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The fireworks lit up the night sky, their glittering colors casting soft reflections over Khaotung’s face. First's head felt light, spinning from more than just the drinks. All he could focus on was how the warm pink glow of the fireworks painted his boyfriend's skin, making him look impossibly dream-like.
“You’re staring, my love,” Khaotung said softly. His voice was gentle, teasing, but First barely registered it. He didn’t really hear the words, only caught the shape of them on Khaotung’s lips—lips that looked so inviting, soft, and entirely too kissable. Instead of answering, First gave a lopsided, dopey grin that must have looked ridiculous, because Khaotung let out a small huff and turned his attention to their friend.
“Joong, I told you not to let him drink so much,” Khaotung scolded, his tone more exasperated than angry. Joong, who was now recording the night sky and the bright fireworks, barely glanced their way, a camera in his hand as he leaned against the boat's railing.
“Don't look at me like that, I told him to slow down,” Joong replied, his voice calm and unaffected, his eyes glued to the night sky through the lens. The only other sound besides their conversation was the gentle lap of waves against the boat’s hull.
Khaotung sighed, looking back at First, who had given up on keeping his balance and was now leaning against his shoulder. His eyes fluttered closed as though the world around him was too heavy, too bright.
“God, you’re lucky I love you,” Khaotung murmured, sliding an arm around First’s shoulders to keep him steady. He adjusted his hold just enough to stop First from slipping when he inevitably dozed off.
First’s head felt like it was floating, his thoughts drifting in a hundred different directions at once. But this time, he caught the words spilling softly from Khaotung’s lips. “I am,” he said without hesitation, his voice a little slurred but unapologetic. “I’m the luckiest man alive. Because I have you.”
And he was, in fact, the luckiest man alive. Just sitting here, under the glow of the fireworks, surrounded by the comforting presence of his best friend and his boyfriend, filled his heart with a warmth so profound it almost ached. A few years ago, he never would have imagined this—never dreamed that his best friend back then would one day become his boyfriend. He hadn’t dared to believe he’d ever experience love, let alone something this extraordinary.
Back then, love had seemed like a distant fantasy, the kind of thing people talked about, dreamed about in movies but that never truly happened in real life. It had felt intangible, like chasing sunlight through shadows. And while the thought had been painful, he’d accepted it, convincing himself that some people were simply not meant to know what a love like that felt like.
But now, as he sat by Khaotung’s side, cradled securely in his arms, that old thought felt laughable. The love he had always dreamed about—hoped for in secret—paled in comparison to the overwhelming, all-encompassing love he felt now. It wasn’t just a feeling; it was a truth, as real and undeniable as the warmth of Khaotung’s embrace or the softness of his smile.
The declaration made Khaotung’s heart stutter, and despite himself, a deep flush crept up his neck and spread across his cheeks. “Ugh, that was so cheesy” He rolled his eyes, trying to downplay the warmth flooding through him, though the ripe cherry hue on his face and the upturned corners of his mouth betrayed him entirely.
“God, take him somewhere! He’s distracting me” Joong whined from where he stood, camera still aimed at the dazzling fireworks. His tone was more teasing than truly upset, but neither of them paid him any attention.
First shifted slightly, letting his head rest more comfortably against Khaotung’s shoulder. His boyfriend glanced down at him with a mixture of fondness and exasperation. “You’re going to fall asleep,” Khaotung murmured, his tone soft but teasing.
“And whose fault is that?” First mumbled in return, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “You’re too comfortable.”
Khaotung laughed softly, the warm, rich sound sending a shiver down First's spine. He tightened his hold around First's shoulders, hugging his boyfriend closer to his chest.
“Stop being gross and come help me with this!” Joong whined again, his voice cutting through the soft lull of the waves. He didn’t even glance at them, still focused on adjusting his camera to catch the perfect shot of the fireworks. But his tone had shifted—less teasing, more petulant.
If you asked either of them, Joong’s frustration likely had less to do with the fireworks and more with not being the center of their attention. Sometimes he could be like a baby—needy for affection, a little demanding, but always in a way that made them laugh. It was just one of the many reasons they loved him, though neither of them would ever admit it outright.
“I think he’s jealous,” First murmured against Khaotung’s shoulder, his voice soft and teasing. He turned his head just enough for his words to drift toward Joong, a lazy but mischievous smile pulling at his lips.
“Excuse me?” Joong’s indignant whine cut through the sound of the waves. That was just about right.
First chuckled quietly but didn’t bother to look at him. His gaze stayed on Khaotung, his eyes heavy-lidded yet full of warmth. The pink glow of the fireworks danced across Khaotung’s face, highlighting the soft blush that had spread to his cheeks. It was a sight that made First’s chest tighten, his heart thudding steadily in his ears. It suited him so perfectly, and even in his hazy state, First thought he’d never seen anything—or anyone—so beautiful.
Khaotung glanced down at him, raising an eyebrow in a silent question. “What?” he asked, completely ignoring Joong's complaints in the background.
First smiled. “Nothing,” his gaze never peeling off his boyfriend's face, “You're just… so pretty.”
Khaotung’s blush deepened, and he groaned, tilting his head back as if the sky could save him from First’s drunken honesty. “You’re impossible,” he muttered, though the smile tugging at his lips betrayed his words.
Now, looking at his boyfriend's helpless smile and red cheeks, he realized that love hadn’t just found him. It had chosen him. And in this moment, as fireworks painted the sky and the world faded into soft hues of pinks and golds, First knew that no dream could ever compare to the reality of being in love with Khaotung.