With Ears to See

Summer

“Austin? Are you sure you don’t mind watching the café while we’re gone? I can always have it closed for the week.”

I shook my head as I helped her place the last bag into the trunk of the SUV.
“I mean, even if you do, you can always close it for a day or two if you need a break or anything.”

“Don’t worry! I’ll be able to handle it. You and Haneul have fun in Beijing with your family.”
She smiled and pulled me down into a hug.

“One more thing…”
She moved away slightly.

“If you and Kellin…you know…“get into the mood”, just in case, I left some condoms in the drawer of your nightstand—”
“M-Mei-Xing!”

She held up her hands in defense and laughed as the blood rushed to my cheeks.

“Mei-Xing, what did you say to him? He is as red as a beet!”
Haneul walked up to Mei-Xing with Kellin, who eventually found his way by my side.

“Nothing too harmful, Lao tou zi.”
“Aish…You still call me that…!”

“What does that mean?” I whispered to Kellin while Haneul and Mei-Xing kept poking fun at each other.
“‘Old man’. It has always been her nickname for Haneul.”

“My nickname for you was always nicer than your nickname for me, Kkulppangi.”
Mei-Xing blushed and giggled.

“‘Honey bread’. Her given nickname is nicer.”
I nodded in agreement.

“Well, we better get going so we don’t miss our flight!”
We all said our last goodbyes before they got into the vehicle and drove off.

“Now that they’re gone…”
Kellin grabbed my hands, stood on his toes and puckered his lips, barely reaching my face.

I chuckled before I leant in and kissed him.

“So what did Mei-Xing say that made you blush so hard?”
“N-Nothing important…!”

“You’re lying.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and pouted.

“Sorry, Kellin.”
I kissed him again and led him back to our apartment room, planning to go back to sleep since it was about six in the morning.

x x x

“We should do something today.”
Kellin sat up on the couch, a questioning look on his face.

“The weather is really nice. It just feels like a waste not doing anything in it.”
Even though it was only eleven in the morning, it still felt like a waste.

“Then let’s go. What do you have in mind?”

He had that bright and beautiful smile on his face.
I smiled with him as an idea came to mind.

“I’m going to let it be a surprise to you.”

x x x

“Are we there yet…?”
“That’s the tenth time you’ve asked me in the past forty-five minutes. Don’t worry! I will let you know!”

He huffed and turned his head toward the window.
I placed my hand on his and intertwined our fingers.

He smiled again and sighed in content.

After about fifteen more minutes of driving, we finally arrived.
I parked the car and Kellin didn’t hesitate to open the door, stepping out.
I got out as well and quickly walked over to him.

He was listening to his surroundings when his eyes widened.

“Austin…! The beach…! I’ve never been! How did you know?!”
“I…I didn’t know…”
“Well what are we waiting for?! Let’s go!”

He quickly found his way to the trunk and grabbed the duffel bag I brought.
“Slow down, Kells. We have all the time we need.”

I kissed his forehead and took the bag from him.
He bit down on his lip and nodded.

“Let’s change clothes, and then we can do whatever you want.”

x x x

“Austin…”
I was already knee-deep in the water while Kellin was still standing at the shore.

“What’s wrong?”
He shifted his stance awkwardly.

“I’m…I’m scared to go in…”
I walked back over to him and grabbed his hand.

“It’s okay. I’ll be here with you.”
He slowly nodded as he took a hesitant step into the water.

“It feels…nice.”
He smiled slightly as he took another hesitant step.

We gradually made our way until the water was up to our chests.

“Are you ready to go under?”
He bit down on his lip and nodded, gripping tighter onto my hand.

There was an incoming wave and we had to act fast.

“Get ready to hold your breath. On the count of three, we go. Okay?”
He nodded again.

“One…two…three!”

We both dived under the wave and came back up to the surface.
Kellin was laughing and wiping the water from his face.

“Are you scared still?”
He wrapped his arms around me and shook his head.

“Let’s do it again, Aus.”
“Okay. One…two…three!”

x x x

“I honestly didn’t want to leave…”

We were on our way back home and Kellin had a small frown on his face.
“We can always come back, Kellin. We have a whole summer ahead of us.”

He beamed up and the smile was back.

“Yeah! You’re right!”
He sighed and leaned back in the seat.

“A whole summer…”

There was a pause afterwards.

“What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing. I’m just really happy.”

x x x

I didn’t mean for it to happen, but somehow it did.

I accidentally walked in on Kellin when he was coming out of the shower. Naked.

It went from an apology, to a touch, to a kiss…and then…
To where we are now.

Slow, gentle movements. Soft moans and sweet nothings.

Being his first…I feel important. I feel responsible…but I feel guilty as well.

The way he says my name. The way he reacts to my touch.

He trusts me so much. I can’t let him down anymore.

Ocean-blue eyes. Pink lips parting to breathe. Black hair splayed onto the pillow.

Soon, I cast my doubtful thoughts aside.

This feels right. This feels perfect.
We’re closer. We’re one at this exact moment.


“Austin…!”

One last moan from him before we reached our highest point.
I moved off of him and rolled over so that I was lying on my back.

He curled up next to me and rested his head on my chest.
I played with his hair as he closed his eyes.

“I love you, Austin…”
“I love you too, Kellin. So much…”

I glanced toward the full moon shining through the window.

Yeah. We have a whole summer to look forward to.
And after that…


I smiled to myself and closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep.
♠ ♠ ♠
A way longer update to make up for the last one, lovelies!
WristsR4Bracelets, SeasonofEmpathy, Evka483, Kellinquinn. <3
'Til the next chapter!