Főnix

Phoenix

Part 47: The Lights of the Forest

After the kiss, for a few seconds they simply stand there in silence. The air vibrates between them, as if they can still feel each other’s touch.

Phoenix’s lips tremble slightly, her breathing still uneven.
Albatross’s gaze rests nowhere else—only on her.

PHOENIX (softly, confused):
“W–What was that?”

ALBATROSS (leaning a little closer):
“What do you think?”

Phoenix would step back, but she’s already against the wall. He’s too close. Her hand slips instinctively to his chest to keep distance… yet she doesn’t push him away—she only touches him.

PHOENIX:
“I… I don’t understand… why are you doing this?”

ALBATROSS:
“Because I can’t keep quiet about what I feel anymore.”

Phoenix swallows hard, her heart pounding as if it might burst.
They stand exactly like two people who are both overwhelmed—yet drawn together by something unstoppable.

PHOENIX:
“But… I… you… this… this is too fast…”

ALBATROSS (gently):
“Then we slow down.”

Albatross takes a small step back, but remains close enough that Phoenix can still feel his breath. The movement is full of respect—the same gentle withdrawal.

ALBATROSS:
“I don’t want to force you into anything. I just… couldn’t keep watching you talk to someone else.”
(a soft smile)
“And I couldn’t stand the way you blushed next to Mert.”

PHOENIX (indignant, though her voice trembles):
“I did not blush!”

ALBATROSS:
“You did.”

Flustered, Phoenix turns away and begins walking around the cabin, as if suddenly everything interests her—the shelves, the couch, even the candles.

Exactly the way she does when she’s running from her own feelings.

ALBATROSS:
“Phoenix…”

She stops, keeping her back to him, because if she looked at him, she’d blush again.

PHOENIX:
“This is all… too much. Too sudden. I just… I don’t know what to do with it.”

Albatross steps closer behind her, but doesn’t touch her—only stands near enough that every nerve in her body feels his presence.

ALBATROSS:
“You don’t have to decide anything tonight. You don’t have to say anything.”
(gently)
“Just know that what I feel isn’t fleeting, isn’t a momentary impulse. It’s not jealousy speaking.”

Phoenix slowly turns around, carefully, as if afraid that one wrong movement might make everything fall apart.

PHOENIX:
“And what if I… don’t yet know what I feel?”

ALBATROSS:
“Then I’ll wait. As long as it takes.”
(smiling with warmth)
“But I won’t ask you to deny what you felt a moment ago.”

Phoenix’s eyes glimmer, but she lowers her gaze—the intensity is too much.

PHOENIX:
“I’m not denying it. I’m just… afraid.”

ALBATROSS:
“I know.”

He gently, barely perceptibly takes Phoenix’s hand.
He doesn’t pull her closer—he simply holds it.

ALBATROSS:
“Stay here tonight. We’ll just talk. Nothing else.”

Phoenix slowly nods.

Albatross’s smile softens, but he doesn’t move closer—he respects her boundaries.

The fire crackles in the fireplace, outside the forest is dark and silent, and inside, between the two of them, a powerful tension continues to vibrate.