Tinn and Gun are lucky enough not to disagree on much, despite how different they acknowledge that they are. But oddly enough, a decently common subject of debate between them was which actual day they first started dating.
Tinn had insisted that they didnât start properly, officially, fully and indisputably dating until after the Hot Wave competition. And Gun would scoff and say they were definitely boyfriends well before that point â as early as that beach trip in high school. Tinn would bring up the club rule, and Gun would bring up telling Sound, and the conversation would devolve until they were both passionately (affectionately) dissecting âtalking stagesâ and which specific outings counted as âdatesâ⊠and they would inevitably fail to come to a consensus. But it didnât bother them much, ultimately, nor did it really seem to matter.
That is, until one of Tinnâs Faculty of Medicine friends asks about their anniversary, and Tinnâs plans for it. And Tinn realizes, with a sudden jolt, that itâs already been more than a year since their beach trip.
Heâs missed it, unthinkingly.
Heâs a little surprised by the twinge of guilt and regret this realization brings with it â Tinn feels in his heart that Gun deserves to be celebrated, and any chance to spoil Gun is a chance Tinn is eager to take. It would actually be a shame if he didnât seize the opportunity to plan something extravagant, and properly mark the first year theyâve been together.
So he starts planning the absolute best, most perfect anniversary date possible for Gun and himself, and tells Gun to clear his schedule for the weekend of this yearâs Hot Wave.
Tinn tells Gunâs mom the overall gist of his plans for their anniversary date, so that she doesnât worry when her son is gone all day. He tells Gun very little, wanting it to be a surprise. Gun feigns casual disinterest, but Tinn catches him trying to peek inside the bag Tinn packs for their trip, so he tickles Gun mercilessly as a distraction.
When the day arrives, Gun shows up early outside Tinnâs door. âI was too excited,â he grins in the hallway.
âMe too,â Tinn agrees. He pulls Gun into his dorm room, and closes the door. âHappy anniversary!â Tinn flings his arms wide for a hug, which Gun accepts.
âOho, is it our anniversary?â Gun teases, over Tinnâs shoulder. âI thought it was just the weekend of Hot Wave. Surely weâve been boyfriends for longer than a year already...â
Tinn rolls his eyes, and presses a kiss to Gunâs cheek.
Gun pulls back, and strikes a pose. âDo you like this outfit?â Gun smirks. âYou picked it out, after all.â
Tinn takes in Gunâs ensemble â a short-sleeved pink cotton button-down (that Tinn ironed), with some nice khaki shorts, and his familiar Converse on his feet. It should be comfortable enough, but still nice for pictures. Itâs also a great color on Gun.
âOf course I like it,â he says, smirking back and reaching for Gunâs hand. âLook whoâs wearing it.â
Gun blushes, ducking his head, and Tinn knows heâs going to love making Gun blush all day long.
âLetâs go,â says Gun, squeezing Tinnâs fingers. âI canât wait anymore. Where are we going?â
âYouâll see,â Tinn nods happily. âLetâs go.â
Tinn drives them, one hand on the wheel and one hand holding Gunâs the whole way to their first stop of the day. Gunâs questions become increasingly enthusiastic as he realizes they are navigating back to their hometown, and as more and more familiar spots pass them by.
Tinn just smirks, and keeps his eyes on the road.
When they finally turn down the street for their first stop, Tinn says, âWeâre very close now. Can you guess?â
Gun grins, and shakes his head. âTell me.â
âDo you remember the folk music contest? From our last year of high school?â Tinn glances at Gun, before returning his gaze to the road.
Tinn hears Gunâs intake of breath. âThe Tao Ngoi Temple?â
Tinn smiles widely. âI figured we should go make merit in a place that is special for both of us.â He glances over, to catch the realization dawning over Gunâs face. âItâs an important day, you know.â
âTinn!â Gun takes Tinnâs free hand in both of his own, squeezing Tinnâs fingers. âWhat a lovely thought,â he says, and Tinn feels Gunâs eyes on him, hears the delight in his voice.
Tinn pulls into the temple parking, and frowns. Thereâs a big sign outside.
âClosed for renovation?â reads Gun. He looks at Tinn, questioning.
â...Ah,â says Tinn, stymied. âThe website didnât, um⊠huh. Hm.â He looks at Gun, helpless, for the moment.
Gun reads the sign once more, and then shakes his head and waves his other hand dismissively. âNo problem,â he says, pulling out his phone. âWe can still make merit, weâll just... go somewhere else. Iâm sure thereâs another temple nearby.â He taps into a search engine and starts looking.
Tinn tries not to let his disappointment show, and smiles instead at his boyfriendâs resourcefulness. âOf course,â he says. âNo problem.â
âOkay, this one â it should be open today,â says the singer. Gun pulls up a navigation app and starts telling Tinn where to go.
Not ideal... but the rest of today should be perfect, Tinn thinks to himself. He pulls out of the parking lot and heads back out onto the street.
The detour to a different first location means that they arrive for their second stop later than Tinn planned, but at least heâs certain this one is open and ready for them. Tinn bought the tickets in advance.
âThe same aquarium from high school too,â grins Gun, as they hop out of the car and begin walking to the entrance together.
âItâs nostalgic,â says Tinn.
âItâs cheesy,â Gun corrects, but his fingers entwine with Tinnâs the second his hand beckons.
âWell, I have good memories from this place,â says Tinn, gently. âDo you?â
Gunâs ears start to redden. âI do,â he admits. Mischief sparkles in his eyes. âYou want to see more sharks, huh?â He leans in. âI hear they like to bite.â
Tinn blushes, and doesnât reply.
They spend a lovely couple of hours wandering the exhibits together. The many colorful marine animals provide a delightful backdrop for snapping photos of each other and stealing cheek kisses. Tinn marvels how nice it is not to have to hide anything this time around, or pretend they arenât together. He holds Gunâs hand openly and tries every line he can think of, just to see Gunâs reaction.
âLook, Gun â it says here that the octopus has three hearts. I used to have one heart, but now it belongs to you only.â
Gun, who was sipping from his water bottle, chokes, coughing and spluttering for a couple of minutes. âTerrible,â he wheezes, his face very red. Tinn pats his back apologetically.
When they sit down in the cafe to grab a quick bite to eat, Gun spreads out a brochure from the aquarium.
âSee? We can pet the stingrays, Tinn. The event starts at 3. Wanna go?â
Tinn checks his phone for the time, and notices a weather app notification. He frowns.
The storms that all sources swore would wait until tomorrow were now predicted to arrive early, and were quickly bearing down on the last stop of their date. If they donât hurry there now, the rain will ruin Tinnâs plans.
âAh, Gun⊠is it okay if we skip the stingrays today?â He looks up at his boyfriend anxiously. âIâm worried about getting to our last stop in time.â He bites at a fingernail, and glances back down at the menacing radar map. âActually⊠we should probably leave now. If thatâs okay?â
Gun looks at him with slight concern. âEverything alright? We can leave, if you want.â
âItâll be fine,â Tinn lies. âYouâre⊠sure?â He watches Gunâs face, torn. âWe⊠we can â if youâd rather stay...â
âHey, no worries,â says Gun, smiling consolingly. âThe aquarium isnât going anywhere, we can always come back.â He gathers up his things. âIâm good. Letâs go.â
âOkay,â says Tinn, taking a breath. He repeats Gunâs reassurance in his mind as they head out. No worries.
Tinnâs hopes for a successful end to the day he planned keep him in motion. They wind their way out of the city, onto a highway heading south.
Gun is puzzled. âWeâre leaving the city?â
âYou canât guess?â Tinn glances at his confused expression.
Gun shakes his head. âTell me.â
âThis road isnât familiar at all?â Tinn smirks. âLast year⊠all crammed into a big van⊠with the bandâŠ?â
Gun gasps. âThe beach, Tinn?! The one from our high school beach trip??â His excited wiggle makes Tinn chuckle.
âI packed swimsuits and towels for both of us,â Tinn explains, smiling. Then, looking out at the sky ahead of them, he mutters, âif we can make it.â
Tinn feels Gunâs questioning look, but Gun doesnât say anything. The road winds away ahead of them, the cloudy horizon creeping steadily nearer. Tinn puts his free hand into Gunâs, to keep from biting his fingernails.
The clouds get more and more ominous as they approach the beach, pulling off the highway and onto the narrow road leading up to it. They hop out of the car and quickly change into swimsuits, but just as Gun starts running toward the surf, they hear the rumble of thunder.
âNooo,â Tinn quietly whines. âNo, no, no...â Gun turns back and rejoins him.
âTinn?â Gun glances worriedly at the sky. âDo you... think itâs safe to swim?â
Just then, the clouds open up. Fat raindrops begin pelting the beach, one by one, quickly becoming a downpour. The boys race back to the shelter of the car.
Safely inside, Tinn and Gun catch their breath. Tinn scrubs a frustrated hand over his face, wiping off the raindrops. âThe storms⊠I thought weâd be able to beat them, butâŠâ Tinn huffs, disappointed and beaten. âIt wasnât supposed to rain until tomorrow!â He gently hits the steering wheel, annoyed.
âHey,â says Gun, playful, âat least we got wet, huh?â He shakes a few droplets from his hair.
Tinn scoffs, and sighs. âI just wanted to play in the waves with you to end the day, you know? Take some pictures, give you good memories from today. But instead, I pulled you away from the aquarium for nothing. And the temple was closed, too!â He leans back in the seat, dejected, and looks away from Gun. âItâs our anniversary, and this was⊠a disaster,â he murmurs, softly.
Gun is quiet, for a moment, contemplative.
âIâm sorry, Gun,â says Tinn, turning back, as he feels a lump rise in his throat. âItâs my fault.â He swallows hard.
Gun frowns at him, and brings a careful hand up, to brush Tinnâs wet bangs away from his eyes. âHey,â he says, softly, tracing his fingertips lightly along the side of Tinnâs face. âWhat are you sorry for?â Gun tickles gently under Tinnâs chin. âDid you close the temple today? Hmm? Are you in control of the weather?â
Tinn sighs, and looks down at his lap. âNo,â he mumbles.
âHey,â says Gun, pointing a wiggling, teasing finger in Tinnâs direction, âyouâre sulking.â
Tinn rolls his eyes. âAm not,â he sulks.
Gun grins, and reaches to cup Tinnâs face. âCome here, gloomy,â he says. Gun pulls Tinnâs head to his lips, and presses a sweet kiss to Tinnâs temple. He smiles gently at his boyfriend, for a moment. âDo you know how much fun today has been? Hmm? How excited I was for every place you chose?â
Tinn watches Gun, silent.
âI donât care that it wasnât perfect, Tinn. You made today about us. So what if the temple was closed, huh? So what if we didnât stay at the aquarium? So what if itâs raining at the beach â you wanted to remember all these moments with me. And we did. You planned such a wonderful day, Tinn, thatâs⊠thatâs amazing. It really doesnât matter to me if things didnât go according to plan, you know?â
Tinn lets a tiny smile start on his lips. âYeah?â
âYeah!â Gun exclaims, enthusiastically. âDo you have any idea how incredible you are to me? Tinn, I... I mustâve saved a hundred people in my last life, because in this one, I get to be with you. I still canât believe it. Every day. Every day I get to wake up and be your boyfriend, and play music too? Tinn⊠thereâs nothing better in the whole world.â
Gunâs expression is so fond, so earnest, that Tinn feels the lump in his throat welling up again, for a different reason.
âSo donât say today was a disaster, okay?â Gunâs eyes watch Tinnâs with gentle concern. âThe truth is, anything I get to do with you is already the best.â Gunâs fingers rest on Tinnâs arm, caressing softly in a reassuring rhythm. âEven if we were, like, picking up garbage. Garbage, Tinn. Honestly!â Gunâs words catch up with his brain, and he revises. âWell, okay. That would suck, actually. But⊠still. It would suck a lot less, because I would be doing it with you.â
When Tinn reaches for Gun, his boyfriend understands immediately, and pulls him in for a warm and lingering hug.
âI love you,â murmurs Tinn, nuzzling his cheek against the crook of Gunâs neck, and sniffling away the tears that gathered in his eyes.
âI love you so much,â is Gunâs whispered reply. âHappy anniversary, Tinn.â
Tinn pulls out of the hug just enough to find Gunâs lips with his own. He cradles Gunâs head, and makes sure Gun can feel the gratitude and love overwhelming his heart.
Gun abruptly breaks the kiss, excitement in his eyes.
âHey! Are you hungry?â
âAm I ââ Tinn blinks, thrown by the question. âAre â are you?â
âThereâs an ice cream cafe near here, remember? They have your favorite flavor.â Gun smiles widely at him. âMango, right? Wanna go?â
Tinn glances out at the pouring rain, and then looks at the soft eagerness in Gunâs eyes. With you, I want to go everywhere. âOf course.â
Getting completely drenched on the way isnât so bad, since they giggle and shriek and hold hands the whole time. And Gunâs memory is excellent, in fact. Not only is the ice cream shop pretty close by, but they do indeed have mango, which is Tinnâs favorite.
They both order, and Gun swoops in, wallet at the ready, when the shop owner mentions the total. Tinn, who had his credit card in hand, looks at Gun with surprise.
âMy treat!â says Gun, grinning.
Tinn thanks the shop owner, and starts following his boyfriend. Tinn expects Gun to seat them indoors, but to his surprise, Gun instead heads to a table outside, sheltered from the elements by a roof overhang. Tinn looks at Gun, perplexed.
âListen to the rain with me,â asks Gun, a softness in his voice that makes it easy for Tinn to acquiesce.
For a long moment, they sit together in silence, enjoying the cold sweetness of the ice cream, and listening to the sound of the rain battering the little shop, soaking the pavement beyond the building.
âI love you,â says Gun, out of nowhere.
Tinn turns to him, mouth awkwardly full, having just taken a bite of his ice cream. When he swallows it away, he replies, âI love you too.â Gun smiles at him, and reaches to wipe some ice cream from the corner of his mouth.
âSo messy,â mumbles Gun, fondly.
Tinn suddenly remembers the last part of his original plan, giving Gun the gift he prepared. He envisions the moment in his perfect anniversary date when he brings it up: both of them laying on their beach towels, hand in hand, tired but happy, as the sun sets over the water. Itâs a moment they can certainly still have, another day â but this moment now, with the pleasant, ceaseless chorus of the rain, love in Gunâs eyes, in Tinnâs heart... maybe itâs not the way the moment was supposed to go in his head, but this feels perfect, too.
âI have one more anniversary surprise for you, actually.â Tinn feels his heart thumping in his chest. âA⊠kind of a gift.â
âReally?â Gun grins. âWhat is it? Is it in the car?â
âNo,â says Tinn. He clears his throat, nervous. âI, uh, I talked to my mom⊠about where Iâm going to live next year.â
âAnd she thinks I should get an apartment. Somewhere near campus.â
Gunâs eyes widen, and a smile breaks over his face like the dawn. âWith â wait. Wait wait wait⊠are you â Tinn! Are you asking me to live with you?!â
Tinn beams. âI am. My mom is okay with it. Actually, she already has some ideas about where we should look, together.â
âTogether,â Gun repeats joyfully. âOh my god, Tinn. We get to live together! Oh my god.â He breaks out into giddy, delighted laughter. âCome here. Right now.â
Gun crashes into Tinn, and plants kisses all over Tinnâs face, his cheeks, his nose, his forehead, while Tinn squirms and giggles, just as delighted and ecstatic. And when Gun finds Tinnâs lips, and lingers, Tinn pointedly ignores the way his melting ice cream drips over his fingers.
When they finally part, and hurriedly try to salvage their ice cream, Gun pulls his phone out of his pocket. Tinn smiles bemusedly at him, the question in his eyes.
âI have to tell my mom,â Gun admits, slightly embarassed. â...And Por, too. And Sound.â
Tinn chuckles. âOf course,â he says.
After several minutes, Gun looks up from his phone. âHey, Tinn.â His eyes are alight. âThe storm is supposed to break soon.â
Gun shows him the radar map, gleeful. âDo you still want to play in the waves with me?â
On the long ride back to campus that evening, they mostly sit in a comfortable silence, worn out but very happy.
Gun taps away at his phone, and Tinn doesnât ask. He assumes all of Gunâs friends are congratulating him on the good news.
âWhen we get back to campus, can we stop by the music building first? I need to grab something I forgot.â
When they near the building, Gun pleads with Tinn to come with him. âItâs dark in there at this time of night. Iâm scared. I need to hold your hand.â The singer makes a face and shivers, to emphasize his point.
Tinn chuckles, and agrees to accompany him inside.
Gun leads them to a classroom space, but when they open the door, the lights are on, and itâs full of people.
âHAPPY ANNIVERSARY!â shout Chinzhilla, all at once. They whoop and holler at the blushing couple, congratulating them both enthusiastically, and both boys grin hugely.
âGun?â Tinn asks. âWhat is this?â
âAn anniversary surprise for you. From me.â Gunâs eyes are mischievous and flirty, as he leans in to whisper in Tinnâs ear. âA private concert, Mr. Future Doctor,â he purrs, and walks over to join the band, taking the guitar Sound holds out to him. âYouâre not the only one who prepared a gift,â Gun teases.
Tinn is sure his entire face must be bright red, but he canât bring himself to care.
âThis is a song for the man I love,â says Gun into the microphone, and Chinzhilla melts into a chorus of ooohs behind him.
Gun counts them off, and the band starts playing. Tinn recognizes the melody of the love song he wrote with his dad, over a year ago. Gun locks eyes with him, full of joy.
As Gunâs heart pours out to Tinn through his voice, thereâs only room for one thought in Tinnâs mind.
What an absolutely perfect day.
Someday â and even though Tinn knows that day is still very far away, he can almost see it in his mindâs eye now â someday, Tinn will ask Gun to be his for the rest of their lives. And when they stand up together before all their friends and both their families and promise to love each other eternally... no matter what happens, that day will be perfect. Because every day Tinn gets with Gun always, always is.
And⊠theyâll finally have a solid date for their anniversary.
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