THE sound of digging could be heard. Two pairs of hands rummaged over the rich soil like they're finding a treasure beneath it. The first guy, the one who digs carelessly and sputters bits of dirt all over-a man with ashen hair tied in a ponytail and matching cat ears atop keeps on singing a song full of, "nyanyanya" as the lyrics. Aegir's pink shirt drenched in sweat, white long appendage on his back sways back and forth as he sings.
"Hey, watch it! I already told you! Be gentle. Gardening isn't just a play thing! " The other guy scolded him. The guy swatted his hand, lips tight and serious.
Aegir's eyes watered. His pink lips started to pout. "B-But! I'm already doing it right! I'll plant catnips here. " He raised both his index fingers and joined them together; green orbs twinkling, asking the other man's sympathy.
The other man, on the other hand, remained serious, eyes sharp like gold spikes. He shook his head, making his neck-length hair sway. He adjusted the sleeves of his red checkered polo-shirt. "Look at me, again, okay? Do you want the plant to die? " he pointed at the huge hole Aegir made.
Aegir moved his head to say no. "This is not for plants, do you want to bury something here? It's so deep!" Aegir's head hung low, and he started to hiccup.
"Don't you dare cry again!"
Anthony sighed. He lifted up the sleeves of his polo. Silently berating himself why he used this under the heat of the sun plus double workload because of someone who keeps on playing with dirt!
"Watch me okay? " He gently dug the soil with his hand, when he felt that the soil was hard, he got his trovell and worked. He started to unpacked a sachet of lettuce seed and placed it in the soil.
"It's true, enjoyment is essential but plants are just like you, they have life so you should take good care of them. " Anthony smiled, his dimples showing. His face radiated serenity making him more ethereal than he usually is, his masculinity highlighted.
Anthony's long lashes started batting like a beautiful swallowtail fluttering its wings in a summer day and for Aegir, if there's something more breathtaking than those lashes-it is the pair of golden eyes as if those registered a pool of happiness, rivalling the golden sun in the sky.
Aegir couldn't help but to stare. He never saw Anthony smile like this before. Anthony is always there shouting in frustration for whatever problem he had, brows locking with each other, and lips in a stressed line.
"Then you need to talk to them, say that they should grow well. They will listen to you. " Anthony covered the hole with the soil. "Then after we finish planting this line, we will water them. Okay? " He raised his hand and did a thumbs up.
Aegir just nodded his head. "We will not plant catnip? You said lettuce for this row?" his voice sounded disappointed, "Tibby and Tabby would be sad if we don't plant it. "
Anthony snickered and pointed at the other row two meter away from the lettuce row. "The cat nip would be planted there, we shouldn't mix the same plants in a row, okay? Be patient. " Anthony reached Aegir's head and patted him, which in return sent heat on Aegir's cheeks.
He was never patted by a human before, all he has received was abuse but now this was all new to him.
"Speaking of Tibby and Tabby, where are those little devils?" Anthony asked, cleaning the dirt in his hands.
Aegir squished his cheeks. "I don't know, they were here a while ago causing kitty troubles with your garden tools. Maybe they're outside? " His eyes were full of wonder, blinking continuously.
Anthony's brows creased. "What do you mean outside? " he dug another hole again in the left using his trovell as he spoke.
"Outside. I opened the gate? " Aegir said innocently.
Instead of the soil, Anthony hit his hand using the trovell. "Damn! Why did you open the gate? Do you want your cats to wander around and get lost?! " Anthony's voice raised, maybe because he's mad or his now bloodied hand radiated pain into his system or it can also be both.
Anthony stood up from his planting position, face stoic as if he didn't want to show that he got hurt (but a drop of tear wants to escape from his left eye). "Now, you. Let's get your cats back. " Aegir couldn't help but to only whimper as he stared at the dripping blood coating Anthony's fingers.
"What about your wound? Aegir's face's gloomy, his eyes registering guilt as he was stopping himself from crying again.
Anthony's face cringed as he saw his own blood. He tried to remain calm and gulped a lump full of saliva, his Adam's apple moving up and down. "Don't worry about my wound. Let's get them first-"
As he was about to complete his statement, a cat's hiss interrupted, followed by a loud screeching.