Work Text:
A voice note right after leaving the classroom, ten seconds long.
Hey man, it’s Alex. I'm messaging you so you can have my number. I think we can meet up Friday and Saturday, or tell me when you're free, I'll make it work.
Another voice note, Wednesday at 9:37 pm.
I know class isn’t until tomorrow, but there's another project coming up, do you want to team up again? I think we make a pretty good team.
Two voice notes, one right after the other, the last one a little longer than the first one.
I talked to the teacher about our grade. Apparently, Hunter was claiming that we were cheating on our project. Hell if I know how we cheated on a project that was about our personal experiences.
Can you believe Hunter said that? Imagine how entitled you have to be to look at a brown man and a gay man—I’m not saying you look gay, what I mean is… ugh, whatever, you get what I’m saying—and assume they cheated on a project just because their experiences, and I quote: do not match what they have seen in life. Fucking Hunter, that’s why we can’t trust white people. Well, except, maybe, you, but you’re on thin ice.
At 6:00 pm on a Thursday, following a string of messages sent since eight in the morning.
Hey, Henry, I wanted to check in on you. I didn't see you at class today. I hope you didn't decide to leave the country and leave me alone in this classroom full of... what is it that British people say? Twats? —There’s a small pause and a deep breath— Anyway, call me when you can, or message me, I just want to know that you're okay.
An image of a poster seen in a bulletin board, a voice note below it.
I just saw this event next week, I thought you’d like to go. It’s a screening of Return of the Jedi, but they’ll have a live orchestra playing the soundtrack and although you’re objectively wrong about what your favorite Star Wars movie is, I thought maybe you’d like to go with me?
A conversation left half-way through interrupted by a voice note.
My sister and my best friend are coming to visit me next week, and they say they want to meet the only person besides them willing to put up with me, and they won’t stop bothering me until I ask. All of this to say, are you free any day next week to get lunch with us? I promise they’re chill. June is also obsessed with Jane Austen, I think you’d like her.
A frantic voice note sent at 2:00 am, it sounds like Alex is walking around and there’s the sound of fabric rustling in the background.
Don't think I’m assuming you're some sort of gay gurú or anything, but also, how did you know you were gay? Because I'm pretty sure I'm bi, I think, I mean I've always known men are objectively hot, y'know? Like my friend Liam in high school, I thought he was hot but that doesn't make me gay, does it? Actually now that I said it out loud that doesn't sound very straight, please ignore all of this.
A voice note sent followed by a message, the only messages sent that day.
Hey, I know it’s a hard day for you. I’ll type this message too, if you don’t want to listen to this but maybe hearing it from someone will help? You’re the strongest person I know, Henry, the bravest, and you’re admirable for being who you are even after all you’ve been through. I’m sure your dad would be proud of you. I’ll come by after class to make sure you get something to eat. See you then, take care. I’ll even bring some of those Jabba Cakes you like so much.
Ten minutes before midnight on the 24th of December, there’s music in the background and a cacophony of voices speaking in Spanish.
As you know, I am currently in Mexico with my family, and I know you are way ahead of me since you’re in England, but I wanted to say Merry Christmas, or rather Feliz Navidad, even if I don't think white people parties are half as fun —there's movement on the side of the phone and Alex's voice gets smaller— Tía, no es mi novie, es un amigo de la universidad —a muffled answer— sí, ya voy, no más mando esto y ya. Sorry, that was my aunt. You should come here one day, my family would love you, and you would love them, otherwise we can't be friends anymore. But as I was saying, Merry Christmas!
The first of January, there’s a string of missed calls and messages, sent since the night before only a few minutes after midnight.
Henry, can you please answer my calls? We need to talk, I’m not mad that you kissed me, you took me by surprise, that’s all, but I… I think I’d rather say this to your face. I’ll come by, I don’t care if I have to freeze to death outside your apartment building until you answer the door.
In the middle of the afternoon, following a screenshot Henry sent of his chat with Alex.
Did you know that if you change my contact name to “My dearest, most beautiful boyfriend” your messages will send faster? We’ve been together for… okay, it’s been three days, but I’m frankly offended you still have me as “Alexander Claremont-Díaz” in your contacts, where has the love gone?
A short voice note at 4:00pm, a heart emoji sent as a reaction to the message.
Hey sweetheart, I’m finishing class right now and picking up something to eat. Are you feeling anything specific or do you want me to choose?
An answer to a long message sent a few minutes earlier.
Look, I know murder is illegal and I’m supposed to be the lawyer here, but do you think that if I kill your grandmother I might get some sort of pardon because she was, objectively, being an ass? Not sure how you would present that in court, but I feel like her being an ass needs to be taken into account. Anyway, I’m sorry you have to put up with her. Love you.
A late night message, words said between breathy moans, followed almost immediately by a call.
You shouldn’t be so far away sweetheart, I miss you. I would be doing so many bad things to you if you were here, I could be touching you and hearing those sounds you make.
Sunday at 3:00pm, in the middle of a conversation.
My dad is wondering if you’d like to come down to the lake house for a few days when the semester ends. June and Nora will be there, and he said you can also bring Bea and Pez with you if you want. There’s going to be food, and the food will be so good, you’ll love it.
There’s an answer, and right after, a different voice note.
Remember to bring sunscreen, I am not taking care of your pale ass when you get burnt and look like a shrimp.
A voice note sent from afar at 2:00pm, seen a few hours later when a promise made had already been fulfilled.
I’m looking at you from the house while you’re lying down in the dock in those tiny swim shorts that you keep swearing were not on purpose. Now, if you allow me, I’m taking those swim shorts off.
A barely audible message, sent at 10:00pm, the sound is muffled but it’s possible to hear some voices in the background.
Can I call you? It’s okay if you’re busy, I just need to hear your voice.
The next morning, Alex's voice is still tinted with exhaustion, yet one can tell he's smiling.
Thank you for staying with me yesterday, and thank you for the coffee. Don’t think I didn’t notice it is decaffeinated, but I’m forgiving you only this time. Do you want to watch a movie later tonight? I’ll let you convince me to watch Pride and Prejudice again.
Early morning on New Year's Eve.
Happy anniversary, baby. I know you insist our anniversary is not on New Year's, but I don't agree, it totally is. See you at the party? Or I can give you a much better gift if you do happen to want to celebrate.
A forwarded message, played under the covers of the bed, phone grabbed lazily after many hours ignoring it, the voice doesn't belong to Alex.
I can't believe you missed THE party to go kiss your boyfriend, that was a low one, Alejandro, I'm going to kiss your sister to get my revenge.
Three messages sent one right after the other.
I know you said you didn’t want anything for your birthday, but I sort of did something before you said you didn’t want anything, so don’t be spooked when you get something delivered to your house.
Not that there would be a reason to be spooked, I promise it’s a completely safe, PG-13 gift. But also, wait for me to open it?
I’ll be home early. Happy birthday, baby.
A few days later, after another celebration.
As much as your birthday gift was a success I have spent the last twenty minutes trying to cover the hickey you left, and it’s pretty damn visible, so I can look somewhat presentable. Do you know how hard it is to get a foundation in my shade?
Not that I’m complaining, leave as many as you like, but from now on; below the neck.
A message sent early in the morning, a tone that's almost a whisper.
Hello, baby. I’m hiding from you because you're currently sleeping in my room, though it's probably our room at this point if you want me to be honest. Anyway, we graduate tomorrow, finally, and I wanted to tell you how glad I am that we were paired together in the first place. I didn't think a school project could make me meet the love of my life, but I guess life always has some funny surprises.
I'm proud of you, sweetheart, you're going to look so hot in your gown.
There’s noise in the background that indicates a lot of movement, things falling to the floor.
I don't think I ever noticed how much stuff I have until I had to pack it. Are we sure we have enough storage space for the both of us?
The sound of people is muffled in the background, Alex's voice gets louder and quieter as he moves the phone around.
I'm buying curtains, why are they so expensive? Do we even need curtains? Actually, scratch that we totally need curtains if we don't want to traumatize our neighbors.
There's a grocery list above the message, quantities followed by interrogation marks.
Are Bea and your mom arriving for lunch tomorrow? I think my parents might be here a little earlier to help us set everything up, June is bringing Tres Leches.
A voice note, this time from a different person in the same chat.
Hi love, as much as you tell me that I am better with words, I am afraid that might only be applicable to the written word. Otherwise, I don’t think there’s a way I could ever match you in the way you speak.
You’re as bright as the sun and from the first moment I ever saw you, I knew my life was going to change if I ever got close to you.
I was terrified, to be honest, of ever having something so good.
I’m not terrified anymore. Now that I get to have you, I can see that there’s nothing else that could be greater than this, nothing better but to be able to exist by your side.
I would like to do it forever, if you so wish.
This is not a proposal, not yet, you’ll know when it is, but rather a confirmation of something both of us, or at least I hope both of us, already know.
Another follows right after from the usual sender.
Fuck you for making me cry. I love you.