Nathan groaned. He had been walking for hours and his only light was the moon which got blocked out sometimes by the tree. The rest of the group had decided to stay back and rest but he knew he was close. He had to be sure the blue hot spring was close because if it was, then they just had to go east and bam, center of the island.

But then again, it was dark so finding the place called hot spring might not be possible and could be dangerous since the map had mud-pot drawings on it. What in fucks name am I even doing here?

Nathan saw a rock and sat at the base of it. Mostly since he was tired and his feet hurts. If he were back home he would have been having a nice sleep or praying the next day would be good as he dealt with his contracts.

The moment the Gay Project admin shows his or her face, that person is going to pay. That I swear!

Leaning against the rock, Nathan breathed in the thick smell of trees and dirt. Yes, he had an odour. So bad that he didn't even want any of the other men near him. But for some reason, mostly Doug.

That was where he got confused. A few days ago, Nathan and Doug had washed up by the shore together. Doug talked about his business and about how he was almost bankrupt. Of course, as a marketer, Nathan told him way to bring his service back up. Doug looked like he wanted to kiss his feet and the thought of him being cute, crossed his mind.

Nathan thought he could stay away from him until he stopped thinking like that but anytime Doug approached him, he just wants to listen to him. And it has been getting worse. Just look where he was now.

This whole Gay Project thing has opened a new way for them to think. That must be the reason why they were acting like this. Society is normally based on hate and violence. Someone being 'not normal' was a way for society to pour their hate out. However, in their situation, everyone was apathetic to the LGBT community and none of them were gay so the chances of them falling in love or being gay was slim.

Then again, survival can make a man do stupid things even if it's to be gay. The constant need for everyone to pretend they love their partner just to get out was strong so they won't even know when they start to mean it. When they start to actually be gay.

The sound of leaves shaking and twigs breaking brought him out from his trail of thoughts. He sat upright and listen again. He heard another snap followed by the chirps the birds made as they flew away.

Someone was coming and he was close.

Nathan stood up when he heard the footsteps moving faster towards him, like he was running. Swallowing, he moved back just when a body bumped into him, making him hit his back against the rock.

"Damn." He howled in pain as he fell to the floor and rubbed his back, hoping it would sooth the burning pain.

"Shit."

The sound of Doug's voice made him catch his breath. There it was again. That short lived joy that someone came after him and it was Doug. Please someone help me.

Doug dropped to his knees quickly and slowly helped Nathan sit up. "Dude, I am so sorry. I came out looking for you and I got lost so I've been running and calling out your name but nobody answered so I gave up and continued running." He said, panting loudly.

Nathan tried to smile but winced as he leaned against that same rock. "It's okay. Just a little scratch."

Doug frowned then turned the man around. He didn't say anything and Nathan had no idea how bad the bruise was so he had no idea what Doug would say.

When he leaned him back against the rock, he sighed and said, "It's not that bad but still, I am sorry."

Nathan laughed. Doug's empathetic smile hit something in Nathan that shouldn't be touched. Just that smile made him feel so warm that he just wanted to wrap his arms around him.

"Damn, you could be so cute sometimes." Nathan said as his fingers grazed his against his cheeks.

It was when Doug's dark brown eyes widened and his mouth dropped open that he realized what he had said. Nathan tried to sit up quickly and redress the situation but Doug pulled back like he had touched fire.

"What the fuck?" He said shakenly. "What the fuck did you just say?"

"I called you cute." Nathan said blankly as he stared at him.

"Do-Do you know how that sounds?" He asked again.

"Gay." He answered all so bluntly.

Doug stared at me for a while before he said, more calmly now, "Why?"

"Because I thought you were cute."

He exhaled sharply then gripped his scattered hair, "But-But, I have beards and I smell. I cannot be cute."

After two days, everyone except Ramus had started to grow a little hair but it wasn't too much to become irritated by them.

Nathan ran a hand through his hair as he stared at the ground. Doug would still look cute even if the hair on his face was as thick as Shai Labeouf's and Nathan knew that. "Doesn't matter."

"What?" Doug was probably hysterical now. "But it cannot be. I'm a man."

Nathan scoffed and asked, "What's wrong with complimenting a man? It's not like I asked you to marry me."

Doug swallowed then calmed down a little to ask, "Being called cute feels wrong..." he trailed off.

Nathan rolled his eyes then glanced up at the star filled sky. This was exactly what he was talking about. If a guy compliments a guy, they take it as a compliment and laugh about it but when they acknowledge the gay thing, every compliment is like they are hitting on them.

"I'm sorry." Nathan said after a while of silence.

"What?" Doug answered softly.

"I'm sorry for calling you cute."

He sighed loudly, "It's okay. I overreacted."

The awkward tension dissolved almost immediately and Nathan released a breath he never knew he was holding. Doug crawled back to sit beside him and they both leaned on the rock and stared at the sky together.

"I hate being called cute." Doug said out of nowhere and like Nathan always did, he listened.

"Ciara always called me cute. It was annoying. Am I the only guy that thinks being called cute means not being manly?" he continued.

"No."

"Then it is okay to be mad right? I overreacted but being called cute irks me." he grunted, "I remember when Ciara first called me cute. We were on a date and I totally messed it up. I felt like I wasn't manly enough for her."

"Hmm. Maybe she said it because of something you did. A lot things people do makes them look cute but naturally they aren't. Try Dwayne Johnson. He looks as strong as steel and handsome if I may add, but certain things he does in his movies makes him look cute. Like giving a girl flowers or panicking over something as stupid as the girl he liked texted him and he had no idea what to reply with."

"Could be." He shrugged then drew up his legs so he could rest his head on it.

"You are certainly handsome Doug," Nathan added, "But you looked cute worrying over me like that."

"Still annoying when you say it." He grumbled making the man smile.

"Will still say it as long as it annoys you."

"Grow up man." He snorted as he hit his shoulders hard yet playfully.

Nathan pulled a face and Doug's immediately soften, "I didn't mean to-"

"Caught you!" Nathan joked then laughed at Doug's furious face. "Relax, it was just a joke."

"What?" he said with a groaned, "You really need to grow up."

"Not cool to be so serious every time." He said drolly

Doug shook his head, "You're unbelievable."

"I guess." He shifted on the ground so that his hurting back wouldn't touch the rock and he continued, "We just have to find the under ground steam spot and we are closer than ever."

"Hey!" he said suddenly, "I saw that steam spot when I was running here. It's not so far actually. That is the boiling mud-pot on the map, right?"

Nathan gave him a short nod then grinned at him, "Thank God. At the break of dawn, we'll get the rest and start moving."

"Why not go now?"

"Because I am tired and very sleeply and it is very dark. Forgive my run on but I just wanna sleep."

Doug glanced at him then said, "You can lean on me if you want."

He smiled then rested his head comfortably on his shoulder. "Thank you."

"Goodnight."

_____________

So sorry for the late update. From now it would be updated every Saturday and if it is not, there will be a reason.

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