Home in Your Arms

2 AM

Namtan sat in the corner of the waiting area, her cap pulled low, glasses shielding her tired, sleep-heavy eyes. The airport buzzed with quiet movement—soft announcements over the intercom, the occasional shuffle of footsteps, the low murmur of travelers waiting for their own reunions.

Her fingers drummed lightly against her knee, the only outward sign of the restless anticipation coiling inside her.

Two weeks.

Fourteen days apart, but it had felt so much longer.

The original plan to leave together fell through due to Film's prior commitments. As much as they hated it, Film had to stay behind and sort out her schedule before she could be with Namtan. It took two weeks for her to clear everything.

Namtan thought she could handle it. She threw herself into work, believing that building her new firm would keep her busy—and it did. But no amount of work could fill the emptiness of Film's absence.

She checked her phone. No new messages.

She had debated texting Film but decided against it.

She's on the plane. She'll be here soon.

But knowing that didn't help.

The minutes stretched unbearably long, every second dragging as if the universe itself was conspiring to test her patience. She checked the time on her phone for what felt like the hundredth time. Then she checked again. No new messages.

Her foot tapped against the polished airport floor, fingers tightening around her phone. Where is she?

Then—

The screen displaying arrival times flickered, updating.

Flight PR 113 – Delayed.

Namtan sucked in a sharp breath, her stomach twisting in frustration. Delayed?

She exhaled slowly, trying to steady herself, but the rising anxiety refused to settle. It wasn't a long delay—maybe twenty, thirty minutes at most—just air traffic, she guessed. But even that short wait felt unbearable, like the distance between them had stretched all over again.

She clenched her fists. She's coming. Just wait.

Still, the waiting was unbearable.

Every time someone walked past, she found herself checking, hoping, only to feel that quiet pang of disappointment when it wasn't her.

Damn it.

Then, A voice crackled over the speakers, cutting through the restless noise of the terminal:

"Philippine Airlines Flight PR 113 from Los Angeles has arrived."

Namtan's breath hitched. That was Film's flight.

She had flown in from Los Angeles, where she had wrapped up a few scheduled commitments, before finally making her way to the Philippines.

She went completely still for a moment.

Finally.

Her grip on her phone loosened, her heartbeat quickening. She pushed her eyeglasses up, scanning the arrival gates, anticipation coiling tightly in her chest.

Any second now.

She stood slowly, removing her glasses, scanning the arrival doors. Passengers began filing out—business travelers, families, backpackers. But not her.

She swallowed hard, shifting on her feet. She hated this feeling—the way her heart raced, the way time felt agonizingly slow.

And then—

There.

Film stepped out of the arrival gates, dressed casually in ripped jeans and an oversized hoodie, her cap pulled low, a mask covering most of her face. But Namtan would recognize her anywhere—she would recognize her in any lifetime.

Her breath caught in her throat, her chest tightening as the weight of two agonizing weeks without her crashed down all at once. The airport buzzed around her, voices and footsteps blending into a distant hum, but Namtan heard none of it. There was only Film.

Film's eyes swept over the crowd, searching, searching—until they found her.

For a moment, everything stilled.

Namtan saw it all in that single glance—the relief, the longing, the love that had gone unspoken between airport terminals and sleepless nights apart.

Then, before she even realized she was moving, her feet carried her forward.

A slow, familiar warmth flickered in Film's eyes, and in an instant, the tension in Namtan's shoulders melted away.

She didn't care that they were in a crowded airport. She didn't care if anyone was watching.

Film was finally here.

Namtan took a step forward, but before she could say anything, Film was already closing the distance between them.

"You're late," Namtan murmured as Film stopped in front of her, the words barely above a breath.

Film pulled down her mask just enough to reveal the ghost of a smirk. "You're just early."

Namtan exhaled sharply, torn between rolling her eyes and closing the distance between them in a kiss. But before she could decide, Film moved first—reaching for her, pulling her in, holding her as if she had been aching for this moment just as much.

For a heartbeat, Namtan froze, overwhelmed by the rush of emotions crashing over her. Then, instinct took over, and she melted into Film's embrace, her arms slipping around her waist, fingers clutching at the fabric of her hoodie as if to ground herself.

She breathed her in—the faint scent of Film's shampoo, the warmth of her body, the steady rise and fall of her chest. Two weeks without this. Two weeks without her. It had been far too long.

"I missed you," Film murmured into her hair, her voice soft, intimate, filled with the kind of longing that made Namtan's heart ache.

Namtan pressed her face into Film's shoulder, holding her even tighter. "Me too. More than you can imagine."

They stood there, wrapped up in each other, ignoring the passing travelers and the occasional lingering stare.

After a moment, Film leaned back slightly, her eyes scanning Namtan's face. "Tired?"

"A little," Namtan admitted. "But I'll survive."

Film grinned. "Good. Because I plan on staying up all night catching up with you."

Namtan huffed a laugh, shaking her head. "You have a party to attend after my oath-taking. Don't get too ahead of yourself."

Film groaned dramatically. "Fine. But after that, no one's stealing you from me."

Namtan's heart swelled.

She reached up, brushing a strand of hair from Film's face. "No one's taking me away, babe. I'm right here."

Film's expression softened, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

Namtan took a step closer, her heart pounding, wanting nothing more than to risk everything and kiss Film right then and there—for everyone to see. But before she could, a teasing voice cut through the moment.

"So... should we get going, or are you two planning to give the whole airport a show?" Kiera smirked, arms crossed as she watched them with open amusement.

Behind her, Film's PA, Anne, and her bodyguard, Rob—whom she had reluctantly agreed to bring along—chuckled at the scene unfolding in front of them.

Film groaned, shooting Kiera a glare. "You brought Anne and Rob just so you could have an audience every time you bully me, didn't you?"

Kiera shrugged innocently. "Nope. I brought them so I'd have people to take over bullying you if I ever get tired."

Anne and Rob burst into laughter, nodding in agreement, while Film let out a dramatic sigh. "I hate all of you."

Namtan, grinning, laced her fingers through Film's, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Well, Anne and Rob can just go on vacation here because I can take care of you just fine," she teased.

Film's cheeks tinged pink as the others laughed again, clearly enjoying her flustered reaction.

"Fine," Film huffed, tightening her grip on Namtan's hand. "But you're making this up to me later."

Namtan leaned in close, her lips brushing against Film's ear as she whispered, "I fully intend to."

Film shivered slightly, and Kiera groaned loudly. "Alright, lovebirds, wrap it up. Let's get moving before you two start making heart eyes again. We have places to be, and I'd rather not get mobbed by fans while you two are too busy flirting."

With a final laugh, Namtan pulled Film toward the exit, their fingers still intertwined. "Let's go home."

As they stepped into the warm Manila air, the night buzzing with life around them, Film glanced at Namtan and smiled.

She was finally here.

And as they walked side by side, their hands locked together, they knew—this was only the beginning.

---

The late morning air was warm, golden sunlight streaming through the windows of Namtan's condo, casting soft shadows across the room. She moved around quietly, double-checking that everything was set for later. The scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the faint traces of Film's perfume still lingering from earlier that day.

Behind her, a soft groan broke the silence.

Film had just woken up, still groggy from the time difference. After arriving at Namtan's condo, they had all agreed to rest before the big event. The moment Kiera, Rob, and Anne retreated to their rented condo next door, Namtan and Film had wasted no time pulling each other in for a long, heated make-out session—utterly drawn to each other, their hands had found familiar paths, their lips meeting again—slow, unhurried, reverent. Every touch spoke of longing, of the ache of distance, of the love they had carried across time zones.

Wrapped in the darkness, in whispered promises and quiet gasps, they made love, reacquainting themselves with every inch of the space they had missed. And when the intensity faded into soft kisses and tangled limbs, they finally surrendered to sleep, wrapped in each other's warmth—breathing in, breathing out, in perfect sync once again.

Film shuffled out of the bedroom, her oversized shirt slipping slightly off her shoulder, shorts hanging low on her hips. Her hair was a mess, her eyes still heavy with sleep as she stretched, blinking at the bright morning light.

"You're up," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes as she made her way to Namtan, wrapping her arms around her from behind and resting her chin on her shoulder.

"You, on the other hand, didn't even flinch when my alarm went off," Namtan teased, tilting her head slightly to press a soft kiss against Film's temple. "I figured I'd let you sleep a little longer."

Film hummed, tightening her hold. "Mm. You're too good to me."

Namtan smirked. "I know."

"Are you nervous?" Film asked, her voice softer now.

Namtan exhaled, her hands momentarily stilling over the countertop. "A little. It's a big day."

Film turned her around gently, cupping her face. "You'll do amazing. You always do."

Namtan searched Film's eyes, letting the words settle deep before leaning in, capturing her lips in a slow, lingering kiss. Her fingers trailed up Film's neck, tangling in her hair as the kiss deepened, heat building between them once more—ready to pull them right back in until...

"Go shower," Namtan murmured against her lips. "Or we're not leaving this condo at all."

Film grinned, pulling away reluctantly. "You're really cruel sometimes, you know that?"

Namtan only laughed, swatting her toward the bathroom. "Go."

With one last playful pout, Film disappeared into the shower, leaving Namtan to finish preparing for the day ahead.

A little while later, freshly showered and smelling like Namtan's lavender body wash, Film walked back into the room, towel-drying her hair. She leaned against the counter, watching Namtan move around with ease.

"You sure you don't want me to stay at a hotel?" Film teased, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "I mean, I know you love having me around, but I don't want to completely take over your space."

Namtan shot her a look before rolling her eyes. "I already told you—I want you in all of my space."

Film's smirk widened as she made her way over, settling herself right onto Namtan's lap, straddling her with a playful glint in her eyes. "So, what you're saying is... you want me all to yourself?"

Namtan scoffed, but her heart flipped at the warmth of Film's body so close to hers. She placed her hands on Film's waist, squeezing gently. "I'm saying I want to make things easier for you," she corrected. "If you stay in a hotel, you'll be dealing with fans, paparazzi, and all that chaos. This way, we actually get some peace and..." she trailed off, giving Film a teasing look, "well, that too."

Film laughed, tilting her head. "Mmm, I like this arrangement already."

Just as she leaned in, about to steal a kiss, a sharp knock sounded at the door.

Film groaned dramatically, burying her face in Namtan's shoulder. "They have the worst timing."

Namtan chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to the side of Film's head before gently nudging her off her lap and standing up to open the door.

Film flopped onto the couch, grumbling. "I should start charging them every time they interrupt."

Namtan had insisted that Film stay with her instead of booking a hotel, and to make things more convenient, she had rented the neighboring condo for Kiera, Anne, and Rob. Film had initially resisted, not wanting to be an inconvenience, but Namtan had shut down all her protests with a single, pointed look.

"You're staying with me. End of discussion," Namtan had said firmly, hands on her hips.

And just like that, Film had relented, though she made a mental note to tease Namtan about how bossy she was later.

And now, as Kiera stood at the doorway, eyebrow raised, Film already knew what was coming.

"Did we interrupt something?" Kiera smirked, stepping inside.

Namtan only shook her head, laughing as Film groaned again, pulling a cushion over her face.

Not long after they finished eating, Kiera, Anne, and Rob headed back to their condo to prepare for the event. Just as Namtan was about to clear the table, a knock sounded at the door.

She barely had time to react before Film was already rushing over, excitement lighting up her face as she swung the door open.

"Nicha!" Film exclaimed, pulling her sister into a tight hug.

Nicha laughed, squeezing her just as tightly before pulling back to get a better look at her. "God, you actually came all the way here and are staying for a while? Who are you, and what have you done with my sister?"

Film rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I missed you too."

Namtan watched with a fond smile as the sisters reunited. Standing beside Nicha was her husband Frank—Faye's brother—who greeted them warmly.

While Nicha already knew about Film dating Namtan, she still seemed a bit surprised that her sister had actually flown to the Philippines and planned to stay longer than just a few days. She linked arms with Film and gave her a mock stern look.

Nicha crossed her arms, "You better promise me you'll stay at our house for a while too. Tori misses you and asks about you all the time. I barely get to see you as it is, and now that you're finally here, you're not getting away that easily."

Film's face lit up with a wide smile. "Oh my god, Tori! Why didn't you bring her? I miss her so much!"

Nicha chuckled, shaking her head. "Because if I did, she'd be all over you, and we'd never get anything done. You know how hyper your niece is."

Film laughed. "Yeah, I know. I miss playing with her, though."

"You'll see her later at Namtan's celebration," Nicha assured her. "We thought it'd be best to keep her home for the oath-taking—she'd just get bored and start running around, and we both know how that ends."

Film sighed dramatically. "Fair point. Last time, she almost knocked over an entire cake stand."

"Exactly," Nicha said with a knowing smirk. "So, she'll save all that energy for later when you have no choice but to give her your full attention."

Film grinned. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

The three of them laughed before Nicha turned to Namtan with a playful smirk, a knowing glint in her eyes. "And you... you're really something, convincing my stubborn sister to come all the way here."

Namtan grinned, tilting her head slightly. "Well, she didn't need much convincing," she teased, stealing a quick glance at Film. "I believe she just can't live without me."

Nicha and Frank burst into laughter, clearly enjoying the way Film's face immediately scrunched up in faux annoyance.

"Wow, the confidence," Film muttered, rolling her eyes, but the slight blush on her cheeks gave her away.

Nicha nudged her. "Oh, come on, Film, we all know it's true. You've barely been apart, and look at you—already dropping everything to fly here."

Frank nodded in agreement. "Yeah, didn't even put up a fight. It's adorable, really."

Film groaned, covering her face with her hands. "I walked right into this, didn't I?"

Namtan smirked, wrapping an arm around her waist. "You sure did, babe."

Nicha laughed again, shaking her head. "Alright, alright, we'll stop teasing. For now." She winked at Namtan before giving her sister another squeeze. "Seriously though, I'm just glad you're here."

Film let out a small sigh, finally smiling. "Yeah... me too."

As they chatted and caught up, Namtan couldn't shake off the nerves bubbling inside her. The oath-taking ceremony was happening that afternoon—a milestone she had worked so hard for. She should have been nothing but excited. But there was something else weighing on her, something that made her stomach twist with unease.

Faye and Film would be in the same place at the same time.

She knew, logically, that there was no reason to be anxious. Faye had long since moved on—she was happily married to Yoko now. And Film... Film was here, with her, choosing her. But still, the thought of them in the same room, surrounded by people, felt like an itch she couldn't quite scratch.

Film must have noticed the way her smile faltered, the way her fingers absentmindedly tapped against her knee, because she gently nudged Namtan's side. "Hey. Stop overthinking."

Namtan let out a slow breath. "I can't help it. I know everything's fine, but it still feels... weird, you know?"

Film tilted her head, studying her. "Trust me, I get it," she said softly. "But Faye and I are good. And she's your friend too. It's not going to be as awkward as you think."

Nicha, who had been quietly observing, chimed in with a reassuring smile. "Yeah, don't stress over it. We're all here for you today. This is your moment, Namtan. Don't let anything take that away from you."

Namtan exhaled, finally allowing herself to relax just a little. She knew they were right. She had been overthinking it, letting unnecessary worries creep in. Today was about her, about everything she had worked for.

They still had to get ready for the ceremony, and soon enough, the time came to head out. As they arrived at the venue, the nerves returned in a dull hum, but they were quickly overshadowed by something else—excitement.

Faye, Yoko and her family was already there, along with Sonya, waiting. And when their eyes met across the room, Faye gave her a small smile, warm and understanding.

Namtan felt Film's fingers slip through hers, a silent show of support, grounding her.

And in that moment, she knew—it was going to be okay.