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In life without realizing it, everyone is categorized into little groups. No one stands at the school gate, look at you and decide where you're supposed to be, life was never that simple. No, you naturally just fall into a space that best works for you.
Duang was yours typical Mr Popular. Not the asshole kind, he was just a genuine ray of sunshine. He was always happy to help, always ready to listen and offer advice. He was the type of boy to notice when someone goes quiet in a group and then steer the conversation to make sure everyone feels included.
He had every girl confessing or fighting their boyfriends because they compare them to Duang, and he also had every boy wishing to be him, or questioning their sexuality.
Qin was a little different. He was also Mr Popular, but in a more rigid way. There was no in between when it came to Qin. Girls wanted him and the boys hated him. Academically gifted and incredibly rich, his father owned half the city, his mother, the best doctor in town, has saved the other half of the city.
Qin was so to himself he was often perceived as cold and anti social. Which all sounds fine until you realize that his inner circle and Duang's inner circle became close after this year's basketball season. They were all on the same team, except Qin because Qin was busy running the school as student body president.
Qin's friends have begged and pleaded with him to join them on their weekend excursions and as much as Qin wanted to have fun he always had something to do. He also knew that his friends' incessant begging was because they wanted him to meet Duang and his group. Kim and Tong often joke around that if Qin and Duang had to be in a room together Qin would probably be so overwhelmed he would combust.
Qin thinks their biggest mistake was thinking that Duang and Qin would never meet each other. It was a Friday night, Qin was the student body president so it was expected of him to stay behind with the rest of the student body to clean up after every big meeting. Duang was there, Mr Sunshine helped to tidy up, Qin wasn't even sure who asked him to help, but he wasn't complaining. Duang was a ball of energy seemingly ready to explode at any second.
The oddest part to Qin was that Duang stayed orbiting around Qin. Sometimes Duang would leave to help someone else, then he would be right back. He asked Qin random questions.
"So, what's you're favourite colour?"
"Duang, put the cups over there after you dried them," Qin replied. He thought the blatant rejection would help, but it didn't.
"My favourite colour is red. Do you like red?" Duang tried again.
"Hm."
Qin's minimal reply seemed to have been enough for Duang to keep trying. It went on like that for the next week. Duang finding Qin after school, always sitting with him until Qim's work was done. Duang knew when to speak and when to let Qin be, but he was there and for the first time Qin felt like someone actually saw him.
When Duang asked him to be his boyfriend Qin wasn't even surprised, he would never admit to anyone that he has been waiting for Duang to ask for weeks.
It was safe to say that Qin was disgustingly in love with his boyfriend and Duang was no better. Still their friends were still trying with everything in them to get Duang and Qin to meet. It wasn't like they were purposely trying to hide things, Qin was just so busy there was never time to.
"Qin..." Duang whined after the 10th time Qin said that he was almost done with his work.
Duang never thought that he would become so well acquainted with the school library, then he met Qin.
"Duang you can go home."
"How dare you Qin! What kind of boyfriend would I be if I let my baby sit here all alone," Duang said leaning in closer to Qin's body.
"You're distracting me."
"It's called support, I am supporting you," Duang wrapped his arms around Qin and hugged him tightly.
Tong and Kim were running like their lives depended on it. The library closes at 18:30 and it was already 6 o'clock. Kim completely forgot about the book himself and Tong needed for their assignment.
After stumbling into the library they raced toward the classic literature section. The people in the library were starting to thin out. Tong and Kim said a little prayer when approaching the section because this corner of the library was notorious for couples to use as a hook up spot.
As Tong and Kim walked deeper into the section they froze when they heard a sound. They exchanged a looks and kept their mouths shut. Then slowly as to not make a sound, they walked deeper into the section. The book they were initially here to get was completely forgotten and curiosity completely took over.
"I missed you so much my baby," they hear someone whisper.
"Duang shut up just keep kissing me," they heard the unmistakable sound of Qin's voice.
"Tell me you love me," Duang said.
"Duang."
"Qin."
"I love you," Qin said. The words were soft and intimidate, if Kim and Tong weren't so shocked they would have felt bad for sneaking up on the couple and hearing such a private moment.
Kim and Tong saw them. Duang had Qin pressed up against a bookshelf. His arms were wrapped tightly around Qin's waist, hoisting him up a bit and Qin had his arms wrapped around Duang's neck. Qin's right hand moved and he snaked his fingers through Duang's hair.
Qin's friends were at a loss for words. This was a side of their friend they never thought that they would ever see. The couple slowly broke apart still giving each other little pecks. It was so romantic and sickeningly sweet Kim thought he was going to die.
"I love you more," Duang said breathless.
"I love you more than that Duang. You are literally my everything."
Duang giggled at Qin's words, his boyfriend always knew how to make him shy. Without realizing it Kim and Tong stayed frozen in place, mouths wide open in shock and confusion. When it registered to them that the pair was walking their way it was too late. Duang and Qin spotted them.
"So you guys have been dating for months now?" Kim said after Duang, very enthusiastically, retold the story of how he and Qin got together. While Duang spoke Qin just hummed along in agreement. The boys saw the way Qin was trying to hide the fact that he was holding Duang's hand as they walked.
They also notice the way Qin tried to hide the little sparkle in his eye when Duang would call him baby or love. Their friend was far gone.
Jamie and Pae would give anything to have discovered Duang and Qin's relationship by walking in on them passionately kissing, heck, they would even be okay with walking in on them having sex. Anything but this.
Pae and Jamie arrived before everyone. They immediately started calling everyone, Duang's parents, older brother everyone they could think of.
Pae was currently on the phone with his boyfriend asking him to hurry over. Jamie was glad Pae called him because they were gonna need someone to send around. Duang was in a stable position according to the doctors. They weren't allowed to see him because only immediate family was allowed to see him.
Apparently a drunk driver came crashing into his car. The accident was trending on social media, it was disgusting.
Almost 20 mins past and in that time Duang's family said that they were on their way as fast as they can. Qin's presence was like a storm, Tong was trailing behind him like a puppy.
Qin stopped directly in front of Jamie and Pae. They looked at the distraught student body president in front of them. The ice prince of the school. Qin's ice was melting and standing before them was a puddle.
"What room is he in?" Qin asked calmly, but the look in his eyes told a different story.
"He's down the hall-"
Before Jamie could finish his sentence Qin was already walking. Jamie quickly caught Qin's hand before he could go further.
"Let me fucking go!" Qin tried to pull his hand free.
"Qin you can't go back there!"
"I don't care!"
"Qin, they will escort you out of the hospital," Jamie still reasoned with a frantic Qin.
"He was driving back from my house, he-he should've just stayed. Why didn't he stay? I told him to stay!" Qin was sobbing now.
Jamie pulled Qin into a hug, just then Duang's parents come running toward them.
"Qin baby come here," Duang's mom held out her arms for Qin.
"Mom," Qin sobbed falling into her arms.
Jamie stared at the scene in front of him. Pae looked at his boyfriend who didn't look the least bit surprised then at Jamie who had the same shocked look on his face.
Duang's father and brother went in first while Duang's mom stayed behind a second later to soothe Qin.
"Mae will tell you everything okay Qin. When Duang can get visitors Mae will come get you, okay?" she said wiping Qin's tears.
When Duang's mom eventually went to see her son Qin and the rest of the boys went to get something to eat, or tried to eat at least.
Qin revealed to Jamie and Pae that he was in a relationship with Duang. He allowed the boys to ask any questions and surprisingly he answered very truthfully. Jamie and Pae could not believe that their little Duang has been in a while relationship this whole time.
The next day when they all met at the hospital, everyone except Qin, they found out that Duang was allowed to get visitors. Jamie and Pae raced down the hallway and saw that Qin was already there.
He was holding Duang's hand tightly, his face burried in Duang's neck and the unmistakable smile on Duang's face made them happy to see that Duang was feeling better.
When Duang returned to school the students went all out for him. He was the sunshine boy after all. They doted and faffed, but no one could get too close because Qin and Duang stopped keeping their relationship a secret which meant that Qin's claws were out in a less discreet way.
At the end of the day Duang was Qin's and Qin's only and Duang made that abundantly clear. When people realized that they stood no chance with Duang they all walked around with their heads hanging low in sadness. Some went as far as to argue in Qin's face and in general Duang didn't get angry or aggressive, he doesn't say things impolitely and he tries his best to not swear at school which is the complete opposite of Qin.
But there are some things he just didnt tolerate and those things almost always involved his boyfriend.
"You're probably so proud of yourself huh?" Emma said cornering Qin in the hallway.
Duang has been back at school for a week at this point, one whole week of them not keeping their relationship a secret anymore.
"Emma why the fuck are you wasting my time, I'm on my way to class," Qin tried to walk past her and she just blocked his pathway again.
"Everyone knows that I like Duang. Was it fun? To just swoop in huh? You just always get whatever you want. First place in class, student of the year title, student body president and now Duang. You just can't leave anything for anyone else."
Qin kept a straight face, but the words already seeped deep into his skin. He always struggled with this exact thing. Feeling like he wasn't enough, feeling like he was not deserving of anything he has accomplished. Naturally he wondered on many occasions if he even deserved his boyfriend.
Qin had no life, if he wasn't at school, he was at his tutor classes. He was often running on fumes and coffee from late night study sessions and working on events with the student council. Then came Duang, suddenly Qin wasn't just this robotic academic machine, he was a human.
Suddenly, he wasn't alone during his long study sessions. Duang would come over and sleep over, he would set a timer for midnight and if Qin was not in bed by then he would drag him to bed. In the morning Duang would bring him breakfast because Duang noticed his boyfriend was in school super early already busy without anything to eat.
Within a month Qin wasn't running on fumes anymore, Qin was more productive than ever and completely grateful to whatever God sent him this human puppy angel.
"Baby!" Duang came running towards Qin and wrapped his arms around Qin instantly.
From where Duang stood he could see the interaction play out. He heard the words Emma said and saw the subtle clench and unclench of his boyfriend's fist which meant that he was bothered by what she said.
"I'm so happy you're mine Qin. There's no one more perfect for me in this world," Duang said soft and planted a kiss on Qin's cheek.
"Duang..." Qin said trying to contain his shyness.
"It's true, you're so perfect my Qin. Everyone else are just ugly and jealous sore losers who bitch and moan instead of excepting that maybe," Duang turned to face Emma directly, "Maybe they just aren't that great you know. Maybe he just never liked you Emma and no amount of cornering his boyfriend will ever make you more appealing to him..."
Believe it or not but that day was the first day that Duang and Qin got intimate with each other. Because of Qin's grueling schedule they never had the opportunity, it wasn't like they were actively avoiding sex for months, truly if it was up to them they would have done it on the first day of being boyfriends but life had gotten in the way in so many ways.
Graduation day came and it went. Qin was in Duang's room helping him pack up his belongings. Duang got into an art school a couple of hours away. Qin got into a top business school is London, when they spoke about their relationship after high school Duang took out a PowerPoint presentation on how they would make their long distance relationship work. Adjustable calendars and suggestions on when they could call that works for everyone after taking into account the time difference.
That day Qin cried like a baby when he got home and without thinking applied for the music program at the university Duang was going to. He remembers sitting at his piano playing this heartbreaking jazz piece, the lyrics poured out of his mouth all of it true, all of it hitting way too close to home.
Within a week he got his acceptance letter. He told no one about it, not able to work up the nerve to burst his parents bubble. He knew the expectations they had, all the years they invested in him just for him to turn around and change his mind.
"Music!? Qin what the hell are you thinking!?" his father shouted. Qin decided that he wanted to rip the bandaid. He thought he was ready for it but the reactions were somehow even worse.
"Qin this has been your dream for so long!" his mother said. She was seated next to his father looking so distraught and confused.
"No, this was YOUR dream Mom not mine. Have you ever thought to ask me what I wanted? What I liked?" Qin asked raising his voice slightly.
"Watch your tone Qin, we're still your parents!"
"It's that Duang boy isn't it?" his father said and Qin froze.
"I could accept this little high school fling of yours but now you're allowing it to get in the way of your future Qin!"
"... This little high school fling..."
"... High school fling...."
"...fling..."
That was all that went through Qin's head. His father calling his boyfriend a " little high school fling" and it made him sick.
"Duang is not some fling he is my boyfriend."
"He is ruining your future!" his mother said.
"Duang is my future!" Qin turned around and picked up his back pack.
"If you leave this house, then you stay away forever."
Qin found himself standing in front of Duang's house, he had no idea how he got there but he did. After knocking, Duang's mom immediately opened the door and after taking one look at him she pulled him into her arms in a tight hug. It was still so crazy to Qin how well Duang's mother can read him.
She took Qin in immediately. Excitedly doing her best to cheer him up from his heartbroken situation. She cooked all of Qin's favourite foods and made a lot of desserts and that alone was enough to make him sad again because this was what a mother was supposed to do. Mothers are supposed to care, shouldn't they?
Around the dinner table Qin revealed that he will be going to the same university as Duang. Duang couldn't contain his screams of joy. Duang and his mother both screamed so loud the neighbors probably heard. Suddenly they started planning, Duang and Qin will live with each other in the apartment Duang was going to move into. Duang was going to drive Qin to school because he's taking his car with him. Qin couldn't believe how easily Duang placed Qin into his plans, how effortlessly he arranged things so Qin would be comfortable and safe.
Living with Duang was easy. To Qin it was the most natural thing in the world. Their friends were all at the same university so it was easy for them to visit so Duang and Qin's place became the hang out spot.
"How long have they been together?" Marvis asksd Jamie while looking at Qin and Duang sitting at the lunch table along with everyone else. Jamie had to pick up Marvis so that's why they are only arriving now.
Qin wipes some sauce off of Duang's lips and Duang looked like he was going to die of happiness. He was practically floating, the redness of his ears didnt go unnoticed by anyone.
"Hmmmm almost 2 years," Jamie replied.
"You're kidding."
"Nope, whenever Qin does anything like hold Duang's hand he goes absolutely insane. After all this time Duang still reacts like it's the first time he has ever seen Qin."
When Duang and Qin revealed on one random Tuesday that they got married no one was surprised, but still very excited for their friends. Marvis decided that a celebratory lunch was not enough and started planning a big party to celebrate. He even took it upon himself to design Duang and Qin's wedding outfits because he hired a photographer to take pictures and everything. Duang's parents chipped in a lot too when they heard the news, they were not happy that their sons eloped without letting them know, but when Qin explained why they understood immediately.
Qin wouldn't admit it himself, but he was famous. Straight out of University the release of his single was an overnight success. Everyone loved the song, everyone loved Qin and in no time Qin became not only a household name, but a internationally recognized superstar with the cutest husband ever. Sometimes Qin wonders if his fans actually liked his music or just his husband.
Qin woke up from bed and saw that Duang wasn't there. They had gotten home a couple hours ago after they went out celebrating the success of Duang's graphic novel. Qin saw the balcony door open and went outside to see Duang standing there staring at all the lights below them.
"You okay baby?" Qin asked wrapping his arms around Duang from behind.
"I'm fine Qin, just really, really happy."