Suit Up

Two weeks. Only two weeks left until the wedding. The thought hung over Save like a storm cloud, blocking out any sense of normalcy.

Every time he tried to focus on anything else like school and life, his mind would circle back to the inevitable day. His father had made it clear that there would be no delay, no second-guessing. The wedding was set, and nothing could change it.

Save had tried to push it out of his mind, but today, it was impossible.

Auau was waiting for him outside of his house, standing by a sleek, black car. Save had already mentally prepared himself for the awkwardness of this outing. Suit shopping. How could this possibly be anything other than uncomfortable?

He grabbed his jacket, took a deep breath, and walked out of the house, trying to ignore the heavy feeling in his chest. As soon as he stepped outside, Auau turned toward him with a quiet smile.

"Ready?" Auau asked, his voice steady and calm as always.

Save hesitated for a moment before nodding. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Auau opened the car door for him, and Save slid into the passenger seat. The drive to the boutique was uneventful, save for the tension between them. Neither of them spoke, and the silence seemed to stretch on forever.

The boutique was small but upscale, with large windows showcasing elegant suits and tuxedos. Save felt his stomach tighten as they entered, the quiet atmosphere adding to his unease. The shop assistant greeted them immediately, and without much introduction, led them to the back where the suits were laid out in neat rows.

"You two must be here for the fitting," the assistant said, smiling at them both. "Let's find you the perfect fit."

Auau, who was still calm, seemed to take everything in stride. He glanced at Save. "Let's get this over with, yeah?"

Save didn't respond right away, his thoughts still clouded. But he nodded and followed the assistant toward the racks.

The assistant pulled a few suits in their size, all formal and sleek, the kind of outfits Save had never imagined wearing. Save watched as Auau slipped into one of the suits, his movements smooth and practiced.

It fit him perfectly, the cut of the fabric accentuating his tall frame. The dark color made him look even more imposing, and for a moment, Save felt something.

Auau turned to Save, noticing his gaze. "What do you think?"

Save blinked, shaking his head. "Uh... yeah, it looks good," he said quickly, not wanting to sound too affected. He didn't even know why the suit was making him feel this way.

The assistant adjusted Auau's cuffs and collar, giving them both a knowing look. "Perfect fit. You'll both look wonderful at the wedding."

The assistant was already guiding them to another suit, a lighter color this time, with a sharper cut. Save found himself standing next to the mirror, his reflection staring back at him, but he wasn't sure who it was. The suit was too formal, too polished for him. He wasn't sure if he could pull this off.

"Just try it on," Auau said, his voice still steady, still kind.

Save hesitated but finally nodded, stepping into the fitting room. When he came out, the assistant adjusted his jacket and sleeves. Save barely looked at himself in the mirror.

"You look great," Auau said, giving him a once-over. "What do you think?"

Save glanced up at his reflection, trying to ignore the way the suit made him look different. He didn't look like himself.

"I... don't know," he muttered, running his hand through his hair.

The assistant smiled, clearly pleased. "It's a good fit. Trust me."

Save didn't trust anything about this wedding, let alone how he would feel on the day of it. But he didn't say that. He just nodded, looking away from his reflection.

"I'll take this one," he said, trying to sound confident.

Auau glanced at him with a quiet, understanding smile, and the two of them stood side by side as the assistant took measurements and made the final adjustments.

The car ride from the boutique to the restaurant was much quieter than before. Save was still adjusting to the idea of wearing a suit, still mentally stuck in the strange whirlwind of the wedding planning. He had been to the boutique, tried on the suit, and yet it felt like he hadn't really processed it. All he could focus on now was the growing tension between the forced marriage and the reality of his life as he knew it.

Auau drove calmly, his hands on the wheel, his eyes focused on the road. It was almost as though nothing had changed, as if they hadn't just been in the midst of something so huge, something that would change both of their lives forever.

Save stared out the window, the city blurring by. He didn't want to think about the wedding, didn't want to think about what came next. But the problem was, it was unavoidable.

Eventually, Auau broke the silence.

"You hungry?" he asked, glancing over at Save for a moment. His tone was casual, like they were two friends heading out for lunch instead of two strangers being pushed toward a wedding they didn't ask for.

Save sighed, not looking at him. "Yeah, I guess."

"I know a good place. We can relax for a bit, forget about everything else," Auau said, steering the car into a parking lot.

Save just nodded, trying to push his thoughts aside for a moment. Maybe this lunch could be a break from the overwhelming pressure.

The restaurant was a small, cozy spot tucked between a row of shops, with soft lighting and quiet music playing in the background. As soon as they entered, the hostess led them to a corner booth by the window, where they both sat down.

Auau picked up the menu and scanned it with practiced ease.

"Anything look good?" Auau asked, his eyes meeting Save's with a look of quiet curiosity.

Save glanced at the menu, but his mind wasn't on food. "I'm fine with whatever," he said, trying to sound casual but knowing it probably came off as disinterested.

Auau nodded and set his menu down. "I'll get the usual then. You should try the ramen here. It's my favorite."

Save barely acknowledged the suggestion, still lost in his own thoughts. He didn't want to be rude, but he couldn't help the frustration that bubbled up. He hadn't asked for any of this.

Auau leaned back in the booth, folding his arms across his chest as if waiting for Save to say something. After a long, drawn-out pause, he spoke again, his tone soft.

"Save, I know this isn't easy. I don't expect us to be close right away, but... I want you to know, I'm not forcing you."

Save finally looked up at him, his gaze sharp. "That's easy for you to say," he muttered. "You've been fine with everything. Me? I'm just... stuck."

Auau's eyes flickered with understanding, but he didn't respond immediately. He seemed to consider his words carefully, like he didn't want to say the wrong thing.

"I get it," Auau said quietly. "But we're both in this. Whether we like it or not, this is happening. And all I'm asking for is a chance to make it easier, for both of us. Please, Save. We had discussed about this over and over again."

Save wasn't sure what to say. He wasn't ready to accept the idea of a marriage he didn't choose, a relationship that was more of an obligation than anything else.

"I didn't ask for any of this," Save said, his voice tight with emotion.

Auau didn't seem to be bothered by the outburst. He just nodded slowly. "I know. Neither did I. But we can try to make the best of it. One step at a time."

Before Save could respond, the waiter came over and took their orders, setting the menu down on the table. Save gave him a brief nod, still unsure how to react to Auau's words. He wasn't sure if he was ready to accept this "one step at a time" approach, but it seemed like the only thing he could do. There was no escaping it.

The conversation lulled after that, both of them retreating into their own thoughts as they waited for their food. Save wasn't sure if he should be grateful for the quiet or frustrated by it. It was as if they were both waiting for something to happen, for a sign that things would start making sense.

When their food finally arrived, the simple act of eating made things feel a little more normal. Auau had ordered the ramen he recommended, and Save picked at his own dish, trying not to focus too much on the looming wedding. They ate in comfortable silence for a while, the quiet hum of the restaurant and the clinking of chopsticks offering some relief.

"Are you okay?" Auau asked after a while, breaking the silence again. His voice was softer this time, like he was truly concerned.

Save paused, his chopsticks mid-air. Was he okay? No, he wasn't. But what could he say? That he was terrified? That he hated this whole situation?

"I don't know," Save said quietly, finally meeting Auau's gaze. "I'm not sure how to feel about any of this. It's just... too much."

Auau nodded, not pushing him to say more. "I get that. And I'm not asking for anything from you. If you need space, I'll give it. If you want to talk, I'm here."

Save took a deep breath and nodded. "Thanks," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He didn't know if this was the beginning of anything, or if it was just another awkward moment in a long list of forced interactions. But for now, he could at least try to get through it.