ACCIDENTALLY YOURS

The Night That Changed Everything

The rain started sometime after midnight.
New noticed it only when the soft tapping against the apartment windows became louder than the movie playing on the TV. The room was dim, lit only by the blue glow from the screen and a small lamp on the coffee table.
Tay was sprawled on the floor in front of the couch, one arm hanging lazily over the edge while holding a bottle of beer.
"You're staring again," Tay said suddenly without looking up.
New blinked.
"I'm not staring."
Tay turned his head, squinting suspiciously at him.
"You are. You've been doing it for the past five minutes."
New rolled his eyes and leaned back into the couch.
"I'm thinking."
"That's worse."
"Why?"
"Because when you think too much, you usually end up asking weird questions."
New scoffed.
"You're exaggerating."
Tay sat up slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.
"Last time you said you were 'thinking', you asked if humans could survive eating only instant noodles for the rest of their lives."
New pointed at him.
"That was a valid question."
Tay laughed.
God, that laugh.
New had heard it thousands of times over the past seven years. And yet tonight, for some reason, it felt different.
Maybe it was the alcohol.
Maybe it was the quiet rain outside.
Or maybe it was the strange, heavy feeling sitting in New's chest.
They had been best friends since university.
Seven years of shared memories.
Four years of living together.
They knew everything about each other.
Favorite foods.
Embarrassing childhood stories.
Sleep habits.
Bad moods.
Everything.
And yet...
There was something New had never said.
Not once.
Not in seven years.
"Tay," New said quietly.
Tay hummed in response, reaching for the popcorn bowl.
"Do you ever think about... what would happen if we weren't friends?"
Tay paused mid-bite.
"That's a weird question."
"Just answer."
Tay leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling.
"Hm."
He thought for a moment.
"I think we'd still meet somehow."
New frowned.
"That wasn't the question."
"I know."
Tay shrugged slightly.
"But I think it's true."
New looked at him.
"Why?"
Tay turned his head.
Their eyes met.
"Because you're my person."
The words landed softly.
But they felt like thunder inside New's chest.
His heart started beating faster.
"Tay..." he whispered.
Tay looked confused.
"What?"
New suddenly leaned forward.
Before he could think.
Before he could panic.
Before his brain could stop him-
He kissed Tay.
For one second Tay froze.
Then his hand came up, gripping the front of New's shirt.
And he kissed him back.
The kiss was messy.
A little clumsy.
But it felt right.
So painfully right.
Seven years of feelings finally breaking through.
When they pulled apart, both of them were breathing hard.
Tay stared at him in shock.
"...Well," Tay said slowly.
"That happened."
New groaned and buried his face in his hands.
"I'm an idiot."
Tay laughed softly.
"Yeah."
But he didn't move away.