The rain continued to pour from the dark sky as Azaan ran without stopping.

His clothes were soaked.

His breathing became heavier with every step.

But none of it mattered.

There was only one destination.

Only one person.

Viki.

Every beat of his heart repeated the same name.

Viki...

Viki...

Viki...

Standing alone beneath the rain, Viki quietly watched the empty road.

Then...

"Azaan!"

Before he could react, a familiar figure rushed toward him.
The next second...

Strong arms wrapped tightly around his trembling body.
Viki's eyes widened.

"...Azaan?"

For a moment, time itself stopped.

The rain continued to fall around them, but neither of them seemed to notice.

Azaan buried his face against Viki's shoulder, holding him as though he were afraid he might disappear if he let go.

His hands trembled.

His heartbeat raced wildly.

Viki slowly raised his hands before gently resting them on Azaan's back.

"Az..."

"What happened?"

"Did something happen?"

"Are you hurt?"

"Talk to me..."

But Azaan remained silent.

Instead...

He pulled Viki even closer.

As though this embrace was the only place where his heart finally felt safe.

Viki could feel Azaan's uneven breathing.

Could feel his body trembling.

Could feel the warmth hidden beneath the cold rain.
Without realizing it...

Viki tightened the hug.

"It's okay..."

"I'm here."

Those two simple words almost broke Azaan completely.

After what felt like forever...

Azaan slowly loosened his embrace.

Reluctantly...

As though every inch separating them hurt.

When their eyes finally met...

Neither of them spoke.

Rainwater slid down their faces.

Or perhaps...

Not all of it was rain.

Azaan smiled softly.

For the very first time...

He called him by his name.

"...Viki."

The gentle way he whispered it made Viki's heart skip a beat.
Azaan had always called him "Sir or Viki sir."

Never...

Not even once...

Had he simply called him Viki.

Viki blinked in surprise.

"...You called my name."

Azaan nodded with a small smile.

"I wanted to."

"I've wanted to for a long time."

Viki looked at him with concern.

"Azaan..."

"You're scaring me."

"What happened?"

Azaan slowly reached for Viki's hand.

Their fingers met.

His grip was gentle...

Yet filled with determination.

"I need you to listen."

"Just this once."

"And please..."

"Don't interrupt me until I'm finished."

Seeing the seriousness in Azaan's eyes, Viki quietly nodded.

"I promise."

Azaan took a deep breath.

Then smiled sadly.

"You know..."

"I used to think you were just someone I admired."

"Then I thought you became my best friend."

"But somewhere along the way..."

"You became the first person I wanted to see every morning."

"The first person I worried about every night."

"When you smiled..."

"My whole day became brighter."

"When you cried..."

"It felt like my own heart was breaking."

"I kept telling myself these feelings would disappear."

"But they never did."

"They only grew stronger."

Every word made Viki's heartbeat faster.

Azaan's eyes slowly became red.

"I was afraid."

"Afraid that if I told you the truth..."

"I would lose the most precious person in my life."

"So I stayed silent."

"I smiled."

"I acted like everything was normal."

"But every day..."

"It became harder to pretend."

A tear escaped from the corner of his eye.
"I can't hide anymore."

Azaan gently lifted Viki's hand and held it against his own racing heart.

"Can you feel that?"

"My heart..."

"It's beating because of you."

"It has always been you."

"From the very first moment."

"I don't know when I fell in love..."

"I only know..."

"I never stopped."

His voice cracked.

"I love you, Viki."

"I love your smile."

"I love your kindness."

"I love the way you always put everyone else before yourself."

"I love every little thing about you."

"I know you don't have to love me back."

"I know I have no right to ask for your feelings."

"But I couldn't keep lying to my own heart anymore."

"So today..."

"I'm choosing honesty."

"If you reject me..."

"I'll accept it."

"I'll still protect you."

"I'll still stay by your side."

"Because loving you..."

"Has never been a burden."

"It's the most beautiful feeling I've ever known."

Silence.

Only the rain spoke.

Viki stood frozen.

His eyes slowly filled with tears.

Not because he was sad...

But because no one had ever loved him so deeply before.

Azaan lowered his head.

"...I'm sorry."

"I just..."

"I couldn't keep these feelings inside anymore."

Just as he was about to let go of Viki's hand...

Viki tightened his grip.

"...Don't."

Azaan slowly looked up.

Viki smiled through his tears.

"...Who told you I wanted you to let go?"

Viki didn't say a single word.

Instead, he took one slow step forward... then another.

The rain continued to fall around them, washing away every sound except the frantic beating of their hearts.

Azaan stood frozen, his breath uneven, unable to understand what Viki was about to do.

Without breaking eye contact, Viki gently reached for the front of Azaan's shirt.

His fingers curled softly into the damp fabric as if he was afraid Azaan might disappear if he let go.

"Azaan..." he whispered, his voice barely audible through the rain.

"You fool..."

A faint smile appeared on Viki's lips, though his eyes were already glistening with emotion.

"You carried all of this alone..."

"You loved me in silence..."

"You were willing to stay beside me forever without asking for anything in return."

Azaan lowered his eyes, unable to answer.

"I... I never wanted to become a burden to you," he murmured.

Before he could finish—

Viki slowly closed the distance between them.

Their faces were only inches apart.

For a brief second, the world seemed to stop.

The rain.

The wind.

Even time itself.

Everything faded.

Then...

Viki gently cupped Azaan's face with both hands.

His thumb softly brushed away the tears mixed with the rain on Azaan's cheek.

"I'm sorry..." Viki whispered.

"So... so sorry for making you wait."

And then...

Viki leaned in.

Their lips met in the softest, most delicate kiss.

It wasn't rushed.

It wasn't driven by impulse.

It was a quiet confession... a promise spoken without words.

Azaan's eyes widened.

His entire body went completely still.

He couldn't breathe.

He couldn't think.

He simply stood there in absolute shock.

The warmth of Viki's lips against his own felt so unreal that for a moment he

wondered if he was dreaming.

His heart pounded wildly inside his chest.

When Viki slowly pulled away, he rested his forehead against Azaan's and smiled gently.

"I love you too, Azaan."

"I've been trying to understand these feelings for so long..."

"But the moment I thought about losing you..."

"I realized my heart had already chosen you."

Azaan stared at him, speechless.

A single tear escaped the corner of his eye.

"You... really mean it?" he whispered, his voice trembling.

Viki smiled, brushing another tear from Azaan's cheek.

"I've never meant anything more."

Those words shattered the last wall around Azaan's heart.

He let out a shaky laugh through his tears before pulling Viki into a tight embrace, holding him as though he never wanted to let go.

For the first time...

Azaan wasn't loving from a distance anymore.

He was finally home—in the arms of the person he loved.