Secret Admirer

35. Tweety

Kayu stood frozen, staring at the words in blue LED that glowed before him: "I'm sorry." 

The sight tugged at his heart, though he didn't want it to. Before he could fully process what he was seeing, the blue words dimmed and turned white, blending seamlessly into the sea of glowing white roses. 

Kayu's breath hitched when, just a second later, new words emerged.

"I love you."

The message lit up in a dazzling array—"I" and "You" glowing in soft blue roses, while "love" was depicted symbolically, a bold, vibrant red created by the LED lights in red rose formations. The combination was stunning, a stark contrast to the surrounding white roses. 

Kayu's vision blurred, his resolve crumbling as tears that he had stubbornly held back all this time began to flow, hot and unrelenting, down his cheeks.

Suddenly, Kayu felt it—two strong arms wrapping gently around his waist from behind. His heart clenched as the familiar warmth seeped through him. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

"Khun Ciro..." he whispered, his voice shaky.

The man behind him leaned closer, his breath soft against Kayu's ear as he murmured, "I love you."

The words shattered the last of Kayu's defenses. His body trembled as he cried harder, tears falling freely now, his emotions too overwhelming to contain. "You selfish bastard!" he yelled, his voice cracking with a mix of anger and sorrow. "You only ever think about yourself! You are... You are an ignorant fool!"

Kayu's words tumbled out, an unfiltered torrent of pain, anger, and frustration that had been bottled up for far too long. He hurled every insult he could think of, his voice rising and falling as he vented years of pent-up emotions. 

All the while, Ciro held him tightly, refusing to let go.

"I'm sorry," Ciro whispered over and over again, his voice steady but filled with genuine remorse. He let Kayu cry and rant, taking in every word without protest. He knew he deserved it, knew that this was the least he could do after everything he'd put Kayu through.

Minutes passed, and slowly, the storm of Kayu's emotions began to subside. His voice grew softer, his insults fewer, until all that remained was the sound of his quiet sobs. His face was red and blotchy, his cheeks damp with tears and streaked with faint trails of sniffling. His body felt weak, as if he had poured all his energy into his outburst.

As Kayu tried to catch his breath, he noticed a hand appearing in front of him, palm open. In it was a small red wrapper—a familiar chocolate that he hadn't seen in years.

Kayu blinked, his tears momentarily forgotten as he stared at the candy. "This..." he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Ciro's lips brushed against his ear as he spoke softly, "Eat it. It will make you feel better."

Kayu's mind was racing. It had been years since he had seen that chocolate. 

As a child, it had been his favorite, but he had long thought it had been discontinued. He had searched high and low, scouring stores and even online, but he had never been able to find it again. And now, here it was, right in front of him.

"Where did you even..." Kayu began, his voice trembling, but he stopped when he felt Ciro's chin rest gently on his shoulder.

Ciro's voice was steady, but there was a quiet vulnerability to it as he began to speak. "There was a time," he said, "when everything in my life was falling apart. The company was struggling, and I thought I had hit rock bottom. I was so close to giving up on everything—on the business, on myself."

Kayu froze, listening intently as Ciro continued.

"But then," Ciro said, his arms tightening around Kayu slightly, "a little 'Tweety' sent me a box of chocolates. These chocolates." 

His voice softened further, a hint of emotion creeping into his tone. "There was a letter attached, too. It said that these chocolates would make me feel better and give me the energy to get through my difficulties. That letter..." He paused, swallowing hard. "That letter saved me. It gave me hope when I had none. It gave me the strength to keep going."

Kayu's breath hitched. His heart pounded as realization dawned.

"Tweety" Ciro said softly, his voice cracking as tears began to form in his eyes. 

Kayu was silent, his throat tightening. It had been him. Back when he was just a high schooler, he had learned that his idol—Ciro—was going through a tough time. Wanting to help in any way he could, he had sent that box of chocolates and the letter anonymously, signing it with the nickname "Tweety." He had never expected Ciro to find out.

"How... How did you know it was me?" Kayu stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ciro chuckled softly, a bittersweet sound. "Your handwriting gave you away," he said, his tone affectionate. "I didn't realize it back then, but recently... I connected the dots. And I have never been more grateful to anyone in my life."

He turned Kayu gently in his arms, looking down at him with tear-filled eyes. "Thank you," he said, his voice trembling with sincerity. "Thank you for believing in me, for trusting me when I didn't even trust myself."

Kayu's heart ached as he saw the tears slipping down Ciro's cheeks. He had never imagined his small act of kindness would mean so much to someone he admired. Without thinking, he reached out and hugged Ciro tightly, burying his face in the other man's chest.

"I love you," Ciro whispered again, his voice tender and full of emotion.

Kayu's response was muffled against Ciro's chest, but the words were unmistakable. "I love you too."

Ciro froze for a moment, his heart skipping a beat. Then, pulling Kayu back slightly, he stared at him in disbelief. "What did you just say?" he asked, his eyes wide with excitement.

Kayu blushed furiously, lowering his gaze. "Stop teasing me," he mumbled.

Ciro grinned, his joy infectious. "I am not teasing! I just... I just want to hear you say it again."

Kayu's face turned even redder as he glanced up at Ciro shyly. "I love you," he said softly.

Ciro let out a laugh of pure delight, lifting Kayu off the ground in one swift motion.

"Khun Ciro!" Kayu gasped, his eyes wide as he clung to him.

"I love you!" Ciro exclaimed, spinning them around slightly. "I love you, I love you, I love you!"

Kayu's face burned as he pressed his hands over Ciro's mouth. "I heard you the first time!" he said, his tone both embarrassed and fond. "Now put me down, Kha!"

Ciro obeyed, setting Kayu down gently but unable to stop smiling. His happiness was radiating off him, impossible to contain.

Kayu crossed his arms, pouting slightly. "It's getting dark," he said, his voice quieter now. "We should head back to the fair."

Ciro nodded, still grinning. He extended a hand toward Kayu, his palm open and inviting.

Kayu hesitated for only a moment before slipping his hand into Ciro's. His touch was shy, tentative, but there was a warmth there that hadn't been present before.

Together, hand in hand, they walked back toward the fair, the glow of the rose garden behind them and a new beginning ahead.