Unwritten Melodies

Chapter 18

"Hey," Daou started softly, his voice almost a whisper. Their faces were still so close, and he could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. His heart was pounding in his chest, loud and uncontrollable.

"If I kiss you right now," he asked, his eyes searching Offroad's, "will you get mad at me?"

The words were out before he could stop himself. His heart had acted first, leaving his mind scrambling to catch up. The moment felt impossibly fragile, and the silence that followed stretched endlessly.

What would Offroad think? What would he say? Daou's stomach twisted with nervousness as he waited for any kind of reaction.

Offroad didn't move. He didn't speak. He just stared at Daou, his expression unreadable, and it only made Daou's heart race faster. Unable to bear the tension, Daou quickly scrambled to his feet, putting some distance between them. His hands were shaky as he tried to smooth out his shirt, avoiding Offroad's gaze.

"I'm sorry," he blurted, his voice rushed and full of regret. "Forget what I just said, okay? That was—"

Before Daou could finish, Offroad grabbed his wrist and pulled him back down, catching him completely off guard. Before he could even process what was happening, Offroad leaned in and kissed him.

Daou's breath caught as their lips met, soft and hesitant at first. His mind went blank, his earlier panic melting away as a warmth spread through him. The kiss wasn't rushed or forceful—it was steady, like Offroad had been holding back for too long and couldn't anymore.

For a moment, Daou froze, his brain struggling to keep up with his heart. Then, without thinking, he kissed Offroad back, his hands gripping onto Offroad's shirt as if grounding himself.

The kiss deepened, and suddenly, it was like nothing else in the world existed. They kissed as if there was no tomorrow, as if this moment was all that mattered. Daou's hand slid up from Offroad's shirt to his hair, his fingers tangling in the soft strands. Without realizing it, he gave a tug, pulling Offroad closer, wanting to feel every bit of the closeness they were sharing.

His other hand moved slowly, almost hesitantly, reaching for Offroad's hand. When their fingers touched, Daou's heart skipped a beat. He interlocked their fingers, squeezing softly, feeling a strange sense of reassurance in the simple gesture. It was intimate, almost as if saying, I'm here, and I don't want to let go.

Offroad responded, his free hand slipping around Daou's waist, pulling him even closer. The warmth between them grew, their breaths mingling as they moved together like they had done this a thousand times before. The tension that had hung between them for so long seemed to dissolve in the heat of the moment.

As Daou leaned in to deepen the kiss, Offroad suddenly pulled back, breathing heavily. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he tried to collect himself. "Wait... wait... I..." he stammered, his voice low and unsteady. "Fuck, I'm..."

Daou froze, realizing what Offroad was trying to say. He felt it—Offroad's reaction—and knew his own body was responding the same way. His face burned, but he couldn't look away.

Offroad's eyes met his, and for a long moment, they simply stared at each other. It wasn't just awkwardness or embarrassment in their gazes—there was something more and something searching.

Daou let out a quiet chuckle, breaking the heavy silence. Without saying a word, he lay back on the carpet beside Offroad, their hands still intertwined. The tension in his chest softened, replaced by a quiet happiness he couldn't quite explain. He smiled to himself, a warm, contented laugh slipping from his lips.

The sound made Offroad glance at him, "What's so funny?" Offroad asked, his brows furrowed and his stare sharp, though the flush on his cheeks betrayed his flustered state.