Chapter Text
Phum Pov
It was bound to happen someday.
I was prepared for it, of course... but nothing could have truly prepared me for the reality unfolding before my eyes.
My brother Fang's wedding.
Yes, you're probably not surprised. After so many years together, they decided to get married. To be honest, I thought it would happen sooner.
Peem and I had a small private ceremony two years ago, surrounded by close family and friends. I can say without blushing that my marriage is going well and that my husband and I are very happy together.
But we're not the only ones.
Q and Toey got married too.
Strangely enough, Q wanted to get married quickly. Their relationship had been complicated. A lot of waiting, a lot of hesitation... and finally, after so much time hoping, they decided to stop waiting and move forward together, hand in hand.
Q and Toey got married on Toey's home island. Again, it was a small gathering: close family and friends. After that, they moved in together, opened their shared studio, and live peacefully... while continuing to bicker.
But what about my brother?
How could the first couple in our group to get together, a couple madly in love, have waited so long?
I thought it was because of Fang.
But actually... no.
He just wasn't in a hurry.
Well...
There was a story that happenned at university, they had been dating for maybe four months when I saw my brother show up with a ring on his left ring finger. And I admit... I panicked. I was convinced he had gotten engaged after four months of dating. I almost went crazy.
But it was just a promise ring.
A ring that neither my brother nor Tan ever wanted to take off. So much so that, years later, many of their acquaintances were convinced that they were already married.
Why the promise ring? You're probably wondering.
I never really dared to ask the question. But I think it was my brother's idea.
At the beginning of their relationship, it must not have been easy. Fang often rejected Tan's affectionate gestures, especially in public... and yet he couldn't stand to see him with anyone else.
One evening, he arrived at my condo without saying a word.
He looked defeated. Apathetic. Depressed. As if he wanted to cry but the tears refused to come.
I wanted to ask him questions, but I quickly realized he wasn't there to talk. He just didn't want to be alone.
Fang sat down on my sofa and remained there, almost motionless, staring into space. His face was somber. Then he got up to wash himself.
At that moment, I picked up my phone and called Tan.
Mission: understand the problem. And fix it.
I had only one fear... that Tan was the cause.
When he answered, he seemed as confused as Fang. He simply said,
“I'm coming.”
And he came. Really.
In twenty minutes.
When I opened the door, Fang had locked himself in his room. Tan greeted me and asked if he could see him.
My brother is rarely like this. But when it happens, it's important not to disturb him. He doesn't even answer.
Tan knocked once.
No answer.
He knocked again.
“Teerak... open up. Let me talk to you.”
He was begging.
Seeing Tan like that... it was strange. Almost horrible, honestly. He was always so cheerful, so strong. And now he was begging my brother in my hallway.
And the worst part?
Fang opened the door.
He wouldn't have opened it for anyone. But it was Tan.
So he opened it... and I think Tan completely short-circuited his brain, because he fell to his knees. All of a sudden.
Fang looked at him, completely confused. Then he let him get up, come in... and closed the door.
I never found out what happened between them that day.
But I do know that the next day, Tan went to a jeweler.
And the day after that... they were both wearing matching rings. Rings promising a life together.
But let's get back to the point.
The wedding.
We are at Tan and my brother's wedding. And I can tell you: it's a lavish wedding.
Peem, Q, Toey, and I chose small ceremonies. But them...
It was THE wedding.
A real event.
Lots of guests: friends, family, colleagues, relatives... everyone was there. A living testimony to their two lives coming together.
The tables were magnificent. Flowers everywhere. And the meal...
Oh Lord.
Delicious.
Everything was beautiful. I even think my brother designed part of the decoration himself.
And they both looked stunning.
The promise ring from college had been there to reassure their love. And this wedding came at the perfect time.
Nothing had been rushed. Everything had been thought out to be perfect for the two of them.
And you could feel it.
I was quietly enjoying my meal when two little tornadoes ran towards me.
"UNCLE PHUM!!! UNCLE BEER!!! WE HAVE THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION IN THE WORLD!!!
Ah. Yes.
My nieces.
Fang and Tan adopted twins from an orphanage. Their names are Ceri and Jelly.
They are adorable.
Even though they're adopted, their personalities are a perfect blend of their two dads.
Fang, who had always rejected the idea of family life, is now a father. And very happy to be one.
According to Tan... they're even thinking of adopting a third child.
I'll keep you posted.
“Come on, little princesses, don't run like that. It's your dads' wedding today.”
“We're being good, Uncle Phum!”
They replied in perfect unison, pouting adorably.
“But we have a question! Uncle Mick asked us, but we didn't know how to answer. So we're asking Uncle Beer and you, because you know everything!”
Well-behaved little girls, just the way I like them.
“Ask your question, girls. What's so important?”
“WHO IS DADDY AND DADA'S FAVORITE???”
Whoa.
Dangerous territory.
Luckily, I didn't have time to answer.
Tan had just stepped forward, microphone in hand.
The speech.
“Thank you all for coming today. I am deeply touched to see you here to celebrate my union with the love of my life: Khaofang.”
Tan raised his hand toward us, and that's when I saw my brother. A little further behind me. Smiling, captivated by his brand-new husband.
"Some people here saw our love blossom. Others have always known us together.
Thank you for being part of our daily lives.
I want to thank my most loyal friends... my high school friends, who have always supported me and made me laugh. My college friends too, especially my brother, in-law Phum, who had to listen to me talk for hours about how much I loved his brother... and who, despite the headaches I gave him, still set us up on dates.
My colleagues. My in-laws. My parents and grandparents... who are not here today but whom I always feel with me.
And above all... you, Fang.
My best friend. My one true love. My rock.
I will never be able to find the words to express what you mean to me.
Thank you for giving me a chance. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for loving me every day.
And thank you for being the wonderful father you are to our daughters.
I never thought I would have a family one day... and look at me today.
Blessed with all this love.
Well, I don't want to go on and on with a long speech, I just wanted to share my sincere gratitude with you! I'm going to cry if I keep going. So enjoy the evening... and above all, dance!"
We applauded warmly.
It was really moving.
The music was about to start again when it stopped.
And I saw my brother step forward.
“Sorry for the false start... but I couldn't let my gorgeous husband steal all the limelight. It's my wedding too!”
A few laughs rippled through the room.
My brother, speaking so easily in front of everyone... honestly, I would never have bet on that.
But today, Fang seemed different. Lighter. More confident.
“Tan just made an incredible statement. So I have to respond.”
He took a small breath.
His eyes were already shining.
“Earlier, while getting ready, I took off the promise ring Tan gave me at the beginning of our relationship for the first time in ten years.”
In the room, many looked down at their hands, as if each of them was remembering something.
"We had only been together for a few months... and yet we already knew we wanted to spend our lives together.
That ring... came about after an argument. An argument that could have torn us apart.
At the time, I had a lot of doubts. About myself. About my feelings. And even about his.
I thought that maybe I wasn't capable of loving someone the way he deserved to be loved."
Tan's eyes were red now. He was crying without even trying to hide it.
"But that night, Tan said something to me that changed my life.
He told me I was his other half. That we complemented each other. That we were made for each other.
He told me I was a part of him... and that he wanted to be a part of me."
Fang turned to him.
And I saw that look that my brother reserves for only one person in the world.
“My love... today I can finally answer you.
That day I said nothing... because I already knew one thing.
You are not a part of me.
You are everything to me."
A murmur rippled through the room.
"And I thought, ten years ago, that I could never love you more than I did that day.
But ten years later... I know.
I love you a little more every day."
Tan stepped forward before the speech was even over.
He cupped Fang's face in his hands as if afraid he would disappear.
Then he kissed him.
Gently.
For a long time.
And when he turned to us with the microphone, he said in a trembling voice:
“He said yes!”
The whole room erupted in applause.
Even I had to admit that my eyes were moist.
Next to me, Peem was sniffling discreetly.
To him, Tan had always been like a brother.
So yes... in a way, it was also our brothers' wedding.
Peem put his hand on my shoulder before kissing me on the cheek.
I turned to him.
He looked at me with the quiet love he had always had for me. It was as if Tan and Fang's words had awakened something in him.
I took his hand.
And I pulled him close to me.
That's when two little tornadoes came back.
“UNCLE PEEEEM!!!”
“WE GOT CUT OFF!!”
The twins jumped on Peem like two little koalas.
“What's going on, princesses?” Peem asked, surprised.
Ceri put her hands on her hips.
“Our lives are at stake!”
Jelly nodded very seriously.
“We need to know.”
Peem looked at me, completely lost.
And that's when Beer decided to intervene.
“Girls, your dad and your daddy love you both very much.”
“Yes, but WHO is the favorite?!”
Beer pointed to the dance floor.
Tan and Fang were still embracing.
They looked at each other as if they were alone in the world.
“Your daddy's favorite is very well known.”
The two little girls' eyes widened.
“WHO?!”
Beer smiled.
“Your daddy's favorite... is your dada.”
They blinked.
“And your dada's favorite... is your daddy.”
There was a moment of silence.
Then their faces lit up.
“Ooooooh.”
Beer leaned toward them.
“You're lucky, you know. Your parents love each other very much.”
Ceri and Jelly nodded very seriously.
“Thank you, Uncle Beer!”
“But shhh... it's a secret.”
“We promise!”
Then they grabbed their little dresses.
“WE'RE GOING TO CONGRATULATE DADDY AND DADA!”
And they ran off.
We watched them join Tan and Fang.
When the twins tugged on their costumes, the two men immediately leaned toward them.
Fang hugged Ceri.
Tan lifted Jelly.
And within seconds, all four of them were laughing.
I couldn't help but smile.
My brother... the one who used to say he never wanted a family.
Today he had one.
A beautiful one. A noisy one. One full of love.
Peem squeezed my hand.
“They're happy,” he whispered.
I nodded.
“Yes.”
And as I watched Tan kiss Fang's forehead while the twins laughed together, I thought one very simple thing:
After all these years...
They were exactly where they were meant to be.