Chapter Text
midnight had always belonged to tee.
every year, without fail.
before por’s friends.
before his family.
before anyone else.
tee was always first.
sometimes exactly at 12:00 a.m.
sometimes a minute early because he was too impatient to wait.
once, por had laughed so hard he cried because tee had accidentally wished him happy birthday at 11:59 p.m.
“my finger slipped.”
tee had defended himself with the most serious expression.
“i was trying to be first.”
por had teased him about it for weeks.
…
this year…
12:00 a.m.
por’s phone lit up.
his lips curved into an automatic smile.
he reached over from his bed and picked it up.
one notification.
his bank.
“…”
por laughed quietly.
“wrong person.”
he placed the phone back down.
tee was probably waiting for exactly midnight.
or maybe he had fallen asleep for a few minutes.
either way…
he’d text soon.
he always did.
…
12:08 a.m.
nothing.
12:17 a.m.
still nothing.
12:34 a.m.
por unlocked his phone again.
their chat sat at the very top.
the last message was from tee.
tee: don’t stay up too late tonight.
por smiled. “…you’re the one who’s late.”
he typed.
por: goodnight 🤍
seen.
no reply.
por’s smile faded.
“…he must’ve fallen asleep.”
he turned off his phone.
even though…
something about the silence felt strangely unfamiliar.
…
the next morning…
the first thing por did wasn’t brush his teeth.
it wasn’t get dressed.
it wasn’t even open the curtains.
he reached for his phone.
nothing.
no “happy birthday.”
no missed call.
no voice message.
nothing.
he swallowed.
“…it’s okay.”
maybe tee wanted to tell him in person.
that sounded more like him anyway.
…
tee was already waiting outside campus.
he smiled the moment he saw por.
“morning.”
“morning.”
tee stepped closer.
pressed a gentle kiss to por’s forehead.
then took his hand as they walked inside together.
everything felt…
normal.
too normal.
por waited.
any second now.
tee would laugh.
say he’d been teasing him.
wish him happy birthday.
he never did.
…
lectures came and went.
the date sat at the top of every classroom projector.
every attendance sheet.
every assignment portal.
por noticed it every single time.
tee never seemed to.
…
around lunch…
tee’s phone rang.
he glanced at the screen.
“…i’ll be back.”
“okay.”
before por could ask who it was…
tee had already stepped outside.
through the café window…
por watched him answer the call.
tee smiled.
laughed.
then looked around before turning his back to the window.
almost like he didn’t want por seeing the conversation.
por looked down at his lunch.
he wasn’t hungry anymore.
…
save slid into the empty seat.
“…hey.”
por smiled.
“hi.”
save looked between por and the café entrance.
“…everything okay?”
“yeah.”
“…really?”
por nodded.
“…of course.”
save didn’t look convinced.
before he could say anything else…
auau appeared beside him.
he opened his mouth.
closed it again.
“…”
save quickly nudged his arm.
auau blinked.
“…right.”
he looked at por and forced the brightest smile he could manage.
“…how’s your day?”
por laughed.
“…that’s a weird question.”
“is it?”
“…a little.”
“…oh.”
another awkward silence.
por looked between the two of them.
“…are you hiding something?”
save almost choked on his drink.
“…what?”
“you both keep looking at each other.”
“we do?”
“yes.”
“…”
“…”
por sighed.
“…never mind.”
the moment he looked away…
save quietly buried his face in his hands.
auau whispered,
“…we’re so bad at this.”
…
tee came back a few minutes later.
“sorry.”
“everything okay?”
“yeah.”
tee smiled.
“just sorting something out.”
por nodded.
“…okay.”
he wanted to ask what.
he wanted to ask who kept calling.
instead…
he stayed quiet.
…
the afternoon passed much too slowly.
students who knew por wished him happy birthday as they walked past.
a lecturer smiled before class.
“happy birthday.”
por thanked him politely.
tee was standing right beside him.
he smiled too.
then continued walking.
as if he’d heard nothing.
por felt his heart sink.
…
by the time classes ended…
he had stopped expecting anything.
maybe…
tee had really forgotten.
people forgot birthdays all the time.
it wasn’t the end of the world.
it just…
hurt a little more when it was the person who had never forgotten before.
…
they walked out of campus together.
the evening air was warm.
tee checked his phone again.
“…give me ten minutes?”
por looked up.
“hm?”
“i’ll drive us home.”
“…okay.”
tee smiled.
“wait here for me?”
por nodded.
“of course.”
tee disappeared toward the parking lot.
por watched him leave.
his phone buzzed.
a birthday message from a distant cousin.
he replied with a simple thank you before locking the screen again.
he looked up at the sky.
the sun was beginning to set.
“…guess we’re just going home.”
he whispered to himself.
…
across the parking lot…
tee tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
his phone buzzed.
save: we’re ready!
a second message appeared.
auau: bring him up in five minutes!!
tee smiled to himself.
“…just a little longer.”
he quietly started the engine.
“please don’t think i forgot.”