Late Valentines Day

|A new chapter will be coming soon, but just enjoy this cute small story between childhood friends!

Cast: Teen Hosuh (14) and Teen Beaumont (15)

Enjoy!|

I turned my hands, noticing the redness and slight blood on my knuckles. The intense soreness was brutal on my palms... I could barely move my fingers- "You can't be weak Hosuh, a guard of the kingdom feels no pain."

I glanced at the voice, Marcel. My so-called father, yet he was far from a parent to me. Neither of us would genuinely call the other family...

"Yes, King Marcel."

My body lifted and bowed to him, the arm in severe pain crossed my abdomen to show courtesy, but I did not fret over the agony. A guard isn't weak— and I am a guard.

We soon arrived in the kingdom and got out of the ship. I helped King Marcel, and alongside the other guards, I moved all the load of clothing, items, and whatever else was stored inside the cargo hold.

"Hosuh, my dearest friend!"

A familiar voice shouted, but I was too distracted with the haul.

"Hosuh?"

I finally felt those hands. I immediately turned around with the crate and saw that blond I had missed. I was on the verge of dropping the box to embrace my friend, but out of the corner of my eyes, I saw narrowed eyes. They pierced my body and urged me to continue my work.

They were threatening and insensitive. I was shakey but still managed to keep my composure.

"Hosuh, let me help you—" "NO!"

My voice was like a shrieking banshee- loud and aggravating with cries on the way, but I managed to re-adjust it.

"I-I meant... It's all fine! You shouldn't bother yourself with this, I can handle it, and you'll get yourself dirty-"

My eyes finally noticed his garments, and they were white with bleeding hearts spread throughout the outfit. I couldn't help but give a gentle, confused smile, and he looked to where I stared.

"O-Oh. This is, um- my outfit for the festival of hearts."

His white face was now red with embarrassment and anxiety; his hands rubbed his neck as he peered at me.

"I look foolish, yes?"

He may not have looked it, but his stare was desperate for some kind of answer. He's always been observant, waiting on me so he could respond flawlessly. I was too focused on my subconscious that he promptly spoke up, perhaps based on my expression.

"I-I never wanted to wear this! I begged for something different, but-" "You look handsome."

The words had escaped my lips, and I almost regretted them, but the shine in Beau's eyes made the comment worth every scolding in the kingdom.

"Thank you..."

He was a bit content now but still seemed to be troubled.

"Something the matter?" I asked, walking with the heavy crate. Beau didn't chase after me till I told him, "Follow along." He scurried behind me as I moved the box in the direction of the guard tower.

"I sort of wish there was blue on it..."

He muttered as I grinned, "Don't worry, you have those orbs of yours."

I laughed as Beau blushed in more bother and doubt.

"I meant it! I despise red! It does not fit me well!"

He complained, but I only shook my head. "Don't be greedy; value the things you have." He looked a little speechless and nodded.

"I apologize, I didn't want to sound-" "It's okay, just be a little more aware of yourself."

I bobbed to Beau as he smiled, soon we arrived outside the guard tower, and I didn't hesitate to enter. Beau followed behind.

"Why are we in the guard tower?"

Beau whispered in my ear, but I wasn't too fixed on the question as I noticed the guards eyeing Beau.

"Stay close, okay?"

I asked him as he agreed but questioned me once more. I ignored him till we arrived in a room with a bed and closet.

"Hosuh, why are we here?"

I set the crate on the bed and opened the lid to reveal some of my wardrobe, prized possessions, and a few weapons.

"No... Are you moving in here?"

I didn't answer and only looked inside the crate for the gift.

"Hosuh, please talk to me..."

His hand was on my shoulder, but I found the gift before turning towards him. The moment I whirled around- I realized how close our faces were...

"Was it because of what I did? Are you moving because of me?"

My lips didn't move one inch, but I wanted to say no... I wanted to remove that look on his face, and I needed to prove him wrong.

But I couldn't.

"I-I'm sorry! I'M SO SORRY! I DIDN'T MEAN TO TELL YOU THAT I-"

I wrapped my arms around Beau, "Hosuh-" "You did nothing wrong... I didn't leave because of what you did. I went because this is my job— this is my life."

I pulled myself from his shoulder and looked into his eyes. I could see the worry, distress; he didn't seem to believe me, but he was trying to. However, I could sense the voice inside him screaming. Beau, I want you to be happy, but I don't know what to do so, please look in my eyes and believe me.

Look at these dull brown eyes and sense my feelings. Please just hear my thoughts. I let go of Beau and placed the gift into his palms. He looked down upon it.

"I got this... From Eldham. I bought it for you..."

He was still silent but opened the gift, removing the green ribbon from the White box.

When he opened it, he reached in and pulled out a blue bowtie.

He stared at it for a second or two until tears ran down his face with his quivering lips falling in tow. Then, he began to yell apology after apology until I grabbed the bow from him.

I untied the bow and slowly slid the fabric around his collar.

"Huh?" "You do look better with blue..."

The tears didn't stop, but now he smiled with eyes filled with joy.

"Stop crying; it's doesn't fit you."

I chuckled as I said that, and I started wrapping the bow... Terribly. Beau wiped his face as he waited patiently. I ended up giving up with an ugly bow as the final result.

"I apologize; I don't know how to tie a bow."

I removed my hands as he smiled, "I did try. I practiced in Eldham, but I guess I can only do it on myself." I sighed as he tightened the disastrous bow I had created.

"It's perfect."

I lightly glanced away from Beau as I searched inside the crate again, "Mh... What is The Festival of Hearts?"

"Ah, right. You've never celebrated."

Beau reminded me as if I didn't already know. I glanced at him, narrowing my eyes, and he understood- nodding.

"The Festival of Hearts is a day to express the love for your special someone. You give them gifts, take them to special places, and before the day is over, we have a gathering at town square where we feast, play, and dance!"

Beau sounded excited, but I was curious.

"Um..."

I muttered, and hastily, Beau answered: "Do you have a question?"

"Mhm," I looked at him and took a deep breath. "Who is your special someone for today?"

He blushed and looked down, "U-Usually father sets up dates for me, but this year, he hasn't, and well..." His fingers led to the blue bow as they fiddled with it. "Perhaps you and I could—"

"PRINCE BEAUMONT!" "AH!"

Beau and I panicked as a guard entered, "Y-Yes?" Beau asked the guard. "King Marcel is looking for you." "Oh, can you tell him I will be there soon?" Beau questioned as the guard shook his head. "He wants you now."

Beau gave me a light look which indicated he wanted to stay, but he couldn't.

"It's alright, go ahead. I shall see you soon."

I smiled as he agreed. "See you soon—" He was on his way to leave but instantly turned around and grabbed my palms. "Please go to the festival."

"Mhm, yeah." I nodded as he left, "Bye." "Bye." I waved.

...

I stood near the festival, but not included. Guards aren't allowed to participate in activities such as these because we have responsibilities to keep watch of the people, so distractions are not allowed.

I wasn't very bothered because from where I could see—Beau was with girls as they danced.

They all looked the same, and each one didn't make Beau any happier.

He held that fake smile for each of them, but when he looked at me, he couldn't help but show that goofy smile—his true self.

"Come here!"

Beau motioned his hand for me to come over, but I couldn't; I was on duty. I yelled back with no's many times till he came over and stood by me, staring at all the dancers with the noisy music being played by those who knew how to use instruments.

"This is a good sight. You can see everyone... It's beautiful."

He said as I nodded.

"I hope you'll do me the honor of having this dance with me."

He asked as I stayed quiet for a moment; this caused him to look at me.

"I'm on-" "Duty?"

He finished my words but held out his right hand for me to grab.

"You aren't a guard right now, not with me."

He smiled as I could feel my face brighten a bit, "Marcel will get angry..." Beau shrugged, "I'll take the fall for it. Say I forced you to accompany me." his grin became wider, and my defenses were decreasing.

"He'll force us away from each other for a while," I muttered, feeling as if I made a mistake, but Beau didn't notice or just didn't want to make this about anyone else but him and me.

"It'll happen regardless."

His hand stretched further towards me, "We are both boys... This is wrong." I muttered as his face changed for a second and turned back to a smile. "Who cares? This isn't about them. It's about you and me, and I want to dance with you… Do you want to dance with me?"

I took a breath and grabbed his hand as he led me to the crowd.

We got on the floor, and quickly he grabbed my waist.

"Heh, metal, eh?"

He laughed as he held onto my armor. "I wasn't planning to leave my post," I muttered as he moved my hands to his shoulders. "Well, I'm glad you did."

Beau began to teach me as we danced, but I still stepped on his feet by mistake many times.

"I apologize for hurting your feet." "It's okay; I do not mind."

Beau always seemed to do everything perfectly, and even now, his stance and movements were no less than ideal. I've always seen him dance but never had the chance to do it with him till now, but he is very good. All the praise he gets is well deserved. "Did you... Miss me in Eldham?" Beau blushed as I felt embarrassed.

"I wouldn't have boughten that blue bow if I didn't think of you," I said, glancing at our feet again. "Heh... I'm glad."

I looked back up at Beau as his face was filled with euphoria but curiosity, "Hosuh... I never heard your answer to my offer..." He slowly leaned his face closer to mine. I hurriedly looked around and noticed everyone slowly looking at us and whispering.

"Is that a boy with the prince?" "No, she has long hair." "But we have no female guards-" "Has he seduced the prince?"

No- this isn't good! "Beau-" "Hosuh..." He leaned more till suddenly my feet stepped on his, and suddenly I lost balance, slipping back with Beau falling with me. "Ah!"

I fell and hit my left hand, bruising it more than before.

My eyes opened, and I saw Beau against my chest. "O-ow... This chest plate is hard..." he sat up, rubbing his face.

"You okay?" he asked me as I nodded, lying.

"BEAUMONT CUNNINGHAM!" "Uh-oh."

Beau immediately stood up and helped me, "Let's go!" he dragged me behind him as we continued to hear screaming from Marcel, his father. "Beau! We can't run from-"

Beau rushed me into an alley, making us sneak behind garbage. He shushed me till the guards ran by, screaming his name. We waited a few minutes till Beau grabbed my hand and pulled me again.

This time we ran up the hill to his mansion.

"We can't get in. We'll alert the others by opening the gate-"

Beau nodded at my words and hauled me behind the mansion and gate; he found this part behind the fence with rocks and moved them.

He revealed a gap in the gate... "When did you-" "I made this a few days ago because I knew you were coming back and wanted to sneak out as much as possible to see you." he blushed, rubbing his neck.

"Oh..." I felt my face burn a bit. "You shouldn't do that." "Too late now."

He chuckled, squeezing through the gap into the other side. "Come on." He said to me as I pressed through too.

Beau put the rocks to cover the gap again, and then we walked to the side of the mansion. Beau sat down on the grass and faced the oceans, the beautiful sunset, and letting the air caress his face.

I sat down on the right of him, feeling all the exact sensations as him. The orange and yellow sky was quite a gorgeous sight; I was captivated by it… why am I like this today?

"Hosuh..." "Yeah, Beau?" "Are you in love with anyone?"

My heart skipped a beat as Beau asked me that question; the silence was so loud as he waited for an answer, and I honestly didn't have one.

"I... Do not know."

My legs curled into my chest, causing me to cuddle my head into my knees to hide my face.

"Why don't you know..." "Because..." I felt the water form in my eyes. "I don't understand what love is supposed to feel like," I admitted as his eyes glanced at me.

His face didn't say anything, but his eyes couldn't tell a lie. They said something specific... Like this was the first time he could see me. The real me.

"You don't have to explain... But I will be here and listen to you if you want to."

I took a minute and nodded, "I... Have never been loved by anyone, and now that you're here. I don't... Understand what I feel. I don't know what I feel for you."

The tears began to drip from my eyes, and they would not stop.

"Hosuh-" Beau reached his hands to my face, wiping my tears. "I-I am sorry-" I cried as he began to wipe the uncontrollable waterfalls from me.

"I wish I could give you an answer- I'm sorry that I can't-"

He cupped his hands onto my cheeks, staring into my eyes intensely. "Don't apologize; it's okay that you don't know how to feel, and it's okay to cry. I don't know what you're going through, and I don't know what to say, but I will listen to you and try my best to help you, so please don't hold back."

Those blue eyes were full of care and love; why does he do this to my heart? Why does he make me feel like this? The tears had stopped now, and as they did- Beau pulled his hands away from me and sat a little closer to me.

"I don't know if you want me to hold you, but if you wish to, I will." his face burned as he spoke to me. "Thank you..."

Our eyes faced back to the sunset as I held a question stuck in my throat.

"Beau." "Yeah?" "What is falling in love feel like?"

He paused for a second, then glanced at me.

"I don't fully know, but for me, it feels like these knots in my stomach—"

He holds his abdomen, "It feels sickening and heavy, but also pleasant and lukewarm." He grabs his chest next, "And then my heart beats a lot to where it's hard to breathe, and I can barely keep calm." He points to his face, "And then my face becomes red like a tomato,"

"But why? Why does that all happen?" I asked as he looked back at the sunset.

"Because I can't help but see that person I love as the most beautiful thing in the world, their compassionate, loving, loyal, they have a level head when things get tough and don't back down no matter the challenge—"

He suddenly looks down at his lap, "I know they are dealing with a lot... Things I could never imagine, but I'm willing to be there with them every step of the way. I love them... So much that I couldn't see them gone for so long... So much that I thought I ruined everything and listened to this stupid head of mine! I loved them so much that I do not care about what happens to me becoming king!"

He abruptly turns to me, holding both my hands. "BECAUSE NOTHING ELSE MATTERS AS LONG AS I HAVE THEM AS A LOVER OR FRIEND!" He says with the biggest eyes I had ever seen.

His whole face looked in love; I could almost see the hearts in his eyes; they expected nothing… He was completely sincere. Within an instant, he snapped back and noticed me not reacting. "T-That's how it feels for me!"

He was in distress, letting me go as he faced forward again, attempting to avoid the event.

"Beau?" "I apologize; pay no mind to me," he said as I shook my head. "May I... Hear your heart?" I questioned as he blushed more, gazing at me. "Um!" He breathed and nodded. "Yes, go ahead!"

He pumped his chest out to me as I leaned in, laying my left ear against his chest. I could feel his ribs; he was skinny, but exercising helped disguise him as more built instead of lean.

From a glance, you wouldn't assume that he was mostly weak; he seems athletic, however, to the touch- he is all bones. I listened to his heart.

*Thump thump thump thump* *Thump thump thump thump*

It was wild and at a rapid pace. I gazed up at Beau's face, and his eyes were closed... Perhaps he was attempting to soothe his breathing or heart? Or maybe he wanted to steady his shaky body.

I couldn't remove my eyes off of him; he's so... perfect? There wasn't a word that could explain my thoughts for him, at least not one I could think of.

His eyes finally creaked open, and we stared at each other till his lips parted to speak. "H-Hosuh... can you please move? My body can't handle this," he asked, flustered and jittery. I respected his words and slowly lifted off of him. I took a seat back down with him doing the same.

He rested his tense muscles, indulging himself with the view of the sky once more. He was still overwhelmed, but he seemed to be soothed now.

"Hosuh, why do you keep staring?" Beau asked as he faced me.

"I'm... Not sure." I kept my eyes on his, neither of us broke the stare, but my chest became a bit tight. Is this what he felt? I gulped as Beau moved his right hand to lay on top of my left hand. He rubbed it for a few seconds till I winced.

"Ah! Are you okay!? Did I hurt you!?" he worriedly picked up my hand and noticed the bruises. "W-what happened to your hand?"

"Eldham..." I said, yanking my hand into my lap.

"Hosuh, you don't have to be my guard. We can find you something else for you to do so you won't get injured-"

I got a little upset, "I CAN DO IT!" I said a little loud as Beau got a bit startled by my outburst. "Ah- I'm sorry!" I apologized anxiously. "I just… I'm not good at anything else- the only thing I have is this body of mine and if I can use it to help you... I'll gladly do it with my life-"

"I'm sure there's another way." He said as I shook my head. "This is all I have," I admitted as he sighed and grasped my hand again.

"I shall trust you, but till we have another way- please be careful." He said, kissing my swollen knuckles.

"Beau."

"Hm?"

Our eyes latched again, and this time, I was sure of what I desired. I wanted him… Our faces lightly leaned into one another. "Hosuh..."

I glanced at his lips, I have no experience, but I wanted Beau to know my feelings. We were barely apart.

Beau moved his left hand to my cheek, just inches more...

"Beau-"

"BEAUMONT CUNNINGHAM!"

We both panicked, stopping and instantly glancing behind the front part of the gates. "It's my father!" Beau said as he laid me down. "I'll distract him! Make it to the bushes and then escape from the gap!" Beau ordered me, and I did as he told.

I watched him run up to the gate, "Beaumont, what in God's name have you been doing!?" Marcel asked as Beau chuckled, "I had gotten bored and decided to play around."

"Where's Hosuh?" "He ran off to the guard tower to get clean. I dragged him into this in the first place, so don't blame him for anything."

I couldn't help but blush at Beau and his words; he was certainly nervous, but he didn't hesitate to lie.

Why do you care so much for me? I did not have time to continue my thoughts because I began to escape through the gap of the fence. I snuck around and saw Beau being taken back down the hill to the festival.

He looked miserable till he saw me and happily gave me a wave, no longer filled with regret or concern...

|Author's note: HELLO! Sorry! I have been super busy with finals recently, but I will be back as soon as possible with many chapters! So just wait (I might even post later this week), and I hope you all enjoy this Valentine special!

Yes, sorry this chapter is late🥲 But at least it's here anddddded- is this chapter canon to the real story?

Honestly- I'll leave it to you guys. This can be canon to the story or not based on your feelings. Love you all, see you soon!|