Chapter Text
as a public figure, it's not uncommon to have different kinds of fans, like crazy fans. nevertheless, it's still unpleasant to know that some fans are too far up in their head. especially when some fans decide it's completely fine and normal to stalk their idols.
it started with messages, like everything else does. someone had messaged sound in his instagram account. but as an actor who has a big fanbase, he can't cater to everyone. and most fans understand that. that there's always a high chance that they won't get a reply from their idols. but some fans seemed to take it personally.
exhibit a: sound's angry stalker
sound and his manager talked about it, and they decided that it's time for sound to get a new place, one where there's high-security. a high-end place. so that's what they did. sound bought a new penthouse somewhere in the city of bangkok where some government officials, actors, actresses, and idols live.
surely, sound won't have to fear going back to his house now, right?
for the next few months, sound's life became quieter. his stalker's daily messages suddenly stopped, and he couldn't be more relieved at the idea that the stalker probably realized they shouldn't be doing this to sound. or to anyone, for that matter.
a few days ago, he noticed the pile of cardboard boxes lined up beside the door of the penthouse unit beside his. in his place, there's only two units per floor. sound used to have a neighbor there, a young couple who seemed to be really friendly and nice. sound had talked to them a few times, but since he's usually busy, there weren't a lot of chances to talk with them. 3 months after he moved in, the young couple had moved out. so for 2 months, he was neighborless. but that seemed to change now. he just hopes his new neighbor isn't a nuisance and is kind.
he hasn't had the chance to greet his neighbor yet. sound had been so busy with filming a new drama series these past few weeks, so he usually comes back at 1 in the morning and leaves at 6. and it seems like his neighbor had finished settling in because the boxes had already disappeared. sound takes a mental note to greet his neighbor once his schedule allows him to. it's not quite ideal to knock on someone's door at 6 am or 1 am just to welcome them.
aside from this whole neighbor situation, it also seems like his stalker was back in business. they had been messaging, or maybe harassing, sound in instagram, once again. and as if that wasn't enough, they even managed to get ahold of sound's personal number.
great. so now, sound is anxious in his surroundings again.
that's fine. sound's unit is well-secured. he lives in a high-end, high-security place. there's literally government officials in this building. they can't even go inside without their unit cards, and it's not easy to get inside if you're just a visitor with no resident informing the reception area of the visit. it's fine. right?
well, no. not really. not exactly if we're going to take into account the recent misplacement of sound's things whenever he gets back at midnight.
you see, the thing about sound is that he's extremely meticulous and a downright perfectionist. which was not ideal and had caused a lot of trouble during his high school days—that we should not talk about or sound might cry. don't ask why.
but because of this side of sound, he knows exactly where he puts his things, and he makes extra sure that he puts things back to where it was previously placed. exactly where it was supposed to be placed.
so imagine the humongous turmoil in sound's head when he suddenly found his favorite mug placed in a different position in his cupboard. he always puts it upside-down to the far left. so why the fuck was it sitting upright in the middle of his mug cupboard? why?
he thought, maybe he was just in a complete rush that morning so he misplaced it. because, indeed, that morning, sound was in a mad rush. there had been some incident at the filming site, something about a missing clip from a shoot they did one week ago. and sound was in the middle of washing the dishes when he received the call from his manager about needing to be at the filming site at 6 am. well, fuck, because he always leaves at 6 and it was already 5:30.
so, yeah. that must be it. that must be why his favorite mug was placed in the middle of that fucking cupboard in an upright position. that should be the case.
because sound would definitely be wreaking havoc if it wasn't.
for a week, one whole fucking week, different things in sound's house would always be misplaced. the remote. his figurines. the pillows in his sofa. his cat plushie, which he's not happy because that stuffed toy has a sentimental significance—don't ask what. and lastly, his guitar. his white guitar that he loves very much. sound might as well worship that guitar. but this bitch, whoever it was, decided they would touch it and not place it back on his guitar stand.
so, no. nothing is fine. and sound has had enough. he's not dumb, unlike popular belief. he's already had a gut feeling ever since the mug incident. but why hasn't he done anything from that moment? because somewhere deep inside, he badly wishes it's just that: a feeling.
because who would quickly accept that someone living in a high-end, high-security place would be easily intruded by some off-the-grid, borderline deranged stalker that was angry because sound didn't answer their instagram message?
not sound. definitely not sound.
so at 1:43 am, he calls his dead-tired manager and tells him that some weird ass shit was happening in his place, minus the curse word. and sound couldn't really sleep knowing that someone had definitely been going in and out of his place like it was theirs.
he had contemplated if he should make a fuss in the quiet night shift of the workers, but his respectfulness got the better of him and decided he'll just ruin the peace of this complex at 7 in the morning. lucky for him, he doesn't have a schedule today. how rare!
at exactly 7 am, sound, who had not slept a wink, was at the front desk, explaining that there might be someone trespassing his unit. it wasn't a nice look, especially if you're living in a high-end, high-security place—seriously, how many times does he have to establish this point?—filled with filthy rich people. it was safe to say that sound had to practically beg them to take him seriously because those dubious eyes are ruining his self-confidence by the minute.
he had asked for security cameras to look if there was anyone or anything suspicious in his floor, but the only thing that their cameras recorded was a white, tall man that lives beside his unit.
well, here's a question for sound: what are the odds that his new neighbor and his past stalker had emerged at the same damn time?
you could do the maths, but sound is scared. he's terrified that the person stalking and trespassing his place might be the same guy living next to his unit. but according to the security cameras, the guy leaves at 9 am and comes back at 8 pm like clockwork. he never even once came near sound's door, like he doesn't care or realize that he actually has a neighbor. moreover, the building management had always ensured to do a thorough background check on their residents, which they are completely aware. and this neighbor of his has clean records.
so as a compromise, the building management had promised sound to monitor his unit's floor in case someone had actually tried to trespass and endanger his life. he was extremely grateful for it because, although it wasn't a complete and sure safety, it was still added security. and at this point, any and all additional security is greatly welcomed in his life.
so here comes sound back in his ordinary, mundane, and stressful life. he was standing in front of his unit's door and something in him was urging him away from it. he glanced at his neighbor's unit and decided that he should greet them. he had been wanting to since the first day he saw those cardboard boxes at 1 am, and sound has the time right now.
with a deep breath, sound changed his goal and walked towards the other unit in this floor. he pressed the doorbell and waited patiently, already rehearsing how he should greet his new neighbor. a few seconds later, the door opened as the two of them stared dumbly at each other.
no fucking way.
it felt like air was punched out of sound's lungs as he stared back at those familiar siren eyes that had always lured him in, just like a siren at sea. what the fuck was win doing here, and why was sound's neighbor his ex?
"sound? what are you doing here?" it was win who had managed to snap himself out of the trance they were in. it would be a lie if he said he hadn't missed losing himself in those shiny boba eyes. but now is not the time. well, actually, when is the time? does he even have that time anymore? maybe not.
"i uh... i'm your neighbor," sound muttered, still a little shocked at the revelation that his new neighbor was actually his ex. and to think he had thought that his neighbor could possibly be his stalker. no, wait, he could be. but knowing win, he doesn't act like that. sound knows him enough to compare that his stalker was most definitely not win. not with the way he acts and speak, no.
"oh... it's nice to see you again, sound." win smiled welcomingly at sound, thoroughly happy that he could finally see sound face-to-face after 3 years. yeah, sound definitely misses win. to be honest, there was never a day that sound hadn't missed win. and it's not like they broke up because they fought.
sound and win always fights. but none of those fights were ever enough to break them. their bond ran deeper than any fight could tarnish. rather, it was a mutual decision. one that was a product of win's words that sound had agreed to after a long discussion. that was 3 years ago, when win and sound were in their 4th year of college and sound had been slowly but surely rising to fame.
"yeah. it's nice to see you again too, win." sound mirrored his ex's smile, and oh how win loved the way sound says his name—as cliché as it may seem. from an outsider's perspective, they look dumb. the way they both simply stood in front of each other with huge smiles on their faces like they were looking at their dreams. and maybe they are for each other.
"uhm, i have to go now, though. work calls." it was win who, unfortunately and begrudgingly, ended this whole staring contest thing between them. he looked down on his watch and that was when sound had noticed win's outfit. he was in a white button-down long sleeves, that was rolled into a three-fourths, and denim pants. his hair was styled a bit and the only thing sound could say is handsome. win was handsome. even in such a casual outfit.
"oh, right. sorry. have a nice day, win." sound waved a bit to him, which was returned by win, before turning around and walking towards his unit. he grabbed his card from his back pocket and tapped it on the sensor, glancing once more at win's direction with a smile before completely entering his place.
he sighed heavily, feeling a mix of emotions at the unexpected encounter. if sound could, he would've just thrown himself onto win's arms and hug the living daylights out of that oversized human-teddy bear. damn you, young sound. why did you agree to break up?
sound momentarily forgot about the whole stalker thing because of his meeting with win. but when he reached the living room of his unit, he was harshly slapped in the face of his current reality. this time, it was in the form of his balcony. or more specifically, his balcony's sliding door that was open by an inch.
now, sound lives in the 15th floor. he doesn't know if he should be scared or thrilled that some wannabe-spiderman is his stalker because what the fuck? but this leaves sound with two possible options: his stalker either lives above his unit or below his unit.
the hard part is: which one of them is it?
moreover, is his balcony door open because his stalker had left, or is it because his stalker is currently inside his place?
fuck.
just at that moment, like some drama shit, there was a loud clang on the second floor of his unit, right where his bedroom was. someone was in his room. someone was in his place.
he wasn't alone right now.
without a second thought, sound sprinted back towards his front door and frantically tapped the unlock front door option. what was normally a fast technology felt like it took hundreds of years before the system acknowledged his command and unlocked the door.
he could hear the rushed footsteps behind him as he opened his front door and slammed it shut, running towards win's unit. he hoped to every god that win was still inside because he's going to die if win had already left.
he said he had to go to work now, right? fuck it.
"win! ai'win! please help me! win!" sound knocked loudly at win's front door, pressing his doorbell repeatedly. he hadn't even realized he was crying right now from how panicked he was as he heard the door of his unit open behind him.
he sobbed harder when he heard the psychotic laugh of his stalker as sound turned around because there was no way in hell he's going down without even trying to fight. the tall, lanky guy started to run towards sound and the actor had probably called all the gods to help him right now. why does he have to be in this situation when he never did anything bad?
in a blur of motion, sound was suddenly looking at a closed door as he cried, his whole body shaking. he could feel someone hugging him from behind, but because he was still panicking, he thought it was the stalker that was holding him. so obviously, sound would thrash. he thrashed to try and escape once again, but the grip on him was strong and oddly comforting. was being held down by a stalker supposed to be this comforting? bollocks, of course not.
"sound! sound, it's win! you're safe, look at me!" someone shouted at him, turning him around as the person held him firmly by his shoulders. sound's tear-filled eyes blurrily took in win's face and figure, finally realizing that win had actually opened his door and saved sound.
"it's okay, you're okay. i'm here," win continued to say, this time more gently as he noticed the recognition in sound's eyes once their eyes met. he tugged the smaller one close to him, hugging him tightly as sound melted in his embrace. the actor buried his face on win's chest as he cried his fear out. there were loud banging noises at win's front door, making sound flinch and tightly hold onto win's shirt, like loosening his grip would make him disappear from this comfort place he was currently surrounded in.
he could hear the faint voice of win as he talked with someone and then he felt himself floating when win carried him in his arms, sitting down on his sofa with sound facing him, sitting on his lap. he continued to bury his face, this time in the crook of win's neck, as he silently cried and sobbed. his shaking hands were holding tightly on either side of win's shirt around his waist as win wrapped him in a warm, comforting embrace, constantly whispering assurance to him that he was safe.
the two ex-lovers stayed in that position for who-knows-how-long, win completely disregarding the fact that he should be at work right now. his current priority was to calm sound down and comfort him.
he was supposed leave, only fixing a few things in his place, when sound had came rushing to his place, ringing his doorbell like a madman and shouting his name, asking for help. with no second thoughts, win opened his door and found sound's back turned to him while a crazed-looking man was running towards sound, so he pulled him in and quickly shut his door close. he had already called for security personnels to arrest the guy as he focused his attention on sound.
fortunately, sound's cries had ceased, and he was now reduced to occasional hiccups and sniffles. it was taking all of win's strength not to pepper sound's face with kisses right now. not the time, but sound looks incredibly adorable with his swollen eyes, red nose, and swollen lips. damn does sound's lips still looks as kissable as ever.
not the time, win. not the time.
win's hand never stopped rubbing sound's back comfortingly, hoping that it would help ground sound back to reality that he was safe now. sound shifted a bit, raising his head from where he had hid himself in, facing win properly. he cleared his throat before speaking.
"thank you for helping me," he softly muttered, his voice a little raspy from all the crying. win smiled at the cute human on his lap, one of his hands going to sound's cheek as he rubs the pad of his thumb on that soft skin.
"no need to thank me. i'm just glad you weren't hurt. he didn't hurt you, did he?" win frowned a little as his eyes roamed around sound's face and body for any possible signs of injury. his attention was quickly caught by sound shaking his head as an answer.
"no, i'm fine. i was just really scared when i realized someone was currently inside my unit." sound let out a deep, shuddering breath at his own words. he might act like a tough person all the time, but sound is an incredibly sensitive person. besides, anyone would be scared witless when they're faced with that kind of danger. he was fortunate enough that nothing bad had happened, thanks to win.
"who was that, anyway? you don't have to answer me, though." win smiled at sound as reassuringly as he possibly could. he doesn't want to pressure sound into thinking that he has to answer all of win's question just because he was there to separate sound from that man.
"it's okay. he's a stalker. he's been stalking me a few months ago but then he stopped. he started again last week, though. and now this." sound couldn't help the slight tremble and shiver that ran down his spine at the thought that some crazy fan of his was living this close to him.
win's eyebrows furrowed, worried for sound. "i already called the security so they'll probably hold onto him until you decide what to do." win pulled sound in his embrace again when he noticed the smaller's slight shakiness. it must've terrified sound deeply. even win would be terrified if that were to happen to him.
"win, really, thank you. thank you for being here at the right time. thank you for opening that door. thank you for saving me. thank you, really," sound muttered, his voice a little muffled since the lower half of his face was on win's shoulder, his arms wrapped around win's midsection tightly.
win took a deep breath in, his own face in a similar position as sound's. he closed his eyes and hugged sound tighter. "god forbid i came a second later than i did. i'm so glad you're fine, sound." the desperation in win's voice melted sound even more, making his eyes burn as his tear ducts wanted to create another waterworks show. he quickly blinked his eyes to stop himself, the two of them silently embracing each other.
"i've missed you like crazy, but this was definitely not how i imagined meeting you again," sound said in a quiet voice after a few minutes of pure, comfortable silence. his words made win laugh, squeezing him a bit in his hold.
"are you saying you've been imagining meeting me?" the taller one teased, the lilt in his voice clearly evident. sound lightly slapped win's back as a reply, chuckling at the teasing. "i missed you, too. more than just crazily." now, win's voice was more serious. he could feel the way sound's lips smiled on his shoulder, the tight hug a silent reply from sound.
a few more minutes were wasted in a worthwhile hug, a silent message of their love and longing for each other. work was the farthest thing from win's mind and the stalking for sound's. they both simply enjoyed the warmth of one another that they hadn't felt for 3 excruciatingly long years. damn you, young win, for thinking that breaking up was the better option.
in all honesty, maybe it was. it made sound and win grow up to be the current versions of theirselves. those 3 years apart made them realize things they haven't even once thought before. for one, their love for each other. but who's to say that sound and win couldn't have made it through these years together? and who's to say that sound and win could have made it through together?
in the end, no one knows for sure unless they tried and the consequences appeared. but for now, their decision to part ways and grow as individuals played something big in their maturity and personality—something good and worth it. and that's what matters.
once sound felt more stable, he pulled away from their embrace, albeit reluctantly. if he had any say in this, he would choose to just be in win's embrace and catch up on that 3 years' worth of hugs and kisses. but alas, he can't. at least, not yet. because mark sound's words, he will be getting that 3 years' worth of hugs and kisses.
the two of them stared at each other, memorizing everything that have changed and have stayed the same. win definitely looked more mature. maybe because he got a little tanner. or maybe it's because he put on some weight and have buffed up. either way, win wasn't the same lanky kid in high school. yet some things never change. win still blinks so slow and frequently. he still has that same childish pout on his lips.
sound, on the other hand, lost his chubby cheeks. it was still the cute, puffy cheeks that win loved to sniff-kiss. but sound's jaw was more evident now. maybe his nose also became a little more pointy? or maybe those pink lips became even more red. was it this plump the last time he had kissed him? win wasn't sure. but those boba eyes always had its shine, like stars were lost and stuck in there.
sound and win weren't sure at which point had they moved, but they did. like magnets on opposite poles, always gravitating towards each other no matter how far you pull them apart. and then suddenly, there was collision. in the form of their lives and now their lips.
it was soft, longing, gentle. it was something straight out of a romantic movie. or maybe straight out of sound's dreams. nevertheless, the involuntary sigh that left the actor's lips was enough telltale sign at just how much he had missed this, missed win. and despite win's slight smile at sound's sigh, he, too, understands the feeling.
it was like one of those kids' books where the princess meets his prince charming and they fell inlove. two princes who met, clashed, and fell inlove. no matter how high win falls, he swears he'll keep falling again and again for this man in front of him. it doesn't matter if sound catches him or not. he will always fall for this bastard who twisted his arm in the middle of the boys' bathroom at high school.
it's a pure relief, though, that sound will always catch win. because how could he not when all he wants is win in his arms?