Aouboom/Tanfang (Short stories)

Forever and ever (Tanfang)

In high school, Tan, the captain of the football team, and Khaofang, the head of the cheerleading squad, start off with a rocky rivalry marked by clashes,attitude,few punches with busted lips and bruises .Their hatred for each other escalates, drawing in Fang's younger brother, Phum, into their conflict. However, everything changes when a group of high schoolers attacks Fang and Phum, and Tan steps in to save them, hiding them in a safe spot. This unexpected act of kindness leads to a shift in their relationship, and Tan, Fang, and Phum become friends, transforming their rivalry into a deeper bond.

Since that day, things took a better turn between the trio and their bond grew stronger. They started hanging out together after school, visiting each other's condo and having sleepovers here and there, whether it's playing video games, grabbing snacks, or studying together. However, amidst the laughter and camaraderie, Fang begins to realise that his feelings for Tan are evolving into something deeper.

Fang can feel himself levitating towards Tan. He loves the times when it's just 2 of them, bickering over what to eat at a cafe, when gives him those stinky sick -adorable- puppy eye while playing video games to distract fang from winning -it works every time-, when he remembers what Fang's favourite drink is, when fang feels low tan always accompanies him to the club sometimes even introduce him to other girls to get laid but fang politely declines.

Fang always assumed that Tan is straight and not interested in men at all. His dating history is filled with numerous girls and flings but zero male attraction. However, on one weekend when the trio was at the club,a guy approaches Tan and asks him to dance. Fang scoffed inside No way Tan will accept his invitation but it was soon replaced with confusion, to his surprise Tan accepted the offer with a huge smile and pulled the guy, hand in hand with him in the crowd.

He watched as the guy, who was a bit smaller than tan, held his waist while Tan placed his hands on his shoulders moving his hips with the rhythm of the song. Looking into each other's eyes as their bodies swayed with the song.

Watching Tan dance carefree with someone else, Fang begins to question his own feelings and what it means for their friendship. The sight of Tan enjoying himself sparks a realisation in Fang: he must confront his emotions and the possibility that his feelings for Tan might not be one-sided after all.

He tightly clenched the glass in his hands,eyes intensely looking at the -now couple- dancing in the middle of the crowd, giggling,and whispering to each other as if they knew each other for years.
"You need to make a move otherwise your sole chance will be gone forever." Phum nudged him with his elbow sitting on the bar stool while Fang was leaning on the bar. His voice teasing and mocking him.

Overwhelmed by a surge of jealousy as he watched Tan dance with another guy, Fang felt a primal urge to assert his feelings. He pushed through the crowd, his heart racing and anger flaring. As he reached Tan, he grabbed his wrist, pulling him away from the dance floor. "Hey, what do you think you're doing?" Fang demanded, his voice a mix of irritation and desperation.

Tan looked taken aback, his carefree demeanour replaced by surprise. "Just having fun, Fang!" he replied, eyebrows raised in confusion. Fang heavily sighed and facepalmed himself, he cannot believe he let his emotions take over him, but it's now or never. "Fang, are you okay? Did I upset you?" Tan's voice was laced with worry and cautiousness. The tension hung between them, charged and electric, and he knew he needed to take a leap of faith.

Fang looked at him, his eyes slightly softening and he intertwined their fingers together, leaning closer to his ear with his voice a little low and a bit nervous "So you just want to dance? Will you dance with me?" turning his head to his face as tan turned his head to face him as well. Their lips are very close to each other, their breath mingling with one another. The tension slowly gets heavier on him by each passing second of their hearts pounding loudly over the club songs..