[Team One] Happy Birthday
My first ficlet for "WHY R U" a Thai BL drama.
“Happy Birthday,” the last words before he falls asleep make Tutor smile and he squeezes Fighter’s hand sleepily, signalling to his boyfriend that he heard them.
He wakes up to a million messages on his phone the next morning.They put a smile on his face and he is still smiling when he gets into Fighter’s car and fastens his seatbelt.
It’s then that his smile falters a little.
Tutor admits that he is feeling nervous - he has no idea where they’re going and what Fighter has planned. The feeling intensifies when Fighter blindfolds him. Tutor knows it's his own fault because he gave Fighter permission to ‘surprise him’ for his birthday, basically giving the other permission to do whatever he wanted. His boyfriend had been good about not spending too much money - Tutor kept reprimanding him for it and he had gotten better - but an occasion such as Tutor’s birthday would probably make him go all out. At least it doesn’t seem like a fancy restaurant or something like that because Fighter told him to dress nicely but comfortably.
When the car stops, he lets Fighter lead him outside and further into the unknown. It reminds him of their first beach trip when Fighter took him down to the private beach for dinner. Then the blindfold goes off and the scene in front of him makes him blink and gasp a little bit. The sight in front of him this time is even more breathtaking than what he saw at the beach.
All of his friends are there and they’re popping crackers and calling out ‘Happy Birthday!!’.
It’s nothing luxurious, no private beach, fancy hotel or anything. It’s in the back of P’Kae’s bakery, the little yard decorated with simple paper streamers and balloons and other knick knacks - some of them look handmade. A large table has been brought out as well as chairs.
Tutor goes to greet his friends and they all wish him a happy birthday. Some hand over presents, which he puts onto a separate table which had been put there for that purpose.
And then Fighter comes out with a cake. It looks crooked and very clearly handmade and Tutor slaps a hand over his mouth to hold back a potentially embarrassing sound he would have made when he realizes that Fighter must have made it. Fighter, the spoiled rich kid who hadn’t even known how to fold laundry until Tutor taught him.
P’Kae whispers to him, “He’s been practicing hard these days.” The image of Fighter in an apron, trying to decorate a cake almost sends Tutor into a fit of giggles.
“Make a wish, my love.”
His ears burn a little when he hears the term of endearment but he dutifully closes his eyes, makes a wish and blows out the candles.
Tutor laughs and has fun with his friends until it’s night and then they help P’Kae to clean everything up before they get into Fighter’s car - loaded with presents - and go back to Tutor’s condo. Or so he thinks. They pull up in front of Fighter’s home instead.
“P’Fight?”
“I have a present for you, too.”
“But- you already-”
“Okay, maybe this could count as my dad’s present to you then.”
A part of Tutor is scared of any present that Fighter’s father could have gotten him. If his son was anything to go by (Fighter must have gotten it from SOMEbody).
Fighter tells him to get out of the car but then stops him before he can walk up to the house.
Another car pulls up in the driveway and stops. Fighter’s father gets out and greets them shortly before he walks over to the passenger door and opens it and then the door in the back as well.
He takes back all of his bad thoughts about possible terrible presents from Fighter’s dad.
Tutor feels tears welling up in his eyes when his mother and sister step out of the car and he steps forward and wraps the two women into a hug.
They have a little private, family birthday celebration for him in the living room before the jet lag catches up with Tongta and they decide to go call it a night and go to bed.
When Tutor slips into Fighter’s room, he finds the other still awake. Walking over he wraps his arms around Fighter and kisses his boyfriend silly.
“P’Fight...thank you.”
“Happy Birthday,” Fighter smiles and then brushes his nose against Tutor’s as the clock strikes 12 and Tutor’s birthday ends. It’s a bit of a tradition for both of them to wish the other a happy birthday as the first and then also the last person on the day. “I hope you enjoyed it.”
“This was the best birthday ever.” Tutor holds Fighter close. “Thank you, P’Fight. I’m happy.”
Things seem unreal to Tutor, he’s just that happy. Somewhere in the back of his head he thinks that he must be dreaming. The thought doesn’t leave him for a while because when he and Fighter walk into the dining room the next morning, they find Fighter’s dad sitting at the dining table sipping on a coffee and Tutor’s mother and Tongta are busy doing something in the kitchen. Whatever it is that they’re doing, it smells great.
Tutor turns around when he doesn’t see Fighter following him further into the room. His boyfriend’s eyes seem a little teary and Tutor remembers that Fighter’s mother left him and his dad when Fighter was still in elementary school.
He takes Fighter’s and squeezes it gently, giving his boyfriend a smile. Tutor is glad that he can share his happiness with the other. He’s missed this kind of ‘Family Time’, too.
They both help to carry things over to the table, which quickly fills with lots of Thai foods - Tongta had requested soul- and homefood. They sit down and eat and listen to Tongta’s stories about Germany with Tutor and occasionally Fighter, asking questions.
After breakfast, Tutor and his family decide to go to downtown Bangkok. Tongta needs to get souvenirs and Tutor and their mother are happy to accompany her and do some window shopping along the way. Tutor enjoys every moment he spends with his family. He lets his guard down and he’s still unguarded when they return to Fighter’s house and sit in the living room.
Tutor has his head in his mother’s lap and she’s gently stroking his hair.
“I should tell you this, Tutor, since I know you wouldn’t want to be left in the dark about it and it concerns you, too. Fighter’s father offered to pay off our family debt but Fighter was opposed to it saying you wouldn’t want him to do that...you’d want to do it yourself. Both you and Tongta. So Fight’s father decided to help you in other ways.” Tutor’s mother smiles at him.
Tutor’s eyes widen and it doesn't take him long to connect the dots. It had been something that has been bothering him. “The sudden change in the rent of the condo?”
“Yes. Fight’s dad bought your condo and is renting it out to you now. But he said when your payments reach the price he paid to buy it, it’ll be yours if you want it.”
So that’s what Fighter had meant when he said that his father was trying to do things in his own way but that it wasn’t his place to tell Tutor about it. Fighter’s dad had probably asked for it to be kept a secret, knowing Tutor might have protested otherwise.
“He didn’t tell Fight. He knew Fight wouldn’t be happy about it…so don’t be angry with Fight for not telling you anything, okay?” Tongta grins. “You got yourself a really good man, nong. He’s a keeper. So please take good care of him, okay?”
“I will.” Tutor smiles back at his older sister.
Tutor shares what he’d heard from his mother and sister with Fighter after they dropped both women off at the airport and saw them off before they departed on their respective flights.
“I knew my old man was trying to do something for you but he didn’t tell me what or whether he’d...done it.” Fighter sighs “I hope...you’re not angry?”
“I’m not. Because you’re right. I wouldn’t have accepted it. Clearing my family’s debt is something that both P’Tong and I swore to do on our own,” Tutor leans his head against Fighter’s. “You understand me.”
Fighter looks like, for a moment, he was swallowing tears. “I try my damndest.”
Tutor wrapped his arms around his boyfriend and kissed him. “What did I do to deserve you?”
Over to you, mousi-senpai mousapelli
“Happy Birthday,” the last words before he falls asleep make Tutor smile and he squeezes Fighter’s hand sleepily, signalling to his boyfriend that he heard them.
He wakes up to a million messages on his phone the next morning.They put a smile on his face and he is still smiling when he gets into Fighter’s car and fastens his seatbelt.
It’s then that his smile falters a little.
Tutor admits that he is feeling nervous - he has no idea where they’re going and what Fighter has planned. The feeling intensifies when Fighter blindfolds him. Tutor knows it's his own fault because he gave Fighter permission to ‘surprise him’ for his birthday, basically giving the other permission to do whatever he wanted. His boyfriend had been good about not spending too much money - Tutor kept reprimanding him for it and he had gotten better - but an occasion such as Tutor’s birthday would probably make him go all out. At least it doesn’t seem like a fancy restaurant or something like that because Fighter told him to dress nicely but comfortably.
When the car stops, he lets Fighter lead him outside and further into the unknown. It reminds him of their first beach trip when Fighter took him down to the private beach for dinner. Then the blindfold goes off and the scene in front of him makes him blink and gasp a little bit. The sight in front of him this time is even more breathtaking than what he saw at the beach.
All of his friends are there and they’re popping crackers and calling out ‘Happy Birthday!!’.
It’s nothing luxurious, no private beach, fancy hotel or anything. It’s in the back of P’Kae’s bakery, the little yard decorated with simple paper streamers and balloons and other knick knacks - some of them look handmade. A large table has been brought out as well as chairs.
Tutor goes to greet his friends and they all wish him a happy birthday. Some hand over presents, which he puts onto a separate table which had been put there for that purpose.
And then Fighter comes out with a cake. It looks crooked and very clearly handmade and Tutor slaps a hand over his mouth to hold back a potentially embarrassing sound he would have made when he realizes that Fighter must have made it. Fighter, the spoiled rich kid who hadn’t even known how to fold laundry until Tutor taught him.
P’Kae whispers to him, “He’s been practicing hard these days.” The image of Fighter in an apron, trying to decorate a cake almost sends Tutor into a fit of giggles.
“Make a wish, my love.”
His ears burn a little when he hears the term of endearment but he dutifully closes his eyes, makes a wish and blows out the candles.
Tutor laughs and has fun with his friends until it’s night and then they help P’Kae to clean everything up before they get into Fighter’s car - loaded with presents - and go back to Tutor’s condo. Or so he thinks. They pull up in front of Fighter’s home instead.
“P’Fight?”
“I have a present for you, too.”
“But- you already-”
“Okay, maybe this could count as my dad’s present to you then.”
A part of Tutor is scared of any present that Fighter’s father could have gotten him. If his son was anything to go by (Fighter must have gotten it from SOMEbody).
Fighter tells him to get out of the car but then stops him before he can walk up to the house.
Another car pulls up in the driveway and stops. Fighter’s father gets out and greets them shortly before he walks over to the passenger door and opens it and then the door in the back as well.
He takes back all of his bad thoughts about possible terrible presents from Fighter’s dad.
Tutor feels tears welling up in his eyes when his mother and sister step out of the car and he steps forward and wraps the two women into a hug.
They have a little private, family birthday celebration for him in the living room before the jet lag catches up with Tongta and they decide to go call it a night and go to bed.
When Tutor slips into Fighter’s room, he finds the other still awake. Walking over he wraps his arms around Fighter and kisses his boyfriend silly.
“P’Fight...thank you.”
“Happy Birthday,” Fighter smiles and then brushes his nose against Tutor’s as the clock strikes 12 and Tutor’s birthday ends. It’s a bit of a tradition for both of them to wish the other a happy birthday as the first and then also the last person on the day. “I hope you enjoyed it.”
“This was the best birthday ever.” Tutor holds Fighter close. “Thank you, P’Fight. I’m happy.”
Things seem unreal to Tutor, he’s just that happy. Somewhere in the back of his head he thinks that he must be dreaming. The thought doesn’t leave him for a while because when he and Fighter walk into the dining room the next morning, they find Fighter’s dad sitting at the dining table sipping on a coffee and Tutor’s mother and Tongta are busy doing something in the kitchen. Whatever it is that they’re doing, it smells great.
Tutor turns around when he doesn’t see Fighter following him further into the room. His boyfriend’s eyes seem a little teary and Tutor remembers that Fighter’s mother left him and his dad when Fighter was still in elementary school.
He takes Fighter’s and squeezes it gently, giving his boyfriend a smile. Tutor is glad that he can share his happiness with the other. He’s missed this kind of ‘Family Time’, too.
They both help to carry things over to the table, which quickly fills with lots of Thai foods - Tongta had requested soul- and homefood. They sit down and eat and listen to Tongta’s stories about Germany with Tutor and occasionally Fighter, asking questions.
After breakfast, Tutor and his family decide to go to downtown Bangkok. Tongta needs to get souvenirs and Tutor and their mother are happy to accompany her and do some window shopping along the way. Tutor enjoys every moment he spends with his family. He lets his guard down and he’s still unguarded when they return to Fighter’s house and sit in the living room.
Tutor has his head in his mother’s lap and she’s gently stroking his hair.
“I should tell you this, Tutor, since I know you wouldn’t want to be left in the dark about it and it concerns you, too. Fighter’s father offered to pay off our family debt but Fighter was opposed to it saying you wouldn’t want him to do that...you’d want to do it yourself. Both you and Tongta. So Fight’s father decided to help you in other ways.” Tutor’s mother smiles at him.
Tutor’s eyes widen and it doesn't take him long to connect the dots. It had been something that has been bothering him. “The sudden change in the rent of the condo?”
“Yes. Fight’s dad bought your condo and is renting it out to you now. But he said when your payments reach the price he paid to buy it, it’ll be yours if you want it.”
So that’s what Fighter had meant when he said that his father was trying to do things in his own way but that it wasn’t his place to tell Tutor about it. Fighter’s dad had probably asked for it to be kept a secret, knowing Tutor might have protested otherwise.
“He didn’t tell Fight. He knew Fight wouldn’t be happy about it…so don’t be angry with Fight for not telling you anything, okay?” Tongta grins. “You got yourself a really good man, nong. He’s a keeper. So please take good care of him, okay?”
“I will.” Tutor smiles back at his older sister.
Tutor shares what he’d heard from his mother and sister with Fighter after they dropped both women off at the airport and saw them off before they departed on their respective flights.
“I knew my old man was trying to do something for you but he didn’t tell me what or whether he’d...done it.” Fighter sighs “I hope...you’re not angry?”
“I’m not. Because you’re right. I wouldn’t have accepted it. Clearing my family’s debt is something that both P’Tong and I swore to do on our own,” Tutor leans his head against Fighter’s. “You understand me.”
Fighter looks like, for a moment, he was swallowing tears. “I try my damndest.”
Tutor wrapped his arms around his boyfriend and kissed him. “What did I do to deserve you?”
Over to you, mousi-senpai mousapelli