as the thread stays, i stay | taynew, offnew

4

It was Saturday and they managed to sneak into the school pool. There were Saturday classes, so the school was open, but the two friends went there just to hang out and for Tay to practice swimming. 

"Hey, could you get my towel from the locker? I forgot it." Said Tay from the pool, an idea in his head. 

"Forgetful old man," New rolled his eyes as he walked into the locker room. Once New was gone, Tay devised a plan to play a prank on New.

When New came out of the locker room, Tay was out of sight. He called his name, but there was no answer. He looked around until his gaze landed on a dark figure under the pool.

'What's that guy doing?' New thought. He called out to Tay again. "Hey. I got your towel now!" but the figure still did not move. "Tay?"

It had been a minute or two now and New was starting to get worried, so he jumped into the pool and tried to lift Tay up. Tay, who was so into it, still had his eyes closed and was pretending to be lifeless in New's arms.

"Tay!" New shook the other's, still unresponsive, body in a panic. New continued to shake him until Tay heard a sniffle and a broken voice calling his name. Opening his eyes, he saw New crying and it was his turn to panic. Tay stood up straight and held New by the arms.

"Hey, New, I'm sorry. It was supposed to be a prank," Tay said slowly, holding onto New's hands.

"You think it's funny? It's not, you fucker!" New sobbed harder and attempted to push Tay with his hands. 

"Shh, I will not do it again, I'm sorry" Tay hugged New despite his hands pushing him away, whispering that he would never do it again. New gave up pushing and only sobbed harder against Tay's shoulder. 

"I thought I'd never get a chance to tell you how I feel," New murmured, but Tay heard. He slowly pulled New away and wiped the tears from his eyes. "Do you want to tell me something?"

There was silence as New was looking down. "I like you Tay, more than a friend. I'm sorry."

Tay huffed a little laugh. New looked up, thinking that Tay was going to reject him. "Why do you say you are sorry for feeling something you can not control?" 

New shrugged. 

"New," he held New by the shoulders and looked him straight in the eye. "You always hear my mother say how much I love chicken skin. Why do you think I give you my chicken skin every time we eat out?"

"Because it's my favorite?"

"It's also my favorite, but why am I willing to give it up for you?"

New does not want to make any assumptions, but he knows where this is going. He remains silent.

"In case it's not obvious enough: I like you too. More than just as a friend." Tay smiled, and it was one of New's favorite smiles. A smile that said to trust him. The smile of his that makes the surroundings light up even more. 

"This is not part of the prank right?" 

Tay laughed and pinched his cheeks. "It's not, Hin" 

"Then good," New was shy and he bets his face is already red. "Now where does this bring us?" 

"You want to?" 

"Why not?"

"Boyfriends? Isn't it rushed?"

"We're still going to end up there anyway. Why wait?"

"You and your words. Boyfriends."

They still did things together, just like when their feelings were buried. Only this time they were even more affectionate and tender. 

They also spent the night at each other's houses. It was fine for Tay's mother and for New, whose parents were overseas, so he was home alone most of the time and his aunt only checked up on him with groceries every week.

This time they were at New's house watching a movie on the living room sofa. New leaned back against the armrest while Tay laid between his legs and back against New's chest. New's hands played with Tay's fingers while they were focused on the movie.

"Tay, babe. I have an idea." said New as he put his nose in Tay's hair. 

"Yes, baby?" Tay looked up and immediately New's lips kissed the other's forehead. "Let’s build a fort!"

Tay chuckled, "what are you, five?"

"C'mon! Remember how we used to play house in the park? We sleep at the fort, too. Here in the living room" 

Tay sat up and turned to New. "okay." He said as he pulled on New's hand so he could sit up too.

"Yay! I love you! You get the pillows in my room and I'll get extra blankets and comforters" New hugged Tay and kissed him on the cheek before getting up to find extra blankets for their fort.

After Tay returned with the pillows from New's room, he went looking for New, thinking he needed help. 

"baby, do you need help?" asked Tay when he saw New in front of the wardrobe.

"Uh, yeah. Can you help me pull the covers? It's pretty heavy." 

The pair went hand in hand to pull the blanket, and when they finally succeeded, a kit flew around and landed in front of them. 

"Oh, it's a sewing kit," Tay gathered it up and was about to return when New stopped him. "Wait! Give me the red thread!"

Tay gave him the thread, curious as to why his boyfriend needed it. "I have another idea," New winked as he left Tay with the blankets they needed. 

It was hard to build a fort. Good thing they had the idea to use the sofa, but the fort still looked like only toddlers could fit inside. They put a flashlight in the middle of the fort and laid down. It was so small that it was obvious they were going to sleep on top of each other. 

"Give me your hand." Tay offered his hand as his boyfriend prompted him. New fiddled with it a bit before wrapping a red thread around Tay's ring finger. After he did that, he gave Tay another red thread and offered his hand. "Tie it for me," New smiled as he watched his boyfriend tie the thread for him. When he was done, New grabbed Tay's hand with the thread and locked it with his. "Doesn't that look good?"

Tay smiled as he admired their intertwined fingers and the red threads that stood out. "The red thread really brought us together. Imagine making your childhood bully your boyfriend" he laughed.

"Hey! I throw rocks doesn't mean I'm automatically a bully!" 

"It's my turn to share an idea," Tay said as he faced New, his thumb stroking the other's hand. New nodded and waited for Tay to continue.

"Rules. Rule number one, never take off the red string" 

"How about when showering? Washing hands?" 

"Wash it with you. We'll replace it after. Rule number two, only I can put this on for you and only you can put this on for me. I can not put this on by myself and neither can you"

New rolled his eyes, since when did Tay become very possessive of him? 

"Finally, rule number three. We'll only remove this when we're finally happy." 

New's eyes furrowed, "aren't we happy?" 

"We are. But there are instances, like weddings. We'll finally remove this because a real one will replace this" 

New laughed, "Tay Tawan when did you become so cheesy! I love you but oh my god" he covers his face with his other hand as the other was still holding Tay's.

"I love you too, and this only happens sometimes! Let me be!" Tay laughed as well, rolling over and settling on top of New. "As the red thread stays, I stay. If it comes to a time when one of us lets go of the red thread before the wedding, rule number three. That means we are happy."