The End of Lovesickness

2: As Good as Gold

The trip home seemed like an eternity. Sitting in the back seat while our parents chatted about how wonderful the trip had been and who we needed to send gifts, pictures, and thank you notes to..... I took a deep breath and fought against the fatigue that had built up over the last few hours.

Suddenly Pang's reassuring hand found mine. She gave it a quick squeeze and a sympathetic smile as our street came into view. A little bit longer and I could safely excuse myself and check on the one thing I cared most about at this moment. My phone's battery was dead, or else I would have taken care of it much earlier.

After unloading the car and having a light meal we all excused ourselves to get some much needed rest. I immediately found my laptop and sent the message I had been dying to send since the moment we had departed.

"Noh, home safe. Are you free tomorrow?"

Tomorrow is Saturday. He should be free. Why isn't he answering. I glance at my watch. Eleven o'clock. This jerk is probably busy. He might be asleep already. I sat there staring at the screen for what seemed like hours. My mind blank, my heart doing a strange dance in my chest, I decide to shower first before I go crazy waiting.

It was the fastest shower in human history. Probably the coldest one as well. I check the screen again.

"Yeah sure. Miss me too much?"

Such a small thing makes a grin bloom across my face. I put my plan into action. Tomorrow is a big day for me. For him too, but he doesn't know it yet. I don't always remember to pray before I sleep, but I remember tonight. I don't want anything to go wrong.

Lying in bed I my mind races over the last few weeks. My mom had scheduled every moment of almost every day. Hikes, museums, endless parties and dinners.....and the endless list of friends with pretty single daughters who needed somebody to talk to. To be honest, I don't mind the attention. Most of them were really pleasant to talk to.

The food was good and the parties weren't bad either. But, except for a few minutes in the morning and a few moments at night, I never had a moment to myself. I could scarcely send a text message or post a photo before she would catch my attention with a scowl.

Two weeks with almost no contact with Noh made me very lonely. But, it also made me very determined to keep my relationship with Noh strong. I don't think I am gay. I know that Noh is a very normal and healthy boy. We have never tried to label ourselves. He is my boyfriend and I am his. That's enough for me. But, after being introduced to a dozen girls, I realized that no woman can ever hope to make me feel the way I feel about Noh.

================================================

It was mid morning when I finally woke up. I floated through breakfast with a silly smile on my face. Pang kept shooting secret looks in my direction. We had a plan.

By noon we were out shopping. I usually do these things alone. Pang doesn't really like my style. But this time is different. I want to get it right and I trust her judgements. She always buys the best gifts. It takes us several hours to find what we are looking for. Once I see it, I know for sure that it's the one. Pang can hardly contain herself.

I drop her off to have fun with her friends while I head home. I wasn't nervous until now. I keep going over my plan. Dinner, a movie, a walk and then my big moment. I'm still not sure what I should wear. I'm even less sure of what I should say.

I decide I should practice. In my head I keep rehearsing what I should say. I am absent minded all day, trying to get the words right. I finally decide on dark pants and a white button down shirt. I don't tuck it in and leave the top button undone. I don't want to seem too formal and give myself away.

Just as I begin to wonder if it would've been better to go pick him up, I hear the sound of Noh's bike at the front gate. Too late to turn back now. As I come down the stairs I run into Pang. She gives me a thumbs up when she sees me.

"You look great! Ready for your big date?"

"Yeah," I pat her head as I pass.

"Pun" she says suddenly "do you have EVERYTHING you NEED?"

I pat my pants pocket and nod my head before I walk out the door. As Noh's face comes into view I can't help but break into a smile. It's like I crossed a desert and suddenly found a lake. I couldn't help myself. As soon as he was through the gate I threw my arms around him and breathed in his scent. I felt like the first free breathe I had in weeks.

"Wait, goddammit, Pun. Everybody can see," he protests, pushing weakly against my chest. But after a moment, he takes his own deep breath and those hands that had been pushing at me are now clutching my shirt.

"I missed you," I whisper.

"You think?.......I missed you too........so freaking much."

We stand like that for a long time. Just happy to be reunited. I am so happy to have Noh in my arms I never want to let go. I realize I can't make up for two weeks of absence in a few minutes, but I can't stop myself from planting kisses on his face before I let him go.

As we roll his bike back out onto the street I can't help but notice how normal everything is. He hands me a helmet and I hop on behind him. It looks like he just washed it. Heh heh, this Noh is always trying to play it so cool. Looks like I wasn't the only one who spent my day getting ready for this date. With my arms wrapped around his waist, we speed off into the night.

Ahh, yes, now I remember why I agreed to let him pick me up.