Winterbloom [BL]

Chapter 12: Words Spoken Like a Warm Embrace (ending)

Huey charged into the lab rather dramatically. The glass door swung open, revealing the most breathtaking array of flowers, glowing under the pitch night. Amongst them stood the silhouette of a man gazing into their glow.

"Luan?"

The silhouette turned around, silent.

"You know, before today I assumed that I had subconsciously built my imaginary friend based on my type as a kid. Or that I grew up to base my type around the imaginary friend I had hung out with all my childhood..."

"..."

Huey continued, stepping into the room; his face lit up with a million colours and the silhouette's features finally came into view under the delicate light. "It would've been unrealistic for such an ideal human to exist and I've never felt drawn to anyone else so I expected myself to live and die single. Plus, botany had taken up around 90% of my goals and priorities so I never felt regretful about not having a partner either. I speculate people assume I fall under the ace umbrella, which is a valid conclusion since my lifestyle conforms to that. But who knew that... my so-called "imaginary friend" was himself based on a real person?"

It took great pains for Huey to blurt this out, especially considering the fact that he was being sentimental with a notoriously technical vocabulary. In any case, it helped to be as straightforward as possible right now. That's how he was. Despite contemplating these feelings for days, once he had finally comprehended and confirmed them, they were locked in place and he was willing to bring them forward openly.

Luan had pretty much just been confessed to in an extremely roundabout paragraph by the very childhood buddy that had been longing to reunite with and felt blood rush to his cheeks in admitting but was definitely very... very hot.

Tall and lean stature (though they were about the same height) in a very huggable, oversized sweatshirt with a lab coat draped over, jet black hair and a fine... fine face. The entire person facing him, peering right into his soul with those sharp eyes behind a pair of clear glasses. While glowing iridescently under the innumerable hues of bioluminescent light, this guy confessed to him.

Huey's words this evening flowed into his ears like a warm stream that enveloped him in a tight, comfortable hug - all the past uncertainties and his hidden fear of being forgotten and forever emotionally distant from this 'special' friend was washed away in the span of minutes.

Luan took... more than just a moment to process this sudden turn of fate. He gulped, thinking frantically for words and stringing them into a cohesive sentence. The latter was putting effort into making constant eye-contact with him - which Luan knew to have probably taken a lot of courage to pull off (Huey's extreme introversion and reclusion towards people was a phenomenally obvious personality trait that everybody more or less figured out at first glance). Huey putting himself forward so confidently was like an open hand reaching out towards him under the fog of ambiguity, compelling him to grasp hold of it and be pulled into the sunrise of mutual understanding.

Yeah, it sounds cliche. Love is cliche, but everyone loves it regardless. It's all the same with everyone, just with different people in different settings, but the feeling's more or less the same for anyone who has experienced it. Still we chase after it, the most cliche experience in the world, in a single heartbeat... or should I say the "skip of a heartbeat".

In the end, all Luan could come up with was a playful, "Hehe, so you remember me now?"

"Hm," Huey smiled. They both smiled.

"..."

"..."

Huey breathed a sigh; everything that had been bottled up for days had been alleviated in nothing more than a few word.

"Okay shit that was a mouthful!"

Luan laughed, "Yeah no shit, that was the most roundabout confession I've ever heard."

"Right...um..."

"Oh... right, I should come out with it as well. Huey, you may have left this town a decade ago but somehow, in the week-or-so I knew you, you really left an impression. In saying that, you never left my... subconscious? I don't really know how it works either."

"Yeah, feelings are... pretty strange."

"Yeah..."

"..."

"..."

Luan couldn't take it anymore. He stepped forward, swiftly, his palm sliding along the ridge of the laboratory table until he and Huey were mere centimeters apart, peering right into each other. Huey didn't flinch, he only blinked, took a deep breath and removed his spectacles.

The two silhouettes inched closer, the floral light casting a ballet of rainbows onto their skin.

It was beautiful.

—End—
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Extra:
Huey: So Luan, will you go out with me?

Luan: Oi, I was going to ask that!

Huey: Well, I've already asked so you have to answer.

Luan: Then take it back, I'll ask.

Huey: Just answer, I don't see how it makes a difference either way.

Luan *whispers*: But I should be the one asking...

Huey: Huh?

Luan: Huh?

Thank you for reading Winterbloom :)