Tay and New

Acceptance

"Tay where are you staying here in Hat Yai?" New's mother broke the silence at the dining table. She has tirelessly prepared an elaborate lunch and asked Tay to stay over who happily obliged. 

"Actually, I came here in a hurry so I was not able to book an accommodation beforehand but I'm planning to check one out this afternoon" Tay answered politely.

The face of New's mother immediately lit up after hearing Tay's reply, "Well, in that case you can just stay here with us like usual. My two other boys won't be back until Monday and my Newwiee has been sulking ever since he came here"

New's mother was pouting as she reported about her husband and eldest son's absence and her youngest son's taciturnity. New pouted back at his mother. The display of affection between mother and son almost made Tay swoon at the overload of cuteness.

"He can't stay here mae" New stated plainly at his mother while he sent a pointed glare at Tay as a signal for him to zip his mouth. Tay arched an eyebrow back in amusement. At this point he's willing to let New get away with just about anything.

New's mother set her utensils on the table loudly, "Tay has always stayed at our house whenever he is here in Hat Yai, why should this time be any different?" She looked at Tay then settled a frown at New before adding, "Just because he is your boyfriend now does not mean that you can monopolize him. He is almost my son already."

New's eyes widened in shock. Tay choked on the sautéed prawns he was eating. New's mother, on the other hand, just looked at them sheepishly, "I may have accidentally overheard your conversation from earlier this morning"

New detected a hint of glee in her voice that calmed his nerves and almost made him smile if it wasn't for Tay who was sweating profusely and looking at him with panicked and pleading eyes. He faked a cough to hide his laughter and assessed his mother.

"Mae, I am in love with Tay" New announced calmly and gave her mother a winning smile.

An anxious Tay on the other hand felt both elated from hearing New's declaration of his love for him and fearful of what New's mother would think about the progress of his relationship with her beloved son. He closed his eyes and started chanting mantras in his head.

New's mother cleared her throat and turned to Tay, "Son, do you also feel the same way for my Newwiee?"

Tay was so taken aback by the straightforward question that everything in his mind became white noise and he grappled to find the right words to explain his feelings. Several minutes passed and he continued to sit wide-eyed and muted in front of the two people who're looking at him intently.

THWACK! A spoon hit Tay squarely on the face. He looked across the table to a scowling New and like second nature exploded back at the younger one, "Why did you throw the spoon at me?!"

In a heartbeat, Tay realized his outburst and his face turned red and he immediately apologized to New's mother who didn't appear to be shocked at all and continued to look at him expectantly waiting for the answer to her question.

"You see..I-I" Tay started panicking again.

"Just say it if you still love me or not!" New growled at him. His mother reprimanded his callousness so he slumped back on his chair with his hands folded across his chest and his mouth formed in a frown. He glared defiantly at Tay.

To others, New looked like he was merely acting like brat but Tay knew better and saw that the younger was starting to get seriously upset. So, he breathed out deeply and looked at New's mother in the eyes.

"I love New the most mae" Tay said as sincerely as he could. This was a pivotal moment but words failed him and Tay was almost on the brink of despair when he heard New scoff in the background and realized that the other has forgiven him. Everything will be okay as long as New is here.

New's mother clapped her hands together, "That was all I needed to hear. Congratulations to the both of you" She stood up and gave each of the boy a hug.

New and Tay looked at her in confusion, "You approve of us just like that?"

"Of course! Your father and I have known about your feelings for each other long before you did." she flipped her hair playfully at them "Remember that time when you brought Tay home and insisted that he sleep on your room because you had lots of things to talk about?"

"That's your proof?" New was unconvinced.

"I asked your father, 'They've already spent the whole day together what more could they possibly talk about?' and he replied "Honey, remember those times when we couldn't stand being apart from each other?' I think something special has started to blossom between these boys" she narrated in a teasing tone.

She watched as Tay and New looked at each other and smiled in relief. Her heart was overjoyed by the happiness of the two boys she has witnessed grow into fine men. She couldn't be any prouder.

"Boys, keep the memory of this moment safe in your hearts and when difficult times arrive look back and remember this kind of happiness and how much you love each other"

(An unsolicited 2cents: There are a lot of things that we, fans, don't know about the private lives of Tay and New and that is okay. That is good. That is appropriate. Keeping a part of themselves hidden from us DOES NOT mean that the joy they've given us is not real. When I look back at the memories we have all shared together, I know that such happiness was genuine and I will always be grateful to Tay, New, and most especially to all the wonderful Polcas I've met and shared laughs with around the world. We have a wonderful family. Please continue to spread love and happiness)