【Mi Ying】that side

It was an awkward, indescribable atmosphere.

Although there is close physical contact in hitchhiking, but on the Mercedes-Benz motorcycle, we can't see each other's expressions, and we rarely talk to each other.It is completely different in the confined space of a car.

Arthur only needed to tilt his eyes to clearly see Alfred's side face in the driver's seat and his expression changes.

It was only four o'clock in the morning, the sky was still dark blue, and their headlights formed two clear beams of light on the dark gray road.

The sparse population of the town was clearly exposed when they drove to the suburbs. Except for the borrowed car, there was no other means of transportation on the road at this moment.

Arthur glanced at Alfred now and then.The American seemed in a good mood, and he had noticed Arthur's uneasy gaze—the corners of his mouth rose every time the Englishman looked at him.

That posture was too calm, which made Arthur feel unwilling.

Alfred confessed his feelings to him the night before, and although he didn't respond directly, the atmosphere at that time did shake him.Amid the emotion and anxiety, he agreed to Alfred's invitation—to go to the suburban beach to watch the sunrise together.

The sea that he missed because he fell asleep the day he first arrived in the town, and the sea that he never found a chance to see with his own eyes after his life got on the right track.

There is both longing and panic in his heart.It is really not a wise move to come to an unfamiliar suburb like this and make it clear that you are pursuing your own homosexuality.As if, as if accepting the other party's pursuit by default.

Arthur was very aware of his affection for Alfred and was curious.

There are so many things about American youth that fascinate and even confuse him.Although this person is sometimes noisy, tough, self-assertive, and violent... However, since the first day we met, the reliable back standing in front of me, with some sly greetings, every meeting and conversation The fun, the warm palm brushing across the cheek, and the focused eyes staring at him—the blue eyes staring at him, with a clear and passionate light blooming as usual, never changing.

At this moment, the man slowed down the car, turned his head sideways to him, and the questioning eyes remained the same: "Can I turn on the radio?"

"...Of course." Thoughts were flying in his heart, but Arthur still forced himself to be calm.

The American laughed. He turned on the radio switch and accelerated the speed of the car.

Arthur looked out of the window, and the scenery on both sides quickly passed his eyes.The song on demand on the radio was very familiar. He couldn't remember the title and lyrics of the song for a while, but he couldn't help humming the tune softly.

"So you've heard this song before." Alfred unwrapped an energy bar with one hand and put it in his mouth, "Your humming voice is really nice."

Americans have always been like this, can make people shy praise straight out of their mouths.Arthur was both shy and sweet in his heart, but he was afraid of showing too much emotion, so he still pursed his lips deliberately, but the roots of his ears couldn't stop turning pink.

Alfred squinted at him, and smiled again.The song on the radio looped to the chorus again, and he sang it with great enthusiasm, but it was a pity that he was out of tune when he opened his mouth.

The British finally couldn't keep his composure, he burst out laughing: "...My God, Alfred, you..." He covered his mouth with his hand to avoid being too rude.

"Hey, hey, it's rude to laugh like that!" The American young man blushed, and he protested loudly, freeing one hand to rub the Englishman's fluffy hair.

Arthur froze when his ear was rubbed by the opponent's fingers, and even Alfred who made this move froze. He put his hands back on the steering wheel: "Ah... sorry."

"……Won't."

In this confined space, the music from the radio barely neutralized their momentary embarrassment.

Arthur turned his head out of the window again, and his eyes no longer followed the constantly changing scenery outside the window, but stayed on the window glass.Alfred's reflection was clearly visible on it.

It was a scene very similar to what he had imagined: a quiet and well-behaved sea in the dark sky.

Their car was parked on the embankment.After replenishing water and a small amount of food, they took off their shoes and stepped on the stretches of light-colored fine sand one after the other.

The sky began to turn a little bluish-white, and the outline of the surrounding scenery became clear, even Alfred's back.

Arthur followed in the footsteps of the Americans and walked slowly towards the sea.As the sky brightens, the turquoise color of the sea emerges.He raised his eyes and looked into the distance. The distant sea horizon stretched out, almost blending with the color of the sky, making it difficult to separate.

The small waves rolled over Arthur's feet, the sea breeze brought coolness, and the unique salty smell of the ocean also made people feel at ease.His previously turbulent mood has stabilized a lot.

It's so beautiful here.Arthur was secretly moved, and couldn't help but cast a grateful look at the Americans in front of him.

Alfred happened to stop at this moment, and he turned to ask the Englishman, "Arthur, besides this sea, is there any other place you want to go?"

This can be regarded as an inexplicable question.Arthur shook his head, "Not yet."

"Uh... no, that's not what it means." Alfred scratched his head.

He moved closer to Arthur, leaving less than a step away.Although the sky was still not bright, it was enough for Arthur to see the rare nervous expression on the American face.

Alfred spoke more slowly and seriously than before: "It should be said... I want to take you wherever you want in the world. If I promise so, will you come with me?" When he said this, his eyes were like the gentle sea behind him, full of strength wrapped in a calm light.

Arthur felt almost stopped breathing.

"I like you," the American took another half step closer to him, and stretched out his palm, "I want to be with you."

Arthur didn't know how much time had passed between when the other party's voice fell and when he put his hand in the man's palm.

He only knew that the moment Alfred touched his hand, he smiled with a relaxed expression, and the light that bloomed in those eyes was like stars twinkling and scorching sunlight.

The morning glow dyed the original deep sea with a gradual orange red, the sound of the waves churning surrounded them, and the breeze brushed their hair and the corners of their clothes.

Alfred's thick and strong hands grasped the palms of Arthur's pale fingers, and then wrapped them up little by little.The warmth came through the palm, gradually spread and surrounded him, it was very real.

The American came closer, and his lips first touched the Englishman's eyelids and nose tip, and then moved to his lips, just touching gently and slowly rolling over.The temperature and touch made Arthur's heart almost tremble.

Surrounded by the rising sun and the ocean, they closed their eyes and carefully kissed each other.It took a long time before parting the lips.

Arthur spoke with a hoarse voice, his voice trembling: "I always have mixed feelings about the ocean, although I don't like water, and I can't even swim..."

"Ugh……?"

Arthur blushed a little, and struggled to get back to the point: "But I can't help but want to get close to the ocean. So... I am very grateful that you brought me here."

The American understands the indirectness of the British. He opened his arms and hugged the young man who was much thinner than himself: "I just want to thank you for being willing to respond to my feelings."

The embrace was full of strength, and Arthur was unable and unwilling to break free.

He buried his face in the American's shoulder: "This kind of thing is obviously mutual...idiot."

"It's okay to be stupid."

"……Humph."

The American turned his face and rubbed Arthur's hair: "It doesn't matter if you can't swim, I am a good swimmer! If you accidentally drown one day, I will come to rescue you."

"You're cursing someone else from drowning," the Englishman protested softly.

Alfred let go of his arms, he held Arthur's fair cheeks with both hands, and stared down at the British: "No matter what the situation is, let me save you, I will be your hero. Whether it is the ocean, or anything else I will try my best to take you there.”

Arthur stared back at the other party intently, his eyes burning and his brows furrowed.The current expression is probably quite embarrassing, he sucks his nose, feeling entangled in his heart.

Alfred kissed Arthur's forehead again: "As long as there is a scenery with you, it's fine." Those words were like a magnet with temperature, tightly pressed against Arthur's chest, making his uneasiness inch by inch Flatten the ground.

Alfred, Alfred.

Arthur's heart swelled like a tidal wave, and he had to press his lips tightly, fearing that his emotions would burst as soon as he opened his mouth, and he would not be able to hold back his tears.

On the way back, the radio played the same song they had heard on the way back.

Arthur laughed at the lack of new ideas on the small-town radio station, but Alfred didn't care, still enthusiastically singing along and persistently off-key.Arthur smiled again.

The morning sun flooded the suburbs, and the sky was a clear blue.At last there were other vehicles on the road, and the town began to buzz.

Arthur's mood at the moment was unbelievably clear.It was a rare emotion for him, no anxiety, no doubt, no defense, just sitting beside Alfred very relaxedly.

The song on the radio played to the chorus, and the sound of the saxophone echoed in the car.The lyrics gradually emerged in his mind with the familiar tune, and the British sang along in a low voice:

"Over there eagles howl on the hills

It takes us where we belong

far from the world as we know it

There is a clear wind blowing there.”