Unwritten Melodies

Chapter 20

Offroad sighed as he steadied Daou, and sat on the bench nearby.

Once Daou seemed stable, Offroad reached into the small bag he had brought outside and pulled out a cold can of coffee he'd picked up earlier. He held it out to Daou.

"Here," Offroad said as he hand through the cold can of coffee.

Daou blinked, then accepted the can with a quiet "Thanks." He opened it, the faint hiss of the tab breaking the silence between them, and took a sip.

For a while, they sat in silence. Offroad leaned back slightly, gazing up at the stars. 

"Hey," Offroad finally said, his voice breaking the quiet.

"I love you," Daou interrupted, the words spilling out before he could stop them. 

"I don't want anyone else to hug you. I don't want other people touching you. I want you all to myself. I need you, Offroad. I only want you. So, please..." His voice faltered as he pulled his knees up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them tightly, like a child trying to shield himself from the weight of his emotions. 

Offroad stared at him, momentarily taken aback by the intensity of Daou's confession. Then, a soft chuckle escaped his lips, breaking the tension. "You're really drunk," he said, shaking his head lightly. "You're just saying everything your heart's been holding in, huh?"

Daou sighed heavily, his fingers gripping the coffee can tightly. "I'm not drunk," he muttered, taking a long sip from the coffee. His voice was stubborn, but the faint blush creeping onto his cheeks betrayed him.

Offroad laughed again, "Sure, you're not," he teased gently.

Standing up, Offroad brushed the dust from his pants. "Come on," he said, his tone shifting to something more practical. "Let's get you home."

But as he began to step away, Daou's hand shot out, grabbing him by the wrist. The suddenness of the gesture made Offroad pause, turning back to look at him.

"P'Ou," Offroad started, his tone soft but firm. Daou's grip on him didn't loosen. His eyes, glassy and filled with emotion, locked onto Offroad's.

Offroad was about to speak again when his gaze shifted, catching a figure standing a few feet away, watching them. His brows furrowed slightly as he recognized who it was.

It was Ronald.

Daou noticed the change in Offroad's expression and followed his line of sight. His grip on Offroad's wrist tightened slightly when he spotted Ronald standing there.

"Hey," Offroad said gently, his voice pulling Daou's attention back to him. "Can you wait here for me?"

Daou shook his head stubbornly, his hand still holding on. "No," he said.

"P'Ou..." Offroad sighed. He turned fully to face Daou, his free hand coming up to gently hold the one gripping his wrist. His touch was light, reassuring. "I'll be back. I promise."

For a moment, Daou didn't move, his fingers trembling slightly against Offroad's skin. His heart warred with his mind—he didn't want to let go, didn't want him to go to Ronald. But he also didn't want to hurt Offroad or seem unreasonable.

Reluctantly, Daou released his grip, his hand falling to his lap. His shoulders slumped, and he looked away, unable to meet Offroad's gaze.

Offroad lingered for a second longer, his eyes soft as he studied Daou. Then, with a small nod, he turned and walked toward Ronald, leaving Daou sitting alone.

--

"Hey," Offroad began as he approached, his tone calm but firm. His eyes met Ronald's directly, his expression unreadable but steady.