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Screams filling up this small barbeque restaurant as the whistle heard from TV, ending the game. My scream blending with others, fists are up in the air in excitement and glory. The basketball team where Bang Chan is in just won the game, make them the champion of the junior university league this year. A prestige league, they're stopping the best team for claiming strike win third time in a row, creating history no one ever predicted before. That's why we're celebrating hard now.
And by we, I mean me and Chan's high school friends. There are also casual customers who happen to watch the game while having dinner here, but half of the restaurant now is filled with our friends. Some of them are Chan's basketball team members in high school, who unfortunately not pursuing the athlete career path like Chan. They're just supporters now, supporting him wholeheartedly even from afar.
"He did tremendously amazing even just as substitute player, our captain!" Someone shouted happily, loud.
"Surely he's gonna be a captain soon!" Another one replied to it just as happily.
"Our pride!" We're cheering as toasting the beer together in the air with full of pride. "As expected from our forever captain!" Everyone's cheering louder in glory.
The place become a little hotter as the energy and tension is up, the sound of beer being tossed heard again and again, the air got even hotter. Conversations start to overlapping between them, but my sight still glued on the TV screen up there, on the wall at the back of this room. Chan has not that much contributions for their winning as this is his first match after joining the team, it's still his freshmen year after all, but I hope the camera somehow closing up to him a little in between shooting the main players. I miss him, that's why. It's almost 6 months after our last meeting, long distant relationship sucks for real.
And my prayer just granted, I see him up close and can't stand my excitement that I jump up from my seat and shout, "It's him!"
It bring everyone attention to the screen and shouting again. I heard the word 'captain' being chant as the camera showing his happy smile on the screen. His dimple, eyes that almost disappear, sweating, front hair wet glue to his forehead despite the curl... that's my boyfriend. He's being hugged by his teammates and he hugging them back one by one, still in the euphoria of winning.
"Chan, your girl here missing you like crazy!!" My best friend, Yuna, shouted loud, breaking the cheers from the boys here. They laugh, then congratulate me noisily.
The camera angle other players for some more before the commercial break, and that's when my phone ringing showing Chan's name on the screen. I smile and tell everyone's to get silent before answer the phone in loudspeaker.
"Congraaaaats, Capt!!!" They shouted as soon as they hear Chan's voice on the other side. Soon it become a sea of congratulations messages, and of course, they still overlapping I barely hear Chan's voice in the middle of this.
"Ah, so noisy!! Enough! Where's my girl?" Finally he has enough and shouting replacing them, make them laugh, but actually understand it.
I smile to them and hinting with my head to take this call outside in quieter surrounding and they let me just like that, already familiar with this situation as they know us and our relationship well.
"You watched the game with them all?" He asked as soon as I step out of the restaurant to the chilly night.
"Yeah, we're like filling up half of the restaurant now."
"Ah, it must be hard for the owner."
I laugh. There's bitterness behind it because I miss him so much.
"How'd you go home?"
"Walking, it's near."
"Alone?"
"Probably with Yuna."
"Ask my team members to guard you, tell them I command it, they will listen."
Another laugh, "Am I a kid?"
"Nevermind, I'll tell them myself in our group chat."
I smile endearingly, feeling his warmth although he's not here. "We're apart, but you still..."
"We're miles apart, but I'll still spoil you the same, yes."
"I was gonna say possessive."
He laugh and protest it, denying the accusation.
I look down to my shoes, one leg start to moving, making circle with the tip of the shoe as I lean my back on the wall, smiling still hearing him babbling about it with all his might.
"Congrats for winning your first match. You looked so cool today." I cut him.
"I just play for like 15 minutes towards the end, though."
"But still... you did it coolly. Good job. We're all very proud of you. I'm proud of you."
He giggle softly.
"I miss you." I'm staring at the circle I made from the grit on the ground, the yellow street light above me spotting it clearly.
His giggles heard louder, "Tell me how much."
"I even miss our fights."
He laughs, "I got good news for you."
"You'll come here?"
"In two days. I got 3 days off as winning gift."
My smile gets wider, absolutely.
"We're celebrate your 20 birthday then."
Today is a week after my birthday, for the first time since we're together, he only wished me a happy birthday by phone. That's kind of weird, not being with him on my birthday, especially at the most important one. 20. The age where my adulthood begins. Supposedly. But I don't know, I don't feel like an adult at all.
"You know what to get for the presents, right?"
"Flowers, perfume, and a kiss." He said very confidently.
"Correct."
We never kiss. Not even at my past birthdays, not even at our graduation day, not even on the last day we met before separating for college. He told me he save it for this moment, the time I turn 20. Not only to make it meaningful, he's being careful with it. He think kissing me when I'm adult would make us both responsible for it.
For me, that's nonsense. What should we be responsible for just from kissing?
"What do you think the first thing we're gonna fight about once we meet?" He jumped to different topic, probably while walking, because I can hear his steady breathing out of his mouth so clear in my ear.
"Hmmm..." I'm thinking.
"What about make it a challenge? The one who gets mad should be punished?"
I exhale a soft laugh, "Okay~"
He laugh in excitement, "See you the day after tomorrow, then. I need to shower, let's continue this talk later before sleeping."
I smile in bitterness again, "When we meet later..." I pause.
"What?"
But then smiling it away, "No, nevermind. Go shower, see you the day after tomorrow. Love you."
"Be careful going back home."
"Yes, Capt!" I disconnect the call before he complain about that nickname of him. I know he's not yet captain now, and probably wouldn't be any sooner, but I got vision already.
Even from back then in school, I already picture him leading his team through international competitions representing our nation. My boyfriend. My cool, cool boyfriend. Everyday I get prouder and prouder at his confidence and determination to keep walking his path as an athlete. I really wish the path will always be flowery for him because I know, talent and hard work is not the only thing he needs to walk this road. He should have luck, too.
I take a deep breath once, feeling my heart thumping imagining meeting him in a few days, and yes, also excited for the kiss. I'm waiting for it for a long time. We've been dating for 2 years and 3 months, and never kiss even once. That must be a record for a couple.
Just two days away.
I walk in to the restaurant, back to my seat welcomed by cheering from my friends.
"So, are you ready to go home now, or want to hang out here more, Princess?" Han, one of Chan's old team member asked, obviously teasing me.
Chan must be give them a command already.
I chuckles, "I'm not a kid anymore, I can go home alone."
He's shaking his head in disagreement, "No, no, no. It's not about you, it's about us. We got the command, and we should execute it. No option for you to refuse."
Really... Chan is still the dominant one here, even when we're miles apart. He's still giving command here and there, and apparently, I'll still obeying it nevertheless.
Anyway, I really can't wait, hope time could fly faster.
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A picture of building entrance sent by Bang Chan distracting me from class. It's the entrance of this building I'm in right now, bringing smile on my face.
Chan: I'm here
Me: class will be done in like 10 minutes
Chan: okay, I'll wait on a bench around here
He's here. My boyfriend is finally here waiting for my class to finish, he's here in my campus, in front of this building. I've been dreaming for this moment since he said he got days off and gonna visit me. It's finally here. I wish 10 minutes pass by quickly, please I want to see my boyfriend!
"I go first." I said to Yuna as soon as the professor officially end this class.
"He's here?"
"Yes!!!"
"Alright, go. Have fun, sis!"
Instead of replied to her, I'm starting to walk really fast to the door, and soon the fast walk turn into a run. I run through the hallway, I running down the stairs, I still run in the lobby with a happy face until I step outside of the building welcomed by a warm sun light on my skin and wind that blow in my face. Autumn is here, I see flower petals falling then flowing around by the wind. Weather feels and smells good.
I scanning my surrounding, from one bench to another, trying to find Chan in the middle of these young students who radiates youthful energy everywhere they go. When I finally spot him, he already standing with a smile on his face, watching me all the time, apparently. Him, with his favorite outfit of all time, black. Him, with his confident leadership aura on his every gesture. Him, spreading his arms wide once I throwing back a smile to him.
And I have no choice but run to him again, and throw myself on him without slowing down a bit. He catch me perfectly, without budging from his stance even a bit. We never hugging this tight. I miss him so much, it hurts. Long distance relationship sucks. Back then I always feel like he spoiled me too much, but now I guess that's better than being apart like this.
We're hugging long, with no words spoken from each other, just feeling the warmth, the breathing, the way our chest move simultaneously in harmony on each other. He's such a good hugger and I miss his hug so much. So I tighten this hug, hiding my face deeper in between his collarbone. My movement got him giggling softly, I feel his face on top of my head, I know then that he's smelling and kissing it.
"You change your shampoo."
"Hmm..."
"Smells good." He said with deep voice and I smile at his approval.
"I miss you so much."
"I miss my girl so much, too."
"Long distance sucks."
Here's his giggles again, "You used to hate me spoiling you, now that we've been apart for so long, you want it back, don't you?"
"Well..."
"Admit it."
I laughing at it. We're separating from the embrace to face each other, eyeing with longing sparks from our eyes. We're smiling then laughing awkwardly, suddenly feeling shy.
"Congrats for winning your very first match."
"Thanks..." He's looking down shyly.
"You were so cool."
"I'm planning to be even cooler in the future, prepare your heart." He said then laugh his cringe statement off, but continue, "Your boyfriend gonna be so famous, everyone gonna chanting my name a lot, you shouldn't be jealous."
I smile wider, tilting my head, "I can picture that."
He's laughing again, eyes disappear while his dimple appears. But then he clears his throat and say, "I bring flowers." He turn to get the flowers he put on the bench beside his backpack. "My first gift for your 20." He stand still with roses in hand, facing me with endearing smile and warm loving gaze.
I take the rose bouquet, feeling so happy that I can't hide it, my smile proving it. The roses smells good and fresh, each one of it blooming so pretty, so red.
"Happy 20. Congrats for finally become an adult."
"Thanks..." I still facing the roses in my hand, feeling my own cheeks blushing upon receiving this romantic gift ever.
"You're as pretty as the roses, cheeks as red as them." He teased me.
I miss his teases, too.
We move place after that, walking around for awhile with me explaining a little about places in my campus to him, while he listening well and asking some questions. When we passing by the outdoor basketball field, there are people playing and he can't help but staring and making comment and praising some moves from some players. I know his holding himself to not joining them right now, because he's here for us.
We keep walking and I take him to famous cafe here, having cakes and coffee accompany our talks. Me telling him my college life, him telling me his practice routines and diet program that feels like killing him.
"It's day off, so it's fine for eating this." He said then take another bite of chocolate cake we order together.
A brief silence creep in as he takes in the whole atmosphere of this place, eyeing and watching everything, even to the window and the crowd outside.
"Why?"
"Everything looks pretty here."
"Is it?"
"It suits you."
"Is there no cafe where people hanging out like this at your place?"
Shaking his head, "Only cafeteria full with male athletes."
We laugh.
"It smells like sweat and..." Nodding his head, "...boys... you know. The kind of smell you find in our school basketball locker room."
"I know. I was surrounded by that smell a lot back then, one time of my high school days."
"Here is smells flowery."
"Maybe because I take this everywhere?" I glance at the roses.
"Or is it because the season? Look, flower petals flowing everywhere! So pretty." He's looking out the window again, admiring the scenery. "Suits so well with you."
"Oh! There's a road with cherry blossom trees around here!" I suddenly gets excited that I'm moving my body up and down on my seat, "Let's go there after this!"
He's smiling watching me, "Why you got cuter while I'm gone?" He pinch my cheek hard.
"Seriously?" I'm protesting, now side eyed him and rolling my eyes.
"How can an adult be this cute?" He keeps going on, never let go of my cheek.
"Let go."
"No." He laughs, clearly teasing me.
"Let go when I tell you nicely, Chan."
But he just laughing it off, and bravely pinch my other cheek instead of letting go. "Are you mad? If you mad, you'll be punished, remember our promise?"
Right. So I'm smiling as much as I could to prove him that I don't mad at all.
"Aigoo, good girl~ you're not mad~" he still laughing happily, now letting go both of my cheeks and caress it with his fingers instead. I still putting a fake smile, the sweetest smile I can make for him, and it makes him move his fingers to the top of my head, patting it lovingly.
Well, his stares on mine lovingly, and it change the atmosphere very instantly. Suddenly he looks more handsome and more attractive, eyeing me like that.
"We fought a lot back then, let's not fighting today." He said in seriousness.
We're staring long, his fingers on my head stop moving, and the air between us become weird. Suddenly my heart is thumping, and I'm getting nervous. But then he smiles, fingers on my bang tidying it softly.
"Pretty. My girl. I miss you." He whispered just as soft. He takes a deep breath, "Second gift!" His hand get off me to take his backpack and unzip it, pull out a box and give it to me.
It's perfume.
"I took a long time to choose it, I don't know your style that well, but I think this will suit you." He said while I'm unboxing it.
I spray it once on my wrist and smelling it. It smells fresh and flowery, but light. More like a soap. Surely it's a bit different from the perfume I usually use, but I like it. At least the smell isn't dizzying.
I smile, "I like it."
"Yeah?"
I nod my head and lick my lips, "I'll use it everytime we're together."
He's smiling gladly.
We're moving again to the place I told him, the one long road with cherry blossom trees on the left and right. And I'm right, the flowers are starting to fall one by one now. We're walking the road hand in hand, admiring the scenery and the flower petals flowing by the wind. Just by five steps, he already got some petals on his broad shoulders. It feels really romantic right now. Also, the place is not that crowded, I love it so much.
I feel the warm of his skin covering my palm, warmth that I miss. Back in our high school days, we're not really into skinship that much. He's the type of tsundere, talks a lot and in annoying way, jealous and kind of obsessive one, taking care of me in the most chill way possible, not doing it to be romantic at all. But now somehow, we're like this. Holding hand while walking down the flowery path in autumn, nearing sunset.
"Back then... I don't really into this kind of thing."
"You just not the romantic type."
"I should've done this kind of thing a lot back then. I'm thinking about that a lot at the training centre. I should've spend the time we had back then for these kind of thing instead of getting jealous everytime you get close with some guys."
He makes me reminiscing those days, "We fought a lot because of that back then."
"Yeah, I regret it."
"I'm close with a lot of guys too, right now."
"Right now I put my trust on you." He glance at me, "I'm learning to put my trust on you. Getting jealous while we're apart is exhausting. Besides, I'm not a kid anymore. You, too. We're adult now, let's face everything ahead of us in adult way."
I laughing hard.
"There's only you. Back then or now, even when I get close to many guys, there's only you. One and only you, my Bang Chan." Confidently confessing my feelings to him again and again.
"Fortunately."
Silence creep in as we keep walking slow.
"It's the golden hour. Flower petals falling down. Pretty." He said in his deep voice again, "Perfect." He stop walking, face lift up to the sky where the flower petals raining lightly on us. "Are you..." He turn his head to me, "...ready for your last gift?"
The Bang Chan I know from back then would probably giggling at the question, but this Bang Chan is looking at me in deep seriousness, but lovingly.
"I've been waiting for it all my life." I'm getting nervous, but excited at the same time. The time has come.
He shifting his body to face me completely, so I do the same. We're facing each other, staring.
He step forward and whisper softly, close in my face, "Close your eyes." And like getting hypnotize, I close my eyes and move my chin forward.
I feel his fingers below my ear and move to the back of my head, cup my neck softly. Shivering a little waiting for his soft lips touching mine. When it happen, goosebump all over me. Our lips touch, finally. He kiss me.
"Open up." He whispered again, now with his lips on mine. His thumb touching my chin, moving down as gesture to make me open up my mouth. And I do.
The moment my mouth open, his lips attack mine, sucking deep in an instant that got me hold onto him, or else, I might fall on my back. His grip on my neck tighten, fingers also wonder my cheeks as this kissing getting deeper. I move my lips too, awkwardly. Then he guide me, softly, slowly.
Oh my god, we're kissing for real. I'm sucking his lips and he's sucking mine for real, finally. Stepping even closer to him, I really prevent any air between us, hands circling him tight as our kiss getting even deeper. Smooching each other, he starting to tilt his head to the left, searching for angles. I do the opposite.
Oh my. This new angle make it even more tasty, my heart about to explode as I hearing sound coming from us now. They right about this. It's breath-taking and it feels absolutely crazy that I'm losing my mind. I have no other choice but to keep sucking him back whenever he sucks me. It's getting hot, for real.
Does every first kiss feels as intense as this?
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