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Always sure of himself, not doubting himself or regretting things he’s done, that’s just how Nuea is. That’s how Praram knows his boyfriend, too. That’s how everyone sees him.
He has his last exam tomorrow and is currently studying for it, trying his hardest to get all the formulas and definitions in his head, trying his hardest to stay focused and actually learn something. Even though he acts like he doesn’t care, his grades are still important to him, especially now that he has someone to make proud, someone who he doesn’t want to get associated with a loser. Now, that he has his boyfriend.
The third year reads through the same page again and again, trying to memorize it as good as he can, trying to actually keep it in his mind. He has worked for hours already; he is exhausted and his brain his about to shut down but he continues his studying nonetheless. Nuea is not someone to give up.
When a phone call distracts him, he doesn’t even bother to check the caller ID, he swipes the red button which declines the caller the contact to him. He can’t be bothered by anyone.
It’s probably Vee or Bar, asking questions about the exams (Bar) or deciding that they studied and ask him out for a drink (Vee). To be fair, since he has Mark it has gotten better but he still hardly concentrates and prefers to just give himself a break. The younger often accompanies him and claims Vee as his, sitting on his lap or touches him constantly when the flirts are getting too much for his liking.
Or it is Gun lecturing him over and over again that he should treat his brother right. They are dating for over half a year now and Tossakan still hasn’t gotten over nagging him.
It can’t be his mom as he has set a special ring tone just for her to know if he can scold or should be nice, same with his grandma and dad even though they rarely call him.
He figures that it couldn’t be too important so he decides to just turn his phone on silent mode and put it on the drawer next to door. He really can’t be bothered now. Whoever it might be can wait, right? He returns to his books, way too many unread pages left, way too many words to be written and way too less time to finish everything. What a mess.
When Nuea hasn’t picked up the first call, Praram wasn’t surprised. His boyfriend is a busy man. After he didn’t pick up the third call – the younger twin had checked to not call more than once in a three quarter hour to not seem too clingy or needy – he became worried. But after the older engineering student hasn’t had picked up the fifth call, Praram became ready to visit him, despite the late hour. He knows that the handsome man must be at his condo by now, he knows that Nuea ALWAYS calls back when he has missed a call, his lover is stupidly humble.
But he isn’t only humble he is also hopelessly sappy. Therefore, he texts Praram every evening and every morning a “sleep well” or a “good morning” – depending on which time of the day it occurs to happen. Nuea hasn’t forgotten it once in the seven months of them dating, not even when he was extremely sick and could barely talk he has thought of his boyfriend and send him the greeting messages. As a result of that he knows that the older isn’t asleep yet, too.
What else could a university student do around this time that makes him pay no attention to his phone, Praram thinks until it hits him; Nuea must still be studying! The boy sighs at how well that would fit his boyfriend, always pretending to not care but then still study till late in the night to get good results. He once told him that he has a goal to work for now, a goal that includes a future with the high school student.
Praram had blushed pretty hard and looked away just to feel his hair getting ruffled a few seconds later. His phi really has an obsession with his hair – not that he is complaining, having the older stroking his the hair and mumbling sweet nothings is something that the younger loves like nothing else. It’s safe to say that the tall man is what keeps him going, what keeps him grounded – so why should he complain when his boyfriend feels the same way?
Out of an impulse he decides that it is time to console with his twin if he should or should not go to Nuea’s apartment, if he should or should not look after his boyfriend.
When this thought goes through his mind he deep down knows that he has already decided. He will go to his boyfriend’s condo and check up on him, maybe cuddle him a bit and when Pralak is extra kind and helps him cover up, to sleep over in the save arms of the older student.
What could go wrong with this plan?
Apparently, a lot.
For starters, Gun caught him and Pralak on their mission to get Praram to leave the house to go to Nuea. They had to lie to their older brother, something both of them despite. Eventually, Tossakan let it slide but promised to keep an eye on them – even though it sounded more like a warning.
After that, Praram realized that he has to come to his phi’s condo somehow. The question is just… how? He doesn’t have a car yet, his brother always driving both of the twins. It’s too far to walk and it’s dark already, it’s not exactly safe to use the bike. After a bit of thinking he decides to take the risk and use his bicycle as it seems like the best option.
He types Nuea’s address into google maps and it seems like the way is shorter than he has expected at first. He needs only ten minutes if he uses the shortest way, seven if he rides with a fast pace. Which he totally would do. Most likely. He will at least try.
Wanting to start he realizes that his own wheels aren’t filled with air properly so he quickly decides to simply use his twin’s bike which seems properly usable. The way itself goes unproblematic, the streets aren’t empty, they never are, but due it being a bit after two am they aren’t as full as they usually are and he manages the way in impressive eight and a half minute.
Finally having reached his destination, the next obstacle occurs: how to get into the impressive big house? He doesn’t have a key and he cannot just ring at the door as he usually would, he cannot take the risk of waking Nuea’s neighbors. Under no circumstances. After debating for a few minutes that feel like hours he finally decides that he could try and ring, it wouldn’t be this bad. Maybe a few angry old ladies but besides them… what should happen? After three times of ringing on the doorbell there’s a buzzer sound and he enters the house, proud of himself.
Mission accomplished.
Due to their many cuddling and tutor sessions in his boyfriend’s room he luckily knows exactly where to head to. Without problems he finds the right door and seeing how there’s light shining from under the door, he figures that he was right: Nuea is indeed still awake and most likely studying.
He knocks the door gently, knowing that the older will hear him as his headphones are broken and he hasn’t bought new ones yet and due to the fact that he doesn’t hear any music playing. He knocks once, twice, thrice even before he thinks of giving up as the door still doesn’t open. Nuea must really be determined to ignore the door like this, something he usually never would.
Finally, after the fourth knock the door opens itself and a ghost version of his boyfriend stands in front of him, he looks exhausted and as if he should have slept long ago. In the back of the room Praram sees the study paper, his stubborn boyfriend really is still studying, still trying to remember formulas and understand everything the teachers taught him. At two am.
“Praram, baby.” He yawns discreetly, even though the younger sees it exactly. “What are you doing here?” He smiles softly at his boyfriend, kissing his forehead gently. “Taking care of you phi.” He says softly, letting himself in. The younger sends a sweet smile towards his boyfriend, trying to not scold him for staying up so late and studying with no end.
“You know you don’t have to.” The taller sighs. “I am your phi, I am responsible of taking care of you.” There it is again, this endless want of making everything easy for Praram, taking all the blame and the hard work, always wanting nothing but the best for his lover, even if he has to sacrifie himself in order to do so.
“Yes P’Nuea, I know you are older but that doesn’t mean that you have to be in charge of everything.” Sitting down on the bed, the younger hugs his boyfriend tightly. “it doesn’t mean that you have to have no struggles, it doesn’t mean that you have to be perfect.” He feels how his exhausted elder melts into his touch, how he lets himself fall into the hug.
“See, just like this.” Praram continues, “you can let yourself fall with me, too. Stop pretending to know everything, to have no struggles or problems, to not suffer.” He kisses his cheek sweetly, trying to be the major out of the two for once. He admits that the boy is childish most of the time, due to not only being the younger twin but also being the youngest in his family and being babied all of the time. He’s also the youngest and smallest in his friend’s group so they baby him as well and now his boyfriend, too. Not that he doesn’t like that or doesn’t like to be pampered but Praram also knows that his lover now needs him mature and care taking. And for Nuea, he can do that.
“Rely on me, too. Just as I rely on you.”
Nuea let’s his head fall on the younger boy’s shoulder, nuzzling his head on his cheek. Maybe, he thinks, this is just what he needs, a boyfriend taking care of him and not expecting things from him. Once again he notices how different Praram is from everyone he has ever dated before. Of course, he’s the first boy but that isn’t even the biggest point. For starters, Praram doesn’t expect him to only care about him, to not talk to anyone else out of jealousy. He doesn’t ask him to spend less time with friends but only him. He is encouraging and supporting with everything Nuea does. He loves him unconditionally. And then there’s this major point, too: he wants an equal relationship, wants to take care of Nuea has much as he wants to be taken care of. Oh, and he tells him to come down when his ego gets the best of him. New, but refreshing.
“Phi. Phi!” Praram gently shakes him when he notices how his boyfriend’s eyes fall shut. “I know you are tired and I am all for you sleeping but you need to at least change first!” He scolds softly, his voice so soft and gentle that you could barely tell he’s even scolding. He assumes that this is what the older needs just now, someone telling him what to do but not being to strict as Nuea always has reacted weirdly to harsh words.
Nuea nods and stands up, walking slowly with heavy steps. He takes off his shirt and under different circumstances Praram would tell him to not do that in front of him but the older looks like he would fall asleep any second, so he lets it slide.
Finally changed, the university student snuggles himself under his blanket, asking Praram with big puppy eyes if he could cuddle him to sleep. Who is the younger to resist this simple request? Plus, he really likes to cuddle Nuea as well, likes to get hold closely and he has already established that his lover’s chest is his favorite pillow on this whole world, really comfy and the steady, just a bit too quick heartbeat being his lullaby.
Doing as told, Praram lets himself get lost in the strong arms of his boyfriend, lets himself feel comforted by the warmth surrounding him and the familiar scent of Nuea surrounding him. He feels how the taller tugs him closer, gently stroking his hair with his free hand, something the boy really enjoys and the older himself is obsessed with. Praram’s full, brown hair is incredibly soft and perfect to let someone’s hand stroke through it. The way the locks tingle around Nuea’s fingers always fascinated him and he doesn’t think that he will ever get enough of this intriguing hair. Never enough of Praram. The younger can literally feel how the heartbeat of his boyfriend starts to steady itself, how his whole body relaxes under Praram’s weight and how he finally drifts into his well deserved sleep.
Mission accomplished.