Tay and New

Best Part of Me

Tay sat silently on the couch after he and New got back to his condo while the younger one continued with his usual routine and changed his clothes from the small collection he has accumulated in Tay's bedroom closet which was a result of the countless nights he has spent on the latter's place over the years.

After half an  hour of torturous silence, Tay finally stood up and followed New to his bedroom where he found the other meticulously taking out the contents of his everyday bag and arranging them neatly beside his own unruly accoutrements.

Tay let out a relieved sigh that did not escape New's notice.He looked up at his boyfriend and saw the other watching him with a pained expression.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" New asked perplexed. He has been preparing himself to meet Tay's anger considering how the other has been silent ever since they left the meeting earlier that day.

"I was pretty sure that you were packing your things and leaving for good" Tay wiped an errant tear as he sat down on the bed.

New was struck dumb.If this was any other day, he would have scolded Tay for coming up with such a ridiculous thought but as he looked at the pain marring the older one's features, New felt his chest constrict.

He approached the bed and sat close to the other. "Why would you think that?" New asked with as much gentleness as he could muster at that moment.

Tay looked at the man he has been in love with for so many years. "Because everyday I have this fear that I will never be good enough to keep you by my side" Tay whispered with a bitter smile.

"I did not realize that you think this highly of me" New tried to tease in spite of the throbbing pain on the bridge of his nose caused by the effort of repressing the tears that were threatening to fall from his eyes.

New wanted to cry so badly. He has wanted to cry since the moment he realized what the memo summoning him and Tay to a meeting with one of their company's executives meant. But in that brief period after reading the letter, when he glanced at Tay's direction and saw the confusion, the hurt, and the anger etched on his face, he understood that this was one of those times when he has to be the one to put on a brave face.

However, as New saw how broken Tay has become, he could feel the dam of emotions breaking his resolve.

Tay looked at New. "I have never thought of you less than being great, New.You have always told me that because I have a lot of friends then it would be easy for me to forget about you but what you may not understand is how a big part of my life revolves around you. Unhealthy as it may sound but I can no longer imagine a life without you"

"When you told that man that you would be considering his advice instead of telling him outright that you will fight for our relationship, I felt like I have lost and that you have finally come to your senses and will be leaving me soon. On the way home, I kept telling myself 'Tay, don't cry when he tells you that he's leaving. Let him go and be happy'" Tay rested his tired eyes on the base of his palms. "And, damn that fucking hurt!"

It hasn't been that long since New realized that his love for the man before him was more than mere friendship so he was startled by the intensity of love he was feeling for Tay at that very moment. It seemed like every day, his love for the other just grows bigger and bigger. It was something that New has never felt before in his past relationships and so has now left him feeling giddy and agitated at the same time.

He smiled despite the situation. A burst of happiness was starting to swell in his heart.

"I should have known that you would think of it this way" New shook his head ruefully at the other who let out a cry of protest albeit looking puzzled.

New assertively pushed the befuddled man on the bed before straddling him. "Tay, I just wanted to trick those old farts into thinking that they can actually control me. You know that I would never let anyone dictate how I should live my life when I am perfectly aware that I am not doing anything wrong"

"Also, we need the time to think of a plan on how to navigate our present situation. I refuse to believe that there is no place for our love within this industry so we have to be wise in our every move"

Tay nodded but the concerned expression remained on his face. "Meeting you and falling in love with you was the best gift this world has ever given me. So, please believe me when I say that I am never leaving you. Not in this lifetime Tay. " the younger man declared.

Tay nodded his head affirmatively. "Got it. But just to be sure, can you repeat word for word what you just said. Especially the last part" he laughed while wiping the tears he could not stop from streaming down his face.

New did not bother to respond but simply took Tay's tear-streaked face in his hands and kissed him with fervor to which the other replied with just as much enthusiasm.

He may have been feeling particularly heartbroken earlier but Tay could swear that New's kisses were simply too sweet to resist. In a matter of seconds, he became pliant to the younger man's mischievous hands and lips.

"Hmm. You smell nice" New said in between kisses.A moan escaped Tay's lips when New's kisses trailed down to his neck.

New lifted his head from sucking the sensitive skin near his lover's Adam's apple. "You smell suspiciously sweeter today. Did you change your soap? Or is it a new perfume?"

Tay groaned. "Focus" he said as he raised his head ever so slightly to catch New's lips with his.

The tingling laughter from the younger boy echoed through the quiet night. For a few precious hours, the problems of tomorrow seemed a million light years away.

"I love you Tay" New whispered later that night to the sleeping figure beside him. He saw the other smile in his sleep and pulled him closer to his side.

New smiled contentedly. He was certain that theirs was a love worth fighting for.