Fragments Of Us [Completed]

Proposal Panic

Krit paced around his living room, running a hand through his hair for the hundredth time that night. His usually neat apartment was a mess—papers scattered on the coffee table, a suit jacket tossed on the couch, and empty takeout containers littering the floor. His heart was racing, and his mind was in overdrive, playing out every possible scenario of what was about to happen.

On the screen of his laptop, both Michael and Ping sat in their respective homes, watching him spiral into panic. They were on a conference call—one that Krit had forced them into the second he realized tonight was the night. He was going to propose to Vel, and naturally, he was losing his mind about it.

“Guys, what if I mess it up?!” Krit’s voice was frantic as he stopped pacing and leaned towards the laptop, his wide eyes filled with genuine fear. “What if I say something stupid, or—or what if he thinks I’m rushing it?!”

Ping, ever the calm one, leaned back in his chair and sighed. “Krit, take a deep breath. It’s just a proposal. You love Vel, right?”

“Yes, of course I love him! That’s why this has to be perfect!” Krit threw his hands up in frustration before continuing his frantic pacing. “He’s... he’s been through so much. He got divorced eight months ago, Ping! Eight months! What if he’s not ready? What if he’s still, I don’t know, sad or something? What if I’m pushing him into something he’s not ready for?”

Michael, who was watching from his phone while lounging on his couch, chimed in with a laugh. “Krit, you’re not pushing him into anything. The guy loves you, man. He’s not some delicate flower who’s gonna fall apart because of his past. Vel’s strong—he’s dealt with all that crap already. You’re not rushing anything.”

Krit paused mid-pace, frowning. “But what if it’s too soon? What if he’s not over his ex? I mean, the guy was with him for years. What if I’m just... I don’t know... a rebound?”

Ping groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re not a rebound. Vel’s been with you for months. You’re the only one he’s with now. He’s obviously committed. Have you seen the way he looks at you?”

Krit threw himself onto the couch, burying his face in his hands. “Yeah, but what if that’s just because he’s, like, grateful? I mean, I did kind of pull him out of a rough spot.”

“Krit, seriously,” Michael said, leaning closer to the camera on his phone, “you’re overthinking this. Vel doesn’t just like you because you helped him out. He’s been over his divorce for months. He’s with you because he wants to be with you.”

Krit sighed and lifted his head slightly, his expression still full of uncertainty. “But what if I mess up the proposal? What if I say something dumb and he realizes I’m, like, a complete idiot?”

Ping rolled his eyes. “Krit, Vel already knows you’re an idiot, and he’s still with you.”

Michael snorted in laughter. “Exactly. He loves you despite how dumb you can be. He’s not going anywhere.”

Krit groaned, flopping back onto the couch dramatically. “Why is this so hard?! I just... I want it to be perfect.”

Ping’s voice softened a little. “Krit, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Vel loves you. That’s what matters. He’s not going to care if you stumble over your words or if the restaurant isn’t some fancy, five-star place. He’s going to care about the fact that you’re asking him to spend the rest of his life with you.”

Michael nodded in agreement. “Yeah, man. You’ve already won him over. The proposal is just... a formality at this point.”

Krit sat up, chewing his lip nervously. “But what if he says no?”