The moon is beautiful, isn't it?

For other people, those words mean exactly that—the moon in the sky looks lovely.

But he has read a decent amount of manga and watched a couple of romance anime to know that the same statement sometimes holds a different meaning. For the Japanese, the words can be a person's way of confessing their feelings to someone they are romantically attracted to.

He knows that there are some people who are familiar with the metaphorical connotation of the words. He knows Eujae is one of them because of his parents' influence. He knows that Eujae is aware that he is also one of those people since he's into Japanese stuff.

But there is no reason Eujae would tell him the statement in its romantic context, is there?

Poll hasn't forgotten that they are not in an anime or a manga. His common sense hasn't abandoned him, so he perfectly understands that Eujae is not professing his love. No less, to him.

They may have restarted their relationship from being enemies to being friends, but Poll can tell that there is no way Eujae would ever like him beyond that. Why would he? The man is a calm and mature person, the complete opposite of him. It's absurd to think that Eujae would ever fall for someone childish and quick-tempered.

The moon is beautiful. In the end, Poll comprehends that Eujae meant the words literally. And he wants to hit himself for thinking otherwise for a second.

"Oh, you mean the moon." A twinge of disappointment worms into his chest and stomach, but he chooses not to give meaning to it. Poll forces a laugh to get rid of the bitter aftertaste of the realization. "Yeah, it's really pretty. For a second, I thought you meant it like the Japanese way of confessing their love for someone."

He realizes that the best thing he could do right now is to shut up and avoid embarrassing himself any further. But he can't stop the foolish words that keep pouring out of his mouth.

"Cause that's impossible, right? You liking me? I mean, romantically? That would be funny. I'd surely laugh at you if it turned out that you were in love with me."

Without thinking, he persistently jabs the remaining piece of rice cake with a plastic fork and stops only when the food has been demolished into small clumps. The unwelcome irritation that starts to chip away in his chest doesn't make sense.

Poll keeps his eyes on the morsels of food. He doesn't want to look at Eujae, afraid he'll see a trace of being freaked out on his face.

But the lack of response from the man gets to him. Raising his head, Poll peeks at Eujae. Instead of an unsettled expression, amusement rests in his pretty eyes.

The nearby street lamp reflects against the man's eyeglasses, but it can't outshine the twinkle in his blue and brown irises.

A smile ghosts Eujae's lips—faint, but it's there—before he asks, "Then why don't you start laughing now?"

Poll pauses, trying to get his head around the question. He wonders if he missed a joke that needs to be laughed about. But no matter how many seconds he gives himself, he can't come close to grasping Eujae's words.

Puzzled, the male twin stammers, "Wh-what? Why?"

"Didn't you just say you were going to laugh at me if I were in love with you?"

Another question. Another pause. More confusion.

And when he finally latches on to what Eujae is trying to convey, Poll rises to his feet, knocking the boxes of food to the ground.

"What are you talking about?" he exclaims, eyes wide, his gruff voice piercing the crisp atmosphere. He balls his clammy hands into fists.

"I'm pretty sure you know exactly what I am talking about, Apollo." Eujae's expression begins to become sober as he stands and steps closer to Poll. "But if you really need me to spell it out to you, then let me. And please listen well."

Poll jerks when Eujae's hands curl around his wrists.

Unnerving silence diffuses through the surroundings. Captivated by Eujae's intense stare, Poll finds himself unable to move.

Eujae doesn't resume talking right away. It is as if he's giving Poll enough time to compose himself, as if he's making sure the male twin will have a clear head once he hears the words he's about to say.

And quietly, as though he were afraid to break the spell that has enwrapped them, Eujae comes out with the straightforward answer to Poll's question.

"I like you."

The air rushes through, sending a chilly sensation all over Poll's skin. However, he's certain that's not the only thing that causes him to shiver.

His stomach starts to flutter. His heart beats hard. The feelings are not new to him, but this time, they have turned up stronger than ever.

Poll opens his mouth to say something, to demand if this whole thing is a prank, and to tell the other man that it's not funny if it is, but the words die in his lips when Eujae continues to speak in a solemn tone.

"And I meant it not just as a friend. I like you in a way that makes me want to hug and kiss you. I don't know how and why it happened. I don't even know when I started having these feelings for you."

Dazed, the male twin stares blankly. A part of him wants to believe everything that Eujae is telling him, but after all those years of being on the warpath, the idea of the man falling for someone he used to have ill feelings for sounds too unthinkable.

Keeping their eye contact, Poll mumbles, "There's no way that's true."

Eujae squeezes his wrists, but not so much that it hurts.

"I know it's hard to believe, considering how we've been fighting for years, but it's the whole truth. In fact, I suspect that I've been into you even then. The way you were treating me differently from other people used to irritate me." He lets go of Poll's wrists. His hands move up to cup the male twin's cheeks, making him inhale sharply.

Eujae's palm feels cold against Poll's skin, but it sparks a flame that begins in the latter's face and crawls across his whole body.

"Why couldn't you smile at me like you always did at them? Why couldn't you be friendly with me too? Recently, I realized that I had felt that way because I was jealous."

"But how can you be sure that you're in love with me? How can you even like me in the first place?"

"And why can't I?"

"Because..." Poll's voice trembles with skepticism. "Because I'm a guy, and you're not even gay, are you? You used to date girls, didn't you?"

Without missing a beat, Eujae replies, "Sure, but considering the fact that I fell for you, then I'm not straight either."

Shaking his head, Poll drops his gaze. He slips his hand away from Eujae's hold and looks around in confusion.

He still finds it hard to be credulous about this whole confession. Perhaps the man is tricking him after all. Perhaps this whole thing is a dream. Perhaps he will wake up from it anytime soon.

Overwhelming emotions wash over him, and he can't figure out how to handle them. This is the first time that he's ever been confessed to. And this is the first time that someone has ever made him feel these strong sensations.

He may be thrilled about the new experience.

But he's perplexed as to what to believe.

All the same, he's afraid. Afraid of Eujae's feelings for him. And afraid of his own feelings for Eujae.

He doesn't even know what he feels for the man. Does he like him that way too?

Sure, he's never denied the fact that he finds Eujae attractive. Sure, he's gradually acknowledging the truth that the man may be one of the most caring persons he's ever known, as annoying as he may be sometimes. And sure, he often finds his mood being affected by the guy.

But are those enough reasons to consider that he has romantic feelings for the man? At what point can a person say that they are truly in love with someone?

And what about Eujae? Why did he choose Poll among better people?

Poll bites his bottom lip to keep it from quivering. Shuffling his feet, he looks to the ground. Uncertainty shrouds his words when he speaks again. "Are you sure you're not saying that because you know that I'm Ten-Ten? You used to always call Ten-Ten cute, right? Maybe you're just mistaking your affection for Ten-Ten for something romantic. Or are you sure you don't like someone else? Not just Ten-Ten, but... I don't know... Someone more mature 'cause you used to call me childish, right?"

"Why are you talking like you and Ten-Ten are different persons? It's true that I adored Ten-Ten, but I never saw your online identity as anything else but a cute little friend that I enjoyed teasing. And it's true that when I first learned that you are Ten-Ten, I got curious but that was because I couldn't believe that my online friend and the person who used to always annoy me are the same person."

At the last couple of words, Poll flinches.

"But, Apollo–" Eujae's tone carries the tenderness that only someone as sweet and understanding as him can ever master. And when he holds the male twin's chin, guiding him to look him in the eyes again, Poll realizes that serenity has filled the man's expression. Everything about Eujae shows patience. His smile. His eyes. His voice when he finishes the sentence. "–the person I fell in love with is you."

Going by how hot his face feels, Poll is pretty sure he looks as red as the roses in the garden by now.

"And as for me liking someone else..." Eujae regards the male twin, his angelic expression briefly slipping away as his mouth quirks into a devilish smirk. "If that was the case, don't you think I should have enticed them to come with me today instead? If I really liked someone else, I'd be making a move to seduce them by now, Apollo."

Damn. A little flirtation, and the male twin senses his guard collapsing in full tilt. Poll has never thought of himself as easy to get, but Eujae indeed has a way with words.

Helpless against the other man's silver tongue, Poll decides to be honest. "I don't know how to feel about this."

"It's fine. Take your time." Eujae's face glows with understanding. With a warm smile painting his lips, he rubs his thumb against the male twin's cheek. "I'm not asking you to give me an answer now, Apollo. But at least try not to invalidate my feelings for you, alright? I like you. It's the truth, and making excuses to dunk it as a lie is kind of insulting, you know."

Eujae takes his hand off Poll's face only to wrap his arm around the smaller man's waist.

Since he can't find it in him to brush Eujae aside, Poll opts to go with the flow. He lets the man pull him closer, thinking he's going to envelop him in a hug.

But Eujae seems to have a different idea as he brushes his lips against the male twin's forehead.

And one innocent kiss is all it takes for all of Poll's senses to crash.

The breeze blows once more, wafting against his back, but it doesn't help to cool down Poll's body, which is currently on fire. His pulse races as the other man's minty scent invades his nose.

Before Poll has the time to get his brain functioning again, Eujae is leaning away from him. The man grins, looking proud at what he just did.

Still unable to recover from the surprise, Poll can only gape. Everything sinks in after some time, and with nowhere else to hide, he grabs the front of Eujae's shirt and buries his flushed face against the taller man's neck.

Eujae chuckles, his chest vibrating on Poll's hand, before he starts caressing the latter's hair.

"Seriously, you're so cute. I badly want to kiss you right now," Eujae murmurs against Poll's head, "But I know your first kiss should have been something precious, and I'm still sorry that I had stolen it from you. That's why I promise not to do it again, at least not on the lips, until you agree to go out with me."

Because he's desperate to cover up his bashfulness, Poll shifts to a cheeky tone. "Aren't you too confident that I'm ever gonna agree to go out with you?" he asks without bothering to draw his face away from Eujae.

He rather likes it here. In this position. Where Eujae's embrace can provide him solace. Where the man's cool scent can always make him calm.

Eujae lets out a hum. "This time, I'll be serious about pursuing you, Apollo, so be ready."

"Conceited jerk," Poll mumbles. As he grips Eujae's top tighter, he becomes aware of the heavy thumping in the man's chest.

Eujae's heart is beating fast. Maybe even faster than Poll's current pulse rate. And somehow, it makes the male twin feel relieved to know that he's not the only one who's nervous about the situation.

Poll lets go of Eujae's shirt. Keeping his head nestled in the crook of his companion's neck, he tentatively moves his hands behind the man to return the embrace.

He still can't be sure if he's in love with Eujae. But maybe he's halfway there.

And he suspects it won't take long before he hits full circuit.

If he hasn't already.