Liam and Keiran huddled close to the roaring flames, their bodies basking in the comforting warmth. The relentless downpour outside provided a stark contrast to the stillness within the shelter of their makeshift campsite. The sound of the raindrops tapping against the roof and the rhythmic crackling of the burning firewood were the only sounds that broke the oppressive silence.
As the minute stretched into minutes and hours, the weight of the silence became almost unbearable, like a heavy blanket draped over their heads. Keiran let out a long, pensive sigh, his mind wandering to the outside world and the tumultuous events that had led them to this place of refuge.
But as the night crept on, Keiran's thoughts were interrupted by the persistent gnawing of his stomach. The pangs of hunger began to grow more insistent, a reminder of their precarious situation. The rain continued to pour down in an unrelenting deluge, casting a pall over their spirits.
As the fire crackled and popped, Liam and Keiran sat in companionable silence, lost in their thoughts. The warmth of the flames enveloped them like a cocoon, shielding them from the harsh realities of the outside world.
Keiran's gaze lingered on Liam's exposed chest, his eyes tracing the contours of the rippling muscles and the soft tufts of hair that adorned his skin. He felt a flush rise to his cheeks, his heart racing with a sudden surge of desire.
For a moment, their eyes met, and Keiran felt a jolt of electricity shoot through his body. The intensity of Liam's gaze was almost too much to bear, and Keiran found himself struggling to catch his breath.
As Liam approached, Keiran's heart hammered in his chest, his nerves on edge. He tried to busy himself with the fire, but his mind was consumed with thoughts of Liam.
At that moment, Keiran realized that he had been harboring feelings for his friend, feelings that he had never dared to acknowledge before. The realization filled him with a sense of both excitement and trepidation, a heady mix of emotions that he struggled to contain.
As Liam drew closer, Keiran's resolve began to crumble. His eyes were drawn inexorably to Liam's chest, the soft hair and the sculpted muscles that seemed to beg for his touch.
For a moment, they stood there in silence, their eyes locked in a heated embrace. And then, without warning, Liam reached out and took Keiran's hand in his, sending a shiver down his spine.
“Are you okay?” asked Liam in his gentle voice that sent butterflies.
Keiran's heart ached as he looked up into Liam's eyes, his mind swirling with a confusing mix of emotions. He knew that he was living in a dream world, a world where Liam loved him back with the same intensity that he felt.
But the reality was far different, a harsh and unforgiving landscape that left him feeling cold and alone. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was nothing more than a burden to Liam, a weight that he carried around with him wherever he went.
"Hey, Keiran, are you okay?"
As Liam's gentle voice reached his ears, Keiran felt a surge of emotion threatening to overwhelm him. He wanted to throw himself into Liam's arms, to feel his warm embrace and know that he was loved.
But even as Liam's hand held his, Keiran knew that their connection was fleeting, a mere moment of comfort in an otherwise bleak existence. He couldn't help but wonder what would happen when Liam let go when he returned to his own life and left Keiran alone once again. But he remembered that Liam was still a stranger, that at least won't hurt like the pain Connor caused him. However, even though he and Liam just met, there was something aroused with him—true feelings perhaps.
But with the thought that Liam is just like Connor. He couldn't love him—to love him intimately was too fictional. The thought was too much to bear, and Keiran felt a lump rising in his throat. He wanted to cry out, to scream at the unfairness of it all. Why couldn't he have what he wanted, why couldn't he be loved in return?
But he knew the answer, deep down inside. He was too damaged, too broken to ever truly deserve someone like Liam. And so he clung to the only thing he had, the warmth of Liam's hand, and tried to block out the pain that threatened to consume him.
As they stood there in silence, Keiran felt the weight of the world pressing down upon him. The reality of his situation was too much to bear, a constant reminder of his inadequacies and failures.
And yet, even in the midst of his despair, there was a flicker of hope. A small part of him dared to believe that maybe, just maybe, Liam could love him. That maybe there was still a chance for him to find happiness in this bleak and unforgiving world.
But for now, all he could do was hold on tight to Liam's hand and try to ignore the ache in his heart.
"You look so sad, do you miss the village, Keiran?"
What might have been Keiran's anticipated retort to the inquiry posed by the comely Mr. Hottie before him? The manner in which Liam's Adam's apple undulated as he ingested his saliva caused Keiran to surmise that Liam was the most captivating individual he had encountered during his tenure at college.
While it may have presented an opening for Keiran to proposition Liam for a night of impassioned and unrestrained affection, he refrained from doing so, recognizing that such an impulsive act would have been inadvisable. Instead, Keiran opted to offer Liam a wry smile, choosing to remain mute in response to his query.
Liam rose from his seat and departed from the hut without uttering a single word. Keiran remained unfazed by Liam's sudden departure and also got up from his seat. He proceeded to ignite the flambé, adding a touch of warmth and illumination to the room before stepping inside.