Work Text:
“Gyo!” I hear Manaow yell out to catch my attention before I feel her plant a kiss on my cheek.
“Naow!” I scold while looking around to make sure no one noticed. “What if someone saw that?” I glare at her before walking away towards the building entrance.
“Text me when you’re done okay!” I hear from behind but I don’t spare her another glance, slightly annoyed and paranoid that someone could’ve caught us earlier.
I make my way to the classroom where Warang is waiting and plop down dramatically next to her. She must’ve noticed my darkened expression as she asks “What’s up with you?”
Today’s the 5th day in a row that we’ve been meeting up to work on our mid semester project and while the stunt Naow pulled earlier upset me, I was also feeling exhausted and mentally drained. Although we still had lots of time left before the deadline, I wanted to make sure everything was done early so I could take a few days off without worry and celebrate our first anniversary together with girlfriend. And not to mention the busy schedule in the past few days gave me barely any time to myself let alone to spend with Naow and I really miss her.
With a sigh I reply “I’m just tired and I can’t wait to finish this paper. And Naow kissed me in public! What if someone saw us. That sneaky kid.”
“So what if they did? It’s not a crime to kiss your girlfriend” Warang chuckles. “Besides, it was cute. I think she’s jealous.”
“Of who?” I ask, puzzled.
“Of me of course! She kissed you after she noticed I was looking at you guys.”
I rub my forehead and groan. “Oh my gosh if you saw it that means anyone else could’ve seen it too.”
“Relax, it’s not that big of a deal.”
“But my reputation! What will others think of the head senior dating someone in the same major that’s younger than me. I don’t want people thinking that I’m giving her special treatment just because we’re dating.”
“Hey weren’t you the one who said you wanted to change the system. Show them that it’s fine to date and still uphold our school traditions. Unless it’s something else that’s bothering you?”
I go silent for a bit, debating if I should voice my concerns. “So, you know how we’re heading to our first anniversary? Things have been good so far but sometimes I can’t help but feel insecure that what if one day she finds someone better. Someone who’s not afraid of publicly dating her. Someone she can hold hands with and kiss all she wants in public.”
“Gyo, have you seen the way the kid looks at you? She looks at you like you’re the one who put the stars in the sky, like you’re the only person in the world and nothing else matters. She takes care of you silently with the snacks that she buys for you and the way she tidies up your room. She does all that without being asked to which makes me wonder if there’s anything she wouldn’t do for you if you actually asked. With the amount of honey that oozes out of her eyes when she’s looking at you, we wouldn’t need to steal from the bees. If I could place a jar under her eyes I would have enough honey to satisfy Winnie the Pooh.”
“Oh my gosh,” I shove Warang’s shoulder as I feel myself starting to blush. “You’re being so dramatic.”
“But it’s true! I would know because I used to too…”
“Oh…”
“I’m over it now!” Warang clears her throat and continues, “But seriously, I think you should talk to her. Let her know that you love her just as much as she loves you. She deserves at least that. You wouldn’t be scrambling on this project if you didn’t want to surprise her with another mini vacation.”
I sit there and process what Warang has said. “… I don’t know how.”
“Use your words. Be honest. Let her know how much she means to you. And while you’re at it, please clear up what we are to her so she can stop being so jealous. And tell her that I have my own girlfriend to spoil now so I don’t have time to indulge you anyway.”
“Warang!” I playfully slap her shoulder.
“Hey watch it! Prang will be upset if I lose an arm.
I roll my eyes. But thank her sincerely anyway. What she said does make sense. “How are things between you guys?” I wriggle my eyebrows in her direction.
“Nope. My lips are sealed.”
“Hey no fair! I shared so now it’s your turn!”
Warang flicks me on the forehead. “For your information I didn’t ask you to and this paper is not going to finish itself so hurry up missy!”
She’s such a tease but she’s also right. The sooner we’re done, the better. I’ll let her off the hook for now, as I open up the textbook and shift into work mode. My phone lights up with a notification and I get a glimpse of my wallpaper, a picture of me and Naow smiling as she snaps the selfie. I smile subconsciously and decide that I will message her later.
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After another long day I step out of the building and stretch my arms as I look around for Naow. I find her parked a few meters away from the bottom of the steps, leaning onto my motorbike just scrolling on her phone. I happily leap over to her and give her a quick hug. She looks up and gives me her megawatt smile and Warang’s words from earlier ring in my head.
“Gyo! Are you tired? How was it today?” she asks while taking my bags and putting the extra helmet on my head.
“Mhm. I’m hungry.” I say with a pout.
“Okay! What do you want for dinner, let me buy my hardworking baby a nice meal as a reward.”
I put some thought into it before replying “Can you cook me something, I kinda just wanna go home already.”
“Your wish is my command. Ready to go?”
I hum in reply and wrap my arms around her stomach as she revs little red porky away.
——————————-
“You can go take a shower first, I’ll go cook us some noodles okay?” she says after we enter through the front door.
Before she could take two more steps in, I grab her arm and pull her back to give her a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.” I give her a genuine smile and I could see the corners of her mouth start to lift up into a grin before I let go of her and go freshen up.
Naow is still hovering over the stove when I’m done and I could see her putting a lot of effort into a simple bowl of noodles for me. I walk up to her and give her a backhug as my feelings start to overwhelm me. She looks back and kisses the top of my head. “It’s almost done, gimme a few more minutes.”
“Naow…” I call for her attention. “I love you.”
The reply is almost instant. “I love you too Gyo.”
“No, I really love you. I do.” She turns around in my arms and I could tell she’s confused but before she could say anything I continue. “I’m sorry that I got slightly upset earlier when you kissed me in public. I was afraid that someone would’ve caught us and spread bad rumors about you dating the head senior for perks. I don’t want them to dismiss your academic credibility and say it’s because I’m giving you special treatment. And I’m sorry that being with me is frustrating and you have to hold back so often. I love you so so much and I know I’m bad at showing it sometimes but I wanted to express it today because I’m afraid that you might think I don’t care but I do. And I’m scared one day you’ll leave me after realizing I wasn’t worth it and-” I don’t know when I started crying but I can feel her hands brushing my tears away.
“Shhh… Gyo. I’m not gonna leave you. I fell for you the moment we met and I’ve been madly in love with you ever since. Actually if anything I’m more afraid of you leaving me. There are so many people who like you and sometimes it feels surreal that out of all them, you chose to be with me. Me who’s younger and more childish and not as academically esteemed like your peers. I mean even today… I purposely kissed you in front of P’ Warang…”
“There’s nothing going on between us. We’re only working on the project together.” I reassure her.
“I know… but I can’t help but feel jealous sometimes you know.” She rubs her head sheepishly. “Some other girl has been spending all day with my girlfriend and even though I know it’s for work… it just got the best of me.”
“Well you have nothing to worry about because Warang and I are only friends. Always has been, always will be. Plus she has a girlfriend now.”
“Really?” She looks at me shocked.
“Yes.” I smile and lean up to peck her lips because she looks too cute like that. That seemed to surprise her more but she recovers quickly and leans down to give me more quick pecks until I’m a giggling mess. “Stop, stop!”
Eventually she stops and pulls back to look at me. She gives me the softest smile ever and I know that we’re okay now and on the same page. “I love you.”
I pray that my own eyes reflect how sincere she is and I reply with my own “I love you too.”
We stay in each others’ arms for a moment longer before I ask “Now can we finish up the noodles, I am starving.”
She laughs and agrees before turning back around as I continue to hug her from behind with the happiest smile on my face.