Chapter 4: Unspoken signs
Po stood up, after feeling the careful walks of Thame going outside the room. Po went to the kitchen to fix himself a tea and went to the balcony. He sat listening to the calm waves, feeling the cold air. After a few minutes, he felt someone behind him. It was Pepper holding a glass of milk.
“Mind if I join you?”
“Sure” Po said and quietly sip his tea.
“You’ve been distracted since dinner. Want to tell me what’s eating you?” Pepper asked, after sitting beside Po.
“It’s Thame… I think. Or maybe it’s me. I keep wondering if I’m imagining things, but… he’s been acting differently. Snapping, distracted. And I—”
“And you?” Pepper cut Po off.
“I don’t know how to handle it. I’ve always been the calm one, the one who manages the chaos. But with Thame… it’s different.” Po hesitated, but kept talking.
“Handle him, or handle what you feel about him?” Pepper raised an eyebrow.
“What do you mean?” Po asked, startled by the question.
“Come on, P'Po. You treat all of us with calm, but with Thame it’s something else. You watch him like you’re bracing for him to either shatter… or slip away.”
Po went silent, lips pressed tight. “I’ve always just handled him like… like I handle the others. Calm, collected. But now I feel… off-balance. And I don’t even know how to talk to him about it.”
“But with Thame, you notice every little thing. That says a lot, Po. Even when he hides what he feels, you still catch it.” Pepper said.
“It’s more than noticing. I think… Maybe he likes me. Or at least, I’m starting to see signs I can’t ignore. And it’s throwing me off. I’ve never had to consider someone like this before.” Po shook his head before continuing.
“Then don’t rush. Step by step. Observe him. Understand him. You don’t need a confession tonight. Just… be there. He’ll come around when he’s ready,” Pepper said calmly.
“Step by step. I can do that… I just… I don’t want to mess this up for him. Or for us.” Po nodded slowly, taking a deep breath.
“You won’t. You care too much to mess it up. And that’s why he’ll trust you. Keep being you, Po. Let him see that,” Pepper said.
Po exhaled, finally letting a bit of tension leave his shoulders. Pepper’s words sank in, giving him the clarity he needed. He stood, a quiet determination forming. It was time to talk to Thame. Not force a confession, not push feelings, just… understand him. One step at a time.
-
The morning was warm and bright, The island’s sun spilling gold over the villa. Table with eggs and bacon, the boys gathered around the table for a late breakfast. Thame sat unusually quiet, poking at his food, while Po busied himself pouring coffee or milk for everyone. The air was calm, until Nano leaned back in his chair with a sly grin.
“You know, P'Thame, if P’Po keeps hovering over you like that, people might think you’re the couple here, not P’Dylan and P’Jun.” Nano laughed as if he just didn’t drop a bomb.
“W-What?!” Jun choked on his coffee
“Don’t drag me into your nonsense, Nano.” Dylan said, rolling his eyes.
“I’m just saying, P’Po practically handed you the perfect boyfriend treatment, coffee, checking in, all that. Makes me wonder.” Nano said
Thame’s ears flushed red as he shot Nano a glare, while Po froze with the coffee pot midair. Pepper, sitting nearby, covered a small chuckle behind his cup. The moment stretched awkwardly until Po set the pot down.
“I take care of all of you. Thame’s no exception.” Po calmly said
“Mhm. Sure. But you didn’t serve me milk, hmmp”
“That’s because you’re allergic to milk, you wanna go to the hospital or something?” Po said
The group laughed, breaking the tension. Thame, however, kept his head down, though a small smile tugged at his lips. The morning passed with lighter chatter, but the tease stuck in the back of his mind
During practice, Po found himself glancing at Thame more than usual, noting how he carried himself, how he laughed softly at some bad dancing, how he frowned just slightly when distracted. Thame, on the other hand, avoided eye contact more than usual, but there were moments he lingered near Po, almost subconsciously.
During lunch, Po caught Thame reaching for a plate at the same time. Their hands brushed lightly. Thame froze, cheeks heating, and quickly pulled back, mumbling a small apology. Po simply smiled, not saying anything, letting the moment pass without comment. The tension was still there, but there was a subtle understanding that both were aware of each other’s presence more than before.
By evening, as the sun dipped low, the group decided on a bonfire on the beach. Flames licked the sand, crackling softly, and the waves murmured in rhythm with the night. The boys were chatting, laughing over small jokes, but Po and Thame found themselves naturally seated near each other.
“It’s peaceful here, is this the reason you chose this island?”
“Yeah… I… I didn’t realize how much I needed this.” Thame answered, eyes glued on the fire.
“You’ve been on edge all day. I know it’s not easy… you’re exhausted and burnt out” Po said
“I know. I guess… I just needed to calm down. Sort things out.” Thame replied
“You know you don’t have to do it alone. I’ll be around.” Po said tapping Thame's shoulder
Thame looked at Po, hesitating, as if wanting to speak but holding back. He let out a soft exhale, settling back into the sand. Po didn’t press, just gave him space and presence.
“I’m sorry for always lashing out on you, I swear I never meant to do it, but I always end up doing it.” Thame said sincerely.
“Yeah, we always clash these days, and I think we needed this talk.” Po said
The night ended with Thame finally feeling a weight lift off his chest, and Po realizing that he could handle Thame, step by step, without forcing words or feelings. It was a subtle reconciliation, a soft beginning to something that might bloom later.
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Yieeeee, Thame and Po are okay now. Honestly I'm on the edge to, I haven't studied for my exams even a page, how did I even survive college, to top it off, I'm on a medical field too. Pffft. Still thank you for reading this slow story.
~Gie
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Strings and Shadow
FanfictionThame has always kept his feelings for Po hidden, his quiet admiration masked behind music. When their band escapes to Isla Liyag, Po is determined to track them down. But between rehearsals, late-night talks, and unspoken glances, the line between...
