Chapter Text
Po needed a break.
A break which would make him forget everything from his nine-to-five life to Earn, yeah, the same Earn who promised to bring him the moon but couldn't even stay when things started going his way.
They used to be high school sweethearts, then the infamous couple in uni, but people never stay the same.
One glimpse of “success” and Earn ended it all, just like that.
Po tried to move on, plastering smiles and working as the creative director of idol groups for two whole years, but when he came back to his apartment with nothing but silence, it hit him all.
When his closet had empty space for clothes of more than one person, his toothbrush all alone in the holder, and his coffee mug, which was now missing a pair. It hit him all, how empty everything felt.
Now that he was having dinner alone, with nothing but the forgotten show playing on the TV, a text from Baifern came up.
“Don't forget the reunion. If you're going, I'm going.”
The reunion. Of course.
“To 10 years of not-so-forgotten bonds,” they had said.
The last time he went to the reunion, he had a plus one. A lover. Earn at that.
“I don't know if I should go, tho. Shit’s going to be weird with him there,” Po replied.
“Po, we’re going there to meet people OTHER than him. Let's not.” Baifern texted.
Po kept his phone upside down as if it would change anything.
One more text from Baifern.
“The reunion is at the school, too. Come on, we need to see how much has changed. They said the pool is COMPLETELY renovated.”
The pool. The same place Po and Earn used to whisper promises and confessions with nothing but the water listening to them.
He sighs.
“Okay. We’re going.” he texted Baifern.
December 13 came too fast. Everything was in a blur, and then one day, Po wakes up and “reunion day,” he mutters.
At 5 pm, he starts to get ready even though he thought about bailing on Baifern for about 14 times.
He didn't do anything extravagant. Just a simple button up with slacks, which did not scream “I have my ex of 5 years here and I'm trying not to lose my shit.”
He reached his high school. The buildings were the same, with extra plaster and paint just to keep everything intact.
He was walking down the same hallways in which once him and Earn- no. Po, keep your mind on anything but him. We’re not here for him. Yeah.
He then came across the poster for the reunion.
“Class of 2015” with all the same faces he used to share his everyday with. He was there in the picture as well. With Earn. God, he needed to calm his shit down.
The venue for the reunion said the open gymnasium. Where the hell was the open gymnasium? We didn't have a thing like that 10 years ago?
Just as he thought fate was on his side and now he won't be able to go to the reunion, a man interrupted him.
And hell that man was beautiful. Tall, high cheekbones, with sparkling eyes and glasses. Glasses. God Po, he’s probably a teacher.
“Are you here for the reunion?” the man said. With a voice smoother than honey, it made Po melt.
“Yeah. The reunion. Yes,” Po fumbled out.
“Oh, me too. I assumed you were looking for the way around?”
Right, great deed, Po. you’ve studied here your whole life, and you're asking the way around from a fucking stranger. “Yeah. I don't know where the open gymnasium is. Haven't been here in a while,” Po blurted with an awkward laugh.
“Oh yeah, right, they changed the name of the outdoor sports area to open gymnasium 2 years ago.”
Outdoor sports area? Pfft . “Oh”
“I'm heading there as well. Do you mind?”
“Oh sure, please, thank you.” Po replied.
“I’m Thame by the way. Not sure if you remember me, but I was in four of your classes.” the man said. Who now had a name.
Thame. Thame teema. The quiet kid. The guitarist .
“Oh? Thame teema?” Po was not astonished. Just a bit taken aback. Po was damn sure nobody had a glow up like this in the whole reunion.
“The quiet kid. Yeah, that’s me. I’m now a teacher here,” thame replied.
Po, who was still in deep thoughts about how fine the quiet kid from grade 11 had gotten, could only manage out a little “that's great.”
He had braces, a round jaw, and glasses as thick as Mr. Suphakorn’s ass. How the hell does one get a glow-up like this? Po thought as he kept glancing sideways to look at Teema’s face. The jawline was angled so perfectly that it could cut apples and his lips. god.
Po came out of his trance when he saw Baifern outside the reunion venue. With her girlfriend. She couldn't have found a better time to bring out her plus one.
“Heyy handsome,” Baifern said with a chirp which definitely didn't mean she was serious.
She glanced at Po, then at Thame, then again at Po. “You started a new episode and I didn't even know about it? Po you're dating a teacher?”
Po replied, “What? No, we just met-” a chuckle. Thame’s chuckle. Why is his chuckle hot too? Calm down Po.
“I’m Thame Teema.” “Who?” Baifern replied.
“The quiet kid. The one who aced calc but failed physical edu.” Po whispered, which was very clearly audible to Thame.
“Oh? The guitarist- you did have a glowup there buddy, keep it up and-” someone cleared their throat.
Earn.
Po saw him.
After 2 years.
After 2 years of countless sleepless nights with an empty bed.
After 2 years of pain and something so deep which he couldn't let go of.
“Hey,” he said.
Casually.
As if they were just classmates.
As if they didn't share a bond for 5 whole years.
And Po.
Po could only take a deep breath to hold himself together.
Thame,
Who observed everything.
Who has always and remained silent.
This time did not.
“Hey, Po, let's head inside. It’s chilly out here.” He said while leading Po inside.
Away from the cold because Po was a boy of summers and warmth.
Not cold.
Not Earn’s.
But maybe Thame’s.