Chapter 27

Sky had just returned from a long day, his body aching from exhaustion. He fumbled for his keys, unlocking the door to his apartment. The place was quiet, just like always. But something felt... different.

His bag slid off his shoulder as his eyes scanned the dimly lit space. The air was still, but there was a shift like someone had been here. The small details stood out: his coat wasn't where he left it, and his books had moved slightly out of place.

His heart pounded.

Without thinking, Sky grabbed the closest thing he could find, a wooden rolling pin from the kitchen. His grip tightened as he reached for the light switch, his breath shallow.

Click.

The room flooded with light.

And there, standing in the middle of his apartment, was Nani.

Dressed in a fitted black coat, looking as put-together as ever, Nani stood with his hands in his pockets, watching Sky with an unreadable expression.

Sky's mouth fell open in shock, his rolling pin slipping from his fingers and hitting the floor with a dull thud. "Wha—how—"

"You were taking too long to get home, idiot." Nani said casually, as if he hadn't just broken into Sky's apartment after a year of being apart. His voice was steady, but there was something in his eyes, something softer than Sky had expected.

Sky's lips parted, still struggling to process the sight before him. Sky finally breathed out, his voice shaking. "You scared me half to death!"

Nani let out a low chuckle. "And you were about to hit me with a rolling pin. I guess we're even."

Sky exhaled sharply, his emotions catching up to him all at once. His vision blurred slightly, but he blinked quickly, refusing to let himself tear up. Instead, he took a shaky step forward.

"You're really here?" Sky asked, his voice quiet now, almost afraid this was some kind of dream.

Nani nodded, his expression softening. "I told you I'd come, didn't I?"

A sharp breath escaped Sky's lips, his chest tightening. A year. A whole year of distance, of restless nights spent staring at his phone, of longing buried under forced smiles. And now, Nani was here, Real, warm, standing right in front of him.

Sky didn't think, he just moved. His arms locking around Nani, holding on as if letting go would make Nani disappear.

For a second, Nani didn't move. And then, his arms wrapped around Sky, slowly at first, then tighter, pulling him close like he belonged there. Sky felt the familiar warmth he had missed so much.

Nani let out a slow breath against Sky's shoulder. "I missed you too." he murmured, the words barely a whisper, like they carried more weight than he wanted to admit.

Sky squeezed his eyes shut, his throat burning. He let out a shaky laugh, but it sounded more like a broken sigh. "You better have."

Nani chuckled softly, but Sky could feel it. The way his hold never loosened, the way his fingers pressed gently against Sky's back as if memorizing the moment.

Neither of them moved. Neither of them spoke.

Because after a year of longing, of pretending they were fine apart, they finally had what they had been waiting for.

The night stretched on, quiet and warm, as Sky and Nani settled onto the bed. The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast gentle shadows across the room, wrapping them in a cocoon of peace.

Sky talked, his voice soft but filled with life as he told Nani about everything—his daily routines, the little café he liked down the street, the older lady who always gave him extra bread at the market. He spoke about the sunsets that painted the sky in colors he wished Nani could see, the way the streets felt different at night, and how, despite the beauty of it all, there were still days where he felt unbearably alone.

Nani listened. He didn't interrupt just listened, soaking in every word like he was trying to make up for all the moments he had missed.

At some point, Sky shifted, resting his head against Nani's lap, still talking in a softer, slower voice. His words started to blur together, and Nani felt the way his body grew heavier, his breathing slowing.

"...And I found this little bookstore." Sky murmured, his voice growing faint. "You'd probably hate it, but I...."

His words cut off mid-sentence.

Nani glanced down and smiled softly. Sky had fallen asleep, his face relaxed, lips slightly parted as his slow, steady breaths filled the quiet room.

With gentle fingers, Nani brushed a few strands of hair from Sky's forehead, his touch lingering. A warmth spread through his chest as he took in the sight before him, the boy he had missed so much, finally within reach.

Leaning down, he pressed a deep, lingering kiss to Sky's forehead, his lips barely leaving as he whispered "Sleep well, my innocent kid."

--

Morning came, but Nani had barely slept. The time difference had thrown him off, leaving him restless through the night. With a sigh, he got up, deciding to make breakfast for Sky.

Opening the fridge, he frowned at the limited options, eggs, some instant meals, and not much else. "Seriously, does this kid even eat properly?" he muttered to himself. Still, he worked with what he had, managing to put together something simple.

Once Nani was done with breakfast, he made his way to the bed, ready to wake Sky up. But the moment he leaned in, a pair of warm arms suddenly wrapped around his waist, pulling him down with surprising strength.

Caught off guard, Nani let out a small grunt as he landed on the mattress, Sky immediately nuzzling into his chest. His grip was firm yet lazy, as if he had no intention of letting go anytime soon.

"Sky." Nani sighed, trying to sit up, but Sky only tightened his hold, his face pressing deeper into Nani's shirt. His breath was warm against Nani's skin, his voice heavy with sleep.

Nani froze for a moment, feeling the steady rise and fall of Sky's breath against him. His heart, annoyingly, skipped a beat at the way Sky clung to him so naturally.

After breakfast, Nani leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "We're going grocery shopping," he declared.

Sky blinked at him. "Huh?"

"You have nothing but instant food in your fridge. I'm not letting you live like that."

Sky pouted but didn't argue. Soon, they were on their way to the local market.

As they made their way back, the peaceful morning air was interrupted by a chorus of warm, familiar voices.

"Sky! You finally brought someone with you?"

A group of elderly locals stood outside a small café, their faces lighting up at the sight of him. Some were sipping coffee, while others rocked gently in their chairs, clearly enjoying the slow rhythm of the day.

Sky grinned, showing no hesitation as he replied, "This is my boyfriend, Nani." Nani barely had a second to process the words before the old ladies reacted.

"Oh my, what a handsome young man!" one of them gushed, reaching out to pat his arm.

"He looks strong! Good choice, Sky." another chuckled, giving Sky a knowing wink.

"Take good care of our Sky, okay?" a third added, her eyes twinkling with fondness.

Nani felt heat creep up his neck. But when he turned to look at him, Sky was just beaming. There was no teasing in his expression, no mischief, just pure, unshaken pride.

Something inside Nani softened.

With a small sigh, one that barely hid the smile tugging at his lip, he nodded and said "I will."

The old ladies cooed in delight, and Sky, looking far too pleased with himself, slipped his fingers through Nani's, giving his hand a light squeeze before continuing on.

As they walked through the lively streets, Sky suddenly tugged on Nani's hand, pulling him toward a cozy little bookstore tucked between two buildings. The scent of old pages and fresh coffee wafted out as they stepped inside.

The moment they entered, the shopkeeper, a friendly woman with graying hair, looked up with a smile. "Ah, Sky! It's been a while! I see you've brought someone with you today."

Sky grinned, his eyes sparkling with that mischievous glint Nani had come to know. "Yeah, I thought I'd share my favorite spot with my boyfriend. He's a bit of a bookworm too."

The woman chuckled, giving Nani a knowing glance. "You two are a lovely pair. Enjoy yourselves."

Nani nodded, a little taken aback by how easily Sky slipped into his element here. The shop was small but charming, with shelves overflowing with books of all genres. The soft sunlight streamed in through the front windows, casting a warm glow over the entire space.

Sky led Nani deeper into the store, his fingers trailing lightly over the spines of the books as they passed. They both reached for the same book at the same time, their hands brushing. Nani shot Sky a quick look, but before he could say anything, Sky was already pulling a book off the shelf and flipping through it, a content smile on his face.

Nani, now distracted by the sheer number of books, wandered further into the store, eventually settling into a quiet nook near the window. The warm sunlight bathed his face as he began flipping through the pages of a novel that had caught his attention.

Sky watched him for a moment, his heart fluttering at the sight of Nani completely absorbed in the book, the way the sunlight highlighted his features. Something about the peaceful moment made Sky feel like time had slowed down.

He approached silently, careful not to disturb Nani's focus, and before Nani even realized, Sky leaned in, brushing his lips against Nani's cheek for a quick, stolen kiss.

Nani froze, the book slipping slightly in his hands as his heart skipped a beat. When he looked up, startled, Sky was grinning cheekily, his eyes full of affection and mischief. "You looked so cute, lost in that book." Sky murmured, his voice low and playful.

Nani blinked, trying to hide the smile that tugged at the corners of his lips. It was soft, tender, like the moment between them had just made everything else fall away.

The two of them stood there for a while, just basking in the sunlight and the quiet hum of the bookstore, a comfortable silence settling between them. It was a simple moment, but one that felt perfect in its own right.