Twin Fate: Sun and Moon

Chapter 13 - First Contact

I had to pinch myself from time to time, just to ensure I wasn't lost in some dream. The day unfolded with an almost surreal perfection, and for once, my anxious mind couldn't conjure a single scenario where it all fell apart. I might have sat there for hours, time slipping by like a distant echo, intangible and dreamlike. A few people, including Alex, were tossing the ball back and forth in a manner that vaguely resembled volleyball. It wasn't exactly the game itself, as there was no net separating the two groups, but they were keeping score nonetheless. The only ones left out were Leif, Freya, Elin, and me. Leif and I had been coerced into sitting out by Freya and Elin. Elin however, didn't drift off like Freya, who was comfortably dozing on the blanket.

"What are you thinking?" Elin asked, her voice soft as she reached over to pull a stray leaf from my hair. Once again, I melted under her touch, the sensation soothing. I let her brush the leaf away, taking a moment to compose my thoughts, though the answer I gave felt incomplete. "The peace," I said simply, after what felt like an eternity. "It's strange," I added, my eyes drifting down to meet hers. Her gaze held mine, her expression unreadable, yet even without a smile, she looked ethereal, almost angelic.

"Yes," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "When peace is foreign, it can be overwhelming." Her eyes glimmered, though I couldn't tell if it was the sunlight, which barely broke through the clouds, or something else. Something was different about her eyes, a subtle change that unsettled me. I searched her eyes with a sense of urgency, my gaze sweeping over every detail. There was something almost hypnotic about the way the light caught them, a deep burgundy hue lingered just beneath the surface. But I couldn't be certain; it felt the same way as if trying to grasp at the edges of a dream.

"What?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity, noticing the expression on my face.

"Your eyes," I said honestly, the words slipping out before I could think them through. "They're different."

She blinked, almost reflexively. "It must be the sun," she replied, though her voice lacked conviction. "Are you sure? They definitely have a different undertone now," I insisted, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.

She chuckled, a soft, almost teasing sound. "Are you going to start seeing ghosts now?" she teased, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "Like I said, it's probably the sun. They tend to turn hazel like yours under this kind of light."

Despite her words, something about her tone felt off, as if she didn't entirely believe what she was saying. "Besides, yours are brighter too," she added softly, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Almost gold... beautiful," she murmured, her words barely audible.

Her comment brought an involuntary smile to my face, sweeping away any lingering doubts that had crept into my thoughts. "I've got an idea," I murmured, carefully sliding my leg out from under her head. In one fluid motion, I was beside her, my arm stretching out to offer support. She smirked, laying her head on it, then edged even closer, the proximity between us suddenly new and electric. Her warmth, as always, radiated through me, sending a shiver down my spine, oddly enough. Her smirk widened, catching the reaction, and I grinned, feeling a bit guilty. "Always so warm, I can't help it," I said, my voice softer as I looked at her. She rested her chin on my shoulder, her breath warm against my skin, making my mind swirl in a haze of dizzying thoughts.

An aroma I couldn't quite place filled my lungs, its intensity amplifying the light-headed sensation that was already clouding my thoughts. The scent was intoxicating, overwhelming, and I wondered how I must look to her right now—did she even realize the strange effect she had on me? Her smile, beautiful yet slightly crooked, confirmed my suspicion once again. "Calm down," she said, not teasing this time, but with an understanding that almost made it worse. I tried to follow her command, but all I managed was to make my breathing more erratic. My mind flickered to Leif and the group behind us, a brief moment of distraction. But before I could process it, she moved, quick as a flash, her fingers tilting my chin back toward her. "Don't worry about them; they won't mind," she assured me with a grin. "So, we were trying to get you to breathe normally?" she asked, more for my sake than hers.

I tried again, this time with more success. "Good," she murmured, noticing the stillness that finally settled over me. "Now, don't overreact," she added with a soft laugh, "even though that's impossible." She must have guessed that the best way was to do it quickly. But in that moment, time stretched, her lips pressing gently against mine, her warm breath carrying that same intoxicating aroma, now acting like a sedative. I didn't move, surrendering to the sensation completely. And then, as soon as it began—lasting what felt like an eternity—it ended. Her lips parted from mine, and she slowly opened her eyes, her gaze meeting mine with a soft chuckle. I was stunned, managing only a weak smile. "See, it's not that hard," she said after a long pause. "For you, maybe," I replied immediately. She studied me for a moment before resting her head on my shoulder again. "Why?" she asked, her voice gentle. I struggled to find the right words to describe the effect she had on me, but once again, I was at a loss. "It's just..." I began, my voice cracking. "You have this effect on me that I've never felt with anyone else." I tried to explain, but it didn't capture the full strength of her charm over me.

"Okay, let me explain it like this," I said, maybe a little too quickly. "Imagine a scent, so soothing yet somehow ominous, one that paralyzes you with fear, but then reminds you of its beauty, over and over, in this endless cycle. The fear comes, then it's washed away by warmth, and it just keeps repeating." I trailed off, trying to make sense of my own words. She didn't look as confused as I felt; instead, she seemed to understand. "So, what you're trying to say is that I'm awesome, in short?" she asked with a smirk. "More than that, much more," I replied. Her expression softened with emotion, and with a swift movement, she pecked my forehead. "And there it is again," I muttered as the dizziness slowly subsided. "Do you usually have this effect on people?" I asked, my hand unknowingly wrapping around her waist, resting my palm there. "No, not that I know of," she said after a moment's thought. I couldn't disagree—I'd never seen anyone as mesmerized by her as I was.

"That was a good game," Alex's voice broke through as he made his way back to the circle of blankets. Strangely, I didn't feel the urge to pull my hand away from Elin's waist in embarrassment; I simply stayed there, motionless. They could all see it—not that I cared anymore—but none of them seemed surprised. Except for Alex, of course. Well, he didn't look surprised; he just grinned at me and gave a quick thumbs up.