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Nunew has always been a curious kid. If he finds something interesting, he'll take his time to learn about it until his brain says it's enough and focuses on another thing. That is how his life has been. That is also how he realized that he had no boundaries when it came to love. He's capable of loving anyone no matter the age, race, or gender.
With loving parents, it was no surprise that he grew up to be an affectionate person. Some have called him out on it, that his love language must be physical touch and word of affirmation. And he totally agrees. He's never one to shy away from affection. He doesn't hesitate to say what's his feeling, show appreciation, or shower someone with compliments.
When he met Zee, he found out how open he actually was. Zee has always been his idol, even before they started working together with Cutie Pie. He saw what the man went through. He saw how he stood through all those. He had always had the "heart-eyes" for him – at least, that's what Nat called it.
At first, it was just because of his admiration for him as an actor, as a person. But as time passed, the more time they spent together, the more he knew of Zee's character? The bubbling excitement in his stomach for talking to this amazing person turned to butterflies. The heart-eyes remained, but they're mostly curled from too much smiling around him. Hia Zee never fails to bring a smile to his face.
He learned a lot of things from Zee. From normal expected things such as tips on how to convey his emotions better for the shoot and kissing.
The first time they kissed, he was surprised at how good it could make someone feel. He's young, sure. But that doesn't mean he didn't have any experiences. Nothing like what he did with Zee though. All he ever knew from before were pecks and simple lips-against-lips action. Zee introduced him to an entirely new spectrum of.. well.. tongue.
He has been reading comments, you know. And he's read how fans are shocked but, at the same time, impressed with the level of kissing they chose to go through for the scenes. It always left him red on the cheeks and with a smile, mind lost and reminiscing their kisses.
Though he has always shown Zee the affection he deserved and has always said "I love you" to him, he never had the chance to say how in love he is with him. Tonight is his chance for that.
“Water? I'll get it for you, go find a seat. Do you, do you want to talk tomorrow instead? Are you tired? We don't have to do it tonight if you're tired-” Zee rambled while pacing around the room, patting the throw pillows on the couch, straightening a display that wasn't crooked in the first place, moving his discarded work bag about three times. The sight almost had Nunew laughing. It's obvious how much the older is panicking.
He himself is nervous of course. They're alone; he didn't prepare a speech on how to declare his love, it's late, plus his mind still feels mushed on the kiss they shared. But seeing how Zee looked way more nervous calmed down his nerves.
Making his way to the older, Nunew placed his hand on Zee's bicep and gave it a gentle squeeze, “Hia, I'm fine. We can talk, I'm ready,” he flashes him a small smile, “but I won't pass on that water, thank you Hia!” he reaches for the bottle of water Zee was holding before bolting for the bedroom with a grin on his face.
With the both of them changed to their pajamas (Nunew borrowed a set from Zee), they're both sitting on the bed against the headboard: side-by-side, silence between them.
‘How does a confession even start?’
“I changed. A lot.” Nunew snapped his head towards the older once he heard his velvety voice break the silence.
He watched Zee fumble with his thumbs, “I know you've heard it a lot from the other boys, even from P' Aof. I never said anything about it, but they're right, you know?” the older continued.
“I.. didn't know I was capable of change. Of course, I knew that I was growing. That I'm building a secure and dependable character. But..”
Nunew felt his breath hitched at Zee's eyes that was now directed at him. He has always loved his eyes and how expressive they are. But at that moment, he has to say. It might just be one of his favorite sets of eyes he has seen on the older.
“You pushed me to become even better, Nunew.. You and your.. innocent and genuine affection.” Zee lets out a soft chuckle, eyes full of fondness.
Nunew almost went deaf at how loud his heart was beating against his chest. No one prepared him for those unfiltered eyes.
“You never failed to surprise me with how much you can make me feel. How, even at this age, would feel giddy from someone's laugh. From someone's words.”
Nunew's heart, though still loud and banging against his chest, had found its pace. His tensed shoulders relaxed, and his wide eyes turned fond. Safe, comforted, delighted.
“I've always been a caring person. I always took care of the people around me despite my clumsy self. But..” Zee paused as he looked to the side, a small smile tugging at his lips as his mind ran a thousand miles, reminiscing about everything that Nunew did for him. “I never expected or never wished for anything in return. I was satisfied with giving and just taking enough.. Then you came.”
Nunew's smile widened as he bashfully looked down to his hands, cheeks turning a darker shade of red when a large warm palm covered them. “You've given me more than anything I could ask for, Nu. Things I didn't know I needed. I was already happy and contented with how I lived my life but you... You've managed to fill, and color spaces in my life I didn't know existed.”
Nunew felt a finger hook under his chin, turning his face to look at his Hia. Damn it, those eyes. Those eyes never fail to fill his stomach with butterflies, to weaken his knees. “Hia..” he whispered.
“I'm thankful that I chose you, Nunew. I have no ounce of regret for whatever happened because I knew those led me to where I am now. Here, with you.”
The hand on his chin moved to settle on his cheek, a ghost of touch and caress, one that made him close his eyes shut and nuzzle against the warmth.
“This time, I'm choosing you again, Nu..” he opened his eyes to watch his Hia, hand grasping on his wrist and eyes coaxing him to say the words he's been longing to hear. “I want to take care of you, make you smile, feed you all the food you want, ” they shared a chuckle, “Can I, Nu? Will you let me love you and be your boyfriend?”
He had already expected the question, had imagined this a thousand times, and yet hearing those words directly from Hia Zee.. left him breathless. Nunew lets out a soft laugh as he squeezes Zee's wrist that was still resting against his cheek before nodding his head
“I would love to, Hia..” he replies.
The younger wasn't able to spout poetries of how he found himself loving the older. He wasn't able to profess his adoration for the other. Not because he didn't have the words, but because Zee didn't give him a chance to. With his tender hand on his cheeks and another resting on his waist, he was pulled into another kiss.
A kiss so gentle that it felt like feathers grazing against his lips. It wasn't like any other kiss they had shared. They've always had kisses that were heated, full of longing, and desperation to make the other feel their heart. This time it was a kiss that says, 'I know.' A kiss that holds promises of tomorrows. A kiss of contentment and relief.
This wasn't like any other kiss. It was careful; it was delicate. Zee's lips covered his in warmth, lips so soft and barely moving, an invitation to let him set the pace. Zee treated him with so much care that Nunew felt something rising in his throat: perhaps tears.
Zee kissed him like how he treats him. Soft, gentle, and his whole attention focused on only him. It felt personal and intimate.
Taking a deep breath through his nose, Nunew then takes his step; he parts his lips oh so carefully and catches Hia's plump lower lip between his. He felt the older sigh between them.
With a light suck on his lips, Nunew travels a hand up Zee's torso and rests it against his chest, feeling his heartbeat through his palm. Erratic. And yet his kisses remained serene.
“Hia.. I'm not going to break. Kiss me like how you usually do.” he reminds the older in a mumble, forehead resting against each other.
He was only given a chuckle, a fond laugh at the request. With that, the hand on his waist tightened and pulled him to straddle Zee, his knee on either side of the older's hips.
“You're aware of what you just asked of me, right Nu? This time I won't stop unless you ask me to.”
He shivered at the rumbling voice of Zee. It was so deep, hinting at the amount of want that the other feels. It made something in his stomach turn into a knot. He takes a shaky breath before slowly nodding his head, his hands crawling up Zee's chest and resting on his shoulders.
“Hia.. I'm all yours.”