Chapter Text
"Why did you get a tattoo with the meaning of Neteyam's name on your chest?" the young man asked, feeling doubtful about the intensity of love that adults have for their partners. Was he capable of such deep affection?
"Oh, it's nothing. I wanted to reassure him," the man chuckled. "There's nothing more comforting than having your name etched on your loved one's heart, don't you think?" At this moment, only the man and the young lad were present.
"Reassure?" the youngster wondered.
"Haha, you're too young, foolish boy," the adult mocked him.
Indeed, Aonung had never considered that Neteyam also had moments of insecurity.
~
Ever since Aonung returned, Neteyam felt that Aonung had changed. He seemed to care less about things and became more kind and accommodating towards others. His charisma had increased, and a group of people surrounded him. After all, coming back from the brink of death was truly unbelievable.
"Aonung, tell us more about your adventures in that strange place," Kaya coquettishly asked Aonung.
"Haha, sure, I have plenty to share," Aonung replied with a smile.
Aonung didn't explicitly mention the other couple he encountered in the future, but he did talk about a place that resembled the future AWA'ATLU.
Everyone was interested to hear, especially because it brought them closer to Aonung. Some individuals who had feelings for Aonung would gravitate towards him, like Kaya.
For a while, Kaya loved sticking to Aonung, although he was oblivious to it. But Neteyam noticed.
Aonung's personality had drastically changed, and this made Neteyam a bit nervous. After all, his boyfriend went through a near-death experience and returned with only minor scratches. Could it be that Aonung had suffered a head injury? Neteyam anxiously checked Aonung's head, cupping his face and examining it from left to right.
"What's wrong, Teyam?" Aonung smiled and asked.
"Are you really okay? Do you feel dizzy or uncomfortable?" Neteyam anxiously inquired.
"Haha, I'm fine. Why are you so worried?" Aonung said with a laugh.
"Yes..." Neteyam looked at him.
"Hey, I'm fine, really," Aonung reassured him simply.
"Aonung, everyone's waiting for you!" Kaya's voice called out.
"Oh, sorry, sorry, I'll be right there!" Aonung forgot about their date while being with Neteyam.
"Baby, let's meet later, okay?" He looked at Neteyam.
"Sure, let's meet later. Go ahead," Neteyam smiled back at him.
He watched Aonung leave with Kaya.
Neteyam felt a bit uneasy inside.
However, he didn't want to argue with Aonung in the short term. The previous events had made him somewhat fearful. He was afraid that if they had another conflict, something bad might happen to them. He trusted that Aonung wouldn't be interested in anyone else. He wouldn't be interested . Aonung has proposed to him, and Aonung loved him. He had given him his necklace to carry with him. Neteyam didn't need to worry.
But that night, they didn't meet. Aonung sent him a message asking if he could go for drinks with their friends. Of course, Neteyam agreed, even though he really wanted to see him. Aonung seemed so far away from him, even though he had just returned to this timeline not long ago.
Neteyam had recently promised Their love will not lose to another couple, but he was feeling uneasy now. He felt useless. Neteyam tried to comfort himself and boost his spirits.
Then they both got busy. Aonung often had gatherings with his friends. He was now the miracle man of AWA'ATLU, and many people wanted to spend time with him. They were also preparing for final exams. They couldn't meet each other. The frequency of their meetings had decreased even more than when they used to argue a lot. Back then, despite the frequent arguments, they would at least see each other almost every day. It had been almost a week since Neteyam last saw his boyfriend.
Neteyam felt like he was being too clingy. He couldn't be like this. Feeling anxious when not being able to see someone... he thought about how much Aonung trusted him.
He just missed him.
Once summer vacation arrived, they would be able to spend every day together. That was the plan. However, Neytiri mentioned that she would be returning to the Omatikaya during the first week of summer vacation to visit their grandmother. The exact date of her return hadn't been decided yet, and Neteyam hadn't prepared to tell Aonung about it. He wanted to have a proper conversation with him about the change in their summer plans, but he hadn't found the right moment to do so.
~
Neteyam was looking forward to today. It was the end-of-semester party, and everyone would be there. He had arranged to meet Aonung at the party, and he couldn't wait to see him.
When Aonung saw him, he exclaimed, "Darling, you're here!" Aonung embraced him, and there was a slight scent of alcohol on him. They were both 18 now and allowed to drink. Aonung had already had a few drinks.
"Haha, the party has just begun. Make sure you don't get too drunk," Neteyam said with a smile as he held Aonung close. It felt so good to be in his arms.
"If I get drunk, will you take me home?" Aonung playfully held onto him and said.
"Yes, I will," Neteyam replied, cradling his face. His boyfriend was so adorable.
"Aonung!!! Come over here!" Rotxo called out to him.
"Rotxo is calling you," Neteyam said with a smile, reminding his boyfriend.
"I'll be right back. Wait for me," Aonung winked at him before leaving.
"Haha, go ahead," Neteyam laughed as he watched Aonung walk away.
Neteyam stood at the edge of the dance floor, leaning against the wall. He observed the people and events around him, watching Loak and Tsireya dancing, seeing Kiri chatting with friends at the bar. Everyone was doing their own thing. His Aonung was in the midst of the crowd, with the spotlight shining on him. Neteyam loved seeing him being the center of attention. Aonung looked confident and charismatic. He stood there, admiring his beautiful appearance.
As people became more intoxicated, they started getting wilder. Everyone began to gather the courage to do things they wouldn't dare to do otherwise. Yes, something was about to happen.
Neteyam felt his heart sink as he saw Kaya, her face flushed, walking towards the dance floor to dance with Aonung. Everyone was going crazy, and he noticed Kaya glance at him before pulling Aonung by his collar and kissing him passionately on the lips.
Aonung was dumbfounded for a moment, staring at Kaya, who had a bright red smile on her face. The crowd erupted in cheers. Aonung took a while to snap out of it, and when he did, he forcefully pushed Kaya away, his eyes searching for Neteyam. But Neteyam was nowhere to be found. He saw someone quickly moving away, and he knew what he had to do.
"What do you think you're doing?" Aonung's voice, now sober and filled with anger, questioned Kaya.
"Is it necessary to be so aggressive? I just wanted to kiss you," Kaya slurred in her intoxicated defense.
"I have a boyfriend, you know that," Aonung said fiercely.
"Hehe, I don't care who he is," Kaya giggled, clearly hinting at someone.
"Get lost, I'm leaving," Aonung turned around sternly and walked away.
Rotxo stood nearby, watching everything unfold and realizing that something was not right. Neteyam looked truly heartbroken just a while ago. He had a bad feeling about this.
Aonung went to the side to get some water, alcohol clouding his thoughts, making it difficult for him to decide what to do next. He knew Neteyam must have seen everything. He couldn't ride his bike after drinking, and it was too late to knock on Sully's door. He called Neteyam multiple times, but there was no response. This was a disaster.
He decided to go to Sully's house early in the morning tomorrow. He needed to have a serious conversation and sort things out immediately. However, he never expected that Sully's family would be leaving early in the morning for their flight to OMATIKAYA to visit their grandmother.
The next day, Aonung arrived at Sully's empty house, and a chill ran down his spine. Neteyam was nowhere to be found.
~
Neteyam didn't cry. He wasn't one to cry easily. That night after the dance, he curled up in his bed. His Aonung had gotten drunk and ultimately didn't bring him home. He had broken his promise. Neteyam turned off his phone. Right now, all he wanted was to hide under the covers, hoping that the warmth of the blanket could somehow warm his cold heart. He felt so cold right now.
Neteyam knew how pathetic he must look. He watched her kiss him. It was deliberate, even though she was drunk. The way she had been getting close to Aonung in recent times was all part of her plan. Suddenly, he could understand why Aonung had been arguing with him so much before. It must have been the same discomfort he felt when he was around Marco. Was this his punishment?
But what hurt him even more was Aonung's reaction. He just stood there silently, accepting her kiss. He didn't even get to see what happened next before he left. He was afraid that the more he found out, the harder it would be for him to bear. He sat quietly on the plane, looking out of the window without a hint of joy. Even though he used to be the type of person who enjoyed watching the scenery from the plane during takeoff, right now, those feelings seemed so far away.
He didn't know.
Neteyam felt like Aonung had changed. He didn't seem like the person he knew anymore. He felt a bit unfamiliar, which made Neteyam uneasy. Would he still be the Aonung who loved him? They are distant from each other these days. Hasn't he noticed? Didn't he feel that they hadn't been seeing each other much? Didn't he miss him? Neteyam was tormented by these questions that made him so uncomfortable.
Neteyam wore two necklaces around his neck. One was the necklace from their one-year anniversary, and the other was the engagement necklace Aonung had recently given him. He kept touching those two necklaces, trying to soothe his troubled heart.
Neteyam's smiles became fewer, and even Loak and Kiri noticed that something was off.
~
Aonung arrived at school the next day emanating a killer aura. It was the final week of the semester, and most classes were already finished, so many students didn't have to attend. The Sully family had all taken leave, and Aonung was losing his mind. Tsireya and Rotxo knew about this, but he was the only one left in the dark. Neteyam didn't tell him anything, and now this happened.
Aonung made nearly 100 phone calls, but no one answered, and his messages went unread. He was completely disconnected from Neteyam. What had Neteyam been telling him during this time? He earnestly tried to recall the past couple of weeks, but they had been interrupted by other classmates and Kaya. They never had the chance to have a deep conversation. How could he let this happen? Was it because he came back alive? Because Neteyam said yes to his marriage proposal? The name "Kaya" flashed through his mind, infuriating him.
Rotxo and Tsireya helped Aonung gather information and found out that the Sully family had returned to OMATIKAYA. Aonung felt a mix of anger and regret. Neteyam must have wanted to tell him personally, but he had been waiting for a proper opportunity to talk to him, and He hasn't been taking care of him lately. Aonung had been immersed in the joy of a successful proposal and the attention he received, and he had messed it all up. He remembered the lonely expression on Neteyam's face these past few days, intentionally or unintentionally. How could he have not noticed...?
How could he...?
"Aonung..." she called him.
Aonung turned around, his anger evident in his eyes. "What is it?"
His angry gaze and deep voice frightened her. He seemed like a completely different person from the sunny boy of a few days ago, as if he had shed his skin. She trembled slightly.
"I'm... sorry. I got drunk yesterday, and I don't even know what happened to me... I'm really sorry," she stuttered, each word coming out slowly.
"Hey... I'm not a fool. I know the effects of alcohol. It only suppresses a person's true thoughts and nature. You wanted to kiss me, and you wanted to hurt him," Aonung's eyes shifted from fiery anger to a chilling determination. His gaze exuded a sense of killing intent. She had used him to hurt his Neteyam, and it was all thanks to his own foolishness that Neteyam had truly been hurt.
"I... I..." Kaya was at a loss for words.
"Get away from me. I don't want to see you anymore. The thought of my lips touching you makes me sick," Aonung said as he forcefully pushed past Kaya's shoulder, leaving her alone and crying. Everyone was watching, and now they knew. Aonung might be a good person most of the time, but when he got angry, it was a different story.
"I'm sorry. I invited you to that party," Rotxo spoke up, feeling apologetic. He hadn't expected things to escalate to this extent.
"Haha, you're too naive, foolish boy,"
a voice cut through, hitting the nail on the head.
"It's not your fault; it's me..." Aonung closed his eyes and furrowed his brow. He was just a scumbag.
"I have to figure out a solution... Tsireya, can you help me?" Aonung seemed to have an idea in his mind.
"Of course, what do you need me to do?" Tsireya pledged his support wholeheartedly.
~
Neteyam's grandmother lived in the mountainous area surrounding OMATIKAYA, where he grew up. He had always wanted to take Aonung to visit this place where he had spent his childhood, but now he wasn't so sure.
Having arrived at his grandmother's house just over a week ago, Neteyam wondered if the school was officially on summer vacation now. He walked alone to the riverbank, his favorite fishing spot from his childhood, and sat there, watching the gentle flow of water. It calmed his thoughts. He knew he needed to have a serious conversation with Aonung. Even though he said he loved him, he wanted Aonung to have the courage to tell him if one day he no longer loved him... and he would accept it. After all, ever since Aonung had returned from the brink of death, all that mattered to Neteyam was seeing him happy and alive. That was the most important thing.
Neteyam sighed, hugging his knees by the water, his head lowered as he curled up into a ball. He was just sad, he just wanted Aonung.
"Hey... how could you leave me all alone here?" An impossible voice came from behind, and Neteyam quickly lifted his head to look back. He saw someone who couldn't possibly be there—Aonung.
"How can you be here... you can't be here..." Neteyam shook his head, denying what he saw before him.
"Hey, my love... I'm right here," Aonung quietly looked at him, his expression serious.
Neteyam was speechless.
"Can I hug you?" Aonung asked softly, testing the waters.
"..."
"If you don't speak, I'll take it as a yes," Aonung walked over and embraced him, pulling him close to his chest, holding him tightly as if he wanted to bury him within himself, so he couldn't run away.
Neteyam didn't speak, he just buried his face in the crook of Aonung's neck. It had been a long time since they had embraced like this. Neteyam didn't dare hold on too tightly, he simply gripped Aonung's clothes.
"Are you okay?" Aonung continued to show concern for him.
"..." Neteyam remained silent, savoring Aonung's scent.
"Can you say something, my love?" Aonung pleaded for a response.
"Nung... if... if one day... you fall in love with someone else or change your mind... and no longer want me... I hope... you can tell me to my face..." Neteyam stumbled through his words. "I hope..."
Damn it, Aonung felt a pang in his heart upon hearing those words. He wanted to punch himself right now. He had promised his future self that he wouldn't make Neteyam sad, yet here he was, causing him unease. Aonung was deeply troubled by this revelation. What was he doing?
"Neteyam, look at me," Aonung gently pulled away from the embrace, placing both hands on Neteyam's shoulders.
"This is my fault! After pushing her away at the party, I wanted to come find you, but I was drunk and couldn't ride a motorcycle. I couldn't barge into your house reeking of alcohol. I'm so sorry," Aonung began explaining the events that followed that day.
"I've been neglecting your feelings lately, and that's my mistake. I was still caught up in the pride of your acceptance of my proposal and the attention I received. I went too far, and I'm sorry," he continued apologizing.
"I made you uneasy, and I'm truly sorry. It's the last mistake I should have made. Yet here I am, still wanting to marry you. If you want to call off the engagement, it's only fair," he couldn't bear to see Neteyam suffer.
"I won't break off the engagement... I just... I don't know. It feels like you've become someone different, someone distant from me, and I can't reach you," Neteyam lowered his gaze.
"I trust you deeply, but if there ...ever comes a day..." Neteyam couldn't bring himself to look up at Aonung.
"That day will never come, I promise," Aonung said, removing his shirt.
"What's happening? Why are you suddenly taking off... your shirt..." Neteyam was stunned, frozen in place.
Aonung went to get a tattoo. He had a symbol inked on his left chest, a symbol that represented the meaning of Neteyam's name, albeit slightly different from the future version. It was a beautifully crafted totem in the distinct style of the METKAYINA culture, vividly etched on his left chest, right over his heart.
"How... why would you..." Neteyam was dumbfounded. He didn't expect Aonung to go to this extent.
"Don't you want to touch it? This is your heart, your person. Will you cast it aside?" Aonung said, approaching Neteyam while holding his hand.
"No... I won't..." Neteyam placed his hand over Aonung's tattooed chest, and Aonung covered Neteyam's hand with his own. Neteyam could see that Aonung's skin was still slightly red—it hadn't been long since he got the tattoo, and he rushed here to be with him.
Emotion filled his eyes, rendering him speechless. Neteyam hugged Aonung, resting his head against him.
"I can't believe you flew all the way to OMATIKAYA for me," he said, deeply moved.
"I had to save up and book the flight, you know last-minute flights are expensive. Plus, I just bought a motorcycle recently. I'm sorry for keeping you waiting," Aonung tenderly embraced him. Whenever his beloved Neteyam was feeling down, Aonung's actions became gentle and cautious. After soothing him, he would start displaying a bit of spoiled behavior. In moments like these, Aonung would shower him with affection. He hoped that Neteyam wouldn't be too well-behaved in his presence.
"Mmm... I've been waiting for so long," Neteyam withdrew from Aonung's embrace and wiped away his tears. Tears were uncontrollably welling up in his eyes, a mix of joy, sadness, shock, unease, and relief.
"I'm sorry... I'm truly sorry..." Aonung used his thumb to wipe away the teardrops at the corner of Neteyam's eyes.
"It's okay... because I love you..." Neteyam said with tears in his eyes, smiling. He finally smiled.
Aonung's heart melted. He would do anything to see the various expressions on Neteyam's face, no matter the state he was in.
"Will you help me sanitize then?" Aonung asked pitifully.
"Huh?" Neteyam rubbed his reddened eyes, looking confused.
"I brushed my teeth countless times that day and rinsed my mouth over and over again. I even made my gums bleed from brushing too hard. But I still felt like something wasn't clean... I don't know what to do," Aonung stared at Neteyam, testing his reaction.
Neteyam glanced at him and then focused on his lips.
"You idiot..." Neteyam kissed him, gently pecking Aonung's mouth. Aonung slightly opened his mouth, hoping for a deeper connection. Neteyam agreed, and his tongue slipped in, lightly brushing Aonung's sore gums. They engaged in a passionate kiss, with Neteyam initially taking the lead, but it eventually shifted to Aonung leading the way. It was a breathless kiss, where both of them wanted to overshadow the unpleasant feelings. The minty fragrance from Neteyam's mouth enticed Aonung, making him yearn for more. When they finally parted, both their lips were swollen and red, Prove how hard Aonung kissed.
But they laughed, they laughed happily.
"Great, they've made up," Tuk shouted from the trees behind them.
Neteyam blushed and turned around. His siblings were all there. Kiri raised a thumbs-up expressionlessly, while Loak displayed a disgusted face. He couldn't accept seeing his older brothers engage in such an intense kiss, especially when he was still ahead of Tsireya in progress. Thanks to the discreet help from Sully and the siblings, Aonung didn't say anything, just smiling as he watched Neteyam's face continuously flush red. The embarrassment of being seen by his own siblings while being intimate with his boyfriend overwhelmed him.
"My dear, are you willing to read my messages now?" Aonung affectionately asked, still smiling.
"Haha, I will," Neteyam quietly unlocked his phone. He had kept it turned off for the past week.
"Oh my... 500 unread and missed messages... all from Aonung," he exclaimed, looking at his boyfriend in astonishment.
"Haha, I love you, my baby," Aonung kissed him.
Afterward, Neteyam introduced Aonung to his grandmother and shared everything about his life in OMATIKAYA with him. They lovingly spent their time in OMATIKAYA, becoming even more affectionate than usual, as if making up for the lost time they had missed before.
Anyway, they reconciled, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Aonung borrowed money from Rotxo to cover the cost of his plane ticket and other expenses, all for the sake of his love.
As for Loak, he endured a difficult period, watching his brothers being in love every day. Yet, he found solace in their smiles and led a complicated existence.
He knew they would love each other forever, and that was something he would have to overcome for the rest of his life.