Chapter Text
It started as innocently as catfishing someone could start. It was for a good reason. It was to help a friend. It wasn't going to be anything big. Just to help get some people at certain places at the right time.
Pae didn't even think much when creating "Cherry's" ig. A cute profile picture of some girl, a sweet bio. All the makings of a shy, college student.
He thought even less when contacting Tong. From what he knew of Tong; he was a jazz major, played basketball, and acted like a complete nerd. At least in his and Jamie's eyes. All this information he gleaned just because Tong had many similar traits to Qin. The same Qin that his best friend Duang idolized.
As for why Tong and not another one of Qin's friends like Kim. Well, Pae just thought he was nice. He was the same Tong that at least stopped and helped pick up his shoe in High School when he threw it one too many times. Definitely only for that reason. Of course.
That's why when Duang wanted a chance during Loy Krathong to confess to Qin, how could Pae not go along with it?
It was a whole spectacle. A quick IG message asking if Tong was going to go, and to bring a friend. The perfect stage to set all this up.
He didn't even mind ghosting him at the festival. College students were like that nowadays anyways, asking to meet up to eventually get shy and never show their face.
Pae left it alone for a while after though. There was no real reason to contact Tong again. That was, until a couple months later when Duang needed more assistance.
Pae pulled out his phone to their chat log, his eyes scanning through the unread messages of Tong asking if he did something wrong. His breath caught in his throat, hestiance finally crossing his mind. However, his fingers still typed another message, his mind saying that he needed to help Duang more than mulling over these things.
There from across the room, he could see Tong's wide smile spread across his face as he exclaimed that Cherry contacted him again.
Hook, line, sinker.
What Pae didn't expect was that he would keep thinking about Tong after his whole charade died down. It was months at this point. Duang was already in speaking terms with Qin. He didn't need to keep looking at Tong or checking in on him. Yet despite all that...he couldn't help but send another message to Tong.
He's seen Tong around campus looking too excited to check his phone at every notification that popped up, to eventually sigh and put down his screen to know that he was probably waiting for Cherry, no him, to contact him again.
Cherry: Aren't you mad at me?
Pae stared at the screen, as he watched Tong's icon immediately light up with a speech bubble. Tong typed for a couple moments. Stopped. Started again. Stopped.
Pae didn't even know what he was hoping for.
Eventually a message arrived.
Tong: I'm sure you had a good reason Nong Cherry. The fact that you asked means that you care a bit.
Pae's smile fell from his lips. Now he started to feel bad.
He picked up his phone. His fingers hovering over the keyboard before he typed out;
Cherry: Why I didn't meet up with you had nothing to do with something you did. I promise. You're nice. I know that. I was wrong.
Tong's reply came back faster this time.
Tong: Does that mean you still want to get to know me Nong Cherry? You're making me blush.
Cherry: I don't know...
Tong: What's wrong?
Cherry: I'm just not who you think I am, Tong.
Tong: Who are you then?
Pae sighed. His eyes reading Tong's message. Then immediately reading it again. His fingers started to type, then stop and erase, the same cycle that he watched Tong do before.
He didn't know if he could say it. He felt like he shouldn’t have done this in the first place. Suddenly, his screen lit up with another message from Tong.
Tong: You don't need to answer if you can't Nong.
See, Pae scolded himself, he's even trying to leave a way out for me. Pae steeled himself before confessing.
Cherry: I am someone you know. But not as Cherry.
Tong: ...
Who knew that three dots could cause such tension in Pae's chest. He must be mad. He liked Cherry so much. Before Pae could evaluate what was causing this heartache, Tong messaged again.
Tong: Well, would I still like that person if they weren't Cherry? Cause I like the person I've been talking to, Nong.
Pae felt like he had been punched in the gut. What? Tong was still considering liking the person who had catfished him this whole time. He felt like his mind couldn't comprehend this as yet another message came through.
Tong: Considering the timing of the messages and when you contacted me, I would say you are probably one of Duang's friends. And considering that Jamie doesn't seem like the type to talk that sweetly. I believe I'm talking to you, Pae, aren’t I?
Now Pae was really going crazy. He considered Tong a bit of a nerd before, but to think that he would be this quick to catch on. Although, in hindsight, he did not make it that hard to deduce.
Tong: Since it's all out in the open, Pae. Can I still flirt with you Nong?
Cherry: ...
Cherry: I feel like if I don't agree, you would still want to P'
Tong: :)
Pae had a wide smile on his face just reading Tong's smiley face emoji. Yet, the thought of Tong flirting with him for real, started to make his heart race a little faster. Wait, did that mean that he actually is okay with the idea of Tong flirting with him?
Actually, Pae remembered that Jamie told him how he can deduce if he liked someone before. He told him to imagine being together with that person. Kissing them. Hugging them. Touching them. And when Pae started to picture doing those things with Tong, he imagined being engulfed in Tong's scent while being held in his arms. The image of Tong hooking a finger at his chin to meet his mouth in a kiss. The idea of his hands holding his.
All of those things...were things that Pae would enjoy doing with him. Shit, he was actually as stupid as his friends when it comes to love. He had a crush on Tong without even realizing it himself.
Tong: I'm going to that as a yes then, Pae.
Another notification flashed on Pae's screen. A follow from Tong's account on his regular IG.
Pae swallowed the saliva building up in his throat.
I believe that’s our start then…