Two months had passed since Kareem and Santi had started to make things official, and now, as Kareem stood in the middle of their living room, it all felt like a dream. The apartment they had found together was small, but it was theirs. The walls, once bare, were now filled with pictures of the two of them, moments frozen in time-a snapshot of their lives. The couch was worn from too many late nights spent tangled in each other, the kitchen always had the faint scent of Santi's cooking, and the bedroom... well, the bedroom felt like home.
Santi had been home all day, lounging around the place, filling it with his energy, his laughter, his touch. Kareem had gotten used to him being everywhere-his laugh echoing through the halls, the soft hum of music from his phone, the way Santi would steal kisses when Kareem wasn't looking.
And now, as Santi sat on the couch, scrolling through his phone, Kareem couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment that he hadn't expected to feel so soon.
"You need to relax," Kareem said, his voice light but pointed. Santi had been busy all day-cleaning, organizing, doing random tasks-and even though Kareem loved seeing him so active, he could tell it was wearing on him.
Santi looked up from his phone, his lips curving into a lazy grin. "I'm relaxed," he said, his voice teasing, but there was a hint of exhaustion in his eyes that gave him away.
Kareem rolled his eyes but couldn't hold back the smile tugging at his lips. He walked over to the couch and sat down beside Santi, his arm brushing against Santi's as he settled into the cushions. Without hesitation, Santi leaned into him, resting his head on Kareem's shoulder.
"I'm proud of you, you know that?" Kareem said quietly, his hand moving to Santi's hair, absentmindedly running his fingers through it. "We've come a long way from where we started."
Santi lifted his head slightly, locking eyes with Kareem. His smile softened, the playful energy slipping away for a moment. "Yeah, we have." His voice was low, genuine. "I still can't believe we're here. Together, like this. I mean, shit-sometimes it feels like I'm dreaming, like this all can't be real. But I know it is."
Kareem didn't say anything right away, just focused on the feel of Santi against him, the warmth of his body, the steady rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. He'd never imagined this for himself, never thought he'd end up in a place where he didn't need to hide, where he could just be-just live. With Santi.
"I love you," Kareem whispered, his voice soft, a quiet declaration that felt as natural as breathing now.
Santi's smile widened at the words, his eyes sparkling with something deeper than just affection. He leaned in and kissed Kareem, slow and sweet, a kiss that said everything that words couldn't. When they pulled apart, Santi's thumb brushed over Kareem's lips as he looked at him with a softness that made Kareem's heart race.
"I love you too, papi. More than you know."
Kareem shifted a little, feeling the familiar nervous flutter in his chest. He hadn't fully gotten used to saying it out loud all the time, but with Santi, it was easier. Every day, he felt more certain about his feelings. More sure that this was where he was meant to be.
Santi moved to sit up straighter, pulling Kareem into his lap, the way he always did when he wanted closeness. Kareem didn't protest, though-he never did anymore. It was just normal now, being this close, being with Santi.
"Guess we're officially living together, huh?" Kareem said, his voice playful, though there was a hint of something deeper in it.
"Guess so," Santi replied, his arms wrapping around Kareem, holding him close. He kissed his neck softly, his lips brushing against his skin in a way that made Kareem's breath catch. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."
The warmth of Santi's embrace, the way his hands rubbed circles against Kareem's back, it all felt so right. Kareem relaxed into the touch, resting his head on Santi's chest as Santi hummed softly to himself, a quiet, content sound.
Santi didn't need to speak to express how much this all meant to him. His actions said it all-how he held Kareem, how he kissed him, how he made sure that every moment felt like it mattered.
"I was thinking..." Santi started after a few minutes of comfortable silence, his voice a little more serious. "We should take a trip soon. Just us. Go somewhere far away, where no one knows us, where it's just us."
Kareem pulled back slightly to look at him, raising an eyebrow. "You sure you want to leave the city behind? You kinda like your comfort zone."
Santi laughed, a deep, rich sound that always made Kareem smile. "I like my comfort zone because you're in it. But I think it's time we make some new memories. Go somewhere, just the two of us."
Kareem smiled, his heart swelling with the thought. "Sounds good to me."
They sat there for a while longer, just enjoying the quiet and the comfort of each other's presence. They didn't need to say much to know what the other was thinking. They were a team now, in this apartment, in life. Whatever came next, they would face it together.
And for the first time, Kareem didn't feel the need to run from what he was feeling. He had Santi now. And Santi had him.
Everything else could wait. They had time. And they had each other.