The Wedding Day

The day had arrived. The day that had loomed over Save like a storm cloud for weeks was finally here. He could hear the quiet hum of the city outside his window, the bustle of people going about their lives, unaware of the weight on his shoulders.

Save sat at his desk, staring at his phone, his thumb hovering over the screen as he scrolled through a string of unread messages. His dad had checked in three times, reminding him to be on time. Even Ryujin had texted, though his message was simply a heart emoji and a quick "Good luck, you got this" something simple, yet it made Save feel a little less alone.

But none of it changed the fact that he was about to walk down the aisle to marry a man he barely knew. It was happening. No matter how much he wanted to run, he was stuck in the middle of a promise his grandfather had made, a promise that felt more like a shackle than a blessing.

The door to his room creaked open, and Teetee stepped in, his face radiant as always.

"Are you ready, Save?" he asked, his voice soft. "The car's waiting. You don't want to keep him waiting."

Save met his gaze and forced a smile, but the anxiety gnawing at his stomach didn't go away. "Yeah. I'm ready." But it was a lie. He wasn't ready. He had no idea how he was supposed to feel, no idea how to make sense of the entire situation.

Teetee studied him for a moment, his smile faltering just slightly. "I know you're nervous, but this is what's best for our family. I will always support you na. Everything will be fine."

Save nodded, though he didn't believe him. What was best for their family? Was it really this? Was it truly about a promise made decades ago, or was it about controlling his future, deciding who he should marry, who he should love?

Before he could say anything else, Teetee gently pulled him up from the chair. "Let's get you to the car. It's time. You can do this!"

The drive to the venue was a blur. Save stared out the window, his thoughts racing a mile a minute. He barely noticed the familiar city landmarks as they passed by. He could already feel the weight of the ceremony pressing on him, the overwhelming sensation of not knowing what would come next.

When the car finally pulled up to the grand venue, Save's heart skipped a beat. The doors opened, and his father was already standing there, waiting for him with a smile that was too wide, too insistent.

"You look perfect," his father said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Everything is ready. Don't worry, it's going to be amazing."

Save didn't feel amazing. He felt like he was about to step into a world that didn't belong to him, a life that wasn't his to choose. But he kept his mouth shut, letting his father lead him through the doors of the ornate hall.

As he walked down the aisle toward the altar, Save's eyes scanned the crowd. Relatives, friends, acquaintances, everyone was here, watching him. And then, finally, he saw Auau, standing at the altar in his sleek, tailored suit, looking every bit the picture of calm. His smile was steady and serene.

As Save approached the altar, his stomach twisted with nervousness. He wanted to reach out, to say something, to break the silence between them. But the weight of the moment, of the expectations, pressed down too hard.

When he finally stood beside Auau, the world seemed to stop. The priest began the ceremony, his words a distant murmur. Save's mind was elsewhere, trying to grasp the reality of what was happening. The vows, the rings, the promises, it all felt like a blur.

But then, it was time. The priest looked at Save, waiting for his response.

"Do you, Worapong Walor, take Thanaphum Sestasittikul to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and cherish, in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?"

Save's heart hammered in his chest. His hands trembled slightly, but he forced himself to look up at Auau. The man standing before him was no longer just a stranger. There was something there, something deep and hidden that he couldn't quite understand. He felt it in the way Auau's eyes softened, in the slight tug of a smile at the corner of his lips. This wasn't just a contract. It wasn't just a promise. There was a human being standing in front of him, someone who would be a part of his life, whether he was ready or not.

Save took a breath. "I do," he said, his voice steady, though his heart was anything but.

The priest turned to Auau, his gaze expectant. "And do you, Thanaphum Sestasittikul, take Worapong Walor to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and cherish, in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?"

Auau's eyes met Save's, and for the briefest moment, unspoken gentleness passed between them.

"I do," Auau said softly, his voice carrying a warmth that made Save's chest tighten.

The priest smiled, his hands already reaching for the rings. "Then, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and husband. You may kiss the groom."

Save's heart pounded as Auau reached for him, his touch warm as their eyes locked once more. This was it. The moment. The kiss, the official start of their life together.

And then, as their lips met in a soft, almost tentative kiss, Save realized that no matter how much he had resisted, how much he had fought against this, this was his reality now. Save allowed himself to feel the warmth of the kiss, the connection that was slowly forming between him and the man who had been thrust into his life.

The kiss broke, and Auau pulled back just enough to look at Save, his expression soft. "It's going to be okay," he said quietly.

Save nodded, unsure of what the future held.

The priest's voice brought them back to reality. "You may now greet your guests."

Save took a deep breath, suddenly feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on him. His family, their friends, distant relatives, everyone was watching, waiting for him to do something, to say something. He glanced at Auau, whose calm expression contrasted with the knot in Save's stomach. The man didn't seem to feel the pressure. In fact, Auau looked almost... at ease, as if this was just another part of his life that he was simply walking through.

Save wasn't sure how to feel about that. He wanted to be the same, to feel confident and unbothered, but all he could do was smile awkwardly and nervously as he followed Auau down the aisle, toward the reception area where the guests were waiting.

"Ready?" Auau asked, his voice a soft rumble beside him.

Save nodded, forcing his smile to stay in place. "As ready as I'll ever be."

They reached the reception hall, where the first wave of guests stood waiting to congratulate them. Lady Chanya was the first to approach, her arms wide open as she embraced him in a tight, almost suffocating hug.

"You look so beautiful," she said, pulling away then looking over at Auau. "Take care of Save and prioritized him in everything. May both of you live a happy life"

Save could see the pride in her eyes, the satisfaction of everything going exactly as planned. Auau gave her a polite smile and a respectful nod in return.

"I will, mother."

Save's chest tightened again, but he smiled as graciously as he could. He wanted to believe that this was going to work, that everything would somehow make sense. But he couldn't shake the unease that clung to him, the feeling that his life had shifted in ways he couldn't understand.

As they moved further into the hall, Save noticed his father, standing near the bar, chatting with a few family friends. His father caught his eye and offered a quick, approving nod, the same one he had given throughout the ceremony. Save's heart squeezed. His father was proud, but did that pride come from love, or just the fulfillment of an old promise?

Auau didn't seem phased by any of it. He stood beside Save with quiet grace, nodding politely as guests approached to offer their congratulations. Save couldn't help but watch how effortlessly he interacted with the people around him. It was as if he had been doing this for years, putting on the mask of the perfect partner without breaking a sweat.

At one point, Save found himself standing next to his brother, Por, who was there with his husband, Teetee. Por looked at Save with a knowing smile and leaned in.

"You okay?" he asked, his tone a little too casual for the situation.

Save nodded stiffly. "Yeah, just... a little overwhelmed, I guess."

Por gave him a sympathetic look. "It's a lot, huh? Don't worry. Auau seems like a good guy. He's got this whole 'perfect husband' thing down."

Save didn't know how to respond to that. What was he supposed to say? Yeah, he seems perfect. But I don't really know him that well yet. So, instead, he simply nodded again and looked around the room, avoiding eye contact with Por.

The reception hall was warm and buzzing with conversation. There were long tables set up with food and drinks, the air rich with the scent of the catered dishes. Save could hear snippets of chatter, guests talking about the ceremony, reminiscing about past family events, complimenting the couple on their vows.

Then, Save felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Auau standing behind him, smiling. "Ready for the first dance?" Auau asked, his voice low, close.

Save swallowed the lump in his throat. The first dance. He hadn't even thought about it, hadn't prepared for it.

"Uh, sure," Save managed, though the thought of stepping onto the dance floor in front of everyone made his stomach churn.

Auau offered him his hand, his touch surprisingly warm and steady. Save took it without thinking, allowing himself to be led to the center of the room. The music began to play soft, romantic and the spotlight fell on them.

Save's heart raced as they slowly began to move together. Auau's hand on his back was firm, guiding him effortlessly, and Save followed the rhythm. The world seemed to fade a little as they swayed to the music.

As Save and Auau danced, the noise of the reception hall seemed to fade into the background. The spotlight was on them, but something else caught Save's attention. Across the room, standing near the back by a table, Save saw him.

Ryujin.

Their eyes locked. For a brief, fleeting moment, the world around them seemed to disappear, leaving only the connection between them. Ryujin was standing there, his posture a little tense but his expression soft, almost wistful.

He hadn't come to greet them yet, hadn't approached, but Save could feel the weight of his gaze, the unspoken words that hung between them. It was a look Save knew all too well, lingered with regret and longing.

Without thinking, Save gently pulled away from Auau, muttering a quick, "I'll be right back." Auau gave him a slight nod, his focus still on the dance, but Save wasn't paying attention to that anymore. He needed to get to Ryujin.

He made his way through the crowd, heart beating a little faster as he neared his best friend. Ryujin hadn't moved, still standing there like a lone figure in the midst of the celebration. Save couldn't help but notice the small flicker of discomfort in Ryujin's eyes as he saw him approach, but it was quickly masked by a casual smile.

"Ryujin," Save said, his voice quieter than usual, feeling a little awkward despite himself.

"Save," Ryujin replied, his smile soft but sincere. "You look... pretty."

The words hit Save harder than expected. Pretty? He'd never heard Ryujin compliment him like that, not in such a direct, almost tender way. His chest tightened slightly.

"Thanks," Save muttered, his hands slipping into his pockets. "It's... a lot, you know? All of this."

Ryujin nodded, his expression unreadable now. "I can imagine. You okay?"

Save hesitated, glancing over his shoulder at Auau, who was talking with a few distant relatives, his back to them. The momentary distraction gave Save the space to think more clearly.

"I don't know," Save admitted. "It's... strange."

Ryujin's smile faltered for a moment, a flicker of something passing through his eyes before he spoke again. "Don't be to tense today. You did such a great job."

There was something comforting about his words, but Save couldn't help but notice the tone. He swallowed, suddenly feeling more exposed than ever.

"Thanks, Ryujin," Save said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I... I don't know what I'd do without you."

Ryujin's smile returned, but this time it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'll always be here for you, Save."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. There was a quiet tension in the air, a silence filled with so many things left unsaid. Finally, Save cleared his throat, the weight of the moment pressing down on him.

"I should get back," Save said, glancing back at Auau, who was now looking around, probably wondering where Save had gone. "But... thanks. Really."

Ryujin didn't say anything at first, just watching him with that same unreadable expression. When he did speak, his voice was softer than usual.

"Of course. Take care, okay?"

Save nodded, forcing a smile, and then turned to walk back to the dance floor, but not before casting one last glance at Ryujin.