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"Old flames finally reunited?"
War looked at the glaring headline for what felt like the 100th time that minute. It almost felt like it wasn't real and yet here he was, pulling out old notes from buried love songs.
"I didn't think you'd both say yes." His manager said as he handed him his cup. "It was the only reason why I agreed to bring it up with you."
"I didn't think he'd say yes either." He replied with a strange look in his face. "I don't know what possessed me to d it but I did and I can't back down now."
"Will you be alright?"
"It's been three years, I think I'll be fine."
---
"So, it's really happening?"
Yin looked up at his manager, face blank, but the other man knew him well enough to spot the uncertainty in his eyes.
"It is."
"You haven't released a single song since your last song with him. I honestly didn't think you'd accept the offer."
"You know he's one of the reasons why I started singing in the first place." The actor replied, resting his head on the couch and looking up at the ceiling. "After him, it just didn't feel right anymore."
"Will you be alright?"
"I hope so."
---
People would say that their story was one that was finely crafted. It just so happened that Yin's co-actor for the movie broke contract a ew days before filming started and it just so happened that War, who was only signed to sing the soundtrack, was pulled in as the replacement.
What happened after was an explosive response from the viewers and growing affection between the two. And amidst all the clamor for their movie were hidden escapades and secret dates. It wasn't long before they were found out and t wasn't long before they were looked up to as 'that' couple.
It was the perfect fantasy and it got even better when War eventually pulled Yin to music, guiding him through and helping him find his own voice. Not long after that, their voices soon matched in perfect harmony, crooning love songs meant only for each other.
Their chemistry was undeniable and their love was clear for everyone to see. But in the glitz and glamor of the entertainment world, even the clearest things become murky and even the purest love can be strained by rumormongers who crave the satisfaction of ruining something that seemed so perfect.
The storm came not long after, three years into a blissful relationship and the tabloids were already spreading news about their breakup. Yin spoke first, War following not long after. \
And just like that, the illusion was shattered.
It was understandable that the people who knew them from the very beginning were in shock, not truly believing the news until the day of War's first appearance after the breakup. It was already clear that he wasn't in his best shape, but the final nail in the coffin was when he went on stage singing the first love song he ever sang with Yin. It was once a song that sparked a bloom, now it was nothing more than a symbol of their tragic end.
---
Yin stepped inside the building, eyes wandering around the interior that felt familiar and different at the same time.
"A lot has changed." He muttered, looking up at the decorative wall filled with familiar faces. "I remember this wall with less photos."
"They signed a lot of artists in the past couple of years." His manager said, eyeing his artist was a curious stare. "But War remains irreplaceable."
The actor sighed fondly as his eyes finally landed on the framed photo of his ex lover.
“I’m happy for him.” A small smile bloomed on his face as his gaze remained glued on War’s smiling face. “It’s all he’s ever wanted.”
“Yin-”
“I once told him that I felt like he loved his instruments more than he loved me.” Yin said with a laugh, tracing War’s signature with his eyes. “He nodded with the straightest face and all I could think about was how adorable he looked.”
“You loved him.”
“I-” A pause. “I always will.”
---
“He’s on his way.” War stopped fiddling with the keys to look up at his manager. “I saw him on my way up but he was still talking with the higher ups.”
“Okay.”
“That’s all you have to say? Okay?” The older man looked at War with a raised brow, only to be met with an indignant huff.
“Why? What do you want me to say? Oh shit my ex is on his way here to sing our old love songs, I’m going to see him again for the first time in three years and I’m kind of regretting everything that has led to this moment.”
“Feel better now?”
“No.”
“Well too bad because I’ve just been told that the man you’ve been avoiding is right behind that door.” The older man pointed at the closed door. “Thankfully this whole room is soundproof so-”
“I hate you.” War replied, sinking back to his chair and crossing his arms like a petulant child. “Also, I am not avoiding him.”
“Sure you weren’t. You were just conveniently sick every time you two have to be on the same program.”
---
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
The silence was almost deafening as the two stood opposite of each other, neither moving a muscle as their managers watched from the side.
“It’s been a long time.” Yin said carefully, walking closer, the closest they’ve ever been since the breakup three years ago. “You look good.”
“I always look good.” War winced and bit his tongue. “Sorry, old habit.”
“It’s alright. I know.” The actor replied with a chuckle. “Good to see you haven’t changed.”
“Few aching bones here and there.”
“We’ve been apart for three years War, not three decades.”
It was Yin’s turn to wince, subconsciously looking away and suddenly finding the floor very interesting.
“Well that’s one way to address the elephant in the room.” War said with a resigned snort as he turned to their managers who were whispering among themselves. “At least they seem to be having fun.”
----
[italicized words: flashback]
“Remind me to never listen to myself ever again.” War complained for the upteent time that day. “I make stupid decisions based on stupid gut feeings.”
“That went well.”
The singer slumped back on his seat, ignoring his manager’s amused smile and opting instead to play some music to fill the silence, only to hearYin’s voice echoing from the speakers.
“Shit.” He cursed, not even bothering to turn the music off anymore. “He’s everywhere.”
“You managed to avoid him for three whole years, you really think you could keep doing it?"
“I told you, I wasn’t avoiding him.” War replied acidly, lips forming to a pout as he looked out of the window. “I’m just- I’m protecting myself.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I knew I couldn’t anyway.” The singer said sadly. “I can’t hide forever like a coward.”
----
“I love you.” War pretended to gag when Yin said those words before running away when he caught the naughty glint in YIn’s eyes.
“Anan I’m warning you.” The singer said as he walked away from the actor who had his arms outstretched.
“I just want to hug my lovely boyfriend.” War broke off to a run but Yin was fast and caught him by the waist, lifting him up and carrying him to the couch. “Got you.”
“You’re acting like you were gone for a year, it’s only been two months.” The singer complained as Yin settled him on his lap.
“Too long. Need to recharge.” Yin complained, wrapping his arms around War’s lithe waist. “Missed you.”
They stayed like that for a while, War gently running his hands through Yin’s locks to soothe him.
“I wrote a song.”
“I heard. You missed me that much huh?”
“And who said it was about you?”
“Who else would you be singing cheesy love songs to, but me?”
----
“Yin Anan Wong spotted at Rookie building?”
… speculations run high as the top actor was spotted inside the Rookie building. Is this confirmation of what their fans have been waiting for? …
“We have to up our security measures, we can’t have you being followed around like this.” Yin nodded absent-mindedly as his manager paced around the room, eyes glued on his phone. “First the leak about your project together, now this.”
“Why can’t we just announce it? Keeping it hush hush is just making the media more aggressive.” The actor replied, causing his manager to stop in his tracks.
“Well we were holding off until we were sure that you were both okay.”
“Okay?”
“Just in case things go sour, we don’t want to sell something and then pull out at the last minute.”
“We won’t.”
“And you’re sure because?”
“I just am.”
----
“What is he doing?” War whispered harshly as his notifications blew up.
“What’s got you so fired up so early in the morning?” Bonnadol asked as he slid on the seat next to him.
“Wong.” He replied, eyes boring daggers on the photo Yin posted five minutes ago. It was an old photo of him with a short caption of how the actor was happy to be working with him again.
But he knew better. It was taken on the first night they went out, hiding away in the back of a restaurant and hoping that they weren’t too obvious to arouse the suspicion of the patrons. It was a photo he never thought he'd see again.
“Wow no Anan.” The singer was shaken out of his reverie when the other man snapped a finger in front of him. “What’s ‘Wong’ done now?’
“They told us to confirm the rumors about a collab, not to post old photos.”
“-and break the internet.” Nadol whispered to himself before flipping his phone and showing it to War. “People seem to think you’re back together.”
“As if that would happen.”
---
“I can’t do it.” Yin said in a panic as he remained hidden behind the curtain.
Just as he was about to call off the whole thing, he felt a pair of familiar arms wrapping around his torso, a much needed warmth enveloping him.
“You can do it. I know you can.” War’s voice was a break from the busy chatter of the backstage crew and a welcome escape from the thought of performing in front of an audience.
“People are waiting for me to sing.” Yin replied, taking War’s hands on his own and toying with the ring on his finger. “I think I’m about to pass out.”
“I mean we can always run away, I know a McDonalds just five minutes away from here.” The singer whispered conspiratorially. “The managers will probably kill us but I’m willing to risk my neck for a plate of chicken nuggets.”
“Is this your roundabout way of comforting me?’
“Is it working?”
“Strangely yes.”
----
After both parties confirmed that the two would indeed be performing together again, they never didn't meet again, not until the fateful day.
"This is a bad idea." Yin muttered as he peeked from behind the curtain. "A really bad idea."
"Not getting cold feet on me now are you?" The teasing lilt in War's voice was enough to calm his racing heart.
"How mad would you be if I ran away right now?"
"Really mad." The singer replied calmly before breaking to a smile. "Unless you take me with you and buy me chicken nuggets."
"The same place huh?" Yin said, looking around the same stage where they first performed together. "Is the McDonalds still around the corner?"
"Yes." War walked closer to Yin, reaching a hand out and touching his wrist for a split second before pulling away. "But I would advise against it. Don't worry, you know I'll be right next to you."
"Okay."
----
"Break up with him."
War was startled when the man behind the table said those words, not fully processing what was being asked of him.
"What?"
"Wong. Break up with him."
"I don't understand-"
The man folded his hands in front of him before levelling the singer with a look.
"His company asked me to make an arrangement. They feel that your relationship is causing a strain on your careers and I agree."
Those words hung in the air as the tension around the room slowly built up.
"War, you don't honestly believe that the two of you would last? In this industry, it's better to cut your losses before it eats you up. Your relationship was good for publicity but it's time to end the farce."
"Farce?" War laughed wryly. "Wow. It didn't seem like a farce when you were cashing out on royalties."
"Break up with him or I will make you."
---
The deafening applause greeted them as soon as they walked on stage. They looked around, soaking in the energy before their eyes found their way back to each other like a practiced move.
And then the music started playing.
Standing right here, just wanting to look at you
For the two people on stage, everything slowly faded away, everything but the music and each other.
War turned to smile at his partner, the same eyes, the same smile, the same man he fell in love with.
Never asking to be your important person
And the same man whom he let go, the same man he let slip past his fingers.
"It's him isn't it." War asked, frustration clear in his voice as he gripped his phone in his hands. "Tell me."
"I don't know." His manager replied, equally frustrated. "But I won't be surprised if they're staging something. It's not a coincidence that a rumor leak of an actor in a long-term relationship cheating popped up on the press a day after your talk."
"I can't let him ruin Yin. I can't." He slipped on the floor and hugged his knees. "He doesn't deserve that. I don't know what to do."
"Tell Yin."
"No." War's loud shout echoed in the room, startling the other man inside. "I know he'll say he doesn't care, that it's not true anyway. But you and I both know that even if it isn't, it will tarnish his reputation."
"Then what do you propose to do? Give up?"
"I can't win against power can I?" The singer asked sarcastically. "But I'll do it in my own terms."
Just being able to be as close as you want me to
My duty is to love you
"I know why you're doing this." Yin grit his teeth. "War we'll fight for it. Hell I'll sue them if I have to."
"Yin please. You know you can't. We're tied. I don't want you to lose anything because of me."
"I'm losing everything if I lose you." Yin grabbed his wrist in a death grip. The anger was already creeping up in Yin's voice, boiling just above the surface. "They think they can use us as cash cows and then when they've had their fill, it's time to move on?"
"Yin we can do this in our own terms or we let them ruin your career. Either way, we can't win."
"I'll quit if I have to."
"No." War glared at him. "That's something that I will never let you do."
The singer freed his hand, letting it rest in Yin's for only a second before he was taking off a silver ring.
"War-"
"I love you."
How much do I love you? However much you want.
They smiled at each other, drawing closer and closer until they were side by side and War relished at the feeling of having Yin close again. Even if it was only for a few seconds.
When you are surrounded by a crowd
You will probably not see me before you leave
Yin ducked under his cap, face carefully hidden behind a mask as he surveyed the area around him. His pleased smile hidden as he heard the crowd chant War's name.
"How long are you going to keep sneaking in his concerts hoping that no one will notice?" His manager whispered behind him.
"I just want to see him." The lights dimmed, signalling that the concert was about to begin. "I promised him that I'd never miss any of his concerts. This is me fulfilling that promise."
"Yin it's been a year since you broke up."
"I don't care." The actor replied with a glare. "I told him I would always be here and I intend on keeping that promise."
"You're playing a dangerous game, you know that? What happened a year ago can happen again when someone sees you and this time, they might come for War too."
"I don't settle well with losing to people who don't deserve it. And I don't plan on losing the best thing in my life because some man behind a chair said so."
"You sound like you're planning something."
"Maybe."
When there's no one beside you
You still have me to look after you
Yin closed his eyes and reached out, taking War's hands in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. He could feel War tense up and he could see him frantically look around in panic.
He let his hand go, but before War could breathe a sigh of relief, Yin cupped his cheeks, looking him straight in the eye.
My love may not be sweet, it will just last for a long time
It may only be just once that I said I loved you
But I never just say it to anyone
"I love you." Yin whispered as the lights dimmed, pulling away his mic and resting his forehead against War's. From his pocket he pulled out a silver ring and slid it back to where it belonged. "Let's give them hell."
END.