Work Text:
It happened at two in the morning.
The apartment was silent except for the occasional scratching of a paintbrush against canvas.
Duang liked painting at night.
Everything felt calmer.
His thoughts slowed down.
His emotions made more sense.
Qin was asleep in the bedroom, curled up under the blankets, while Duang sat alone in the living room painting another piece he would probably never show anyone.
A moon.
A sun.
The same symbols he always came back to.
His phone buzzed.
At first he ignored it.
Then it buzzed again.
An email.
He opened it absentmindedly.
Five minutes later, he was still staring at the screen.
His hands were shaking.
He read it once.
Then twice.
His heart was racing.
Promotion.
China.
Recognition.
A huge opportunity.
A dream opportunity.
The kind artists waited years for.
The kind of thing people would kill for.
The kind of thing that could completely change his future.
Duang actually laughed.
A real laugh.
He wanted to wake Qin up immediately.
He wanted to call Jamie.
Call Tong.
Call Kim.
Call Pae.
Tell his parents.
Tell everybody.
He was smiling so hard his cheeks hurt.
Then he kept reading.
And the smile slowly disappeared.
Two years.
The program would last two years.
Two whole years.
Duang felt sick.
His excitement vanished immediately.
He reread that line again.
And again.
And again.
Two years.
He had never even spent two months away from everyone.
How was he supposed to spend two years?
Two years without Qin.
Without his family.
Without his friends.
Without home.
Suddenly the promotion didn't feel exciting anymore.
It felt terrifying.
His eyes drifted toward the bedroom door.
Qin was sleeping peacefully.
Duang immediately looked away.
His chest hurt.
The next morning he told his parents.
His mother nearly cried from happiness.
His father looked proud.
His brother looked impressed.
"You have to go."
His father didn't even hesitate.
"It's an amazing opportunity."
His mother nodded.
"You worked so hard for this."
His brother leaned back in his chair.
"You're literally living every artist's dream."
Duang stared at his food.
"I don't want to leave."
His mother immediately understood.
Because everybody knew why.
Qin.
Of course it was Qin.
His father sighed.
"Duang."
"What?"
"You can love someone and still pursue your future."
Duang didn't answer.
Because it sounded easy when someone else said it.
But actually doing it?
That was different.
For the next few days, he didn't tell anyone.
Instead, he visited places.
The park where he and Qin had their first date.
The café where Qin accidentally spilled coffee on him.
The beach where they stayed until sunrise.
The bookstore where Qin fell asleep reading.
Every place felt important.
Every place felt like a goodbye.
Eventually he couldn't hide it anymore.
So he texted everyone.
Duang:
come over tonight
important
Jamie:
are you dying
Duang:
no
Kim:
then why are you texting like that
Pae:
WAIT IS IT A PROPOSAL
Tong:
why would it be a proposal
Pae:
idk
At eight that evening everyone arrived.
Food covered the balcony table.
Drinks.
Snacks.
Fruit.
Everything.
Everyone was laughing.
Talking.
Being loud.
Normal.
Duang hated that he was about to ruin it.
Eventually he cleared his throat.
Nobody noticed.
He tried again.
Still nobody noticed.
Finally Kim said:
"JUST SAY IT."
Everyone immediately looked over.
Duang wanted the floor to swallow him.
"Uh..."
Silence.
"I got a promotion."
Jamie immediately laughed.
"Okay?"
Pae laughed too.
"Congrats?"
Duang didn't smile.
"I'm serious."
The laughter slowly disappeared.
Tong sat up straighter.
Kim narrowed his eyes.
Qin immediately looked concerned.
"What kind of promotion?"
Duang swallowed.
"In China."
Silence.
Nobody spoke.
Then:
"That's amazing."
It was Qin.
Duang looked at him.
Then quietly added:
"It's for two years."
The atmosphere completely changed.
Nobody knew what to say.
Duang saw Qin's face fall.
Just slightly.
But enough.
Enough to break his heart.
Immediately Duang said:
"I'm not going."
Qin looked up.
For a second hope appeared in his eyes.
Then it disappeared.
Because Qin knew him.
Knew how hard he worked.
Knew how much art meant to him.
So Qin took a deep breath.
And forced himself to smile.
"You're going."
Duang looked hurt.
"What?"
"You're going."
"No."
"Yes."
Duang looked like he wanted to cry.
Qin's chest hurt.
But he kept going.
"You'll regret it forever if you don't."
Duang stared at him.
Then looked away.
Because he knew Qin was right.
And that somehow made it worse.
The next two weeks were painful.
Every day felt precious.
Every minute felt important.
Duang became clingy.
Extremely clingy.
He took photos of Qin constantly.
Hundreds of photos.
Qin eating.
Qin reading.
Qin sleeping.
Qin staring out windows.
Qin existing.
"Stop taking pictures."
"No."
"Delete that."
"No."
"Duang."
"No."
One afternoon Qin finally checked Duang's gallery.
There were almost seven hundred pictures.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?"
"I miss you in advance."
Qin immediately started crying.
Then Duang started crying too.
The morning of the flight was worse.
Much worse.
Duang woke up at four.
The apartment was dark.
Everything felt wrong.
He packed.
Checked everything three times.
Eventually he started making breakfast.
Halfway through cooking he broke down.
Completely.
He sat on the kitchen floor crying.
Because suddenly it became real.
He was leaving.
Actually leaving.
At seven he arrived at the airport.
He hadn't eaten.
Had barely slept.
His stomach hurt.
His chest hurt.
Everything hurt.
Then everyone arrived.
And seeing them somehow made it worse.
Jamie and Pae cried immediately.
Tong and Kim didn't know what to do.
His parents were emotional.
His brother kept looking away.
Then Qin arrived.
And Duang's entire world stopped.
He walked over slowly.
Then hugged him.
Tightly.
Like he was trying to memorize him.
Qin hugged him back.
Neither wanted to let go.
"Never stop texting me."
Qin's voice shook.
"Okay."
"Every day."
"Okay."
"Promise."
"I promise."
Duang cried again.
Because he knew he'd keep that promise.
No matter what.
Hours later, after landing in China, the first thing he did was text Qin.
Not unpack.
Not shower.
Not rest.
Text Qin.
Always Qin.
Days became weeks.
Weeks became months.
The art school was incredible.
Professional artists everywhere.
People from different countries.
Different styles.
Different perspectives.
Every day he learned something new.
Every day he wanted to tell Qin about it.
So he did.
Constantly.
Photos.
Videos.
Voice messages.
Everything.
One afternoon he found a bakery.
Immediately he thought of Qin.
Because Qin loved sweets.
So Duang sent thirty-two pictures.
Thirty-two.
Qin:
baby why did you send 32 photos of cupcakes
Duang;
because you would've liked them
Qin;
you are impossible
Duang:
i know
While eating alone, somebody approached him.
A girl.
Thai.
Around his age.
Friendly smile.
"You're Thai?"
Duang looked shocked.
"You are too?"
They immediately started talking.
Her name was Arisa.
She talked a lot.
Almost as much as Jamie.
Maybe more.
"I own a coffee shop in Thailand."
"What?"
"Yeah."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously."
"At our age?"
"My parents helped."
Duang looked impressed.
Arisa laughed.
"I'm actually returning in a year or two."
The friendship happened naturally after that.
Coffee.
Conversations.
Complaints about being homesick.
Complaints about weather.
Complaints about missing Thailand.
Arisa had a girlfriend.
Duang had Qin.
Neither worried.
Neither crossed boundaries.
They were simply friends.
One evening Arisa asked:
"Do you miss him?"
Duang smiled.
"Every second."
"That much?"
"That much."
She laughed.
"You text him a lot?"
"My screen time is basically him."
"That's unhealthy."
"Probably."
Arisa shook her head.
Then smiled.
"You really love him."
Duang looked down at his phone.
A new message from Qin had just arrived.
His expression immediately softened.
Without even realizing it.
Without even trying.
And Arisa noticed.
Because everyone noticed whenever Qin was mentioned.
"Yeah."
Duang smiled.
"I really do."
Then he immediately opened Qin's message.
Like always.