you know the inhibitions, restrictions and all the things that held them back, weighed and burdened them before, broke down post olympics. its like the gates of heaven opened itself willingly and willmack welcomed it with open arms. i’ve talked about how the olympics heightened mack’s emotions to absurd levels, how the olympics narrowed his vision to the people that mattered—to the people who gets to celebrate with him, be proud of him, and who gets to see the innermost part of his wounds.
i do believe the shift happened at the pens game. it was the start, basically the game changer. mack who showed his insane devotion to will—willingly bulldozed his body to the guy who threw a clean hit, did not deter how he showed a cracked of vulnerability to everyone inside just to show that this guy, my guy, matters a lot to me and you do not get to hit him without leaving unscathed. do i think that got will thinking to what extent he matters to mack? yes. i think he knows he matters to the star. ever since the beginning of time, he mattered but maybe not what he expected. he did not expect the star to orbit so close to him to the point that got the star fond, attached, outshined other competing heavenly bodies just to make will brighter than the rest. do i think they talked about it after the game? no. but we got will thanking mack and ekky for defending him. in that situation, in that period, gratefulness is all they talked about. but i do think beneath all that, will feels giddy, feels loved. that he got the star’s devotion, the star’s attention and the star willingly attaching himself to him. because this is the same star that many people wants to reach. yet he got the privilege, that it did not even take him a lot of effort to have the star all to himself. all he did was to be himself. with the lengthy amount of time that will was gone, it came to a point were we think rick was involved. we may never see the truth but there is also a possibility. and with that possibility, this could add up to those emotions that will’s feeling regarding with mack’s loyalty to him. he got to receive the treatment that the star got, that molded the star to who he is today, which he thinks is another privilege that he got.
now here comes the olympics. we know how they called and texted a few times in the weeks of mack’s highest pressuring moment of his life. how will got another privilege—of being the star’s comfort, confidant. that he had the privilege of seeing mack in the lowest of his low. being hand picked by the gardener himself amongst the many radiant and beautiful flowers in the garden. for will, its insane to be the person whom this olympian wants to talk to, to seek or turn to. because what do you mean you still chose me despite your family being there? despite the distance? why do you keep on choosing me? why me? and i believe in that weeks of distance, vulnerabilities seeped through those calls and texts. and with that vulnerability enters another layer of devotion, of trust, of loyalty—and this time, it’s even stronger. because they now know where they stand in each other’s life. you are my person. i am your person. you get to see this part of me, the ugliest part i hid from everyone, then you also get to have this piece of me that you deserve. now that you know me, i won’t hide myself this time. i trust you with all of my soul, i will always have your back, your secrets are safe with me. you are safe with me, i am safe with you.
for will, who values loyalty, this thing that mack’s showing mean so much to him. and in return, mack got the utmost level of devotion from will as well. the sacrifice of waking up on odd hours just to hear from you across oceans, keeping up despite the insane time difference and keeping it under wraps about cheering for my country because i respect and care for you. what is devotion without sacrifice? will gatekeeping and basically telling white lies to the media just to safe guard mack from the prying eyes. its like all the doubts that will thought of before like if he deserves to be the star’s other half, if they are even on the same level, does the star thinks of me worth keeping for? its like those self-deprecating thoughts flew away because of how strongly mack proved to him over and over where he belongs in the star’s life. and for will, that’s more than enough. its the level of trust and certainty with each other that shifted, strengthening and defining their place in one another’s lives.
for mack, having will is enough. having will is like receiving grace and abundance presented infront of him on a silver platter by some god. to have someone to fall back to, someone who understand you, and someone whom you can trust and feel safe with. because seeking to will is like seeking safety; because will is safety; will understands; will chooses the right words to say despite mack being inconsolable; will asking him how he was means so much to mack because even if will was also rooting for the other team, he knows that will is rooting for him too because will cares. and it feels so rewarding for mack, to have this guy, be called my guy and i’m to his too.
so here we are, basking in the afterglow of the shift. seeing them indulge each other, having the privilege over the other because what do you mean we got will making decisions now for mack without even waiting for mack’s reaction on that elevated cupcake experience, being closer than ever, singing to the music the other is listening to, just having fun, enjoying boyhood together without even being scared again—but if there is something to be scared of currently or in the future, they’ll eventually feel at ease because they’re thankful the shift happened.
