N E T E Y A M
Not The End
PT1
"AM I YOUR first kiss?" I ask Ao'nung, twiddling with his long turquoise fingers.
He snorts, and leans his head onto my chest, resting it there. I feel fresh with the warm water of the pond that swallows our frames with the tightest hug.
"You are," He replies grinning as he lifts his head to peer at me. I look down and gape into his azure eyes; they're doe-like at the moment, really big and impaling with innocence. I have the urge to squish his whole being and those beautiful plump cheeks.
When Ao'nung isn't smiling it's like the wind steers cold; his azure eyes are dull and that slim face of his is stiller than stone. But when he smiles I see that it's the brightest beam I've seen on any Na'vi. He looks squishy. Tempting to strangle with a hug or simply toss back and forth like a rag doll.
"Don't look at me like that," I say and peck his lips.
"Like what? I'm not doing anything," He whispers, his hands now fondling my thighs. They ride up and up and a chill runs down my spine. My tail flicks and curls up abruptly. His fingers dance upon my upper thighs—in which the tips brush my loincloth.
"I'll really miss you, 'tey," He breathes out.
My stomach flips. I caress his jaw and kiss his lips, once, twice, thrice—six times, maybe ten more times.
"No monkey boy? Or Forest boy?" I ask him with light amusement. He shakes his head and chortles.
"I can go back to calling you that. We don't gotta be cutesy like some mates."
I stifle a laugh and playfully shove him, taking him by a puff of surprise as he face-plants. He glares at me with water pouring down his face and I see that freaky white layer in his blinking.
"You tree-hugger! You pushed me hard!" He says, though his voice holds zero bites. I scratch my head and apologize, though it's not wholehearted. I laugh as I wipe the droplets from his face and eyes.
It dawns on me that soon this moment will be over. That he'll be going home in a few hours. His true home. His whole life. I smile forlornly, and my caresses soften as they slow. My fingers simply hover and ghost against his cool face.
And my heart wrenches—beats with agony, but my brain reminds me that it's not the end. When I'm older, he'll be mine. That is if he waits for me...given he's the son of Olo'eyktan Tonowari. But so am I—the son of Toruk Makto.
I don't know a thing about their Metkayina customs. On my part, father will certainly understand, and perhaps he'll hand the throne over to Lo'ak if I am to ever disappoint.
"Promise me you'll wait for me," I say, my eyes furrowed as I dart all around his face, memorizing every detail of his. Not one misses my eyes. He smirks and nods and leans onto my touch.
"I'm not interested in my people anyway," He says with jest. "I'd take a tree-climbing monkey over a fish any day." He laughs.
I roll my eyes despite the merry glint my eyes dance with.
"Promise me, Ao'nung?" I ask sternly.
"I promise you, 'Tey. I'm devious but I never break promises, yeah?"
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Ao'nung and I are back hand in hand. The clan does their usual; cooking and crafting, some gone hunting, and others simply play with their festive children. Some mothers sing soulfully to Eywa and the clan. They sway side to side as their hands are locked with one another—their harmonizations echoing faintly throughout.
"Ma'Teyam," Mother calls, but her mouth drops open and her eyes enlarge wider than they already are. She gazes at our entwined hands, but she doesn't say anything. She gains composure and just then Father appears:
"Where were you?" He asks. His piercing eyes linger on our hands. I feel Ao'nung's hand tug, wanting to tear away, but my grasp tightens, and I don't let him. I hear his heavy exhale.
"I was out for a bit, Sir. Forgive me if I made you guys worry," I tell father and nod apologetically. I gaze at the ground.
"The boy's father was looking for him," My father motions to Ao'nung with his chin, "He says they'll part after lunch."
My heart drops but I nod once more. "I understand," I whisper.
"Good," He says, smiling tenderly. I lift my head to see a tinge of pity dancing in his yellow eyes.
As Father departs with mother following from behind—though not without one last look at our hands—Ao'nung and I follow.
We enter the Marui tent that the clan offered to Ao'nung and Olo'eyktan Tonowari for sleep. I frown with confusion as the smell of food nuzzles my nose. There are dishes sprawled out on the ground; plentiful and colorful.
Lo'ak, Tuktirey, and Kiri are already sitting. I greet them just as I greet the Awa'atlu Olo'eyktan, who gifts me his smile.
"Good you've come," He says heartily. "Jake Sully and I decided on having a two-family meal. I prepped some stuff as a show of Thank you."
It seems like he's only talking to Ao'nung now, whose ears are perked, and seems to be paying close attention to his every word. I exchange gazes with my mother and Kiri and something inside their glinting gapes tells me that this meal is more than a 'Thank you' meal.
It feels like two families gaining closure because their sons are romantically involved.
I sit beside my mother. Ao'nung sits next to his dad. Our knees brush as we sit crisscrossed. As we eat, our dads are jovially caught in various chatters. Their deep voices and cackles boom through the Marui. It's only them that share stories and embarrassing memories of their children.
Ao'nung has a sister he never told me about, by the name of Tsireya.
"You okay?" I murmur to Ao'nung. My hand cups his thigh and my thumb strokes his smooth and baby-like skin.
He nods, his cheeks puffed with food. My finger reaches to his lips and I brush off those small grains of food.
He gawks at me and later smirks as he gazes his head down, trying to obscure his huge grin.
Mother elbows me on the ribs and urges me to eat. I eat.
After lunch is over, we walk Ao'nung and Olo'eyktan Tonowari outside, to where the clan huddles and says their goodbyes. Ao'nung and I hug tightly, and I peck his droopy small ears gently and quickly so that no one notices.
His lips lightly caress my cheek as his hand works to get my braids on one side of my shoulder. I want to kiss his lips badly, but we can't risk anything upon the openness.
"I'll miss you," I whisper into his ear. We part and my hand lingers on his broad shoulder, "Get home safe, promise?"
"Promise," He says, squeezing my forearm. His eyes mirror my teary ones, and his lips quiver subtly.
I shakily sigh and blink back tears. It feels as if my heart is being torn from my rib cage. I feel all eyes on me, but at the moment I ignore all those inquisitive stares.
"It's not the end, remember? I'll be there, yeah?"
He nods and swallows thickly and hard.
"Ao'nung," Tonowari calls.
Ao'nung's eyes wander to each Omatikaya face that envelops him before they set back on me. He breathes heavily. His pupils are dilated as he looks at me with only a faint ring of blue.
He pivots to his father; our arms and fingers chasing the last caress that binds us. My fingertips feel heavy and warm when they fall at my sides.
My heart throbs as his back disappears further and further into the vibrant greens by the second. Kiri holds my arm and Lo'ak clutches my shoulder. I only smile with a tinge of relief. Ao'nung can finally be with his family. That's all he has ever wished for...
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