Chapter 16: "Awakening" ( part 1 )

Khem's eyes fluttered open, his mind foggy from the night's events. He felt a warmth beside him and realized he was still in Sun's embrace. Their bodies were tangled together, their faces inches apart.

Sun's eyes were closed, his breathing slow and peaceful. Khem's heart raced as he processed the situation. What did it mean? Did Sun finally accept his feelings, or was it just a moment of weakness?

Khem gently extricated himself from Sun's grasp, trying not to disturb him. He sat up, his back against the headboard, and watched Sun sleep. His mind swirled with questions and emotions.

As he gazed at Sun's peaceful face, Khem realized he needed clarity. He couldn't continue living in uncertainty, unsure of Sun's true feelings.

With a deep breath, Khem decided to confront Sun. He would ask the questions that had haunted him for so long. But as he turned to wake Sun, he hesitated.

What if Sun denied everything? What if their friendship changed forever?

Khem's heart pounded in his chest. He knew he had to be brave, but the fear of the unknown held him back.

Khem's eyes lingered on Sun's serene face, his mind wrestling with the weight of his emotions. He knew he couldn't delay the conversation any longer. Taking a deep breath, he gently shook Sun's shoulder, whispering, "Sun, wake up."

Sun's eyes fluttered open, and he gazed at Khem with a soft, sleepy smile. "Good morning," he whispered, his voice husky.

Khem's heart skipped a beat as he searched Sun's eyes for any sign of regret or withdrawal. But instead, he saw a glimmer of warmth, a hint of something more.

"Good morning," Khem replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "We need to talk."

Sun's smile faltered, and he sat up, his eyes locked on Khem's. "What is it, Khem?"

Khem's heart raced as he gathered his courage. "About last night...about us..."

"Last night, we...we ended up together," Khem said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if it was just a moment of weakness or...or something more."

Sun's eyes narrowed slightly, his brow furrowed in concentration. "I remember we were talking, and then...and then I think I might have had too much to drink."

Khem's heart sank, his mind racing with the possibility that Sun might not remember their intimate moment. "You don't remember anything else?" Khem asked, trying to hide his disappointment.

Sun's gaze dropped, his eyes fixed on the bed sheets. "No, I...I don't remember anything else."

Khem's heart felt heavy, his fears and doubts resurfacing. Had he misread Sun's feelings entirely? Was it just a drunken mistake?

Just as the tension between Khem and Sun was palpable, Krit's cheerful voice echoed from outside the room, "Hey, guys! Breakfast is ready! Come on down!"

Khem's eyes met Sun's, and they shared a brief, awkward moment before Khem looked away, his heart still racing. Sun cleared his throat, his voice gruff, "Yeah, we'll be right there."

The interruption seemed to diffuse the tension, and Khem nodded, his mind still reeling with questions. As they got out of bed and began to get ready, Khem couldn't help but wonder what would happen next. Would they address the elephant in the room, or would they brush it off and pretend nothing had changed?

As they headed downstairs to join Krit for breakfast, Khem's heart felt heavy with anticipation. What would the day bring? Would they confront their feelings, or would they continue to dance around the truth?

Just as the tension between Khem and Sun was palpable, Krit's cheerful voice echoed from outside the room, "Hey, guys! Breakfast is ready! Come on down!"

Khem's eyes met Sun's, and they shared a brief, awkward moment before Khem looked away, his heart still racing. Sun cleared his throat, his voice gruff, "Yeah, we'll be right there."

Sun's grandmother, the respected shaman elder, looked at Khem and Krit with a wise gaze. "Now that you both have awakened to your true potential, it's time to begin your formal training in the ancient ways of shamanism."

Khem's heart raced with excitement, while Krit's eyes widened with a mix of nerves and anticipation.

"Grandmother," Sun said, his voice laced with a hint of hesitation, "I thought I would be the one to—"

Sun's grandmother placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Your path is different, Sun. You have a special role to play, but Khem and Krit are called to walk the shamanic path. It's time for them to learn the ways of the ancestors."

Khem felt a surge of gratitude towards Sun's grandmother, while Krit looked at him with a "what have we gotten ourselves into?" expression.

Krit's eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Grandmother, I don't understand. I know Khem has a strong connection to the shamanic arts, but why me? I'm just a...a tech enthusiast. I don't have any spiritual background or abilities."

Sun's grandmother smiled, her eyes twinkling with wisdom. "Ah, Krit, you'd be surprised at the hidden potential within you. Your logical mind and analytical skills are exactly what the shamanic world needs. The ancestors have chosen you for a reason, and we must trust in their wisdom."

Krit looked skeptical, his voice laced with doubt. "But what about my lack of belief in...in all this spiritual stuff?"

The grandmother's expression turned gentle, yet firm. "Belief is not required, Krit. Only an open mind and a willingness to learn. The spirits will do the rest."

Last Chapter Next Chapter