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The last filming of Love in Translation was finally wrapped.
That night, they enjoyed their last night together at the beautiful resort in Khao Yai with a feast and live music.
Offroad was sipping the beer while looking for what snack he was going to try next when Daou came to him with an uncertain expression. Years of being together through ups and downs made Offroad an expert of decoding the plethora of Daou’s micro and macro expressions. So he put down his glass and took Daou’s hand since he knew physical touch was actually what could make Daou relax.
“P’Ou,” Offroad called the older man softly, “what is it?”
“Offroad,” Daou started. Offroad waited for him a beat longer before finally Daou continued, “come here.”
Daou pulled their joined hands. Offroad followed his lead toward the pool, far from the others.
They stopped by the pool.
The laughter and the live music sounded faint from where they stood, but Daou’s silence was actually louder.
Offroad waited, as Daou gathered his courage.
When finally the older man’s eyes found his, Offroad gave him a small smile, an encouragement, a little push that whatever Daou wanted to say to him, it would be alright, Offroad would always listen.
“I’ve got something for you,” Daou said with a low volume that Offroad almost missed.
Suddenly Daou pulled out a small velvet box from his pocket and opened it before Offroad’s eyes.
There were a couple of rings there, simply beautiful, with a small diamond at the center.
Without wasting much time, Daou picked one of them, held Offroad’s right hand and slid the ring onto Offroad’s ring finger before the younger could even register what was happening.
The ring fit perfectly.
“Ah,” Daou smiled a little, “I’m glad it fits your finger.”
Finally all the questions about his ring finger size that had come from the older for several times made sense. He had asked Daou about it before, but he believed it when Daou said that his fanclub wanted to buy him a ring even though it was kind of strange, why would his fanclub ask Daou and not himself?
Daou picked up its counterpart and put it on his own right ring finger. He aligned his hand with Offroad, the tiny diamonds glinting beautifully under the moonlight.
Couple rings, on their ring fingers.
Offroad’s breath hitched when finally his brain picked up. His heartbeat spiked. His head was actually reeling for a possibility that might come.
“P’Ou…” Offroad called, almost breathless.
“I have a long speech, so please don’t cut me off because I’ll weep in the middle and forget everything,” Daou said with a shaky chuckle, “can you do that for me, Offroad?
A lump in Offroad’s throat prevented him from answering verbally anyway, so he nodded.
“Offroad,” Daou started. “If I didn’t have you here, holding my hand like this, I don’t know if I could make it or not. Also thank you a lot for always being by my side and giving me confidence to get through this series. And from now on, no matter what, you and I will always be partners to continue walking and holding hands like this. So, I want to give you this ring, to remind ourselves that we will grow together and always be together.”
Offroad didn’t know when he started crying, he only knew his tears had started falling when Daou cupped his face with left hand and wiped them off Offroad’s cheek.
But of course, Daou wasn’t finished, it seemed that he intended to dry off Offroad’s tear ducts tonight.
“Thank you so much for trusting me and I’m glad that you still trust me. And… I intentionally bought you this ring, because from now on, no matter if we’re together or not, I want you to know that our relationship is not easy to come by. On the days I’m with you, we’ll have each other just like this, but on the days when we have to work separately, and you’re tired, I want to let this ring remind you that you’ll always have me to cheer you up,” Daou took a deep breath and finally said, “I love you.”
Offroad’s cry burst, he could no longer hold his voice as he pulled Daou and muffled his cry on the taller man’s shoulder.
Daou’s arms wrapped around him, letting him to sag and rest his weight on Daou’s body.
Love was such a mere word. What he had for Daou was much, much, much more than that, he couldn’t even describe it. To have Daou in his life was the sweetest luck, sometimes he wondered what he had done in his past life that he deserved to have this man by his side.
Offroad didn’t know when their relationship had changed from best friends to more. He knew. He felt it. He understood Daou’s looks for him, Daou’s smiles for him, Daou’s attention, everything. This wasn’t something that best friends did.
So he finally decided. After years without any words, without any declaration, without any label even though deep in his heart he knew both of them felt the same, Offroad pulled himself slightly just so he could cupped Daou’s face with his hands.
“I know there are more, P’Ou,” Offroad whispered, “tell me.”
“Offroad…”
“Don’t be afraid, it’s me,” Offroad encouraged, “tell me.”
Daou held on of Offroad’s hands on his cheek and turned his face to leave a kiss on the heel of the younger’s palm.
“I don’t think I love you is even enough to express the feelings I have for you,” Daou said, “but if those words are the only expression, then yes, I love you, Offroad. I want to spend my days growing up with you, I want to create memories together with you, whether they’re happy or sad, I want to spend my life with you by my side. Please, it’s just…”
Daou exhaled, he lost in his words. So Offroad stole them from his mouth, with a kiss.
No, it wasn’t like the kisses they shared whenever they had to act on camera. It wasn’t like the kisses Yang and Phumjai shared in their series. It was the first kiss Daou and Offroad shared, as one, as them, as a couple of men that had fallen so deep for each other that even Eros himself would’ve been ashamed of himself if he had known.
The kiss broke and Daou hid his face in the crook of Offroad’s neck. Offroad could feel Daou’s lips moving against his skin, chanting muffled I-love-yous and dont-leave-mes.
Offroad didn’t need to use his voice, Offroad didn’t need to do the same, his arms around Daou’s neck while their hearts aligned inside their chests was his answer, loud and clear and absolute. And he knew Daou understood, because Daou always did.