Here All Along

chapter - 43

Bright keeps his eyes glued to the road as Neen enlightens him about the party they are on their way to attend. It was impromptu, at least for Bright who came back from office only to see his girlfriend in a gorgeous black dress and glossy dark hair curls, asking him to get ready for Pear's party. That, and now they are in their way.

"Why did I never know Pear has her own clothing brand?" Bright asks, surprised that he knows so little about his girlfriend's cousin.

Neen rolls her eyes, "are you even surprised? You literally pay no attention to me sometimes."

"She must really be so happy" Bright says, smiling and brushing Neen's hand softly with his lips.

"She is" Neen sighs, "her guest list is longer than the wall of china. She's inviting every single person she knows."

"It definitely is an achievement worth bragging about" Bright makes a point.

"I guess.. and oh, we're finally going to meet this celebrity friend of hers she has been annoyingly chirping about lately. I wonder who is it."

Bright has long before stopped listening to her as his eyes skim through a strip of trees on the side of road with cherry pink flowers. They do not have those flowers usually.

"Aren't they so beautiful" Neen says, "just like cherry blossoms."

Bright smiles, looking out.

"Yes.." he mumbles, "but I prefer yellow sunflowers more."

.
.
.
.

It was a small inauguration ceremony for Velence's opening. Small but fairly occupied with people buzzing noisily wherever they found a space to stand. It was not shabby though and Bright, after hugging Pear a congratulations, admires her arrangements that are extremely meticulous.

"I want you guys to meet someone" she exclaims, "come."

"Is that your celebrity friend?" Neen asks, laughing.

"Yes! He has just returned from Seoul. He's a national athelete, played and won many swimming contests. You must have heard of Win Metawin.."

Bright's steps slow down as he hears Pear over the noise of people around him. He believes he did not mistake the name. And is confirmed by the countenance that appears before him.

Win is indeed in front of Bright,  so much more beautiful than he was when Bright had seen him last. His hair, dark black and sleeked behind and no more curly tresses fall on his forehead. He is wearing a white button down and holds a glass of wine in his hand. He looks manly and yet there's a boyishness in the way he gapes slightly before recovering from the surprise.

"Win.." Bright mutters under his breath, mostly to confirm if he is not dreaming indeed. Win is equally taken aback but it doesn't stop him from doing what he wants to do.

Bright's heart bounces the moment Win steps towards him and takes him in a slow, tentative hug.

Four years later, Bright's home has returned home.

He forgets to breathe as Win tightens the wreath of his hands around Bright.

Bright pats Win's back slowly and almost melts down, feeling Win's lips pressed against his shoulder. A warmth gushes inside him and he gave a quick peck on the other's head before they pull away.

Feelings are exchanged, words unspoken but felt and assurances are given in all but what it looked like a simple, cordial hug.

Except it is not. But nobody else has to know.

"Win!" Neen exclaims pleasantly, "what a marvelous coincidence."

Win smiles and hugs Neen, earning a gasp from Pear who has been too confused to notice the exchange between Bright and Win.

"Wait - you all - you all know each other?"

"Of course" Neen supplies, "Win is Bright's best friend."

Was... Bright wants to correct but that will only hurt him more.

"Well, now I'm his best friend" giggles Pear before locking her petite arm with Win's.

They laugh lightly before Bright excuses himself and Win replaces his mild wine with something relatively stronger.

.
.
.
.

Win propels the blanket aside and climbs down the bed. The guest room feels like closing in on him, the humidity is prickling his skin despite the running ac. It is eleven in the night and Pear must be asleep in her room so he doesn't want to disturb her. Even if she were awake, it's not like he'd go and talk to her about what's bothering him.

"Fuck..." he grunts under his breath before grabbing his phone for the millionth time in an hour. He rakes his hair in nervous frustration and blows air off his mouth.

"I can do this.." he tells himself.

Or asking Pear for Bright's number would go in vain.

The ring goes in another side which quickens Win's heartbeats fast while he bites his nails anxiously.

"Hello?" came a low, gruff voice from the other side.

"Hey..." Win breathes out nervously.

A thick silence hangs between them when Win can clearly hear his own breaths as well as the other's.

"Win?" said the other, "is that you?"

Win closes his eyes in relief and drops in the bed.

"Yes" he says, "did I disturb?"

"No it's fine" Bright whispers, "is all good? Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine. I just.."

"You what?"

Win clears his throat, "uhm, I just wanted to say that i missed you? And uh.. I'm - I am happy that we met today. May be we could hang out sometimes to, you know, catch up on what we've missed all these years and uhm..be friends again?"

Win squints his eyes, holds his breath  as the quiet stretches again before he hears Bright's voice (and it sounds like Bright is smiling).

"Yeah..yeah I'd like that" he says, "do you want to meet tomorrow?"

Win says, "I'm leaving for Naurburi tomorrow."

"Oh" and then after a quick pause, Bright speaks again, "I could give you a ride."

"Six hours ride?"

"No I mean I'm going to Naurburi too."

"You are?" Win asks, surprised.

"Yeah.." Bright stutters, "have to visit mom."

"Oh? Uhm okay! Great. See you tomorrow then?"

"Alright" Bright says and cuts the call.

He carefully puts the phone aside before glancing at Neen who's sleeping next to him. He drapes her well with the blanket before getting out of the bed and puts on his boxers. There's no sleep in his eyes and his heart is still beating wildly. He ambles towards the balcony to get some cool air on his suddenly warm face. The sky is glowing dark against the luminous city. The memory of today's party keeps moving in loop in his mind. How every attempt of them to approach each other was disrupted by one or the other person. How Win was stealing glances at him and how it took everything in Bright to not look back at him, for he was scared he would want to look at him more and then some more until it would be impossible to take his eyes off of him. But amidst all the awkward little nods and unspoken tension, there was also a moment when their eyes locked and Win smiled softly.

It was impossible not to smile when Win was smiling at him.

🖤🤍