My Passionate Lover

Candy

The next day in a quiet corner of the schoolyard, We find Hiromi thinking about life. (lol) He has been avoiding Akito recently but its pretty clear by now, even in class to.

 The sun played hide and seek with the clouds, casting dappled shadows across his face as he reads. The schoolyard was a sea of laughter and chatter, but Hiromi remained an island unto himself. The kaleidoscope of colors from the uniforms of his classmates blurred into the background as he lost himself in the vibrant world. A stray soccer ball would occasionally roll in his direction, but he'd simply nudge it away with a sigh, not bothering to look up from his solace. 

The bell had rung, signaling the end of the school day, but he was in no hurry to leave. From the corner of his eye, he noticed a shadow stretch out beside him. He looked up to see Akito, behind the tree Akito's eyes sparkled like the flecks of gold in the afternoon sun, and his smile was as warm as a freshly baked bun. He was the kind of person who could make anyone feel at ease with his gentle demeanor. 

"Hey, mind if I sit here?" 

Akito asked, his voice as soft as a whispered melody. Hiromi nodded he knew Akito was probably embarrassed about the kiss, the one that had sent his heart racing and his cheeks burning with embarrassment. The memory was like a pesky fly, buzzing around in his thoughts, refusing to leave him in peace. Akito reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, cherry-flavored lollipop, holding it out to Hiromi. The candy's red and white swirl was like a tiny beacon of hope in the sea of his turmoil.

"Want one?" Akito offered with a kind smile. Hiromi took the lollipop knowing he cant say no to sweets, the sweetness coating his tongue as he took a tentative lick. It was as if the cherry flavor was a key to unlocking the words that had been trapped inside him all day.

 He glanced at Akito, who was now leaning back, watching me. "Thanks," he murmured, the sugar sweetness a temporary balm to his nerves. Akito nodded, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Everyone needs a little something to brighten their day." He unwrapped his own lollipop, the scent of cherry blossoms mingling with the air. As they both savored the sweetness, the silence between them grew as thick as the sticky candy in their mouths. The schoolyard gradually emptied, leaving them in a bubble of quietude. The lollipop felt Hiromi's tongue swirl around like a sweet charm. The candy stick grew shorter with each passing minute, and so did the distance between them. Akito peeking and staring at Hiromi, licking the juice and drip from the lollypop. 

"You know," Akito began, "it's okay to feel wanted sometimes" Hiromi's eyes shot up to meet Akito's, the shock clear in his gaze. 

He hadn't expected the conversation to turn so serious so quickly. The candy stuck to the roof of his mouth as he tried to form a response. 

"The kiss," Akito clarified, twirling his lollipop. 

"It's not every day you see something like that. The lollipop felt like the cherry lollipop, a burst of color and flavor in an otherwise bland world, exposed and vulnerable. "I...I didn't mean for that to happened I'm sorry you must feel disgusted," he stuttered, his voice barely audible. Akito shrugged. "It's not like it's a crime to express yourself. Its even more crazy how I don't mind it one bit at all" He took a leisurely lick.

 "Besides, it's not my place to judge people." The statement hung in the air, as sticky as the sugar on their fingers. 

Akito thought, he maybe wanted more.

 The schoolyard had transformed into a stage, with only the two of them and their silent audience of discarded lunch wrappers and forgotten homework. With a deep breath, Hiromi found his voice. 

"What if...what if it's not weird I wasn't thinking about the game rules at the party..?" He held the lollipop like a lifeline, the cherry flavor now bitter with fear. Akito looked at him, his eyes full of understanding. 

"Then it's not." He offered another smile, this one gentle and reassuring. 

"You don't need anyone's permission to feel what you feel, not even your own." The words sank in, as comforting as the sticky sweetness of the candy. It was like Akito had handed him a piece of gum to chew on, to help him digest the jagged pieces of doubt that had been lodged in his throat all day. "You're right," Hiromi murmured, feeling the weight of his secret lift a little. He took another lick of the lollipop, the cherry flavor now a symbol of courage, with bits of saliva and gloss, while the candy shortens.

 "It's just...it's all so new to me ya know."

Akito nodded, his eyes never leaving the clouds. "New can be scary, but it's also exciting. Like trying a new flavor of ice cream. "The comparison made Hiromi chuckle, a sound that was music to Akito's ears. He took another bite of his lollipop, the cherry flavor now a symphony of camaraderie and shared experience. They sat in companionable silence, the sweetness of the candy mingling with the bitter taste of the truth.

 It was as if the candy was a bridge between them, connecting their hearts through the sticky strands of sugar.

  "Hey.."

 Are you busy this weekend?

                                                                                                                                CANDY