A broken air conditioner

"Charlie, good night," Willow said softly. Charlie was sitting on the bed, looking at the shorter boy. Willow had dropped off Claude first and was just about to leave when he heard a light sniffle.

"...I- I'm sorry, something just got into my eyes-" Charlie hid his face urgently, before standing up. "Go- Will, you can go. I'll get whatever fell in my eye out and sleep-"

"Something fell in both of your eyes?"

"W-Well, it happens sometimes. Really."

"-And the thing in your eyes is supposed to make your voice crack too?"

"I-" Charlie couldn't lie any further. He removed his hand from his face, exposing his teary eyes.

Willow didn't ask anything and immediately hugged him, his head pressed against his chest.

"...What happened?" Willow rubbed his back as he asked, "Why're you crying?"

"I don't know. I don't know why- Why I'm like this. I mean, everything went well. I just-"

"I guess I'm still scared from earlier. Just a few hours ago, the situation was so different, this simple dinner looking like the hardest thing in my life. My mind was filled with things that could go wrong. What if your parents didn't like me? What if they asked us to break up? What if... What if today was the last time I could ever see you?"

"We would've still seen each other at school, silly." Willow laughed, "-Plus, don't you think, the idea of a secret relationship might've been exciting?" He joked, trying to make the heavy atmosphere lighter.

Charlie tried to smile, "I... I guess. But still, I was anxious. Worried about things I myself knew were too unlikely."

"What if you went far away, to a place I can't reach? I'm afraid. I'm scared that I'll lose you. These days- They just feel like a dream, and I'm afraid to wake up."

"Then don't," Willow wiped away his tears and said, "-Just don't wake up, then."

"I already told you, I won't ever go away. And what's the deal about the place you can't reach?" Willow forced a smile, the image of this original world flashing by his mind as he lied, "-There's no such place. As long as I'm here, on this earth, you'll find me, right? And even if I'm not on earth, I know you'll make a rocket and bring me back from another planet."

"The point is, There's really no such place. And even if there was, I promise you, I'll never go away. I'll stay here with you, whatever it takes."

Charlie didn't reply, just looking at Willow. Their faces were close as Willow bent down and pressed his lips on Charlie's, hand caressing his cheek softly.

"I love you, Charlie," He whispered, their faces still very close. "I want you to know that."

Without waiting for his response, Willow leaned in for a kiss, capturing his lips again. However, both of the times couldn't be more different. The first kiss was a quick brush of lips, brief enough to feel like an illusion.

"...I love you too, Will," Charlie replied breathlessly. Willow's own face was red from holding his breath for so long. God, how do the people in movies do it? He was about to die from the lack of oxygen here!

"I know I shouldn't, but...Charlie, I think my room's air conditioning is broken. Can I sleep in with you here?" He smiled, "You won't mind, right? I'll just lay here, right next to you."

Charlie was flustered by his obvious intentions, but couldn't refuse. "Well- if its condition is bad, we can't do anything else, I guess..."

Willow saw his doubts and assured, "Don't worry, I'm just going to sleep."

Charlie's shoulders visibly loosened. "Alright-"

His words were cut off as Willow playfully pecked his cheek, mischievousness evident on his face. He winked, "Good night, darling."

"G-Good night to you too, Will."