Work Text:
It had been a once in a lifetime opportunity for him to confess to Pat. He had been burying his affection for Pat for ages now, quite possibly right from the moment he had rescued Paa, and Pat had snuck into his room in the middle of the night to return his watch. He had no idea when the infatuation became affection, and when it became something more, something like love, a word that made Pran shake with equal parts fear and excitement. He sometimes felt he would explode with all his feelings, that the feelings shpuld definitely be visible on his face for everyone to see, and it was a miracle no one had figured it out yet.
And finally, one evening, unremarkable in all aspects except that Pat and Pran had been practicing their song for the Christmas concert late into the night, alone and able to stay by each other putting up an act for the world. They were walking back under the moonlight, closer than usual because it was raining, and of course, Pat hadn't brought an umbrella with him. Pat managed to charm his way into making Pran share the umbrella, resulting in the both of them getting drenched on one side. The other side though, the side that brushed against Pat's every few steps, had Pran reeling. It felt as if they had been transported into a whole other world, and Pran couldn't hold it back any longer.
"Pat." Pran said softly, when they were a couple of streets away from their homes, where they would inevitably have to seperate so that their parents wouldn't get suspicious. He tugged at Pat's arm, pulling him to a halt, and froze at the expression on Pat's face. He looked so confused, and yet so open, ready to listen to what Pran had to say. And wasn't that the problem? Pat, the person who was born to be his enemy, who had no reason to give Pran any attention except to compete with him, was probably the only person who knew Pran.
Or well, who knew most of Pran except for the secret he buried deep in his heart.
"Pran. What's wrong? Is this about our song?" Pat's voice, and a small tug on his hand pulled Pran back out of his thoughts. Pat's eyes glinted warm and bright under the streetlight along the side of the road, pulling Pran deep into its depths. Again.
With a lot of effort, Pran visibly shook himself out of a daze, and smiled up at Pat, heart beating a mile an hour, until he was sure Pat could feel his pulse against his wrist, which Pat was still holding loosely.
"Nothing.....nothing's wrong. I just.... I had to say something, before it becomes too late." Pran said nervously, trying to stop his voice from shaking. What if he was wrong about this thing between Pat and himself? Maybe it was nothing more than a chance for Pat to showcase his drumming skills, maybe Pat just wanted to be his friend and could never reciprocate Pran's feelings, maybe he did like the new girl, Ink, even though Pat had told him that Ink wasn't interested in dating anyone just then.....
"Pran. Pran! Shia Pran.... just tell me! Don't overthink and spiral by yourself again!"
Oh. Shit.
Pran was spiralling.
Why was Pat so good at reading him? It was things like this that made Pran hope for the impossible, hope that they could be something more than friends, especially since they had stopped being enemies when they were children.
"I ... uh ..... Pat, remember you'd asked me about who the song was about? And I told you it was no one specific?"
Pat nodded, a small pout forming on his lips. What a puppy, Pran thought fondly.
"I lied. There is someone." Pran said, and watched Pat's pout deepen, and a small frown appear on his forehead. Hurt bloomed quickly in his eyes, but disappeared within a second, and Pat smiled up at Pran reassuringly.
"It's okay, you don't need to tell me if you dont want to." Pat said, nodding as if he was trying to convince himself that was fine. "You said it yourself, we are not friends, anyway. You dont have to share anything." Pat paused for a moment, and opened his mouth again to say something else, but Pran had heard enough. He reached up and covered Pat's mouth with his palm, making Pat go silent, if only because it was a surprising move on Pran's side.
"Let me speak. I am going to say something, and I want you to think about it tonight, and then give me a reply tomorrow. Okay?" Pran asked, and felt Pat nod against his palm, before his tongue sneaked out to lick Pran's hand, making him pull away his hand with a groan. Why was Pat like this?
"Pat!" Pran exclaimed, and that asshole had the audacity to just grin at him.
Alright, if they were going to play like that...
Pran leaned closer to Pat, until his lips hovered beside Pat's ear, pressing himself up against Pat's arm - not his body, thank god, because Pran's not sure he could survive that. He felt Pat freeze in surprise. This was something new, after all.
"The one i wrote the song for... it's you, Pat." Pran whispered and felt Pat shiver against him. Smiling, Pran pulled away, fear gripping him once more at how stunned Pat looked. He looked like he was still processing what Pran had said, as if it was something he couldn't comprehend. Oh no. Pran backed away quickly, and before Pat could react, he pushed the umbrella into Pat's hand, and sprinted down the road, running back home, away from Pat, who probably didn't return his feelings. Right?
***
That night, Pran lay in bed, wide awake, trying to ignore what had happened, and to come up with a plan to avoid Pat for the next few days. Maybe he should pretend to be sick. But then he'd have to miss classes and copy those notes later. Besides, there was no guarantee that Pat wouldn't sneak over to see him. Maybe he should pretend that he was just joking around, or that he was trying to practice how to confess to his crush, who was not Pat. Not at all.
Just the thought of lying to Pat that way made Pran feel empty inside. But he hadn't left himself an option had he? Why did he have to confess that day? Things were going so well with the band, they were going to perform together for maybe the first and last time in his life, and Pran might have spoilt it all because of his feelings.
Groaning, Pran turned over and hid his face in his pillow, as he tried to stop his thoughts from spiralling again. He tried to calm down, listening to the rain striking against the roof, loud enough to almost drown out his thoughts. It was raining heavier than before, and Pran was glad he had shut the window. Getting wet once in the rain was enough, especially with the way his mother had scolded him for being irresponsible enough to lose his umbrella. After all, Pran couldnt tell her that he had left his umbrella with Pat, could he? That was worse than losing the umbrella.
A loud sound shook Pran out of the meditative state he had fallen into. Pran sat up on bed, heart hammering away. Maybe it was just thunder, he tried to convince himself, when the sound repeated, sounding suspiciously like a knock against his window. Pran quickly made his way over to the window, hoping that it wasnt what he was suspecting. It could just be a random animal, maybe a bird seeking shelter from the rain, right? It didn't have to be him.
Pran pulled the curtains open, and there, staring back at Pran, drenched to the bone, perched precariously on the wet ledge was Pat.
Of course, it was.
It was just Pran's luck, he couldn't even escape from his enemy (liar! A voice in his head told Pran), and there was no way he could leave Pat out in the rain. It was dangerous for God's sake, and he knew Pat was stubborn enough to stay outside his window until Pran let him in, even if there was a real possibility of him getting caught by either of their parents.
Sighing, and trying to pretend that he was annoyed that Pat was outside his window, and that he was definitely not panicking at the thought of facing Pat again, Pran pulled his window open, and yanked Pat into his room.
Either Pran had been too rough, or Pat had indeed not expected him to open the window that fast, but Pat completely lost balance, and fell right against Pran, toppling both of them to floor, and making Pran wet. Again.
Pran huffed in annoyance, and pushed Pat away, surprised when Pat drew away immediately, until he was at an arm's reach, and Pran frowned. Pat had never responded to his shoves like that. In fact, he liked resisting Pran in his every move. Pran sat up, and stared at Pat with narrowed eyes - a Pat who sat on the floor, curled up on himself, knees drawn up to his shoulder. A Pat who was shaking.
"Pat?" Pran asked, reaching out to him, his initial intention of whisper-screaming at Pat disappearing from his mind at how miserable he looked. Pat just stared at Pran's outstretched hand as if he were confused, as if he had expected to be sent away from Pran's room, and not invited in like Pran had. Despite the rain now lashing at both of them.
Pran tried to ignore his reaction, to not let Pat's rejection affect him just then. Plenty of time to mope about it later. He stood up and pulled the window shut again, and without turning around, spoke. "Pat, at least change your clothes. You're making my room wet." He said tersely, barely holding back the and you're going to catch a cold, that threatened to slip out.
Pran moved away to his cupboard, pulling out two pairs of outfits, and tossed one to Pat, who caught it perfectly, despite the look of confusion on his face. Urgh, he was annoyingly perfect. Pran jerked his head towards his bathroom, and watched with relief when Pat walked into it to change.
It took the entirety of Pran changing his clothes, placing a towel on the wet puddle on the floor, and then pacing to and fro in his room about a hundred times (no, Pran wasn't exaggerating!) for Pat to finally emerge from the bathroom, dressed in Pran's clothes that were just a little large on him, hair crumpled in an adorable way, evidently from Pat aggressively drying his hair. The sight felt like a kick in his gut, and Pran once again tried to remain unaffected. He didnt know why Pat was here after all. He might just be there to turn Pran down.
Pat fidgeted where he stood, knuckles turning white from the death grip he had on Pran's tshirt, and Pran shook his head slightly, heading over to the bed, and then patting the mattress beside him, a clear invitation in his actions. Pat immediately came over and bounced onto his bed, the way he had done a dozen times before, when he had come over to annoy Pran, though both of them had been aware that it was just an excuse. Pran stared at the wall in front of him, lips twitching slightly as he held back his grin, and waited for Pat to say something. Anything.
"Pran, the song... your inspiration behind it... it's really me?" Pat asked in a low voice, an unrecognizable emotion shining through, and Pran turned his head to look at Pat, who was already staring at him, eyes glimmering. Almost as if he was hypnotized, Pran nodded, and watched a slow smile bloom on Pat's face, and Pran felt as if he were looking at the sunrise. The beginning of a new day, a new life.
Pat flung himself on Pran, clinging to him, the way he had done a dozen times before, just to annoy Pran. And Pran had never felt annoyed, though he had been dying inside for an entirely different reason, but he had never hugged Pat back. Except now he did.
Slowly, Pran snaked his arms around Pat's waist, gripping the back of his tshirt, and he felt Pat relax against him, even though they were in a weird, definitely uncomfortable position. Pran smiled against Pat's shoulder, which only grew wider as Pat sniffed at his neck.
Laughing, Pran pushed him away. "Ai, Pat! It tickles!" He whispered angrily, but evidently it didn't work, he still too giddy to sound serious. Pat smiled at him mischievously, and slid closer, propping his chin on Pran's shoulder. "I think I like you too, Pran. I like being with you, and I like competing with you. I get upset if I don't see you everyday. I can't make a song for you, but I just wanted you to know this."
Pran smiled at Pat, watching Pat's eyes catch on his dimple, watching Pat raise his thumb to press on it. Everything felt tentative and new, and perfect. Pran wouldn't have it any other way. All thoughts about their families, about the feud, and the pressure on them to continue the feud disappeared in that moment, and the world narrowed to only Pat and Pran, pressed together on Pran's bed, on the precipice of a life changing decision, a new word to describe their relationship.
Pran was always right - they couldn't possibly be friends. But maybe they could skip that step and directly be boyfriends.
The thought made Pran smile wider, and he turned to face Pat, burying his face against Pat's chest, feeling Pat laugh and softly pat his head, as he realised that maybe this was where they were headed all along. All the tears of pining, of silently admiring Pat and averting his eyes, or pulling a sneer when he was caught, of trading blows with Pat only to show the world they were enemies when it was the last thing Pran wanted to be - it was all worth it.
A loud rumble of thunder startled them apart, and Pat huffed out a laugh, before pulling Pran back into his arms, and collapsing sideways on the bed, Pran lying almost entirely on Pat. It was comforting, and just as exhilarating, and Pran's cheeks hurt from smiling too wide.
"We'll still have to pretend to fight each other." Pran whispered.
"Then it's lucky we have had a lot of experience in faking it."
Silence.
Then Pat suddenly patted Pran's shoulder, asking him to pull away slightly. "You know what i just realised? We can play our song, together. As boyfriends!"
"Oh, is that what we are?" Pran asked, just to be a little shit, laughing at Pat's offended expression.
"Okay. Okay. We are boyfriends." Pran whispered into the space between them, then shifted to lie down beside Pat, squeezing together on the single bed that definitely wasn't meant for two people. They were pressed together from head to toe, and Pran wasn't sure how he was going to fall asleep that night, but he was determined to try. They had to attend class in the morning after all.
After placing an alarm to kick Pat out of his room in the morning (at which Pat complained that it was much too early. An ungodly hour for anyone to wake up, he had said with a pout) Pran pulled Pat into his arms, pressed a small kiss to Pat's cheek, and settled in for the night.
He knew that by morning his insecurities would probably be back, that he would wonder if they could pull it off, if they could even work as a couple. The word boyfriends made him giddy with happiness, it was everything he ever wanted. Besides they only had to hide it for the remaining few months of high school. Both Pat and he had been planning on shifting to a larger school for pre-university studies, initially as a way to be free from the pressure their parents put, but now they could actually be free, they could be together.
Just a few more months.
***
Little did Pran know a lot would happen in those few months.
(To be continued)