TWO YEARS PASSED — September 2018
(from the day the building started construction)
Egemed's fame had begun to rise. His works were spreading, his books becoming more and more popular, and through it all, Jerelr never once left his side, and the building they had started together was already halfway done.
It was a bright sunny day. Birds perched on the branches outside, chirping as if greeting the morning. A gentle wind moved through the valley, carrying the cool scent of autumn.
Egemed stood on the roof of his house, blinking rapidly against the sunlight as he stared toward the horizon.
He pulled out his phone and called Jerelr.
"Let's go fishing today," he said. "Down at the river."
The excitement in Jerelr's voice came instantly. "I would love that! What time?"
"Eleven, after lunch."
"But where?"
"At the river at the foot of the Valley of Breath."
"Ah—yes. The river we used to sit beside all the time."
"Exactly. Don't be late. I'll prepare the fish bait."
. . .
In the kitchen, Egemed was kneading the bait mixture, his fishing rod lying across the dining table.
His little brother slipped into the room silently, staring in disbelief.
"Brother… where are you going?" Heryl asked, wearing a crooked smirk.
"I'm going to catch a mermaid," Egemed replied cheerfully. "So I can marry her."
"A mermaid? Well… you are twenty-nine now. You should marry someone, at least."
He laughed, full and loud, at his brother's teasing.
Their mother entered the kitchen carrying vegetables. "Egemed? Put that fishing rod on the floor!"
He jolted upright from the bowl. "Ah—sorry, Mother. It's new. I forgot."
"So you're going to the river with Jerelr again?"
"Yes. I wanted to take Heryl too."
Heryl shook his head immediately. "No. Too hot outside. I'm staying here to help Mother."
"Alright then," Egemed said, amused.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in!" Mother called.
Jerelr stepped inside with a polite smile. "Good day, Mother."
Egemed's expression softened the moment he saw him—Jerelr was right on time.
"Make sure you catch some fish so we can dine together," Mother said with a little laugh.
"We will catch more than last time," Jerelr assured her.
For the past two years, whenever exhaustion weighed on them, the two would escape to the riverside together. They always made the same bet with Mother:
If they failed to catch anything, they would become household servants for three days—cleaning, sweeping, doing whatever she commanded.
But if they returned with fish, she would cook a delicious meal for all of them.
And they had never once come home empty-handed.
Egemed finished packing everything and slung the bag over his shoulder.
"Mother, we're leaving. Wish us luck."
"The same bet still stands," she warned.
He laughed. "Then I hope the oil and all those tasty ingredients will be ready when we come back."
"And if not," she replied with a grin, "you two are going to be my servants for three days."
They all laughed together before stepping outside.
As they walked down the familiar road, Egemed turned to Jerelr.
"Why did you ask me where we were going, when I already said fishing?"
Jerelr rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
"I was spacing out… I forgot about our Valley of Breath river."
Egemed smiled softly. "Mmm…"
They descended the slope of the Valley of Breath together, laughing as they went. Every few steps, one of them would throw out a ridiculous suggestion of what chores they'd have to do if they failed to catch even a single fish. The teasing grew louder the closer they came to the river, their moods light and carefree.
When they finally reached the water, they settled down and cast their lines.
After a moment of quiet, Jerelr spoke softly.
"Brother Ege… do you mind if I ask you something?"
Egemed smiled and nodded for him to continue.
"If… if I said that I love you, what would you do?"
"Oh, I love you too. Why?" Egemed replied casually.
"No," Jerelr whispered, face warming, "I mean… not like a brother. Or a friend. But… as… lovers."
Egemed raised a hand to his chin and pretended to think seriously. "Well… that, I can't do."
"Why not?"
"Because it feels weird. We're men," he said with a playful grin.
Jerelr sat down with a soft plop, leaning forward, head resting on his knees. He let out a long sigh.
"I feel like I'm starting to have feelings for you."
Egemed blinked, stunned. For a second he simply stared at him, thinking Jerelr was joking again—just like all the other times he teased him about being handsome, or about liking him.
"Hah! Don't start that again," he said with a chuckle.
Jerelr lifted his head slightly. "Haha… Brother Ege, when do you plan to marry?"
"I'm not sure," Egemed answered. "The building isn't finished yet. I thought once it's done and we start running it, then we can look for someone else. Unless…" He raised a brow. "Do you want to find someone now?"
"No, I'm just asking. We're in our late twenties already."
"For me," Egemed said, "I'm fine even if I don't find anyone. I'll just look after my parents… and run that building with you."
"Really?"
"Yes" Egemed nodded.
Jerelr gave a mischievous smirk. "Then… can I wait for you?"
Egemed matched the expression immediately. "Oh, I would love that so much, darling."
Jerelr burst out laughing. "HAHAHA!"
"Quiet!" Egemed hissed, laughing along. "If we scare away the fish, Mother will make us her servants for three days."
Jerelr covered his mouth with both hands. "Ah yes, you're right."
The river wind brushed gently through their hair, calm and soft. Egemed's eyes stayed fixed on his fishing line, feeling the faintest vibration as a fish nibbled at his hook. Jerelr watched him quietly, a gentle smile spreading across his face.
Then, in a sudden breathless voice, Jerelr asked, "Will you marry me if I wait for you?"
Without a word, Egemed stood and strode gracefully toward the riverbank, glancing back at Jerelr with a mischievous smirk. He bent at the waist in an exaggerated bow, one hand pressed to his chest as if greeting a king, his back arched dramatically.
"Yes, my dear beloved Jerelr," he declared.
Jerelr couldn't contain himself at the sight of Egemed, feeling a mix of excitement, amusement, and playful mockery. He leapt up and ran toward him, tackling him in a hug so strong that they both tumbled into the river, clothes and all, completely soaked.
When Jerelr's head finally broke the surface of the river, he blinked rapidly, water dripping from his hair, expecting anger, a scolding—anything from Egemed. But instead, Egemed stood there, droplets sliding from his wet hair down his neck and eyelashes, his face lit with a wide, unrestrained laugh, as if plunging into the river had been the highlight of the day.
For a long, suspended moment, they just stared at each other—water shimmering on their skin, the river rippling around them, the sunlight catching droplets midair. Then, without warning, their laughter erupted together, loud and uncontrollable, echoing across the valley as if the world itself were joining in their joy.
Water dripped from their hair and sleeves. Then Egemed laughed and flicked his hand, sending a splash of water straight at Jerelr's face. "Here's the big fish!" he shouted between laughs, pointing at Jerelr, who sputtered and wiped water from his eyes.
Jerelr splashed him back in mock protest. "Ah yes! And with this handsome big fish, three more months!"
"Oh please, you're handsome too," Egemed shot back, laughing so hard his chest ached. "If you were a woman, we'd already be married by now."
"Ahahaha… maybe in another life," Jerelr replied, shaking water from his hair, his grin impossibly wide.
The laughter slowly faded, leaving only the soft murmur of the river. Egemed looked at Jerelr carefully.
"Do you really love me like a lover, Jerelr?"
Jerelr didn't answer. The silence stretched.
"Tell me…" Egemed whispered.