🏈

Prom sucks. But I have to be here even without a date. It was expected of the team captain to show up. Damn these people and their expectations. It is so tiring. I sip on the horrid punch as I nurse my broken heart.

I played with the cufflinks of the suit Ming forced me to wear, saying I looked good in it. What's the point of dressing up when the person you want to impress was clearly not interested?

Then there's Jessie who has been pestering me to dance with her. I've been trying hard to avoid her the whole night. I have no energy to stand up or do anything.

I look at the dance floor. Even idiot Ming brought a date. Well he is not an idiot anymore, the team's calling him traitor Ming now. He actually brought someone from our rival school. Some dimpled guy called Kit. He hated people from that school with passion, but here he is now, stupidly drooling in front of a boy from that said school. Well not really drooling, but he looked ready to pounce on the poor guy any minute.

I shake my head disapprovingly as I moped in the corner. I miss him. I miss My Shorty. I was expecting him to come with Phana but for some reason, I only see Phana and Wayo. They've been together since the evening started. I even saw them dance to a slow song earlier. What's up with these two?

Someone cleared his throat and I looked up to see the two people I've been talking about.

"Forth, can we talk to you for a minute?" Phana said through the music.

I just scoffed.

"Please, P'," Wayo seconded. I looked at them, and just noticed that… they are holding hands.

"What-" I was about to get mad at Phana.

"It's about Beam," Phana said.

My ears quirked at the mention of his name.

"P'Forth, just for once, listen to us... please," Wayo asked.

I looked at the two clearly bothered with what I'm seeing.

"Fine," I surrendered. There's nothing to lose anyway.

I hear Phana take a deep breath that sounded like relief.

***

👓

After sitting for an hour in the car, I finally managed to get out and decided to go inside the gym where prom is happening. I have zero intention of going but Pha and Yo forced me to, well more like, coerced me to. I stare at the side mirror. The pristine suit, my styled hair, the contact lenses; all these cannot hide the sadness that I’m feeling.

My chest still felt heavy at the memory of what happened the other day. Forth was really mad at me. It’s my fault. It’s all my fault. I didn’t know he would be mad, whatever other reason he has, and I didn’t know he would end our friendship just like that. I didn’t even have the chance to explain. I closed my eyes tightly and fought the tears that were threatening to fall. Now we are back to square one. I’ve become nobody again, invisible in his eyes. Just when I thought things could go better between us, even if just as friends.

Slowly opening the door to the gym, I noticed everyone was gathered towards the stage. They were crowning the prom king and queen. Of course, he becomes prom king and Jessie, prom queen. I stepped back away from the crowd and away from the lights. This is where I belong.

A single tear successfully broke free as I watched him. He was very handsome in his suit, now with a golden crown in his head. His dazzling smile bright enough to light the entire room. Beside him was Jessie, the prom queen, equally beautiful. They really do look good together and certainly deserve to be king and queen of the night. Everyone was applauding and calling out their names, and the king and queen were busy waving at everyone. They do look like royalties looking over their kingdom. And I felt like a peasant looking above, undeserving of their attention. I know I am being dramatic, but this is my reality. It was ambitious of me to feel close to the king. I was just the Math nerd after all.

Two, three, four seconds, and suddenly, our eyes meet.

He froze and his gaze reflects a very different emotion that I just can’t place. It felt like a daze, those mere seconds of eye contact felt like forever. I immediately lowered my own gaze before I could see his, I assume, turn cold. And that's why, also in mere seconds, I was out the door, running.

I ran until my feet felt like rubber. I didn’t realize I was running towards the empty football field. Huffing, I walked towards the bleachers to catch my breath.

“Geez, Beam. You are so pathetic,” I scolded myself.

I sat down and looked up to the sky. It was clear and all the stars are bright. I smiled at the wonderful sight.

Unconsciously, my palm went to my cheek and realize it was wet. I didn't realize I was running and… crying, the entire time. God, when did I become such an emotional mess?

Steeling myself and taking a deep breath, I console myself and forced out all heaviness in my chest. The night sky was too perfect to cry over. I stretched myself before I lay on my back in the bleacher.

"Starry starry night," I quietly hummed.

"Orion," I traced my finger at the constellation.

"Cassiopeia…"

"Draco…"

"Beeeaaam,"

I blinked rapidly thinking my ears are just hearing things.

"Beam! Where are you? Beaaammm!"

I jolt upright. Someone is actually calling for my name. I got up and looked around.

Forth.

Yes, it is not a hallucination, because there he is in the middle of the field. Calling out my name.

"Beeeaaa-" he finally saw me.

He ran towards me and climbed up the bleachers.

"Forth what are you-"

Before I can even finish my sentence he grabbed me into a bone crushing hug.

"Beam!" he cried my name as he buries his face on my neck.

"Are-are you okay?" I asked. Clearly not understanding what just happened. One moment he was very mad, and now he was hugging me.

“Why did you run away? Please don’t... please,”

“I was…” I tried to talk as I struggled in his tight embrace.

"Shorty, I was so stupid, I'm so sorry," he finally let me go.

"I-what?"

"About the other day, I got mad and snapped at you," he said.

"It's okay. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I cancelled because Pha asked for my help, and I can't really say no. He's my friend. He was gonna ask Wayo to be his date at the prom. Yo is my brother so-" I try to explain as soon as I got the chance to talk.

"I know," he said.

I looked at him surprised.

"He likes Wayo, they're dating now," I added.

"I know," he said, smiling.

"Really?"

He nodded.

"Phana is my neighbor. He lives next door," I said.

He nodded. "Yes, they told me... and…”

“I was too late to realize how stupid I was getting jealous over nothing," he said.

"I- what?"

Did he just say jealous?

"I'm an idiot," he said. But I wasn't listening. I was still stuck on the jealous part.

"Jealous?"

"I'm prom king," He wasn't listening as well.

He was still wearing the gold plastic crown and the sash.

"I can see that,"

He nodded. "I don't want it,"

"Why?"

"Because you're not the queen,"

"What are you talking about?" I asked confused.

"You can't be queen cause you're a guy. But you can be a prince. We can be prom princes," he said and removed the crown on his head.

His words doesn't make any sense at all.

"I- why- wait, shouldn't you be in the gym? Aren't you supposed to lead the dance with Jessie? Why are you outside?" I asked a barrage of questions before he can cut me off again.

He was just smiling.

“Why are you here?” I asked again.

"Because my handsome prince is here," he placed the crown in my head.

I stared at him as if he’s speaking in an entirely new language.

“Dance with me?” he softly asked, his hand outstretched.

I fell silent, but I accepted the invitation and I let him place my hands over his shoulders. His own travelled to my hips, and we slowly swayed to soundless music.

Muted understanding filled the air.

I don’t know what is happening. But intuition tells me to just let my mind throw away all the worries, doubts, and second thoughts, and to just focus on the here and the now. I let my heart take over, because at this moment, in this bright starry night, I am slow dancing with the person I have wanted for so very long.

I have been completely unprepared but it also felt like this moment was bound to happen.

The world stopped as our eyes locked on each other.

“Your glasses,” he said.

“I’m wearing contacts,” I explained.

“Your hair is styled,” he grinned.

I lowered my head and nodded sheepishly.

“You look so handsome tonight, Shorty,” he said in a sultry voice that made my breath hitch.

“But you are more beautiful when you are just Beam,” he said as he tilts my chin upwards so my eyes focused back to his.

“Your glasses makes you look so cute. Your soft hair, I love touching them,” he continued.

Forth. My mind was beginning to be filled with him. His face, his touch, his gaze.

“No. You are more handsome. Whatever you wear, and whatever you do, you are always handsome,” I said as my hand unconsciously found their way to his face. My thumb slowly caressed his cheek. All shame and reason now gone through the window.

He hugged me. His wonderful smell filled my lungs as we rocked and swayed.

“Beam, I want to be brave. Tell me to be brave,” his voice was muffled but I heard him clearly.

“Okay, be brave,” I told him.

He lets go and took a step back and then captures my gaze again. You know the saying, the eyes are the windows to your emotions. Right now, his eyes are a multitude of emotions coming together, almost the same as what I have in mine.

He reaches for his back pocket and took out a wad of yellow notes.

He took a deep breath and handed one to me.

My eyes widened and I staggered backward as I read the all too familiar writing.

He handed another...

And another…

Then he took my hands and placed all the remaining notes. My vision blurred as I look at them, each note filled with love quotes and messages.

“Beam,” he calls my name and my heart pounded loudly.

“I’m in love with you,” he says softly.

“Everything I’ve written, are true. All these feelings, they are towards you and only you. I’m smitten, I’m infatuated... I..."

"I’m in love with you, Shorty,” he confessed.

I blinked for what felt like a hundred times.

An awkward and long silence filled the football field as we both held our breaths.

“Beam, a-are you okay? Are you mad?” he said as he breaks into an uncomfortable stance.

“I mean… I’m not asking you to love me back, I- I just can’t hold it anymore, I just had to tell you. I’m so sorry. You told me to be brave, so this is me being brave. But please, please... don’t ignore me after this. Please don’t get mad,” he chattered as worry starts to form in his face.

Words seem to have left me as I stared at him.

“You’re quiet, please say something,” his eyes desperately looked into mine.

My heart was filled with overwhelming emotions, and I struggled to form words.

“Please tell me what you are thinking,” he pleaded.

Everything seemed to slow down as I try to settle the hurricane of emotions. I willed myself to open my mouth and answer him. I know I have to say something. I command my brain but it has already stopped working.

“Beam, just please-”

“I love you, Forth,” my heart answered for me.

“I-what?! Say that again...” he looked startled but a grin starts to form on his lips.

“I love you,” I repeated loud and clear. This time I was in the present. I did not hold back anymore.

“I’m in love with you too,” I said to drive the point across in case he has trouble understanding.

Now, it’s time for him to get tongue-tied as I gave him my best smile.

"Kiss me," I say quietly, suddenly feeling bold. It's my time to be brave.

"Okay," he gently gripped my elbow and pulled me closer, carefully placing the love notes on the bleacher.

The moment his lips pressed against mine, my body immediately melted into his. His arms wrapped around my waist while mine wound their way to his neck, pulling him closer.

The world went into stand still as my heart fluttered inside my chest. Forth filled my every thought, overwhelming my senses. Only him, all other things have become insignificant.

His lips were soft and warm. His breath smells like mint. His mouth tasted sweet, like punch.

Our breaths mingled as I parted my lips for air. He took the chance to use his tongue and dived inside. I gave in and let him make me feel his love. I never knew that a kiss could be this intimate. Sending tingles from my spine to the end of my toes.

I never want it to end. But in the end, we have to pull away to catch our breaths.

We pressed our foreheads and we break into meaningful smiles.

"Wow," he said.

"My first kiss," I whispered between shallow breaths.

He stroked my lower lip.

"Technically, it's the third," he murmured.

"Hm?"

"Nothing," he said and silenced me as he planted his lips on my cheek.

I raised my head to stare at him. Seeing his gaze filled with adoration made me feel so warm despite the cold breeze of the night.

"So, you're officially My Shorty now, right?" he asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Like, you know… us, dating," he bit his lip as he clarified.

I just tilt my head urging him to tell me more.

"Like…"

"Like boyfriends?" I finished for him.

He nodded vigorously.

"W-will you be my boyfriend, Beam?" he finally asked.

I lowered my head and closed my eyes shut. When I opened them again and saw him in front of me, I know it was reason enough to believe all of this is real.

"Yes," I said and pulled him for another mind blowing kiss.

*** END ***