Red Strings

Chapter Five

Satang arrived at the auditorium far earlier than necessary, the clock showing just past 5 PM. The competition wouldn't begin until 7, but his nerves had driven him to arrive early. He scanned the room, watching as Winny's teammates trickled in one by one, laughing and chatting as they prepared. He wanted to see Winny, to give him some encouragement before the competition, but he wasn't sure if Winny had arrived yet.

Just as he contemplated texting him, a familiar voice called from behind.

"Satang?"

He turned, startled, and there was Winny, standing in casual clothes, his hair slightly disheveled from travel, his face free of makeup. It was clear he had only just arrived.

"You're here early," Winny said with a small chuckle, tilting his head in curiosity. "The competition's not until 7."

Satang froze, his mind racing for an excuse. "Um... well... I..." he stammered, his voice uneven. He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "I just... um... wanted to... ah..."

Winny watched him with an amused smile, unable to hold back his chuckle. "Alright, alright," he said, cutting off Satang's nervous rambling. "Wanna come with me?"

"Where?" Satang asked, blinking in confusion.

Winny didn't answer. Instead, he grabbed Satang's wrist and led him through the bustling backstage area. They weaved past the other competitors until they stopped in front of a small station where one of Winny's seniors was waiting with a makeup kit.

"Hey, P'Ta," Winny greeted casually. "Can we start?"

"Of course," Ta replied, motioning for him to take a seat.

Satang stood awkwardly by the side, unsure if he should stay, but Winny patted the chair next to him. "Sit. Keep me company," he said, grinning.

Satang obeyed, quietly sitting beside him as the senior began to work. His eyes lingered on Winny, who was already stunning without any enhancements. Satang couldn't help but admire him—his smooth, fair skin, the faint freckles on his cheeks, and the way his face seemed to naturally brighten with emotion. Winny's cheeks always turned a soft pink when he was flushed or sweating after practice, a detail Satang had come to notice far too often.

He was startled out of his thoughts when Winny glanced at him. "What are you staring at?" Winny teased, a knowing smirk on his lips.

"N-nothing!" Satang stammered, looking away quickly.

When the makeup was done, Winny stood and stretched. "Thanks, P'Ta. Looks great."

"No problem, kid," Ta replied, packing up the makeup kit.

"Hey, Satang, give me a hand with this," Winny said, holding up his costume.

"Uh... sure," Satang replied, fumbling slightly as he helped Winny adjust his outfit. As he carefully secured the fastenings, he felt his heart racing.

When everything was in place, Satang stepped back, taking a deep breath. This was his moment—the reason he'd come early.

"You've got this, Winny," Satang said, his voice steady but his eyes betraying his sincerity.

Winny turned to look at him, his expression softening. Without hesitation, he pulled Satang into a hug. Satang froze, his face burning, but he couldn't help but smile as he felt the warmth of Winny's arms around him.

"Thank you, Ai'Tang," Winny said softly, his voice filled with gratitude.

Before the moment could linger, a voice called out from the hallway. "Alright, team! Final prep in 10 minutes. Stand by!"