Chapter Text

chapter two – The Nymph

Josh was already smiling before he could open his eyes. Someone’s morning breath was fanning across his face. It was not unpleasant, but it woke him, nonetheless.

He lazily opened one eye, and then another. Josh blinked a few times before he could see the clear image of his surfer boy leaning over him on the bed.

“Hi…” Ken said with a goofy grin.

“Mm… Hi…” Josh replied when Ken nuzzled against his stubbled chin. “Good morning.”

“Morning… What would you say to coffee and tapsilog?” surfer boy spoked into Josh’s collarbone.

“Hm… Can I have fried rice with that?”

“Sure! Give me about thirty minutes, a’right?”

“Okay… Thanks, Ken.”

Ken looked up, brown eyes too brilliant for Josh’s early morning. Still, it made the writer smile. No matter how many times he sees it, Ken’s kind eyes still make him feel giddy inside.

Surfer boy puckered his lips and said, “Gimme kiss.”

Josh chuckled.

Being so cute so early in the morning, this big baby, the writer thought to himself.

He cupped Ken’s cheeks, his hands looking much smaller around surfer boy’s pretty face. Then, the writer planted a lazy morning kiss on his forehead.

“There.”

“That’s it?” Ken complained, pouting.

“Ken, I haven’t brushed yet.”

Ken only grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Then, he began to pepper small kisses all over Josh’s face, making loud ‘Mwah! Mwah! Mwah!’ sounds as he did.

If Josh did not enjoy being showered with affection so much, he would think the gesture annoying. But Ken was an exception to many of Josh’s pet peeves. The writer could only giggle, attempt to complain, and free himself, but he did not push Ken away or stop his kisses.

When the kiss monster finally had enough, he sat up from their soft mattress and wore his shirt. Ken stretched his back and began to walk out of the bedroom.

“Okay. I’ll start cooking. Can you make the bed?” Ken asked over his shoulder at Josh.

Josh leaned on his elbow, just watched his lover’s fine form walk out with swagger. “Alright… I’ll follow you downstairs.”

As soon as the door closed, Josh collapsed face-down on the bed. He blushed. He and Ken had already been living together for a few months, but for some reason waking up to that much sweetness never got old. And Ken was cute, everything he did was endearing.

Josh did not anticipate the so-called honeymoon period would be like that. His mornings were bright, his day was peaceful, and his nights were warm as he cuddled into Ken’s loving embrace. The joy, the happiness, the stupid feeling of loving someone was not something Josh was used to.

And Ken, his surfer boy, was not someone Josh was used to, either. Josh had a specific type. In the past, he would only date people who were eloquent, dignified, and dominant. If he had to say a name, the likes Josh was used to dating would be—

Two successive beeps from his phone interrupted the writer’s thoughts as he finished fixing their sheets. He sat on the edge of the bed before grabbing his phone to open the message.

Speak of the devil.

It was from the CEO.

Josh blushed at the inappropriately uncensored message.

‘We made love last night,’ the text read.

Josh furiously typed his reply.

[Writer] OH, GODS. I DID NOT NEED TO KNOW THAT. I’M TELLING THE FOREMAN.

[CEO] I’m not bragging!

[CEO] I only meant that when I woke up this morning and realized there was an angel in my arms, something you told me all those years ago came into mind.

Josh frowned. His memory was far from reliable, and he certainly did not remember anything from what the CEO said.

[Writer] Oh. Which was?

[CEO] That I will find someone so beautiful no one else will compare.

[Writer] And?

[CEO] You were wrong.

[CEO] The beauty elsewhere did not pale in comparison.

[CEO] Rather, the entire world became more beautiful. As if finding him splashed the entire world with more vivid colors. And I admire everything. I feel blessed seeing them. But this person in my arms as we speak… I find myself going back to him and his warmth.

[CEO] Always.

An audible ‘Awwe,’ left Josh’s lips. Before he could stop himself, tears were already beginning to pool at the corners of his eyes.

[Writer] Coming from you, that’s especially sweet.

[Writer] I’m glad you’re happy with him.

[CEO] I’m very happy, too.

[CEO] I didn’t know happiness like this existed.

[CEO] And you? How is cohabitation with the young surfer boy?

[Writer] Do you have to say ‘young’?

[Writer] >:(

[CEO] I’m only saying he is quite child-like.

[CEO] Are you getting along with him? Is everything well?

[Writer] You know I have no complains.

[CEO] Good.

As direct as ever, Josh thought, smiling. The CEO had always been forthright with his words and intentions. Perhaps that was also one of the characteristics that made him more of Josh’s type.

And yet, the two of them found their own happiness in people they never considered in the past.

What a beautiful twist of fate.

[CEO] JC?

[Writer] Yes?

[CEO] Do you think we would have made a good couple as well?

[Writer] Oh, gods. Why are you bringing this up after all this time? People might misunderstand.

[CEO] You’re right.

[CEO] 😂

[CEO] Forget I said anything.

[Writer] I’m just glad you found the foreman.

[Writer] Don’t let him go.

[CEO] Never. Not even if he pushes me away.

[CEO] I can only imagine myself being with him.

[CEO] And for that, I thank you, JC. You opened my eyes to real love.

[Writer] And I thank you, too.

[Writer] For everything I can’t say until now.

[CEO] No need to say anything. I understand.

[CEO] Have a great Sunday, JC.

[Writer] You, too. Say ‘hello’ to the foreman for me.

Josh looked at their exchange of messages again.

‘You were wrong,’ the CEO had told him.

Josh could not even remember it, but his self from years ago said such things about love he did not believe in. Looking back, the writer could understand what made his good friend meant.

Josh was wrong. He was wrong about many things. He was wrong about love, what it was to him, and what he had to do to find it. Josh was also wrong about life and what it meant. In the past, Josh believed there was no point to moving forward anymore. He felt hopeless and helpless, unable to do anything but take life’s best punches like a tired champion.

But no matter how many times he tried to end it all, Josh always held that blade back and cut a little less deep that he could have. At the back of his mind, part of him was yelling to nobody to help him find a way out. But he never said anything out loud. He was too afraid of what reaching out would mean.

His cynicism was hypocrisy, he guessed. All that time, Josh might have been waiting for something without even knowing. Maybe somewhere in his heart, Josh knew there was something for him, someone for him.

Maybe it was that: Ken walking around Josh’s—no, our, he corrected—kitchen, whistling a merry tune as he cooked breakfast.

The writer’s quiet steps flitted from the bottom of the stairs to where his surfer boy stood. When he got behind Ken, Josh planted his forehead at the center of his wide back.

Surfer boy chuckled, chest rumbling.

“Hey… It’s not ready yet,” he said in a sweet voice.

“Yeah, I know,” Josh said. “I just wanted to…” The writer gripped the sides of Ken’s loose shirt.

I just wanted to make sure you were real, he thought. But Josh would never say it out loud.

“Woah… You’re being extra clingy today!”

Ken turned on his side to pull Josh. He continued to fry the rice with Josh in front of him and his arms over Josh’s shoulders.

And the writer could only think that was the warmest place to be.

“Ken… I love you,” Josh said after much hesitation. He looked up and gave Ken a smile.

Josh had already said ‘I love you’ a handful of times. Not nearly as often as Ken, but he was working up to it. Each time he tells Ken, though, surfer boy would always look as if he had heard it for the first time.

Ken held back a grin, starry eyes looking none the happier.

“Come here…” Ken said, pulling Josh into a tight hug. He began to kiss Josh’s face in between his words. “Love you, too—mwah! Three—mwah! Four, five, six—mwah! Mwah! Mwah!”

Josh only welcomed the assault of wet kisses all over his face with a fit of giggles.

Ah, he thought as he contemplated how beautiful their lazy Sunday morning was. The CEO was right.

How glad Josh was to be proven wrong.