Make Our Days Count : Domestic

Part 27 : Preparation

AN: This is the extended version from my MODC: Counting Our Days story. When I first made the alternative ending, it was only a short 4 chapters. Written within 2 days cos I was so heartbroken with the finale. 

*

'Yeaaahhhhhhhhh...Finally done!' Haoting yawned, closing his eyes and stretched his aching muscles. 

Neck pain and eye strain is real. His eyeglass prescription is increasing year by year.  

He turned off his computer and started packing. His work has been eating into his schedule more than he likes, but he needed to clear all the pending tasks by the deadlines. 

The game scaling and testing is a nightmare. With new technologies coming up every year, they have to work at extreme pace. The 10th Generation console that they are testing for Nintendo Switch VR-2 is finally approved. 

It should hit the market by January. Playing one, and working on one is not the same. Years ago he's crazy about them. Even skipping school to save money for one. But in the end, he used that money to buy a new mobile phone for Shigu instead. Worth every penny.  

His one week leave for his wedding will start tomorrow. He wanted to spend more time with Shigu. They barely have time to meet this past few months with Shigu defending his thesis and non-stop viva practice. Shigu tends to over-analyse and drives himself mentally exhausted with the preparation.  He will look at his thesis and question it from every possible angle and prepare at least 3 variations of answers and alternatives to the questions. Haoting could only understand from a layman perspective but a viva in astrophysics is not something he can help with. 

The best he can do is not burdening Shigu with the decision making for the wedding. He took care of the marriage registration procedure. Luckily his parents is helping them with the wedding preparation. 

Mrs Xiang is excited to be able to call and list all the connections she knows for the wedding. Haoting left the preparation of the banquet and dinner to her. Yu Hao is still working in the five star hotel in the capital, he helps a lot with the venue and overall planning.  Mrs Xiang becomes a busy hen, preparing the decoration, the theme, the tailors for their suit, the clothes for the family, etc. She is busy but content. 

A separate wedding ceremony is planned in the evening for their close friends and relatives only, then followed by a bigger dinner banquet at the hotel. They decided to splurge on a single dinner banquet for both side of the family. The guest list is mostly Mr & Mrs Xiang friends and connections. As long as his family is happy, then he is happy too. 

*

After picking up Shigu from the observatory, they arrived at the bar to meet up with the Freedom Gang. The members increased for the past 9 years to include Shigu, Zhigang, Mei Fang, Yu Hao, and Zi Xuan. Everyone is gathering at the capital for the wedding dinner next week. 

'Welcome Dr. Yu Shi Gu!' Sunbo exclaimed loudly when the pairs arrived at their table. Shigu smiled sheepishly when Sunbo give him a bear hug. Haoting hissed and pushed him away fast. Friends or not, his Shigu is off limit.

'Hug your husband! Don't touch mine!' 

'He's my brother -in-law!'

'Fuck off!'

'You fuck off!'

They started bickering and smacking each other. Shigu took a seat beside Zhigang and greet the others. Shigu is still Shigu, nice but a bit distance and shy. 

His face is just glowing with happiness. 

Mei Fang started taking photo on her phone, nobody is raising an eye anymore or question it anymore. 

'Long time no see.' Shigu greets them. 

The table turns lively with congratulations - For Shigu completing his PhD and for the upcoming wedding.

Haoting puffed his chest proudly, wrapping his hand around Shigu. 'My doctor!'

Sunbo pretends to throw up. The twins offer imaginary buckets for him to threw up. 

They are idiots beyond redemption. 

*

It's after midnight when they finished their drinking session. 

Shigu drinks a lot today and clings to Haoting, fast asleep. So the twins help to drive them home and send their car. 

Sun Bo gave Haoting a knowing look. 

'Brother, don't be too rough with your Shi Gu. A limping body and pale neck full of hickey is not proper for a wedding.' He winks. Zhigang shakes his head and laughs. They had memory-flash when the ladies have to help hide Zhigang's hickey before the ceremony with concealer.

'I won't. I'll love my Shigu tenderly, unlike you bastard!' . 

Haoting did not drink too much. He prefers to be 100% sober. He took a sip from Shigu's beer glass but spent the rest of the night just drinking coke and catching up with his friends. 

Shigu kind of let himself loose and drinks freely today. Maybe because he already done with his PhD and can allow himself to relax finally. He became quite chatty in the middle and boldly flirt with Haoting in front of their friend. Winking, teasing, and eager him. He pecks him now and then.

Haoting dig his own knees throughout the night to control himself.  

Shigu had his eyes closed but he smirks in the back seat. He loves spending time with their friends but he likes spending more time with Haoting, just Haoting. 

He burrowed himself into Haoting's embrace, listening to his pounding heart beats. 

*

Haoting carried Shigu into the bedroom. His face is flushed with alcohol. Such a lightweight. He removed Shigu's shoes, then fall down on top of him when Shigu suddenly grabbed his collar. Shigu whined and started to nuzzle his cheeks.

'Ah Hao. Ah Hao....Ah Hao.' Shigu called out to him. Snuggling continues. His hands flail around, trying to get skin to skin contact. 

'I love you.' Haoting kissed Shigu on his forehead, trying to keep their body contact minimum. He wants Shigu to rest. If he kissed his lips now, he won't be able to stop. His desire is burning him. He needs to take a cold shower, fast. 

'Hmmmm... me too' , Shigu answers and pecks on Haoting lips. He continues to nibble on it when Haoting is clearly struggling to control himself. 'Hmmm?' He looks at Haoting and raised his eyebrows. He rakes his ten fingers in Haoting's hair, pulling him closer. He tilts his head, pursing his lips, waiting. 

Haoting took a deep breath and tries to calm himself. Damn, he's too cute. They shouldn't be having sex like crazy when the wedding is less than a week to go. There are many things to do. But Shigu is getting more alluring these days. Really really really beautiful with his slightly ruffled hair and paler skin. Being up on the mountain is really turning him into a mountain goddess or something. He's been holding himself because they both has been busy. His jeans starts to feel tight. He clenched his fist, trying to distance himself.

Shigu trails his fingers on Haoting's body, pulling off his shirt. He grins. 'Love me tenderly...sure about that? Hmmm?'

Shigu is not that drunk it seems.  He should have known.

Haoting chuckles, he licks his lips. He nods, but they both knows tender is not in their dictionary. 

'Arghhhh!'

***

A/N: It's great to have an understanding family when you are preparing for your marriage. There's so much work to be done and you'll be overwhelmed. Without support from family and friends, there's no point for a grand-ass ceremony really. 

I did my marriage registration procedure but did not have a ceremony, cos we don't have that much close friends also not much money to splurge for people we don't know that well. My husband and I are each other's friend. We had small lunch at restaurant with less than 5 friends after we register the wedding. But it's fun and I love how intimate the whole thing is. 

Shigu and Haoting of course deserved better cos they are loved by many. I wanna write a good closure.^^)