Work Text:
1
It was past nine in the evening when he finally pulled up to William’s apartment building. Est dragged his heavy duffel bag out of his car’s trunk. With two grueling days of final rehearsals ahead and the three-day concert weekend right after, staying at William’s place just made sense logistically. It was closer to the venue, and P’Ko practically insisted they stay glued at the hip to keep their energy synced up.
Synced up. Right. Est just hoped he wouldn't lose his mind first.
When he reached the familiar door, he didn't even bother knocking; he just tapped his code into the digital lock, hearing the sharp beep-beep-beep-click that welcomed him in.
The apartment was quiet, smelling faintly of the baby powder William always used.
"William?" Est called out, dropping his duffel bag heavily onto the entryway floor.
William stepped out into the living room. He was wearing an oversized gray hoodie and sweatpants, his hair damp from a recent shower, looking devastatingly soft and entirely too comfortable. A huge, genuine smile instantly broke across his face the second he saw Est.
"Phi! You're finally here," William said, his voice warm as he jogged over to help lift the heavy bag. "I was starting to think you got lost. Are you tired?"
"I am," Est muttered, not even having the energy to carry his own belongings.
He bypassed William entirely, trailing his feet down the short hallway and straight into William's bedroom. He didn't even bother turning on the lights or kicking off his jeans. Est just blindly face-planted straight onto the mattress, letting out a muffled, exhausted groan into the pillows. The sheets smelled exactly like William, warm and clean, and he could feel his eyelids instantly growing heavy.
He barely had three seconds of peace before a sudden, heavy weight dropped directly onto his back.
Est let out a loud, breathless grunt as William plopped right on top of him, anchoring his chin comfortably on Est’s shoulder blade. William’s arms wrapped loosely around Est's midsection, his damp hair cold against the nape of Est's neck, effectively pinning him to the mattress.
Neither of them moved. It was a completely natural, unthinking routine for them by now— this heavy, tangled hugging position that would look entirely scandalous to anyone else, but was just a regular day for them.
"You're heavy," Est grumbled into the pillow, though he didn't make a single effort to push William off. He just blindly reached back, his fingers tracing up the sleeve of William's gray hoodie until he could loosely interlock his fingers with William's.
"Mmm," William hummed contentedly, shifting his weight so he was nestled even closer against Est’s back. "P'Ko said we need to sync our energy. Don't complain."
Est let out a soft, dry laugh, his heart doing a stupid, familiar flip at the casual intimacy. He squeezed William's fingers, staring at the dim wall of the bedroom. The silence between them was heavy, sweet, and practically begging for a definition.
"Hey, William," Est murmured, his voice dropping into that quiet, serious register he only used when it was just the two of them in the dark.
"Yeah?"
"My mom called me earlier," Est said slowly, tracing the back of William’s knuckles with his thumb. "She asked who I was staying with for the next five days."
William shifted slightly, his chin rubbing against Est's shoulder as he blinked sleepily. "What did you tell her? You told her you're staying with me, right?"
"Yeah. I told her I'm staying at your place." Est paused, letting the silence stretch for a beat to build the gravity, before laying the trap perfectly on a silver platter. "But then she asked me what she should call you. You know... what your official title is to me, since we're always glued to the hip like this."
Est held his breath. This was it. The ultimate opening. They were literally tangled up in a bed together, holding hands in the dark. All William had to do was catch the hint, realize they were already acting like a couple, and say, 'Tell her I'm your boyfriend.'
William was quiet for a long moment. Est could practically hear the slow, heavy gears turning in the younger boy's head. Finally, William let out a soft, thoroughly satisfied chuckle, tightening his arms around Est's waist in a firm, brotherly squeeze.
"Ah, Mae is so cute," William said cheerfully, his tone dripping with innocent pride. "You should just tell her I’m your favorite co-star, Phi. Or your personal assistant for the week! Yeah, tell her I'm the one in charge of making sure you get enough sleep. That'll make her feel relieved."
Est stared blankly at the dark headboard. The hopeful flutter in his chest died a swift, painful death, completely flattened by the sheer, unadulterated density of the boy resting on his back.
Favorite co-star. Personal assistant. Est wanted to scream.
"My personal assistant," Est repeated flatly, his voice hollow.
"Yeah! Accurate, right? I take good care of you," William beamed, entirely serious and thoroughly pleased with his answer. He nuzzled his face into Est's shoulder one last time before rolling off him to lay on his back beside him, yawning loudly. "Go shower, Phi. Your PA orders you to get some rest."
Est lay frozen on his stomach for a few seconds, letting out a long, slow breath through his nose. He dragged a hand over his face in pure, burning frustration, his fingers digging into his eyes.
He wasn't even panicking or trying to dodge the question. He was genuinely just that stupid.
"Yeah," Est muttered darkly into the mattress, rolling over away from William to hide his thoroughly irritated face. "Thanks, my assistant."
2
Everyone was so exhausted. They had been running the concert setlist for four hours straight, and Est’s feet were aching. He was standing, wiping his neck with a small towel, when the heavy bass of the backing track abruptly cut out.
"Happy birthday to you... Happy birthday to you..."
William was singing at the top of his lungs, his eyes crinkling into that huge, proud smile. He stepped directly into Est's space, holding the shark cake right between them. Est laughed, a genuine warmth flooding his chest as he leaned forward and blew out the candles.
The room erupted into loud cheers. William immediately handed the cake off to a nearby staff member so he could wrap Est in a tight hug, lifting him slightly off his feet.
Seeing the tight embrace, their friends started grinning mischievously.
"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"
The studio boomed with the noise, people stomping their feet on the wooden floor, phones raised to record the chaos. It was classic teasing, loud and relentless.
Est pulled back from the hug just enough to look William in the eye. With the adrenaline still pumping through his veins, he felt a sudden flash of playful bravery. He tilted his head, a teasing, challenging smirk pulling at his lips as the “Kiss! Kiss!” chant grew louder around them.
"Well, the crowd is asking," Est murmured, his voice low enough to be caught just by William under the din of the room. He leaned in a fraction of an inch, his eyes dropping deliberately to William’s lips before locking back onto his eyes. "Are you going to do it, or are you too scared to give the people what they want?"
Est was practically handing him an invitation on a silver platter to just lean down, break the boundary, and make a real move.
William looked at Est’s mouth, then back up at his eyes. For a split second, he looked completely thoughtful. Then, a look of bright, cheerful realization washed over his face.
"You're right, we can't disappoint the team," William said loudly, thoroughly pleased with himself.
Before Est's brain could even process the words, William leaned in fast— and planted a massive, loud, aggressive wet kiss right on Est’s left cheek, making a dramatic SMACK sound that echoed over the noise. He pulled back, laughing brightly, and slung a heavy arm around Est's neck to wave at the cheering crowd like they had just won a championship football match.
The chanting morphed into a mix of laughs and affectionate groans. Perth and Santa just shook their heads, laughing at William's sheer, unbothered energy.
Est stood frozen under the weight of William’s arm, his left cheek feeling slightly damp. The romantic tension had been completely obliterated, repackaged into a loud, platonic bro-moment by the sheer force of William's density. So, he just thought it was a fun, brotherly performance for the cast.
Est’s smirk slowly flattened into a deadpan expression. He let out a long, slow breath through his nose, his shoulders slumping.
"Brilliant," Est muttered darkly under his breath, wiping his cheek with the back of his hand. "Absolute genius."
3
The leather-wrapped steering wheel of William’s Aston Martin felt heavy under Est’s palms as he brought the car to a smooth halt at a long red light. It was past midnight, and the exhaustion from back-to-back rehearsal days was settling deep into their bones.
Est rested his elbow against the window sill, rubbing his tired eyes with one hand while keeping his foot on the brake.
Beside him, William let out a long, sleepy sigh. Without warning, the younger boy shifted in his leather seat. Bypassing the sleek central console entirely, William leaned across the space separating them, casually tumbling sideways until his shoulder pressed flush against Est’s side and his head dropped heavily right into Est's lap.
Est froze for a fraction of a second, his heart giving a familiar, erratic thud against his ribs. He looked down. William had adjusted himself quite comfortably. William was scrolling through his phone, the soft screen glow reflecting off his sharp nose and long eyelashes.
It was ridiculous. It was a luxury sports car, not a living room couch, but William didn't seem to care. He was just naturally gravitating toward Est, completely unbothered by the lack of space.
Est stared down at the dark hair resting against his thighs. A wave of heavy affection mixed with his usual frustration washed over him. He lowered his left hand from the steering wheel and gently buried his fingers into William's soft, messy hair, lightly massaging his scalp.
William let out a soft, pleased hum, his scrolling slowing down until he finally locked his phone and set it face down on his chest. He tilted his chin up, looking up at Est from a completely inverted perspective.
The quiet inside the car suddenly felt incredibly dense. The red light cast a warm, crimson glow over the sharp lines of William's face, shadowing his eyes and catching the soft curve of his mouth. With his fingers still tangled in William's hair and the hum of the engine vibrating beneath them, Est felt a sudden, reckless urge to push.
He stopped moving his hand, letting the silence stretch between them like a tight wire. He leaned down just a few inches, his gaze dropping explicitly to William's mouth and staying there.
Come on, Est thought desperately, his chest tightening. We are literally like this. Just say it.
"Phi… My lips are so dry," William murmured, his voice a low, raspy velvet in the quiet car.
Est’s breath hitched. He kept his eyes locked on William’s mouth, his heart hammering a frantic rhythm. "Do you want some lip balm?" Est whispered, his voice dropping into that quiet, dangerous register.
"Yes," William replied.
Est didn't hesitate. He leaned down the remaining distance, his heart in his throat, and pressed his lips firmly against William’s.
The kiss was soft, warm, and heavy with all the unsaid words Est had been harboring for months. He felt the initial stillness of William’s lips, then the way William softly parted them, accepting the touch, his hand coming up to gently grip Est’s forearm to steady himself. Est poured everything into it, grounding himself in the taste of him, waiting for the sudden realization to hit the younger boy.
This is it. There's no coming back from this. Ask me.
When Est finally pulled back, just an inch away, their breaths were mingling in the dark. Est’s eyes were dark, his pulse racing as he waited for William to finally say the words, to finally ask him to be his boyfriend.
William blinked, a bit dazed, his cheeks faintly pink. He smacked his lips together once, a thoroughly thoughtful look crossing his face.
"Wow," William said softly, a bright, completely amazed smile breaking across his face. "You're right, Phi. Your lip balm really works instantly. My lips don't feel dry at all anymore. What brand is that?"
The heavy, romantic tension vanished into thin air, completely vaporized by the sheer, terrifying magnitude of William’s density. He thought the kiss was just a highly efficient, alternative method of product delivery.
Est sat frozen, his fingers still tangled in William's hair, staring at the younger boy in absolute, horrified disbelief.
Behind them, a car honked loudly, signaling that the traffic light had turned green.
Est let out a long, slow breath through his nose, his jaw tightening so hard it ached. He pulled his hand out of William’s hair, gripped the steering wheel, and slammed his foot on the gas pedal a little too hard, making the Aston Martin roar forward into the Bangkok night.
"It's limited edition," Est muttered through gritted teeth, staring dead ahead at the road. "And you can't afford it."
William just chuckled warmly, settling deeper into Est’s lap, entirely oblivious to the fact that he had just survived a romantic assassination attempt. "So stingy, P'Est."
4
The final notes of “Suai Deng Dueng” boomed through the arena speakers, leaving them both completely breathless. Now, they were right in the middle of the concert's talk segment. Under the blinding stage lights, they were doing what they always did best— feeding the crowd’s energy. They leaned into each other's spaces, flirted like crazy, and exchanged long, lingering looks.
To the thousands of fans watching, it was the perfect, romantic show.
To William, it was exactly that: a show. Or, so what he thought. He was naturally affectionate, a natural entertainer, and completely oblivious to the fact that his Phi next to him wasn't acting at all.
Est watched William laugh into his microphone, his heart hammering against his ribs from the adrenaline of the performance. He adjusted his microphone, looked dead into William’s eyes, and let his voice carry smoothly over the deafening stadium speakers.
"People can’t actually become lovers if no one has asked first, you know," Est murmured, his tone a dangerous mix of a public joke and a deeply private truth.
William was shut up. The massive roar of the stadium seemed to fade into a dull hum as he just stood there, a soft, unreadable smile playing on his lips. His eyes locked dead onto Est’s face.
For one agonizing, beautiful second, Est’s heart leaped straight into his throat. A sudden wave of heat rushed through his veins. Is he actually taking it seriously this time? Est wondered desperately, his breath catching in his chest. Did he finally, finally get it? Or was he about to be completely stupid all over again?
Then, William moved.
With a sudden, fluid motion, William smoothly dropped down onto one knee right there on the center stage.
The stadium absolutely exploded. The high-pitched, deafening screams of thousands of fans ripped through the arena like a tidal wave. Est felt his chest tighten, his mind completely racing as he stared down at the top of William's head. A dizzying mix of panic and hope crashing over him.
But William didn't look up to deliver a romantic confession. Instead, he reached down, his hands hovering over his sleek, designer shoes— shoes that didn't even have a single shoelace on them.
With an incredibly focused, thoroughly serious expression, William began meticulously going through the motions of tying an invisible knot.
“Alai! What? I’m tying my lace," William joked into his mic, utterly thrilled with his own comedic timing. "Safety first, right?"
He looked incredibly proud of himself, practically waiting for Est to hit him with a witty comeback or a playful roll of the eyes.
But Est walked away. He tilted his head back, staring up at the ceiling of the arena where. He let out a long, silent breath, a small, involuntary smile pulling at the corner of his lips. It wasn't his usual teasing smirk, or even his practiced actor smile. It was the soft, tired laugh of someone who had finally reached their absolute limit.
This is so stupid, Est thought. He is so incredibly, unbelievably stupid.
5
The concert layout was officially over, the makeup had been washed off, and the blinding stage lights were replaced by the soft, warm ambient glow of William’s living room.
They were collapsed on the sofa together, the absolute exhaustion of the Fanfest finally pulling them under.
Est didn't care about boundaries anymore. He was too tired to think, too tired to guard his heart, and far too tired to care about hints. He was completely melted against William’s side, his long legs tangled with the younger boy's on the cushions. He had shifted until his entire face was buried directly into the crook of William’s neck, his forehead pressed against the warm skin right beneath William’s jaw. He was clinging to his Nong like a lifeline, one arm slung heavily over William’s waist, breathing in the familiar, comforting scent of baby powder and clean laundry.
William naturally shifted to accommodate the weight, pulling Est even closer against his chest.
"You worked so hard, Phi," William murmured, his deep voice vibrating right against Est’s cheek as he spoke. He reached up, his large, warm hand finding its way into Est's soft hair. He began to gently run his fingers through the strands, massaging Est’s scalp in slow, soothing motions, consciously trying to soothe the tension away from the older boy’s shoulders. "We both did. It's finally over."
Est didn't answer. He just let out a soft, muffled hum against William's skin, tightening his grip on the younger boy's waist. He was so warm, and the steady, rhythmic scratching of William's fingers in his hair was making his eyelids dangerously heavy.
"P'Est, You are very, very clingy when you're tired, you know that?"
"Shut up.”
Slowly, deliberately, Est tilted his head up. He pressed a soft, lingering kiss right against the warm skin of William's neck.
William let out a soft, breathless giggle. "Phi, that tickles—"
Est didn't let him finish. He moved his lips up, pepper-kissing his way along William’s jawline, feathering soft, warm presses over his cheek, his cheekbones, and the tip of his nose. He was pouring every ounce of his pent-up frustration and affection into the skin of William's face.
William was helplessly giggling now, his hands coming up to gently frame Est's wrists to try and pull him back, his face flushing a pretty, sleepy pink under the dim living room lights. "Phi, stop— Ah, it tickles—"
Finally, Est stopped.
He caught William's hands, anchoring them between their chests. The giggling died down into a sudden, thick silence. They were inches apart, their breaths completely mingling in the quiet apartment. Est’s eyes were dark, intense, and heavily locked onto William’s mouth. It was an invitation for William to finally bridge the last millimeter, kiss him properly, and say the words.
William’s gaze dropped to Est’s lips. He leaned in just a fraction of an inch—
And then, William abruptly pulled his head back.
"We really need to sleep, P'Est," William said softly. "You have an early morning flight to Korea. Come on, let's get you to bed."
Est froze.
The words echoed in the quiet room, cold and sharp.
The hopeful, desperate spark that had been burning in Est’s chest for the past year died. This was the absolute last straw. His Nong was that dense.
He was that hopeless.
A heavy, suffocating wave of pure frustration crashed over Est. With a tight, deadpan expression, Est forcefully detangled his legs from William's. He ripped his arm out of William's hold, throwing the younger boy's hands off him as he stood up from the sofa. The sudden shift in his aura was freezing.
"Phi? What's wrong?" William asked, blinking in genuine, confused surprise at the sudden rejection.
Est didn't even look back at him. Stiffening his shoulders, he turned on his heel and aggressively stomped down the hallway, his bare feet making heavy, furious sounds against the floorboards. He marched straight into the bedroom, grabbed the door, and slammed it shut behind him with a loud, echoing BANG, leaving William sitting entirely alone in the quiet dark of the living room.
+1
William: did you arrive already, phi?
William: stay safe na
William: love u
William stared at the screen of his phone, watching the tiny gray text beneath his last bubble seamlessly change to Read. He waited for a few minutes, expecting the usual string of stickers or a quick "I'm at the hotel now" to pop up.
Nothing came.
William blinked, a small frown tugging at his lips, but he quickly shook his head and slid the phone into his pocket.
He's probably just rushed straight to the wardrobe fitting, William thought, rationalizing it easily.
But seventy-two hours later, the silence from Est’s side of the chat began to feel strangely loud.
By the third day, the quiet became flat-out unnerving. There were no replies. No random photos of Korean food. Not even a single FaceTime call. It was a complete departure from their normal routine. Even during their most grueling, jam-packed schedules, Est would always find at least two minutes to dial William’s number just to let the video run in the background.
William sat on the edge of his bed, staring down at the completely unread thread. A cold, unfamiliar knot of anxiety began to twist in his stomach.
William: when are you going back to thailand phi?
He hesitated, his thumb hovering over the dial button. His chest felt heavy, but he ultimately pulled his hand back. What if he’s in the middle of the event? What if I disturb him? Est took his work incredibly seriously, and William didn't want to be a nuisance.
Unable to take the agonizing quiet anymore, William finally cracked and messaged their head manager.
William: P’Ko, when is P’Est coming back to Bangkok?
P’Ko: Tonight. Our plane will arrive at midnight.
William’s heart gave a sudden, hopeful leap. Tonight. He checked his own calendar for the next day— he was completely free. Perfect. Everything was absolutely perfect. He could order some food, pick him up if needed, and finally figure out why his Phi had been so distant.
He typed out the message quickly, a small, eager smile returning to his face.
William: i heard you’re coming back tonight phi do you want to come over
Est: i can’t
William’s smile instantly froze. He stared at the two short words, his throat suddenly feeling incredibly dry. Est had finally replied, after days of agonizing silence, only to completely turn him down without a single explanation, or apology.
The rejection hit William in his chest. Slowly, hr let his body slide down the length of the floor-to-ceiling mirror, his back scraping against the glass until he slumped onto the polished floor. He stared blankly at his reflection, the phone heavy in his hand.
Did I do something wrong? William thought desperately, a raw, hollow ache twisting in his gut. Why is he pushing me away?
"Hey. Why are you pouting so hard?"
William blinked, tilting his head up to see Nut walking over. Seeing the absolute misery radiating off the younger boy, Nut paused, his teasing smirk softening into genuine curiosity. He smoothly sat down on the floor right next to William, crossing his legs and leaning his back against the mirror, too. "What's wrong with you?"
William let out a long, pathetic sigh, his shoulders slumping even lower. He kept his eyes glued to his lap. "P'Est is ignoring me."
Nut raised an eyebrow, taking a slow sip from his bottle. "Phi is probably just swamped with work in Korea, Will. I mean, he’s in a Chanel show. He's busy."
"No, it's not that," William mumbled, his voice dropping into a dejected whine. He held up his phone, pointing at the screen. "He finally read my texts. I told him I knew he was landing tonight and asked him to come over to my place. And he just said 'i can’t'. No explanation."
Nut stared at the screen, then looked back at William’s completely bewildered, puppy-dog expression. A knowing, slightly exasperated look crossed Nut’s face. He let out a dry, quiet laugh and shook his head.
"Well, then… You definitely did something wrong."
The words hit William like a splash of ice water. He turned his head so fast his neck practically popped, staring at Nut with wide eyes.
"I did??" William asked, his voice cracking slightly with pure panic. He looked completely defeated, his bottom lip practically trembling. "But— I didn't! I swear I didn't do anything! We were perfectly fine after the concert, then he started ignoring me. I don't even know what I did!"
Nut let out a groan, tossing his head back against the mirror. "Well, that's for you to figure out, man. Shower your boyfriend with some affection. You probably forgot an anniversary or something."
William blinked, his brain entirely short-circuiting at the phrase. He tilted his head, he was confused.
"What boyfriend?" William asked.
Instantly, the entire practice room went dead silent.
The low hum of the air conditioner suddenly sounded like a roaring engine. On the other side of the studio, Lego froze mid-stretch, his leg awkwardly suspended in the air. Tui, who had been taking a sip of water, choked violently, coughing into his hand, while Hong slowly lowered his phone, his jaw practically dropping to the floor.
Nut sat frozen right next to William, his eyes wide with sheer shock. He stared at William as if the younger boy had just confessed to being an alien.
"P'... P'Est?" Lego stammered out first, breaking the heavy silence as he slowly brought his leg down, his eyes darting frantically between his groupmates. "Your... boyfriend? P'Est?"
William looked around the room, his brow furrowing deeply as he grew more confused by the second. "What are you guys talking about? He’s not my boyfriend."
Nut physically grabbed William by the shoulders, giving him a hard, disbelieving shake. "William, stop playing around. The entire country knows you two are dating. He literally lives at your place! He feeds you! You guys were “sharing” lip balm by kissing!"
"Because we're phi-nong!" William defended loudly, his arms flailing in pure, innocent desperation. "Sharing lip balm is normal when you know each other!"
“No!?! It’s not!”
“Yes, it is!”
“You’ll kiss me when I ask you to share your lip balm then?”
William didn’t answer.
“See!”
Tui slowly walked over, his face entirely blank, completely devoid of any life. He looked down at William, then turned his gaze to Hong, who was currently covering his face with both hands, letting out a quiet, whistling sigh of pure exhaustion.
"He's serious," Tui whispered, his voice hollow as he stared at the back of William’s head. "Oh my god. He’s actually, seriously, that stupid."
"William," Lego said, his voice dangerously calm as he walked over and sat cross-legged in front of him, staring deep into William's eyes like a professor trying to teach a toddler advanced calculus. "You two share clothes. You let him drive your fucking sports car that you won’t allow us to touch. You two cuddle everywhere. What part of that says 'just brothers' to you?"
"But... but he never asked me out?" William muttered, his confidence suddenly faltering under the judgmental stares of his entire group. His heart gave a strange, erratic thud against his ribs as a terrifying realization began to spark in the back of his mind. "If he liked me like that... he would have just said something, right?"
The co-members just stared at him. No one spoke.
Nut slowly let go of William's shoulders, slid a few feet away from him on the floor, and looked up at the ceiling, silently praying for Est's sanity. Hong just shook his head, turned around, and walked straight out of the practice room without saying a single word.
William sat in the center of the suffocating silence, looking from Lego’s disappointed face to Tui’s horrified expression, his brain completely scrambling as he tried to replay every single conversation he had ever had with Est.
"Wait," William whispered, his eyes widening in pure, belated panic as his stomach dropped.
Every single interaction, every single joke, every single look from the past year began to replay in his mind, but the lens had completely changed.
“I like William because he is William.”
“People can’t actually become lovers if no one has asked first, you know.”
“I don’t flirt, I let the person I like flirt with me. I give them an opening.”
William’s breath hitched in his throat as a cold sweat broke out across his neck. Est hadn't been making random, witty jokes. He hadn't been initiating playful, brotherly skinship. Est had been pouring his heart out, practically begging him to notice, handing him invitation after invitation on a silver platter while William, with the grace of stupidity, had turned every single romantic layout into a joke.
And then, like a lightning bolt striking his chest, the realization hit his own heart.
William gripped his phone tighter, his chest aching with panic. He felt a sudden, terrifying wave of clarity about his own feelings. He didn't look at Est like a brother. He didn't stay glued to his hip just because they were a shipped couple. He craved Est's warmth. He let Est practically live in his place because the apartment felt entirely too empty without him. He had let Est kiss his neck and his face because it felt completely right, and his heart had been hammering a frantic rhythm in his chest the entire time. He loved him. He had been completely, deeply in love with his Phi, but he had been too utterly hopeless to realize that the label was the only thing missing.
"Oh my god," William whispered, his voice cracking as he looked up at Nut, his eyes wide and completely frantic.
Before Nut could even open his mouth to reply, William sprinted out of the practice room. He flew down the agency stairs, shouting a breathless, "I'm going to meet P'Est!" over his shoulder to his bewildered groupmates.
His heart was beating so fast the entire time he scrambled into the driver's seat of his Aston Martin. The engine roared to life, matching the sheer panic vibrating through his veins. He checked the digital dashboard clock— 11:40 PM. P'Ko had said the flight lands around midnight. If he took the tollway and pushed the car, he could make it right as Est was walking out of baggage claim.
With a shaking hand, William hit Est's contact on the steering wheel controls and put the call on speaker.
Ring...
Ring...
William gripped the steering wheel so tight his knuckles turned white.
Please answer. Please, Phi.
Ring...
Ring...
Ring...
On the fifth ring, the line clicked open.
"What, William?" Est’s voice came through the speakers. He sounded deeply tired, but underneath the fatigue, there was a cold, sharp edge of pure annoyance that William had never heard directed at him before.
Hearing that icy tone made William’s stomach do a violent flip, the guilt cutting deep into his chest. He cleared his raspy throat, his voice tight with an urgency that bordered on frantic. "Phi— where are you? Where exactly are you right now?"
"We just landed. I'm at the airport," Est muttered, his tone clipping short, sounding completely done with the conversation. William could hear the faint rustle of luggage handles over the line. "Look, I'm heading to the taxi stand. I'm going back to my condo to sleep, so—"
"Stay there," William cut him off, his voice boomed through the car, laced with an absolute, uncharacteristic authority that surprised even himself. He didn't let Est finish his sentence, completely steamrolling over whatever objection the older boy was about to make. "Do not get in a taxi, P'Est. Stay exactly where you are. I'll be there in ten minutes."
Before Est could even utter a single 'Alai' or tell him no, William slammed his thumb onto the steering wheel control and cut the call. He pressed his foot flat against the gas pedal, the Aston Martin surging forward into the night like a bullet, his heart racing faster than the engine.
By the time he arrived, William slammed the car into park, and threw himself out of the driver's seat.
He bolted through the sliding glass doors of the arrival hall, his eyes scanning the sea of travelers with frantic, desperate energy. His heart was a loud, rhythmic thumping in his ears.
And then, he spotted him.
Est was standing near a large concrete pillar, his luggage cart parked neatly beside him. But he wasn't alone. He was currently talking to a guy William had never seen before in his life. The stranger was tall, effortlessly handsome, and dressed in a sleek outfit that made him look like he had just walked off a Seoul fashion runway. Worst of all? Est was smiling. He was tilting his head, laughing softly at something the guy said, completely enjoying his company. It was the exact same soft, genuine smile he usually reserved just for William.
A sudden, roaring wave of possessiveness and hot, burning jealousy slammed into William’s chest. There was absolutely no denying it anymore. The sight of someone else making his Phi smile like that made his blood boil.
William didn't even hesitate. He marched straight across the terminal floor, his jaw set in a hard line.
"P'Est!" William barked out.
Est’s head snapped up, his eyes widening in pure shock as he saw William storming toward them. Before Est or the nameless guy could even utter a single syllable, William completely closed the distance. He reached out, gripped Est tightly by the wrist, and smoothly grabbed the handle of Est's luggage cart with his other hand.
"Hey— William! What are you—" Est stumbled, completely caught off guard as William seamlessly spun them around and began dragging him forcefully toward the exit.
"William! Let go!" Est hissed. But William was like a man possessed. He didn't slacken his grip for a single second until they reached the car. He popped the trunk, threw Est's suitcase inside with an aggressive thud, and shoved Est into the passenger seat before slamming himself into the driver's side.
The heavy door clicked shut.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Est erupted instantly, turning in his seat to glare at the younger boy, his voice dripping with pure, unadulterated fury. "You drive over here like a maniac, drag me away from a friend I just met on the plane, and shove me into your car? Are you insane?!"
William didn't answer. He lunged across the sleek central console, and threw his entire body weight onto Est. He wrapped his long arms securely around Est's neck, burying his face directly into the older boy's shoulder, squeezing him so tightly that Est practically gasped for air.
"What— I can’t breathe," Est grunted, trying to push against William's broad chest.
But then, a strange, wet sound echoed in the quiet cabin of the car.
William broke down. A loud, pathetic, trembling sob ripped out of his throat, and he began to cry like a literal toddler whose favorite toy had been snatched away. He squeezed Est even tighter, his tears instantly soaking into the fabric of Est's jacket.
"Don't... don't go to Korea again," William wailed into Est's shoulder, his deep voice cracking into a high-pitched, miserable whine. "Don't smile at that runway guy! Don't ignore me! I'm sorry, Phi!!"
Est froze entirely, his arms suspended in the air, his anger instantly evaporating into pure, unmitigated bewilderment. He blinked rapidly, utterly paralyzed by the fact that William was currently weeping like a baby in the middle of an airport parking zone.
"William...?" Est stammered, his voice dropping all its sharpness, replaced by total confusion. "What happened? Why are you crying like this? Did someone hurt you? Did you get into a fight?"
"You're hurting me!" William blubbered, wiping his nose directly against Est’s collarbone, entirely shameless. "You turned me down! You said 'i can’t'! You didn't even use a sticker, P'Est! You hate me!"
"I don't hate you, you idiot, I was just tired—"
"I'm an idiot!" William interrupted with another loud, dramatic sob, his shoulders shaking violently as he hid his face deeper into Est's neck. "I'm the biggest idiot in Thailand! Lego said it, Tui said it, Nut Hong said it, and they're right! We’re not just Phi-Nong! I really thought you don’t date… Please don't get a new boyfriend from the plane!"
Est’s brain completely stopped working. He sat there, absorbing the chaotic, tear-soaked confession, his heart suddenly restarting at a frantic, racing pace as the pieces began to click into place. He slowly brought his hands down, resting them on William's trembling back, a tiny, disbelieving smile finally tugging at the corners of his lips.
"William," Est murmured softly, a hint of his usual fond amusement finally bleeding back into his tone.
He managed to gently pry the younger boy off his shoulder, forcing William to sit back just an inch. Est reached up, using both of his hands to cradle William’s face. It was a hilarious sight— the notoriously sharp, handsome center of the group was currently pouting so hard his lips were practically touching his nose, his eyes bloodshot and watery, and his cheeks completely flushed pink.
"Look at you," Est cooed softly, a genuine, warm chuckle bubbling up from his chest as he used his thumbs to tenderly wipe away the fresh tears spilling down William's cheeks. "Why are you crying so hard, huh? Your face is a total mess."
"Because you're mean," William sniffled, leaning his face heavily into Est’s warm palms, completely shameless as he pouted even harder. He looked at Est with the most desperate, wide-eyed puppy expression he could muster. "You ignored me and now you’re going to replace me with a model."
"He was asking for directions to the taxi stand, dumbass," Est laughed, gently pinching William’s cheeks until his face squished. "I only have eyes for one idiot. I’ve been trying to tell you that for a whole year."
William’s heart flipped. Hearing it out loud, clear and undeniable in the quiet car, made all the lingering panic in his chest completely dissolve. He reached up, placing his large hands over Est’s wrists, his gaze dropping to Est’s lips before snapping right back up to meet his eyes.
"Then..." William swallowed hard, his voice still a little thick and raspy from crying, but entirely serious now. He blinked away the last of his tears, staring at Est like he was the only person left in the world. "Can I be your boyfriend, Phi? Can I be your faen?"
Est stared at him, his thumbs pausing on William's cheeks. For a second, the playful amusement faded, replaced by a soft, deep warmth that made William's breath hitch. After a year of running in circles, dropping hints, and dealing with the sheer, astronomical density of the boy in front of him, Est finally got the exact words he had been waiting for.
"About damn time," Est whispered.
He didn't wait for William to say anything else. Est leaned forward across the central console and pressed his lips firmly against William’s.
It was nothing like the playful, teasing pecks from before. It was slow, deep, and heavy with relief, sealing the label they should have had months ago. William let out a soft, contented sigh against Est’s mouth, his arms immediately wrapping around Est’s waist to pull him closer, completely melting into the kiss.
When Est finally pulled back, his own cheeks were a little pink, a triumphant, beautiful smirk resting on his lips. "Yes, William. You can be my boyfriend."
William’s face instantly split into a blinding, ecstatic grin, his tears completely forgotten. He buried his face right back into Est’s neck, squeezing him. "I’m never letting you go to Korea alone again."
Est let out a soft, breathless laugh against William’s hair, completely surrendered to the ridiculous weight of the boy currently crushing his ribcage. "Fine. But first, let go of me so you can actually drive us out of—"
"No," William cut him off.
Before Est could even process the word, William aggressively scrambled across the sleek central console.
"William, what the—"
Est’s voice caught in his throat as a cascade of limbs descended upon him. William plopped his entire weight down, sitting directly on Est's lap. The narrow passenger seat of the Aston Martin instantly became a cage of tangled adults. Est's back slammed against the leather headrest, his hands flying up in sheer, wide-eyed panic as he tried to find a place for his hands.
"William, we’re in a car, people can see through the windsh—"
"I don't care," William muttered.
His face was flushed, his eyes still dark and wet from crying. He grabbed Est by the jaw with a shaking, heavy grip, leaned down, and kissed him like there was no tomorrow.
It was hard, messy, and breathless. William crashed their lips together with a desperate, heavy fervor, utterly obliterating any chance Est had of speaking. He poured a year's worth of stupid, pent-up density and sudden, terrifying realization into Est’s mouth, kissing him with a raw urgency that made the older boy’s brain completely short-circuit.
Est let out a strangled sound, his fingers instantly digging into the fabric of William’s shirt to steady them both. He kissed back just as fiercely, grounding his hands on William's waist as the younger boy shifted, pressing his entire chest flush against Est’s, completely trapping him beneath his weight.
When William finally pulled back a fraction of an inch for air, their breaths were hot and mingling in the cramped cabin.
William rested his forehead against Est's, his heart hammering a frantic rhythm directly against Est’s ribs. He was breathing heavily, his lips bruised and shining in the dim dashboard light, but the panic in his eyes had finally been replaced by a quiet, stubborn satisfaction.
Est stared up at him, his own face burning bright red, his chest heaving under the weight of his new boyfriend. He let out a slow, thoroughly defeated breath through his nose, his hands tightening possessively around William’s waist.
"You’re stupid," Est whispered, his voice raspy.
William just let out a soft, sleepy chuckle, burying his face right back into the crook of Est's neck, completely refusing to move. "Should I give you a hickey to tell everyone you’re mine?"
“William! No!”
“But you’re my boyfriend!!“