It's always been you

Back into your warm embrace

It's been a while, right?

It's been a whole lifetime and a half more. But being in your embrace was worth the two lifetimes' wait.

~~~

Ray stumble on the sofa as his Gmail notification pinged loudly enough to wake the entire house. His eyes bulged upon seeing his favorite fic writer updated in the middle of the dawn. Diving like a surfer on the sofa, he opens the app and starts reading with anticipation written on his face.

Tian, on the other hand, frown getting deeper as he moved sideways to avoid Ray’s feet hitting his face. His eyes constantly going back to his phone waiting for his unfilial son, Sam, to text him where the freaking heck he is. 

“You’ll bring that phone down and head to bed now or I’ll gonna do it for you?” Tian warns as he placed his phone on the glass table in front. But when Ray was in the midst of his chapter reading, there is no way anyone could stop him until he finishes. 

So Tian stretches his hand and pulls the damn phone out of his husband’s grip. The man looks like he was about to cry.

Ray burst out. “They’re about to kiss! They’re about to kiss!” He tries to take the phone back, but his husband’s glare stops him from doing so.

He stood up from the sofa while mumbling, “It took 20 whole ass chapters before they kiss, and now I couldn’t even read it at the first drop.” His face looks like he was about to throw a tantrum when he went under the covers. Tian despite himself, couldn’t help but shake his head. His 63 years old husband still has the stamina to stay up late while fanboying like he’s still in his mid-twenties.

He went after him and was about to slip under the comforter when he remembers Sam is still not home. He reaches for his phone again and sends a text message. Ray turned around and eyed him. “Why is it that you can use your phone at this wee hours, while I can’t?”

Tian didn’t even raise his head from his screen. “Because you’re a senior citizen already. You need more sleep than me.” 

He could feel Ray’s laser-killing eyes. If only looks can kill, he already has a hole in his head by now. “And it’s our son, I’m worried about.” He added before finally heading to bed. “He’s an adult, Tian. Let him breathe.”

Tian froze after hearing that. He looks sideways and his eyes turn glassy. “I… I just want him to live a long and safe life. That’s all.” His voice caught up on his throat. He loved Sam like a real son, and if he indeed had a real one… he thinks he would have played favorite and still pampers this kid over his own.

Ray sighs heavily before reaching out to hold Tian’s hand. “I know. We’ve raised him into a fine young man and I don’t think I couldn’t be prouder for who he became. You did well, love.”

Tian smiled sadly. “Ray… can you be honest with me?” He squeezes Ray’s hand firmer. “You’re afraid of looking at him so closely since he reached his twenties.” 

Ray's eyes widen for a bit. Then he looks away. “What do you mean by that?” Tian closed his eyes for a moment. “I can feel that you’re calmer and at ease when he’s traveling abroad than when he was here with us for visits.”