Crushed Underneath the Surface (Complete)

Shooting Star - Part 2

Chapter 6.2
Shooting Star Part 2
September, Summer in Honolulu Hawaii

Milo's last night alone, with Javier had stretched into the early hours of the morning, their time together feeling too short, yet somehow enough. As the first rays of sunlight streamed through the curtains, Milo lay wrapped in a tangle of sheets, blissfully unaware of the world outside—until his phone buzzed loudly from the nightstand.

He groaned, squinting at the screen. Daniel. It hit him like a wave. Daniel and Soène were landing today. His heart skipped a beat as he ignored the call, adrenaline suddenly kicking in as he bolted upright, searching for his clothes scattered around the room.

"Shit...," Milo muttered under his breath, hopping around the room in a frantic attempt to pull on his pants. Just as he was about to head for the door, Javier's voice cut through the room.

"Damn... I guess this is how you felt when I left without a word." Javier's tone was teasing, but his smirk carried that same confident, unreadable energy.

Milo froze, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks as he fumbled with the hem of his shirt. "Oh, uh...so..." He cleared his throat, nervously rubbing his hands together. "I actually forgot that my best friend and his fiancée are landing today, and um... they told me they'd be—"

Javier cut him off with a gentle laugh. "Hey... you don't have to explain anything to me, Emilio. We both knew this was just a vacation." He pushed himself up from the bed, walking over with easy confidence, his arms wrapping around Milo's waist in a hug. "If it's supposed to be more than that, we'll meet again."

Milo felt a strange sense of both relief and disappointment. "Yeah... I guess you're right." But before he could think too hard about it, boldness surged through him, and he leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss on Javier's lips. He didn't give Javier the chance to say anything before turning and rushing out the door, a small smile playing on his lips.

Javier chuckled as he watched Milo leave, shaking his head before going about his morning.
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Back at the Candelario family villa, Milo took a deep breath, trying to shake off his nerves. He pushed open the door and walked inside, greeted by the sight of Daniel and Soène waiting for him, their bags already set down.

"Hey! Sorry I'm late," Milo apologized quickly, running a hand through his hair.

Daniel smirked and let out a laugh, immediately spotting some vivid marks peeking out from under Milo's collar. "No worries, man. Seems like I was right to give you that alone time." Milo's eyes widened, his face flushing with embarrassment as he instinctively tugged at his shirt. "Oh, God..." Soène laughed softly, shaking her head. "We're all adults here, no need to be embarrassed."

Milo laughed it off, grateful that his friends were so easygoing. He headed for the shower while Daniel and Soène unpacked, his mind still a little jumbled from the whirlwind of emotions he'd been riding for the past week.

Milo emerged, clean and refreshed, the smell of breakfast filled the villa. Soène had gathered whatever ingredients she could find in the fridge and picked up a few extras from a nearby store to create a grand breakfast. The spread was impressive—fresh tropical fruits, fluffy pancakes, local sausages, and eggs.

"Smells amazing, Soène," Milo said with a grin as he joined them at the table.

Daniel nodded appreciatively. "Yeah, I could get used to this."

"Don't get too used to it," Soène smirked, playfully nudging Daniel with her foot under the table. "I'll be teaching you to cook for me too." Laughter erupted around the table.

They dug into the meal, the conversation flowing easily between bites. They laughed, caught up on life, and made plans for the rest of the day. Milo felt a weightlifting off his shoulders—he was grateful for the distraction. The three of them spent the afternoon lounging at the beach, hitting up Milo's favorite beach bar, and wandering through local shops to pick up souvenirs. It felt good to let the day carry them, no worries, or complications, just the easy companionship of old friends.
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As the sun dipped below the horizon, the trio found themselves gathered around a bonfire, the scent of roasting meat wafting through the air. They had arranged a traditional imu—grilling meat in the ground, Hawaiian-style—while reminiscing about their high school years.

Milo laughed at one of Daniel's stories when, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a familiar figure approaching the group. His heart skipped a beat as Javier's familiar cologne hit the air, and the older man slid into the scene, his usual confidence radiating off him as he ordered his usual Hawaiian margarita at the bar.

Soène, ever intuitive, picked up on the change in Milo's demeanor and shot him a knowing look. "So... you're the reason Milo was late this morning?" she said with a playful smirk, her piercing eyes twinkling.

Milo's face flushed red as he rubbed the back of his neck, attempting to cover the exposed hickeys Daniel had already teased him about. "I—uh—"

Daniel, oblivious for a moment, followed Soène's gaze, his eyes landing on Javier before bouncing back to Milo. His face lit up with sudden realization, and he let out a loud laugh. "Oh, man! You hooked up with him?"

Javier smirked, extending his hand with a relaxed, easygoing charm. "Javier."

Daniel shook his hand, still chuckling. "I'm Daniel and this is my fiancé, Soène"

The group quickly slipped into conversation, the initial awkwardness fading away as they got to know each other. Javier's presence was magnetic, and even though Milo still felt embarrassed, he was happy to see how open-minded his friends were.

Eventually, Javier stood to leave, explaining that he had a flight to catch. As he turned to go, Milo's heart tugged, and before he could stop himself, he chased after him, grabbing his arm.

Javier stopped, surprised, and Milo pulled him into a soft embrace. For a moment, neither of them spoke, their bodies saying more than words ever could. Then Javier leaned down, planting a deep kiss on Milo's lips. "Thank you for being yourself with me Emilio..." His voice soft and in a whisper. "De nada y gracias por... for not drifting away." Milo speaks in the same whisper as Javier. "We'll see each other again someday... until then, this is a nos vemos," Javier said softly, giving Milo a final smile before turning to leave. (You're welcome and thank you for...) (See you later)

"Nos vemos!" Milo called after him, watching as Javier disappeared into the night. Milo stood there, his heart heavy, realizing he'd caught a shooting star only to watch it slip away. What was supposed to be a brief escape now felt like something deeper, something he wasn't ready to let go of. The warmth of Javier's kiss still lingered, but it wasn't enough to fill the sudden ache in his chest. With a quiet sigh, Milo whispered to himself, "Maybe I was never meant to keep you..." He turned away, feeling more attached than he had ever expected. (See you later!)

When he returned to the bonfire, Daniel and Soène exchanged a knowing smile, their eyes soft with understanding. Milo sat down, a bittersweet smile playing on his lips. "So... that's that." Daniel clapped him on the back. "For now, maybe. But who knows? Stranger things have happened."

Soène smiled warmly. "He seemed nice. And you look content. That's what matters."

Milo nodded, feeling grateful for their support. Though there was a hint of sadness in seeing Javier go, Milo felt genuinely at peace. This vacation had given him more than he'd expected—a sense of closure, of adventure, and the hope that maybe, just maybe, there was more to come.

The rest of the night passed in laughter and memories as the three friends reminisced, their bond as strong as ever. They headed back to the villa, the firelight of the bonfire slowly fading behind them, calling it a night as the waves lapped gently against the shore.