"He died on my hands after car accident… So fragile my little man… a big truck lost control and crashed into us... I went to another city trying to forget everything. And when I saw you here on the street one day, your face and stature were the same, though less feminine. You remind me so much of him… I lost my peace after all years."
I guessed he still loves his Ray, but he was angry with him for cheating. He hoped that my person was more better for relationship, because I am not gay and will not get mixed up with other men. But I can get married to a girl… I planned that near future, because I'm a family guy and don't intend to be lonely… Though I never fell in love with any. There were some affairs but nothing serious…
I wanted to console somehow this man with sad eyes filled with tears... Hug him and pat on his shoulder. But what his reaction will be is difficult to predict. What if he starts squeezing me thinking about his lost Ray? Am I a substitute him?
"How many years have passed since then?"
"Many…" was quiet answer of man, staring at the splashing waves.
Why did I want to hug him, I wondered?
We spent the rest of day, swimming in cold seawater, basking on warm sun, consuming not cheap snack: dried natural protein and food grade cellulose. His mood improved significantly after the darkening cloudless sky was filled with bright sparkling stars and he began to show me the constellations, bringing his head closer to me, scattering their beautiful names in my mind.
"How can you remember so many stars and their location in the sky?" I frankly expressed surprise. "You are a talented stargazer..."
"Hmm, imagine... on another planet everything looks completely different in the sky," his breath touched my ear with a gentle velvet voice. "Do you dream about space travels?"
"Sure… Actually it is possible but takes the decades of years to reach the closest exoplanet. And it's so expensive."
I tensed in the pitch darkness, fearing that Yarison would suddenly kiss me, but he did not dare to do so, although the moment was very romantic. I bet he wanted… Goosebumps again... Me too…
"Yeah, I know." Was his deep sigh. "Some wealthy people are going to escape the dying planet."
It became cooler and I found his palm in the dark and ran my cold fingers along the surface hearing an excited sigh.
"Denris... are you teasing me? For what?"
"I just wanted to check whether your hand was warm or not, and in general I'm freezing... I didn't take a spare jacket with me…"
"Are you freezing?" He surprised. "I'm not… if you wish, I can warm you up…"
"Will I be able to sleep normally?" I expressed my concern ignoring his offer.
"You will stay warm in your sleeping bag, and the heat is well retained in a tent throughout the night."
His words were not confirmed. Later it became colder and I remained freezing as hell in my sleeping bag and pushed Yarison in the middle of the night with indignant screams:
"Warm me up! Aren't you cold?"
I was ready to do anything just not to freeze.
Yarison willingly accepted me into a warm embrace in his bag and I stopped trembling, instantly falling into sleep until dawn.
"This means nothing!" I muttered when discovered myself in the tightness of Yarison's arms. "I just froze to death..."
The orange tent nicely lit up by dawn rays, and I stared at his face, examining the harmonious features. The air became warmer but I continued to bask in his cozy embrace and listen to his soft breathing. And why did I feel so good?
His face was on my shoulder and his strong arms were wrapped around my waist, his hip laid over mine… so warm and cozy. If only I were a woman, how nice it would be.
I wondered what I would feel if he kissed me then… under the sky full of stars? So romantic environment for seducing!
Yarison suddenly stirred and pressed me more to him, bringing his face even closer and exhaled the moaning sound.
"Wake up!" I blurted out demandingly elbowing him in the side. "You're going too far!"
"You yourself climbed into my sleeping bag..." He muttered not going to unfold his embrace.
"It was terribly cold, I could have died."
"I bet I can guess what you are thinking about right now?"
"And what?"
"About kissing with me..."
A chill ran down my spine: how did he know what I was thinking? But this is not the first time this has happened. He constantly guesses my thoughts and there is no point in denying it. How he did it? No answer. Was he sophisticated mentalist? However, I was really curious but indignantly began to deny trying to extricate myself from his tight clutches:
"No! Wrong!"
"Liar! Yesterday you touched my hand as if accidentally… but actually you were waiting my actions towards you, right? You should know such actions provoke a person to go further. I had to react… I offered my hugs… you pretended not hearing and now you teased me with your desire to try my kiss," he said it with seductive whisper. "Now you can't get away with it, it's totally your own fault."
"Okay, okay…" I admitted his point. "You are right - I was curious… I waited your actions…"
"Yes… I wanted it but stopped myself… So… can I try now?"
"What?"
"To kiss you! I'm sure you wanted it yesterday…" Yarison grinned.