Chapter 4 

 “It Felt Very Real”

Weeks passed.

Aster and Bruno became good friends...

but there was a connection. Something that couldn't be easily named.

In class, Aster would sometimes look at him without meaning to.

She liked his sky-blue eyes and his silky hair that shone like a star on dark nights.

She would watch him, and her heart would race uncontrollably.

Was this feeling love? Or just a kind of admiration?

She didn't know.

“Aster, are you okay?” Bruno asked her.

“Yes... just nervous about the presentation. My chest hurts,” she said, lowering her voice.

“Don't worry, everything will be fine. If you forget something, I'll say it. We're a team,” he smiled at her.

That smile was like medicine.

The pain in his chest subsided a little.

While his classmates gave their presentations, Aster sank into his thoughts.

He was distressed. He was afraid of making a mistake, of looking ridiculous.

Everything was starting to get cloudy...

Then he felt something warm on his cheek.

Bruno's hand.

“Relax... I'm here,” he said, looking him in the eyes.

Aster saw stars in his gaze.

Bruno took his hand to help him relax.

“Look at me like you look at the stars,” he whispered.

Aster blushed.

He knew Bruno was referring to that phrase he had once written to him.

Just then, the teacher interrupted:

“Next group: Bruno and Aster.”

They both stood up.

Bruno looked at him confidently, as if saying with his eyes alone:

“Look at me... everything will be fine.”

Bruno began to speak. He did so calmly.

Now it was Aster's turn.

She started... but as soon as she saw the faces of her classmates, everything fell apart.

She felt they were judging her for her trembling voice.

She heard murmurs. She became agitated.

She looked at the teacher... and she had an uncomfortable look on her face.

A pain came over her chest. Her heart was beating like crazy.

She started to sweat.

“What am I doing wrong?”

“Am I an idiot?”

“Is it because of my voice? Because I forget words?”

Aster couldn't take it anymore.

His eyes filled with tears.

Bruno reacted.

He put a hand on his shoulder.

“Do you want to go to the bathroom?”

“Yes...” Aster whispered, barely audible.

Bruno asked the teacher for permission. Seeing Aster's state, she allowed it.

They both left the classroom.

Once in the bathroom, Aster turned on the tap to wash his face.

Bruno watched him with concern.

When he finished, Bruno took off his sweatshirt and gently placed it on Aster's shoulders.

“Don't worry... I'm here. If you're with me, I'll protect you,” he said softly.

Aster blushed.

He moved away a little and looked away.

Bruno was surprised.

“Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?”

“No... I just... feel uncomfortable,” whispered Aster.

Bruno tried to calm him down.

“Relax. Everything will be fine.”

He took his hand.

“Look at me. Take a deep breath... and exhale...”

Bruno was helping him calm an anxiety attack.

Aster looked at him longingly.

He felt good... safe... understood.

“When you touch me... do you feel good?” Aster asked him suddenly.

Bruno was surprised.

He looked at him. He felt a spark. A connection.

They stared at each other intently.

And Aster thought:

“Is he... my light?”

Then he leaned in.

And kissed him.

Bruno, paralyzed at first... then wrapped his arms around his waist.

They kissed.

And it was like being in the night sky, surrounded by shooting stars.

Aster thought he was in a peaceful place.

Without hatred. Without fear.

A place where he could be loved just as he was.

Only with Bruno did his world make sense.

He was his paradise. His galaxy.