Kiss the Stranger

I must have fallen asleep late, because when I opened my eyes the sun was already high overhead. Rubbing my gritty eyes, I tried to move—but suddenly someone folded me into his arms.
“Did you sleep well?”

Kamar asked, kissing my brow. Only then did I realize his arm had been wrapped securely around my waist all night. Unlike me, he looked completely refreshed. He must’ve slept soundly. Dodging his impending kiss, I said,
“I have to get up now… I haven’t finished my work yet….”
Since he’d mentioned my scent last night, I’d felt somehow uneasy around him. Unaware of my worry, Kamar asked innocently,

“What work? I’ll help you—let’s rest today.”
As though he intended to lounge on the bed all day, he clung to me again. I felt a strong temptation, but I couldn’t ignore reality. Pushing him away, I said,
“I have to finish the tapestries. I haven’t completed a single one yet.”

I’d almost finished one, but two still remained. Since he’d arrived early, I needed at least a week’s worth done before Ghurab came. But more than half the month had passed and I hadn’t finished even one. At this rate, two—let alone three—were out of the question.
I hurried off the bed and Kamar reluctantly let me go. I washed the stiff sweat and dried semen off by the water’s edge, then returned inside. Kamar still stayed on the bed, only now propped up. I forced my gaze from his naked body to his shoulder, thinking I should check his wound before starting work.
“I came to look at the bandage.”
No sooner had I said that than Kamar’s hand shot out to stop me. He lowered it with a discontented look, and I unwound the bandage and examined his shoulder. Then I nodded.

“You don’t need a bandage anymore.”
The wound had healed cleanly. We’d been ridiculously short on medicine, so I was relieved.
“You must have amazing immunity. I’m down for weeks if I catch a cold.”

It sounded plausible after I said it. Aside from nightmares, Kamar hadn’t fallen ill. Since his fever at the start, he hadn’t needed medicine—only once did he stubbornly take some. Seeing his strong build, the guess seemed reliable. He must have exercised a lot before losing his memory. His height and sturdy frame were probably innate too.
Awkwardly recalling my own frail body made me feel ashamed. When I glanced away, Kamar said,
“You should rewrap it.”

“I said you don’t need it. No bleeding, and it’s all closed. It’s better to leave it open.”
Yet I still couldn’t relax completely. Only after applying disinfectant again did I feel safe. Just one more dressing today—it’ll heal perfectly after that.
Resolved, I stood up. I put the disinfectant back in the medicine box and lifted it—but Kamar appeared behind me and grabbed it. Before I knew it, he’d taken the box and placed it on the top shelf of the cupboard.

“If you leave it there, I won’t be able to reach it later….”

Realizing my mistake, I protested, and Kamar replied nonchalantly,
“I can get it down for you. Just ask, anytime.”

He wasn’t wrong, but I knew it wouldn’t be easy to ask each time. Demanding he bring it down felt stubborn. But I wouldn’t need it often….
I compromised and nodded.
“All right.”

No time to waste. I had to start working. Today I’d finish one and get halfway through the next. Only about a week remained. Time was so short.
My urgency was interrupted by Rikal blocking my path. His mewing and pacing told me he was hungry. I turned back toward the kitchen. As I boiled water, lit the fire, and got out the rice, Kamar suddenly said,
“I’m here.”

“Mm, I know.”
I answered absently and rushed to continue. Just as I set out the dishes, someone yanked my waist from behind.
“Eeek!”
I nearly dropped the dishes. Clutching them, I spun around to see Kamar looking down at me.

“I told you I’d help.”
His face had no trace of amusement. Only then did I realize how frustrated he was that I hadn’t asked.
“Oh—um, then…”

Unaccustomed to asking for help, I hesitated, then noticed the dishes in my hands.
“Could you set these on the table?”
Kamar frowned, as if at the triviality, but wordlessly took them and placed them. Returning immediately, he asked,

“Anything else?”
This time I asked him to stir the pot. He silently grabbed the ladle and swirled the contents. The enormous man stirring a small pot looked almost comical, but to me it was utterly endearing.
Endearing?

Realizing that, I panicked. No, no—I didn’t think that! Kamar would leave this place eventually. I was only being kind, though I’d done so much more than usual because of the mood. But that didn’t mean I had any other feelings—none at all! Absolutely none.
I shook my head and hurriedly pulled out some fish to prepare Rikal’s meal. As I busied myself with my back to Kamar, the rice finished cooking, and its nutty aroma spread through the room.

With Kamar’s help, the table looked quite feast-like. I fried olives in oil, cut open dates to scoop out the flesh and candied it in sugar. Soon I’d obtain pomegranate saplings and make juice from the ripe fruit. Just thinking about it cheered me.

The problem was I didn’t have time to savor any of it. As soon as we finished eating, I jumped up to clear the table.
“Leave it.”
For days Kamar had been doing the cleaning, so I at least wanted to clear the dishes. But he gripped my wrist and stopped me.

“Get back to work. I’ll take care of this.”
“Thank you.”
I said gratefully and hurried to my workspace. From behind me, I felt him gathering the dishes and taking them outside to wash. Rikal went back to his spot, purring contentedly, and I set to work, his purr the background music.
Kamar continued to be a great help—not only serving food but handling all the chores I skipped. The only exception was playing with Rikal; for some reason the cat hated him. Apart from that, everything went smoothly—except one thing.

Again, after clearing and refilling the water jug, Kamar sat behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist as naturally as breathing.
“Ah—.”
Though I’d expected it, I nearly made a mistake. Instead of glaring, ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) I sighed and reached back to pat Kamar’s head resting on my shoulder. It had become part of the daily routine.

From then on, Kamar tried to sniff my scent at every opportunity. He’d always been like that, but now he clung to me, constantly smelling me, touching me, and kissing me.
Not even work provided an exception. If anything, working was his perfect chance. Seated immobile behind me, he boldly wrapped his arms around my waist, pressing his nose to my neck, hair, or shoulder, clinging tight.
At first I told him to let go, but only briefly. While I tried to concentrate, he’d slip closer and embrace me again, so I eventually gave up. Once more, he drew a deep breath of my scent, rubbed his forehead against my shoulder, kissed me, and let his hands roam my waist. I tried desperately to focus on my work. As a result, my concentration skyrocketed—but no matter how hard I tried, time itself remained my enemy. By the morning Ghurab was due, I’d completed only two tapestries—and broke down in despair.

“What do I do!”
Grabbing my hair, I cried,
“Ghurab will refuse to give me the supplies! I asked only for what I absolutely need. I can’t miss a single thing…!”

Pacing in anguish, I was silent until Kamar, who’d been watching, spoke up.
“Two should be more than enough. Tell me again.”
“I promised three. I said my tapestries are worth that much.”

Hearing my upset murmur, Kamar narrowed his eyes.
“Do you really think so?”
“There’s no reason for Ghurab to lie to me.”

“…….”
Confident in my belief, Kamar fell silent for a moment.
“It’s not hopeless.”

At his quiet words, I stopped pacing and turned to him. Seeing my surprise, Kamar calmly offered a solution.
“Tell him to take the camel.”