Theory of Friendship that goes deeper than Love

Sad and Beautiful

- You know, there's this story, or more like our family wisdom passed through generations. - Off started talking to Gun after a longer while of companionable silence. They were sitting at a balcony in their hotel room. The evening was nice and chilly, very relaxing after another day of tight schedule. They've been having a lot of busy days like that after the Our SkyY project and right before the start of filming Theory Of Love.
- Hm? What kind of wisdom? - the younger boy looked Off in the face with eyes wide open curiously, eager to hear the story, because as usual the older guy never failed to spark his interest.
- Well, it was always told by my grandparents or my mother. I never paid too much attention to it, but now even my sister keeps mentioning it over and over again.
- What's the story, Papii!! - Gun whined impatiently grabbing Off's arm to shake him childishly. - Just tell me what is it about! - he whined some more and Off smiled down at the boy affectionately. His best friend was such a little Sunbeam. Warm enough, to keep you comfortable, bright enough to lighten up your whole world, essential to keep on living every day...
- Well, they always say this thing that you shouldn't seek love. That if you start a relationship based on a physical attraction it's not gonna last, because true love is based on profound friendship. And I never gave it too much thought until recently.
- Hmm... It seems like a reasonable thing.
- What? That I started to pay attention to it now? - Off was surprised, because for a moment he feared that Gun could read his mind and suspect that maybe Off...
- No, the things about having a relationship just because you think someone is good looking and the thing about profound friendship. It's kind of obvious actually, isn't it?
- Yeah, usually people see someone and only if they think that person is hot they try to get to know them. If they're lucky they might have a relationship, but the thing is it hardly ever works out. I asked around and it seems to be true. Well, at least in my family those who shared a happy life with their true love were friends at the beginning and sometimes many years passed before they realised what started out as friendship became something so strong that only death could stop and actually not even that. - Off said.
- What do you mean, not even that? - Gun was confused.
- When my grandpa died grandma said that her feelings didn't change and loving him is just a little bit painful now when he is no longer with us.
- I see. - Gun blinked several times, because somehow he felt his eyes burning with tears that tried to escape. - It must be so sad for her.
- That's what I thought too, but she said that even though it is very sad, she would rather be sad loving him than having an illusion of happiness without him.
- O-oh... - Gun stuttered not knowing what to say. He was so stunned and when he tried to imagine himself in a similar situation it was just too sad and too beautiful at the same time. Tears started to roll down his cheeks against his effort with all the blinking he was doing to stop them.
- Gun? - It was dark already, so Off looked at the boy closer when he heard a silent sniff. - Hey, are you crying? - he panicked a little and started digging around his pockets to find some tissues. - Hey, don't be sad. I didn't tell you this story to make you cry. Please, I-I don't know what to do when someone cries. - the older boy finally pulled out a pack of tissues and extended them towards the younger one. However, Gun ignored the outstretched hand too caught up in his overflowing emotions now.
- Papii, it's just so beautiful and so saaaad. - he weeped - A-and I get what she was saying, because she had had a wonderful relationship with her love and-and... - Gun struggled to speak through tears - ...just thinking about it t-that you can never even have a chance to meet true love, or e-even worse, you can meet them, but they can't love you b-back or already be with someone else. - Gun was now full on crying. Eyes red and puffy, his cheeks wet and nose snotty. Off was alarmed and started working on an emergency mode. Suddenly all he could focus on were Gun's heartbreaking cries and his own hammering heart. He was scared, because the younger boy reacted so strongly. Off remembered about the tissues now crumbled in his clenched fist. He took one out, rushed on his knees in front of Gun and started to wipe his eyes and nose for him.
- Come on, little one, don't cry. - Off started blabbering dabbing at the boy's cheeks. - Don't think about things like that. You're gonna have your true love I guarantee you, 'cos you're the most wonderful and lovable person ever. Here, have another tissue and blow your nose properly. - Gun did just that and it seemed he calmed down.
- I actually started to tell you about all of this, because the thing turned out to be true for me too, you know?
- What do you mean? Are you... You getting married? - the boy asked and his lips trembled.
- No, no! I'm not! - Off was quick to deny. - We actually decided to break up.
- What? Papii... - Gun broke into tears again.
- No! Please, don't start again! - Off waved his hands awkwardly not knowing why Gun would cry about his failed relationship. The boy wasn't stopping so he hugged him tightly. - It's okay, we're not sad, we saw it coming for months now. It was just like grandma said. We started out as lovers, but it was just attraction that faded with time. We just drifted apart. There's nothing to cry about. - Off explained and the younger boy calmed down clutching Off's shirt and rubbing his wet face on Off's shoulder.
- Wouldn't you feel lonely now? - Gun sniffed asking quietly.
- No. No, I won't. - Off chuckled - I've got you, how can I be lonely? - Gun only nodded closing his eyes and not letting go for a coupe of minutes more.
- But, it's not the same. Me and you as you and... - Gun said quietly.
- Of course not. - Off leaned back a bit to look at the younger boy - It's absolutely not the same. - he smiled and Gun blinked confused, his eyes still wet and full of sorrow. Off was pretty sure that right there and then they didn't have the same idea about what that meant.