Archive of Our Own

February 12

Two days until Valentine's Day

It has almost been two months since Dan Heng and Ren officially got together. They kiss, hug, go on dates, cuddle to sleep — just like any other couple in their honeymoon phase. Dan Heng is still trying to get used to it, and he can tell Ren also thinks it's too good to be true. He's met with sparkling crimson eyes every morning, and whispers of 'I can't believe you're my boyfriend'. 

With all of this happening, it's hard to believe that they were once against each other in their childhood. Ren had been a pain in his ass from kindergarten to high school: he would make Dan Heng eat his leftovers and give him used items. He later found out that the other boy was just finding a lame excuse to give him presents by disguising them as things he no longer wanted, as well as ensuring Dan Heng recovered from his disordered eating habits.

And right now, Ren has been tremendously helpful as always, especially with finances. Dan Heng's parents were displeased with his failure to show up for Christmas, and had cut his allowance for the entire month. They have always been controlling and hard to communicate with, so he had just quietly accepted his punishment. That is, until his (extremely furious) boyfriend rang them up to teach them a lesson.

"Got your allowance back," he'd said casually after getting off the phone. "And a little bonus as an apology. I don't think they like me much, but they're scared alright."

Dan Heng had kissed him soundly on the mouth after that, and their relationship only grew sweeter with controlling parents out of the equation. But of course, there were still some minor setbacks along the way, like petty quarrels and disagreements, and now this:

"Your friends are so mean about my hair," his boyfriend complains to him on a random Sunday evening as they sit on Ren's bed together. "I wash and brush my hair just fine! It just sticks up like that, okay?! Geez…"

Dan Heng simply chuckles and ruffles Ren's hair, messing it up further. "Don't take their words to heart. It's just playful banter."

"I know, I know," the taller boy grumbles in return, shaking his head to try and get his hair to settle down. "But you should see how they treat me…!"

A week ago…

"Blade, I'm bored, let's brush our hair," March had said one day, when his hair was particularly tangled. 

Ren had insisted they call him Blade — though their pronunciation is quite perfect, to be honest — he likes the idea of Dan Heng being the only one to call him that in this new city.

"Yes, Blade, I am also bored," Sunday joined in. "Let us do hair masks together."

"You, Split Ends," Stelle grunted, hitting the Godfather pose on their armchair, "I'm going to make you an offer you cannot refuse. Leave our Dan Heng, and I'll get you a bottle of conditioner."

"Over my dead body! Okay, fine, I'll shave my head tomorrow so you all stop bothering me about it. Happy?"

"...Yeah, so that's what happened," Ren finishes with a long-suffering sigh. "As you can see, I did not shave my head. Your friends are such a handful, but I need their approval, or I'll never be able to marry you."

"You're thinking pretty far ahead," Dan Heng mutters with flushed cheeks.

"I know, and you're welcome. I told you I was serious, baobei. How many children should we-"

"-And that's enough from you," Dan Heng says quickly, clapping a hand over Ren's mouth with practised ease. "Didn't you say you were going to study this evening?" he adds with a pointed stare. "I don't see that happening, and we've already had dinner. I know how sleepy you get after meals."

"One kiss from you and I'll study," Ren grins mischievously. "How about it?"

"Look, I'm not responsible for your grades- Hey!" Dan Heng exclaims when Ren suddenly bites his cheek. 

Okay, that was on him; he should have seen it coming. Staying over at Ren's penthouse for the weekend meant getting surprise attacks on his face and neck, and sometimes even… Dan Heng's cheeks turn pinker at the thought. It's even more embarrassing when Kafka, Ren's friend and housemate, is around. He would never admit to his boyfriend that he secretly likes these 'surprises', though.

The boyfriend in question is diligently studying (thankfully), seemingly satisfied with the quick nibble he got from Dan Heng's cheek. They have exams in two weeks, but Ren barely seems bothered by it, always waving his boyfriend's protests aside and insisting he'll be fine.

"I know you're smart," Dan Heng begins, slightly peeved, when he notices Ren is back to using his phone instead of studying. "But you should still get some revision done."

"Yeah, I'm already doing that, aren't I? Just five more minutes…" Ren complains, swinging around on the swivel chair.  "I have a ton of videos to watch. March added me to a group chat recently…"

Dan Heng lets out a frustrated sigh: he isn't usually bothered by Ren's procrastination habits, but tonight just feels a little different. Visions of Ren failing and being unable to enter the second year of university with him flash into his mind, and he can't help but feel his anxiety spike.

A tiny part of his brain nags him to stop before they end up blowing this out of proportion, but- "You can watch those videos later. Now, you should-"

"Well, I don't see you studying much, either," Ren half-jokes, offering a smile to lighten the mood. "Relax! It's just our first year."

His nonchalant response only incenses Dan Heng — can he just take this seriously for once?! "But…!" he continues angrily, the dreadful thought still running through his mind. "What if you fail and I…"

Ren sets down his phone and turns around, an incredulous expression on his face. "You think I'd fail, Dan Heng? I've never gotten anything below first-class even when I sleep during the whole lecture!"

Dan Heng notices that his boyfriend looks genuinely shocked at that, which is only adding fuel to the fire. "Well, maybe you should fail once and learn a lesson," he says, his tone final. "I think it'd do your ego a whole lot of good, too."

He says that with his gaze directed to the ground, and he's met with silence. When Dan Heng looks up again, he almost wishes he could take those words back.

in their fifteen years of knowing each other, he'd never seen Ren look this hurt. His boyfriend's mouth is slightly agape, and it seems like he's trying to come up with a snarky retort like always, but nothing comes out. He's blinking slowly, like he wants to believe he had misheard.

It's not even that bad, Dan Heng thinks stubbornly. I just said he deserved to learn a lesson…

They remain silent for a few seconds: Ren is still staring at him with the same blank expression as if silently goading him to say something, and Dan Heng is unable to bear the tension. "I'm going out," he mutters, taking his coat from the rack and slinging it over his shoulder.

'Wait, don't- Don't go. If you don't want to see me, I'll leave instead," Ren finally says, standing up hurriedly and trying to snatch Dan Heng's coat from his arms. "It's not safe at night."

"I said I'm leaving," Dan Heng snaps back, taking back his coat. "I'm not stupid, I'll be alright."

"...Fine. Do whatever you want."

Dan Heng closes the door behind him, and hears a defeated sigh from the other end. 

———

The snow isn't as thick as it was two months ago, but there are still light snowflakes when he walks out from the block. He shoves his hands into the pockets of his coat, and even the simple gesture reminds him of Ren. He shakes his head, trying to concentrate on something else instead. He catches a snowflake in his palm, observing it as he walks.

Dan Heng remembers the time he ran away from home when he was thirteen. Due to issues with his social life, he had been too stressed to eat or study, and got terrible grades in the mid-term test. Clearly, he couldn't show his parents such a score, could he? So, he shredded the papers and packed his things, running off to hide at the playground clad only in a thin sweater and shorts.

He'd gotten a dreadful scolding for it, which makes him shiver even now. Would Ren do the same to him when he gets back? Surely not, right…? He shakes his head quickly and continues walking.

That's when he sees a flower stand beside the bookstore, standing out among the serious shop lots with its cheerful appearance. There are various kinds of blooms displayed: lilies, tulips and roses, to name a few. The roses catch Dan Heng's attention, and he notices that they are arranged by colour in tin buckets. 

An old lady behind the stall beams at him, noticing him staring. He awkwardly waves back and nods at the flowers with a shy smile. "Hi, Granny. These flowers are beautiful."

"Why, thank you, young man. I see that you've looked at the roses longer than the others. Do you have a Valentine yet?" she asks excitedly, adjusting her spectacles to get a better look at him. 

He shrugs, thinking of the quarrel he'd just had with Ren — would he still ask Dan Heng to be his Valentine? "I don't know yet. Just looking around, if that's fine."

"Of course! Feel free to!"

So Dan Heng examines the roses in greater detail: there aren't many left though, which makes him feel relief instead of disappointment: that would mean the nice old lady has had good business today. "I suppose you've sold quite a few roses today?"

"Indeed, I have," she smiles back. "After all, Valentines' Day is just around the corner, and young men like you are always flocking over to buy them for their partners."

Dan Heng doesn't know if he would come to regret this, but he fishes out his wallet and picks out a beautiful red rose. "I'll have this one."

He supposes he'll have to keep it a secret, and wait until the time is right. But the remorse from snapping at Ren earlier is starting to kick in, so perhaps he could give it to him later as an apology. 

As he walks back, he checks his phone for the time: 11:17 P.M. He should really return now, or Ren will definitely get angry… He shudders at the implication of what awaits him at home — his mother had never been very forgiving about his curfew. 

But Dan Heng forces himself to remember that he lives with Ren now. His grip on the rose tightens as he carefully stuffs it in his bag, silently praying that this will make things right.

———

The night is cold, but he's sweating as he takes the elevator up to the 31st floor. His hands shake as he undoes his boots, already apprehending the huge fight that will surely follow.

To his surprise, the door opens before he could turn the key, and Ren stands there, sweating and disheveled like he just ran a marathon.

He hugs him tightly — strong arms almost crushing Dan Heng's smaller frame — only pulling away to give him a once-over, making sure he's well, it's all right, he's actually here. 

"Oh, thank goodness you're alright!" he exclaims, squeezing Dan Heng against his chest. "You scared me…! I went outside to look for you, but I couldn't see you anywhere…"

Ren looks as if he wants to add something behind that, but stops and shakes his head. "It's dangerous outside."

"I'm sorry, Ren…" Now he feels awful for troubling his boyfriend, and thinks of the rose in his bag.

"You left your phone here. I couldn't reach you, and I…" A helpless sound escapes him, and he hides his face from view. "Baobei…"

A wave of regret washes over him as Dan Heng hears his voice break. "...I'm here now, don't worry."

"Please don't leave me. You can't… you're my soulmate…"

The words that follow are mumbled and incoherent, and Dan Heng doesn't understand half of it, but embraces him anyway. 

—⋆♡⸝⸝💌⊹˖➴⋆—

February 13

One day until Valentine's Day

Ren drives them to campus as usual, but the car is silent this time, save for the radio music playing in the background. In fact, the whole morning has been pretty quiet altogether — Dan Heng's usually chatty boyfriend barely said anything to him over breakfast. 

He hates to say it, he really does, but it reminds him of his father's silent treatment. He isn't sure if Ren is giving him the cold shoulder on purpose, or if it was because of something else. After all, weren't things resolved last night?

But Dan Heng is aware it's his first time in a relationship, and he's greatly unsure of how things work in one. Not that Ren is any more experienced, since they were each other's firsts, but maybe he isn't doing it intentionally. It could easily be resolved by asking him about it directly, right? His boyfriend is walking a few steps behind him, it'll be easy to just turn around and work this out…

…which he was about to do, until there's a sudden tap on his shoulder. He turns around, expecting it to be Ren, only to be greeted by a cheerful pink-haired girl.

"Oh, hey March." He hasn't seen his friends for two whole days, since he sleeps over at Ren's place during the weekends. March 7th and Stelle were his best friends, and the latter comes into view, wearing her favourite raccoon hat.

"And there you are, Stelle. Where's Sunday?" Strange. His roommate would usually be with the two girls, but since he's moving back into their shared apartment today, Dan Heng would see him later anyway.

"Oh, he's at the Valentine's Day fair. We were just about to go too! Wanna come, since you're alone?" March offers with her usual toothy grin.

When she says 'alone', Dan Heng stills and looks behind him — sure enough, Ren has disappeared.

Stelle seems to notice his bewildered expression, and cranes her neck to around as well. "What's the matter? Was Blade with you?"

"Well… yes. Maybe something urgent came up," he adds quickly, trying to convince himself more than them. The girls nod in understanding, then continue to talk about the Valentine's fair, located in one of the event halls.

Dan Heng lets them drag him there, but even though Stelle's firm hand is on his shoulder and March's softer hand on his arm, he feels lost without Ren. Where could he have gone without informing him first?

You asked me not to leave you, and yet here you are, leaving me alone instead…

That thought only prompts more terrible scenarios to start flashing in his head, each one worse than the last… It's so bad that the ground is shaking. Did all that really cause an earthquake?

"...Dan Heng? Hello??"

Oh, it's just Stelle shaking him. Her grip truly is strong, he thinks as he's jolted back to reality.

He blinks twice and realises they're at the huge event hall, which he rarely visits because of the crowds. As expected, the swarm of people is bigger than usual today, with all the ongoing festivities. Socially awkward Dan Heng is convinced he could drown here…

There are students selling bouquets of flowers, which reminds him of the rose he'd gotten last night. Thankfully, he had remembered to take it out from his bag last night and leave it in a makeshift vase (a glass jar used for pasta sauce).

"Look, Dan Heng! They're playing 'stick the arrow in the hearts'!" March exclaims excitedly, pointing to a particularly rowdy booth, where someone is wobbling around blindfolded with a plastic bow-and-arrow.

"That's kind of gruesome," he replies half-heartedly, still scanning the crowd for any signs of Ren. He instantly zeroes in on a dark blue head in the corner, next to a shelf of teddy bears. 

Dan Heng notices that his friends are distracted by some chocolate-sampling thing, so he goes off to look for his missing partner. Upon closer inspection, he realises that Ren is with Kafka… again.

He knows that they're just close friends, but he can't help but feel a little upset about it, especially in these circumstances. Well, maybe he's overthinking it; they've always been this close, after all. 

Ren seems to be manhandling the teddy bears, squashing their poor ears and face, while Kafka laughs at him. Dan Heng sees his boyfriend whisper into the young lady's ear while glancing around warily. What could he possibly be hiding? 

Just as he was about to approach them and demand to know what that was about, he hears March's panicked squeal. "Sunday! Stop eating that!"

Dan Heng turns around to see his infamously lactose intolerant roommate holding three mozzarella sticks with a guilty expression, wings covering his eyes as if that would help matters. "...My apologies. It seems that I got carried away."

"That's an understatement, Sunny," Stelle groans, confiscating the cheesy appetisers from him and eating them herself. "Ah, Dan Heng's here. Give him a proper scolding, please-"

"-Isn't that Blade?" Sunday quickly interjects, pointing behind him. Dan Heng immediately spins his head around, and when he doesn't see Ren, he raises a brow and turns back.

"Sunday, you can't keep getting away with this…" he mutters to himself after realising his roommate has disappeared. Stelle and March will have to find and deal with him — Dan Heng has more pressing matters to attend to, like finding his boyfriend and insisting upon an explanation.

At long last, he sees Ren again, and pushes past the mob to get to him. It feels like forever, even though he knows it has barely been half an hour since they were last together. 

Dan Heng lets out a sigh of relief when he finally catches up to Ren and Kafka. "There you are, I couldn't find you-"

"-What are you doing here?"

Ren's sharp whisper catches him off guard, and he looks behind him, because his boyfriend must've gotten the wrong person, surely…

He only turns around when he hears some loud rustling, and sees Kafka rummaging around in her bag. "...That's all. See you, Bladie."

Ren waves goodbye to her, and finally turns his attention back to him. "Dan Heng… I didn't expect you to be here too," Ren continues, his tone noticeably softer. "Sorry, my love. I was looking for someone."

"Who, Kafka?" Dan Heng asks tiredly, already feeling a headache coming up. "Or someone else?"

"No, not her. They're… a friend of Kafka's, that's all," Ren explains with a sheepish smile. "It's a long story, okay? I have to go in a minute-ish."

Dan Heng doesn't press the matter, and does not comment when Ren lets out a not-so-subtle sigh of relief at that, although he really wants to. Soon, Ren is out of the event hall to meet this elusive friend of Kafka's, so Dan Heng goes to a DIY bracelet-making station to sit down.

There's a cheerful girl behind the counter who offers him an array of charms: he had only gone there to sit, but soon he's paying for the materials and threading charms onto the bracelet. Things may not be going too smoothly with Ren right now, but it doesn't mean he can't get him a gift — after all, his boyfriend has always been paying for their meals and dates.

Dan Heng chooses red, black, blue, and a few other dark colours. They match Ren's hair and clothes, so he hopes he likes it. He had seemed pretty fond of the handmade blue-and-red beanie Dan Heng gave him for Christmas, but he isn't sure if his boyfriend was just being nice about it. He isn't sure of a lot of things at the moment, to be honest.

Come to think of it, he doesn't know Ren's favourite colour, despite knowing him since they were five. Dan Heng knows what video games he likes to play, how he likes to cook his rice, where he likes to be bitten… Ahem. Dan Heng continues working in silence.

The bracelet takes him about five minutes to complete, and the girl manning the stall gives him a bright red box to store it in. When Ren suddenly appears back in the hall, Dan Heng hurriedly stuffs the box in his bag before going over to him, a serious look in his eyes as he braces himself for the talk they're inevitably having. 

"Hey," Ren says softly, taking Dan Heng's hands in his as soon as they meet. "Hey, sweetheart. Give me a little smile."

Dan Heng forces a grin as Ren guides him to a nearby seat and sits beside him, but it comes out looking more like a grimace. Ren frowns and shakes his head. "That's not a real smile. Still mad?"

Well, he doesn't have anything to gain from lying. Dan Heng gives him a shallow nod, his lips pressed together in a thin, stubborn line. 

"I'm sorry for upsetting you last night," Ren winces, rubbing Dan Heng's together to warm them up. "Truly, I am. Do you feel better now?"

"Maybe if you hadn't left me alone this morning, I would," he mutters under his breath, and looks away, not wanting to meet Ren's gaze at the moment.

"What…? I didn't catch all of that."

That sends a sudden chill down his spine, as he remembers how badly his parents punished him for sulking and throwing tantrums.

You ungrateful, bad-mannered brat, I can't believe I raised you to be like this. Why are you angry when it was your fault in the first place?! Come out of your room now, before I call your father!

"Nothing," Dan Heng lies.

"You can tell me the truth, you know," Ren assures him, nudging his shoulder gently. "If you're sad, I'll be sad, too."

"...You were really quiet this morning," Dan Heng finally admits, now feeling a little stupid — perhaps Ren hadn't even been aware of it. "I thought I had seriously angered you, or worse, hurt you."

Ren sighs and covers the bottom half of his face with his hands. He doesn't look angry or hurt, thankfully; instead, he seems to be in deep thought as he mulls over Dan Heng's words.

"I didn't want to say something wrong by accident and make things worse between us," he confesses, his voice oddly quiet and tinged with remorse. "I don't want to drive you away again. I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong idea, baobei."

"You didn't," Dan Heng lies. Again. He's starting to feel terrible about it, so it comes as a relief when Ren gives him a don't-lie-to-me look.

"...Alright, fine. I guess I took it a little personally. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise," Ren assures him, squeezing his thigh through the jeans he's wearing. They stay like that for a while, and Dan Heng finally lets out a sigh of relief, resting his head on his boyfriend's shoulder. 

The peaceful silence is broken by the familiar clacking sound of Kafka's high-heeled boots. "Bladie, over here," she calls, and Ren sits up immediately, grabbing his bag.

"Sorry, love, gotta go again," he says hurriedly, giving Dan Heng's hand one last squeeze before dashing off. "I'll explain tomorrow!" he calls back, before quickly leaving the hall once more. 

Dan Heng lets out a soft sigh: at least he knows Ren isn't mad at him, which is good. But his boyfriend's furtive actions make him very, very suspicious.

———

Dan Heng sits through his lectures as usual, but the thought of Ren crosses his mind every now and then. He firmly pushes it down, telling himself it's none of his business and Ren will tell him whenever he's ready, which is what had happened last Christmas. After all, he trusts Ren more than anything.

He meets up with his three friends at the cafeteria after his last class. Stelle opens a box of chocolates, which they eat together while preventing Sunday from taking the milk ones. It's a group effort, as the Halovian boy proves to be surprisingly nimble. 

"So, Dan Heng, did you do anything for Blade?" March asks, nudging him teasingly. "You must be busy!"

"Well… I have a rose and a handmade bracelet. I don't know what else to do," he confesses with a sigh. "Maybe some chocolate, too," he adds after taking a bite from a piece of milk chocolate, trying to ignore the way Sunday is eyeing it.

"Maybe some of his favourite food will do," Stelle suggests. "I mean, I would love that as a Valentine's gift. Or a whole trash can, that would be freaking awesome."

"You could serenade him with a song, or play something on the piano. We can have a duet," Sunday proposes. Dan Heng shakes his head.

"I haven't practised in ages," he says, trying to recall the last time he'd played anything on the piano. He was sent for lessons once a week when he was little, but he's definitely rusty now.

"Anyway, I don't know if he plans to do anything. It's our first Valentine's Day together — for all I know, he doesn't intend to celebrate it."

Dan Heng hesitates, then decides to tell his friends about Ren's 'shady' behaviour today. 

"Kafka, you say?" Stelle muses, tapping her chin. "Well, they're housemates, aren't they? Maybe it's something to do with refurbishings or whatnot."

"It probably is," March agrees. "And since they're good friends, I'd imagine they have a whole lot to talk about, like us!"

"But honestly, Dan Heng, I've never seen Blade so nice and sweet with anyone else here," Stelle comments knowingly. "I've heard he can be pretty scary. But when he's with you, it's like he becomes some sort of puppy."

Dan Heng tries to ignore the adorable mental image that sentence gives him. "He's on good terms with you guys, too," he points out. 

"Yeah, because we're your friends," March beams. "It's clear he loves you more than anything. Oh, this is straight out of a romance drama! How cute!"

"So, Blade's like the cold, domineering CEO who doesn't care for anybody else, huh?" Stelle smirks, and March quickly joins in.

"Oooh, yeah~ and then Dan Heng is the only one he has a soft spot for, and the two of them are constantly meeting outside office hours-"

"-Okay, please stop right there," he implores, burying his face in his hands. The girls laugh at his reaction.

"Well, our point is that Blade loves you very, very much. You have nothing to worry about," March reassures him. "He's probably planning a- Mmmph!"

Stelle hastily claps a hand over March's mouth, muffling the other girl's words. "Ignore that! You never know, maybe he really doesn't celebrate such days-"

Stelle is cut off by a loud cough: Sunday had silenced her by stuffing a napkin in her mouth. "What the…?"

"Hehe, thanks, Sunny!" March giggles, giving him a thumbs-up. Sunday salutes her with a poker face, and Stelle tosses the dirty napkin in his face as retribution.

"Blade is a good person. I am positive wouldn't do anything like what you're imagining," Sunday says gently. "Admittedly, his outward appearance deterred me at first, and I formed some rather biased opinions on him…"

Ah, so Dan Heng was right to assume that his roommate used to be wary of Ren's tattoos and muscles. When Sunday had come back from his hometown after New Year's and saw Ren in their living room wearing a sleeveless tank top, the Halovian nearly passed out on the carpet. 

"But then we started having weekly ice-cream nights," Sunday continues with a rare, genuinely cheerful smile. "You have a wonderful partner, Dan Heng."

Stelle and March exchange alarmed glances at the mention of ice cream, while Dan Heng lets out a weary sigh. "...That's not exactly a good thing."

"Do not fret, my friends. We always get the lactose-free ones. Sometimes, I even put up with the low-calorie pints Blade likes."

Whew, that's a relief. Dan Heng still remembers the one time Sunday ran out of toilet paper rolls, so they had to borrow one from the girls in the middle of the night.

At least his suspicions are cleared. Not entirely, but for the most part — whatever it is that Ren is hiding, it can't be too bad. 

———

They're on their way back home, which isn't too far away, but Dan Heng likes it when Ren stops by the gas station, sometimes to actually refill his tank, but most times to get ice creams. This time, he's diligently working the gasoline pump after reminding Dan Heng not to use his phone in the car. Ren gets him a vanilla soft serve after he's done, much to his quiet delight.

They don't talk much as he eats his ice cream, but Ren seems to have recalled what Dan Heng had told him earlier today, so he asks his boyfriend about his day with a smile. 

"It was alright," Dan Heng replies, choosing not to tell him about the discussion at the cafeteria. "By the way, I have to move back to my apartment tonight, right?"

Even though he only stays with Ren for the weekends, he misses his little apartment on the fifteenth floor. It's not that he doesn't like the penthouse, far from it, but he feels a deep affection for the place he'd first moved into, alone and away from his parents for the first time in his life.

"Yeah. I'll help you move," Ren offers as always, although Dan Heng usually only brings his toothbrush and some clothes. "Actually, sweetheart… I have a request."

"Hmm?" He lets out a curious hum, his mouth full of wafer biscuit and ice cream.

They stop at a red light — the last one before they reach home. Ren turns to him, drumming his fingers on the wheel nervously. "Do you mind coming to my place tomorrow, first thing in the morning?"

"You expect me to wake up early on a Saturday?" Dan Heng says, rather surprised. While he usually rises at about eight, he appreciates the extra hours of sleep he can get on the weekends. "We'll see."

"It doesn't have to be early," Ren adds hastily. "Just… right after you wake up, wear something nice, and come to me."

The shy gaze on his boyfriend's face makes Dan Heng smile, though he is a little bewildered by the strange request. "Sure. See you tomorrow morning."

"I still have to help you bring your stuff downstairs," Ren reminds him as they get down the car. "And I'll be expecting a goodbye kiss after that."

"Seriously…" Dan Heng sighs, but he laughs right after, and Ren keeps his arm around him as they walk inside the apartment complex. Everything seems to be fine, after all.

He eats reheated pizza with Sunday as they watch some cartoons, talking and laughing. It comes as a surprise, since Dan Heng's roommate has always been more calm and serious. However, it seems that hanging out with Stelle and March has loosened him up a little. 

"Have you sorted things out with Blade?" Sunday asks casually, turning down the volume of the TV.

"I didn't bring it up," Dan Heng admits, and tells him about the car ride. Sunday listens intently, especially at the ice cream cone part. "Aaah, I'd like one too…"

Dan Heng pointedly ignores that. "But you had a point just now. I should trust him, shouldn't I?"

"Ultimately, it is your choice. However, I can't think of any negative things he'd hide from you. I suppose it's normal for everyone to have their own secrets, and Blade is no exception."

"Me neither… Yeah, you're right." Dan Heng may not be someone with a ton of skeletons in his closet, but there are plenty of things he hasn't confided in Ren about. Perhaps it's the same on his end: after all, he hadn't really known the extent of Ren's feelings for him up until last December.

There are still a lot of things they have yet to learn about each other, and that's okay, Dan Heng suddenly realises. He doesn't need to know everything about Ren, not right now at least. That can come one at a time. They can discuss it tomorrow, or the day after — maybe even next year. 

"You're right, Sunday," Dan Heng says, his mind still whirling from all the thoughts. "...Hey, is that cheese on your pizza?"

"No," his roommate quickly says, and stuffs the rest of the pizza in his mouth. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Dan Heng lets out another long-suffering sigh, and Sunday just covers his eyes with his wings in response.

Later, when Sunday is in the bathroom fighting for his life, Dan Heng tucks himself into bed. He's having an early night after remembering Ren's words: he'd even set an alarm for seven-thirty sharp, despite it being a Saturday tomorrow.

He checks his phone before going to sleep, and just as he's about to put it down, three texts come in: 

Ren ♥️: Missing you

Ren ♥️: Don't forget about tomorrow

Ren ♥️: Sent a sticker.

Dan Heng smiles at the messages, especially at the sticker Ren had sent. It's a cat with its tongue out, and he responds with a sticker of his own before switching the lights off. Sunday can use his phone to navigate through the darkness if needed, surely.

Or so he thought, until an anguished cry snaps him out of his half-asleep state. "My ankle…!" It seems that Sunday had forgotten about the flashlight function.

Dan Heng opens one eye and laughs quietly into the pillow as he sees his roommate hop around on one foot, before finally falling asleep.

—⋆♡⸝⸝💌⊹˖➴⋆—

February 14

Valentine's Day

Dan Heng wakes up at 7:25 A.M, five minutes before his alarm rings, and he's ready by eight. He had set his clothes aside the previous night: a black-and-teal shirt with maple leaves embroidered on the side over a simple white tee. The weather is quite cold today, so he opts for a pair of thermal leggings under a pair of cargo shorts. Though he knows how much Ren likes his bare legs, he has to prioritise his comfort today.

He brings along the bracelet he'd made at the crafts station yesterday, and pastes little heart stickers on the box. It's childish, and he feels like a child again, except he never got to feel this level of excitement when he was younger.

As a final touch, Dan Heng carefully slots the rose he'd been diligently growing into the side pocket of his bag, hoping it won't get squashed. He even sprays a little cologne from the bottle Sunday had gifted him as a souvenir upon his return. 08:25, his phone reads. He should leave now.

Sunday's knowing smile when he sees him all dressed-up and ready to go is dangerously close to Stelle's usual smirk. Those girls are really rubbing off on him… 

"Have fun, Dan Heng!" his roommate suddenly says, embracing him excitedly. Okay, that was a very March thing to do. "Oh, you're wearing the cologne I gave you!" 

"Thanks. And yeah," Dan Heng replies, patting him on the back. "Any plans?"

Sunday casts a furtive glance towards the refrigerator. "...Not really. You go ahead and have fun with Blade."

"Okay, see you. And please lay off the ice cream."

Dan Heng is a jittery mess in the elevator, and soon he's in front of the familiar door he sees every weekend. He takes off his shoes and puts them beside Ren's boots, then knocks on the door with a sweaty hand: once, twice, and it swings open.

"Surprise!" Ren exclaims loudly, and two party poppers go off. Pink and white confetti rain down from the high ceiling onto his head. Dan Heng flinches at the sudden loud noise, taking a step back before processing his surroundings.

"Oh, fuck, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you," Ren says in alarm, dropping the party poppers and hugging him tightly. "Feel better now?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just wasn't what I expected," he clarifies breathlessly, and lets out a relieved laugh. "So that's why you were acting all sneaky…!"

"Cat's out of the bag," he shrugs in response, before turning to Kafka — Dan Heng hadn't noticed her until now. "Speaking of cats…"

That's when he notices the whole thing is being recorded on a phone stand, which makes him a little flustered, but he doesn't mind. Kafka and Ren retreat to the kitchen, where there are some hushed whispers.

Suddenly, five fluffy cats appear before him, obediently donning paper crowns. They sit in an orderly row, as if trained to do so. There are even bows on their tails!

"Will… you… be my Valentine?" Dan Heng reads slowly from each of the crowns, before the sentence sinks in. He looks up to see Ren with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. They're white and teal roses, matching his outfit perfectly, with some sprigs of baby's breath in between them.

"Oh my God, Ren. No way."

His boyfriend is still anxiously watching him for any signs of discomfort, and when Dan Heng's face breaks into a gleeful smile, he visibly relaxes.

"Yes way, baobei. Do you like it? I brainstormed for weeks to come up with this little surprise."

"Of course, I like it," Dan Heng beams, leaning up to kiss both of his cheeks before taking the bouquet from him. "Yes, I will be your Valentine. This is adorable."

Ren blushes at the sudden pecks, and kisses his nose in return. "Aww, I'm glad you like it. I was so afraid you wouldn't, it kept me up all night."

"No, I do! Thank you so much. I thought you would've forgotten, or maybe you just didn't think of celebrating in the first place," Dan Heng admits sheepishly, remembering Stelle's words. He hugs the roses a little tighter, feeling like the luckiest person alive.

"While it is true that this is my first time doing anything for Valentine's, it's also my first ever relationship. And my only," Ren adds with a bashful grin, squeezing Dan Heng's waist. "Any further questions before we head off for today? Hit me."

"Just one. Where did all these cats come from?" he asks, amazed at how well-trained they are. The cats haven't moved an inch since they came in from the kitchen. 

"Well, the black one at the end of the row is Elio, Kafka's cat," Ren explains, and sure enough, the black kitten with the 'Valentine' crown is instantly scooped up by his mistress after the photos are taken. "And the other four belong to Ruan Mei, Kafka's friend. She was the person I went to meet yesterday, to discuss this plan with her."

That explains a lot of things, and it's like a weight is lifted off his chest — though it wasn't so heavy to begin with. Dan Heng could laugh for joy, and he does. Ren smiles and ruffles his hair, one hand still on his waist. "Are you ready to go?"

"I have another question, actually," Dan Heng says, momentarily setting down the bouquet to take the single rose and bracelet out of his bag. "It's not a lot, but… will you be my Valentine?"

He blinks nervously up at his boyfriend, who seems to be in a trance right now. Ren blinks back at him and takes the gifts with an awed expression, before letting out a disbelieving exhale. "This is…"

Ren begins to laugh, and holds up the rose and bracelet box to the camera. "Look, I'm Dan Heng's valentine! I've won in life!! Do you hear that? I'm Dan Heng's valentine!!"

It's his turn to laugh, seeing how elated Ren is at such simple gifts. His partner strokes the rose petals tenderly, and kisses the top of his head. "You are such a blessing. I love you so, so much."

———

Ren takes him to a pottery studio, much to his surprise. Dan Heng has always liked handicrafts, so he's quite excited to try this out. An old man gives them a piece of clay each, and shows them how to mold it into different shapes with their hands while the pottery wheel spins.

"Yikes, this is tough," Ren mutters as he pinches at the clay to the best of his ability. "My thingy looks like a pear."

"Mine too," Dan Heng replies, trying to make his clay piece look more decent to no avail. They end up needing loads of help from the old man, who clearly finds their efforts amusing. 

"To think I wanted to be a blacksmith when I was little! Five-year-old me would be so disappointed if he could see what I just made," Ren mutters as he finally finishes making his bowl. 

Dan Heng looks up from his own bowl at that: this information is new to him. "Really? I wanted to be a doctor when I was little, because my mother said they made the most money."

"Yeah, that's the classic, huh? Grandpa said I should be a lawyer, since I was so quick to talk back to him," Ren remembers with a snort. "But after messing around with modelling clay and making swords out of it, I was so convinced I'd grow up to be a blacksmith. Maybe in another life…"

They continue talking about their past aspirations as children, and it brings back some of their kindergarten memories together. 

"Hey, do you remember that time our class went to the zoo, and we saw the tigers? Probably the only time I actually enjoyed class," Ren remarks. "I only went to school to see you."

"That's so cheesy," Dan Heng cringes, though his face turns pink. "I was desperately trying to make the teacher change my seat so you wouldn't keep using my crayons."

"Hey now!" Ren exclaims, placing both hands on his heart. "Is that why she kept telling me not to bully you? And you didn't say anything about the crayons…!"

"Well, perhaps I was too shy. I didn't mind it too much, though. It was mainly because you kept talking to me during class or trying to sneak me snacks under the table."

"...A lot of things the teachers used to tell me suddenly make sense now."

When the bowls are out of the kiln and they get the chance to paint it, Dan Heng does little white dragons along his bowl, which actually turned out way better than he had expected. Ren paints little cats and writes 'I ♡ Dan Heng' in green on his.

They have lunch at a nearby cafe, which is a luxury Dan Heng rarely gets — the prices are usually pretty steep, and Dan Heng has to budget for utility bills and rent. So Ren had offered to pay, which made him feel a little bad, but his boyfriend had insisted it was alright. 

"After all, Grandpa gave me a huge red packet for finally getting a partner, so I gotta thank you properly!" Ren had said with a grin. 

Dan Heng orders a shrimp pasta, since he hasn't had shrimp (or pasta) in weeks despite having a wealthy roommate; Sunday always spends his allowance on desserts and dairy products, which really makes Dan Heng question why his family continues giving him huge amounts of cash just for him to suffer on the toilet. 

"What are you thinking about?" Ren asks, squeezing his hand after they've submitted their orders. 

"Nothing much. Just… thank you for bringing me here," Dan Heng smiles. 

"Aww, don't mention it," Ren murmurs, and he's obviously blushing now. "It's what I should be doing. I don't want you to feel guilty about anything today, okay?"

Ren's chicken burger comes first, and he gives Dan Heng the fries that come with it. They've always been sharing food like this, even when they weren't on good terms back then. He still remembers when Ren had pretended he didn't like certain foods just to make him eat them when he was intent on starving himself. That feels like ages ago, but only five years have passed since then…

He notices Ren secretly snapping pictures of him eating, but doesn't comment on it. Instead, he holds up a peace sign and goes back to eating. 

The pasta is too rich for his taste, so Ren ends up eating a good portion. He's still getting accustomed to eating creamy foods, as they have always been a fear food of his, but he's determined to try them one at a time. That doesn't go unnoticed by Ren, who ruffles his hair proudly and gives him a thumbs-up. He couldn't care less about calories, Dan Heng thinks, or anything else for that matter, when his darling is right there with him.

The couple spends the rest of the afternoon walking around the area and taking photos at scenic spots while laughing. Ren makes Dan Heng pose with his new bouquet, commenting on how it coincidentally matches his outfit, while he's more than happy to show off his rose and bracelet — it hasn't left his wrist ever since he first put it on, and the flower is tucked in the pocket of his dress shirt. They kiss below a weeping willow, smiling against each other's lips as the rest of the world is forgotten; in that moment of time, they are the only ones who exist, the only ones who matter.

———

Dinner is the simplest part of their day, perhaps because they're tired out by now. They're finally home, and Ren gets to cooking immediately, urging Dan Heng to sit and rest. There are the classic stir-fry dishes he likes to make, accompanied with steaming white rice. The only difference is that he had somehow found a candelabra and placed it in the middle of the dining table.

"Where did this come from?" Dan Heng asks, eyeing the new addition to the table. "It's cute."

"...Kafka's secret stash," Ren confesses with a wry smile. "Don't tell her."

Kafka's staying with a friend tonight — Ren does air quotation marks around the word 'friend' — so she isn't around, but her cat is. Elio's tail brushes against Dan Heng's leg as he walks gracefully around the table like he owned the place.

"Doing a quality check, huh?" Ren mutters as Elio tries to jump on the dining table. "Hands off. I've already fed you, and Kafka says you're getting plump."

Dan Heng chuckles at that, and tickles Elio's chin. "He's got beautiful eyes, and is very obedient. Maybe we should get a cat of our own someday."

"Oh, I don't know about that. Living with Elio makes me a little less fond of those critters. He bites me if I feed him late," Ren deadpans, giving the feline culprit an unimpressed look. "And now he's glaring at me. I swear, it's like he's my boss in another lifetime." 

After dinner, Dan Heng is resting on Ren's lap as they sit on the couch. They're gazing out of the tall glass windows together, watching as the sky turns into beautiful shades of orange and pink.

"Dan Heng, did you know? I truly believe that I fall more in love with you every day," Ren suddenly says, giving his temple a light kiss. 

"Even when we fight?" Dan Heng replies quizzically, wondering what there is to love about him during those times. "Like, for the past two days..."

"Yes, of course, especially when we fight, actually. The more I learn about you, the more I love you."

That's new to him. Who would love an angry partner? Dan Heng remembers the countless times his mother had complained about his father to him after an argument, and how his father wouldn't return home for days after particularly nasty ones.

But Ren has always been different, hasn't he? He is living proof that his life doesn't revolve around what his parents say and do. Dating this dashing, rebellious young man with black and red ink all over his arms is easily the best decision he's ever made — and it's a decision he made himself. Away from his home, away from the rules he no longer wants to follow. Ren has turned his life upside down in the best way possible.

"So, you secretly enjoyed all the times we quarreled in high school?" Dan Heng asks with a teasing grin, remembering when they weren't dating yet, far from it, but he already occupied a special place in his heart. "Interesting."

"Well… not all of it," Ren sighs. "Believe me, I wish I could go back and change a lot of things. I shouldn't have been such a… what's that called again? A tsundere? Either way, I should've been less of a coward about my feelings," he says wryly, his hand absentmindedly stroking Dan Heng's back. 

The sensation is more than comfortable, enough to make the boy melt. Suddenly, he feels like a little kid once more, hugging himself and patting his own arm to sleep because his mother refused to do it. He starts looking forward to sleeping; it's been a long day, after all.

"There will always be words and actions we wish we could take back. I think… we should just focus on the present."

"You're right," Ren grins, and ruffles his hair gently. His hand stays entangled in Dan Heng's hair, and another hand moves to massage his scalp. "I feel like we've had this talk before, actually. But the more we understand each other, the better, right?"

Dan Heng nods in agreement, yawning softly right after. Perhaps, if they continue to talk things out like this, everything will be alright. "You won't leave, will you?"

"Over my dead body," Ren promises, pinching his side lightly and kissing his temple. "And you?"

"Me neither," Dan Heng says solemnly. "After all, you're my soulmate, Ren."

"...You mean it?" The taller boy lets out a small, breathless chuckle — and in that crooked smile, Dan Heng sees the flustered, unsure schoolboy Ren once was. 

He laughs softly and nods, leaning in to kiss him. There's a brief moment of silence as they lock lips, and Ren positively laughs against his mouth. "I love you, you know that?"

"I believe you've mentioned that, yeah," Dan Heng teases back. "Or we wouldn't be here."

"Well, I had to get that point across. I love you, Dan Heng, and no silly argument will ever change that. In fact, it only makes me adore you more, seeing how forgiving you are towards an idiot like me."

"...I feel the same way," he confesses, face buried in his boyfriend's expansive chest. "I really don't know how you put up with me. I bring you nothing but trouble."

"That's my line," Ren protests, ruffling Dan Heng's hair again. He's sure it's a mess by now, but doesn't complain. "I'm a terrible partner, and if I were you, I would've left months ago."

"Yeah, you're kind of an ass sometimes, aren't you?" Dan Heng sighs dreamily, pressing his thighs together. 

Ren eyes him with concern. "I meant it as a bad thing, why are you-"

"Why am I…?" Dan Heng asks, pretending to be surprised as he gazes up at Ren, the picture of innocence. 

"...Why are you blushing all over?"

"Ah, it's nothing," he says coyly, knowing very well Ren can sense his arousal. "Come on, let's brush our teeth and-"

He was about to finish his sentence when Ren suddenly grabs his slender legs from behind, carrying him into the bedroom with great determination. He uses his foot to close the door before setting Dan Heng down on the bed. 

"Ren," he says with a surprised laugh, admiring his boyfriend's fiery cheeks. "These are… rose petals?"

"Oh, yeah, forgot about those," he replies bashfully, making a vague hand gesture towards the petals scattered on the sheets and bedroom floor. "And little candles. Nice, huh?"

"Yeah, they're pretty. But where did they come from?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

"...Same place as the candelabra."

Dan Heng lets out a surprised squeak as Ren gets on top of him, cornering him against a pile of pillows shaped like a heart — is this also part of the setup? — to press his tongue against his lips.

He willingly parts his lips for his boyfriend, and moans softly as Ren's warm hand trails underneath his shirt, caressing his waist. 

Ren traces the smooth expanse of his skin, moving his hand from the waist line to his chest. Dan Heng's heart feels like it's going to pump out of his chest when Ren's hand rests on top of where it is. 

When the taller boy dips his head down to kiss him again, Dan Heng carefully removes his partner's hand from his chest, shuddering at the loss of warmth as he does so. 

"A-Ren, baobei… May I tell you something?" Dan Heng finally says breathlessly, licking his lips.

Ren blushes at the endearment, and nuzzles his nose warmly. "Yes?"

"Well, to be honest with you... I only feel like kissing tonight," Dan Heng whispers, a little embarrassed.

Yes, they've been together for nearly two months now and he's done his research, but the thought of doing it still terrifies him a little. As much as he hates to admit it…

"...I don't think I'm ready yet," he mutters lowly, face burning, he's such an embarrassment. "I'm sorry if I disappointed you, Ren."

"What? Not at all."

Dan Heng looks up from his lap, surprise evident in his expression.

"If that's what you want, then we'll do just that," Ren immediately assures him, pulling back to stroke his cheek. "Kiss me until you're satisfied."

"You aren't… mad or anything?" Dan Heng asks again, not really daring to believe it; but it's Ren and he trusts his boyfriend, knows what an angel he is. Ren, who always puts him first, despite everything. 

"Mad? What for, when we have all the time in the world?" Ren almost laughs, cradling him against his chest. "We can do it whenever you're ready. For now…"

He leans down to kiss him again, and Dan Heng positively whimpers inside his mouth, tugging at his hair like a lifeline.

"Happy Valentine's Day," Ren teases, before devouring him once more.

An hour later, Dan Heng is comfortably in the covers, blushing at the memory. There had been some friction under the covers, but they were both clothed. He had pulled away then, too shy to continue, and a little guilty for leaving them both hanging like this — but Ren had insisted it was fine, they could just take a shower.

Thus, after a warm shower and some play-fighting, they're ready to sleep for real this time.

"Goodnight, my Valentine. Until next time," Ren winks at him, and squeezes his thigh underneath the covers. "When you're ready, of course. You smell so good…"

Dan Heng playfully swats at Ren's nose, which is intently nuzzling his neck right now. "Goodnight. I love you, soulmate."

But Ren's already fast asleep, so Dan Heng decides to try and rest too. Everything's settled, they're still together, it's been a perfect day. What more could he want?

And so, Ren's Valentine finally drifts off to sleep with a smile on his face.