by Max Hudson
There was so much to explain but so little time to explain it. Charles knew this well. Pulling apart from their embrace, Charles sheepishly scratched the back of his neck.
“Ah well… I missed my flight. Don’t worry though, it was all of my own accord.” Charles thought back to what Rebecca had told him only an hour before. Yes, this was his decision. Not anyone else’s to make. “I want to stay here. I’m going to stay here, Henrik.”
A bright smile spread through Henrik’s face as he took in the words. It felt nice hearing those words come from Charles’ mouth. Although Henrik hadn’t realized it, he had been hoping that somehow, Charles would stick around and stay with him. He had invited Charles to the competition with the impression that it was an empty promise, something to satiate Henrik’s unrealistic desires that perhaps this man in front of him would stay. Now, it was true. Charles really was staying in Zurich.
“What about your company? Your father? The city?” Henrik began, cut off only moments later when Charles pressed his lips against Henrik’s in order to silence him. The kiss was long and sweet, tasting faintly of sugar and rose extract that Henrik had tasted only moments earlier.
“It doesn’t matter now. I can worry about that later. Right now, I just want to stay like this.”
The two men laughed at how cliché everything seemed. Still, this was their reality. Henrik had not won the competition, but what did it matter? His prize came in the form of Charles. That, he thought, was more valuable than whatever cash prize he would have won from the competition.
Charles and Henrik looked at each other. Charles was wearing the embroidered tie that Henrik had bought him a week before, while Henrik had somehow managed to fit the silver ring onto his ring finger instead of his index. It was uncanny how they had not planned it out, but they both had met each other with matching items.
“Shall we go?” Charles extended his hand for Henrik to take. Henrik nodded dutifully and took the offering.
“Of course.”
The two men exited the studio. And for once, everything seemed like it was going to be all right.