Loving You Clumsily [BRIGHTWIN]

11. I don't mind what you do

Present day, Phukong's engagement ceremony

"Come on phi Bright", Ohm said as he winked to other men, "a great man once said, to love is coming half the way. To keep the love, is another half."

Bright snorted, "who said it? Ohm the great?"

"No", they all said in unison, "he said it."

Bright saw them looking across him, pointing at somebody apparently standing behind his back. He didn't have to turn around to see who he was. He knew, he just knew by the way they all were smiling. Or by the way he heard a giggle that once used to soothe him like white rivers in a summer afternoon. He turned around anyway. His heart skipped a beat as his eyes landed on a man, wearing a black giorgenti newyork shirt with rolled cuffs, holding a grey jacket in his right hand. Bright could literally see sunrays radiating from all his sides as the man blinked in silent surprise, taking small steps towards him.

He smiled, "Hello Mr. Wolfie."

Bright smiled too, "Hey kiddo."

The magician was right, Bright thought, when he told him to repeat lies until they become truth.

I'm fine..I'm fine...I'm fine.

It was in the moment their eyes locked, Bright knew he was finally fucking fine. He kept looking at Win and tried to avoid the notorious whispers of their friends behind them. Win's smile was so pure and it was putting Bright at ease. Bright couldn't help feeling like the summer has returned to him like it was always there in Win's eyes, waiting to transcend into Bright's as their eyes immersed into each other.

Ohm coughed, "We should probably leave you two alone."

Win removed his eyes from Bright and grinned at his friends. He hugged Phukong and others and started talking to them. Bright was still in a haze and nothing penetrated his senses except the sight of Win laughing with his friends. If anything, Win's charm had only increased exponentially over the years and Bright felt like a loser, realising that after all these years, it was only Win who could flutter his heart like it was, now. Thankfully, Win was busy talking with his friends and he didn't notice how Bright's eyes were looking at him. Bright sighed and started to leave.

"Phi?" Phukong asked, "where are you going?"

"Washroom." Bright said without acknowledging Win's intense eyes on him.

......

"What are you doing here?" Bright asked as he saw Win sitting against the wall in their favourite balcony. The ceremony was over and guests were having dinners.

Win smiled, "I'll pretend I wasn't expecting you to come."

Bright chuckled lightly and sat next to him.

"And I will pretend I didn't know that's the only reason you're sitting here."

Win scoffed, "if it satisfies you, it's true."

"It IS true", Bright sighed, "can't believe it's already been ages. Phukong's really happy."

Win said slowly, "if I were getting married to my first love, I would have been happy too."

Bright remained silent, listening to Win's breathing and wondering how the fuck he even managed to live without the calmness Win was giving out to him.

"I am sorry about grandma."

Bright smiled sadly, "Me too."

"I wanted to come but I was on a trek in Japan with a group of college volunteers."