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You see, Jules Red had never deemed himself to be the type to go out of his way to serve someone. After all, acts of service might not just be on top of his language when it comes to love.
No, at this point, Jules Red is not entirely sure of himself anymore.
After meeting Clyde Joaqin, Jules Red finds himself trying to learn every existing language just to let his boyfriend know how he truly feels for him.
May it be in the form of crocheted roses, an annotated book, a keenly prepared dinner, Cj-accurate-ly ordered matcha drink from Starbucks, or driving all the way from Pampanga to Manila despite it being a tiresome Tuesday; Jules Red would be more than willing to do it all if it means easing his boyfriend’s burdens for the past days.
And even if the time and circumstances rob them of the chance to celebrate their first Valentine’s day together, Red has long decided that there’s nothing he cannot beat.
Just as the hackneyed aphorism goes, pag gusto, may paraan.
After all, there shouldn’t be some kind of role nor responsibility in their relationship. All throughout their relationship, it has always been Cj that literally goes the extra mile just to get to him, and so Red decides that perhaps, it’s about time he finally does it himself as he learns that a relationship should always go two ways; that it should always be a matter of give and take. Now that Cj needs him to be right beside him, Red would never think twice about being there for him.
Red’s idea of Valentine’s used to be something grand. Flowery days filled with the color his name stands for. In fact, he used to often wonder what it was like to be one of the lovers walking hand in hand in the streets, and it’s no secret that there was envy and resentment blooming in him, that has now been replaced by warm contentment as he silently drives past a bunch of red balloons and flowers on his way to the person that he loves.
Perhaps, Red learns that it’s all part of growing up. He learns that after all, presence means more than anything else to him, and if it means that he has to be the one to finally do something about it, then he will, after everything Cj has done for him.
It’s been nearly half an hour since he last responded to Cj and he starts to feel bad because this time, he knows how frustrated Cj has been for the past few days, and adding to his burdens is the last thing Red wants to do. He knows that there are no surprises to be expected as his boyfriend barely gets enough sleep in the past week, and by going all the way to him, Red hopes to somehow make his boyfriend feel better, to somehow be there to be his pahinga amidst the priorities that they both have at some point.
Then again, Valentine’s used to be nothing but a typical day for Jules Red, had everything been completely different, today would be nothing but a typical Tuesday of him spending the rest of his day inside his room, facing screens and letting the humdrum of his days haul him.
But here he is, showing up at his boyfriend’s doorstep with a crocheted bouquet he worked on for weeks in his arm, an annotated book that he spent months reading as a window to his wonderful mind, two venti-sized matcha that he loathes the most (but if it’s something that Cj truly loves then he’ll get it), and a weighty grocery bag waiting to be turned into a scrumptious dinner by him, for the person that he loves the most.
Because indeed, all Jules Red did was blink, and suddenly, he got himself a valentine, one that goes beyond the fourteenth of February; a love that he would want to celebrate every single day of his life.
Upon knocking on Cj’s door, Cj pushes his seat back with a frustrated groan to pause from the garment he’s been working on for an exhibition to happen in a few days.
Nothing has been going his way since the previous day, and nothing can seem to fix that except the only person that he badly wants to spend this day with. Cj checks his phone in hopes of his boyfriend’s notification appearing on his lock screen; only to get nothing much to his already growing dismay.
Cj practically drags himself all the way to his door. He’s too exhausted for anything today. The doorbell then rang multiple times as he gets closer to his door, almost sending him off to the brim of his remaining patience, only for it to be easily replaced by a much more pleasing surprise.
There, at his doorstep, stands his boyfriend, rendering him speechless, his lips curving in a wide smile, rapidly blinking as if to convince himself that his boyfriend standing in front of him isn’t a perfect delusion.
Had he fallen asleep while working and drifted to some valentine's dream?
“Surprise!” Red cheerfully greeted with a grin and chuckled, “Happy Valentine’s!”
No. Cj is definitely not dreaming.
Right there at his doorstep stands his favorite redhead, filling his days with shades of crimson, turning his whole life to an eternal valentine.
What welcomes Red is the sight of his shirtless boyfriend, inked honey skin all bare and exposed as his frameless specs hang by the bridge of his nose, hair unstyled and obviously unwashed, darker shades of skin forming under his eyes, evincing how exhausted the past days have been rendering him. Red’s chest aches at this, but as he stands there in front of him, the gloom in Cj’s eyes evidently and easily gets replaced with a mirthful gleam.
“R-Red w-” Cj tries to search for words, still unable to let go of the wide smile on his face, almost forgetting to let his boyfriend inside his place. “Why didn’t you tell me? I was starting to get worried.”
Red snorts. “Surprise nga diba!”
Cj laughs as he scans everything Red has in his hands.
God, Cj knows how much Red loathes Matcha, but there he was, having it in two-venti-sized cups.
“T-those are for me?”
“Pag di mo pa ko pinapasok baka bawiin ko na.” Red jokes, barging past his boyfriend who shakes his head over his silly antics as he closes the door behind him.
Right then and there, Cj feels his burden from the past days easily dissipate from Red’s presence.
Just as much as Red, Cj never deemed himself as a receiver of such affectionate actions, he’s too used to doing all of these for Red. But right then and there, he realizes that Jules Red might just be made to unlock more versions of himself that he never knew.
“You made this?!” Cj amusingly asked as he carefully studied the crocheted petals of a rose as they sat on his couch, knees bumping against each other as Red sat beside him. Red proudly nodded and studied his boyfriend’s reaction through the wide smile sitting still on his face, his dimples getting deeper. “When did you even have the time to make this?!”
Red grinned and shrugged, “Ako pa! Did you like it ba?” Red asks, anticipating.
Cj looks up at him, takes his hand, and leans to kiss him.
“Of course, I do.” Cj smiles through the kiss. “You have no idea,” Cj chuckles, “You’re making me feel like some giddy high school kid, I’m not gonna lie.”
“Good thing ba ‘yun?”
“And why is it not? I never experienced receiving anything from someone I love on Valentine's day.”
Red preened at the admission, smiled, and placed another quick peck on Cj’s lips.
“I love you.” Red giggled.
“I looove,” Cj gently pinches the softness of Red’s cheek and kisses him again, “you.”
Oh how silly and insanely in love, they might actually look right in that moment, Red thinks, but after all, being in love indeed makes you do silly things. Doesn’t it?
True to Cj’s words, Red finds himself madly in love like they are some innocent high school sweetheart, and he just won’t have it any other way with Cj.
When Red has finally convinced Cj to return to his work upstairs rather than clinging to his boyfriend through the rest of the night, Red goes to do his own work in Cj’s kitchen under his permission.
You see, Red is doing everything from scratch. He’s got nothing with him but some Youtube tutorials on the most basic way to cook Adobo. With fidgeting hands, Red tries to keenly follow everything the video instructs him to do. He begins to think of resorting to calling his Lola Mama for some help until he feels an arm snaking around his waist.
“Sarap naman nyan.” Cj looks over the casserole on the stove, and giggles as he tightens his embrace around his boyfriend’s waist.
“Luh, wala pa nga! Pano kung hindi naman masarap?” Red jutted out his bottom lip.
“Hey,” Cj nuzzles his face against the crook of Red’s neck, “It’s already special enough na you’re cooking for me. Basta, I already know it’s masarap if it’s by you.” Cj assures him and smiles against the space between Red’s neck and shoulder, planting a soft kiss on his skin, and basking in the comforting scent of his boyfriend. He missed him so much. Something about his boyfriend’s scent reminds him of home.
Cj places another kiss on his boyfriend’s nape, “Thank you, baby.”
Cj wishes there are better words to show his gratitude to him.
Red smiles as his chest warm, setting his heart aflame, brimming with burning love for his boyfriend.
“I love you.” Cj kisses his cheek this time as Red turns his head and puckers his lips for a kiss, which Cj gives to him right away.
Love, might just be the closest word that would suffice.”
“I love you.”
His first Valentine’s day with Red, in Cj’s fancy, is nothing close to this. It definitely doesn’t include pieces of fabric scattered around him, the loud buzzing noise of his sewing machine, and various tracing papers atop his tables.
Yet, not a second ever since Red arrived, did it ever cross his mind that this is in any way less special than how he pictured his day, as long as he is with Red.
Cj still feels sorry for having Red cook dinner for him even if he didn’t have to. Cj feels sorry for making Red wait even if Red assured him that he’ll be just fine watching him do what he’s most passionate about. Cj feels Red’s presence luring him into his comforting warmth, wanting to do nothing but succumb to his boyfriend’s embrace.
Every now and then, Red reminds Cj to take a break when he hears him heave a deep sigh. As if on cue, Red approaches Cj and wraps his arms around his neck, kisses his cheek, and whispers, “Pahinga ka muna?”, automatically stretching a smile across his face as Red situates himself on Cj’s lap and cradles him in his embrace.
At about 3 in the morning, when Red somehow managed to snooze at Cj’s couch, Cj decides to finally slide next to his boyfriend’s figure and scoot against his warmth, their bodies barely being squeezed in the scant space of his couch.
Red stirs out of sleep when he feels Cj scoot next to him. As he opens his eyes, Red feels Cj’s shallow breaths hit his skin. The boy’s glasses sit askew atop the bridge of his nose as Red pulls it off his face and folds it for him, placing it on top of the coffee table as he embraces Cj closer to him, letting his boyfriend lay on top of his arm as he shoves the strands of hair away from his eyes and presses his lips on Cj’s forehead.
“Almost done na?” Red whispers, the comfort laced in his voice lulling Cj to slumber as he faintly nods, lets out a feeble hum, and lifts his head to press a long kiss against Red’s soft cheek.
“Proud ako sayo.” Red whispers, tracing the sharp features of his boyfriend’s countenance and placing a soft peck at the tip of his nose. “Pahinga ka muna sakin.”
“Happy Valentine’s, mahal ko.”
Cj then faintly smiles, dips his head at the warmth of Red’s neck as he squeezes him in his hold, and finally lets himself get dragged to slumber.
As they fall asleep with the sound of each other’s breaths and the synchronized beats of their hearts, Cj and Red decides that this, might just be a much better way to celebrate what love truly means; and as long as they are together, Cj and Red would never have it any other way.