We Are Alright

I

THEM

What woke her that day wasn't the familiar sound of her alarm going off but the incessant ringing originating from her iPhone XX. With her eyes still closed, she reached for her phone on the bedside table and pressed the answer key. A video hologram of a breaking news report from an hour ago immediately popped-up from the device. As she listened to the reporter's words, everything else faded away from her consciousness.

It was 6:00 in the morning of February 15, 2029 when Tay Tawan Vihokratana posted a photo of New Thitipoom Techaapaikhun on his Instagram account that rocked the whole Thai entertainment industry. The photo looked simple and ordinary at first glance but the accompanying caption and the subsequent replies posted by their friends gave way to a shocking information, Tay and New have gotten married!

The woman immediately bawled as the hologram dispersed into thin air. She did not notice how her phone has been registering multiple calls coming from different countries. Polcas all over the world were in a hysterical state.

US

At a newly-built house in the outskirts of Bangkok, two hours before the story of the marriage of the two men who were once part of a popular "imagined couple" within the Thai entertainment industry broke the Internet, the main characters of the news were lying comfortably in a futon that was carelessly laid out on their living room floor.

New did not know what time it was as the floor-to-ceiling windows of the living room were covered with dark and heavy draperies wrapping the room in total darkness. Tay specifically told the interior designer the kind of curtains he wanted to be put up on all the windows of their house. He reasoned out that a pitch-dark room helps with his insomnia. New stayed silent even when he was aware of the real reason for Tay's decision.

New reached for the old, portable night lamp he constantly kept under his pillow. When he turned it on, the familiar cat-shaped silhouettes greeted his eyes. He looked at the person sleeping beside him. Against the soft light of the small lamp, Tay's features looked more serene. The younger man tugged the blanket closer to his face to hide a smile as the man beside him slowly opened his eyes. 

"Why are you hiding?" Tay asked him warmly.

"Morning breath" New whispered back.

"Hmm. We have been living together for two years so I'm already used to your rancid breath" the older one joked but yelped loudly when the other reached for his sensitive Adam's apple.

New scowled at Tay "It's different. I'm a married man now. I can't let you divorce me over a stupid issue like bad breath. What would my fans think?"

Instantly, he regretted saying the last statement as he saw how Tay's features stiffened. New witnessed how anger and sadness enveloped his husband's usually warm eyes.

New scooted closer to Tay's side and weaved his hands through his hair comfortingly. "It's been years. I'm okay now" he whispered in an attempt to soothe the agitated man.

"I wish I could've protected you then" Tay's voice sounded shaky as he caressed New's face "I thought I was already protecting you but the awful things kept on happening and I lost ground"

"Your presence has always been enough" New smiled gently at Tay.

"It wasn't and you know that. But I am stronger now so I can finally protect you" Tay promised earnestly.

New laughed and kicked Tay's shins, "I am not a fragile princess even if that's how I usually act. You know it was all an act right dearest husband?" he teased.

"You were never weak but that did not mean that you were not hurting" Tay said tersely "If you were as strong as you said and If I was brave enough to defend you, you would not have left the entertainment industry. You would not have- "

New covered Tay's mouth with his hand. "Shhh. It's the first day of our married life, let's postpone this talk for another time"

New sat up and felt the other envelope his waist in a tight embrace. "I love you so much" Tay murmured on his back.

New sighed contentedly, "I love you too"

New was about to hug Tay back when the other jumped up and announced that he must document their first morning together with a photograph.

"I'll just look for my camera hon. Stay where you are" Tay shouted at his dumbfounded husband as he raced towards the guest room where they kept their unpacked stuff.

It's been more than a week since the hired movers delivered all their belongings to the new house. They thought that one week was enough for them to arrange everything but they underestimated how inefficient they can get when at proximity of each other.

There were still tons of boxes left to be opened and as Tay rummaged through one of them in hopes of finding his camera, his eyes caught a blue placard sign emblazoned with their old couple name, "TayNew". He lifted it up and found that several fan letters, art works and gifts from fans from more than a decade ago were hidden underneath.

These belonged to New, Tay was sure. Even after everything, he bitterly thought as his mind wandered to the events from years ago.