Chapter Text
I knew this night would be difficult for Fang.
He didn't say so. Obviously.
But I could see it as soon as he arrived.
We had gone to the amusement park the week before. The announcement of the couple was still fresh. Fang had avoided the ingenier faculty all week. Officially because of his workload. Unofficially because he didn't want to face us... alongside Tan.
That night, we were at Beer's place.
The apartment was too small.
The music was too loud.
There were too many people.
The exact opposite of what my brother usually tolerates.
Tan had come to pick us up at my condo. I was sleeping at Beer's that night, and Fang was going to Tan's. It was easier that way.
Tan held Fang's hand on the way there.
And I saw him let go when we entered the apartment.
My brother wasn't ready to come out.
But once we were in the hallway, Fang froze.
We looked at him.
He looked down... then reached out his hand to Tan.
I don't know if it was because he needed emotional support, or to show him that he was fully committed to him as a partner.
But Tan took his hand.
Not ostentatiously.
Just enough for Fang to know he wasn't alone.
We greeted Beer, Mick, and his friends.
There were also some classmates from the engineering department.
The party was in full swing.
I spotted Fang deep in conversation with someone. He seemed... strangely at ease.
When the conversation ended, I approached him.
“Are you okay?” I whispered.
“Yes,” Fang replied a little too quickly.
“Who was that?”
“Didn't you recognize him? It's Pam. My friend from elementary school.”
Pam. Yes.
I vaguely remembered him.
I went abroad shortly after that.
Fang changed after I left.
That must have affected their relationship.
The party continued.
I didn't know it, but Beer had told Tan to invite his high school friends.
All four of them showed up.
Mick and Pun greeted each other like best friends reunited after the war.
Q seemed tense.
Chain and Peem, true to form, were calm.
And Peem...
My heart raced.
I don't know how he does it.
With an oversized shirt and baggy pants, he exudes an indecent charisma.
I need to calm down.
That's when I caught Tan's eye.
A brief glance.
But I understood.
The party was in full swing.
Noisy. Expressive. Tactile.
Tan's friends were talking loudly. Laughing even louder.
Some froze for a split second when they saw Fang sit down next to Tan.
Just a split second.
But Fang felt it.
“TEERAK!” Pun shouted from the couch.
Fang jumped.
Tan squeezed his hand.
“Ignore him,” he whispered. “He can't control his volume.”
Fang smiled.
Small. Fragile. But real.
The first few minutes were... awkward.
It almost felt like an interrogation.
Tan's friends asked a thousand questions.
The alcohol didn't help.
Curious glances.
Questions that were too direct.
Jokes that fell flat.
Nothing mean.
But too much.
Way too much for Fang.
“So you're the famous Fang?” Chain said with an awkward smile. “We hear a lot about you.”
“Good things, I hope,” Fang replied politely.
“Oh, mostly... admiration,” someone added with a laugh.
I saw it.
His shoulders stiffened.
His jaw clenched.
Tan saw it too.
He moved closer.
Placed a hand on his back.
Not to show him off.
To anchor him.
“Hey,” he said calmly, “if you want to talk about him, do it quietly. He's not deaf... but he's precious.”
Silence.
Then Pun burst out laughing.
“Okay, message received. Fang is sacred.”
And strangely...
The atmosphere changed.
Everyone laughed quietly.
Voices softened.
Questions became more respectful, less hurry.
Fang spoke little, but he listened.
And Tan never really left his side.
A glance.
A gesture.
A constant presence.
At one point, Fang stood up abruptly.
“I... I'm going to get some air.”
Tan didn't hesitate.
“I'll be right there.”
They went out onto the balcony.
I watched them through the bay window.
Fang's hands were clenched on the railing.
Tan faced him, turning completely toward him.
“Breathe,” he said softly. “You don't have anything to prove.”
“I feel like I'm being judged...” Fang whispered. “Like I don't belong here.”
Tan put his hand, on fang's hands on the railing.
“You belong right here. With me.”
Fang closed his eyes.
And slowly... he relaxed.
When they came back, Fang sat next to Tan.
Not beside him.
Next to him.
And nobody said anything.
Later, as the laughter resumed, I saw Fang laughing too.
Really laughing.
Pun was telling him a ridiculous story.
Fang had rested his head on Tan's shoulder without even realizing it.
And then I knew.
His friends weren't looking at him strangely anymore.
They were looking at him as if it were obvious.
Tan caught my eye.
He smiled at me.
A smile that said:
He's fine. I'm taking care of him.
And for the first time...
I didn't feel afraid.
Just certain.
My brother was loved.
Deeply.
Properly.
Completely.
And me?
I could finally focus on what was important.
Peem.