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One day Adam asked when is Rahim's birthday, and it turned out it's quite soon. Thus started a more or less subtle campaign of asking what the soon-to-be birthday boy would like to receive or do.
And Rahim said:
"You know those huge aquariums where the entire wall is made out of glass and you can walk around and look at the things swimming inside?"
"Yeah." Adam nodded.
"I want to go somewhere like that. I've been to a couple places like that in France, but I haven't visited any in England."
Adam nodded again, and to Rahim this could've been the end of the topic.
Little did he know that was only the beginning.
Because later that day Adam was in his room googling the nearest aquarium he could bring Rahim to. And there was one, quite massive, 3 hours away if you take the bus.
So the next weekend he set out on a mission. He took the bus out of town on an early Saturday morning, looking out at the rolling hills and small towns on his way.
When he finally arrived at his destination, he was quite amazed. You see, Adam has never been to a place like this before. Sure, he went to the zoo a couple of times in the past, and there were big aquariums there, but they never were entire buildings dedicated to housing sea creatures of all shapes, origins and sizes.
He walked through to buy a ticket and went inside.
He spent several hours walking through dark rooms, observing the sea animals through glass walls. Sea snails caught his attention, with how elegantly they almost danced through the water, and how their skin shimmered in the light exposing their beautiful colours.
He also felt a strange kind of kinship with a family of manatees, especially one of the older ones. It moved slowly, deliberately, some would say almost lazily, but Adam knows. He knows every move of the creature is thoughtful and calculated, that in all of their clumsiness they are intelligent and absolutely wonderful.
Finally, the aquarium spit him out on the other side, and he walked out in a daze, still managing to register the gift shops and a busy café, which seemed to have an aquatic theme in all of their drinks and dishes.
Adam boarded the bus back home, nodding to himself quietly.
"Yeah. This is the place."
Precisely one week away from Rahim's birthday Adam asked him quite innocently:
"Do you have any plans for Thursday next week?"
Rahim took a second to register what he's asking about. A smile crept onto his lips.
"I don't, actually. Why?"
"I want to take you out on a date" replied Adam, shooting him a smile as confident as it was mysterious.
"Oh? And where will we be going?"
"It's a surprise." replied Adam. "I'll text you the time."
They agreed on the time and the days went by, until it was finally Rahim's birthday. Adam was very proud of himself, since he managed to go an entire week without blurting out what he was planning. Given how excited he was it was really difficult for him.
So then they met on an early Thursday morning at the same bus stop Adam took off from a while ago.
Rahim looked incredible, as always. His curls have been growing out, giving him a fluffy, soft look, which goes great with his big, beautiful eyes. He really was like a cat. Adam loved playing with his hair when Rahim was resting his head on Adam's lap. That would have to wait until later though.
Rahim tried asking where they were going time and time again, but Adam managed to keep it together and not say a word. When the bus came they took a seat, Rahim sitting by the window. He stayed cautious the entire ride, trying to make out where they could be going, but to no avail - he's never been to the area.
It wasn't until the bus made it's way into the aquarium car park that something in Rahim's head clicked.
"We're going to the aquarium." he stated very matter-of-factly.
"Yes!" Adam replied, a huge grin blooming on his face now that he didn't have to keep the secret anymore. But then, inevitably, a little bit of worry set in. "Is that okay? Should we go back?"
The look in Rahim's eyes softened. He leaned in and kissed Adam's cheek.
"Absolutely not. You've had an amazing idea, Adam".
A wave of relief washed over Adam, and he rested their foreheads together for a moment.
When the bus finally stopped, they stepped out and made their way inside, holding hands.
This time Adam thought even further ahead and booked two tickets, so that they didn't have to wait in line. They walked in, and the magic began.
Adam was already amazed by the place when he went there alone, but he couldn't have predicted Rahim's reaction.
His boyfriend was absolutely transfixed by everything he saw.
He really reminded Adam of a cat that entire day. His eyes shone, pupils huge in the darkened rooms. His eyes darted to any sort of movement from the aquariums, and at times he pulled Adam by the hand like a little kid rushing their parent to go further ahead with them.
For the most time Adam just stood there, and truth be told, he just stared at Rahim. He mentally patted himself on the back for deciding to come here by himself first, since he knew he wasn't missing out on anything he hasn't seen before, and looking at Rahim when he was happy was honestly all he could've asked for.
Eventually they ended up in front of one of the largest glass walls in the facility, and behind it - an aquarium with jellyfish of all kinds, colours and sizes. The two of them stood there for several minutes, until something about Rahim caught Adam's attention.
"Hey, are you okay?" he asked, gently squeezing Rahim's hand.
His question was met with silence. He looked at Rahim purposefully, and saw that there were tears in his boyfriend's eyes.
"Yeah" he replied finally, when he noticed Adam staring. "It's just... they're so beautiful."
"They really are" Adam replied after a moment, taking the time to really look at the jellyfish, wondering what Rahim saw in them that has moved him so much.
Until it hit him. He truly couldn't believe he hasn't thought of it before.
"You see beauty in everything that surrounds you".
"Huh?" asked Rahim, gently pulled out of his trance.
"So much in the world amazes you." Adam said slowly. "Sometimes it feels like you're an alien and it's your first day on Earth. And just... It's amazing, seeing you be so in love with everything around you. Just... like I said. You see beauty in everything that surrounds you."
Rahim was staring at him quietly the entire time he was talking. He got used to Adam's quiet demeanour, which made moments he said a little more than usual all the more special and profound. It's really those fleeting moments that show the contents of his heart, aside from the poetry he still writes.
And Rahim cherishes every single one of these moments.
"Well..." he said, sniffling quietly. "That's because there is beauty in everything that surrounds me."
Adam smiled in response and closed the space between them, kissing Rahim's forehead and wrapping his arms around his boyfriend.
They stood like that for a long time, just looking at the jellyfish and enjoying each other's company. Eventually Rahim gently wriggled out of Adam's embrace, and, taking his hand, led him ahead without a word.
They spent some more time in front of the beluga whale, giggling as it repeatedly headbutted the glass separating them.
Then, they spent a lot of time in front of the aquarium housing seals. Rahim looked at every single one of them with a sense of childlike wonder.
"Of course" Adam thought. "They're basically water cats, aren't they?"
After what felt like millennia, they slowly walked out the aquarium, heading towards the exit.
They were well on their way out, until Rahim stopped in his tracks, Adam jerking backwards since they were holding hands the entire time.
Rahim was standing in front of one of the gift shops, locking eyes with a particularly large plush toy resembling a grey seal.
Adam looked at Rahim, then at the plush seal, then at Rahim again.
"Do you... do you want the seal?"
Rahim slowly nodded without a word.
"Alright"
Adam took the seal and stepped inside the shop to pay. He wouldn't be surprised if the toy was one of the most expensive things they had, given the attention to detail.
But no price is too high for Adam when he gets to see Rahim's smile light up his entire face, seeing his boyfriend walk out with the huge plush seal in his hands.
Adam immediately handed the toy to the birthday boy, who took it gratefully.
And then, with one hand holding the seal, and the other - Adam's hand, Rahim walked out of the building, into the cool air of the late afternoon.
They were standing at the bus stop waiting for their ride back home, when Rahim nudged Adam's arm with his face.
"Thank you" he said into the sleeve of his hoodie.
"Sure." Adam replied. "Happy birthday"
Rahim muttered something in response, and they just stood there, huddled closely, until the bus came. They sat down, placing the seal between them, and then the bus took off. They spent the ride back talking quietly, discussing the animals they saw. Or rather, it was mostly Rahim excitedly talking about every single animal that stole his heart today, and Adam just listening and looking at him, knowing fully well who it was that his own heart belongs to.
When they arrived to Moordale, Adam walked Rahim back to the front of Yusuf's shop, thinking that was it.
Except Rahim wasn't letting go of his hand.
Adam raised his eyebrows, to which Rahim asked:
"Do you want to come upstairs? Yusuf won't be home until tomorrow, so if you want we could..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Adam nodded enthusiastically. He really reminded Rahim of a golden retriever in moments like that.
And with that Rahim pulled Adam into the shop, and then through the door leading to the flat upstairs.
Rahim led his boyfriend into his bedroom, closing the door behind them. He placed the plush seal on the chair, and when Adam wrapped his arms around him and kissed his lips like they haven't seen each other in a thousand years, he couldn't help but think:
"This is the best birthday ever."