Chapter Text
It was no wonder Alan was nervous when he paced around his car. His mind restless for days. As if a student who slacked off was going to sit in an exam in an hour.
He pauses, rubbing his palm over his face.
He has done this before. He was nearly thirty for god's sake. This isn't his first time asking someone out.
Him and the person he was waiting for, have been on dates several times already. It's not their first time either.
But Alan couldn't help himself.
He was a boring straight to a cafe of a restaurant dinner date sort of guy. But with Gaipa, he couldn't conduct those colourless dates. Even the thought of those left a rush of disappointment in his mind.
"Did I make you wait for too long?"
Alan whips around and nearly knocks over the cups of coffee resting on the hood of the car.
"No! Not at all. I just got here..." He awkwardly scratched his nape.
"Alan... You know that I can see the road clear from my room, right?" Gaipa crosses his arms over his chest.
"..... I got here a bit too early" Alan looks down with a sheepish smile on. He grabs the cups and stretches one towards Gaipa who gingerly accepted it, smiling softly.
"Next time you get here early, knock. Waiting inside will be much better than pacing all over under the sun."
Gaipa laughs, following Alan when he holds the passanger door open for him.
The car paces through the heart of the city.
"Hmmm what surprise have you planned this time, Handsome banker?" Gaipa teases, sipping his coffee.
Alan feels the faint heat on his cheek, smiling softly.
"would that be a surprise anymore if I give in and spill the beans?" Alan laughs, Gaipa snickers.
"Woh, you have radio!" Gaipa inspects the device, "may I switch it on?" He gives his best puppy eyes to Alan, and the said guy melts.
"Go ahead." He mumbles with a small smile.
He likes to play songs on radio.
Suddenly Alan felt nervous all over again. It's nothing like how it had been with Wen. It was so new. He tries not to stare at Gaipa.
But the said man's eyes were on him only. Alan felt self-aware.
Was his hair out of the place?
LWas his shirt crooked?
Did he have something on his face?
Was his glasses sitting wrongly?
He tries to ignore the bubbling nervousness in the pit of his gut, parking the car in its spot before holding the door open for Gaipa who snickered fondly .
Alan never brought a date to a farm. Even though he enjoyed some peaceful afternoons in such farms, he never had the guts to bring Wen to one.
As much neatfreak as Alan seemed, Wen used to avoid 'dirty places and animals' more. He felt, maybe he should give up his own likings.
But with Gaipa, he had already broken his stereotypes, and this time he swallowed the doubts and brought the man he was seeing in this farm.
It's a spacious setting, few shaded sitting arrangement away from the cattle section. Mostly lambs, goats were seen.
The whole area is covered in fresh green thick carpet of natural grass. Alan handed over the reception his passes.
The man behind the counter scanned the code and made some entries before returning the 'approved,' passes to them.
"Enjoy your time here, sirs." He greeted.
Alan had cradled Gaipa's hand in his own. Trying to swallow the heat around his cheeks. Even though the other, didn't seem to mind at all.
Few other couples and families were seen keeping to themselves and enjoying their time. "Our table is the 7N one." Alan informs.
Gaipa nods even though his eyes were glued on the small cattles walking around next to the fences.
"Do you wanna go pet them?"
Alan never seen a pair of eyes shine so beautiful and bright before.
"We can do that?!" Gaipa gasped, scooting closer to Alan, excited.
He nods.
Wait for me here", Alan squeezes Gaipa's palm before he strides away. Gaipa watches the man leave, his eyes linger at that way before turning his attention to the animals running around on the other side of the fence.
His eyes track the little baby goats running around.
A few minutes later Alan stood next to him, "Did I make you wait for too long?"
Gaipa laughs, "you did but I didn't mind." a mischevious grin on lips.
Alan laughed, and raised two paper bags, "snacks for us and the goats."
First thing Gaipa did after they went past the fence Was taking off his shoes and running around on the green thick yet soft layer of neatly trimmed grass.
Alan laughing and following him. Gaipa stopped after a good five minutes of running around and jumping and flopped down on ground. Faint lines of sweat forming around his face.
Was taking off his shoes and running around on the green thick yet soft layer of neatly trimmed grass.
Alan laughing and following him. Gaipa stopped after a good five minutes of running around and jumping and flopped down on ground. Faint lines of sweat forming around his face.
He shook his head, smiling, taking a handful of grams and peas from the paper bag, making a sound on his tongue, few lambs came running to him.
The baby lambs and goats following right after, gathering around them.
Gaipa gasped, "are you a wizard??" He squeals.
Alan shakes his head, "they are familiar with me... I..um.." he looks at his lap which got claimed by a baby lamb, smiling fondly, "i spend many of my afternoons here, with them..."
He looks at Gaipa with eyes filled with hope and desperation.
Gaipa couldn't tear his gaze away.
Those eyes of the stoic stern Guy melted into two pools of liquid vulnerability, as if saying, 'I shared a piece of my heart, tell me you didn't hate it... because this is a piece of me', Gaipa never seen such a heart wrenching pair of eyes before.
He scoots closer to Alan.
Softly holding his free hand, Gaipa looks directly in Alan's eyes, "I love it, I love this farm, I love these baby animals that pretend to not like me , I love this green grass carpet, I love each part of this. This is the best date of my life," he nods assuring.
Alan's lips tremble for a second before those stretch into a wide grin. He catches a little lamb and puts it on Gaipa's lap who squeals happily, cuddling the soft little animal.
"Do they only have goats and sheeps?" He asks, petting the little furry fluffball.
There's more, Let's go there after we are done feeding these babies" Alan points towards the back of the farm house.
Gaipa nods, laughing when the lamb tries to lick his palm.
"Aren't they like little puppies?! So adorable!"
Alan smiles, relieved.
Alan swallows, maybe taking Gaipa to the back of the farm wasn't really a good idea as he kind of recoiled as soon as he saw the cowshed.
Mainly the large horns of the cows.
"Alan.." Gaipa was nearly hiding behind him, "are you sure it's safe?" He hold Alan's hand tightly.
"They are absolutely harmless.." he laughs, squeezing Gaipa's hand in assurance. Gaipa tails Alan, still skeptical of those huge sized animals with their terrifying horns.
Alan stands before a brown cow, who was mindlessly chewing it's food.
"Say hi to Jiya" he pets the cow.
Gaipa watches with wide eyes as the cow pushed it's head closer to Alan's open palm, making a whining sound.
The cow eyed Gaipa suspiciously, it's wide dark eyes looked like a deep pool. Gaipa gathers his courage and hesitantly stretched his hands.
The cow backed away.
It shook it's head, as if disapproving.
Gaipa steps back.
"Why do they not like me at all" he mumbles pouting and Alan smiles softly, wrapping a hand around Gaipa's waist and pulling him closer.
"Maybe I should introduce you to them?" Alan teases and Gaipa laughs, rolling eyes.
"Oh please do so Khun Alan, or your friends might disapprove of my presence in your life" Gaipa dramatically whines before laughing out loud as Alan snorts.
"Jiya has a cute calf too, it's name is Taro" Alan excitedly looks around to spot the baby cow. Gaipa stares at Alan.
And his child like excitement. Moments later he called out the calf's name, and a tiny cow comes near the fence from afar, hopping. Jiya nudges Taro towards the fence and Alan crouched down, his smile wide as he holds out a fistful of peas, the baby cow munching on it happily.
Gaipa watches fondly, crouching down next to Alan, scratch the neck of the calf.
"Do you know, as much as lazy and laid back cows look, they are extremely playful? They even jumps around and plays with round objects like puppies."
"Oversized puppies you mean?" Gaipa laughs.
They stood up, Gaipa dusting Alan's shirt before his own and proceeds to leave. Alan grabs Gaipa's wrist before tugging him closer, his eyes trained on the curious cows. "Everyone," Alan start, cheeks pink, "this is Khun Gaipa, I'm seeing him, please treat him better."
Gaipa stares at Alan. To the point where Alan's anxiousness resurface. He turns around in a jitter, "is...is there anything on my face?"
He tries not to sound as nervous as he felt.
Gaipa breaks out in a soft, soft grin, he shakes his head, "No."
When they head out, the goats again gather around them, the sun setting on the edge of greenery, spreading an warm orange hue.
Gaipa again turns his head to look at Alan,his face basked in golden glow, mesmerized. He looks down where they've linked their pinkies subconsciously.
Alan turns to him, "let's go to our table, I'll place our order. What do you want to eat?"
They take their seat, waiting for their orders to arrive.
"Do we have to leave right away after we are done eating?" Gaipa asks, pleading eyes curious.
Alan shakes his head side to side, "you can stay upto 8pm. That's their closing time."
Gaipa smiles, eyes sparkling. "Then let's stay until late!" he cheers making Alan laugh.
They eat in silence once their orders are served. Gaipa leaving some tips as Alan pays for the meal.
They walk around the park like arrangement next to the cafe. They sit down on a bench under a tree, scooting closer. A peaceful silence take over as the warm orange of sky morphs into a gradient of pink and blue.
Enjoying the cool wind, calming the raging heat of the day.
Alan let's out a soft sigh, closing his eyes, tilting his head back. Gaipa takes in every minute movement of the man next to him.
He chuckles and Alan opens his eyes, his attention flicks to a loose leaf sticking to Gaipa's hair.
He swallows before reaching out to bursh it off.
Gaipa looks up, "what's it?"
"A leaf.." Alan raises the dead leaf between his fingers and Gaipa looks at Alan, when he leans closer.
His heart beats a little disobedient, when the said man blows to removed the tiny leaves stuck to Gaipa's hair.
He watches as Alan sat back.
Cheeks a bit warm, "S..sorry, there was leaves.." he stutters, looking at his lap, fingers gripping his knees hard, trying to stop from shaking out of nervousness.
As if a very insecure highschool boy, first time getting close to his crush.
"Thank you..." Gaipa smiles gently.
He places his palm on Alan's shaking hand, enveloping under his warmth, slowly rubbing circles on skin.
Relieved when Alan relaxes a bit. Gaipa won't say he wasn't a little disappointed when Alan didn't make any advances. But he realises, Alan is learning to love all over again.
He gets insecure, he tries to understand what is alright and what is not. He tries to understand if being himself is okay or not.
So many doubts on that gentle guy.
"Alan.." Gaipa calls out, as gentle as he can possibly be.
The said man turns around, "hmm?"
Gaipa gingerly takes a hold of Alan's face, holding the peaceful eye contact, his thumb brushes over his cheek. Gaipa scoots closer, "there's something on your face..."
As expected, Alan gives in a nervous fidget, "on my face? What ? Whe-"
Gaipa smiles before leaning forward.
Pressing his full lips on Alan's own, holding the chaste kiss for few seconds too long, gently opening his eyes to witness a dumbstruck, wide eyed Alan frozen before him.
Gaipa slowly withdraws from the kiss, watching the desired lips tremble in the loss, "It was me."
A peach hue blooms under Alan's eyes, from his cheekbones, down to his cheeks, tinting his nose a pretty warm pink before spreading to the tip of his ears. He blinks rapidly, to Gaipa's amusement, who watches the beautiful reaction unfurl before him like a rose bud.
He chuckles softly before pressing a kiss on Alan's pink cheeks, eyes flickering from each other's, thumb brushing softly on his cheek.
"Next time, introduce me as your boyfriend, not just someone you are seeing. Okay?" Laughing when Alan nods dumbly, completely flustered.
"Shall we leave now?" Gaipa asks, amused how a simple kiss left Alan speechless for a solid while, he laughs mischievously when Alan only nods, throat too dry to make a sound.
Gaipa slips his hand within Alan's, interlocking their fingers a firm grip, sharing an assuring look.
"Let's go, it's getting dark now." Gaipa feels Alan's hands tighten over his, as they walk towards the parking lot.
The drive to Gaipa's house was silent, comfortable. It wasn't familiar to Alam. In his past relationship, silence always felt like the calm before storm.
Everything about Gaipa is so comforting, Alan isn't sure if it's what's defining their relationship or it's Gaipa whom he likes so much that makes everything so comforting about him.
Gaipa feels like coming home after a war, the peace Alan has always longed for.
Gaipa feels like settling down, far from a saimum.
A safe haven.
Alan wasn't ready to even thinking about giving this up, which was crazy considering it wasn't even his to call yet.
Alan stops the car in front of Gaipa's house. He watches as Gaipa unlocks the seatbelt.
Alan remains speechless even when Gaipa leans to him and places a kiss on his cheek, whispering a "Drive safe, boyfriend".
He stared dumbly, as Gaipa retreats with a satisfied smile, his fingers touch his cheek, the lingering warmth left behind by his now boyfriend.
He stares hopelessly at the retreating figure.
However, Gaipa pauses.
He turns around with a hopeful smile, "Would you like to come in for a cup of tea maybe?"
Never in his life, Alan left the car as fast as he did today. Maybe he even put Flash to shame.
Gaipa giggles, wide eyed as he watched Alan sprint to him.
"Woah there big guy, calm down" he laughs, and Alan never have heard a more peaceful and pleasant sound.
"Am I that bewitching that you are risking losing your assets?" He giggles, and Alan frowns.
What?
He clears his throat, "wh..what do you mean?" He pleads, like an overeager puppy who got denied off of cuddles.
"You left your keys in your car, silly" Gaipa bursted out laughing, watching Alan flush a beet red.
He quickly retrieves his keys and locks the car, embarrassed.
Gaipa pulls Alan towards his house, gripping his wrist firmly, laughing and giggling while an embarrassed Alan tails behind him, cheeks a fuzzy red on his golden skin.
~The End~