[ For a moment, Kaveh can offer nothing more than terrified silence, and then Alhaitham's mouth comes down on his and he knows. The words that follow clarify, confirm, but the kiss is what tells him, all feeling and gentleness and words that shouldn't need to be spoken, even if Kaveh needs to hear them. It's silence that remains on his lips as Alhaitham talks, explains himself, tells their history from his perspective— he's had feelings since they were students, he says, and Kaveh has never felt so stupid. All this time, he's been running, throwing up walls like his life depended on it, and— ]

Alhaitham...

[ He's lost for words, but his mind is alight with feeling and thought. Over and over, all he can think is how much of a fool he's been, how much time he's wasted for them.

Fresh tears sparkle in the corners of his eyes, and the dam of words breaks. ]

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I've been so busy trying to put walls between us that I didn't see you looking at me too. Of course I'm in love with you. I have been for so long, Alhaitham. But I was— I'm scared. What if things fall apart again? What if you realize.. what if you see me and you want to leave?

[ He's trying to explain himself in turn, but he doesn't realize he's talking in potentials even now, rather than thoughts he's had in the past. ]

I couldn't handle it. I can't lose you, not again.

[ Now, perhaps, his desperation in trying to push Alhaitham away from him will be clearer. ]