What Is Love Chapter Five

Chapter Five

"Ahh!! Ah!!" Moomin quickly sat up. "S-S-Snufkin! I'm so so sorry!! I-I didn't mean-er-are you-I-I mean, that is-um-!!"

 He got off Snufkin, the mumrik laying there, dazed, confused, and still shocked. He covered his mouth, Moomin feeling as if he were about to tear up. Quickly, though, Snufkin blinked tightly and shook his head.

"I-it's fine," he let out. "It w-was only an accident." Moomin offered a hand, Snufkin taking it.

Snufkin had never kissed anyone before, so the fact that he was shook was an understatement. Moomin noticed this, his face so red, it made said color jealous. He teared up, letting them fall now.

"I-I'm s-so sorry..." he sniffled. "I-I really d-didn't mean it..."
Snufkin looked over at Moomin, his face also following with crimson. Moomin seemed very guilty, that's for sure. Quickly, yet ever so gently, Snufkin took his sleeve and wipes Moomin's tears.

"It's alright, Moomin..."

"I heard a thud...!" Moominmama raced out, looking worried. "Is everyone okay...!?"
Moomin felt a gasp and a pang of burning guilt stinging his face, making him stifle a sob. Snufkin could tell he was in no condition to speak, so he spoke the words for him.

"We only fell down," he explained. "And Moomin got a little scared when he nearly fell down the stairs. I caught him, though."

"Oh, thank goodness... is he hurt? His face is quite red and so is yours..."

"When you get scared, naturally blood rushes quickly," Snufkin could only guess, but sounded confident in his answer. After all, they did believe centipedes came from space. "He just needs some time to calm down. I can take him near my tent and we'll fish together. I'll also play my harmonica for him."

"You're such a good friend, Snufkin," she let off a grin of gratitude. "I'll pack some food."
Mama went into the house, explaining to My and Papa what happened. Then she packed some lunch, and the boys' breakfasts, then gave it to Snufkin.

"Thank you, Moominmama."

 He took Moomin's hand and took him down by the bridge, getting out his fishing pole and bucket from his now dried tent. He put the basket on the wood, sat down, and readied the bait. Moomin looked over at Snufkin. He still had some red here and there on his cheeks and nose."

"... I really am sorry..." Moomin spoke out. "I... forgot about the wood..."

"It really is fine, Moomin," Snufkin told him. "You didn't mean to, so it's fine. It is okay."

"B-but you looked so shocked and scared...!"

"As did you."
Moomin shuddered and curled up. "... wish to fish with me?"

"I'm fine," he shook his head. Snufkin gave a shrug and cast his line out, waiting.

"We've been getting a lot of rain lately," Snufkin changed the topic. "Can't be too good for the plants. Let's hope it's nice and sunny today."

"Y-yes," Moomin agreed. They both watched the line stay slack, then straighten quickly. Snufkin reeled in the fish, putting it in the bucket.

"... well... will you look at that?"

 Moomin looked as he was told, seeing the fish but... it had a star shape on its body. Moomin gasped, staring at it. "Want to name it?"

"A-aren't you just going to cook it?" Moomin wondered.

"Hmm... he seems too special. I might let him go," he gave a smile. "So. What shall he be named?"

 Moomintroll looked at the fish for a minute, or two or three, and then nodded.

"Orion...! L-like the constellation?"

"How very clever, Moomin," Snufkin grinned. "Well, it was nice meeting you, Orion."

 Snufkin took the bucket and emptied the contents back into the water. They both watched as that very special fish swam off in the direction of the river. Moomin frowned and looked down. There the fish went and they just got to know it.

... will... this happen with Snufkin one day? Where he leaves and never comes back? Moomin twiddled with his hands and then his tail. No... no he had to tell him and he had to now...! He looked at Snufkin, hyping himself up to do so. 'Just do it, Moomin...! Three words, come on...! I-Love-You. That's all you have to say. Just say it already, come on!'

"Snufkin!!" he shouted out, making the poor mumrik yelp. He lost his balance and toppled off the bridge and falling into the water with a splash, Moomin gasping and getting on all fours. Snufkin sat up in the water, drenched. "Oh! Oh no no! I am so so so sorry!!!"

"Well, I needed a bath anyway," Snufkin joked. "It's not your fa-"

"No!" he stopped Snufkin in his tracks. "I-I..." He sniffled in as he began to sob out. Snufkin grew a look of concern and got out of the water, going to his close friend. He stayed silent, patting his friend's back.

 What was Snufkin supposed to do? Use the power of introvert to make his friend stop crying? How? He could only sit by Moomin and let him sob out.

"Moomin... "

"I-..." Moomin choked on his words, but like pulling out a weed, he spoke. "I love you!!!"

"... I..." It was now Snufkin's turn to be speechless. Did he hear that correctly? Moomin... loves him? His face was now a deep red, but Moomin wasn't done. His head raced like a steam train and every word came out of his mouth, as if they weren't going to his brain at all, rather just wanting to come out.

"I want to kiss you...! And hug you forever! Every night, I dream of you and me together and it never made sense to me and now it does! I love you, Snufkin! I love you so so much! I want you to stay because I can't stand to be apart from you! I want to make flower crowns with you, listen to all of your stories, and I want to marry you, if I could! I would love to marry you and just to be with you forever!"

 Silence filled the bridge except for the water trickling and birds chirping. Moomin watched Snufkin's face in an expression he never saw before; lost. What could he say? What could he do? Snufkin felt powerless against his best friend's words. At least... he thought he was his best friend. He never knew someone like himself could ever be loved like that. To want to be kissed and hugged.

 His hands started to tremble, Snufkin looking down at his paws. His face was heating up more and more. He sucked in one cheek and bit on it to hold back tears. Was he... crying? Why was he crying? 'N-no, Snufkin, don't...! Don't cry...!' Moomin saw this and his ears folded down that of a sad dog. "... Sn... Snuf... kin..."

 Suddenly, Snufkin stumbled to his feet and looked at Moomin.

"I... wh... what... did you... say?" He wanted to only understand what he had heard. Moomin hunched his shoulders in shame.

"... I love you... Snufkin..."

 The vagabond's head started to hurt, like searing pain. It felt like a hot nail was driven into his skull. His foot went backward. He just wanted to hide. He wanted to run. But why...? Why did he want to just get away?

"... M-Moomin, I... I need... s-some time to think..."

 Moomin's eyes welled up with more tears, but he nodded. Snufkin took this to go into his tent and curl up tightly until his stomach cramped. Love...? He loved Snufkin? It was a new feeling he had never experienced and even if he did, it has been a long time. He didn't want to run from Moomin, but he didn't know what to say. To speak out right then and there would've been a mistake he could never go back on.

 He stayed in his tent for seconds to minutes to hours. Moomin watched the tent cloth flapping gently in the wind that night. He stayed on the bridge to make sure Snufkin was alright but... it didn't seem he was well at all. Moomin stiffled a sob and stood up, giving out a weak,
"Goodnight... S-Snufkin..." Of course Snufkin was mad. Maybe even confused or sad. He had to be. Earlier, he said he wasn't used to new things and for sure... this was new. Did he just ruin Snufkin's way of thinking? 'What have I done?' he thought to himself in tears. 'I know Snufkin isn't fond of new things, he said so himself. So why would I do that? Why did I even have to have these feelings? It's just unfair!'

 Snufkin could only hear this, but he couldn't speak. He wanted this to be a dream, but... at the same time... he didn't. Moomin was a splendid Moomintroll. A friend to the end and beyond that. But... was this right? To have your best friend have a crush on you? It doesn't matter... he had to say something. He took a large breath in to the point where his chest felt like a balloon, then he crawled out.

"Moomin, wait," he called out. He saw his friend's face. It looked as if he had been crying for hours upon hours. Snufkin got on his feet and walked over to his friend and breathed in, thinking his words very carefully. "... I love you, too."

 Moomin was stunned, looking at Snufkin, flabbergasted. He didn't expect such an answer. "I... I'm sorry I... was just scared."

"... scared of what?" Moomin wondered, twiddling his hands together. Snufkin looked up, his hat draped over his eyes. He tipped his hat a little lower over his face as he could feel his eyes sting and heat up intensely. He could feel hot tears leaning on his lower eyelids, getting heavier and heavier until they balled up and dripped down his cheeks.

"Scared... o-of... " he took a deep breath in. "... scared of being loved."

 Moomin could feel his heart drop to his stomach, feeling guilt and sympathy.

"... I'm sorry I said anyth-"

"No, don't be," Snufkin cut his friend off. "... I've... always wanted to hear that. Hear that... someone loves me in a way I could never expect. Not as a friend or family... but as someone who wants to just stay by my side. And for that Moomintroll... thank you."

 His white friend beamed and hugged Snufkin close, the mumrik digging his fingers into Moomin's fur, shuddering out intensely. Moomin hugged tighter, resting his snout on Snufkin's shoulders. He could smell pine and dirt on his cloak, making him think back to his dreams. He nodded to himself, his mouth against Snufkin's shoulders as he muffled out.

"... may I kiss you?"

 Snufkin let go and looked at Moomin, whose face was red and full of emotion. They both were. Moomin looked at Snufkin's eyes, then his lips and back at his eyes again. That was... until Snufkin grabbed Moomin's shoulders with such strength and pulled him towards himself, their mouths colliding. Moomin was struck back, his tail was wagging up a storm. Their lips stayed on each other, none of them speaking a word.

 They let the wind in the leaves speak for them, rustling in that dark night. Moomin's tail wrapped around Snufkin's ankle on his boot as he hugged Snufkin close while the kiss was still being shared. It felt as if their hearts had melted into a mist and floated up towards their mouths, forming into one giant shape of love, passion, and emotion. Moomin felt like he was going to melt into a pile right then and there until Snufkin backed out, panting a little from the sudden love-stricken in his heart.

 Moomin could feel a little tinge of disappointment when it ended... but he then realized that Snufkin... Snufkin loves him the same way. His heart began to beat with glee with the sudden, realization of that, his tail wagging more.

"Aheheh..." Snufkin bashfully chuckled, rubbing the toe of his boot into the soft soil. "Sorry for that..."

"... for what?" Moomin wondered, feeling like he was in outer space.

"For... um... you know that sudden kiss..."

 Moomin watched Snufkin's shameful body posture, but then he smirked.

"You better be sorry," he told Snufkin. He them grabbed his arms. "You didn't give me a turn to kiss you back." Snufkin blushed but then gave a wobbly smile. They both held each other's hands, intertwining their fingers, looking into each other's eyes. They leaned closer, practically feeling their hearts pushing against their chests urging them to quicken the pace, addicted to the passion. Moomins snout nearly touched Snufkin's nose as their lips inched clos-

"Hey Moomin!!!!"

 They both screamed at the sounds of Little My's voice, quickly backing away from each other and holding their hands behind their backs, their cheeks, noses, and ears practically flushed with burgundy. She cackled and went over, crossing her arms. "So you went and told him. Geez, it's about time."

"Wh-what are you d-d-doing here, Little My!?" Moomin angrily. He couldn't express how upset he was with Little My. How dare she interrupt him and Snufkin?

"Just seeing if you aren't backing out from our deal," she smirks. "And you finally did it! Which was good since if you waited five minutes more, I would've shouted out to the world!"

"My, your voice isn't that loud," Moomin huffed.

"Oh yeah?" she challenged. "HEY SNUFKIN!!! MOOMIN IS IN LOVE WITH YOU!!!!!"

 Their ears rang as some houses nearby turned on their lights, people looking out to see what the commotion was about. Snufkin lowered his hat in front of his entire face, his cheeks glowing with an angry sunburn hue. Moomin could only support him by holding his arms and sighing. My snickered. "Well well. Have fun!"

 She hopped away like that of an eager frog, balancing on the railing of the bridge, then trotted home. Moomin whimpered, Snufkin frowning and then taking Moomin's hand.

"Let's go in my tent," he offered. "I'll make some cocoa later on tonight and we can talk."

"... that'd be nice," he smiled, leaning his snout on Snufkin's shoulder. They went in his tent, the lantern giving them a warm, yellow light. Moomin looked around Snufkin's tent, there not being a lot. Two books, his sleeping bag, a folded blanket, his large, stuffed bookbag, the lantern mentioned earlier, and his harmonica resting on top of the folded sleeping bag.
They both sat across from each other and started to talk. They discussed minor things, like how beautiful the flowers are this time of year, the beach, warm winds, tall trees, things that didn't mean anything, but it did to them. Then, Moomin decided he needed to ask. He just had to.

"... earlier, Snufkin," he started. "When you went in your tent when I... told you. Were you sad?"

"... well, I can't lie," he shook his head. "I was very much conflicted. After all, we've been friends ever since I first came to MoominValley. When we share your bed in those long winters and when we played together. But... it's not like an unexpected storm or a creature in the dark conflicted. It's... a good kind."

"How can conflicted be good?"

"Because... I had the same feelings towards you for a while now."

 Moomin gasped in, a smile creeping onto his cheeks, under his snout.

"You mean it...!?" his eyes practically sparkled. Snufkin laughed at Moomin's reaction, then looked away as he tipped his head down, smiling a little and blushing, scratching the back of his neck.

"Y-yes...I do, however, I didn't know what they were, so I've kept them hidden."

"Oh Snufkin, it's not healthy to keep feelings inside you," Moomin scooted closer. "... but then again, I was doing the same..."

"Oooh we got a little bit of a hypocrite, don't we?"

"O-oh hush!" Moomin laughed. Snufkin chuckled with him, then looked at him.

"So... um... I guess we're..."

 Moomin beamed and rested his hand on top of Snufkin's, finishing his sentence for him.

"Together."