Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The summer First turned eighteen remained etched in his memory, tucked away in the deepest corner of his mind. It was the last week of July, and he was still riding the high of his first summer vacation after graduation, intoxicated by the idea of freedom. No school, no expectations, no looming deadlines—just heat, waves, and long days spent beneath the relentless sun. His eighteenth birthday was only a few days away, and his mother had decided to celebrate by taking a weeklong trip to Hua Hin.

His days quickly settled into a comfortable rhythm, mornings were spent wandering barefoot along the shoreline, his toes sinking into the warm sand as gentle waves lapped at his ankles before retreating back into the sea. Afternoons found him relaxing beneath the sun, usually stretched out on a beach towel with a book balanced in his hands, the ocean breeze fluttering the pages. Sometimes he waded into the water until it reached his thighs, though he never ventured much deeper. He didn't mind the ocean from afar, but being fully submerged was another matter entirely; something about the idea of being completely submerged and seeing the vastness of the water around him made him anxious and lightheaded. Not to mention his irrational fear of sharks, thanks to his older cousin making him watch Jaws as a child, that makes even the thought of closing both of his eyes in the shower slightly uncomfortable.

The evenings were his favorite; the resort's private beachfront was lined with tall casuarina trees, and between two of them hung a weathered hammock that quickly became his sanctuary. He spent the first few evenings there, curled up in the hammock as soft pop music drifted through his headphones. He would hum softly along to whatever song was playing while watching the sky transform from brilliant shades of gold and orange into pink, then deep indigo. It quickly became his favorite part of the trip. Back in Chiang Mai, the city lights drowned out most of the stars, but here, beneath the cool ocean breeze and endless stretch of sky, they glittered brighter than he had ever seen.

For those few quiet moments each night, the future stopped looming over him. The thought of starting college next month and moving away from home into the dorms made him wary of the uncertainty of adulthood. But staring at the stars made it all fade beneath the glow of distant constellations. For those few precious moments, there was only the sea, the stars, and the comforting feeling that the world was much bigger than any worry he carried.

⋆｡𖦹 °.🐚⋆❀˖°

Tle arrived in Hua Hin carrying an entirely different kind of restlessness. He'd been staying with his family in Pranburi for his cousin's wedding, but what was meant to be a joyful celebration had slowly become suffocating. Coming out to his entire extended family this weekend had been exhausting in ways he hadn't anticipated. His parents had known for a couple of months and had supported him completely, but he had entered the trip fully aware that not everyone would react the same way.

At first, it was easy enough to dodge questions about relationships and plans for when he graduates from university, but eventually the conversation turned toward matchmaking. One aunt wanted to introduce him to a family friend's daughter. Another insisted she knew someone "perfect" for him. By the third offer, Tle found himself losing patience.

"I'm gay."

The words slipped out before he could stop them. For a moment, he simply stood there, staring at his great-aunt while waiting for her reaction. She blinked once, then twice, looking almost as startled as he felt. After a brief silence, she tilted her head thoughtfully and cleared her throat.

"Oh," she said. "Well, that's nice, sweetie."

Relief began to unfurl in his chest, it lasted all of three seconds.

"Perhaps I could introduce you to her brother instead?"

Tle stared at her as she smiled expectantly, and with a sigh, he politely declined.

Fortunately, most of his relatives reacted far better than he'd feared, and the few who didn't, seemed content with pretending the conversation had never happened. Unfortunately, acceptance came bundled with an entirely new set of questions that Tle was nowhere near prepared to answer.

By the morning after the wedding, he desperately needed a break from all of it. His parents had rented a car for the trip and planned to spend their final night in Hua Hin before flying back to Chiang Mai. They still had a couple of days left in Pranburi, but after seeing how overwhelmed he was, they handed him the keys without much hesitation. Tle climbed behind the wheel with no destination in mind and simply drove.

Hours later, after pulling into a gas station to refuel, he realized he wasn't far from Hua Hin at all. Since he was already there, he figured he might as well spend a few hours at the beach before heading back. Maybe he would grab something to eat, walk along the water, and enjoy a few precious hours without questions about his love life, or lack thereof.

The sun was already beating down on his shoulders by the time he parked near the beach. He had left so hastily that morning that he'd brought nothing except his wallet, so his first stop was a small surf shop near the shoreline. The bell above the door chimed softly as he stepped inside, and the blast of cold air-conditioning immediately offered relief from the heat.

As he stepped further in, he heard a laugh. It was warm and unrestrained, the kind of laugh that seemed impossible to fake. Almost instinctively, Tle turned toward the sound.

A boy around his age stood near the register talking with one of the employees, his head tipped back as he laughed at something the girl had said. He had brown hair that curled slightly at the ends, and even from across the store, Tle could see the deep dimples carved into his cheeks whenever he smiled. His smaller frame was dressed in a cream tank top and faded denim shorts, practical clothing for the summer heat, but Tle found himself staring anyway. The boy was beautiful. For a second, he forgot why he'd even come inside.

As if sensing his gaze, the employee glanced toward the entrance.

"Welcome in," she called.

The boy turned. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and just like that, everything else in the room seemed to disappear.

⋆｡𖦹 °.🐚⋆❀˖°

First never expected to fall in love with a stranger during his summer vacation. Yet meeting Tle, no matter how brief their time together ultimately was, altered the course of his life in ways he never could have imagined.

A few days into the trip, he had wandered into a surf shop within walking distance of the beach after accidentally snapping his sunglasses while shifting his lying position. He went to roll onto his back and winced when he heard the snap. He had finally found the perfect replacement pair and was chatting with the cashier while checking out, easy jokes flowing between them, when the bell above the door chimed. The sound drew his attention for only a moment, but when the cashier called out a greeting, First found himself glancing over his shoulder for a second look.

That was when their eyes met.

The man couldn't have been much older than him, but where First was slight and soft around the edges, the stranger was tall and angular. He wore cream-colored linen pants and a thin white Henley with the top few buttons undone, the lightweight fabric clinging just enough to leave very little to the imagination. If First was being honest, the man looked downright sinful. Heat immediately rushed to his face, and he quickly turned back toward the register before he could embarrass himself by staring. Moments later, he paid for his sunglasses, muttered a quick goodbye, and slipped out of the store, passing by the taller man on his way out.

At the time, he assumed that would be the end of it. The stranger would become nothing more than an attractive face tucked away in his memory, the sort of person you briefly notice in passing before never seeing again. Instead, the next three days would become some of the most unforgettable of his life.

Finding him again at the beach later that afternoon felt like a stroke of luck. First had returned to his usual spot with a book and a sandwich he'd picked up for lunch, fully intending to spend a quiet afternoon reading by the water. He had only managed a few bites before a seagull swooped down out of nowhere and snatched the sandwich straight from his hands.

For a moment, he simply stared after the bird in disbelief.

Then he heard someone laughing.

The sound made him turn immediately, only to find the same man from the surf shop sitting a short distance away. Mortification flooded through him; of all the people who could have witnessed that, it had to be the most attractive man he'd seen in months. A flush crept across his cheeks as the stranger rose from where he had been sitting and began walking toward him, one hand covering his mouth as he unsuccessfully tried to contain his laughter.

“Sorry,” the man said through another chuckle. “I've just never actually seen that happen in real life before.”

By the time he reached him, he was still smiling. The afternoon sun hung behind him, outlining his figure in gold, and First suddenly found himself far more distracted by that smile than the loss of his lunch. Still sitting on his towel, he looked up at the stranger and felt his embarrassment soften into something else entirely. Scrambling to his feet, First brushed the sand from his shorts and laughed nervously. “This has actually never happened to me before,” he admitted. After a brief pause, he nodded toward the man. “You were in the shop earlier, right?”

The stranger smiled and nodded.

“Yeah. I'm Tle, by the way.”

“I'm First.”

He lifted a hand in a small wave, immediately feeling a little ridiculous for it. The awkwardness of the gesture made him smile anyway, and judging by the amused look on Tle's face, he seemed to find it endearing rather than strange.

For the first time that day, First found himself grateful for the seagull.

⋆｡𖦹 °.🐚⋆❀˖°

For a few moments, neither of them spoke.

The waves rolled steadily onto the shore behind them, filling the silence with the endless rush of water. A salty breeze drifted between them, carrying the cries of distant gulls that sounded almost suspiciously smug.

Tle shifted his weight in the sand and glanced toward the empty patch where First's sandwich had disappeared only moments earlier.

"...You know," he said thoughtfully, "I don't think I've ever actually witnessed a robbery before."

First let out a short laugh, "I don't think this qualifies."

"It absolutely does."

Tle gestured dramatically toward the sky.

"Premeditated. Broad daylight. Multiple witnesses."

First smiled in amusement, "The witness isn't being very helpful."

"I'm emotionally supporting the victim," Tle playfully added.

First snorted.

"I appreciate your service."

Another quiet moment settled between them, though this one felt lighter. First brushed a handful of sand off his shorts, still half expecting another bird to swoop in after the rest of his lunch.

Tle followed his gaze upward.

"I think they're watching us."

First looked toward the flock gathered farther down the beach.

"They're deciding if they can take my drink too."

"I wouldn't underestimate them."

"I already made that mistake once."

Tle nodded solemnly, "A valuable life lesson."

First shook his head, smiling despite himself.

"So..." Tle said. "Now that your lunch has been violently stolen, what are you going to do?"

First leaned back on his hands and looked out toward the water as if giving the question genuine consideration.

"Mourn, probably."

Tle nodded his head in mock agreement, "Fair."

"Maybe write a strongly worded complaint to the seagull community."

Tle's grin widened, "I think they'd just steal that too."

"I'd never get a response."

"You'd get another bird."

"That's somehow worse."

Both of them laughed, the sound carrying away with the wind.

The conversation came easier after that, far easier than First expected. It no longer felt like talking to a stranger who had wandered over after an unfortunate sandwich incident. Somehow, in the space of only a few minutes, it had started to feel like talking to someone he'd known for much longer. Tle eventually lowered himself onto the sand beside him, stretching his legs out toward the ocean.

"So," he asked, scooping up a handful of sand before letting it trickle between his fingers, "was that actually your lunch, or were you just snacking?"

First sat down, "My actual lunch."

"Ouch."

"I know."

"You've got to be starving."

"I've accepted my fate."

"No, you've accepted bird-related injustice," Tle said playfully as he leaned towards First.

"I don't think there's much I can do."

"You could challenge him to a duel."

First turned to stare at him.

"...A duel."

"Winner keeps the sandwich."

"The sandwich is gone."

Tle frowned, "...Good point."

First laughed again, louder this time.

What had started as polite conversation slowly drifted into easy, aimless chatter. They complained about the relentless heat, swapped stories about the strangest tourists they'd each seen throughout the day, and debated whether seagulls were naturally fearless or simply aware that humans would never fight back.

By the time Tle glanced down at his watch, First barely noticed how much time had passed.

"I was actually planning on grabbing something to eat before heading back."

He brushed the last of the sand from his hands as he spoke, squinting toward the row of restaurants farther down the beach.

First looked up.

"Back where?"

"Pranburi."

"Oh."

The word slipped out before he could stop it.

Tle tilted his head, a smile tugging at one corner of his mouth.

"You sound disappointed."

A rush of heat climbed into First's face.

"I was just surprised."

"Were you?"

"Yes."

"You answered kind of fast."

"I answered normally."

"Hm."

The amused look on Tle's face suggested he didn't believe him for a second.

First looked away first, pretending to watch a child chase waves farther down the beach.

"My family's staying there," Tle explained, deciding not to tease him any longer. "My cousin got married this weekend."

"Oh."

"I escaped for the day."

First looked back.

"Escaped?"

Tle let out a dramatic sigh and flopped backward onto the sand for emphasis.

"You know how some families ask a lot of questions?"

First laughed immediately.

"That bad?"

"Worse."

"Come on."

"I'm serious."

Tle propped himself up on one arm, his body leaning back.

"I walked downstairs this morning and got ambushed before I'd even had coffee."

"Ambushed?"

"My aunt wanted to know what my plans are after graduation."

First grinned.

"My cousin asked why I was still single."

"Reasonable question after a wedding."

"My grandmother wanted to know why I wasn't eating enough."

"Also reasonable."

“And not to mention all of the snarky remarks about my sexuality.”

First winced.

"...Okay."

"See?"

"I see."

"I made it exactly fourteen minutes before deciding a long drive sounded more appealing."

"So Hua Hin was the closest place to run away to?"

"Exactly."

First smiled.

"Good choice."

"I thought so."

The wind stirred between them, carrying the scent of saltwater and grilled seafood from somewhere up the beach. Around them, people wandered lazily along the shoreline, but somehow it felt like the conversation had settled into its own quiet corner of the afternoon.

"What about you?" Tle asked. "You're not local either."

First shook his head.

"My mom and I came from up north."

"Vacation?"

"Birthday trip."

Tle's eyebrows lifted.

"Oh?"

"My birthday's in two days."

"Eighteen?"

First narrowed his eyes.

"Was it that obvious?"

"You have that 'I just graduated and suddenly have no responsibilities' look."

First blinked.

"I have a look?"

"You absolutely have a look."

"And what look is that?"

Tle pretended to study him, resting his chin thoughtfully on his fist.

"Hmm..."

"Oh, you're committing to the bit."

"I need to be accurate."

First rolled his eyes, though he couldn't stop smiling.

"Go on."

"You look like someone who's been sleeping past noon every day for a week."

"..."

"And calling it self-discovery."

First laughed loud enough that a couple walking past glanced over.

"Okay, wow."

"I'm not finished."

"There's more?"

"You've got vacation hair."

"I don't even know what that means."

"It means you've stopped caring."

"I absolutely have not."

"You've got sand on one side of your face."

First instinctively reached up.

Tle burst out laughing.

"I knew it."

"There isn't any, is there?"

"No."

First groaned, dropping his hand.

"You're the worst."

"I've been told."

"...Mostly by your family?"

"Mostly by my family."

They both laughed.

It lingered this time, fading into a comfortable silence rather than an awkward one, neither of them seemed in any hurry to fill it.

Tle watched the waves for a moment before checking his watch again.

"Oh."

"What?"

"I've been sitting here longer than I meant to."

First glanced at the time on his own phone.

"So have I."

"Huh."

Neither of them moved. It struck First then that he'd completely forgotten about the sandwich, not because he'd stopped being hungry, but because somewhere along the way, he'd stopped thinking about it.

Tle stood first, brushing the sand from his shorts before offering First a hand almost absentmindedly.

"Come grab lunch with me."

First looked at the offered hand, then up at him.

"What?"

"You need a replacement sandwich."

"You don't have to."

"I know."

"I can just buy something."

"I know."

"So why are you offering?"

Tle shrugged, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Because I'm hungry."

"...That's your reason?"

"And because it'd be kind of weird if the highlight of your birthday trip ended up being getting mugged by a seagull."

A laugh escaped First before he could stop it.

"When you put it like that..."

"I am."

The smile Tle offered wasn't flashy or teasing this time, just warm. The kind of smile that made saying no feel strangely impossible.

"Come on," he said again. "I drove by a place earlier."

First hesitated for only another second, his mom would probably ask where he'd been. She'd probably tease him for disappearing for so long. He'd come to the beach expecting to spend another quiet afternoon by himself, instead, he found himself standing beside a stranger whose name he'd learned less than an hour ago. It should have felt like a bad idea, yet…

"Okay."

Tle's grin widened immediately, "Yeah?"

First laughed, "Yeah."

"Good."

Tle started walking toward the beachfront road before glancing back over his shoulder.

"Oh."

"What?"

"If another seagull steals your food..."

"I'm blaming you?"

"I was going to say I'm not helping you fight it."

First caught up beside him, shaking his head.

"Liar."

Tle smiled.

"...Probably."

⋆｡𖦹 °.🐚⋆❀˖°

The rest of the afternoon passed far too quickly.

What started as lunch turned into wandering through Hua Hin together, neither of them quite willing to acknowledge that they were actively choosing to spend the day with a complete stranger. They drifted between beachside food stalls and small shops tucked along the main roads, talking about anything that came to mind. Sometimes the conversation was ridiculous, consisting entirely of bad jokes and playful arguments over whether pineapple belonged on pizza, other times it slipped into something quieter.

It happened sometime after lunch while they sat beneath the shade of a large tree overlooking the beach.

"So," First said, taking a sip of his drink. "You escaped your family."

Tle groaned immediately.

"Please don't remind me."

"That bad?"

Tle hesitated.

The answer should have been no. Most people would probably consider themselves lucky to have a family as accepting as his, but acceptance didn't erase discomfort.

"They mean well," he said finally. "They're just... a lot."

First nodded.

The hesitation in Tle's voice told him there was more to the story. For a moment, Tle stared out at the ocean.

"I came out this weekend."

First blinked.

"Oh."

"Yeah."

Neither spoke for a second.

Then Tle laughed softly.

"It's weird. Most of them were fine with it."

"But?"

"But now everyone suddenly wants to talk about it."

Understanding flashed across First's face.

"Oh."

"Exactly."

Tle threw his hands up dramatically.

"Questions. So many questions."

First laughed.

"What kind of questions?"

"'Have you always known?'"

He raised one finger.

"'Who was your celebrity crush?'"

A second finger.

"'When are you bringing someone home?'"

A third.

"'Is this why you’ve always been single?'"

First nearly choked on his drink.

Tle pointed accusingly.

"See? You're laughing too."

"Sorry."

"You're not sorry."

"I'm really not."

Tle shook his head before smiling.

The smile lingered for a moment before fading slightly.

"It was exhausting."

First studied him quietly.

"You don't have to talk about it."

"I know."

The answer came quickly, too quickly. Tle looked down at his hands.

"Honestly, I think it's easier talking to someone who doesn't know me."

First tilted his head.

"What do you mean?"

Tle shrugged, "I don't know."

His gaze drifted back toward the ocean.

"I can tell you things because you don't know me."

The words settled between them.

"You don't know my family."

Tle smiled faintly.

"You don't know where I live, you don't know anyone I know."

A pause.

"And if I completely embarrass myself, I'll probably never see you again."

First laughed.

"That's comforting."

"It kind of is."

To his surprise, First understood exactly what he meant because he felt it too, the strange freedom of anonymity. No expectations or assumptions, just two people sharing a day together.

As the afternoon faded into evening, Tle finally checked the time and groaned.

"I should probably head back."

First hated how disappointed he felt.

"Oh."

Tle smiled.

"I'll be back tomorrow."

The words escaped before First could stop himself.

"You will?"

The smile that followed was small but genuine.

"Yeah."

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then Tle nodded toward the water.

"Same beach?"

First felt himself smile.

"Same beach."

"What time?"

"Ten?"

"Ten works."

They shared no phone numbers, no social media handles, had no discussion about how exactly they would find each other. Just an agreement: Ten o'clock, same beach. Somehow, that felt enough.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, First watched Tle walk back toward the parking lot. A few moments later, he spotted the familiar car pulling onto the road leading south toward Pranburi. For the rest of the evening, First found himself watching every passing vehicle from his hammock, wondering why he was already looking forward to tomorrow.

⋆｡𖦹 °.🐚⋆❀˖°

The following morning, First arrived at the beach nearly fifteen minutes early. Not because he was excited.

At least, not officially.

Tle showed up seven minutes later carrying two iced coffees.

"You're early."

"So are you."

"Yeah, but I brought coffee, so I win."

First accepted the drink.

"I don't think that's how winning works."

"It absolutely is."

The smile that followed made arguing feel pointless.

They spent most of the morning walking along the shoreline before Tle stopped suddenly.

"I have an idea."

That sentence immediately worried First.

"What kind of idea?"

"The fun kind."

"That's not reassuring."

Tle ignored him.

"Come to Pranburi with me."

"Right now?"

First stared.

"Right now."

Tle grinned.

"Trust me."

Against all better judgment, First agreed.

The drive south took less than forty minutes. At first the conversation flowed easily, but eventually music replaced words. One song turned into another, then another after that, until Tle reached over and turned the volume higher.

"No."

"What?"

"No pretending you don't know this one."

"I wasn't—"

"You absolutely were."

The opening notes of an old Thai pop song filled the car.

Tle immediately started singing.

Loudly.

First laughed so hard he nearly missed his cue, then he joined in. By the second chorus, they were both shouting lyrics with absolutely no concern for whether they sounded good. Somewhere around the third song, Tle glanced over.

"You can actually sing."

First looked away.

"No, I can't."

"You're a terrible liar."

The grin on Tle's face widened.

"Seriously."

First shrugged.

"I like it."

"Like it?"

"Yeah."

Tle stared.

"That's it?"

"What?"

"That's the most boring answer possible."

First laughed.

"What do you want me to say?"

"I don't know."

Tle drummed his fingers against the steering wheel.

"That you're secretly planning to become a famous singer."

The joke landed a little too close to reality.

First smiled, "Maybe."

Tle's head snapped toward him.

"Wait. Seriously?"

"Maybe."

A laugh escaped him.

"What about you?"

The expression on Tle's face answered before words could.

"Oh my god."

"You can't tell anyone."

"I don't even know your last name."

"Exactly."

The two of them dissolved into laughter, but neither missed the fact that neither had actually been joking.

⋆｡𖦹 °.🐚⋆❀˖°

When they arrived in Pranburi, Tle dropped the car off at the hotel where his parents were staying.

After sending a quick text to his mother, the two of them set off on foot toward a bike rental shop a few streets away.

The owner handed them a pair of bicycles that had clearly seen better days. Tle rang his bell experimentally; the bell promptly fell off. First nearly doubled over laughing.

"Good start."

"I think it's charming."

"I think it's a safety hazard."

Despite the questionable bikes, they spent the next hour riding through the town, stopping occasionally to look at shops or buy snacks from roadside vendors. Eventually, they came across a small fruit stand near the coast.

The elderly woman running it handed them fresh coconuts with practiced ease.

First drank nearly half of his in one go.

Tle looked horrified.

"Slow down."

"I'm thirsty."

"You're going to get brain freeze."

"It's coconut water."

"I don't know. It feels possible."

They continued riding until the road opened onto Khao Kalok Beach. The ocean stretched endlessly ahead of them, waves rolling gently onto the sand. Towering above one end of the beach stood the famous cliff formation.

Tle pointed immediately.

"Look."

First followed his gaze, the outline was unmistakable.

"It really does look like a skull."

"I know," Tle grinned, "Bark at it."

"What?"

"Bark at it."

First laughed.

"No."

"Come on."

"No."

"Bark at the skull."

Recognition flashed across First's face.

"Oh."

A grin spread across his lips.

"Barking at the skull, right?"

Tle stopped walking.

"You know that?"

"I saw a video about it."

Tle stared.

"I think that might be the coolest thing you've said all day."

First laughed.

The ocean breeze swallowed the sound as they continued down the beach, shoulders occasionally brushing together as they walked. Neither of them moved away, nor did either of them mention it. Yet somehow the silence between conversations had already started feeling as comfortable as the conversations themselves.

⋆｡𖦹 °.🐚⋆❀˖°

The morning of his eighteenth birthday began with his mother singing to him over breakfast.

First groaned dramatically as she placed a small candle into a cupcake, but the smile tugging at his lips betrayed him immediately. The day passed quietly after that, they spent the afternoon exploring Hua Hin together, wandering through markets and stopping wherever his mother wanted to browse. She bought him lunch, took far too many pictures, and repeatedly reminded him that he was “officially an adult now.”

The entire time, however, First found himself checking the clock. Not because he wanted the day to be over. Just because he knew someone was waiting for him when it was.

Tle had arrived in Hua Hin earlier that morning with his parents. Their family vacation was finally catching up with his impromptu escape. He spent most of the day with them, helping carry bags, sitting through meals, and answering questions from relatives who were still lingering after the wedding festivities.

Every so often, his phone buzzed with messages from family members. Every so often, his thoughts drifted somewhere else entirely. Towards a beach, towards a boy, and towards a conversation that hadn't quite ended yet.

When the sun finally began sinking toward the horizon, both of them found themselves heading toward the same stretch of shoreline. As if it had become second nature, as if there had never been any doubt.

⋆｡𖦹 °.🐚⋆❀˖°

The sky was painted in shades of pink and gold when First spotted Tle waiting near the water. He smiled before he could stop himself, Tle noticed immediately.

"There he is."

"There you are."

The grin that spread across Tle's face was warm enough to make First's stomach flip.

"Happy birthday."

First laughed.

"You remembered."

"Of course I remembered."

Tle looked mildly offended.

"You think I'd forget after hearing about it every five minutes yesterday?"

"I mentioned it twice."

"Seven times."

"You're exaggerating."

"Am I?"

Tle reached into the canvas bag resting beside him.

"I got you something."

"You didn't have to."

"I know."

He pulled out a small bottle wrapped in brown paper and held it out. First frowned in surprise.

"Strawberry wine?"

"Happy eighteenth."

First turned it over in his hands.

"I've actually never had wine before."

Tle's eyebrows lifted.

"No?"

First shook his head.

"I mean... I've had beer."

Tle looked at him with exaggerated suspicion.

"You?"

First rubbed the back of his neck.

"One time."

"In high school?"

"...Maybe."

Tle laughed.

"Look at you. Such a rebel."

"I wasn't trying to be rebellious."

"No?"

"My friend's older brother brought some to a bonfire."

"And?"

First grimaced.

"It was terrible."

"I knew it."

"It tasted... bitter."

"Bitter?" Tle asked.

"Like someone looked at bread and decided to make it disappointing."

Tle laughed so hard he had to look away.

"You stole my description."

"I've never even heard your description."

"Then great minds think alike."

He nodded toward the bottle.

"Fortunately, this should be a significant improvement."

He unscrewed the cap and took a small sip before handing it over.

First copied him, tasting it carefully.

His eyebrows rose.

"Oh."

"Oh good or oh bad?"

"Oh... good."

The wine was cool from being packed away, lightly sweet with just enough tartness to make him smile.

A smile spread across his face.

"It actually tastes like strawberries."

"I figured birthday wine should taste like something worth remembering."

The conversation flowed easily after that.

They wandered along the shoreline while the last traces of sunlight disappeared from the sky. They talked about their day, traded stories about embarrassing family members, and laughed over things that probably weren't as funny as they seemed. Eventually, they settled onto the sand near the water. The beach had grown quieter, most tourists had returned to their hotels, only the distant sound of waves remained.

They passed the bottle back and forth as they talked, never drinking much at a time, just enough to savor it. Neither of them was interested in getting drunk. It was less about the wine than about having something to share, another excuse to linger together while the sky faded into deep blue.

Above them, the stars slowly began appearing one by one. For a while neither of them spoke, the silence felt comfortable.

Then First broke it.

"You ever get scared?"

Tle glanced over.

"Depends."

"About the future."

The words came out softer than First intended, his gaze remained fixed on the ocean.

"I know everyone's excited about turning eighteen."

A laugh escaped him.

"But honestly?"

He picked at the sand beside him.

"I think I'm terrified."

The admission hung in the air between them.

Tle didn't interrupt, didn't try to fill the silence, so First continued.

"Everything feels like it's happening all at once."

He shook his head.

"College."

Moving, growing up. Making decisions that are supposed to affect the rest of my life."

The laugh that followed sounded hollow, "What if I mess it all up?"

The ocean rolled onto the shore and then retreated. For a long moment, Tle said nothing. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet.

"I think everyone feels like that."

First glanced toward him.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Tle smiled faintly.

"I certainly do."

"You seem like you've got everything figured out."

The laugh that escaped Tle was immediate.

"That's the funniest thing you've ever said."

First smiled.

"I'm serious."

"I'm not."

Tle leaned back against his hands.

"I have no idea what I'm doing."

The confession surprised First.

"You don't?"

"Nope."

"You hide it well."

"Occupational hazard."

"What occupation?"

"Professional pretender."

That earned a laugh.

The smile lingered on Tle's face for a moment before softening.

"You don't need to have everything figured out right now."

His gaze drifted toward the stars.

"I think people spend too much time worrying about where they'll end up."

A pause.

"You just have to keep moving."

The words settled somewhere deep inside First, for some reason, hearing them from Tle felt different, more believable. Maybe because Tle wasn't trying to impress him. Maybe because they barely knew each other. Or maybe because he'd never met someone who seemed so comfortable being honest.

Their shoulders brushed. Neither moved away. The conversation faded into another comfortable silence. Then, slowly, First felt something brush against his hand, and he glanced down. Tle's fingers rested beside his close enough to touch. The gesture felt almost like a question. First answered by shifting his hand slightly, their fingers intertwined. Neither acknowledged it; they simply sat there beneath the stars, holding hands while the waves rolled endlessly onto shore.

Eventually, Tle spoke.

"You know."

His thumb brushed lightly against First's knuckles.

"I'm not going to forget this trip."

First swallowed.

“Neither am I."

A small smile appeared on Tle's face, "I'm serious."

"I know."

Tle looked over at him.

"I don't think I've ever met someone quite like you."

Heat immediately rose to First's cheeks.

"That's a weird thing to say."

"It's true."

The smile widened.

"You stole my coconut yesterday."

"You offered it."

"You drank half of it."

"You weren't drinking it."

Tle laughed.

The sound faded as quickly as it appeared, his expression softened.

"And for the record..."

First waited.

"I meant what I said yesterday."

"About what?"

"The singing."

First immediately groaned.

"No."

"Yes."

"Tle."

"You have a good voice."

"I absolutely do not."

"You do."

The certainty in Tle's voice caught him off guard.

"If that's something you care about..."

He shrugged.

"You should do something with it."

First stared at him.

"Why?"

Tle smiled.

"Because people don't get that excited about something unless it matters."

The answer was simple, yet somehow it landed harder than anything else that evening. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the air between them felt different now. As if the world beyond the beach had disappeared completely.

Tle's gaze drifted to First's lips for the briefest moment before finding his eyes again. There was no rush in him, only quiet uncertainty wrapped in hope.

"Can I kiss you?"

The question was so soft that First almost wondered if he'd imagined it. His heart stumbled against his ribs, loud enough that he was sure Tle could hear it. For a second, all he could do was look at him, at the careful way Tle waited, never assuming, never closing the distance until he knew.

A smile slowly spread across First's face, small at first, then warmer.

"Yeah."

Relief flickered across Tle's expression, subtle but impossible to miss. He stepped closer, moving with deliberate slowness, giving First every chance to change his mind, he never did.

First met him halfway.

Their foreheads nearly brushed before their lips finally met. The kiss was tentative at first, light enough to ask another silent question: Is this okay? When First didn't pull away, that tiny hesitation melted into something warmer. It wasn't dramatic or overwhelming. It was simply soft, lingering for a heartbeat longer than either of them expected, as if they both wanted to remember exactly how it felt.

When they finally drew apart, First was still smiling.

Tle brushed his thumb lightly against First's hand.

"What?"

First looked at him for another second before saying,

"...You taste like strawberries."

Tle blinked, then smiled.

"So do you."

First laughed quietly.

"I guess that's what happens when two people spend an hour sharing strawberry wine."

"I suppose it does."

For reasons neither of them could explain, that made them both laugh again.

⋆｡𖦹 °.🐚⋆❀˖°

Later, Tle walked him back to the resort. The path was illuminated by scattered lights and moonlight reflecting off the water. Neither seemed eager for the walk to end, yet eventually they reached the entrance. The resort stood only a few steps away.

This was it, the ending.

Tle smiled softly.

"Happy birthday, First."

First swallowed.

"Thanks."

For a long moment, neither of them moved. Three days. It was ridiculous, First thought. Three days shouldn't be enough for saying goodbye to hurt this much. They'd only met because of a chance conversation. By all logic, Tle should've just been another stranger he'd crossed paths with. Instead, standing there now, First couldn't imagine walking away like none of it had mattered.

Tle shifted his weight before taking a slow step backward.

"I should get going."

First nodded automatically, his body agreed before his heart did. This was it. In a few minutes, they'd go their separate ways.They'd return to lives that had never been meant to overlap in the first place. Maybe this was simply one of those fleeting moments people looked back on years later and wondered what if?

The thought settled like a stone in his chest. Before he could convince himself to let Tle leave, his hand shot out and caught his wrist. Tle looked back, surprise flashing across his face. First's pulse pounded in his ears.

"Wait."

He wasn't even sure what he was asking him to wait for. He just knew he wasn't ready for goodbye. So he closed the distance and kissed him.

It was brief and uncertain, born more from instinct than courage. For a heartbeat, Tle froze in surprise. Then he smiled against the kiss and returned it just as gently.

When they finally pulled apart, they stayed close, neither quite ready to create the distance that goodbye demanded.

Tle's smile was small.

"...Still strawberries."

First blinked before a laugh escaped him.

"I was just thinking the same thing."

For a moment, neither of them looked away.

"I think," Tle murmured, "I'm going to remember that every time I drink strawberry wine."

First's smile softened.

"I hope I do too," he whispered, then let out a small, nervous laugh.

"I don't know what's going to happen after this."

He glanced down before meeting Tle's eyes again.

"We've only known each other for three days."

He laughed again, quieter this time, almost in disbelief.

"That's kind of crazy."

Tle smiled, but there was something wistful in it.

"Yeah."

First drew in a slow breath.

"But..."

His throat tightened.

"I'm really glad I met you."

Tle's smile softened into something that looked almost fragile.

"So am I."

It was amazing, First thought, how someone could feel familiar after only three days. And how saying goodbye to someone you'd only just met could still break your heart.

Tle's expression softened.

First smiled.

"I mean it."

His chest felt strangely tight.

"I think I'll be grateful for that for a very long time."

For a moment, neither looked away.

Then Tle squeezed his hand one last time.

And together, beneath the glow of the resort lights and the distant sound of the ocean, they said goodbye.