Chapter 13: Protoérōtas
Sunlight begins to fade, a pond sparkles nearby. The forest is alive, but peaceful—nature holding its breath. Sitting on the grass, Karpos, playfully nudges Kalamos, doing his best to break his friend’s deep concentration.
With a mischievous grin, he keeps at it until Kalamos finally scowls in irritation.
Kalamos: "What's your problem?"
Kalamos: "What's your problem?"
Victorious, Karpos laughs, springs to his feet, and scrambles up the nearest tall tree.
Karpos, barefoot and agile, walks along a high tree branch, arms outstretched for balance.
He has known the woods all his life he has even named the trees.
Scared of what Karpos was about to do, Kalamos tries to stop his best friend:
"Hey, stop right there!"
"Hey, stop right there!"
Karpos just laughs at him.
Kalamos: "Come down now!"
Karpos ignores him.
Kalamos: "Hey...The trees won’t catch you if you fall. Come down now!"
Karpos (grinning): "Maybe not. But you might."
Karpos (grinning): "Maybe not. But you might."
Kalamos: "Well, try me!"
Karpos loses his balance and falls.
Kalamos surges upward and catches Karpos in a sweeping motion,
arms under him, and slows their descent until they gently land on the moss below.
On the ground, Karpos finds himself cradled in Kalamos’ arms.
A storm of worry and relief flashes across Kalamos' face — too much to contain.
Without thinking, he leans down and brushes his lips against Karpos’.
Startled, they pull apart. Both flushed. Breathless.
The moment lingers in the air between them.
The moment lingers in the air between them.
Then silence.
Karpos stares, stunned.
Kalamos reaches out gently, fingers finding Karpos’ hand.
Karpos stares, stunned.
Kalamos reaches out gently, fingers finding Karpos’ hand.
He lifts Karpos’ chin, pausing — unsure.
Then, slowly, he leans in and kisses him again.
Karpos, trying to conceal his nervousness, mutters: "I knew you’d catch me."
Something flickers between them — unspoken, undeniable.
Karpos runs his hands down Kalamos' arms,
as if grounding himself, making sure Kalamos is real.
Karpos runs his hands down Kalamos' arms,
as if grounding himself, making sure Kalamos is real.
They stand still, eyes locked. Faces inches apart. A fragile stillness.
Then, as if drawn by gravity, they lean in.
Another kiss — soft, cautious, honest. A discovery.
Another kiss — soft, cautious, honest. A discovery.
Still holding one another, they don’t move.
The world seems to pause around them.
They kiss again — slower, warmer.
The world seems to pause around them.
They kiss again — slower, warmer.
Karpos wraps his arms around Kalamos, burying himself in the moment.
Karpos: "So...what...what was that?
Kalamos takes a breath, heart pounding.
Kalamos: "Oh, that? That's what I’ve been holding back for far too long."
Their eyes meet again. Nothing more needs to be spoken.
In that gaze, the weight of unspoken longing finds release.
In that gaze, the weight of unspoken longing finds release.
And then, without thinking, without hesitation,
Kalamos pulls Karpos closer and kisses him —
this time deeper, more certain,
the air charged with everything they’ve tried to deny.
Kalamos pulls Karpos closer and kisses him —
this time deeper, more certain,
the air charged with everything they’ve tried to deny.
They remain seated in silence beneath the tree,
the golden light filtering through the leaves.
Karpos stares ahead, heart racing, mind reeling.
He struggles to make sense of the moment.
the golden light filtering through the leaves.
Karpos stares ahead, heart racing, mind reeling.
He struggles to make sense of the moment.
Kalamos slips his arms around Karpos from behind,
pulling him into a quiet embrace.
pulling him into a quiet embrace.
Karpos leans back into him comfortably.
In the hush of night, two souls found stillness in each other’s arms.
No vows were spoken, no promises made,
but in that quiet holding, the truth gently stayed.
No vows were spoken, no promises made,
but in that quiet holding, the truth gently stayed.
Above them, a million stars shimmer — as if the heavens themselves are watching.
1 comments
Wow...that was intense! 😳😳😳
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