"But where would we go?" Sky asked, calming down, wiping off any left tear stains.

"There is a small rest house by the countryside under my name. Dad bought it as a vacation spot, but it has been vacant ever since. Let's just go there and decide on what we can do next,"

We both agreed. Picking up our bags that we had thrown on the road, we headed back to the bus stop. Luckily, we both had some money saved up. It was much safer to come back when things settled down a little.

We sat at the bus stop, waiting. "Do you trust me?" I asked again,

He kept his hand over mine, "Don't you see me giving up on everything and escaping with you?"

I smiled and held his hand, "I will make sure you get back everything you're giving up on right now," I promised,

"You're not giving up and that is all that matters," he replied drawing circles on the back of my hand with his thumb, looking at me with a small smile.

Sia's POV

I ran out of the house after making sure Dad had calmed down a bit. I had to find Sky, he had stormed out of the house in such a vulnerable state.

I really hope you're okay, Sky,

Just as I headed down the road, I saw him crying and hugging Dew near the bench at the turning. My heart broke for them, they had to fight something that was not in their favor from the beginning, which was just so unsettling.

I couldn't hear what they were talking about but then Dew held Sky's hand and picking up their bags they walked further down the road. I decided to follow them. Walking further below, I saw them arriving at the bus stop.

I didn't know where they were going but judging by how comforted and safe Sky looked, I let them be. Maybe this is what they require at this moment. They needed time to come to conclusions, while I handled everything back here at home.

They boarded a bus and soon the bus sped away. I pulled out my phone and opened Dew's contact, clicking on 'text',

Me: Take care of yourselves. I'm leaving Sky to you for a little while so I can try and sort things out back here. Let me know if you need anything and keep an eye out for my texts.

A few minutes later he replied,

Dew: Thank you. Don't worry about Sky, I will keep us safe. We will be back once we are steady and conscious enough. Please look after Dani.

Me: I will. Be safe.

I headed back home once I read his text.

Dew's POV

Sky clung onto me even when the bus started speeding. His fear of abandonment made it saddening for me to even imagine the worst things.

The sun was bright up in the sky and the day was starting to get warmer. Since there were no clouds, the hot rays of the sun peeked in brazenly from the windows of the bus.

It was just a simple Wednesday morning on an April day, unlike other people from our faculties enjoying their after-term holidays, we were on a bus to the countryside to escape from reality.

It was another two hours till we reached. We munched on a few snacks we had saved,

"Get some sleep," I said looking at him with a smile.

Sky's POV

After pulling down our bags, we stepped down from the bus. His rest house was just a few steps ahead from the stop we stood on. He walked in front of me, holding his bag, my art bag over his shoulder and his other hand holding mine.

He gave me a different type of strength. Enough to fight all odds if I had to.

We walked down the following alley and reached an area a little deep into the woods. A few miles ahead was where big fields started to spread. Soon, we reached his rest house. It was a little wooden hut, steady enough.

The door was jammed a bit, so we had to use a little force to push it open. Just then the lights started flickering,

"Thank god, the lights are still working," he said standing next to the switchboard turning the rest lights on,

"We have a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, and a scenery," he said,

"Perfect," I replied smiling, "I hope there are no lizards here, though,"

"Oops,"

I laughed, giving in. "Looks like I will have to deal with them then," I said,

He smiled and walked ahead, closing the distance between us,

"I know we can't ignore what happened, but let's try and think about it with a relaxed mind," he told me holding my hand,

I nodded, smiling. I knew how much you are hurting inside, Dew.

***

"Here's your dinner, sir," he chirped, walking out of the house, with two bowls of ready-to-cook ramen.

"Thank you so much," I said as I smiled and took my bowl. We were sitting out on the veranda of the house. In front of this house was a small pond, circled by the forest trees, and farther ahead lay the fields.

"Aren't you scared of the woods?" I asked him, looking at the variety of trees that left their outlines on the pond's surface as the skies started getting denser and darker,

"Not really. I find it rather peaceful here," he replied.

He had carried packs of ramen in his bag on our trip to the beach. Who knew they would be rather useful?

"Do you think there would be any way we could help our fathers?" I asked, blowing on the steaming noodles,

He sighed, "I'm afraid, not. They were best friends before, and all best friends have a way of finding themselves back. I think it will be better to let them come to terms by themselves. They both know how their rivalry has hurt their families and since we left without notice, that might give them a push to sort a few things out,"

"Hope so," I replied, "When are we planning to head back then?"

"Soon. I don't know what situation our homes are in right now. I also wish for a few more days so I could spend them with you and give us enough time. You deserve everything in this world, and I wanted to be the one to give it to you," he sounded rejected again.

I kept my half-empty bowl aside and held his hand, "We deserve everything in the world. And who said we can't give them to each other? Four hours with the right person makes it feel like four minutes. Let's not feel guilty over something that wasn't our mistake and live in livelier moments together for as long as we can," I replied,

He turned to keep his bowl to his opposite side so he could hide that one tear from me,

"Let's do that," he said smiling gently, holding my hands,

"From tomorrow, though. I'm tired and very sleepy,"

***

Dew's POV

He had headed to the washroom to freshen up while I was putting my phone to charge. Just then I received a text, it was from Sia. I sat on the bed as I read her text,

Sia: You both need to rush back home as quickly as you can.

Me: Give me a bit more time, please.

Sia: Our father is planning to shift again. This time I don't think we will ever be back.

Me: Do they know where we are?

Sia: No, but he keeps asking for Sky.

Me: Give us some more time, please.

Sia: I'm sorry, Dew. All I can hold back for is a day more. You need to be back after that.

How am I supposed to tell this to you, Sky? I can't ask you to fight with me because there is not our fight, yet I feel like the lost one.

"Is everything okay?" I quickly put my phone under the pillow cover as soon as I heard him,

I can't hide this from him forever, it is his family after all, but all I am asking for is one more day with him.

"Yes, it is," I lied. I knew how selfish I was being right now, I wanted to change that, but at the same time, I knew that this might be our last few moments together. So, let it be selfish for a little longer.

I pulled down the curtains and that's how our night ended. He fell asleep a few minutes after scrolling through his phone. I was still fighting back my own thoughts.

If only we had realized things a little earlier, we could have had much more time together today,

Somewhere deep, I regretted all those fights we had. Those feel like chunks of time wasted, instead, we could have grown up laughing. I turned to face him. Seeing his sleeping relaxed self, made me want to apologize to him for not realising his heart a bit earlier. Pangs of guilt kept tripping over me.

Just then I felt his hand snuggle over my waist as he pulled himself closer to me,

"Whatever it is, think about it tomorrow, Dew," he said in his sleepy voice, clinging on to my arm, eyes still closed.

I softly chuckled, holding him I closed my eyes. "Okay,"

I never realized how mad love could get until it came to you, Sky.

***

"Dew, wake up!" I woke up in a sudden jolt as he almost pushed me off the bed,

"Why?" I asked almost having a heart attack,

"What do you mean why, we have to go swimming!" he said excitedly,

Swimming?

I managed to open my eyes to check if it was the same Sky I knew, "Do you have any idea how cold the water would be? I am not taking that risk. You can go drench yourself, I'm good here,"

And closing my eyes I pulled the sheets over my head. "If you don't get up right now, I will pick you up and throw you in that ice-cold water myself,"

I laughed mockingly, "That's a cute warning, but sir, you cannot lift me with those arms,"

After sensing silence for the next couple of seconds, I thought he had given up. I was about to dive back into my sleep when suddenly he pulled the sheets off my face. There was an evil grin floating on his face,

He then bent to my level, snaked his arm under my back and things, and was about to lift me up when I reached for his shoulders and pulled him down on the bed, then getting up, I pinned him down, towering above him.

Sky's POV

"Just accept it that I'm stronger than you," he said with a proud smirk,

He is indeed challenging me,

I pushed him over so that his back landed on the bed and now I towered over him,

"How about now?" I asked giving off his smirk,

"Not a bad position," he winked. I realized what he meant a second later, "Get your brain out of that dirt," I said as I got off him, smacking his arm,

He kept laughing, "We grew up in the same dirt though,"

"I give you five minutes to get ready," I said shaking my head,

His expression changed from that laugh to a whine,

"Sky, I swear the water is freezing cold," he complained trying to convince me,

"Four minutes," I said looking at my wristwatch.

"What if some ice gets stuck in my artery? How am I supposed to pump blood? What if I turn blue and die here just because you wanted to go swimming in ice-cold water?" he said with a high pitch keeping his hands on his waist,

The 'D' in Dew stands for Drama. 

"Three and a half minutes," I sighed,

"Jeez, okay. Stop giving my anxiety," he said, huffing, he got up from the bed and headed to the washroom.

"Three minutes and ten seconds," I said from outside, "Shut up," he replied, his voice clearly sounded annoyed, and I enjoyed that way more than I should.

I could not stop laughing. After a few moments, he stepped out with an irritated look, I went up to him and pulled his cheeks, "Look at you," I said as he pouted,

"I am going to make you repay for this someday," he replied, and I continued chuckling.

Soon we both were standing in front of the pond in shorts. "Ice getting stuck in your artery is a real thing," he repeated, warningly. "How is that ice going to get inside of you?"

"It could go in from your nails, then from your skin, then-"

I held his hand, "Let's jump together at three,"

He sighed and took a deep breath. Then looking at me, he nodded.

Dew's POV

The water was surprisingly warmer than I thought, and Sky wouldn't stop pestering me about it,

"Are your arteries alright?" he asked sarcastically,

I shrugged and splashed water on his face. "This is how you want it?" saying this he splashed twice the water on me than I did.

***

We sat on the banks of the pond, fully drenched, staring at how the sun peaked through the clouds. "What are you thinking about?" I asked looking at him. He smiled and let out a relaxed sigh,

"It's so peaceful here. As if there will be no worries from now on. This place gives me a strange type of hope as if once we leave, everything will fall right back in place," he said,

I should tell him. This is not something to hide, especially when it is his family. I should tell him about Sia's texts.

"Sky, there is something I didn't tell you last night," I said a little nervously. He turned to look at me, figuring out my expressions,

"What is it?" he asked,

"Sia messaged me last night, saying that things were worsening,"

"What happened?"

"Your father is preparing to shift places again and this time...he might not have any plans on coming back,"

His breathing slowed and his expression turned blank,

"I'm sorry, Sky," I said,

"When do we need to leave?" he asked in a flat deflated tone,

"Tonight,"

He nodded and faced the pond again, none of us spoke for a few moments. The chirping of the birds, the sound of the water crashing at the banks, and the wind whistling through the tall trees echoed as we both sat there feeling almost empty.

Everyone deserves a happy ending, were we just an exception?

People say that it's never too late to turn things right, so, what about us? There is supposed to be a right time for everyone. I guess we were always an exception.

He kept his hand on top of mine, and looking at me he smiled. More like a sympathetic smile, "I'm hungry, do we still have ramen left?" he asked,

I nodded, faintly smiling, "We have enough left," I replied. I could see him holding out, doing the best he could, and trying to process things and I felt the most defenseless to not be able to do anything for him.

Sky's POV

I watched the sun in my sky rise with you, at the very least, I'm glad it is setting with you as well, Dew. I am very grateful to have at least this much time with you, it's more than I could ask for.

We headed inside and changed our wet clothes as the ramen cooked.

"I'm sorry for not telling you that earlier," he said, turning the stove off. 

"I would have done the same if I was you," I replied,

Or maybe I would have just kept you to myself, but I could never be your family. I could easily be more stubborn than you and that is exactly why Sia texted you.

He smiled and placed our bowls on the little wooden table as we sat opposite each other. "Do you regret running away with me?" he asked out of a sudden,

"I am thankful to have had such a happier time with you, where I find myself wishing and wanting more of this, and I'd do this all over again," I smiled,

He smiled too, rather sympathetically. If someone was reading our story right now, this was the part that would hurt more. Just two guys in love, eating ramen, hiding their broken selves behind sympathetic smiles.

***