“Don’t you realize you are just a character from a novel?” Tine stated when the girl in front of him said that he is cheating. The man just smiled realizing no one will never notice how scripted his life is. There is a huge difference between the real world and the novel world. What will happen to him will be wrote by the author.
As soon as Tine stated the lines he was supposed to say to prove how dumb he is for falling in love with girls many times the atmosphere instantly changes. The stage is the main point where the author started writing again for a new situation while the shadow is the only time where a character is free to move. “I am free again. Girl whatever your name is? You are the one who cheated to me. I saw your texts with whatever you called baby is.”
He is utterly disgusted how he will ruin someone’s relationship by flirting with Pear. The author planned him to be a playboy shit that will break every girl’s heart, he will met Pear who made him fall in love for the first time. Pretty dramatic but Tine will date a guy named Sarawat after giving up on Pear. Basically, author just want a slow burn angst novel with the couple Earn and Pear.
The man just sleep through the whole thought of meeting Pear tomorrow again at the middle of school year. He sighed knowing how bad he feels as the mellow music drifted him to the slumber
“I’m sorry.” The beautiful girl said meekly despite the crowd of noises.
Tine snorted, “Don’t worry about that. Have you lost your way?"
Pear smiled at how kind the guy is. No one even offered her a hand when she asked from the other students a moment ago. Tine instantly rolled his eyes since he can’t even process how he suddenly woke up right in front of this pretty woman. He mentally cringed when some unknown flowers and glitters suddenly appear when she smiled. To his contrary, he loves no matter what gender but he is literally forced to fall in love with her.
“Here is the music club. I am going to join the club also.” He smiled then sparks appeared causing the latter to be flustered. Pear smiled at the guy and walk in to the club with him.
As far as Tine knows he came to this club for this popular guy who is very handsome that all girls fantasize named Sarawat Guntithanon. He came to pursue Sarawat because someone name Green is always running after him even how many times he had ignored Green already. Tine knows how fucked up exactly how the storyline of this novel is. He will turn into an antagonist and make Earn jealous but be brokenhearted then Sarawat will make me happy again.
When Tine sat down the nearest chair beside Sarawat because the author write so. The guy immediately stared at his whole face. He is like a dream.
“It is getting hard for me not to just do something and ruin the stage.” Tine thought to himself.
He closed his eyes as his consciousness took him back when he first met Sarawat at the concert of Scrubb last year. It is written that Sarawat will fall in love with him at first sight when he stepped on his feet. Sarawat fell in love when he saw how joy was seen to Tine’s face, his visuals feel so enchanting. His smile that haunts him. Tine wished if only he could say he remembered how he looks.
A bitter smile spread in his face when the stage finished. In this world where it is written that Sarawat fall first but in reality he did. Tine was the one who love him. To all those times he was chained not to go in every Scrubb concert he knows because Sarawat will be there finding him. What hurts him the most is he will bring pain to the man he truly loves by showing a fake fuckery love to Pear.
“Nuisance? Let’s go…” Wat called him softly. Tine swore he is literally flustered with his tone. He rather not make any mistakes because something bad will happen to Sarawat if he will not follow.
Usual the stage started to roll once again with him teasing how Sarawat is so odd with his flirtatious remarks when all of this is fake all alone. “Sing a Scrubb song for me?” Tine asked then the imaginary sparks with unnecessary effects through Sarawat’s eyes appeared. Sarawat just wheezed at the sigh bore into him. Tine thought he is just imagining things when he did that and completely ignored it when his gaze turned different.
Sarawat is literally forced to love this oblivious pretty guy. He doesn’t know If Tine is awake that this is not the real world they believed to be. It just gave him the goosebumps on how whipped his character is for this man without knowing his personality at first. He know to himself that he is literally gay but he doesn’t feel the same way when it comes to real feelings. What more that is funny is the one he truly have the hots for will be his brother’s boyfriend in the near future and he will like Tine.
Probably he is unlucky to fall in love with an antagonist…
“Wat, Are you okay?”
“I am fine…Will you watch it?’
“Of course I will. Goodbye see you again tomorrow.”
A whole different atmosphere changes when Tine walk away from his condo. “I don’t want to hurt you by this consuming feeling of mine. Tine, If only you are awake from what is happening. I would tell you everything. Rather than pretending that I will fall for you…I would love to say how I love someone else already.” Sarawat said to himself.
Now he practiced the chords for everything. Sarawat knows that Tine will chose to stay with Pear. They will have this cute mini date and take picture together how cute of them. It is not like he is getting jealous or anything. This depends on the role he is assigned to. He can’t even sleep that much because there is no specific time or warning when the stage is near. Randomly woke up and now beside Tine.
When he closed his eyes he is now in front of Tine arguing that why is he with Pear when he should be watching him? The stage stopped and shadow started again.
Sarawat grimaced, “Why are you so oblivious? Damn!!”
“That’s strange for you to say and the Sarawat I know wouldn’t even say that.” Tine said with a teasing grin.
Shocked at Tine’s response he froze and replied, “Are you?”
“Yes? Stop pretending you like me even the shadow consumes it will only break you apart.” Tine looked at the other side when he said that. He didn’t expect that Sarawat knows what everything they do is written or he should say controlled by the author. A huge pang of pain came to his realization that he is not possibly in love with him.
“How did you know it?” Tine asked when he saw how confused the latter looked.
“After the stage, my feelings for you doesn’t remain like what it used to be.”
‘What a great pretender you are, Tine’ Tine thought of himself as he tries to hide the pain that is being shown right into his eyes. He knows it already but the pain is still not unbearable. People fall in love not to be sad but that’s a different case for the other.
“Who do you love though?” Sarawat gave a puzzled look when Tine asked that. Silence ensure them both. The cold wind blew as Tine wait for the love of his life to speak. You can only hear the students walking and those girls trying to take a picture of Sarawat.
Sarawat smiled so bright that he thought he would disappear. “It doesn’t matter, nuisance. No matter how much I wanted to change something or talk to him the stage initially came into the picture instructing me to be jealous of him because he likes you. I don’t want to steal my brother’s boyfriend. He suffered enough. I don’t want to leave you.”
Truth hurts, isn’t it?
“Mil…”
“I’m so sorry, Tine. I just can’t fall in love with you. Don’t think yourself as not enough because you are more than that but I slowly love him without even noticing how I keep stealing glances.” Tine can he how frustrated he looks. He chuckled and thought how idiotic he is for assuming that he would fall for him in the shadow also.
Dim called Sarawat, “Don’t apologize, Asshole. You can’t stop your feelings. It is just there without even you noticing it. Love works in a mysterious way. I will help you.”
The other’s eyes glimmered with anticipation at what Tine said. There are many people that could help him for the one he truly loves and Tine is the last one he thought that would help him.
“See you later then.” Tine only said not bidding goodbye to him. Earn slowly approached Sarawat. His frustrated face instantly change to a whipped one.
The stage is starting again…
Earn laughed at how whipped Sarawat looked for Tine. “I know you like him.”
“Shut up.”
“You can’t hide the way you look at him.”
Now the written lines are here again to prove how he love Tine so much when reality he didn’t. “You don’t have to say it. He is what the definition of love to me.” If only Sarawat could stop being shy at those remarks. She slapped Sarawat while giggling. “Bye you are so cheesy it makes me cringe.”
Sarawat rolled his eyes when Earn said his lines are a total cringe. It is not his fault that his confident self when falling in love is really cheesy as fuck.
“As if you didn’t have a crush on that girl named Pear.” Sarawat retorted that made her scream.
“Don’t blurt it out jerk. What if someone hear that? How did you even know I like her, huh? You don’t even have a valid proof.” The girl blushed furiously when Sarawat knows how she love that girl who Tine always flirt with.
“Experienced.”
Earn teased me even more when I said that. “You love Tine that much? Are you okay?”
“Stop changing the topic and confess to that girl already. She is with Tine all the time.” Being jealous again, Sarawat. His possessiveness for Tine is crazy.
Her smile instantly fade. “She loves Tine.”
“And so? I love Tine also.” Earn snickered at her friend’s reply. She knows to herself how Tine love Sarawat at the same intensity but she is so afraid that Pear would end up hurt at the end if she really love Tine. If only Pear could love her not just a friend but more than that. Earn wished she could be as brave as Sarawat to proclaim her feelings but fear instantly overcome her. The fear of rejection and Pear not even accepting what her sexuality is.
That day ended with Pear blindly happy with Tine not noticing how smitten Earn is…
Sarawat thought that’s how his day will end when his brother came knocking to his other. “Phukong?” He instantly don’t know what to feel since he love the guy his younger brother have the eyes on.
“I found him.” Phukong smiled his eyes sparkling. He adore Mil that much huh?
He wanted to scream but he can’t. All he can do is follow the his role who loves Tine so much that he wouldn’t even bat an eyelash to others. When his brother left after he talked about how happy he is when Mil met him again. Sarawat just sleep ignoring the ache. If only he met Tine first but he broke the rules and he didn’t follow what supposed to happen.
It is all his fault…
He woke up feeling great after he released his frustration last night. The moment he opened his door tine greeted him with a grin, “Haven’t bath yet, you stink?”
“Why are you like this?” Sarawat nudge him then Tine just pinched his cheek without any particular reason. He knows Tine love to tease him outside the stage. Sarawat opened the door and Tine just looked at him with no reaction.
Tine throws the paper full of guitar chords to his face, “I thought we cleaned already the other day when we are on the stage. It is messy again. You failed me soldier.”
“Why are you here? It is not the stage?”
“For a date obviously. That will happened later when the stage rolls in. Of course better early than ever.”
Sarawat smiled endearingly. He clearly understand why the character the author portrays him to be is so whipped for Tine. He does unpredictable things then blushed after I gave him a compliment. Tine knows how beautiful he looks but still managed to be flustered when you call him very attractive. It just a simple date at the amusement part but for Sarawat, Tine makes anything special whenever he is with him. What bothers Sarawat the most is how blunt his nuisance is outside the stage.
Tine sat down pulling Sarawat to his side, “Why are you so attractive without even trying?”
“I am not?” He said leaning into his shoulder. He just feel so comfortable around him already without even the lines that the author wants.
“It is hard being myself when other people look at you as if they didn’t know you are mine.”
He just laughed at how annoyed Tine said that, “So sorry that the author wants every person to look at me while jealousy is stirring inside you. I am yours to begin with, silly.” Both of them fell silent realizing what they both said outside the stage then giggled on how awkward they sound after that.
Whispers about them being cute when some girls passed by them. “We fit like puzzle pieces, you complete who I am.” Sarawat said earning a snicker from the person who just passed by in front of them.
“You are really cheesy even outside the stage?”
He intertwined their hands together not minding the stares they got from others. Just them in their own world. Their date ended with a blast but something is suspicious when Tine got a call suddenly outside the stage. Sarawat didn’t mind it at first because it could possible his crackhead friends or his over protective brother.
The stage goes on with them falling in love with each other. Those cheesy lines and the unnecessary background song playing while they do some shits. Tine leaving Pear to Earn. It just goes on. No matter how Tine helped Sarawat to Mil the shadow immediately changes and makes it looks like Wat is getting jealous of him over Tine when nothing even happens. Sarawat wanted to give up already but Tine gives him support from whatever he does. Until one day, Man called Tine to pick up Sarawat because he is too drunk for his own good.
Sarawat muttered and cling onto him, “Tine, I love you more than what the author wants me to show.
“You drank too much, Wat.” Tine said, even though they are in the shadow he will not believe that Sarawat feels the same as him. He thought that he is just into his role that he started to say nonsense shits that will make him assume.
“I-im ser-rious.” He stuttered when Tine held unto him so tight that he feels like he will fade away when he stumbled at the stairs.
To his surprise Sarawat held his cheeks softly, “Don’t leave me…”
“Why would I do that?” Drunk Sarawat never came to his mind? Tine is used to him getting drunk first since he have a low alcohol tolerance than his lover. He didn’t know why he called Man and Boss for a drink even they are not on stage. He is not that type be like this without any reason.
Tine sighed deeply when he got out for a bit. Taking a deep breathe out of the cold breeze. Months have passed already but he wanted to give up pursuing Sarawat in the shadow. That annoying insecurities taking over his own mind. A flaw that Tine hates about himself, he overthinks of the situation too much. He can’t exactly blame himself since Sarawat is not even giving him outside the stage that he loves him.
“Looks like happiness isn’t for me at all.”
His phone rang for the third time hearing a familiar Scrubb song played as his ringtone. What could be possibly that guy have that Tine don’t have? He stretched his arms seeing this caller again. Tine huffed and pick up the phone call this midnight. “What do you want?”
“Done for today.” Tine smirked at what he said and immediately turn off his phone.
He opened the door silently and smiled when he was greeted with a cute guy sleeping peacefully at their bed. Tine chuckled on how adorable he looks holding that plushie they won at the amusement park. This side that he didn’t know exist, he thought he is acts so cool and cold but he is just a hidden softie. “Wat, I will tell you soon.”
A loud sound of knocks is what caused Sarawat to wake up early. His headache is killing him. With an annoyed face, he opened the door only to see Earn crying. “What the fuck!” Her eyes is so puffy when he looked at him.
“Earn? What happened?” Tine quickly asked and he pushed me not too strong just to pull Earn to stop her from crying. He made her sit down at the sofa. Sarawat immediately brought tissues and a glass of water. The couple didn’t mind how probably worse they look in front of Earn and wait until she calmed down. Sarawat only knew that Earn have a boyfriend now even though she loves Pear so much.
Earn fell sick just remembering what happened to her. “My boyfriend cheated on me.”
Tine’s lover got up from his seat when he heard that. He didn’t know what to react but he will slapped the face of that asshole when they will see each other. Earn gripped at Sarawat’s shoulder with eyes begging him not to do anything. Tine sat beside Earn hugging her feeling how painful it is because he experienced it beforehand from his past lover.
“An unknown number sent me a video of my boyfriend making out with another girl while I am sick that time. It happened one week ago. I am sorry that I just crashed into your place and I didn’t know where to go. A hunch is what I just could say when he started getting cold with 1 month ago.” She stopped to wipe her tears. “I was going to visit you both because I want to hang out before I go home but while I was heading into your way. This anonymous person sent me a video and asked me to open the door next to my condo. He was there with a girl. They kissed while I’m in front of them.”
In the middle of silence, all of them shake with shocked when Tine’s phone started to ring. Their laughter echoed in the room. “Sorry, Sarawat don’t do anything for a while. “
Too late for Sarawat to realize that they are not even on the stage. He felt slightly frightened on how this doesn’t have to happen. Earn was supposed to end it happily with his boyfriend then they confessed how they love each other in their college years. Taken aback how this slight action can cause a domino effect to story. The novel they are living name Melted will not have a happy ending for both Earn and Pear. Sarawat and Tine talk to her the whole day that they will not promise they wouldn’t hurt him once they face him. Time comes when both of them punch Earn’s ex when they met him at the school’s corridor. That’s when things started becoming right for Pear and Earn. After those painful challenges they encountered to be together in the end.
Sarawat started to ignore the difference between the stage and shadow as long as Tine is there beside him. After their band practiced Sarawat hurriedly fixed his things, “Why are you in a hurry?” One of his band member questioned him.
“Tine.” Sarawat mentioned expecting them to tease how smitten he is but their faces is full of confusion.
“Who even is Tine?” Earn asked him with a laugh. “Are you just dreaming of dating someone? You didn’t have enough sleep don’t you? I thought you and Mil started dating you know.”
He is horrified when he saw the pick bracelet he made slowly fading away. Sarawat cursed at himself when he realize the storyline is changing since Earn and Pear got together. Someone once warned him once he changes anything one supporting character will totally be erased. He ran away from the club and left all his belongings. Screams about how he left his things and just dashed out.
When he got home to their love lair, all of tine’s clothes are starting to get transparent and that Polaroid he is been holding to is gone. “Tine…” he called him convincing that Tine just got home early and he is still there but he was only answered by the silence.
The small post it notes Tine made is slowly fading away from his sight. He looked at his phone to call his lover but his number isn’t there anymore. Sarawat kneeled screaming at how he never knew he could lose Tine by just the small actions they have been doing. He is too selfish that he didn’t thought what could possible the consequences of his action. That small petty crush for his brother’s boyfriend made him lose someone irreplaceable to his life.
He lay on their bed smelling the faint soft fragrant perfume of his boyfriend. “You will never knew how much you love a person until they are gone.”
Sarawat couldn’t do anything. His friends starting to get worried how glum he looks. He won’t even touch his food and his eye bags is getting worse. Boss noticed how sad he looks when Man ordered a Blue Hawaii one time after that they didn’t bought that drink ever again because he looks like he is going cry. Man just caught Sarawat sadly looking at his jerseys before they are going to play a match. Whenever they pass by the building of law a huge frown started forming at his face.
One time, all of them are taking a walk when they saw at someone’s backyard with a cheerleading uniform he started crying out of nowhere. They even tried playing happy songs while hanging out after a hard quiz but when a happy Scrubb song played to Boss Bluetooth speaker, Sarawat is crying again. He is just hugging his own guitar hiding his face from it. When Man brought his friend to buy something for His boyfriend’s monthsary he caught him staring at the wig section. Even Earn noticed how Sarawat acted.
Earn called Sarawat to give him a drink after a band practiced but he just stared at it with a sad smile. Dim stared at his junior with confusion when he smiled bitterly watching a detergent commercial. He glared at a girl using some product called Gluta C. Many people noticed how he isn’t acting like myself these past few days. Sarawat just suddenly feel sad without even a valid reason. He even cussed at one of his team mates when they said he have a crush on Mil.
When Tine is not there anymore, the novel ended so there is no stage and shadow anymore that will control their own world. One sacrifice can change the world they live in.
“I am so sorry that I made the two of you worry about me. I just missed someone so bad.”
Man and Boss understands what he meant by that. Sarawat is not good at explaining what he feels by just only words. They aren’t friends for nothing so they waited for him to open up. Boss patted his back giving him assurance that everything will be okay and Man smiled then advised him that he should move forward. “Wat, Be strong. I know this person doesn’t want you to be sad at all.”
After that day, Sarawat decided to go to the place he first met Tine. Nostalgia rushed to him like a truck. He stopped to his tracks remembering what he feels for Mil is just a written draft by the author. It just planted an idea to him that he will never love Tine. As soon as he reached the venue before, he smiled bitterly. A Life without Tine is worse than he could imagine.
The moment he stepped on his position before when he saw an enchanting person. Sarawat remembered how beautiful he looks in every possible way. His eyes glimmering with joy hearing the band play. That beautiful ma who shines so bright didn’t even mind how many people are in front of him. Sarawat knew it is not just the author. He felt that tingly feelings in his stomach when he saw how warm Tine’s smile.
“I love you so much, Tine Teepakorn.”
When he turned back he breathlessly watch the man walking towards him. Sarawat can’t believe the figure that is bore into him. He shook his head thinking that he must be an illusion. A man named Tine smiled on how shocked he looks. Sarawat just remained frozen at the spot. Shaky hands and his heart trembling he held Tine’s face. Tears formed to their eyes.
Sarawat gently brushed the side of his lost lover’s cheek. His gaze fixated at Tine’s eyes and lips. He admires every inch of his face that he didn’t even notice he is slowly leaning in. Both of them gently closed their eyes. He couldn’t help anymore and their lips met. Sarawat could feel his heart explode through his chest and fall into the softness of their kiss. The other ran his hand shakily to his hair.
“I am sorry, Tine. I didn’t mean to kiss y-“Stunned at how Tine just smiled at him while they part away. He leaned in and wrap his arms around his waist for a second kiss.
They felt like a century have passed since they last saw each other. The younger can’t comprehend how much he have been waiting for this day to happen. Tine softly laughing when Sarawat can’t get enough of him and still continued to kiss him bringing it to be deeper. Sarawat whispering sweet nothings while he felt that smile into his pretty boy’s face. They kisses is starting to get messy when both of them chuckled as their tears get in the way.
Sarawat felt his heart softens when he saw his infamous lopsided grin again. Time seem to be frozen while they are holding to each other. “I have been waiting for you and you can’t possibly be erased out of the novel’s existence because I can still remember you.”
“You waited?”
“What do you think I’m supposed to do, nuisance?”
“Dated Mil.” He scoffed when he heart that spark of jealousy into his tone. Tine initially pulled him into a hug. No words needed can’t explain how much Sarawat waited for him. They both know to their selves that they love each other more than anything.
A grin slowly formed into Tine’s face knowing that he got the last laugh in the end. We all pretend to be the heroes on the good side. His smirk is evident through his face as his thoughts unconsciously ran to what he planned all along. “I am an antagonist after all.” He whispered to himself. The mastermind of the plot change.
It all started when the author planned to ruin any possibilities he could have. Tine silently worked in the shadows after the Stage was rolling. Dim was the unknown caller who always gave him the right information about Mil, Earn and Pear. Tine knows how he need to give some major changes ad sacrifices in order to stop the novel as fast as he can. The reason why Tine also invited Sarawat to the amusement park date is to save Pear from falling in love to Tine because the author planned to make him asked pear for that date.
Pear is awake just like him. He paid enough money for the girl who is assigned to have a make out with Earn’s boyfriend which is actually Tine’s ex-girlfriend in his high school years. When Man and Boss called him because Sarawat is so drunk the plan happened. He was the one who filmed Earn’s boyfriend at the bar and came pretending to just arrived when he saw how drunk he is.
About his absence, he knows that he will be erased for pushing Mil into Sarawat when the stage ensures. He is jealous but that is the only way he could protect Sarawat by fading away because of his actions. Tine know how idiotic it will be to sacrifice himself to stop the novel but he hopes his lover will never forget who he was.
All just fell into his plan…
“Why are you grinning?” Sarawat pouted that cause Tine to laugh more.
“I love you Sarawat Guntithanon.”
No matter how bad someone portrayed Tine will be when their true story is going to be written. He will never forget that he did this for a good intention. He is not kind nor evil what he done is for the best. To end the lines that keep forcing them to do those actions. Tine the antagonist, signing off.
Win closed the book he was reading and looked at the title. “Melted?”