Krist was on his way to home after registering for a  local music composition competition. It was first year of their separation – exactly five months since Singto had moved to college as grade 11 student. Kit wasn't  happy to be honest, he was happy for Singto but now that elder wasn't  present to walk school with him, his days were too lonely. Sure, he had made some friends, like Mike and Toptap from his music classes, school was still boring and a torture to be honest. Now that P'Sing wasn't  there to beat up the bullies, he was being bullied more — verbally only though. After he broke the nose of one of the students no one dared to lay a hand on him, although he was suspended for a week, he was happy that he stood up for himself. No one really scolded him, his parents and principal warned him to not use physical means but let the authorities deal with the situation but there were no heat behind their words. And P'Sing!
P'Singto gifted him big bucket of ice-cream for that. According  to him, suspension was worth, because he  learnt a lesson to not let people walk all over him.

It was only words now, words of jeering whispered as he turned his back. Words of mockery, his classmates threw at him in the washroom, playground — basically anywhere, where teachers were not actively present. And these last month's have taught Kit to give back equally good. He had learnt to play with words, to think on his feet. He thinks its a good development, although P'Sing disagrees.
He says Kit was just giving a stab for a stab, wound for a wound but what about his healing? What about the wounds that he never address, bullying keeps making it deep and complex.

P'Sing has started teaching him to let go, to not let those words penetrate his heart. To be happy with his own self. But it wasn't  easy, unlike P'Sing , Kit thrived on appreciation, praises and good words. He needed to listen that he did well. He needed to know that his efforts were appreciated. He gets angry and sad when his words and intentions are misinterpreted. He gets frustrated when P'Sing says life isn't fair and it's never gonna be.

Kit suddenly halted in his steps,he was again thinking about P'Sing! No matter what the subject is, his thoughts end on P'Sing. Mike and TopTap always tease him with P'Sings name. At first he was angry but then he started noticing and actively observing Hus thought pattern, P'Sing indeed took up three fourth of space in his thoughts, talks and life — actively present or not. Mike and Toptap say they know more about P'Sing than they know about Kit ,that much he talks about P'Sing. Although aware, he didn't  give it much thought until Mike blurted out that he might love P'Sing. He did, duh! But, then Mike flipped his head, saying not innocent, brotherly kind of love but a passionate emotion, filled with jealousy, desire and possessiveness. It got thinking, P'Sing says being passionate about anything is good but we shouldn't  be jealous and obsessive that is a kind of mental illness.
He is not jealous or possessive, he will never be, it's not a good thing to be.

Krist shook his head to get out the unwanted thoughts whose seeds Mike has planted in his head. He suddenly remembered a picture Mike had shown him on his mobile and it irked Kit where his thought has led him. He has been thinking a lot about things he found disgusting in the past — like kissing. And thanks to Mike, he remembers all types of kisses by heart.
He was definitely  surprised to see a clip of two girls kissing, their hands wandering all over each other's  bodies, even where Kit thinks they shouldn't  go. There are no touch zones on body! Youare a pervert if you touch them!
But to hus uttered dismay, the girls in the video were paying no heed to it.
Kit was disgusted, even more when Mike informed, two guys also kiss, even more passionately, even more aggressively. He was on the verge of puking when Mike decided to inform him that even so called straight boys experiment, especially  in all boys schools. His overactive imagination had started analyzing clues for it in the class.

It was only after watching 'call me by your name upon Mike's insistence, he felt at ease. He couldn't think about two boys in love, without being weirded out. Boys were supposed to take care of,  pamper and protect their dates. Who would do what when both are boys ?
But watching these movies, he has learnt that care, respect and protection goes both way, both parties need it. In a way it was an eye opener for him. And those scenes, the intimacy, there was something hypnotic about seeing two same bodies exploring each other, their comfort on subconscious level was subtly showing. It was a different kind of intimacy — mesmerizing and enticing.

Kit was embarrassed to think of the number of bones it gave him. That was another story, he had never been bothered by that part of his body, until now. The havoc it was wreaking on his mind, and mind on his body was on a different level.

Sometimes, laying spent under his sheets he thinks all about it.
Why does a boy fall for a girl or boy ? What actually is love?
Why is such a stigma around people of same sex falling in love?
Why does some boys enjoy same sex intimacy but don't attach it to love ?

And then a whole different thought altogether bothers him. What if Singto comes to know about his exposure to
these subjects ? Will his P'Sing approve ? Or will he be disgusted that Kit likes seeing two boys together,  although a boy being with a girl excites him, his hormones climb whole another level when hands exploring each other had certain kind of roughness to it, the veins protruding, the muscles flexing.

He gritted his teeth and swore to divert his thoughts from human intimacy, the stirring in his pants if reached to completion will both be painful and embarrassing.
He swears, he had come to know more about love, kiss and sex in three months of befriending Mike than he knew in all fourteen years of his life. And each and every time his mind wanders around the new found territory, he ends up thinking about Singto.
Be it as innocent as getting Singto's  approval or more as sinful as wondering if Singto ever had such kind of explorations with another boy ?
Does he like the same movies he liked ?
Did P'Sing got his first kiss?
If yes, was it with a boy or a girl ? 
Normally Simgto would have told him, they had no secrets earlier. But Kit wasn't  sure anymore. These five months had put some distance between them as Singto got busier and he had less and less time to spend with Kit, still he managed to make time for Kit, be it few minutes or just a wave of hand.
He was thankful to Singto for this. For always making time for him.

It was a bit childish but he was curious if P'Sing would make time to meet him today. They (Mike and TopTap) had a bet going on it. TopTap says Sing would take a raincheck today and meet his future prospective date or spend time with his friend like, chasing the person he likes. Mike says Sing would definitely  meet him and also gift him something, valentine's day was meant to express love.

Seeing the darkness descending down, Kit's hope mellowed a bit. While Mike wouldn't  let him hear the end of it if P'Sing indeed gifts him something , he wanted to see P'Sing today. But again, no, he didn't vwant to see P'Sibg today. What will he gift him if P'Sing indeed brings something ? He has nothing. Should he give a cheek kiss, like Mike gave to Toptap? He says kiss is greatest form of expression.

Lost in sololiqy, he walked on autopilot, unaware that he stood in hus street, five feet away from hus house.
" Kit" called a voice, a familiar call filled with love and comfort.

" Phi Sing! " he exclaimed, mouth open in shock. Although Kit wanted to see Sing, actually seeing him standing in three dimensional form was a bit startling... That wasn't  the only factor that startled him though, Singto's shirt was covered in stickers – heart, teddies and roses, big, medium and small, all sizes.

Krist gawked at Singto's  appearance " It will be ruined" was only thing that came to his mind.

Sibgto scratched back of his head, a nervous tick of his. " We celebrated valentine's  day after class. I .... come here. " Singto beckoned  him with a curl of his finger. 

Krist closed the distance without question, Singto took something out of his bag – A small heart sticker, and pasted it on Kit's shirt, just where his heart resides. " Happy valentine's  day. " Sing smiled. Krist just stared at his cute little red heart sticker. His first valentine gift! It made his heart race to think even among hundreds of new,  same-age friends, Sing still remembered him.

" Hapoy valentine  phi" , he hurriedly replied, rubbing his ears just to hide hus burning cheeks and red ears " Come on in na phi, I have something to share with you. "

" I was waiting for you since half an hour, Mae said you should have already come by then. "

" There was a long line for registration na phi, It took more time than I guessed"

" Its okay, work hard for the competition  na, I am sure you will nail it. " Sibgto smiled patting his back " Come on, I am very hungry, mae has made my favourite.  "

" Its good that we like same food phi or I would have thought my mom prefers you over me. " Krist knew he was sulking and the reason was something else altogether.

" same Tao same " Sing sighed. " Mae always makes your favourite food. " Singto clasped Kit's hand and pulled him towards home "I am very hungryyyy "

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After a hearty meal, they laid on the bed. Singto had stripped out of his shirt,  he laid beside Kit bare chested. Kit was preoccupied with hus thoughts and Singto's  heart sticker.

" Phi can I ask you something ? "

" hmm..." Singto nodded, turning, he rested his head on his folded hands and stared in to Kit's eyes " ask."

" Why did you give me heart on valentine? "

" Because, it's a festival of love. We should appreciate all the special people in our life, like Mae, por, friends, you, also we should thank the god for sending these special people in our lives. "

" Its not about lovers? "

Singto raised a brow at sudden question but seeing Kit's red ears and redder neck, he decided to spare the teasing and answer straight.  " It is about love, all kind of love , not just love between lovers. "

Krist nodded in understanding. An idea flashed in his mind and he sprinted down the bed, taking a blue sharpie out of his bag, he approached Singto.
" Phi, I want to give something to you. "

" What ? "

"A heart, but I don't  have sticker with me , so " he draw a heart over Singto's  chest, right where his heart was beating behind the rib cage.

" A blue heart ? " Singto chuckled. " Do you know each colour represent an emotion Kit? "

Krist nodded.

" Why did you think of giving me a blue heart then ? "

" Because, I don't  want my heart to be lost among sea of red and pinks you are getting. I want my heart to be unique for phi. Phi will know it is Kit's heart."

" Kit, phi can never mistake or loose anything that is given by Kit. "

Krist grinned " Also, blue is colour of royals PhiSing. It also signals, KitSing supremacy. "

" You are planning world domination ?" Singto chuckled, amused.

" Kit is planning domination over phi's love. " Kit replied, unknown of the deeper meaning it contained.

" You will always have it " Singto replied, fully knowing meaning behind his word.

Life was surely going to deal them a hard hard, but this pair of obvious and oblivious was ready to face it all.

" I must give you something unique too. " Singto mumbled, making a zero with the sharpie over his thumb, lifting Kit's T-Shirt, he pressed the thumb over hus heart. " Phi renews his promise, you will always be Singto's Zero. " origin to my world, only root of my life. As a friend or may be something more, I will always have your back.

" Phi, " Kit mumbled chewing his lips, a nervous tick of his " Kit didn't  like that people pasted stickers all over your shirt, your shirt is ruined now. "

Singto knew the real reason. " blue heart wouldn't  stand out if it didn't  have background of red and pinks. " Sing replied and Kit instantly grinned, his position in Sing's life was safe.

" By the way phi, if you break your promise, just remember that I will give you blue balls till you cry."

" Excuse me," Singto choked over nothing. It honestly came out of nowhere.

" That's  how you say to your friends, it's cool , Toptap always threatens Mike like this."

" Whoever these kids are, stay away from them. " Sing warned " and don't  repeat these words ever. To me or anyone."

" But why phi, they are very cool, it's a way college buddies threaten each other."

If there was a way of eyes literally falling off the sockets, Singto's  eyeballs would be floating around.

" Kit you basically threatened to deny having sex with me if i ever cheat on you. "

" But we are not couple."

" Exactly " Singto pointed out with a duh expression.

It illuminated a bulb in Kit's  head
"That's  why Mike kissed Toptap today."

" yeah" Singto replied irritated " stay away from them."

" Are you disgusted because they are gay ? " Kit asked crestfallen. They were his only friends.

" No. Love is love. But they keep teaching you bad words and things you have no business knowing."

" I was only learning to be cool like college kids phi, Kit hates that he is two years behind you. "

Kit's sulking always melted Singto, for they knew, no matter how many friends they have, no one can take each other's  place in their lives. Krist was a clingy kind of person, he needed physical presence and reassurance to feel secure, his insecurities were not for nothing.

" Kit, I don't  want you to loose your school years just because you want to change yourself according to me or what you perceive to be me. You be yourself, I remain myself, let our bond adjust accordingly. Didn't  you say KitSingto supremacy ? "

Kit nodded, hugging his phi Sing.
" Thank you for today phi Sing. It was Kit's first valentine. "

" Mine too. " Sing wrapped his arms around him.
And Krist's  happiness knew no bounds. He didn't  know if Singto was gay or he ever experimented or if he had his first kiss or not.

He just knew he was Singto's  first valentine and thus was it for him..
His first valentine was good.

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