Like a Stream [TIWPOR/MARKFORD]

12: 'You don't even dare to look me in the eyes for 8 seconds.'

We're back to TiwPor, gaysss!

It's a rather peaceful night tonight. The wind blowing and dark sky earlier indicated rain. Por had feared it would ruin the campfire and shooting star night. But it didn't, thankfully.

They go back to Bangkok at 9 am sharp tomorrow. Just a few hours left to spend up here before they go back to reality. A few hours to mend a relationship. Strengthen one. And create one.

He saw from afar, Win talking with Sound and they walked away hand in hand. The date idea must have worked. He's glad for his friends. But secretly envious. Por read an article of this hill and the shooting star. He kept himself updated about it to know the precise date it will occur. Told everybody about it. And waited if Tiw will invite him to see it with him. It's the last night here. Where'd that heartthrob of the Medicine Faculty go??

Yo too was gone. Even if Nook isn't physically here, they still get to spend time together. It's romantic, like they are a couple separated by war and the soldier stealing time to call home. Por is big time envious.

Following them, Tinn and Gun disappeared too. To do what, Por doesn't want to know. Don't want to talk about them either. They have enough screen time. But expectedly, he is very, very envious.

While left alone with Phat, Por saw that across the campfire party, a tall guy was looking their way. At his bespectacled friend, to be exact. Spring has come to Phat at last and who is Por to stop that? As a good friend, he sneaked away to encourage Khajorn to advance.

Por felt like crying at this point. He left the party and walked to the resting area near his tent, away from the merry crowds. He plopped down on the flower-shaped rattan chair he's fond of. Contemplating.

One year is long. But also not very long. Has he even known Tiwson that well to be this in love? Is he really the one? People say time doesn't define true love or not. But people also say that time is a crucial trial for love. Por doesn't know anymore.

All he knows is he doesn't want to lose Tiw.

"Why the long-face, baby?"

Por almost jumped from his seat. He whipped his head around. "Ai'Tiw...! Why do you always scare me??"

He breaks into soft, small laughter. "Sorry, I didn't mean to this time."

"What are you doing here?"

"How about you? Wandering alone like this, aren't you scared of the ghosts?"

"Shiaa, Tiw! Don't say it, then it won't come out!" He hissed, a finger on his lips.

"If they come I'm here for you."

Por snorted, sitting back. "What can you do?"

"I don't know, dance to scare them away?"

Just imagining it was enough to make Por guffaw. He is so unserious, he got his whole heart. "But seriously, why are you here? Didn't Aoey and the other girls ask you to dance with them?"

"Well, they did."

"Oh, really?"

"But I turned them down."

"Oh,"

"Won't you ask why?"

"Why?"

Tiw grinned. The live music from the party belted down here in a faint melody. Por watched Tiw walk towards him, hand behind his back. He watched and his heart raced. He is sick. This man is the cause, as well as the cure.

"I want to dance with you more."

Tiw pulled out what he's been hiding. A mini bouquet of what seemed to be wildflowers. Por stared, unblinking. At the clumsily arranged flowers of red, blue and yellow tied with plastic rope. Looks silly, but overflowing with effort and sincerity. He took them, admiring, fawned over them, then remembered the giver. "Thank you... it's so..." touching, to say the least.

"Do you like it?"

Por nodded passionately. "It's so cute! Where'd you find these??"

Tiw shrugged. "We're surrounded by nature. I just gathered a fraction of its beauty and present it to you."

"Ohoo! Are you a period drama protagonist??" Por tittered, secretly liking the skin-crawling line.

"Do you like it, then?"

"The flowers?"

"Me."

"H-Huh?"

"If you ask me, I like you more than the flowers."

And if exploding from a big, fat blush is a thing, then that's what Por is going through. It's insane, because this is not even the first time he heard this. Tiwson's feelings are as clear as day. As bright as the sky full of stars. Never giving mixed signals. Yet hearing it again gives the same butterflies in his stomach.

Por was at loss of words. Then it's a flashback to the night of the Moon and Star Competition. The song and the cheers. Beautiful night lights. Smell of fresh flowers. Same gentle smile from the same person. He felt like crying the second time tonight. Due to completely different reasons.

If Tiw asks him the question again, he thinks he has an answer already.

"Anyway," Tiw averted his gaze as the silence became insufferable. "You haven't answered my question." He took another rattan chair and dragged it closer to Por. "Why are you here?"

Por sighed. "Well, all my friends are out there dancing or watching the shooting stars or whatever with their faen! What's a single dog* like me gonna do?"

Tiw chuckled. "What a coincidence. I'm a single dog too. Wanna watch the shooting stars together then?"

"What? Do you wanna lure me out and attack me in the dark?"

"No way...!" Tiw put a hand on his chest like the drama king he is. "What do you take me for??"

"A big, bad wolf."

Tiwson was bewitched under the stare of Por's crescent eyes. He pursed his lips before it turned into a smirk. Brought his chair even closer. Their bare knees touching now.

"Are you scared of me, then?"

"Nuh-uh," Por shrugged. "You don't even dare to look me in the eyes for 8 seconds."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Well, are you challenged?"

Tiw got up, casting a shadow on Por and Por immediately felt small and helpless - torn between regretting life choices or excitement. He rested a hand behind him, on the petal of Por's flower-shaped chair. Their faces only a few inches apart. "Start counting, please."

The world plunged into silence then. The longest 8 seconds in his life, and they say plank lasts forever. Por could hear his own heart beating against his chest. Feel his saliva going down his throat. Lost in the pair of dark brown eyes above him, in where he sees future and hears the wedding bells.

Por pressed his eyes close. Ready to take the fall and welcome their future of a cute suburban house with a big golden retriever dog running around the garden.

...

Listen, Imma take you all to suffer with me for long
This fic isn't ending just yet