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Kylian's seventeenth birthday party was today, and it had to be special. Not only because it just had to be better than the previous one, but because it was different. Neymar wasn't going to be there, and neither was Lionel.
But Achraf was going to be here. His siblings as well. That indirectly made up for the emptiness Neymar's absence would make. And who wouldn't have some Moroccans around at a party? There was seriously nothing better than that. If the weddings were immaculate, then so were the birthday parties for sure.
He was still thinking of inviting a few more people he liked, and suddenly somebody popped up in his mind. Somebody he needed to invite.
Sergio Ramos; one of the older kids at his club. Due to his age, he had slightly more experience, though only being a year and a half older than most kids. He was seen as the older brother by everybody, because he also behaved like one. Caring for the younger ones, setting an example, it was all him.
He was also known in the team for his quite...violent antics to say the least. His aggressive style of playing, which did have some advantages, but for the most part, it was just an instigator for card accumulations.
But that didn't mean he wasn't genuinely caring. In fact, out of all the people in the club — besides Achraf, of course — Sergio was the one Kylian found the most comfort in. He knew he could go to the Spaniard for anything, for he'd always offer solutions, or even just a listening ear.
So inviting Sergio was the least he could do. Marquinhos was also going to get invited, and other members of the team, because he always got along with them very well, and they've always made it a tradition to invite each other to birthdays. They've grown up with each other, so it was normal.
***
"Your house hasn't changed," Marquinhos laughed, as Kylian let him in. The latter playfully rolled his eyes, "What, was it supposed to have a glow up or some shit? I thought you loved it the way it was."
"I do, I still do, I just needed to start a conversation," Marquinhos chuckled. The Brazilian had a habit of always bluntly saying his intentions, whether it was for humor, or just to make it less awkward. It was a very likable trait of his, and always has been.
Antoine and Ousmane were already here, though they'd always be the first ones to arrive since they literally lived in the same street as Kylian. Presnel takes some more time to arrive, but he still is one of the first ones nevertheless.
Speaking of the devil, the bell doesn't even ring, but one knock and the door clicks open. Not like it was unusual, Kylian had deliberately told his best friends that they didn't necessarily need to knock. Ousmane and Antoine still do it, but Kylian and Presnel's relationship was stronger, since they've known each other longer than anybody else, so of course they'd do it to one another.
Presnel can testify Kylian also comes to his house, rarely ever knocking. Their parents have grown used to it, for they knew their boys considered each other as brothers.
Just friendship things.
"What's good," Presnel greeted as all the attention was on him now. He quickly does his signature handshake with each person in the room, and then moves on to Kylian, bringing him into a hug. "Happy birthday bro, you're a year closer to death."
"Oh fuck off," Kylian laughed as they pulled away. Presnel goes to sit down with the rest in the living room, and Kylian follows him, but not even a minute later the bell rings again. This time, it was Sergio. He smiled brightly, taking Kylian in a bear hug like he always did. The light skinned boy giggled, smiling just as brightly when Sergio put him down.
The Spaniard was almost a head taller than him, and then everybody else at the club, so he had the tendency to carry his teammates around like children. They all grew used to it and even found it fun.
"Feliz cumpleaños, Kylian," Sergio said softly, following Kylian inside. The boy thanked him, in Spanish as well, which earned a warm smile from the Spaniard. The latter got a rectangular and thinly shaped box out of his backpack, it was neatly wrapped in simple-colored wrapping paper. He hands it to Kylian, whose eyes lit up as he starts thinking of all the things this present could be.
But he looks back at Sergio and smiled even brighter, thanking him, before placing the present along with all the others he received, in a safe corner of the living room.
More of his friends came soon after, and one of the last ones to come were of course Achraf, Ouidad and Nabil. All of them had a present in hand for the light skinned boy, he who was especially waiting for Achraf.
He almost jumped from happiness when he opened the door expectantly, his eyes falling upon Achraf and his siblings who stood behind him. He quickly lets the trio, as Nabil and Ouidad do their signature handshake with him and hand him their presents.
Achraf, however, does the handshake hastily and immediately takes Kylian in a tight hug right after. Kylian visibly melts into the Moroccan's embrace, it felt so comforting in a way nothing else could be.
"Here, your present." Achraf softly says, and Kylian thanks him, eagerly. More eager than the way he'd thank the others, visibly. He smiles like a dork in love as Achraf gives him the present and he goes to place it with the others. All the while, Sergio kept an eye on the two.
He senses something was happening, and he'll definitely tease them both about it to the point of tormenting, in the kindest way possible.
Music blares through the house, the playlist made of songs of Kylian's choice for the most part, but also of suggestions from his friends. Ethan was allowed to invite a few of his friends as well, who knew Kylian pretty well too. Just so he wouldn't be too bored with his older brother's friends. So far, he was enjoying every second of it all.
His parents were here, of course they would be, but they mainly watched from afar, in the kitchen preparing the food or just in the garden with Kylian's family members.
His little cousins ran throughout the living room, having fun with all sorts of old toys that belonged to Kylian, who got those out just for them. The sight of his little cousins being so happy made him happy as well.
But seeing Achraf enjoy himself made him even happier at the moment.
At one point, Achraf was sitting next to him, practically glued to him on the couch. The small free space between the seat of the couch and Kylian was barely enough for the Moroccan to squish himself in comfortably.
Kylian wouldn't have paid so much to attention to it if it weren't for the growing feeling in his stomach. That same feeling that he was addicted to, despite being unable to decipher it for the most part. The feeling he's been having only whenever Achraf was around, so close to him.
But the feeling just kept growing, he began feeling more hectic, the loud music and the lights became overbearing, everything was overwhelming and he felt like his breath was being cut short as he stared in the emptiness not knowing what to do, he couldn't move, the voices of his friends were so loud yet so muffled in his ears, he didn't notice Achraf's voice at first.
Of course, the Moroccan's voice as the only one he could sort of hear as it snapped him back into reality. He turned to look at Achraf, he who looked back at him with concern. Fuck, he was so close to him it almost became too much.
"Are you okay?" His voice was so soothing, so comforting. It blocked out all the other noises around them, Kylian felt like the only thing he could hear was Achraf's voice, and his quiet breathing.
He struggled to answer for a second, but manages to strangle out a few words, trying not to sound like he was about to cry. It was his birthday, damnit, he shouldn't be feeling like this.
"I just feel overwhelmed, 's all." His breathing was still hectic, but quieter than before. Less noticeable.
"You wanna go up to your room? I can tell the others you don't feel well at the moment, it's fine," Achraf smiled softly, though concern was still visible in those deep and gorgeous brown eyes of his. Kylian could get lost in them if he wanted to, right then and there, but he needed to keep his composure. They weren't alone.
"Y-Yeah, please, but— can you come with me? I don't want to be all alone, please."
Achraf nods, as they stand up from the couch, earning a look from Ethan who was sitting next to Kylian as well. Kylian quickly tells him he just needs time alone. Ethan nods, before his eyes fall on Achraf and he smirks, something the Moroccan doesn't have the time to notice because Kylian was already dragging him upstairs, for he did notice the shit eating grin on his brother's face.
"How do you feel?" Achraf asks after a long instance of silence, which took place from the moment they entered Kylian's room. Achraf felt the sense of familiarity wash over him when he entered the room. The same room he had to hastily leave because he was too close to Kylian, too early.
"Better than earlier." Kylian breathed, and he was seemingly way less fidgety than back there. Even if he was so close to Achraf, who held him in a side hug the whole time and let him rest his head on his shoulder.
"I just...I don't know, feeling squashed in the couch and with the music and the lights I just— it was so overwhelming I almost felt like shutting down," Kylian explained, his voice was shaky. He didn't want to cry, not at all, that feeling was gone now. But he was scared that Achraf was just not interested in hearing the explanation. But the look in his eyes told the opposite. Achraf was more than interested in the explanation.
"I see. I get it, it can happen," Achraf retorted quietly.
"I just...I just don't want the others to think I don't want them around, like I'm an ungrateful little shit, ya know?"
"I'm sure they'll understand. Besides, Ethan must've told them, I heard them ask about where we were going before you dragged me upstairs. It'll be fine, Kylian."
And Kylian believed every word. It all sounded so convincing, so soothing, combined with the gentle tone Achraf used, it was comforting. If Achraf said it was going to be fine, then it was.
The Moroccan looked even prettier than before. The soft light that illuminated Kylian's room made Achraf's eyes shine in a way Kylian didn't know was even possible. The light reflected calmness, kindness and fondness mixed together so well in the Moroccan's eyes.
The soft smile on his lips, a subtle smile, but one Kylian could notice, just made his lips more kissable than before. Shit, the feeling was back again. He can't ignore it anymore. What fucked with his mind even more was the fact that he managed to repress it while resting his head on Achraf's shoulder. Such an intimate action, though one he has grown accustomed to. Maybe that's why.
He should've grown accustomed to this as well, to their faces being so uncomfortably close. Because it was definitely not the first time it happened. Yet, it felt so new. So weird, but so addictive and the urge to close the space between them was just growing stronger. A result of the feeling in his stomach that kept increasing. Not like it would ever stop anyway. Not at this rate.
Achraf's eyes weren't staring into his anymore. The only eye contact that was actually happening at the moment was between Achraf's eyes and Kylian's lips. The Moroccan was not very subtle about it either.
Achraf wasn't sure if Kylian had noticed it, though he probably did; because Kylian was also looking at his lips at the moment. He wasn't sure if he should lean in, from the mixed signals that Kylian's hesitant aura was giving him, as it contrasted with the look in his eyes that screamed he wanted to do something.
The silence was imposing, though neither of them wanted to break it. Not like they could, because there was nothing to say at this moment. Their faces were closer than before, though neither really noticed. It wasn't until Kylian realized, and the urge to close the space became irresistible. He was terrified that he must've been getting the wrong idea, that it was all just a coincidence. That Achraf staring at his lips was just a coincidence.
But he wasn't pulling away. He wasn't minding any of it. Kylian could feel his breath hitch silently as his eyes switched between looking at the Moroccan's lips and then in his eyes. Then it was as if something came over him. A spark of courage lit up inside of his chest, and he could feel himself leaning in, and Achraf was doing the same, he wasn't pulling away, and Kylian feels as though this time it was actually happening and, and—
And it did.
It did, and by God was it the best feeling ever. Achraf's lips were just as soft as Kylian expected, if not even softer and more pleasant than he thought. The Moroccan melted in the kiss, which definitely boosted Kylian's confidence by a chunk. He moved his lips, taking the lead, which Achraf gladly followed.
And when they pulled away, it was all over.
Kylian could spot a spark of regret in Achraf's eyes, the eyes that he once could get so easily lost in, that he now wanted to avoid because of that spark of regret. But it was soon replaced with something else, something Kylian couldn't decipher. He didn't need to now. What he needed to do was apologize and try not to lose his friendship with Achraf.
"Arra...I— I'm sorry I shouldn't have— I didn't mean to—
It sounded strangled, every word was shaky, just like his voice as it was breaking with each word. He was on the brink of tears, though they weren't visible. Only the shine in his eyes hinted at them. Achraf was silent for the first few seconds, like he was still processing the whole thing.
"Kylian, it's fine, it really is—
"No, no, I'm sorry I—
Achraf shuts him up with another kiss. This time, a little rougher considering his goal was just to get Kylian to stop apologizing. Stop apologizing for something they both liked. He doesn't want Kylian to start thinking that he hated it. Because he didn't.
He enjoyed every second of having Kylian's lips on his, and he was glad to have an opportunity now to feel them again. He took it with no hesitation. The light skinned boy sat still, frozen from the sudden action, but Achraf can feel him progressively melt into the kiss. A kiss that lasted only a few seconds, though felt like a few eternities. Neither of them wanted it to end, but it had to.
"I liked it," Achraf admitted, after pulling away. "So don't apologize." His voice was still a little shaky, seemingly from nervousness. He was just as nervous about this as Kylian was, the feeling was mutual.
A wave of emptiness had washed over both of them, the fulfilling feeling they had felt when their lips were against each other was gone now. Both were craving for it.
"I...I did too, I really did, I just thought you regretted it—
"I almost did, but because I was scared you would regret it and that it might...ruin our friendship, ya know..." The Moroccan would glance away as he spoke, shyly fidgeting with his sleeve. Kylian was seriously considering leaning in again to steal another kiss, and just as he was about to do so—
The door had to barge open. That caused the two to jump away from each other, like they had been caught doing something they shouldn't be doing. And in a way, it was true. The person, or more accurately, people, who caught them didn't make the situation any better because it happened to be none other than Ethan. Behind him stood Sergio, whose eyebrows were raised in intrigue. Ethan had a bored look on his face, a look that just screamed I-know-what-you-did-there.
Kylian curses his brother for having the power to barge in at the worst moments, combined with his inability to knock on doors apparently.
"Ethan will you ever learn how to fucking knock?" Kylian sounded almost exasperated, though a very, very light joking tone was audible in his words. Ethan frowned; "Dude, no need to be so salty on your fuckin' birthday, I just came to tell you the cake's ready, gros con."
"Attends t'as dis quoi là?" Kylian almost yells, and that's when Ethan knows he fucked up because he pushed a confused Sergio aside to run away from his livid brother who was going after him.
Achraf still sat in the bed, confused, as he and Sergio looked at each other. The Spaniard was just as clueless, but the scene was funny enough to make them laugh. Sergio wasn't going to ask anything at the moment, about what may have happened before he and Ethan barged in, but he'll wait for the right moment.
The moment came where all of Kylian's loved ones' eyes were on him, singing happy birthday in the meanwhile. He sat there, with the cake being brought to him by his mother, and he can't help but feel a little embarrassed, it was visible in his smile.
"Come on, make a wish," said Kylian's mother softly. And Kylian did just that, closing his eyes and making a wish only he will ever know. When he blew on all the candles at once, everyone cheered, and the lights went back on.
Everyone was seated, and Achraf just had to take the seat next to Kylian. As if the bot hasn't been secretly hoping for that to happen. To be close to the Moroccan again.
The cake was more than tasty, hell it was probably the best cake he's ever eaten. But it was certainly not the best thing he has gotten to taste that evening.
The sensation of Achraf's lips still lingered on his, and it made him feel all sorts of new things he never even knew one could feel. And it was hard to keep his composure when Achraf was shyly resting his hand on Kylian's, which lay on his thigh, underneath the table and its cloth, away from all eyes.
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