ETHEREAL BLUE

kdrop of Korea and Nigeria. As you immerse yourself in this story, please note that the dialogue and

your imagination and 'hear' the words in your mind's ear. Envision the rhythmic cadence of Kore

the universality of love, as our characters navigate the complexities of

OL

HI

my skin after a punishing 5,000-meter run. Sweat beaded on my skin, tracing its path down my chest, sparkling beneath the dim lights. My reflection in the metal lockers caug

I t

fr

gure stood a few feet away, someone I didn't recognize. His presence was like a shock

ething from another time, the rich colors catching the faint glow of the fluorescent lights. His hair, long and neatly tied back, framed his face like a work of art. High che

sweat that slid down my neck, down my chest, and stopped just above my navel. His expression was hard to place-some

ers clenched around the towel, but my voice came out steady,

y tone sharper than I meant. "Wetin be this one

a sadness in those eyes, something that went deeper than time itself, like a soul worn by years of longi

lin

ike that,

d, he was there, the next, the air where h

sed in on me now, thick and heavy. Was I imagining things? Maybe the exhaustion was playing trick

happened-something told me this

SO

sed to be here

hazy from the steam. I was struggling, battling the black hole that threatened to drag me into oblivion. My

I was about to giv

, and the next, he was there, stepping out from behind the lockers like

en anyone li

dges of muscle that rippled with every breath he took. His chest was broad, tapering down to a narrow waist, his six-pack defined and fla

damp hair, traveling down his neck, gliding over his collarbone, and slidi

t I stop

like a magnet, as though he was pulling me in without even trying. He moved with an effort

ing? Why does he

I couldn't stop myself. Something about him was different, ma

ned, and ou

back slightly, his towel clutched in one hand. "Whoa, dude! Where did yo

iver down my spine, even as his words snapped me back to reality. I

ak? Why am I ac

e his left brow, the way his lips parted slightly as if waiting for

g. Anything.

coul

l-the way the light hit his skin, the beads of water on his

ing him standing there alone, towel in hand

ar from him, my chest ached w

did I feel like... I was