Chapter Text
FINAL CHAPTER: “Love In Full Bloom”
Teetee hadn’t stepped into the café in a week.
Between finals, exhaustion, and the whirlwind of emotions tangled up in his chest, he needed the time. Time to breathe. Time to think. But tonight, something felt different. He couldn’t avoid it anymore. The familiarity of the café, the safe haven that had once been his comfort, was calling him back. So, despite the weight on his shoulders, Teetee found himself walking through the familiar glass doors of DMD Café.
As soon as he stepped inside, the warm air wrapped around him like a long-lost embrace. The rich scent of espresso filled his lungs, mingling with the soft hum of jazz playing in the background—everything was just as it had been the last time he had been here. For a brief, fleeting moment, everything felt normal again. Safe. Like home.
Before he could even get close to the counter, Prim’s voice rang out, sharp and teasing, “Well, look who finally decided to show up.”
Teetee groaned, setting his bag down with an exaggerated sigh. “Give me a break, Prim. It’s been hell.”
“Rough finals?” she asked, smirking with that all-knowing look.
“‘Rough’ is an understatement.” Teetee stretched his arms over his head, wincing at the soreness. “I think my brain melted at some point. I’ve been surviving on three hours of sleep and questionable energy drinks.” He shuddered dramatically. “I’m pretty sure I wrote an entire essay on the wrong topic for one of my exams. So, you know, I’m doomed.”
Prim wrinkled her nose, unimpressed. “Gross.”
“You have no idea.” Teetee rubbed his temples, the ache still there, persistent. He looked like he hadn’t seen daylight in days. “Honestly, if I don’t pass, I’ll probably just walk into the ocean. At least then I’ll be able to blame the waves for my failures.”
Prim chuckled, clearly amused. “You’re being dramatic, as usual.” She slid a cup of coffee across the counter to him. “Here. On the house. You look like you need it more than I do.”
Teetee took the cup gratefully, inhaling the steam before taking a sip. The warmth instantly spread through him, grounding him, making him feel just a little bit more human. He closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the taste, before opening them again. That’s when he noticed it.
A jar. A simple, glass jar, sitting on the counter near the register.
It was filled with roses.
Some were fresh, their petals still soft and vibrant, while others were slightly wilted, their edges curling as if they'd been here for a few days. The contrast between them was striking—some roses, bright and alive, while others seemed to carry the weight of time.
Teetee’s brows furrowed as he glanced between the jar and Prim. “Since when did we have roses displayed here?”
Prim gave him a quick look, her lips twitching in amusement. “Oh, since the day you disappeared.”
Teetee blinked, caught off guard. “Huh?”
Prim didn’t miss a beat. She leaned casually against the counter, arms crossed, her expression shifting to something that was equal parts smug and amused. “Por came here every night.”
Teetee’s heart lurched in his chest at the mention of his name, and he felt a tightness in his throat. “What?”
“Yep.” Prim’s gaze softened slightly, though there was still a glint of mischief in her eyes. “He sat right there,” she nodded toward Teetee’s usual spot in the corner, “your usual spot, and waited for you. He stayed until closing, always ordering the same drink. And each time he left, he’d place a rose on the counter.”
Teetee’s mouth went dry. His fingers tightened around the cup of coffee, his gaze fixating on the jar of roses. He could hardly process what he was hearing. Phi Por did that? Every night? For me?
“He… he did that?” Teetee managed to croak, his voice barely above a whisper.
Prim nodded, a small, almost sad smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Yeah. At first, I thought it was some grand, over-the-top romantic gesture, straight out of a movie. But after the third night, I realized it wasn’t just that. He wasn’t being dramatic or trying to make a scene. He was just waiting for you.”
Teetee stood frozen for a moment, staring at the jar. His chest felt tight, an unexpected wave of emotion flooding him. A mix of confusion, tenderness, and something deeper that he didn’t know how to name. He tried to swallow, but his throat felt too tight, as if the air had thickened around him.
The roses… they had been placed there, night after night. They were more than just flowers. They were symbols of someone waiting, someone who hadn’t forgotten him. Phi Por was waiting for me?
His mind raced, trying to make sense of the last few days—the silence, the space he’d asked for, the distance that had stretched between them. And now this. He’d felt like he was losing himself in the chaos of his own life, but Por had been here, still holding on, still waiting for him to return.
“I didn’t know…” Teetee murmured, more to himself than to Prim. His eyes were fixed on the wilted roses, his thoughts in turmoil.
Prim watched him carefully. She didn’t say anything for a moment, letting the silence stretch between them. Finally, she spoke, her tone softer. “Look, Teetee. I don’t know what’s going on between you two. But from where I’m standing, Por doesn’t want to leave you in the dark. He’s been waiting. He’s just trying to figure it out, too. And maybe he’s been giving you the space you asked for, but it’s clear as day that he’s not giving up on you.”
Teetee didn’t know how to respond. He was overwhelmed, and yet a part of him wanted to scream. Why didn’t I see this before? Why had he pulled away from Por when all along, Por had been waiting, holding onto the hope that Teetee would come back?
“I think…” Teetee’s voice trembled as he spoke, unsure of what he was about to say. “I think I’ve been afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
Teetee glanced up at Prim, then down at the counter, his fingers lightly brushing the rim of his coffee cup. “Afraid of getting hurt. Afraid that all of this…” He waved a hand around, gesturing vaguely to the café, “is just some game to him. That he’s just messing with me.”
Prim gave him a knowing look. “Well, you won’t know unless you talk to him, will you?”
Teetee swallowed hard, his mind a swirl of conflicting emotions. The rational side of him said to take it slow, to be careful. But the other side—his heart, aching with longing—just wanted to run to Por and wrap himself up in whatever it was they had.
The silence between them stretched on. Teetee took another sip of coffee, trying to calm the storm inside him. But deep down, he knew that this was it. The moment of truth. Whatever was happening between him and Por wasn’t something that could be ignored anymore.
“Maybe… maybe I need to stop overthinking things,” Teetee said quietly.
Prim’s smile was small but knowing. “There’s no harm in seeing where it goes. Just don’t wait too long, okay?”
Teetee nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. He wasn’t sure what the future held, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a flicker of hope.
Por had been waiting. Now, it was his turn to take that step.
Just as Teetee was about to say something, the café door swung open.
The café was unusually quiet, save for the soft pattering of the rain against the windows. The world outside felt like a distant memory, as if it no longer mattered. All that mattered was the figure standing in front of Teetee, drenched and vulnerable, his eyes full of something that hit Teetee deep in his chest.
Por stood there, holding a rose in his hand like an offering. His chest rose and fell with each breath, his usual confident demeanor replaced with something raw, something real. Teetee’s heart thundered in his ears.
He wasn’t sure how long they stood there, both of them frozen in time. The silence was thick, almost suffocating, but neither of them dared to break it just yet.
"Teetee." Por whispered his name like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.
For a moment, neither of them moved. Then, Por stepped forward. His voice was thick with emotion.
"I missed you."
Teetee’s fingers curled into his apron. He didn’t know what to say. Por inhaled deeply, gathering the courage that had been building inside him for days.
"I don’t know if I overwhelmed you, or if I did something to make you uncomfortable," Por said, voice shaking slightly. "But if I did… I’m sorry. That was never my intention."
Teetee’s heart clenched. "Por, I—"
Por kept going.
"I don’t flirt with people just for fun, Teetee," he said softly. "I don’t play around with feelings. And if I made you feel like I was—then that’s my fault, and I hate that I made you doubt me."
Por took another step, holding the rose between them.
"I came here every night because I wanted to see you. Because I—" He let out a shaky breath. "I care about you. A lot more than I should, maybe."
Teetee felt like he couldn’t breathe.
"Tell me to stop," Por said suddenly. "If this isn’t what you want, tell me. And I swear, I’ll leave you alone. But if there’s even a part of you that feels the same way…"
He hesitated. "Then let me stay."
Teetee felt everything at once.
The fear. The hesitation. The overwhelming warmth.
Por had been so patient. So persistent.
Teetee could hardly process the words. His mind was spinning. Por had been here, all along—waiting, and now, he was standing in front of him, confessing feelings that Teetee hadn’t known how to deal with. Part of him wanted to run, to say something safe, to retreat into his shell. But another part of him—the part that had missed Por’s presence, the part that had longed for his words, his touch—wanted to reach out, to let him in.
And suddenly, Teetee realized—he didn’t want him to leave.
Teetee’s throat tightened. He swallowed hard, trying to find the words. His mind raced in a blur of emotions. This is real. This is real.
“I—” His voice caught. He couldn’t form the words right away, his thoughts scattered. He wanted to tell Por everything—how he’d been scared, how he’d been afraid of getting hurt. How he had let his own insecurities build walls between them. But now, with Por standing here, it felt like all of those walls had started to crumble.
Teetee took a slow, shaky breath, finally meeting Por’s eyes. The vulnerability in those eyes made his chest ache. He was not the same idol from before—the one who made Teetee’s heart race with every tease. This was someone who had shown up, soaked to the bone, holding a rose and wearing his heart on his sleeve.
“I… I’m sorry.” Teetee’s voice cracked, the guilt gnawing at him. “I’ve been pushing you away, and I didn’t mean to. I was just—” He sighed, feeling the weight of his own confusion. “I didn’t know what I was supposed to do with everything you were giving me. I was scared. And I didn’t know if I was just another one of those fleeting moments for you.”
Por’s expression softened, his hand trembling slightly as he reached out, placing the rose on the counter. He didn’t touch Teetee, but the space between them suddenly felt impossibly small. “You’re not fleeting, Teetee. I don’t want you to ever feel like you’re not worth more than that. You mean more to me than I could put into words.”
Teetee’s chest clenched at those words. His heart, which had been racing ever since the first time Por had stepped into the café, now felt like it was about to burst.
“I just—” Teetee started again, his voice breaking, but this time, he felt like he wasn’t so afraid to say what he was feeling. “I don’t know how to trust this. I don’t know how to trust you.”
Por stepped closer, his face full of sincerity and pain. “Then let me show you, Teetee. I don’t want to rush you. I just want to be here. I just want to be with you. But I need you to know that I’m not going anywhere. Not unless you tell me to.”
Teetee’s eyes softened, a mix of hesitation and longing still lingering. He could feel the storm within himself calming as Por’s words sank in. Maybe it wasn’t about having all the answers right now. Maybe it was about taking that leap of faith, trusting in what felt real. Because this? This was real.
“I—” Teetee’s voice trailed off, his heart thumping loudly in his chest. He looked up at Por again, really looked at him, and for the first time in days, he felt like he was seeing the person standing in front of him, not the idol, not the idea of him, but Por. “I care about you too, you know?” His voice was barely above a whisper. “I think… I think I’ve been running from it, but I care.”
Por’s expression softened even further, a slow smile breaking across his face. He reached out then, gently, and cupped Teetee’s cheek in his hand, his thumb brushing softly over his skin. The touch was so tender, so sure, that Teetee felt his breath catch in his throat.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Por murmured, his voice low and steady. “Not unless you want me to.”
Teetee’s heart was pounding as he looked up into Por’s eyes, and in that moment, all of the doubt and fear he’d held onto seemed to fade away. He didn’t need to have all the answers. What he needed now was to stop running and just... trust. Trust Por. Trust himself.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Teetee felt the storm inside him calm.
“I don’t want you to go,” Teetee whispered.
Por’s smile grew, and his eyes softened with something that Teetee couldn’t quite name. Then, without another word, Por leaned in slowly, gently pressing his lips to Teetee’s forehead in a soft, lingering kiss.
Teetee’s breath hitched, his heart hammering in his chest, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of the kiss settle into his skin. And in that moment, he knew.
This wasn’t just a fleeting moment. It was real. It was them. And maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something new.
"Just to be sure, can I take that as you are wanting me to stay?" Por asked.
Teetee giggles. One thing became clear—he didn’t want Por to leave.
So, instead of responding with words, Teetee took a step forward. Slowly, almost as if testing the waters, his fingers brushed against the wet petals of the rose in Por’s hand. The delicate softness sent a wave of warmth through him, and his breath caught in his chest.
Por’s eyes widened, watching him closely as if waiting for him to pull back, but Teetee didn’t. He didn’t step away. He took the rose from Por’s hand, fingers trembling slightly as they closed around the stem.
Por’s eyes were soft, searching. "Teetee—"
Teetee met his gaze, his heart hammering in his chest. His face was burning, but he held Por’s stare, refusing to look away. This wasn’t just about the kiss anymore. This wasn’t about flirting or being confused. It was about something deeper.
"I don’t know what this means yet," Teetee confessed quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. He was trying to make sense of everything, but it was hard. His emotions were a jumbled mess. "I don’t know how to do this... or if I’ll be any good at it." His words were rushed, like he was convincing himself as much as he was explaining it to Por.
Por’s chest rose and fell with a slow breath, but he said nothing. He just watched him, waiting for Teetee to find his footing.
"But..." Teetee swallowed hard, his fingers still tight around the rose. "I want to try."
Por froze for a moment, his gaze never leaving Teetee’s. The silence between them stretched, and Teetee wondered if he had said too much, or too little, or if this was all just too soon. But then, unexpectedly, Por laughed. It wasn’t loud or triumphant—just a breathless, relieved laugh that melted all the tension in the air.
Before Teetee could even process it, Por stepped forward and pulled him into his arms.
Teetee gasped, completely taken aback by the sudden embrace. For a moment, he couldn’t breathe—his chest pressed against Por’s wet hoodie, the rain still dripping down his back. But somehow, he felt safe. He felt like he was where he belonged.
"You have no idea how happy I am right now," Por whispered, his voice thick with emotion, and Teetee could feel it, all of it, vibrating through him.
Teetee, flustered and suddenly acutely aware of how close they were, mumbled, "You’re soaking wet."
Por chuckled softly, his warm breath ghosting over Teetee’s ear. "And you’re adorable."
Teetee groaned, hiding his face in the fabric of Por’s hoodie, utterly embarrassed. He could feel the heat radiating from his own face, and he wondered if it would ever stop. "Stop calling me that," he mumbled, voice muffled by the fabric.
"Make me," Por teased lightly, his fingers brushing the back of Teetee’s neck.
Teetee’s heart skipped a beat at the touch. He wasn’t used to being this close to someone—especially not someone like Por, who had completely turned his world upside down.
After a few more seconds, Por pulled back just slightly, enough to cup Teetee’s face in his hands. His touch was gentle, and Teetee’s breath hitched in his throat.
"Teetee," Por murmured, his eyes dark and serious. "Can I kiss you?"
Teetee’s heart threatened to leap out of his chest. His head spun with a hundred thoughts—was he ready? Did he want this? Was it too soon? But then, as he looked into Por’s eyes—those soft, vulnerable eyes—he realized that he didn’t care about the doubts anymore.
He nodded, almost shyly. It was the smallest gesture, but it felt monumental.
Por didn’t hesitate. He closed the distance between them in an instant, his lips capturing Teetee’s in a soft, gentle kiss. It was nothing like what Teetee had expected. It wasn’t rushed, it wasn’t demanding—it was simple, calm, like two people finally finding their way to each other after a long journey.
Teetee melted into the kiss, his pulse racing as he felt the weight of it. The kiss lingered, slow and tender, until they both pulled away just enough to catch their breath.
When they did, Por’s forehead rested gently against Teetee’s, both of them breathless.
"I’ll take good care of you," Por whispered, his voice raw with emotion. "And I’ll make you the happiest barista alive."
Teetee let out a shaky laugh, his hands still gripping the wet fabric of Por’s hoodie as if grounding himself. "You already are, idiot."
Por’s eyes twinkled as he grinned. "Good. Because you’re mine now."
Teetee froze, his face turning a bright shade of red. "What?!" He pulled back slightly, but Por’s hold on him was firm.
"You heard me," Por said, his tone playful yet serious. "You’re mine now."
Teetee groaned and buried his face in Por’s hoodie again, trying to hide from the embarrassment.
Outside, the rain continued to pour, but inside the café, beneath the soft glow of the lights, something else was blooming—a connection, something real and tangible. The kind of love that wasn’t rushed or forced, but something they’d both been waiting for in the most unexpected of places.
Por chuckled, pulling Teetee back just enough to see his face. "Don’t hide, Teetee. It’s not like I’ll bite."
Teetee peeked out from under the fabric, his face still bright red. "I wouldn’t be so sure about that."
Por laughed, his eyes full of warmth and affection. "You’ll get used to it, don’t worry."
Teetee shook his head, but the smile tugging at his lips betrayed him. "You’re impossible."
"And yet, you like me," Por teased.
Teetee rolled his eyes, but his heart swelled with happiness. Maybe it wasn’t perfect, maybe it wasn’t easy, but it was real. And that was enough for him.
As the rain continued to fall outside, Teetee and Por stood in the café, arms wrapped around each other, their hearts finally aligned. And as the night wore on, it felt like the beginning of something beautiful, something that had been waiting to unfold all along.
Beneath the soft glow of the café lights—love was in full bloom.
The End.