Chapter Text
Rei woke up to soft kisses on his cheek.
Isa-isa. Mabagal. Paulit-ulit. Parang lambing na nahihiyang manggising.
He shifted a little, forehead pressing deeper into the pillow, voice hoarse with sleep.
“Five more minutes, baby…”
Yuan didn’t say anything at first—just smiled against his skin. Then another kiss, this time a little closer to his mouth. Still light. Still slow.
“It’s already five,” bulong niya, barely a whisper. “We have a flight, remember?”
Rei groaned, eyes still shut. One arm slipped out from under the blanket to push Yuan away, but his hand just landed on Yuan’s shoulder. He didn’t push. He pulled. A little.
“I thought kasi… ano lang, ‘di ba?”
Yuan laughed.
“Eh hindi makatiis.”
Rei smiled without opening his eyes. Body sore, legs aching, hips still faintly pulsing from the night before.
“You were begging,” he murmured, almost smug.
“Sinong umupo sa’kin?” Yuan muttered, teasing. “Baby, halos hindi na ako makahinga kagabi.”
Rei finally opened his eyes, just a little. Nakita niya ‘yung mukha ni Yuan sa madilim na kwarto—disheveled, lips swollen. His hair was a mess. He looked like he hadn’t slept at all.
He looked perfect.
Rei reached up, touched his face without thinking. Thumb tracing his jaw. Eyes soft.
“Come here.”
Yuan leaned in and kissed him—lazy, gentle, like his lips were still half-asleep. It wasn’t deep. Just skin to skin, lips to lips, like they had all the time in the world.
Rei pulled back slightly, lips brushing Yuan’s as he whispered,
“Stay here. Just a bit.”
“Okay,” Yuan said, almost inaantok na rin, eyes fluttering shut. He tucked himself back into Rei’s side, arm wrapping around his waist, like muscle memory.
They lay there in silence. The city outside hadn’t woken up yet. The clock was ticking somewhere. Their flight was in two hours.
But right now, none of that mattered.
Just the warmth of the sheets, the soreness between them, and the way Yuan held him like he always did—like home.
Rei was sitting on the floor by the foot of the bed, hair still damp, folding a hoodie that refused to fit into his carry-on. Yuan sat a few feet away, surrounded by open luggage, neatly packed cubes, and three kinds of chargers he insisted they’d need.
“Baby,” Rei called out, frowning at the bag. “Why is this not closing.”
Yuan looked up, holding his toothbrush in one hand. “Kasi siniksik mo lang po. Wait, ako na.”
He scooted over and gently took the hoodie from Rei’s lap, folding it tighter before slipping it into a space Rei didn’t even notice. Zipped it up in one go.
Rei blinked. “You’re so good at this, it’s almost offensive.”
Yuan smiled, soft and quiet. “Sabi mo nga dati, I’m built for domestic life.”
Rei smiled without meaning to, then leaned forward, resting his chin on Yuan’s shoulder for a second before pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. “Thank you, baby.”
Yuan hummed in response, then reached for Rei’s towel and started drying his hair again without asking.
The room smelled faintly of mint and clean laundry. Outside the window, the sky was slowly shifting from dark to grey-blue. It was too early for anything to feel real, but there they were—ready for the airport, two hours away from a trip they’ve been meaning to take for months.
“Grabe,” Rei said softly, towel hanging around his shoulders as he watched Yuan zip up the last bag. “We’re actually doing this.”
“Mhm.” Yuan was crouched by the bed, folding up their checklist. “Five days with your parents. First ko sila makikita in real life.”
“They’ve been asking for you nonstop,” Rei said, a small laugh in his voice. “Ever since we posted… si Mama halos every call may ‘When are you bringing him?’ And Papa—don’t even get me started. He literally rewatched one of your interviews last month.”
“Yung recent?”
“Nope. Yung two years ago. Yung naka-sando ka pa.” Rei shook his head, amused.
Yuan smiled shyly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Baby… gusto mo ng mas funny?”
Rei blinked. “What?”
“Your dad liked five of my old IG posts,” Yuan said, laughing under his breath. “As in yung sunod-sunod. Isa pa dun 2019 pa.”
Rei stared at him. “He what?”
“Yeah, nag-scroll siya, tapos like nang like. Yung isa, naka-brown hair pa ako,” Yuan added, trying not to laugh.
Rei groaned, covering his face with the towel. “Oh my God. That man has no chill.”
“But he’s cute,” Yuan said gently. “I like him already.”
Rei peeked at him from under the towel. “You’re not scared?”
Yuan leaned closer. “A little. Pero mas excited. Kasi… I know how much they matter to you. And I want them to know I’ll take care of you.”
Rei’s chest softened at that. He turned slightly, met Yuan’s eyes. “You don’t have to prove anything, baby. They already love you.”
Yuan rested his forehead against Rei’s, their noses brushing. “Yeah. But I still want to be someone they’ll trust with you.”
Rei didn’t say anything for a few seconds. Then he whispered, “You already are.”
They packed the rest of their things in silence, brushing shoulders, sharing small looks between zippers and folded socks. Yuan triple-checked the passports. Rei adjusted the strap on his duffel.
It was something they’d both waited a long time for.
And now they were ready.
***
They had just buckled in when Rei pulled out his phone.
“Baby, smile.”
Yuan turned toward him, blinking. “Hmm?”
“Update lang kay Mama tsaka kay Papa,” Rei said, already angling his phone. “Para hindi na sila mag-message ng ‘Boarding na kayo?’ every five minutes.”
Yuan huffed a tiny laugh and leaned in. “Okay, okay.”
Rei took a selfie of the two of them—Yuan with a sleepy smile, Rei with his head slightly tilted against Yuan’s shoulder. Both of them still looked groggy, eyes half-lidded, but their fingers were laced together on Rei’s lap.
He sent the photo to the family group chat with a simple caption:
Rei : onboard na po. see you soon 🫶🏻
Within seconds, two replies came in:
Mama : Ingat kayo boys!! Can’t wait to hug you both! 🥹💗
Papa : Tell Yuan I’m grilling steak on Sunday. Rare or medium?
Rei showed the messages to Yuan, who smiled while shaking his head. “Medium, always. But that’s so sweet.”
“Diba?” Rei leaned closer, resting his head more fully on Yuan’s shoulder. “Tulog muna tayo after takeoff, ha?”
“Sure,” Yuan whispered, brushing his fingers lightly over Rei’s knee. “After one movie lang.”
Thirty minutes into the flight, the cabin lights dimmed. The two of them sat curled into their seats, headphones on, Marvel: Endgame queued up like clockwork.
“You sure about this?” Yuan asked softly, side-eyeing Rei as the Marvel logo faded in.
“Yes,” Rei mumbled. “Closure.”
“We’ve watched this how many times na?”
“I don’t count pain.”
Yuan laughed, but quietly, already settling in.
They sat in silence as the movie played, sharing one set of earbuds. Rei’s eyes never left the screen—he mouthed along to the lines like a ritual. Yuan just glanced at him every now and then, already knowing when the inevitable would come.
And then it did.
And then it happened.
“I am… Iron Man.”
The snap. The silence. The aftermath.
Rei didn’t say anything. Just sat there, eyes on the screen, lips pressed together like he was trying to stay still.
But Yuan saw the shift—the way Rei blinked too slowly, how his breath caught halfway through his chest.
And then the tears came.
Yuan reached over and wiped the first one away with his thumb. “Hey,” he said gently, voice low. “You okay?”
Rei sniffled, didn’t look away from the screen. “I don’t know why it still hurts.”
“Baby…” Yuan squeezed his hand under the blanket. “Of course it does.”
“He gave everything,” Rei murmured. “And he didn’t even get to rest.”
Yuan nodded, eyes on him. “He deserved more.”
Rei turned slightly, finally meeting his gaze. “He carried everyone. The whole damn story. And then—gone.”
“I know,” Yuan said. “You’ve always loved that about him.”
Rei blinked slowly, still teary-eyed. “I think it’s ‘cause he reminds me of my dad sometimes.”
Yuan didn’t answer right away—just tightened his grip on Rei’s hand, then pulled it to his lap. Held it there.
They fell quiet again.
When the credits started rolling, Yuan leaned in and pressed a kiss to the top of Rei’s head. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to.
Rei shifted closer, tucked his head against Yuan’s chest.
“I think I’m okay now,” he said, voice muffled against the fabric of Yuan’s hoodie.
“You wanna sleep?” Yuan asked softly.
“Yeah. Wake me for food?”
“Promise,” Yuan said, wrapping an arm around him. “Dito ka lang.”
***
Pagkababa nila ng cab, the air felt different.
Not just because of jetlag or the breeze brushing against their faces, but because the house was right there—simple, familiar, cream walls with light blue trim, exactly how Rei described it to Yuan that night they stayed up talking about childhood over buldak and coke.
Yuan shifted his weight and adjusted the grip on their bags. Isa sa kanan, isa sa kaliwa. He was carrying most of it, of course. Kasi si Rei, nakangiti lang, calm, as if he wasn’t five steps away from introducing his boyfriend to his actual parents for the first time.
Rei walked ahead a few steps, then turned back to look at him. “You good, baby?”
Yuan nodded, shifted his grip on the luggage. “Yeah… just breathing.”
Rei grinned.
“First time kong haharap sa mga magulang mo, baby,” Yuan mumbled, eyes flicking toward the door.
Rei reached over and fixed the hair near Yuan’s ear gently. “You’ve met CEOs, producers, famous actors, and directors but okay.”
“Hindi sila ‘yung nagpapalaki sa’yo,” Yuan shot back, half-whispered. “Iba ‘yung bigat.”
That made Rei laugh, soft and fond. “Well, they already like you naman eh. You’re fine, baby.”
He gave Yuan’s hand a squeeze, then stepped toward the door and knocked—tatlong beses, then isa pa, just like he always did when he came home.
Tahimik saglit. Then the sound of slippers moving quickly. And a voice.
“Rei?! Nandiyan ka na ba?!”
The door opened fast.
“Anak!” his mom gasped, arms already opening before she fully took them in.
She went straight for Rei, hugged him tight—arms around his neck, cheek pressed to his. Then, even before letting go, she pulled back just enough to look at Yuan.
“And this must be—oh my, halika na rin dito.”
Before Yuan could say a word, she pulled him in too. The hug was so warm and welcoming. Like she’d hugged him a hundred times already in her head.
“Hello po,” Yuan said, caught between a smile and a bow, voice a little tight from nerves. “Nice to finally meet you po.”
“Anak, ‘po’ agad? Mama na lang. Come inside, dali.”
Rei snorted. “Told you.”
Yuan just gave him a helpless look. Still carrying both bags, but now fully being ushered into the house by Rei’s mom, one hand still resting lightly on his back like she didn’t want to let him go just yet.
“Love! Nandito na sila!” she called out toward the back of the house.
A few seconds later, footsteps. More relaxed this time. Then Rei’s dad appeared by the dining room archway, apron still on, towel over one shoulder.
He didn’t say much—just looked at Rei, then Yuan. Quiet eyes. Then a short nod.
“Hi, Pa,” Rei said, stepping forward and hugging him with less energy.
His dad returned the hug with one arm, gave him a gentle pat on the back. “Buti nakarating kayo nang maayos.”
Then he looked at Yuan.
Yuan stood a little straighter. “Good evening po, tito.”
The older man gave a small nod, stepped forward, and placed a hand on Yuan’s shoulder.
“Welcome,” he said. “Tara na. Luto na ‘yung steak.”
Yuan blinked. “Opo.”
Rei leaned in to whisper, “That’s him being warm, swear.”
Yuan nodded, small smile forming at the edge of his lips. “I’ll take it.”
They stepped inside together.
“May tatlong klase ng steak,” Rei’s mom said proudly, walking ahead. “Medium, medium rare, at well done. Kasi ‘yung Papa mo, hindi na sigurado kung anong gusto mo kaya nagluto na lang ng lahat.”
Yuan laughed under his breath.
“Walang sayang dito. Kakainin pa rin namin ‘yan,” Rei muttered, dragging his maleta toward the shoe rack. “Basta ako, I’m going medium rare.”
Yuan looked around—soft lights, framed photos lining the hallway, the faint clatter of plates being set.
Everything felt lived-in. Familiar, even if it wasn’t his.
Rei’s mom turned around from the kitchen. “You boys hungry?”
Rei and Yuan exchanged a glance, then nodded.
“Perfect timing,” she said, waving them over. “Punta na kayo dito. Dinner’s ready.”
The steak was perfect.
Rei had his medium rare, his Papa had his usual well done (“Hindi mo raw matatawag na luto ‘yan,” he grumbled when Rei teased him), and Yuan was happily working through his medium—chewing slow.
Rei’s mom had just refilled his water. “Okay lang ba ‘yung luto, Yuan?”
Yuan wiped the corner of his mouth with his napkin and nodded. “Sobrang sarap po. Ang lambot ng steak. ‘Yung mashed potatoes din po—ang sarap.”
“Told you,” Rei muttered without looking up. “Papa-impress sila sa’yo dito.”
“Masarap talaga ‘yang luto ng Papa mo,” his mom said, nudging her husband gently with her foot under the table. “Pag special occasion lang ‘yan nagugutom magluto.”
His mom added. “Very very special! Kaya nga curious kami eh. Paano ba kayo nagkakilala talaga?”
Rei paused, fork mid-air. “Ma…”
Yuan laughed, leaned back slightly in his chair. “Okay lang. I’ll take this one.”
Rei gave him a look that said don’t you dare, but Yuan ignored it, eyes lighting up a little as he turned to his almost-in-laws.
“Na-recommend po sa youtube ‘yung vlog ni Rei. ‘Yung cat café vlog po.”
Rei covered his face with both hands. “Oh my God.”
“Yung may pusang tulog sa plant stand?” Mama asked, delighted.
“Yes po!” Yuan said. “That one. ‘Yung grey na parang may attitude. Ang funny ni Rei doon. He was just… talking to the cats.”
Rei peeked through his fingers. “Grabe ‘yun pa talaga! That was a chaotic vlog.”
“That’s why I liked it,” Yuan said, turning to him now. “That video of you is like you’re showing your personality there. You just talked like… you were already my friend.”
Rei blinked at him, then looked down again, clearly overwhelmed.
“Then I watched another one,” Yuan continued, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Tapos sunod-sunod na. I think I watched at least ten vlogs in one night. I was supposed to sleep early, pero ayun po… na-stuck na ako.”
Rei’s mom laughed under her breath, eyes glinting. “So you were a fan.”
Rei groaned.
“Super po,” Yuan said, not even trying to hide the pride in his voice. “I followed him on Instagram after. Tapos… nag-message po ako pero using my dump account.”
“Oooh,” Rei’s mom teased, leaning in a little. “Nag-reply agad si Rei? O pakipot muna?”
Rei let out a louder groan, this time covering half his face with his hand. “Mom, please…”
Yuan just chuckled, calm and unfazed. “Hindi po siya pakipot. Pero careful siya. I think… he was really protective of himself.”
Rei’s mom tilted her head slightly. “Protective?”
Yuan glanced briefly at Rei, then back. “He wasn’t closed off. But you could tell he valued his peace. Alam niya ‘yung gusto niyang itago at ‘yung kaya niyang ibigay. I respected that right away. Ang galing niyang mag-draw ng boundaries without shutting people out.”
Rei looked down, smile quietly forming at the corner of his lips.
For a while, no one spoke. Then Rei’s mom sighed softly.
“You know… I used to worry about him,” Rei’s mom said, her voice softer now. “Iniwan namin siya sa Pinas nang maaga. We moved here for work, and he stayed behind. He was so young. And he never wanted to ask for anything—ayaw niyang maging pabigat. Laging siya lang. Laging kayang-kaya daw niya.”
Rei looked up, startled by the shift in her voice, but he didn’t say anything.
“So I prayed,” she continued, dabbing lightly at the corner of her eye with a napkin, almost like she didn’t want them to notice. “Na sana, one day, someone would come along… someone who’d see how much he gives. And someone who wouldn’t take advantage of that.”
There was a quiet beat.
Yuan set down his fork and met her eyes. “Thank you po for sharing that. Pero to be honest… even before I came into the picture, kaya na po talaga ni Rei ang sarili niya.”
Rei’s mom blinked. His dad watched in still silence.
“Rei’s one of the most independent people I’ve ever met,” Yuan said, his voice steady but warm. “He takes care of himself. He knows when to give and when to say no. Alam niya ‘yung worth niya. And that was the first thing I admired about him. I didn’t come in to fix anything—I just really wanted to stay close to someone that sure of who he is.”
Rei’s mom looked at him—long, quiet, eyes soft. Then she gave the smallest nod, voice catching a little. “That’s really nice to here.”
Rei leaned back slightly, letting out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. Under the table, his knee brushed against Yuan’s lightly.
Then, almost casually: “And ikaw, Yuan… kamusta ka? I mean—work mo, career mo. We see you everywhere now. Okay ka lang ba with all that pressure?”
Yuan blinked at the question, surprised by the shift in attention.
“Okay naman po,” he said. “Minsan nakakapagod. Pero I’m lucky to have people around me who keep me grounded. And Rei… he helps a lot.”
He turned slightly toward Rei. “Even without doing anything big. Kahit tahimik lang siya, it helps.”
Rei’s dad, still silent, slid the mashed potatoes toward Yuan’s side. “Kuha ka pa,” he said simply. “Mukhang bitin ‘yang una mong sandok.”
Yuan smiled. “Thank you po.”
Rei’s mom stood up from her chair, already moving toward the kitchen. “O, iinitin ko ‘yung extra steak—”
“No need, Ma,” Rei said quickly, voice soft. “Ang dami pa.”
She waved him off. “Hayaan mo na. Masarap ‘to pag fresh.”
As she disappeared through the kitchen door, Rei leaned a little closer to Yuan, voice low.
“Thank you,” he said.
Yuan turned his head. “Hmm, for what?”
“For everything you said,” Rei replied. “And for being here.”
Yuan gave his hand a quiet squeeze under the table. “Sabi ko naman sa’yo, baby. I got you.”
Across from them, Rei’s dad refilled Yuan’s glass with water. Just a small gesture that said more than enough.
And for Rei, that was all the welcome he needed.
***
The balcony was quiet. The kind of quiet that came only after a long day—good food, warm laughter, a house finally settled down.
Yuan and Rei’s dad sat side by side in low chairs, a small table between them. Two half-filled wine glasses. The night air was cool, the kind that settled deep into your shoulders without you noticing.
It was Rei’s dad who broke the silence.
“Hindi siya madaling anak kausapin minsan,” he said, eyes focused somewhere off in the dark. “Tahimik. May sarili nang mundo. Laging iniintindi ‘yung paligid niya, pero sarili niya, bihirang pansinin.”
Yuan looked over, but said nothing.
“We moved here when he was in college,” Rei’s dad continued. “Second year. Ang bata pa niya non. Pero sabi niya, ‘I’ll be fine, Pa. Kaya ko ’to.’ Hindi kami pinigilan. Hindi rin siya humiling.”
He paused, swirling his wine once before lifting it to his lips.
“Every call, ang sinasabi lang: ‘Okay lang po ako.’ Pero gabi-gabi, iniisip ko, totoo ba talaga ‘yon? Kumakain ba siya nang maayos? May kausap ba siya, o mag-isa na naman? Kasi kahit kailan, ayaw niyang magpabigat.”
Yuan nodded, quiet.
“Ganun po talaga siya,” he said. “He’ll carry things by himself until someone insists on helping.”
Rei’s dad gave a small, tired smile. “Kaya nung nalaman naming may ‘Yuan’ na sa buhay niya, we paid attention.”
Yuan glanced at him, almost sheepish.
“I watched,” Rei’s dad went on, voice lower now. “Not just sa photos. Pero sa boses niya. Sa mga galaw niya. He looked lighter. Less guarded. Mas totoo.”
Yuan smiled, slowly. “I’m glad to hear that po.”
Rei’s dad turned to face him fully this time. “So I wanted to say… thank you. For taking care of my son.”
Yuan looked up, startled for a moment by how direct it was.
“Sir…”
“I know he can survive on his own,” Rei’s dad said. “He’s done it for years. He’ll be fine with or without anyone. But still, you’re here. You choose to be here. That means something.”
Yuan nodded, the words catching just a little in his chest. “It means a lot to me too po. He’s… the kind of person you don’t meet twice.”
Rei’s dad didn’t reply immediately.
Then, quietly:
“Please, Yuan…”
Yuan turned to him again.
“If ever man na—” he paused, the words sticking, but he pushed through, “—na mawalan ka ng pagmamahal sa anak ko someday… kung darating ‘yung oras na ‘di na kayo pareho ng tinatakbo…”
He took a breath.
“Wag mo siyang sasaktan. Wag mo siyang pahihirapan. Huwag mo siyang bibitinin sa tanong. Just… ibalik mo na lang siya sa amin. Sa bahay na ‘to. Sa mga taong alam kung paano siya alagaan.”
Yuan felt the weight of it hit. Not guilt—just the magnitude of being trusted with someone like Rei. Someone who didn’t ask to be taken care of, but had always deserved to be.
He nodded. Firm. Sure.
“I won’t hurt him po,” he said. “But if that day ever comes… I promise, sir. You won’t have to look for him. I’ll bring him home.”
Rei’s dad exhaled slowly, like something in him finally settled. “Salamat.”
They sat in silence again after that. It was just two men watching the night roll over the city, their glasses untouched.
Inside, the kitchen light flickered off. Rei’s voice carried faintly through the window, laughing at something his mom said.
Yuan turned toward the sound, instinctively. His shoulders dropped a little. Like he could breathe deeper.
Rei’s dad caught the motion—but said nothing.
He just sat back, poured the last of the wine into both their glasses, and let the silence speak the rest.
***
The house had quieted down—Rei’s mom already in bed, his dad probably finishing a glass of wine in the kitchen.
Inside the guest room, it was just them.
Yuan was already lying down, hair still damp from the shower, shirt a little loose around the collar.
Rei padded back into the room, fresh from brushing his teeth, in an oversized shirt that clearly wasn’t his.
Rei climbed in, slipping under the covers, immediately pressing himself into Yuan’s side like he’d been waiting to do it all day. “Ang lamig.”
“Come here, baby,” Yuan whispered, wrapping an arm around him, hand resting on Rei’s waist.
They settled there for a moment. No words, just shared breath. The kind of quiet that only came when you knew you were safe.
Then, Rei tilted his head slightly, lips brushing the edge of Yuan’s jaw. A soft kiss. Then another, closer to the corner of his mouth.
“Hmm,” Yuan hummed, turning his face just enough to kiss him properly.
The kiss stayed soft at first. Just the slow give of lips, breath mingling, warmth gathering between them. But Rei’s hand found its way under Yuan’s shirt, fingertips warm against his stomach. Yuan let out a quiet sound—half sigh, half hum—as his own hand slid to Rei’s waist, holding him close.
Their bodies shifted naturally, the blanket rustling around them, legs pulling closer, mouths moving in sync now—deeper, slower.
Then Rei’s hand moved lower, tracing the line of Yuan’s side. His fingers paused at his hip, then slid down—just enough to make Yuan’s breath catch.
But before it could go any further—
Yuan pulled back, still breathless, still close. “Baby…”
Rei blinked at him, lips parted.
Yuan chuckled softly, voice dropping. “Bawal po muna.”
Rei groaned, burying his face in Yuan’s neck. “Fuck.”
“Baby,” Yuan laughed again, kissing his temple. “Nasa bahay mo tayo. As in literal, kabilang kwarto lang ‘yung nanay at tatay mo.”
Rei let out a muffled snort against his neck. “Oops.”
“You were already climbing.” Yuan teased, turning on his side so he could pull Rei closer.
“I was not climbing,” Rei grumbled, even as he tucked himself tighter into Yuan’s chest. “You were pulling.”
“Ah okay po ako na may kasalanna,” Yuan whispered, lips grazing Rei’s forehead. “Kahit na ikaw ang may malikot na kamay.”
Rei smiled, eyes closed now, voice softened by sleep. “’Cause I feel safe with you .”
That quieted Yuan.
He held him tighter after that. Kissed his hair again. Let his hand rest over Rei’s back, thumb brushing in slow circles.
“I love you,” Rei mumbled.
“I love you, baby. Sobra.” Yuan replied with a smile.
They lay like that for a while longer. The air was cool, their skin warm. And in that soft bubble of shared blankets and half-said thoughts, sleep slowly tugged at both of them.