Before doing anything, Kian explained everything that needed to be done. It wasn’t something as gory as a sacrifice or anything like that. The ritual was a lot more personal. They needed to strengthen their bond together. The kiss from earlier was also a trigger to access Malak’s hidden memories. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, hence the pain. In other words, a sexual act was needed.

“We need to have sex? It doesn’t sound too bad?” Malak mumbled before hesitating. “But… I haven’t…”

“Sex doesn’t necessarily mean sexual intercourse. But it’s better to wait until tomorrow.”

“No, let’s do it now!” Malak pouted.

“Then, do you remember what I said ten minutes ago?”

As Malak couldn’t answer, Kian guided him toward the guest bedroom while carrying his bag for him. After helping Malak to bed, he immediately fell asleep. Only then did Kian close the door behind him before heading to his room to rest.

( ु⁎ᴗᵨᴗ⁎)ु.zZ

The next morning, Malak woke up unable to remember yesterday’s events. Not recognizing the ceiling, he observed his surroundings until he remembered he was still at Kian’s house. His memories seemed to stop the moment he closed his eyes to avoid watching the horror movie. Glancing at the digital clock next to the bed, Malak scurried out of bed when he noticed it was already noon.

After quickly changing into a new set of clothes, he walked out of his room, where the smell of food drifted to his nostrils. He walked down the stairs and noticed Kian behind the stove as he walked into the kitchen.

“Good morning,” Malak greeted as Kian turned around with a smile.

“Good morning, did you sleep well?”

“Yes, what about you?”

“More or less,” Kian vaguely answered as he brought two plates full of food to the table. “Let’s eat first.”

Malak nodded and sat down at the dining table in front of the other man. While pushing his food around on his plate, he kept having the feeling that he forgot something very important. But no matter how hard he thought about it, he couldn’t recall anything. After racking his brain up and down, he gave up. He couldn’t wait anymore. He had to ask. He had to know.

“About yesterday…”

Kian put down his fork. “You don’t remember anything?”

“Yes…”

“Then, maybe it’s best this way.”

Malak sighed. “Why must you conceal the truth when you’re making a face like that?”

In fact, Kian absolutely wished for Malak to remember everything. He had waited so long for it to happen. Yet, at the moment he needed to act, he hesitated. He was afraid Malak would reject him. For the young man sitting in front of him, it hadn’t been that long since they started dating. For Kian, however, more than a lifetime had already passed.

“Do you still mean the words you said yesterday?”

“If I trust you?”

Kian smiled, but there was no joy in it, only sadness.

“I do. I don’t know why, but it’s the feeling I always get when I’m with you.”

With a deep breath, Kian told everything that happened yesterday. At the kiss, Malak blushed before averting his gaze. It embarrassed him to discover they shared a kiss, and he didn’t remember. Unfazed by his reaction, Kian continued to explain everything without leaving a single detail. After learning everything from last night, Malak’s face was so red and hot that it could fry an egg. He also could not face the man in front of him. He couldn’t believe he so shamelessly begged for sex.

“This was not what I expected,” Malak nervously laughed while rubbing the back of his neck. “But how are my dreams connected to you? Are you…” Malak winced as another sharp pain stabbed at the side of his head.

Worried, Kian rushed to his side before helping him to the living room. “It’s alright if you don’t believe me, but you can’t keep pushing yourself like that. It’ll do you no good.”

“But why does it hurt so much?” Malak mumbled as he tried to remember what he was going to say before the pain cut him off. However, by doing so, he only triggered another wave of suffering which caused him to cry out. “H-help…”

As soon as those words left his mouth, his lips hit something soft and supple. When he opened his eyes, his heart nearly jumped out of his chest when he understood what was happening. Kian was kissing Malak for the second time since they started dating. But for the latter, it felt like the first time. Once again, his body lightened up and happiness filled his body.

Way too soon for Malak’s liking, Kian pulled away. “Better?”

Dazed, it took a few seconds for the young man to regain his senses. “Y-yes!” Malak covered his lips with his fingers before answering once he noticed that the pain was gone.

To him, it made little sense. Why would a mere kiss heal the physical pain he was under? The more he thought about it, the less sense it made. Slowly, he also believed that maybe what Kian said wasn’t a total lie. However, this was now the least of his concerns. As a hormonal teenager, a simple kiss was enough to give him an erection. Utterly embarrassed, Malak did his best to hide it.

“Are you sure? You're still pale,” Kian asked as he got closer.

“Yes, I'm sure!” Malak answered acutely before his voice cracked.

Surprised, Kian let out a chuckle as he felt embarrassed. He knew his voice was changing because of puberty, but he didn't expect to embarrass himself by making a mouse-like sound.

“Alright,” Kian answered, still chuckling a little. “I'll bring you a glass of water.”

“Thanks.”

Malak was finally able to relax and breathe when there was some space between them. He used this time alone to try to calm himself down. However, the more he thought about it, the harder it got. Because for him, it reminded him how good that kiss felt.

Only after a brief minute, Kian was back and put down the cold glass of water in front of his boyfriend. Quickly, he grabbed and drank it all, hoping the coldness would be enough to calm down. Unfortunately, it was still hard as steel.

“Did it work or do you need help?”

Malak’s head snapped up as he stared at Kian in shock. He thought he had hidden it well, but it looked like he was wrong.

“You knew?” Malak asked as Kian nodded. “This is so embarrassing!”

“There is nothing wrong with that. I enjoy kissing you too. Can I have another one?”

Malak hesitated for a moment before nodding. This time, he closed his eyes and waited for the contact, but when nothing happened, he saw Kian standing in front of him with a smile. Malak’s face was immediately tinted red.

“You’re so mean!”

Kian laughed before apologizing as Malak pouted. “I’m sorry. You were just so cute. I couldn’t help it.”

Before Malak could say anything, Kian kissed him for the third time in less than twenty-four hours. Their lips touched as Kian wrapped his arms around Malak’s waist to pull him closer. Not knowing what to do with his hands, Malak wrapped his arms around the other’s neck. Then Kian gently licked his lover’s lower lip before sucking and nibbling at it. After shortly pulling away to let themselves a chance to breathe, Kian leaned back in to continue where they stopped. This time, Kian licked Malak’s lower lip multiple times as he slowly parted them. Slowly, Kian introduced his tongue into Malak’s mouth and once their tongues touched, a slow dance began.

Breaking the kiss, they both took the chance to regain their breath. Malak was embarrassed and refused to make eye contact. At the same moment, he noticed the bulge in his lover’s pants. Since Kian was unable to see Malak’s facial expression, the latter smiled shyly, quite proud of it. It also relieved that he wasn’t the only one turned on.

Slowly, Kian’s hand roamed from Malak’s waist to his crotch. “May I?”

Malak’s heartbeat beat a lot faster. “Yes,” he whispered almost inaudibly as he couldn’t pull his gaze away from the hand on his crotch.

Quickly and effortlessly, both their pants were unzipped. Gently, Kian freed his member out of his boxers and did the same for Malak, who was panting. He couldn’t kill the curiosity that had blossomed. As if reading his mind, Kian took Malak’s hand in his and wrapped them around their erections. Slowly at first, they moved their hands in unison and gradually increased their speed.

New to the sensations, they both gasped and softly moaned as pleasure invaded his body. The pleasure kept building, and their movement became more erratic. Soon, they were at the brink of orgasm and ejaculated at the same time. It took a moment for them to come back to Earth. With their energy spent, they leaned back on the sofa to rest and before realizing it, they both fell asleep.