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Despite the situation Kalim, Riddle, Deuce, and Jack were trapped in, it wasn't all doom and gloom. Kalim learned about a new fairytale and had the opportunity to climb, paint, make candles and pottery, sing, wash clothes, and play the guitar with his friends! Now it was break time at the tables, because so far, none of their activities had opened the library doors. Maybe it was worrisome that they kept running into dead ends, but it definitely could've been a lot worse. (It was very fortunate they didn't get trapped inside the broom closet.)
However, if they had never ended up in this situation in the first place, Kalim would never have gotten to wear his new outfit. The bright-green color was so eye-catching, and it was super easy to jump and move around. Besides eating Jamil's food for lunch, Kalim's favorite thing about being stuck was the opportunity to wear his new outfit. He also couldn't stop running his hands through his new long hair ever since the potion kicked in. Even though it was up in a ponytail and tucked behind his headband, it was still fun to twirl the thin braids around. He had forgotten the feeling of having longer hair.
"Ah, Kalim." It came from Deuce, who was sitting across the library table from him. "Is your hair okay? I can help change the style if it doesn't feel right."
Kalim hummed questionably at Deuce. Then, the pieces clicked together. He laughed and waved his hands in front of himself. "Thanks, Deuce, but it's okay. Actually, it's more than okay; the way you styled my hair is perfect."
Pink started to appear on Deuce's cheeks. He turned slightly away, fidgeting with his own blue hair. "Well, you're the one who wanted the braids and ponytail, so I was simply following your request. But are you sure you don't want anything changed? I could use a break from reading."
"Deuce," Riddle called out from his right. A thick book sat in front of him, open down the middle. "I know we must've missed some crucial information in the story, so make sure you don't slack off on helping out."
The first-year jolted back from the scold. "I-I'm not slacking off, Housewarden!" Deuce protested. "I just keep seeing Kalim touching his hair, so I thought he was uncomfortable."
"No one here is used to having long hair," Jack, sitting next to Kalim with his nose in a book, said. "But that doesn't mean we're necessarily uncomfortable with it."
"Is this your guys' first time growing out your hair?" Kalim asked. "Wow, you're really missing out."
Three faces peeled away from their books and stared blankly at him.
"You had long hair?" Deuce asked slowly.
Kalim nodded, but then he tilted his head to the side in thought. "More like medium-length hair… But it was definitely longer than my usual hairstyle."
"If you don't mind me asking," Jack said. "When was this?"
"Many years ago," Kalim answered. "Unfortunately, whenever I got kidnapped, the kidnappers liked cutting off my hair. I think they wanted to sell it because it came from an Asim."
Despite being stuck in a library, Kalim swore he could hear a pin drop. It was as if time had frozen the scene of the three same faces agape at him. Even Riddle, who was always one with manners and rules, was overtaken by his emotions.
"I'm sorry, but did you say you've been kidnapped?" Riddle asked.
"Yep," Kalim said, popping the p. "I was kidnapped as a kid more times than I can count on two hands. Not all the kidnappers took my hair, but it had happened often. Because of that, it became impossible to grow out my hair. So, I just decided to keep my hair short from then on."
The ice thawed from Jack next. "I'm really sorry that happened to you. But how can you say this so casually and with such a straight face?"
"Well, I haven't had any worries since enrolling in NRC. And because of those experiences, it now takes a lot to scare me." Kalim's laugh started to echo between the library walls, and he added, "It's also a lot easier to shower with shorter hair."
"I guess…" Deuce agreed, albeit with hesitation. "But, wait, so in addition to having your food poisoned, you've also been kidnapped?"
"Poison?!" Jack exclaimed, his face filled with horror. "That can't be true."
But Kalim only nodded, reaffirming what he had said. "Ah, yeah, it's true. That's why I've made it a rule only to trust Jamil's cooking."
Riddle brought his hand up to his mouth in thought. "I vaguely remember you mentioned that before…"
"And here I thought it was because of how delicious Jamil's food was," Jack muttered.
A wave of pride washed over Kalim even though the compliment wasn't directed towards him. There wasn't anyone in existence who hated Jamil's cooking. However, Kalim was the biggest fan of all. (How could he not when Jamil had always dedicated so much of his time, effort, and love to providing for Kalim?)
"If Jamil comes back, we should ask him to cook something again for dinner," Kalim said excitedly, already thinking about his next delicious meal. He was so lucky to have a caring boyfriend who took his health and situation into account when cooking all of his meals.
Riddle cleared his throat, capturing everyone's attention. "As much as I appreciate Jamil's work in providing us with food, we should focus on getting the library unlocked, not on dinner."
"That's true," Jack said, turning the next page in his book. "Especially since we have until midnight."
"Right, my bad. Sorry for getting us distracted," Kalim laughed, twirling a tiny white braid around.
"That's okay; I also contributed to this sidetracked conversation. But, let's get back to—" Riddle interrupted himself when he glanced over at Deuce and observed his worried expression. "Deuce, what's wrong?"
The freshman jumped slightly. "Nothing, Housewarden. Just… thinking about what Kalim said."
Huh, what did I say? Kalim thought.
After replaying their conversation in his head for several moments, the realization hit him—his kidnappings. Their reactions had been very similar to that one SDC practice when he had mentioned his experience with poison. A mix of shock and a touch of sadness had been written on their faces. Kalim had and would always appreciate their concerns, but it was all water under the bridge; he was alive and physically fine.
"Don't worry about it, Deuce," Kalim said with a smile. "We should listen to Riddle and focus on the present and getting out of here. Besides, the sooner we can leave, the sooner I can show Jamil all of our new outfits and hairstyles! I can't wait to see the look on his face."
To Kalim's relief, some hope shone through the freshman's eyes. "Sounds like a plan."
The conversation reached an end, and all four returned to their books and research. However, Kalim's mind wandered back into the past, back to when he had first wanted to grow out his hair.
*****
The day was coming to a close, as observed by the moonlight beaming through the large window at the Asim Palace. Kalim was dragging his claimed diamond pieces across his bedroom floor, counting his points. He and Jamil had just finished their third round of mancala, and, with one win each, this round would decide the overall winner.
"How many do you have, Jamil?" Kalim asked, unable to contain his excitement.
Jamil looked up from his pile. "Twenty-three."
"I have twenty-five!"
A small smile was sent in his direction. "Congratulations on winning."
"Wow, that was close," Kalim laughed loudly. "I almost thought I lost."
Jamil leaned across the board to grab Kalim's diamond pieces and said, "Well, you did lose the second round."
Just as Kalim was about to retort that the final score ended up in his favor, something caught his eye. The way Jamil was moving to collect their game pieces made the golden clips in his long, shoulder-length hair catch the sunset's rays. The golden glimmer captured Kalim whole. It wasn't anything new—Kalim had seen Jamil's hair and its accessories every day. However, this sight was like being caught in a serpent's gaze.
Everything about Jamil at that moment was mesmerizing.
"Kalim? Why are you staring at me?" Jamil asked.
Kalim opened his mouth several times, but nothing came out. A worried look glossed over Jamil's face.
"Are you okay—"
"Your hair is really nice," Kalim finally blurted out.
"Huh?"
"I really like your hair and your braids and your hair clips."
Jamil's body stiffened as if he were physically shocked. A mix between a pout and a hint of a smile was expressed on his face. "Thanks," he eventually muttered.
"I wish I could have that," Kalim sighed, falling backwards and letting his back hit the soft carpet. His eyes gazed up at his diamond chandelier; all of the dangling crystals were like water droplets suspended in midair.
"Your hair is way too short for braids," he heard Jamil say from his left.
Kalim's hand ran through his hair, taking care to avoid messing up his headband. His fingers barely caught hold of his white strands. As usual, Jamil was correct.
"You could grow it out," Jamil suggested. "It'll take a while, but it's not impossible. And I can help you braid your hair once it's long enough."
Those words yanked Kalim off the floor like strings on a puppet. His weight landed on his hand, both of which were planted firmly on the carpet. The abrupt movement brought him closer to Jamil. A shocked expression overtook his friend's face while he jolted slightly away.
"Really?!" Kalim exclaimed. "I can do that?"
"Do what? Grow out your hair?" Jamil asked. Once Kalim nodded, Jamil added, "I think Master Asim would let you if you tell him that you don't want any haircuts for a while."
Everything clicked. Kalim hadn't even considered the option to change his hairstyle. It made sense now. Jamil's hair reached this length because of the lack of haircuts; Kalim could do the same!
"Then, I guess I'll just have to grow it out!" Kalim declared. "I can't wait for you to braid my hair!"
But if only it were that easy for the heir of the Asim family.
*****
It'd been a week since Kalim had slept in his soft, comfortable, warm, and safe bed. After being chained to the wall and forced to sleep on the cold floor, he appreciated his blankets and pillows a lot more. Luckily, the kidnapper's knife didn't cause any life-threatening injuries. However, when it had sliced off Kalim's medium-length hair, it was as if the weapon had twisted through his heart. Months of waiting had fallen down the drain in a matter of minutes.
The Asim hairstylist was able to fix up the ragged edges and choppy sides. According to his father, it was fortunate that he had been able to remain presentable. So it wasn't fair to stay depressed over losing his hair. He was alive, well, and home. It also hadn't been the first kidnapping scare; he had been in a better position than the previous times.
Still, Kalim had been looking forward to Jamil braiding his white hair for him…
A knock on the door tore Kalim out of his daydreams. His heart pounded from the unexpected noise. At first, he believed the kidnapper was back. (They were usually very persistent…) But the logical part of him reminded himself that kidnappers weren't polite and wouldn't knock on his bedroom door.
"Kalim?" a familiar voice called out. "It's Jamil."
A wave of relief and excitement washed over the boy. Kalim instantly threw the blanket off himself and ran to the door. He hadn't seen Jamil since the kidnapper took him away from his home. The second the physical barrier between them was removed, Kalim tackled him to the hallway floor in a strong embrace.
"Gwah!"
"Hi, Jamil!" Kalim exclaimed, clinging to Jamil's soft and warm pajamas. "How are you doing? I missed you."
Jamil's face twisted in mild pain. It took several seconds before Kalim realized he was the cause of the discomfort. With some manageable difficulties, he pulled himself up from the floor, allowing his friend to get on his feet.
"Hi," Jamil said, dusting off his shirt and pants. "I'm glad you're back."
Kalim beamed at him. "Thanks! I'm also glad I'm back."
However, only one boy was possessed with happiness. "Why is your hair shorter now?" Jamil asked. "Did something happen?"
The smile faded ever so slightly. Kalim brought a hand up to his white strands, running his fingers through them. It was an odd feeling despite having had short hair for most of his life.
"The kidnapper said something about selling my hair or something," Kalim said, trying to recall the man's muttering from a week ago. "I couldn't really understand him… But before I knew it, he cut off my hair with a knife and walked out of the basement with it." Kalim could still feel the tugging and dull pain.
Jamil's mouth parted. "That's… I've never heard of that before."
His grey eyes flashed with worry, and Kalim didn't like that one bit.
"Yeah, me neither, but it's fine!" Kalim insisted, adding a laugh that echoed in the hall. "I've waited for months, so I can just wait again."
"I see. It's good you're not too sad about it."
Right, Kalim wasn't sad at all. It was just hair; it would grow back before he knew it! He should just be happy that he was back home and talking to Jamil again.
"Jamil, when my hair is long enough, will you still braid it? Please?"
The taller boy turned away from Kalim, hiding his expression. "Of course. I said I would, didn't I?"
"Yay!" Kalim started jumping for joy. "Thanks, Jamil; you're the greatest friend ever!"
Jamil was as still and silent as a statue, but the moment-long lull in the conversation didn't matter before Kalim sprung another question onto him.
"Do you want to sleep with me tonight?" Kalim glanced over his shoulder at his large, empty bed. "We haven't seen each other in a week, and it'd be nice to be with you longer… Just for tonight?"
It only took several seconds for Kalim to receive his answer.
"Okay, just let me brush my teeth first. I'll be back in ten minutes."
Kalim felt like he had won everything in life. "Take your time; I'll be waiting!"
But little did Kalim know that he would always be waiting, not just for Jamil. Kalim would always yearn for the day when a kind friend would gently run their hands through his hair, and not some stranger.
*****
No wonder the princess in the fairy tale wanted to escape the tower. The sight of the lanterns took Kalim's breath away. The entire student population had all collaborated to make this special event possible. Riding his magic carpet with company—Deuce and Jack—was even better. Up in the sky, near the yellow glow, it was like a dream. The wind blowing through his longer hair and new outfit only brought a wider smile to his face.
Soon, his view dropped downward to the lake. On a singular wooden boat, the familiar sight of long, braided red hair was spotted among the floating cylinder lanterns.
"Carpet!" Kalim exclaimed against the elements. "Riddle is down there! Can you take us to him?"
Following the command, they dodged the lanterns to get closer to Riddle and the boat. Once they were spotted, the Housewarden flashed a tired but proud grin up at them. With all of the hectic events they had experienced today, it only made sense that Riddle was barely holding himself up. Kalim, on the other hand, was still full of energy. It had been hours since Kalim and Jamil talked to each other. Jamil hadn't even seen Kalim's new hair yet!
While Jack and Deuce took over rowing the boat back to shore, the magic carpet did the hard work for Kalim and Riddle. Now that the time crunch was gone, they were riding at a slower pace.
"Will you join us for a cup of tea at Heartslabyul?" Riddle asked. "I know Trey would be more than happy to provide another teabag for you."
Kalim shook his head. "Thanks for the offer, but I'll pass. I want to see Jamil first and show him my hair and the new clothes. He really liked my liongarb outfit, so I can't wait to see his reaction."
"I'm sure Jamil will like it." Five seconds passed before Riddle spoke again. "Kalim?"
Kalim hummed in response. His eyes were fixed on the lanterns; their diminishing size made them appear as glowing stars.
"Thank you for trusting Deuce, Jack, and me with some information about your childhood. I'm deeply sorry you had such terrifying experiences growing up."
There was a beat of silence before Kalim's laugh rang through the sky.
"Thanks for being concerned about me, but it's okay," Kalim said. "It's all in the past, and I'm happy being here with everyone in the present."
Riddle pursed his lips in thought. It looked as if he was on a fence, unsure whether to trail farther or stay behind.
"I understand," Riddle eventually said. "But if you ever need anything, as a fellow Housewarden, you can always talk to—"
"Jamil!"
Kalim felt his heart soaring once he laid eyes on his boyfriend. In the courtyard, Jamil was spotted standing next to other Scarabia students. Many people had their necks craned towards the sky, most likely to take in the wondrous floating lantern sight. When the carpet brought them closer, Kalim stuck out his arm to wave at the crowd. He'd gotten several waves back (mainly from Scarabia and Heartslabyul students and Yuu), but the one he loved the most was the tiny wave from Jamil.
"Carpet, take us closer," Kalim said.
His request was graciously accepted. Within seconds, they made their tidy landing next to the wishing well. Some freshmen stood in awe at their arrival. Kalim wasted no time at all getting to his feet and making a break for Jamil. Trey, Cater, and Ace ran past Kalim to get to Riddle, but Kalim barely acknowledged them; he only had eyes for one person right now.
"Ka—"
"Jamil!" Kalim shouted.
With a leap, Kalim captured Jamil in a hug. An exclamation left Jamil's lips as gravity carried them to the grass. Dull pain flared up in Kalim's arms from the fall, but it was all worth it. After a few seconds, Kalim wiggled his arms free from under Jamil's body and hoisted himself on all fours, keeping Jamil pinned below him.
"It's been so long; I missed you so much!" Kalim couldn't erase the smile on his face. "Do you like my hair? Deuce helped style it. Oh, and Professor Crewel made these outfits for us, and Vil provided some sewing kits. They're so cool, aren't they?"
Jamil untangled his arm from the limb mess. His fingers stretched upward toward Kalim's new hair. But instead of making contact with the braids, Jamil's palm caressed Kalim's cheek. The boy tilted his head into the warm and gentle touch.
"I love them," Jamil said. "If you'll allow me to get up from the ground, that'll give me a better view."
"Ah," Kalim said, already scrambling. "Sorry."
Planting both feet on the ground, Kalim checked his outfit for any scrunches or dirty patches. After all, Professor Crewel had specifically tailored it for him, and he'd spent a decent amount of time making the finer adjustments. But even if his clothes were soiled or ruined, he wasn't a mage for nothing!
Once balanced, he twirled around like a model. The clothed drape by his left leg followed his circled path. "Ta-da."
A chuckle left Jamil's lips. "It suits you. But how did your hair—"
"Housewarden!"
Kalim's attention was then captured by several of his dormmates running toward him.
"Hey, everyone!" he greeted. "Great job on the lanterns; they look amazing."
One of the students pumped his fists. "When Vice Housewarden told us about the contest to make the most lanterns, of course, we weren't going to slack off."
"And you guys sure didn't! We need to celebrate. You know what this calls for?"
"A party?" Jamil supplied with a knowing smile.
Without another word, Kalim laughed and started dragging Jamil back to the magic carpet.
*****
"I think we're all cleaned up here," Kalim said, looking around Scarabia's lounge. Any evidence of a party had been dusted off without leaving a trace. "Jamil, are we all good?"
Three seconds later, a simple nod was his answer.
Clapping his hands excitedly, Kalim addressed the remaining Scarabia students who had volunteered to clean up. "Thank you for helping out, everybody. Have a good night!"
"Goodnight, Housewarden!"
Pretty soon, only the house leaders were left with the spacious place to themselves. Within a matter of seconds, Kalim plopped down, face-first, on a pile of soft silk pillows. Turning his whole body around, he spotted Jamil sitting beside him.
"That was fun," Kalim smiled, getting into a sitting position. "Thanks for cooking the food."
"It's a Friday; I knew you'd want to throw a party tonight, so the preparations weren't that bad."
"Always thinking ahead! That's Jamil, for you."
Jamil chuckled lightly at the comment and shuffled closer and took one of Kalim's small braids between his index finger and thumb.
"This really is your hair," Jamil muttered.
"Yep! It's finally longer," Kalim said, hugging one of the wine-red pillows to his chest. The surrounding colors reminded him of when Yuu had mentioned a holiday called Christmas.
Jamil released his gentle hold. "What happened in the library that made everyone's hair change?"
"We all brewed a hair-lengthening potion! Riddle was the best out of all of us, so that's why his hair was super long. Oh, and I also need to pay the Headmage back for the potion ingredients we used today."
"Do I want to know how much you owe?"
With such an eventful day, Kalim's brain had easily removed that detail from his memory. "I forgot the amount, but he said that the price for one of those fruit things could pay for a whole other library."
Jamil's eyes went wide. "A whole other library?!" With a light cough, he added, "I'll be sure to send word to the Asim Palace."
"Great, thanks, Jamil! This is why you're the best!"
A knowing hum was his answer. "It does look good on you—the outfit and hair. You said Deuce… styled it for you?"
"For me and everyone else," Kalim added, earning a slow nod from Jamil. "We were trying to become princesses to escape, and it worked."
"I'm not going to question it."
Kalim laughed. "You shouldn't. You'll just get more wrinkles."
In response to that tease, Jamil folded his arms across his chest. "And who, may I ask, is responsible for a large chunk of that stress?"
It was like a knife had sliced through their playful banter.
"'Is?'" Kalim repeated worriedly. His gaze dropped onto the pillow in his arms. "I thought it was 'was.'"
Kalim knew he was still naive compared to most people at NRC. (Or anywhere, if he was being honest.) Despite all of his struggles, he was trying to become more responsible and take on more tasks to lift some of the weight off Jamil's shoulders. They had been equals since winter break, and after dating, Kalim desperately wished to drive that sentiment home. But apparently it wasn't enough?
"The reasons have changed," Jamil said. "The source hasn't and probably never will."
Kalim lifted his gaze. His eyes connected with Jamil's gray ones. "What does that mean?"
"I've always been worried about you, even when we were children. However, I had convinced myself that if anything had happened to you under my watch, I'd suffer the consequences. But also looking back, I think I hated seeing you after all of your kidnappings and seeing your progress with your hair getting destroyed every time. Now, when I think about the ones who have hurt you, I get angry." Then, in a quieter voice, he added, "Myself included."
"Jamil…" Kalim whispered back.
Kalim pressed his lips in a thin line. Unlike Riddle, Deuce, and Jack, who had expressed their concerns, Jamil had been there in person every single time. Jamil had always been present for every poisoning, kidnapping, and attempted assassination attempt. He'd been there during long sleepless nights, sessions full of tears, and moments of laughter. Kalim knew their relationship in the past had been filled with miscommunication, living in different worlds, and grudges. It took so much to understand their feelings, but now, they could open their hearts to one another.
"Sorry if that brought up old memories," Jamil said softly.
Kalim shook his head, putting the lounge pillow to the side. "Memories exist for a reason. You actually reminded me of our promise that we made that night we played mancala."
"We always played mancala," Jamil noted. "You're going to have to be more specific than that."
Kalim chuckled and gazed out into the night sky. All of their floating lanterns were out of sight, leaving behind a vast starry view. The same moonlight that had reflected against Jamil's hair accessories came to visit once again. Even in the dark or the light, Jamil was beautiful; he always had been. But the view before Kalim cleared his head.
"It's okay," Kalim said, standing up. "It's really late, and I know you've spent all day making lanterns and setting up for the party. I don't want to bother you—"
"Hey, I don't think of you as a burden to me anymore. I promise." It was firm but affectionate all at once. "I'm curious now, so tell me."
"You said that when my hair is long enough, you'd braid it."
The corner of Jamil's lip turned upward. "So I was right; that wasn't a hallucination."
"Huh? You remember?"
Jamil nodded and turned his head to the side. He muttered, "When you said Deuce braided your hair, I was a bit jealous I wasn't the first one to do so."
"Aww, Jamil!" Kalim tossed himself onto his boyfriend the second time that day. Only, this time, they didn't fall over. "Don't be jealous," Kalim said, wrapping his arms around Jamil's neck.
"I said I was a bit jealous," Jamil insisted. His hands made their way to Kalim's hair, twirling a lock around his finger. "Want me to braid it now?"
"Yes, please!" Kalim exclaimed (maybe a bit too loudly). "I've been waiting for years."
Kalim carefully got off Jamil's lap and sat cross-legged on their carpet. Jamil took out his pen and quickly summoned a pitch-black hairbrush. It fell into his right hand with a quiet plop.
"Take off your headband," Jamil said before walking behind Kalim.
Smiling to himself, Kalim began to tug at his bow until it unraveled, falling gracefully into his hand. To his surprise, his hair didn't fall apart on him. Tossing the white and gold headband away, Kalim clapped his hands together and stuffed them inside his lap. Instantly, it felt like a weight was lifted from his head. The ponytail was removed in a snap, and the locks of hair that had created the braids spiraled out of their entanglement. It was fast—too fast.
Kalim whipped around to see that Jamil still had his magic pen in hand. "Jamil," he whined. "I don't want you to use magic."
"Calm down," Jamil hissed. "I'm just using magic to straighten your hair because it's been up all day. It doesn't do me any good if your hair is all wavy. I promise I won't use magic for the actual braiding."
The puzzle pieces in Kalim's head clicked together. "Ohh, okay, that makes a lot of sense," Kalim laughed.
"Now that I have your attention, what braid do you want?"
Images of his mother and sisters flashed through his head, but the finer details were fuzzy or missing. His memory wasn't sharp enough to fully envision what their hairstyles were like. The night ticking by didn't help with forming an answer; that much was evident by the yawn that left Kalim's lips.
Jamil chuckled softly. "Well, that answers my question. Turn around. I know what style to give you."
"Huh, what?"
"Just trust me. I won't do anything bad to you."
"I know you won't," Kalim said, readjusting his body to position himself away from Jamil.
Kalim rarely ever had other people's hands through his hair. Out of everyone—strangers and kidnappers with ill intentions, the Palace staff, and Deuce—Jamil was Kalim's favorite. He was battling to keep his eyes open during this loving moment. The way Jamil's hands combed through his white strands was insanely soothing. The motions were swift but gentle. Each action was carried out with special care. Every time the thick locks of hair crossed another, Kalim could feel the tenderness behind the pulling and tying. Before long, Kalim could feel a hair tie wrapping the ends together like a ribbon on a gift.
"A while back, Najma taught me how to style hair for sleeping," Jamil said. "It's not perfect because your hair isn't super long, but how does it feel?"
Kalim turned his head in all directions, getting a feel of the thick, singular braid that draped down his neck. His hand lightly traced the three intertwined locks. It was addictive, touching the smooth strands. Kalim didn't need a mirror to know that Jamil had done an amazing job.
Bouncing to his knees, Kalim leaned forward and kissed Jamil. Half of it missed Jamil's lips due to his wide smile.
"I love it!" Kalim said after pulling away. "Thank you, Jamil; you really are the best."
Jamil brought his hand up to cover the lower half of his face. Out of embarrassment or shock, Kalim didn't know. "I'll do more tomorrow when you're not seconds away from passing out."
"I'm not!" Another yawn escaped without warning. Kalim's gaze drifted to the same clump of pillows from before. Each one was calling his name. "Actually, maybe I am… I think I'll sleep out here tonight."
"Seriously? There's not even a blanket—"
"Night, Jamil," he murmured, letting gravity take him onto the rug and soft decorative pile. "Love you."
The last thing Kalim heard before being pulled into a dream was a sigh and a "Love you, too."