Archive of Our Own

Win's mom told him about soulmate when he was nine and keep asking about the faint red string attached to his mom’s and dad's index finger, she told him that it's a sign that they are soulmate and meeting his father and sharing the bond only soulmates have with his father is the best thing that ever happened to her, and that when he grown up and found his soulmate he will feel complete and will feel like he is the happiest person on earth.

Win is eagerly waiting for the digital clock on his phone to hit twelve am on the day he will turn nineteen, he keep glancing at his phone and his index finger and when his twelve am alarm went off he stare at his index finger and the red string appear out of nowhere, he grinned like a mad man as he answer a video call from Tay his bestfriend.

“Happy birthday Win !” Tay greeted Win like he does every year on Win's birthday

“Thank you bro, look look it finally appeared” Win excitedly showed his index finger through his camera

“I can't see it my dear friend, I can only see it when you already found your soulmate” Tay rolled his eyes at his best friend's antics

“Ah right, I'm so happy Tay I wish I can meet him or her soon”

“I hope so too my friend, but remember don't forget your best friend when you do”

“Of course not, you fool”

Win keep chatting with Tay for a while until Tay said that they should sleep because it's their first day at college tomorrow and he don't want them to look like a zombie during class. Win laid on his bed as he stare at his index finger let's meet sooner than later my soulmate Win thought as he close his eyes.

Win and Tay are waiting for their professor of their economics101 class when Win felt a faint buzz starting from the tip of his index finger throughout his entire body and he realized that this is the sensation he would feel when he found his soulmate just like what books about soulmate always talk about, He stare at the loose end of the string on his finger that start stretching out until it circle around index finger of someone that just came into his classroom, his heart beats rapidly and he swallowed the lump on his throat as he look up and see a familiar face, and the said person stared or more precisely glared at him. Bright Vachirawit???? Are you fucking kidding me?? Win thought, he is going to get up from his seat when he heard his professor greet his class.

Win can't concentrate on whatever his professor are talking about, he want to scream from on top of the roof or slap himself so he will wake up from this nightmare, because it should be his worst nightmare that his soulmate is non other than Bright Vicharawit his rival from high school that always make him ranked second because Bright always manage to score higher on every test and competition back at high school and it's not like Bright is a bad person but Win's competitive side make him loathed everything about Bright. Win keep glancing at his red string and he can feel Bright's stare through the back of his skull because he is sitting right behind him.

When Win heard the bell that signaled the class is over he hurriedly pack his book and turned around only to found Bright already walk through the door, he walk hurriedly.

“Bright !” he shout through the hallway but Bright just keep walking so he run and grab Bright's arm

“What?” Bright asked as he turned around to face Win looking nonchalant

“ I… you.. we..” Win try to talk but words doesn’t seems to came out of his mouth correctly so he lifted his index finger and point to Bright's

“What about it? I don't believe in red string or soulmate it's a bullshit concept that people use just to sell more romantic and sappy movies” Bright said nonchalantly and walk away leaving Win gaping like a fish in the middle of the hallway

Bright run to the nearest restroom, he splash cold water to his face and stare at his index finger, the red string have a loose end again because he is far enough from Win his soulmate, he always dreaded the day his red string appear and wish it will never appear. Bright once believe in the power of red string and he was hopeful that one day he will meet his soulmate and he will have someone that will always going to be by his side and love him like in every drama that he watched on television, but his hope slowly faded ever since he was eleven years old and he noticed the hushed argument at midnight and the cold shoulder his mom gave his dad every morning.

He watched as the fainted red string that connected his mom and dad slowly turned bright red, a sign that either soulmates just found each other or the connection between soulmates is broken, when bright was twelve his dad left him and his mom and never appear before him again, ever since that he loathed the concept of soulmate and red string, because happily ever after with your soulmate only happen in fairy tale or in a cheesy romance drama. In reality it's just like his mom and dad also like he quietly observe, many people around him hurt by their soulmate and it broke them, and it's hard to move forward because they have the red string still attached to them but with loose end, no one connected to it like it was mocking them.

Win? Fuck ! Why it have to be you? Bright thought as he walk out the bathroom and hurriedly walk to the coffee shop near his college where he work part-time. Truth is Bright find Win attractive with his doe eyes, sharp cheekbone, cute smile and bubbly personality but Win seems to dislike him because of their rivalry, but Bright have to rank first in school if he want to get scholarship to pay for his college, because he is worried about his mother that work two jobs to support both of them ever since his father left them.

He think that maybe now that they are in college and there are no rank system he can make peace with Win and maybe become friend, Win's bubbly personality can definitely become a ray of sunshine in his gloomy days but I guess fate really love to play with me huh Bright thought trying to forget and trying not to look at the mocking red string on his finger and greeted the customer that just walk through the door.

Win was just staring blankly as Bright walk away from him until Tay wave his hand in front of him and call his name “Earth to Win Metawin, hello?”

“Am I cursed Tay?”

“Why are you saying that?”

“Otherwise give me the reason why my soulmate is Bright Vachirawit who seems to hate the concept of soulmate and the one who is always blocking me from getting first rank?”

“You can't deny that he is hot though, you admit it once”

“Damn it Tay, it was one time”

“And the hot boy is your soulmate, isn't it good? You can finally have your happily ever after”

“Not when my supposed soulmate hate having a soulmate, will I spend the rest of my alive alone without my soulmate Tay?”

“I can't believe Mr. Positive saying something this pessimistic, you have plenty of time to convince him”

“I hope so” Win sigh as he nudge Tay to walk to their next class

Win knows that it's ridiculous that the moment he found out his soulmate is Bright despite the initial shock and resentment towards fate that make his biggest rival his soulmate he is starting to think that Bright is attractive with his big beautiful eyes, oh so kissable lips, wide shoulder. It feels like a switch just been turned on inside of him to finally see how attractive Bright are because he always turn blind eye on them only focusing on beating him, Bright is popular for a reason. The buzzing coming from his red string doesn’t help either, it's almost like it was telling him to get closer to Bright again because it's how they are meant to be, together.

The next day Win saw Bright again as he walk inside his business class with Tay, Bright is sitting in the middle raw and Win hurriedly sit beside him leaving Tay behind sorry my friend. Bright glanced at him when he sat but resuming playing with his phone. Win nudged Bright's arm and whisper to him “Can we talk?” Bright spare a glance and answered him “Fine, after class meet me at DayOne coffee shop” Win beamed at his answer and glanced at the red string connected through their index fingers.

After class dismissed Win watch as Bright hurriedly walk out of the room, he sigh as he walk to Tay to tell him about his upcoming talk with Bright, after Tay bid him good luck Win walk to the said coffee shop, he look around and spotted bright with apron around his waist behind the counter. “Do you want to order drink?” Bright asked. “Ehm, just americano I guess?” Win answered as he rubbed his neck awkwardly. “Okay, just sit anywhere and I will join you with your drink” Bright answered then start making Win's order.

Win sit at the corner seat in the coffee shop, looking around awkwardly spotted only one customer who seems to be focused on his notebook. Bright walk to the table with his drink and a scissor? Why? Win thought. Win cleared his throat before he thanked Bright for his drink, Bright only nodded slightly.

“So, what do you want to talk about?” Bright said as he sit

“Uhm, about yesterday” Win said as he nervously touching the red string attached to his finger

“Okay, what about it?”

“The fact that we are.. you know.. soulmate?” Win said timidly

“And I also said that I'm not into soulmate”

“Why? I have been waiting to meet my soulmate for as long as I know about it”

“Because it's dumb, you are stuck with your 'soulmate' just because you are 'fated' to be with them, this is real life not some stupid romance movies where after the initial struggle you will have your happily ever after with your soulmate, in real life you struggle throughout your whole life” Bright said, his tone getting higher as he continue speaking

“Isn’t a gift to have someone beside you that understand you, love you for the rest of your life?” Win answered bewildered by Bright's ridiculous statement

“Isn’t it a curse when the supposed love of your life could be the one that hurt you the most? Because you trust and love that person one hundred person just because they are your soulmate you think they will do the same for you? And when they don’t, they leave you to wallow in your sorrows as you see the loose end of the red string that will remain with you forever until either one of you pass away?” Bright argued his face red and his expression are mixed of anger, sadness.

Bright get up from his seat and grab the scissor he brought as he bring the scissor closer to their red string Win caught his wrist

“Are you crazy?!” Win shouted as he grab the scissor from Bright's hand and throw it on the floor

“I’m not crazy, why do we even have to be dependent to a stupid red string for our happiness anyway? Let's just cut this stupid string that will haunt us the rest of our life”

“You can't just cut the red string ! You could kill both of us !”

“What are you talking about?”

“I knew someone that did that before and they gradually lose their will to live and eventually lose their life so did their soulmate, the red string exist for a reason. You are fated to walk beside each other for the rest of your live and you can't forcefully went against the law of the universe. Didn't you feel it? The way our string trying to pull us close to each other? I can't let you have the same fate as that person Bright, even though we were never become friends but can we at least try?” Win

said as he grab Bright's hand and stare at him pleadingly.

“Fine, I wont be reckless and cut the stupid string, but I'm not going to just suddenly start chasing 'a happy ending' “ Bright sigh

Win remembered he and Bright just sitting there awkwardly until Bright's co-worker called for him because customers started to pour in, thankfully the coffee shop was deserted during their argument, Win thought that he can start by befriending Bright and they can gradually become close with each other, but Bright been avoiding him like the plague after their shared classes Bright will hurriedly run out of the class and when he tried to go to the coffee shop Bright always the one behind the counter and always seem busy and ignored him.

“Let me ask you Win, do you like him because you like him or just because he is your soulmate?” Tay asked as he drink his smoothie and glance at Bright behind the counter

“I don't know, I don't think I'm in love with him or anything,yet. But it's going to be unavoidable isn't it ? Falling in love with your soulmate, especially if he is as good looking as Bright” Win answered as he stare at Bright not even bother looking at Tay

“So you finally openly admitted that he is indeed good looking huh?”

“Well I was blinded by my competitiveness before but now we are in college, there are no rank in here so I can finally see clearly”

“So, what is your plan? Are you just going to stalk him here everyday?”

“I have a plan, a brilliant plan”

Win's plan turn out to be begging P'Toptap, assistant of his economic 101 professor to pair him and Bright for every group project, so there he is sitting with Bright inside of DayOne discussing their task together amidst Bright's sour face ever since Win approached him to discuss about their group project. They sit there just focusing on their tasks, well maybe just Bright. Win can't seem to focus, he keep glancing at Bright, observing the way he like to swirl his pen, the way he bite the edge of his pen, or the way he flip his hair when it obstruct his vision. Damn ! He is hot! Win thought, his train of thoughts was interrupted when Bright's phone ring.

“Hello?.. Yes, I am.. Who is this?” Bright answered and his face gradually grew pale and his hand start shaking

“What happened? Who was that?” Win asked he gradually panicked

“It's .. My mom .. she fainted.. I..” Bright answered as tears start to pool in his eyes

“Which hospital? Let me take you there I brought my car” Win start packing his and Bright's bag and drag him outside the coffee shop

Win drag Bright inside his car, he fastened his seat belt because Bright just sit there blankly and finally answered his question about where is the hospital after a few attempts, Bright keep sighing and Win can heard him sniffling as he try to drive as fast as he could, ignoring all the red lights. Win feels his heart ache as he heard Bright's broken sob. He stop his car in front of the lobby and unfasten Bright's seat belt, Bright run as fast as he could toward the emergency room after he open the car door.

Win started looking around the emergency room and spotted Bright at the seat in the corner, he approached him and sit beside him.

“Did you see her?” Win asked as he rubbed Bright's back trying to calm him down

“Yes, I talked to the doctor. He said she fainted because of fatigue and they will observe her today so she could go home tomorrow” Bright answered as he whip his tears suddenly embarrassed

“That’s good, do you want to call your family? Your father maybe?” Win asked with his hand still rubbing Bright's back

“My uncle live in Chiang Mai so I don't want to bother him, my father was out of the picture for a long time, so it's just me and my mom here in Bangkok” Bright answered sounded dejected that make Win want to just hug him and whispered sweet things to him

“Okay, do you want to eat anything? It's already nine pm so you must be starving”

“It’s okay, I don't have appetite”

“Come oooon, for me? I'm starving here” Win pouted and tried his best to look cute, he don't mind embarrassing himself as he see the corner of Bright's lips start going up

“Fine, let me finish the administration and I will accompany you to the cafeteria” Bright unconsciously ruffle Win's hair then get up from his seat

“Yey!” Win smiled and get up from his too amidst his initial shock because of Bright's sweet gesture

Win ordered for the two of them as Bright sit waiting for him, when Bright rejected the meal Win opted to pout again and Bright just cough and start eating, Win beams and start eating too. Bright told Win to go home but Win was stubborn so both of them ended up sleeping in the waiting room chair, Win head rested in Bright's shoulder. Bright wake up feeling his back and neck stiff then he glanced to his shoulder, Win is still sleeping peacefully with his mouth slightly open and Bright glanced at the cute bunny teeth I can see why his nickname in high school was cute giant bunny Bright thought and chuckled.

Win slowly open his eyes, he lift his head and look around drowsily. Suddenly he remembered where he is and look at Bright he turn away immediately and start rubbing the corner of his mouth, terrified that he might droll in his sleep. Bright told Win he is going to see his mother, after Bright consulted with his mom's doctor and his mom allowed to go home he check her out of the hospital as Win wait in the waiting room. Win insisted to drive both of them so Bright gave up and let him.

“Good morning, mae. My name is Win, I'm Bright's college friend” Win greeted Bright's mom as he open the door to his car for Bright and his mom

“Good morning too Win, I'm sorry for the inconveniences” Bright's mom smile and secretly glanced at the red string connecting Win and her son

“It's okay mae, Bright is a good friend of mine so it's a pleasure for me to help you” Win answered and glance at her through the rear mirror

Bright's mom and Win converse along the ride, she asked about Win's age, his siblings, hobbies and Win answered politely as Bright remain silence during the ride, just staring outside the window. After they arrived in front of Bright's house Win was going to help Bright's mom inside but she refused politely and told Win to go home and rest, Win hold Bright's wrist as he is going to walk out of the car and tell him to meet him at the coffee shop again tomorrow to continue their project, Bright just nodded and thanked him for yesterday and the ride home.

Bright knew the moment his mom met Win he will have this conversation sooner or later, but he doesn’t expect it to be this soon. He sigh as he sit beside his mom in the living room after her mom called for him.

“Mae, you need to rest” Bright tried to reason

“I was asleep for twelve hours, I think it's enough rest for me”

“So stubborn” Bright sigh as he lay his head on his mom's shoulder

“Not as stubborn as my son, sooo.. Win.. He seems like a nice boy and handsome too” she said as she pat Bright's head

“Yeah, I know”

“I’m happy for you son, you deserve to be happy and be someone who is as nice and caring as him” Bright's mom cupped his cheeks and stare at him as she said it

“I don't know mom, I know he is nice, and yeah well cute”

“So why are you hesitating?”

“It’s nothing, I don't know if I'm ready for a relationship” Bright avoid his mom's stare

“Oh son, I know why you hesitate to be with your soulmate, and I'm so sorry it's all my fault” Bright's mom turn his head so he will look at her again, her eyes wet with unshed tears

“How is it your fault mae? That bastard cheated on you and leave us alone” Bright answered angrily and tears start to pool in

his eyes

“I’m sorry for not being the best example for you, but son you can't ruined your future because of my past, what happened to me and your dad was not common and at least I get to have a handsome, nice, caring, loving son out of that relationship” Bright's mom said as she wipe the tears from Bright's cheeks

“I'm scared mae, what if I give all of me to him and he play with my heart, I don't think I can handle being heartbroken and losing trust in someone anymore”

“Does he seems like the type to play with anyone's heart? I don't think so son, I'm old enough now to know a genuinely nice person, and you should try opening your heart and give him a chance or you will throw away a good chance to be happy and you will regret for not trying”

“Okay mae, I really can't argue with you” Bright pout at his mom

“Haha, I love you son”

“I love you more, mae”

The next day Win was so giddy since morning as he is going to meet Bright again today, he is going through his wardrobe and trying every single clothes combination he could but then opt to a simple light blue shirt and a black slack he is opening and closing his shirt first two buttons as he contemplate in front of his mirror and chose to open the first two buttons after he sprayed some perfume he go out and drive to the coffee shop, when he arrived Bright already seated and working on his notebook with two cups of americano on top of the table, Win smile and approached him.

Bright look up when the bell on top of the door ring, signaling someone coming inside the coffee shop, he glanced at the man walking inside, his light blue shirt match the milky white skin of the wearer nicely, the collarbone and crease of chest peeking through the opened button make him gulp unconsciously then he lower his head and pretend to concentrate on his notebook when he noticed Win glancing around.

They work on their project for a few hours with shy glances here and there, the slight hitch on their breath whenever one of them lean closer to just look at the notebook screen or to point at some paragraph of words from the other notebook. They choose to stop working when Bright heard Win's stomach growl loudly and he chuckled. “Are you hungry?” Bright asked, “Yeah, slightly” Win answered embarrassed as he rubbed his nape. “Let’s eat something, my treat since you stay with me at the hospital and drive me home” Bright said as he pack his bag.

They eat at a shabu-shabu place, one of Bright's favorite restaurant. That's how Win know that Bright can't eat the white of an egg and how Bright know Win can't eat raw shrimp so he have to cook it thoroughly. They talk about their hobby of soccer which they decide they should have a match sometimes, of what is their dream vacation as they eat.

Day by day as they meet with each other for projects then they start meeting each other for soccer match, sometimes to just eat outside, sometimes just playing video games together at Win's mansion as Bright called it, Win introduced Bright to his family one time when Bright was going home and Win's family just came home from movie date. Bright saw how happy Win's mom and dad are and he is kind of envious of the harmonious family and realized how Win grow up to have such a nice, caring and bubbly personality that can seems to light up his day.

Bright start to realized that the shade of their red string start to become paler, indicating that they are starting to get emotionally connected. It terrified him of how easy it is for Win to sneak into his personal life and become inseparable part of his daily life, of how just a word from him can light up his mood or make his world crumble. He is terrified of how he just realized he already gave his heart to Win in just few months he got closer to him, but he is more terrified of the possibility that it's just him that is in love with Win yeah, love he admitted it.

What if it's just me? Well Win did said that I am his soulmate and he have been waiting for me his entire life, but what if he realized I'm not as good as he imagined? Bright thought, several worst case scenarios racing through his mind, Win laugh at him when he confessed his love, Win chose other person over him.

Bright was terrified so he do something that all terrified person do, running away. Bright start avoiding Win again just like the first time he realized that they are soulmate, he slip away from Win smoothly for a week ignoring the pull of his string. But his plan failed when one Sunday morning his mom open the door to his room and Win peeked out behind her, smiling but over the few months of knowing Win, Bright knows when Win is smiling but actually angry inside Shit !. Bright's mom excuse herself saying that she have appointments with her friends then wink at Bright.

Bright suddenly feel conscious that he is only in his tank top and shorts, and Win look so good with a blue jeans and white shirt what's with him and unbuttoned properly shirt Bright thought distractedly, but his train of thought stopped abruptly when he felt his bed dips as Win sit. Bright gulps as Win scooted closer, he can smell his perfume, a mix of citrus, musk and a scent uniquely Win's and he feel dizzy.

“Are you done checking me out?” Win asked raising his eyebrows

“What? I'm not” Bright answered flustered

“I can see you eyeing me the moment I walk inside Bright”

“You are full of yourself” Bright scoff

“Well, only one way to make sure”

After Win finished his sentence he stare at Bright and close their distance, their face are getting closer, Bright close his eyes as their face are merely two centimeters apart, Bright can feel Win's breath very close to his lips, Bright's heart beat fast against his rib cage he thought it would explode then he feel Win's hand against his chest then Win move away from him, Bright sigh in mix of relief and disappointment.

“See? I can feel your heart beat like crazy Bright, it can't be healthy” Win said with his hand still laying ln top of Bright's chest

“It doesn't prove anything” Bright tried to remove Win's hand but Win bring Bright's hand to his chest

“How about mine, does it prove anything?” Bright can feel Win's heart beat so fast maybe even faster than him, he is not sure anymore as all he can think of is how beautiful the man in front of him looks how he want to taste that plump lips so he just did that, finally obeying his desire and capture Win's lips. Bright can feel Win's breath hitched but Win start to move his lips against Bright and move his arm around Bright's neck pulling him closer, Bright put his other hand behind Win's nape. Bright bite Win's lower lip before he pull apart out of breath, he suddenly feel confident and cheeky so he lightly squeeze Win's chest.

Win gasp and put his hand in an 'x' form in front of his chest with his face bright pink.

“Pervert” Win said with red cheeks

“Sorry, did I make you feel uncomfortable?” Bright said apologetically

“It's okay, I was just startled” Win said as he rubbed the back of his neck abashedly

“So, can I do it again?” Bright asked as he stared at Win's chest shamelessly

“Only after we talk, where is ‘Mr. Let's avoid Win for a week' go?”

“Sorry about that”

“So, why do you avoid me when it's clear that you are into me and weirdly obsessed with my chest as I observe for a while and proved just now?”

“I.. I'm scared you know” There you go, no turning back Bright finally said his concern

“Do you think I'm not?” Win said as he grab Bright's hand and stare at him

“You are scared too?”

“Of course I am, you blatantly reject me the moment you knew I am your soulmate, you tried to cut our red string and when you told me about your mom and dad of how soulmate doesn’t always work the way I always think it will be, of course I am terrified”

“I’m sorry, I just think about myself and my trauma that I forget about how you would feel”

“It’s okay Bright, I know it must be hard for you to open up to me”

“Thank you for being such a considerate soulmate Win”

“Thank you for trying to opening up to me my dear soulmate”

“Soooo, about us”

“We can take it slowly, we have all the time in the world”

“I don't think our kiss just now is taking things slowly Win”

“Well, I guess taking things slowly is out of the window. What should we do ?”

“Will you be my boyfriend, Win Metawin?” Bright asked as he stroke Win's cheek

“Of course Bright Ja, I promise I will make you the happiest person, and I would never broke your trust” Win said as he leaned his cheek against Bright's palm

“Thank you for having me and for accepting all my flaws” Bright said then peck Win's lips

They hug each other on Bright's bed and stare at the light red string that connect both their index fingers. They realized that reality are different from movies, just meeting your soulmate is not an automatic happily ever after, relationship need effort, trust and they are willing to work on their relationship and communicate properly. Because even though life are full of struggles they will go through all the struggles together.