New stared at the ceiling despite the darkness, his mind filled with confusion, his heart slightly heavy.
There were actually two things that were bothering him: Earth's words earlier and Tay being in the same location as them.
He didn't even know if it was mere coincidence or what. But he didn't wanna get his hopes up as he was with Apple.
He looked at the bracelet on top of the bedside table and then at Earth who was sleeping in the bed next to him.
He sighed and shifted his position.
"Fuck," he muttered before closing his eyes to sleep.
_____
Tay moved the glass he was holding on the wall in the hopes of picking up any noise from the next room but it seemed like it was sound proof.
He literally had to beg White to let him occupy the room next to New and Earth's, giving off a lame excuse that the room number was his lucky number of the day.
"You look like a total idiot," Apple scoffed behind him.
"Shhhh. I'm trying to listen," he replied and moved the glass. "Where's the stethoscope I told you to get?"
"Seriously, do you think I'd scurry the place looking for a fucking stethoscope??"
"Oh come on. You could have asked the staff! Urgh! Fuck I can't hear a thing!" he grunted and placed the glass on the table with a thud.
"Of course you won't. That wall's as thick as your face you'd definitely won't hear a thing," Apple replied and sat on the sofa.
"Urgh! They haven't come out after dinner. I think I'm gonna be crazy thinking about what they're doing inside!"
"Well, what do you think will happen between two persons inside a confined space? One being so in love with the other and the other one heartbroken."
"Which side are you really on??"
"Tsss. Just chill okay? Instead of thinking of a way to spy on them, why don't you start thinking of a plan to get him, you slowpoke."
"Who the fuck are you calling a slowpoke?" he glared at her.
"Whatever! I'm going back to my room. I still need my beauty rest for I'll be flaunting my beauty tomorrow. You sleep too, you old man. You look like you haven't slept for 10 years."
"Whatever you old hag!"
_____
"Let's go for a swim," Earth said and glanced at him.
"Sure. Let me message my mom first. You can go ahead. Let's just meet by the pool," he replied and started composing a message to her mom telling him where he was.
"Okay. Don't be long."
He then grabbed his bag and placed his essentials inside especially the lotion he always used to save his skin from sunburns.
He was about to go out when his phone beeped.
Son, your father wants to talk to you and Tay when you come back. Take care.
He sighed and just didn't reply. As much as he didn't want Tay and his parents to meet again, he knew that his father would come raging in his unit.
He grabbed the door and almost muttered a curse when he saw Tay leaning his head on the door.
"Wha-What are you doing here?" he asked in disbelief.
"I-I'm just appreciating the v-view! The view!"
He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"Huh? What view? We're in the hallway Tay."
"Dumbass! You left your wallet again!"
He turned his head and saw Apple coming out from the next room.
"Uuuh. Hi, New," Apple smiled meekly.
"Hi," he replied nonchalantly. "I'll go ahead."
_____
"You always come at the wrong time! And why are you in my room?" Tay raged at Apple and grabbed the wallet from her.
"If you haven't left your wallet, this wouldn't have happened. And you told me to come over, remember?? To bring you that fucking stethoscope."
"Whatever. Grab your things already. I'm just gonna follow him. Remember what I told you earlier," he replied and jogged towards the elevator.
_____
New scanned the area to look for Earth. The pool area wasn't crowded maybe because it was a workday and he felt happy about it.
It had been long since he went in a vacation and being able to spend the day without worrying a single thing was just pure heaven.
He placed his things on the nearby bench and removed his shirt. He first made sure he had applied an ample amount of sunscreen to avoid sunburns.
"Guess, I'll just have to go swimming first," he murmured to himself before jumping into the water.
He swam for minutes, kicking his arms and legs as he savored the feeling of being able to swim again, something he hadn't done in months.
He closed his eyes and plunged into the water, letting himself sink into the deepest part of the pool.
He stayed under for how many seconds as he let the water engulf his thoughts and confusions of his current situation.
He was about to resurface when he felt a sudden pang of pain in his leg.
Shit!
He was having cramps and he could barely kick to move upwards. He struggled to move but his leg wouldn't cooperate.
He was running out of breath and his chest was already burning as he struggled. He felt his chest tighten when he felt something wrap around his waist and the next thing he knew, he was gasping for air, coughing out the water he accidentally drank.
"FUCK! NEW! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO DO!"
New grabbed the edge of the pool before turning to look at Tay whose face and neck were red.
He was still catching his breath and so was Tay.
"I-Iâ"
He couldn't even finish his statement as Tay cupped his cheeks and caressed them gently.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt somewhere?"
Tay's voice sounded so gentle that he couldn't help but melt while looking at his eyes.
"I-I'm fine. Just cramps."
New gasped when Tay snaked his arms around his waist and helped him get on the ledge.
Tay then got out of the pool and grabbed the nearby towel.
"Here," Tay said as he covered New's exposed body. "Which one?"
"The, the left one."
Tay then stretched his leg and started massaging it.
"How are you feeling?"
"It-it's getting better."
"Good."
Tay continued massaging his leg and he couldn't help but look at him and realize how much he missed him.
"It's okay now. Th-thanks," he said as he retracted his leg.
"I-I gotta go," he said as he stumbled to stand. He was gonna grab his things when Tay beat him to it and grabbed his hand.
"You're coming with me."
_____
You should thank me for getting Earth away from New you dumbass.
Tay chuckled as he read Apple's message. He looked at New who was standing behind him. He literally dragged him into his room and luckily he didn't hear any protest from him.
"I-uh. I gotta go back to my room."
With long strides, he approached New and enclosed him in a tight hug.
"I miss you," he whispered and tightened his arms around New's waist.
"T-Tay."
"Let's stay like this for a while, please."
They stood there in the middle of the room, their bodies still dripping wet.
It was him who broke the hug and looked at New.
"Take a shower first. I'm gonna call for food," he said and tapped New's cheeks.
*
Tay placed a set of clothes on the bed for New and wiped his hair with a towel.
He had ordered for food.
He couldn't help but smile at the thought of New taking a shower. He had this sudden urge of invading New but he restrained himself.
He promised that he'd do better this time.
He smiled as New went out the bathroom with only a towel on his hips.
"I've got you some clothes."
"It's okay. I've gotâ."
"Come on just use them okay? I've already ordered food. Kindly open the door when it arrives. I'm just gonna take a shower," he said and grabbed the towel from New's hips.
"Fuck Tay!" New exclaimed and grabbed the nearby pillow to cover his front.
"You know what, it's good to hear you cursing me again," he grinned before going in the bathroom.
_____
"What?"
New asked while they were eating. He didn't really intend to stay but a part of him wanted to spend time with Tay.
"Nothing. I just miss eating with you."
"Tss."
"New, I'm sorry."
Instead of replying, he just remained silent. Tay didn't really have anything to explain since there was nothing going on between them. Though he admitted Tay's actions confused him at times.
"I'm sorry for judging you. I-I know I don't have the right to do it but I just got agitated when I saw the picture. I thought, I thought, you, you did it with Earth, too."
Tay grabbed his hand on the table and held it tightly. He just stared at their hands and didn't even dare look at him in the eyes because as much as he wanted to build a wall, Tay would always be that one person he'd allow to destroy it.
"New. I'm sorry. I know you may doubt my intentions but I promise to prove to you that I'm being sincere. Just, just give me a chance."
"T-Tay, Iâ"
"Hellooo!! Oh shit! I'm sorry!" Apple exclaimed as she saw the two.
"Urrgghh!! Apple! I told you not to just barge in here!"
"I'm sorry, okay! I didn't know New is here. Oh come on. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't even have a moment with him! You ungrateful creature!"
"Urgh! You know what I really shouldn't have asked for your help! You always come at the wrong time!"
"Oh really! Fiinneee. I'm quitting but before I leave I'm gonna tell New that you used me to make him jealous. See New instead of directly talking to you, he's taking advantage of other people!"
"Oh come on. As if you won't benefit from it!"
"Whatever you creature!"
New couldn't help but smile as he watched the two argue. And even chuckled when he saw Tay's neck getting red out of frustration.
_____
"Sorry about earlier," he apologized as he walked New to his room.
"You look good together, though."
"Huh? Who? Apple and I? Tsss. She's like a sibling I never had," he replied as they stopped in front of New's room.
He bit his lips and pouted.
"Are you still gonna stay there? I mean, you and Earth..." he said as he stared at his shoes, his foot making random shapes on the carpeted floor.
"I'm, I'm accepting your apology."
He immediately looked at New who was obviously suppressing a smile.
"Shit! Like for real??"
New nodded and smiled at him.
"Oh shit! New, thank you!" he grabbed New into a tight hug.
"T-Tay, I can't breathe."
"Oh shit I'm so damn happy. Thank you, New. Thank you, Hin!" he exclaimed as he shook New's shoulders out of pure happiness.
"But on one condition."
He froze as he waited for New's next words.
"You're gonna talk to my parents about the real deal between us. And we're gonna tell your parents the truth, too."
He stayed still for a moment.
"Fine. We'll go see them. I promise."
"I should go inside. Earth's been calling me nonstop already."
He just nodded and smiled. As much as he wanted to let New stay in his room, he didn't want to force him.
But knowing that he accepted his apology just made him happy.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
He turned to look at Earth who was glowering at him.
"Just sending my boyfriend to his room. Why? Do you have a problem with that?"
"Tsss. Boyfriend? Stop being delusional."
"I'm letting him stay with you tonight but let me warn you, this is the gonna be the last time he'll be staying in the same room as you."
He then walked back to his room while intentionally bumping Earth on the shoulder.
_____
"Where have you been earlier? I was looking for you all over the place but you suddenly disappeared. You're not even answering my calls."
Earth asked the moment he entered the room.
"I-uh. Something happened.. I'm sorry I forgot to tell you."
"Oh come on, just tell the truth. I know you were with Tay. Haven't you learned your lesson? So you wanna go back to being his fake boyfriend and get your heart broken again??"
"Earth, wait. Why are you so worked up? I meanâ"
"Because you're letting yourself fall for his trap again! We both know how vicious Tay is. We both know he's just gonna hurt you in the end. For fuck's sake, he's been with so many girls all his life. Why would he get serious with a gay like you!"
He stilled and so did Earth as he realized what he just said. He was actually stunned by Earth's words, especially by his last statement.
But instead of arguing with him, he just grabbed his bag and rummaged it looking for the bracelet Earth gave him.
"Here's your answer," he muttered as he grabbed Earth's hand and placed the bracelet in his palm.
"Wait, New, it's notâ"
But he could no longer hear his words as he had already slammed the door behind him to look for some place where he could be alone.