All that matters

The light in the room was dim, but it was enough to sting Sky’s eyes as he slowly opened them. He winced at the unfamiliar brightness, his vision blurry as his surroundings came into focus. The soft hum of machines reached his ears, grounding him. As the fog in his mind lifted, he realized he was in Nani’s room—their room, the place that had always felt like home to him.

His body felt weak but not broken, and, strangely, he couldn’t feel the sharp pain of the bullet wound that had brought him to this state. The realization hit him like a wave: he had been unconscious for a long time. Too long.

Sky’s heart clenched painfully when his gaze fell on the figure sleeping beside him. Nani was curled up next to him, his face peaceful but shadowed with exhaustion. The faint lines of worry etched into his features spoke of sleepless nights and endless days of waiting. Sky’s chest tightened at the thought of how much Nani must have endured while he lay in a silent, helpless void.

He noticed how Nani’s closed eyes seemed to twitch uncomfortably in response to the light. Weak as he was, Sky lifted his trembling hand and cupped it over Nani’s eyes, shielding them from the brightness. His fingers shook, but he held his hand steady, determined to let Nani have the rest he so clearly needed.

Sky stared at him, his heart swelling with an aching love. Nani was beautiful, even in his exhaustion, even with the faint traces of sadness lingering on his face. Sky’s fingers brushed against Nani’s soft hair as he whispered to himself, “I missed you.”

It felt like an eternity before Nani stirred, his lashes fluttering open. For a moment, he looked disoriented, his gaze darting to Sky. When their eyes met, Nani froze, his breath hitching as if he didn’t dare to believe what he was seeing.

“Sky?” Nani’s voice was barely a whisper, trembling with a mix of hope and disbelief.

Sky’s lips curved into a faint smile, weak but warm. “It’s me.”

Tears welled in Nani’s eyes as he reached out, his fingers trembling as they grazed Sky’s face, tracing the familiar lines as if trying to confirm that this wasn’t a dream. When Sky’s smile widened, Nani’s composure broke. He let out a choked sob, leaning forward to wrap his arms around Sky’s fragile body.

Nani buried his face in Sky’s chest, his tears soaking into the fabric of Sky’s shirt. “You’re awake,” he murmured, his voice muffled and thick with emotion. “You’re really awake. I… I waited so long. I didn’t know if… if you’d ever…”

Sky’s arms moved with effort, but he managed to hold Nani close, his fingers brushing soothingly against his back. “I’m here,” he murmured. “I’m sorry I made you wait.”

Nani shook his head, his arms tightening around Sky as if afraid to let go. “Don’t apologize. Just… don’t ever leave me again.”

The room was soon abuzz with commotion as the news spread through the palace—Sky was awake. Family, friends, and even the king and queen came to see him, their expressions a mix of relief and awe.

The queen approached slowly, her hands clasped tightly together as if bracing herself for rejection. Her lips trembled as she spoke. “Sky… I…” Her voice faltered, and she looked down, guilt etched into her face. “I owe you an apology. For everything I said, for everything I did. I was wrong, and I am so sorry. I see now how much you love Nani, how much you’ve sacrificed for him. I hope… I hope one day you can forgive me.”

Sky’s gaze softened as he listened. Despite the pain her actions had caused him, he saw the sincerity in her eyes. He shook his head, offering her a faint smile. “You don’t need to ask for forgiveness, Your Majesty. I understand. When my parents first found out about Nani and me, they told me what we were doing was wrong. If even commoners reacted that way, I can only imagine how hard it must have been for you as the queen. I know you didn’t mean to hurt me; you acted out of fear and love for your son. I forgive you.”

The queen’s breath hitched, and she stepped closer, her voice breaking. “Thank you, Sky. Thank you for loving my son the way you do. For protecting him… even when it cost you so much. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to be by his side.” She hesitated, then added softly, “I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive Nani’s father and me completely one day.”

Sky nodded, his smile unwavering. “You already have my forgiveness.”

The queen’s eyes filled with tears as she leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Sky’s forehead. “You’ve always been too good for this world, Sky,” she whispered. “I’m so glad you’re still here.”

The king stepped forward, his expression solemn but warm. “Sky, I wish you a swift recovery and all the happiness in the world. You’ve more than earned it.”

As the royal couple left, Nani’s heart swelled with gratitude, though he didn’t voice it. His focus remained entirely on Sky, who looked weary but content.

Sky’s family and friends visited next, their joy palpable as they embraced him and showered him with well-wishes. But through it all, Sky’s gaze kept drifting back to Nani, as if tethered to him by an invisible string.

When the room finally cleared and it was just the two of them again, Nani sat on the edge of the bed, his hands gently cradling Sky’s. He looked down, his cheeks flushed with a mix of emotions. “Sky… I’ve been thinking about something.”

Sky tilted his head, his curiosity piqued despite his exhaustion. “What is it?”

Nani took a deep breath, his voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of urgency. “I don’t want to waste any more time. Life is too short, too uncertain. I want to marry you, Sky. As soon as you’re ready.”

Sky’s breath caught in his throat, his eyes widening. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say. He had dreamed of this moment for so long, but now that it was here, the weight of it—the depth of Nani’s love and devotion—was almost overwhelming.

“Nani…” he whispered, his voice trembling.

Nani shook his head, a small, sad smile playing on his lips. “You don’t have to say anything now. I just needed you to know. I don’t care about the past, or what anyone says, or how long it takes for you to recover. I just want to spend the rest of my life with you. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

Sky reached out, his fingers brushing against Nani’s cheek. Tears welled in his eyes as he whispered, “I’ve always been yours, Nani. Always.”

Nani leaned down, pressing his forehead to Sky’s, his own tears falling freely. In that moment, nothing else mattered—not the pain, not the past, not the uncertainty of the future. All that mattered was that Sky was here, alive and in his arms.

And Nani swore to himself, he would never let him go. Not now. Not ever.