I combined Day 1&2 because I’m bad at time management skills.
Sunset/Firsts CW: mentions death, mentions spirituality
Bam huddled on the ground in front of the dorms, staring out at the multicolored, geometric glass that formed a mozaic which stretched on past the grass pillars and rolling green hills. He sniffled as the chill air wrapped around him like a hug from an ex-lover. The sun was so low that its light barely reflected off the glass, but what did resulted in a magenta sheen. But only for those that looked close enough.
He tried not to imagine the bodies underneath the clear, unadorned panes. How could a site so beautiful be a cemetery for fallen comrades? He let out a sigh. But maybe beautiful gravesites were a good thing. If not to cover up the true purpose of its sacred ground, he imagined it felt nice to visit old loved ones in a place where you hoped it mimicked where they had ended up. He had heard some of the other people climbing the tower mention faiths from outside the tower; assurances that everyone they loved was never truly gone, and that they were waiting for you in a place only the dead could reach. He squeezed back a tear.
“No,” he said aloud. He clenched his legs tighter to his chest. Rachel was alive. Quibbling over close calls was a disservice to everyone with crueler fates. Suddenly the front doors opened. Bam hoped whoever it was would leave him alone, but then Khun wasn’t just anyone.
“Hey Bam!” he called out. Bam looked over at him but didn’t respond. Strands of Khun’s hair wisped behind his face as he jogged against the bitter wind toward him. No one dressed for the weather, but Khun’s long shirt and pants made him able to withstand the cold a lot better than almost anyone else. He was holding a mug from the commissary, but it must not have been that full for Khun to have spilled none of it. “Hey,” he repeated as he folded his legs down to sit with Bam. “I didn’t see you come eat at all today. Rak said he didn’t smell you in the dorms, so I took my chances coming out to look for you in the cold.” He held out his mug, showcasing a mostly empty mug of an amber liquid.
“I don’t think alcohol will help me right now.” They have all come together for a few drinking parties by now and ginger soju was not something he wanted to drink for awhile now. Khun laughed. It was such a pure sound, like musical notes from a guitar Hatz would bring out sometimes, and there was always five has. A corner of Bam’s mouth turned up. Good old, dependable Khun.
“This is different,” he said. “Although alcohol would definitely warm you up more than apple cider. Sorry it’s not hot, but it tastes good cold too, trust me. Bam held out his hands to receive the mug, but Khun directed it up towards his mouth. “Just have all that’s left; I’ll tip it back for you.” Bam could not hold back his look of sheer bafflement. “Waterfall?”
“What’s the point of cider falling onto my face? How am I supposed to drink it like that?” At one of the drinking parties he had seen when Endorsi was on her third soju and had bought the last lychee. In an act of unparalleled generosity, as she claimed, she decided she’d share a little with everyone by dumping it straight into their mouths. Anaak got more down her shirt than any in her mouth. Hatz too. Khun grinned.
“Oh, you’re thinking I’m going to do it like Endorsi? She just wanted a wet t-shirt contest. Just tip your head back and I’ll be careful to actually get it into your mouth.” Bam bent forward a bit, opened up his mouth and looked up at Khun. Khun held the mug with both hands, his left hand on the bottom of the mug, and he gently tipped the mug forward at the handle until Bam had finished the remains of the cider. It wasn’t as sweet as he thought it would be. He almost preferred just a simple apple. It was easier to handle that way.
Khun grinned. “Well, what do you think?”
“I wish I could try it hot.” With a flourish, Khun extracted a steaming mug of apple cider from his bag. “I always come prepared.”
“Hey, why’d you make me try the cold one?”
“That apple cider cost 1,000 points; you will not see me waste such sustenance.”
“So in other words, you just didn’t want to drink it cold?”
“I actually prefer cold apple cider, but then it’s just called apple juice. Drink.” This time he handed the mug to Bam and the warmth on his hands was a little too hot at first, but it was good for his hands to not feel cold anymore. Khun got up to start to leave.
“Wait, where are you going?” he asked? He swiped at his bangs when the wind blew them askew.
“I promised Rak I’d split a chocolate sundae with him. He is quite enthusiastic to try a blend of chocolate and banana.” He took in a deep breath through his nose as he stared out towards the horizon with its last peak of sun. “ I always prefer ice cream on cold days than ciders and tea anyway. He cocked his head down at Bam. “Don’t stay out too late, okay? I’ll need you to help me through my ice cream coma.” He ended with a smile and then turned to walk back inside.
A couple minutes after he left, the anterior lights came on, illuminating the endless dark expanse above. Bam held the cider between his chest and his knees and inhaled deep notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. He used to not be able to imagine a life without Rachel, but he made it all the way here without her. How had he managed so long without Khun?
