had once occupied the space—the soft murmurs and the heavy air that had filled the cabin after hours of harmonious flight high above the clouds. But now, only an echo of voices seeped through the shell of his personal bubble of loneliness.

His heart struggled to keep pace with the rest of him, each thundering beat pushing against walls that felt increasingly constricted. Disappointment gnawed at him, a persistent itch he couldn't scratch, all because of five words left unspoken: Can I have your number?

His movements were automatic and mechanical, as if he were being controlled by someone else's will. He made himself stand and wander down the narrow aisle—the same aisle where Ulrik had called out to Theo when he emerged from the restroom. How could something as ordinary as the space between two rows of seats witness the most significant moments of Theo's existence?

He could almost envision the cheerful Ulrik diving out of seat 30B, bringing life to the neutral tones of plastic and metal. However, these were merely misguided shadows of memories, and they grew fainter as he approached the exit.

It was only the sound of his own footsteps echoing—heavy and uneven—as he approached the exit door. With a sigh that enveloped him like a cool breeze, he pulled his jacket tighter around himself, hoping that the fabric could absorb some of the weight he felt.

What was it that held him back? Was it a fear of rejection, or did he place too much significance on a fleeting encounter? The truth was both vulnerable and raw: he had allowed the opportunity to slip away. As he stepped off the plane, it felt as though he was leaving something behind—a part of himself irrevocably connected to Ulrik and the conversations they would never share again.

Theo carefully descended the narrow airplane stairs, the warm air outside the terminal pressing against his face as if to awaken him from his daze. His parents stood at the entrance to the arrival hall, ready with familiar gestures of quiet anticipation. His mother's arms opened wide as he stepped off the last stair and into her waiting embrace.

"Theo, there you are," she said, pulling him close in a hug that was meant to be full of love. He could feel her warmth through his t-shirt, an immediate offer of comfort.

"How was the trip?" she asked when they finally released each other.

"Fine," mumbled Theo, but the words hung empty in the air between them. They sounded mechanical, as if they could not fully convey the weight of all the emotions he truly wanted to express.

Together, they turned around and began walking toward the baggage claim. Theo's steps were purposeful yet distracted. His inner dialogue continued to unfold, the sound of Ulrik's laughter resonating like a melody he couldn't shake off. With each step, he moved further away from the adventure and closer to the predictable, monotonous loneliness of everyday life.