Your First Kite
At a pavilion surrounded by a lush beautiful field, a young boy sat before a stool, his attention completely on a book in his hands. Not far away from him, young boys around his age played wildly in the open field, the kites in their hands floating in the air as they raced each other.
One of them laughed, catching Xander’s attention. He looked up from his book and studied the boy who had just laughed. There was a way his laughter lit up his eyes. He seemed to be poking fun at another boy whose kite had got caught up in the wind.
Xander leaned forward, his eyes tracing the boy’s soft features. He had a small build that jerked as he laughed. His golden curls dazzled brightly in the sun. Looking at him from such a far distance, he appeared like a sacred figure. Something so pure and full of light. Something Xander lacked so much.
He heard footsteps approaching the pavilion. As the pack maid dropped his afternoon tea on the stool, he asked, “Who is that boy? The blonde one.”
The palace maid turned and looked ahead at where the boys were playing. “Oh, his name is Waylon. He is the child of the new pack maid the Luna recently hired.”
Xander nodded and picked up the cup of tea.
The new pack maid’s child?
No wonder he hadn’t seen the boy before in the packhouse. He was about to take a sip when a whoosh of something swept into his direction. He looked up and was slapped in the face with a flying kite. The hot tea splashed on his face in the process.
He groaned, furrowing his brow as he glared at the direction the kite had flown up from. The lines on his forehead smoothed when he saw Waylon running towards him with a panicked expression. His hair swept like a storm in the wind as he ran.
Xander dropped the cup, his eyes still fixed on Waylon.
Not long after, Waylon stopped before him, his chest heaving.
He looked at Xander with guilt. “I’m sorry. The wind got heavy, I didn’t expect it to bring the kite to your dir—“ Waylon’s face froze as he saw the smear of tea on Xander’s face. It had formed a makeshift beard, making Xander look older than his age. He looked like one of the elders. Imagining Xander with white hair and beard, Waylon burst out in laughter.
Xander blinked twice.
Waylon’s laughter echoed around him, like a warm coat. He should be angry. The child of a pack maid was laughing at the alpha heir, but he wasn’t. Hearing Waylon’s laughter up close warmed his heart.
“Wipe that silly laughter and apologize properly to the Alpha heir!” The maid who had served him his tea snapped at Waylon.
Waylon stiffened, fear returning to his eyes. He looked away from Xander and bowed. “I’m sorry, Alpha heir. I shouldn’t have let the kite hit you!”
Xander tightened his hand and glared at the maid. “Leave.”
“But Alpha heir, the boy—“
“The boy is none of your concern!”
The maid nodded rapidly and rushed out of the pavilion.
Even after she had gone, Waylon didn’t raise his head. Xander used that moment to study him. His skin was darker than his, evident that he had spent more time in the sun than was needed yet he looked radiant.
Xander sighed and relaxed a little against the stool. “Are you going to remain there while the tea dries up on my face?”
The boy jerked and looked back at Xander’s face. “I can help you—“ he paused, the side of his lips tightening as he tried to shove back his laughter. He looked down again. Xander caught a glimpse of his laughter before he looked up with a straight face and moved close to Xander.
He looked around the pavilion in confusion. “Do you have a handkerchief?”
Xander nodded towards his hand. “Use your sleeve.”
Waylon held the hem of his sleeve, looking hesitant. “Are you sure? It’s wet.”
Instead of talking, Xander picked up Waylon’s hand and moved his sleeve along his face. While he was doing that, Waylon looked down at the book he was reading and grimaced.
“That looks very boring.”
“It is.”
“You have been reading this all day, haven’t you?”
Xander nodded. “I have. I’m preparing for Alpha training camp.”
Waylon shook his head and brought his face to Xander’s level. “It must be so hard being the Alpha heir, isn’t it?”
Xander blinked, his gaze lost in the blueness of Waylon’s eyes. It took him a long time to grasp what Waylon had said to him.
Waylon stretched his hand towards him. “Join me. Let’s fly the kite together.”
Xander looked at Waylon’s outstretched hand. He reached out, locked his hand into Waylon’s hand, and stood up. He turned Waylon’s hand in his, wondering how each of his fingers appeared so delicate despite feeling so rough.
Waylon’s smile broadened.
He picked up the kite and led Xander back to the open field. The other boys stopped playing and stiffened as Xander got near. They paved the way for him, their hand gripping their kite tightly. Xander’s chest tightened at their action, but he focused his attention back on Waylon.
“Have you ever flown a kite?”
Xander shook his head.
Waylon’s eyes widened.
“You haven’t?!” He asked. “How is that possible?”
He crossed his hands and looked around the field.
“You need a kite. You know how to make one?”
Xander shook his head again.
“It’s actually simple. I can teach you.”
Waylon and Xander went under a tree. Waylon urged Xander to sit beside him as he taught him how to make a kite. Once he had made one, Waylon gestured to it with a smile. “Here you have it. Your very first kite.”
Xander traced his hand along the fabric of the kite and smiled. “Indeed, it is.”
Waylon nodded and smiled back at Xander.
And just in that moment, Xander knew he would do anything to bask in Waylon’s presence.
