He looked at the notice informing him of the two-month shoot they had to take in Taiwan.
As much as he wanted to go, he also didn't want to be separated from Off for such a long time especially that they just got back together.
He read the letter again. They were gonna leave in two weeks.
"You okay?" Jaylerr asked while leaning on his cubicle.
"Do I really have to go to this? I mean, my presence won't really be that much during the shoot."
"You know P'Parbdee, Gun. He would always consult you with regard the script and for possible changes. Why? Are you worried about Off?"
He remained silent and he knew that Jaylerr already got what he meant.
"Gun, he was able to wait for you for five years. Two months won't be a big deal."
"I, I don't know how to break the news to him."
"Just tell him straight to the point, okay? Don't beat around the bush."
_____
"How's work, love?" Off asked the moment he entered the car.
"Just fine. Just made some revisions to the script I'm planning to pitch in. How about you?"
"Hmm. I went to meet some possible investors with Arm and some of them look promising."
"That's good, then," he looked at his fingers and fidgeted. "Off, I-"
"Hmmm. Are you okay??"
Off cupped his cheeks. He might have noticed his sullen face.
"I-I'll be away for 2 months...for the shoot. Our director wants me there and I can't say no to him. He was literally the one who helped me make it in the film industry."
"Are you worried about me?"
He just nodded. Tears were starting to well up in his eyes.
"I don't wanna go. We just...we just got back together and now I have to leave again," he sniffed.
Off chuckled and wiped the tears on his face.
"Are you laughing at me now??"
Off chuckled even more and cupped his face, squeezing it slightly.
"You look so cute. Don't worry, okay? I can always wait for you no matter how long it takes, okay? And besides, I can always visit you there. Two months won't be that long. Just don't get too close to Jaylerr, okay? Or else I'm gonna break his neck."
It was his turn to laugh.
"Thank you."
"Anything for you, love," Off replied before placing a kiss on his nose.
_____
Gun looked at his phone and wondered why Off hadn't contacted him for the entire day.
They would be leaving for Taiwan the day after tomorrow so they were busy preparing everything.
For the past weeks, Off would always send and fetch him to and from work.
They would also eat out for dinner and Off never failed to give him flowers every single time, saying that he could have given him an entire flower field for the past five years.
Everything was going well especially Off's production house. He was able to gain investors and they already have some projects in the works.
He wanted to call him but he didn't want to disturb him at work, so instead he just sent a short message.
Love, how are you at work?
Three hours had passed but he didn't receive a word from him. He looked at his watch and saw that it was already half past five. Off was supposed to be fetching him but he was not answering his calls.
He was about to call him again when a car stopped in front of him.
"Gun!" Tay called from the car.
"Oh, Tay? What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to pick you up."
"Why? Where's Off?" he replied, his eyebrows knitted in confusion.
"Oh, he's on a dinner meeting with a client. Come on."
He didn't say a thing and just went inside the car. Well, he understood that he was busy but he could have at least sent him a short message, right?
He sat on the passenger seat and didn't say a word to Tay the entire drive. He was sulking.
"Gun, you okay?"
"Yeah," he replied nonchalantly. His eyes fixed outside the window.
They'd been traveling for almost an hour that he started to wonder for they were supposed to arrive in just 40 minutes.
"Hey, Tay. Where are we going? This is not the way to the unit," he asked in confusion but Tay just stepped on the accelerator and didn't say a thing.
He was nervous for Tay was silent the entire time, but at the same time confident for he knew him.
They kept driving in silence for another hour until he noticed a very familiar road.
"He-hey Tay. What are we doing here?" he asked. He was quite confused as to why Tay brought him there.
But Tay once again didn't answer. The car then came to a halt. He looked outside and saw that no one else was there.
"Tay?"
"Just get down the car, Gun. Your questions will then be answered."
He stared at Tay with a confused look on his face.
"Don't tell me you're leaving me in here? No one's even outside, Tay! And it's freaking dark!"
"Just go, Gun."
He glared at him and grabbed the door. He didn't know what Tay was up to but he was sure something wasn't right.
Tay then revved the engine and left, leaving him in the dark. The moonlight was not even enough to lit the place since it was covered by several clouds.
He grabbed his phone to turn on the flashlight but he was welcomed by a low battery notification before it died. He must have used all the battery juice when he called Off multiple times earlier.
He tried to see in the darkness, squinting his eyes to make use of the low light provided by the moon but failed.
He heaved a deep sigh and started slowly advancing forward when he heard a slow strum of guitar.
I am walking to
Walking towards you
Because I can see that you
Were given a golden heart
The earlier dark place was then filled with lights and he couldn't help but be in awe with the sight.
All of the stories that
You've ever told me have
Brought us close
Closer to notice that
You are the closest to strange, like me
Off was not in sight but he knew it was him singing. He was about to turn to look for him when different polaroid pictures hanging on threads dropped in front of him. He looked above and saw that they were hanging from the fairy lights that surrounded the place.
We are made up of the same parts
We were made from, from the same heart
The world might think that's one thing
To me, it's certain, nothing else is right
He reached out to them, carefully touching them as he looked at them one by one. He never knew Off took so many photos of them, mostly were stolen. He chuckled when he saw a photo of him sleeping beside Off. His face was lopsided as he was hugging Off's arm.
Your beautiful facial expressions will
Tell me what I need to know
And you mumble the weirdest collection of words
But I thought them too
We are made up of the same parts
We were made from, from the same heart
The world might think that's one thing
To me, it's certain, nothing else is right
He noticed the makeshift podium in the center. It was clearly a setup for dinner.
No one was there but still Off's voice resounded in the area.
"Oh come on, love. Show yourself," he chuckled as he called out his name.
As if on cue, Off showed himself, strumming his guitar as he continued singing.
Let's find a place, that we can go
Where we can throw away
All sense of time, cause all we need's each other's company.
We're fine
And You look to your Father for
Clearer direction, and I love that so
And I hope and I pray, that
On some faithful day we can boulder home for
A gift of love
"I didn't know you tend to do things like this," he said as Off finished the song.
"Well, I just want to treat you to dinner before you go. And besides you know how memorable this place is for us. This is where I first brought you."
He smiled and remembered the late nights they spent under the stars just talking about the most random things.
"Where did you get all of these?" he asked and looked at the photos hanging above them.
"I never get to flaunt you on my social media accounts before, so I made sure that we have pictures together that I can keep."
He smiled at him. Off then placed the guitar beside the table and grabbed his hand.
"Here. I know you're hungry," Off said as he let him sit on the chair before sitting on the one across him.
He then saw Arm and Tay pushing a trolley to them.
"Here's your food gents," Arm said and placed two plates of steak, and tomato and squash gratin on the table. Tay then poured wine on the glasses before them.
"I thought you left," he teased Tay.
"Tsss. I'd probably leave earth if I won't fulfill my mission today," Tay replied before side eyeing Off.
"Shoo.. Just go," Off warded them off.
Arm just chuckled while Tay scoffed as they walked back to where they come from.
Off then grabbed his plate and sliced the steak before giving it back to him.
"You could have ordered for takeaway. That's what we usually do before right."
"Tsss. Your boyfriend's a CEO. Why would I let you eat takeaway food?"
"Wow. Didn't know it's a bit airy in here," he giggled and started eating.
*
"How's the food?" Off asked the moment they finished eating.
"It's good," he replied and raised his glass.
"See. I know I'd make a fine chef," Off boasted before clinking his glass with his.
"So you cooked these?"
"Well. You know, for future purposes. By the way, I need help for something."
"Yeah, sure. What is it?"
Off then signalled Arm and the latter then approached them. In his hand was a white folder.
"This is the storyboard of the commercial film we'll be making. I want to know your thoughts on it," Off said and handed him the folder.
"You sure?"
"Yeah. You can give some points or something."
He then opened and started flipping through the pages. It didn't say what brand or product it was but he didn't mind.
He smiled while looking at the storyboard. He flipped through the pages and saw that it talked about a story of a guy who was looking for the perfect gift to buy for himself. However, every time he found what he thought was the perfect gift, he would always lose it and so he had to buy another one.
The guy kept on looking for it, asking from one people to another about what would be the perfect one but then again lost it all over again.
He kept flipping through the pages until the next one caught his attention.
The guy then met somebody whom he loved for so long and that made him realize that the perfect gift for himself didn't come in physical form.
He flipped the last page. It no longer had photos but instead there was a small note on it.
I may have lost you for so long, but now that I found you again, I know for sure, I'm not gonna lose you again.
Will you give me the perfect gift I could ever pray for and spend the rest of your life with me?
He immediately looked at Off who was now smiling at him. Off then grabbed something from his pocket and Gun held his breath the moment he saw what it was-a small black box.
He bit his lips the moment Off opened the box and revealed a thin silver ring band.
"O-off."
"Gun, I know you've been through so much. I know I've caused you so much pain, but please know that I have loved you ever since you came knocking on my condo door, all bloody and wounded. We may have been separated for years but I know for sure that I won't survive it anymore if I'm gonna lose you again."
His breath hitched up when Off got up from his seat and knelt by his chair while holding the box of ring, now open in front of him.
"Gun Atthaphan Phunsawat, marry me, please?"
He held his breath and stared at Off, his tears starting to well up in his eyes.
"I- Are you sure about this Off?" he whispered. It was not that he didn't wanna marry him, but he wanted to make sure that Off's decision was not just a product of abrupt decision making.
"I've never been so sure in my entire life, Gun and I wanna fulfill my promise to you in every single day of my life," Off smiled at him and caressed his face.
He bit his lips and smiled. He then wiped his tears as he nodded in agreement.
"Is that a yes??" Off asked and grabbed his hand.
He looked at him and nodded as his tears continued streaming down his face.
Off then slipped the silver band in the same finger where his promise ring was.
"I love you," Off whispered before kissing his hand specifically on the spot where his rings were.
"I love you, too," he replied and embraced Off ever so tightly.