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Tanrak cherished the pet name Barth had given him.
He knew that Barth adored everything about him, his lover had said so himself. Barth once told him that Tanrak's eyes were like the empty night sky, yet veiled with glittering stars. Tanrak’s smile was like the sun warmly welcoming a new day, and his gentle nature surpassed the softness of a freshly baked apple pie.
To Tanrak, every compliment felt extravagant. But to Barth, all the words in the world could not fully capture Tanrak's beauty. Barth wished to dedicate every love song solely to Tanrak, to gather the stars and weave them into a beautiful bouquet just for him.
Tanrak knew all of this, yet he never once rejected it. Because he understood that this was simply how Barth expressed his love.
And then, there was the recent pet name Barth had bestowed upon him.
That morning, the sky was brighter than usual. Golden sunlight filtered through the windows of a house that did not even have curtains installed yet, while a gentle breeze coaxed the mango tree in the yard into a soft dance.
Yes, they had just bought a house. After three long years of struggling in a rented room where the living area, bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom were crammed into a single small plot, they were finally able to use their savings to buy a true house.
The house was not grand, just an ordinary, modest building. It lacked luxury, and it was far from perfect. The paint in several corners still needed touching up, and the side and backyards were overgrown with knee-high wild grass. Cardboard boxes lay scattered in almost every corner of the rooms.
Yet, to Barth and Tanrak, this house signified a new beginning. It was the first home they had purchased together after years of working tirelessly alongside each other after graduating from the seminary. A home they chose after months of saving, comparing prices, and debating over the location that would be closest to the market and other necessities.
And now, they stood in the empty living room, holding the key. As they looked around the house after stepping inside for the very first time, their minds were flooded with feelings too deep for words.
"So..." Barth smiled, glancing at Tanrak with a proud, subtle smirk.
Tanrak finally turned his head, "So?”
"We are officially adults." Barth raised both hands, grandly presenting their home with unbridled enthusiasm.
"We’re in our twenties, Barth. We’ve been adults," Tanrak chuckled softly, amused.
"No!" Barth rejected the thought. "Adulthood is when we have a house to turn into our forever home, Rak."
Tanrak fell silent for a moment. "Who said that?"
"I did."
"Barth…”
"Rak~"
Tanrak exhaled a long breath, silently promising God that he was a patient soul who wouldn't let his emotions get the better of him. Meanwhile, Barth continued to smile proudly, twirling the house key around his finger, already imagining everything he would do with this house alongside Tanrak.
Sometimes, Tanrak forgot just how wonderfully endearing and utterly exasperating his lover could be.
✿✿✿
Two hours later, the moving truck finally arrived.
Tanrak spoke with the truck driver, who kindly offered to help them carry the boxes inside. Tanrak politely declined, knowing full well that Barth would refuse the help anyway. Thus, the driver only assisted in unloading the items from the truck before taking his leave.
Eventually, they began moving their belongings into the house. Barth insisted on lifting the heavy items and larger boxes, leaving Tanrak with only the lighter ones. Naturally, Tanrak wanted to help, but he knew better than to argue with a stubborn Barth who would never change his mind.
Slowly, the house began to fill with the pieces of their past life from the rented room. There was the low coffee table for the living room, and the wooden chest of drawers where they placed a small statue of the Virgin Mary on top. The stove and various cooking utensils were already perfectly arranged by Tanrak, while the TV and other electronics were handled by Barth.
Tanrak had just stepped down from a chair after hanging a crucifix on the wall when he heard the rough sound of a box dragging across the floor. He turned around to find Barth dragging a massive cardboard box from outside.
"Barth."
"Hmm?"
"What are you doing?" Tanrak crossed his arms, observing his clever lover who had confidently claimed he could lift all the heavy boxes, only to resort to dragging them.
Barth smirked, "Don't you know, Rak? This is what they call 'work smart'."
"That box contains plates and glass cups."
"..."
The silence that followed was awkward, yet incredibly amusing. Barth stared down at the box in absolute silence, then shifted his gaze back to Tanrak, who met his eyes with that familiar, slightly annoyed expression he made whenever he was exasperated.
"Oh," Barth finally realized his mistake. He hastily opened the box and let out a long sigh of relief upon finding that not a single plate or glass had shattered.
Seeing this, Tanrak covered his face, muttering something Barth couldn't quite catch. He turned back toward the crucifix on the wall, whispering, "Lord... grant me patience."
Behind him, Barth chuckled. He approached Tanrak, wrapping his arms around him from behind and showering Tanrak's cheeks with soft lingering kisses, attempting to appease his pouting lover.
"Rakkk~ I'm sorry."
And just like that, for the hundredth time, Tanrak found himself completely softened by Barth's relentless affection.
✿✿✿
By midday, the air grew a little warmer.
Their home was beginning to look a bit tidier. The belongings had been arranged by Tanrak (of course), and set into their proper places. The dust that had initially blanketed the rooms was cleared away, and a stray cobweb hanging in the corner had been taken care of by Barth.
Tanrak brushed his hands together to dust them off, then placed them on his hips, smiling proudly at the living room that now looked far more inviting. He could hardly believe that he would be living in this beautiful house forever, alongside Barth…
Ah, speaking of the troublemaker, where was he?
Tanrak had been so engrossed in cleaning that he hadn't noticed Barth’s sudden disappearance. No wonder the house had grown so quiet.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Tanrak walked toward the side door leading to the yard. He opened it and gazed out into the quiet space, only to spot a ladder leaning against the side wall. Freezing for a moment, he quickly stepped outside and looked up, finding Barth climbing toward the roof, busy doing something to the tiles.
"Barth! What are you doing?!" Panic instantly gripped Tanrak. He hadn't expected Barth to be up there after being left unattended for less than thirty minutes.
Hearing his name, Barth looked down. A bright smile broke across his face upon seeing Tanrak, and he waved cheerfully. "Rak! This part of our roof is leaking, I wanted to fix it!"
"We can call a handyman, Barth! You don't need to climb up a ladder like this!" Tanrak shouted, his voice laced with deep worry.
"Aow? If it can be fixed now, why wait for later?"
"Barth, get down!"
It wasn't a request, it was an absolute command. Barth felt a slight shiver at the sound of Tanrak’s near-frantic shout. With a small pout, he began to climb down slowly. Tanrak held the base of the ladder firmly, tracking Barth's every movement to ensure he wouldn't slip.
The moment Barth’s feet touched the ground, Tanrak immediately began inspecting him. He checked Barth's face, his arms, his legs, and every other part of his body. The anxiety was written clearly across Tanrak’s face, he was genuinely shaken by the sight Barth climbing the stairs in front of him.
"Why didn't you tell me? I could've held the ladder for you, Barth." Tanrak sighed softly. "What if you fall down?"
"Well, you would've caught me."
"Barth.”
The taller man chuckled warmly. He drew Tanrak into a comforting embrace, gently stroking his back. Barth could feel just how worried Tanrak had been simply by the sound of his uneven breathing, a telltale habit of Tanrak's when stressed.
"I'm sorry, okay?" Barth apologized, gently swaying their locked bodies from side to side, trying to coax a smile out of him.
Because Tanrak was never one to hold onto resentment for long, he knew he would always forgive Barth. He wasn't truly angry, he was just terrified of Barth's impulsive nature and his reluctance to ever ask for help.
Tanrak gently pulled away from the hug. "Go take a shower. I'll warm up some lunch."
Hearing the word "lunch" made Barth incredibly happy. He planted a swift kiss on Tanrak's cheek and scurried inside. Watching him go, Tanrak could only shake his head with a faint smile, utterly lost for words at Barth's endearing antics.
✿✿✿
In the late afternoon, the sun began its descent into the west.
They moved on to cleaning the second-floor bedroom, knowing they needed a proper place to sleep tonight.
The room was still bare, though surprisingly less dusty than the ground floor. A small balcony facing west allowed the golden evening light to flood the space, making the faded white curtains sway gently in the afternoon breeze.
An old bed frame occupied a corner of the room, with the mattress they had brought already resting upon it. A few boxes filled with valuables and important documents were stacked neatly, while an old functional electric fan hummed quietly.
Tanrak was sweeping the dark floor, convinced that despite looking clean, it still harbored hidden dust. And he was right, a small pile of dust and sand accumulated with every stroke of his broom. Meanwhile Barth, who had been teasing Tanrak earlier, had been tasked with bringing up their heavy luggage from downstairs.
Once he finished with the floor, Tanrak wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a long breath. His eyes swept across every corner of the room, his mind swirling with thoughts.
This very room would be the place where Barth and he would sleep together, sharing the same bed, the same wardrobe... and the same intimacy. Just the thought of it made Tanrak’s cheeks burn with shyness. He couldn't help but wonder if the night could come any faster.
Snapping out of his reverie, Tanrak bit his lip and shook his head lightly, trying to dismiss the thoughts as he searched for something else to do.
He was about to open a box of important documents when he heard Barth finally return, hauling their heavy suitcases. Tanrak stood up to turn around, but his movements halted when Barth suddenly draped a plain white cloth over his head.
Startled, Tanrak spun around to face Barth, who was grinning mischievously before him.
Barth shifted his stance, stepping to Tanrak's right side. "To Barth, do you take Tanrak to be your lawfully wedded husband, promising to love him in joy and in sorrow?"
Tanrak frowned in confusion, opening his mouth to speak, but he was silenced when Barth stepped back to face him directly. The taller man took both of Tanrak's hands in his, his confident posture making the entire scene beautifully absurd.
"Yes, I do, with all my heart," Barth declared without a shred of hesitation.
Barth then shuffled back to Tanrak's side. "And to Tanrak, do you take Barth to be your lawfully wedded husband, promising to love him in joy and in sorrow?"
Then, Barth quickly slipped behind Tanrak, whispering in a disguised voice, "Yes, I do."
"Barth..."
Not stopping there, Barth stepped in front of Tanrak once more, grasping his hands tightly. "Now, you are officially a... happy couple! The grooms may now share a kiss.”
With those words, Barth leaned his face forward, pouting his lips as he tried to steal a kiss. But before his lips could meet Tanrak's, his lover pushed him away, throwing the white cloth straight onto Barth's face.
"Ouch! Rak!!!"
"Embarrassing," Tanrak muttered. Their hands parted, and Tanrak immediately walked over to the abandoned suitcases to open them, leaving a whining Barth behind.
"Rak, this is practice so we don't mess up during our actual wedding, you know," Barth complained playfully, throwing himself onto the mattress with a dramatic sigh of disbelief.
"Instead of playing around, you should go bring up the rest of the boxes from downstairs," Tanrak replied, clearly trying to deflect the topic.
Though still pouting, Barth complied. He stood up languidly and walked toward the door. But before leaving, he knelt down right beside Tanrak. He stared at him without blinking, causing the younger man to swallow hard from sudden nervousness.
Tanrak looked at him, "What?"
"Give me a kiss first."
Instantly, Tanrak fought back a smile. Barth's needy, spoiled behavior always managed to disarm him completely. Yielding to his whims, Tanrak leaned forward to press a soft kiss against Barth's lips. It was a brief, gentle press of lips before Tanrak pulled back.
A proud, victorious smirk spread across Barth's face, while Tanrak felt a sudden flurry of butterflies erupting in his stomach just from the intense gaze of the man before him.
"Hehe, I love you more and more every day, Rak~" Barth’s smile widened, his eyes curling into beautiful, sparkling crescents.
Tanrak said nothing, merely nudging Barth's shoulder as a signal to get moving. Understanding the silent cue, Barth began humming a song by Modern Dog as he strolled out of the room, radiating pure happiness.
In the quiet room, Tanrak could feel the tips of his ears burning. Barth always knew exactly how to make him fluster, and that specific pet name Barth had unconsciously given him sent a wave of overwhelming affection straight to his heart.
✿✿✿
The sun began to set, and the pale blue sky was slowly replaced by a deep, velvety indigo, adorned with scattered stars that accompanied the moon on its nightly vigil.
Their house was gradually transforming, the quiet atmosphere no longer felt empty. A wooden credenza now stood against the wall, serving as a place for small trinkets, topped with the statue of the Virgin Mary and small plastic flower pots. A low table sat in the center of the living room, and a few photographs had been hung upon the walls.
The house finally showed signs of life.
Barth and Tanrak sat on the living room floor looking rather... exhausted. Sweat clung to their skin, their backs ached, their hands were soiled, and tiredness weighed heavy on them. The dim glow of a single lamp was their only light, and the gentle chirping of crickets from outside softly filled the silence between them.
Tanrak rested his head against Barth's shoulder, smiling when he felt Barth smile in return. For a few minutes, neither of them spoke. There was only the low hum of the fan, the breeze drifting through the window, and the profound peace they had been searching for all this time.
Barth looked around the house. It wasn't a perfect dwelling just yet, but for some reason, his heart overflowed with gratitude.
"I'm happy," he murmured softly, catching Tanrak's attention, who lifted his head slightly. "I never imagined we would make it to this point."
Tanrak remained quiet, his focus divided between listening to Barth's words and feeling the steady, accelerating beat of his lover's heart beneath his touch.
Tanrak remained quiet, his focus divided between listening to Barth's words and feeling the steady, accelerating beat of his lover's heart beneath his touch.
"I can wake up in the morning without having to worry about everything," Barth continued. "I have a home, someone to come back to... someone I can call my home, too.”
In the quietude, Tanrak felt a gentle warmth bloom in his chest. Barth often said comforting things like this, but somehow, these words felt deeper than anything before. Perhaps because they no longer had to share their lives in a cramped, single room, perhaps because they were finally standing in the place they had dreamed of for so long.
Slowly, he reached out and laced his fingers through Barth's, their hands fitting together perfectly. It was simple, quiet, and utterly comforting. Tanrak recalled everything Barth had done throughout the day. Even though the man was prone to causing little mishaps, Tanrak knew that Barth was always the first to step up whenever he was needed.
When Tanrak needed to move a small cabinet that felt out of place, Barth was instantly there.
When he struggled to assemble the shoe rack, Barth held it steady.
When Tanrak grew exhausted, Barth silently brought him a glass of water.
Tanrak noticed it all. He was deeply aware of every little thing. Barth's quiet attentiveness made him happier than he could ever express, that silent care wasn't born out of duty, but from an unbreakable habit of love.
And perhaps, that was why he could never truly stay angry. Because behind all of his lover's foolish antics, Barth was always the one watching over him.
"I'm happy too," Tanrak finally whispered. "Thank you for today.”
In his embrace, Tanrak felt Barth chuckle softly. The taller man pulled Tanrak closer, as if terrified that Tanrak might slip away at any moment, unwilling to let go of the soul he loved so dearly.
"Thank you for everything too, Rak~" Barth's voice carried the pure, sincere gentleness of a white dove. That innocence was one of the many traits Tanrak adored about him.
And then... there was that name.
Tanrak swallowed nervously. Barth had used that specific name again, the one that had been making his heart flutter all day. It wasn't his usual nickname, because Barth would always call him "Tan" if he wanted to shorten it. But lately, it had shifted to "Rak," and Tanrak secretly loved it.
"That name," Tanrak murmured. "I like it. The thing you call me."
"Which one?”
Instead of answering, Tanrak pulled back slightly to sit up and face Barth. Seeing Barth's adorable, curious expression made Tanrak smile softly. He took both of Barth's hands in his, mirroring the way Barth usually held his hands to calm him down or coax him into something.
"Well... lately, you've been calling me 'Rak' a lot," the younger man admitted, nervously tracing the back of Barth's hand. "And I really like it.”
"You like it? You like being called... Rak?" Barth chuckled, his eyes shining brightly as he watched how flustered Tanrak had become, nodding gently in admission of his hidden feelings.
Barth, who had never realized that his unconscious shift in habit had become something so precious to his lover, felt a surge of pure joy. Without warning, he lunged forward, wrapping his arms tightly around Tanrak. Tanrak fell backward onto the floor with Barth resting over him.
"Rakkk~ I love you so much!" Barth enthusiastically buried his nose against the crook of Tanrak's neck, nuzzling him like an excited golden retriever.
"Barth... Barth, I'm sweaty! I haven't showered yet!" Tanrak laughed, trying his best to push away the affectionate man hovering over him.
Barth looked up, his eyes locked onto Tanrak's. "Even if you haven't showered, my love for you will never change, Rak.”
Before Tanrak could utter a word, Barth rested his face against the space between Tanrak's neck and shoulder. Barth's warm breath tickled his sensitive skin, causing an involuntary giggle to escape Tanrak's lips. Seizing the moment, Barth slipped his hands to Tanrak's waist, tickling him playfully. Tanrak’s laughter rang out freely as he tried in vain to break free from Barth's grasp.
Realizing his resistance was futile, Tanrak changed his strategy. Instead of pushing Barth away, he began tickling Barth's stomach in return, sending the taller man into fits of laughter. The two of them ended up tickling each other relentlessly, oblivious to how loudly their laughter echoed outside the house.
For them, every single second was a moment to weave a lifelong memory.
"Rak, Rak, Rak, Rak, Rak~" Barth whispered softly as he managed to catch Tanrak's wrists, finally bringing their playful war to an end. "From now on, I'm always going to call you that.”
Beneath him, Tanrak tried to catch his breath after laughing for so long. A tender smile touched his lips as he imagined what it would feel like to be called by the name he loved, by the person he cherished above all else.
Remaining in the same position, Tanrak gently released his hands from Barth's grip. He raised his hands to softly cradle Barth's cheeks, leaning up to press his lips against his lover's. Barth met him halfway, returning the kiss with a deep, consuming tenderness.
Outside, the moon watched over them from high above the earth, casting a glow that seemed softer and gentler than ever before. For it knew that even if the world looked askance at their love, these two souls would never cease to love one another.
And so, Barth and Tanrak finally began the first page of their new book, a story they would write together, hand in hand.