AVATAR TWOW: Torn between the 2

N E T E Y A M
Our first kiss
PT1

MOTHER AND FATHER convince Ao'nung and his dad to rest the night; seeing as the Awa'atlu Olo'eyktan is weary from the long journey. My clan happily welcomes them in, prepping them leftovers and a place to sleep.

During dinner, Ao'nung and I chitter away. My heart still pounds with butterflies, and it's pleasant to have them back unlike that aching thump I've been suffering for days.

Ao'nung tells me how he suddenly feels like an outcast, surrounded by Na'vi so blue. I laugh, finding it adorable how his brow bones frown and I'm brought back to the images of fish. They are identical.

The atmosphere is airy. I feel consumed with drunkness as this feels too nice. So relieving. I never want it to end.

"You remember what I told you—about you never forgetting me?" I ask.

Ao'nung stifles a chuckle and rolls his eyes. "What about it?"

"It still stands. Don't forget me," I say.

He crosses his arms, "And if I do?" he retorts.

"I will visit just to strangle you."

"Woah! That's not very friendly," this time he laughs. It echoes within my ears. He then takes a serious pause before continuing: "But when you're older, visit me. I will be waiting for you. My clan will know about you."

My heart stammers and I feel the slight heat of my face—scorching and blazing and too hot I feel like I am overheating. But I smile and raise my fist. And he raises his. We fist bump.

"I promise I will," I say, my voice soft. He grins. This time my heart sinks back again, but with a strong pull of love. It tugs on the strings of my heart, and I feel compelled to squeeze his cheeks and kiss those plump small lips.

I advert my eyes with timidity, and amongst that, I capture my father's unreadable glare. A chill shoots up my spine, but I don't bother to think too much. He goes back to conversating with Tonowari. It seems like they get along just fine—like long-time friends catching up.

"Before I officially leave tomorrow, I want us to go back to the pond for a little bit. Tomorrow at rise," Ao'nung says. I nod.

"But for now, I want you to follow me somewhere," He adds. He then quickly ducks; his steps light and cautious. He blends into the big leaves and I follow his every footing from behind.

Shortly, we're behind the big plants and grand trees, caging us from all sides. We're far, but not too far from the clan—only a few meters away at best.

"Before I leave, I want to make things clear..." his hands grasp the sides of my face gently. His touch is almost ghostly; fingertips caressing my cheeks, but the graze is barely even there. His face inches closer and his azure eyes pierce through my lime ones. My world halts.

"I think our feelings are mutual and—stop me if you don't like it," He says, out of breath. His nose is flared and his inhales are rough and hard with the pants of his chest. His hot breaths fan above my lips.

My lips tingle with wait and want...and as his lips brush mine, my lungs go still. The air is sucked out of me as he starts kissing my lips; oozing pleasure through my warm body. I melt. I shrink into him.

His lips are insanely soft and somewhat cool. He sucks on my bottom lip and I can only moan faintly.

I grab his neck, and his grasp on my face only hardens as he tilts my head and shoves his tongue. He's skillful with his licks and sucking.

The sound of our heavy breaths mold along our loud smooching; echoing into the thin air. The sky is perfect tonight with its twinkling bring stars. The eclipse shines brighter than usual, enlightening us with Eywa's blessing.

We part our lips but I have the urge to reconnect them. My head is in ecstasy, soaring with a never felt before happiness. I am bundles of joy. I could skip away or hop on my two feet or even kick my legs back and forth. My heart feels so loaded that I fear it may explode.

I lean my head on his shoulder. He caresses my braids, and I put a hand over his thumping heart and smile.

"What made you not leave?" I blurt out.

"You. I didn't want to leave without coming forth about my feelings, knowing I'd never see you again. I wandered around nearby, waiting for you to show up, and you did—with father," he says. "I know it's early, but I wanna mate you in the future. I want you to be mine."

"I will gladly be yours, despite the consequences to come," I reply, grinning. He smiles and leans to capture my lips in another kiss. This time I lead our slow rhythm and enjoy the tugs of our lips each time they connect with the strings of saliva.

"I see you," He says once we part.

"I see you," I croon, my thumb caressing his cheek which I now have the privilege to pull and pinch. I kiss his neck, my fingers entwining into his loose curls. He tilts his head and lets out a small sound as his hands run down my back. His touch is heavenly. I feel goosebumps.

"Let's go back before they think you're missing again," I remark with a small airy chuckle. He nods, and takes my hand, entwining our fingers. He stares into me, but I stare at our fingers and our different shades of blue; like the seas that never mix, but are forever together and contrasting.

Father told me about it and showed me a picture of it in his smart gadget. A camera. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Though back then, I thought the picture to be bleak and uninteresting. But dad explained it with such awe and now, at this very moment, the picture is dear to me for various reasons. A slice of Earth doesn't hurt anybody.

He leads me back and I gape with enamor at his buff frame, wondering if he'll look even buffer into the future. Like his dad maybe? It's just a thought that doesn't stop whirling my head. The small sway of his hips and thick tail drive me crazy that I can go bizarre. My eyes trace down the curve of his back; those swirls and that appetizing line—I have the urge to reach and line it with my fingers.

We part our hands. As we let go I feel this heaviness as my heart pushes down to my stomach. My body turns cold. My fingers tingle, but it's only them that stay warm.

Bedtime soon irises. My father walks Tonowari and Ao'nung to their reserved Marui tent since they can't sleep in hammocks. The Awa'atlun Olo'eyktan had told him that if he's ever to sleep that high, that he mind as well drop to his death. Kind of comical, scary, and concerning.

I toss and turn in my hammock. I suddenly ponder about what Ao'nung's home may look like and what I would feel when I get there a few years from now.

"Did lover boy make moves?" Kiri's voice chimes. I peer at her from above and see that she has her arms crossed and a teasing bright beam. I can't help but grin and roll my eyes.

"So you did," She says.

"Shut it. You're gonna wake everyone up!" I whisper yell, and she shrugs.

"Tell me what you did."

I sigh and shake my head. "He kissed me...I kissed him...and we're good," I say, plopping my head back into my hammock and attempting to sleep, though there's still that stupid love-struck grin dancing upon my lips.

I ignore her hushed gasps and soft giggles.

"I knew it," she whispers.

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