FOREVER YOURS

f his father. Once cozy, their former home has become oppressive, every room a reminder of their loss. The walls still resonated with fights that had replaced lau

streets were packed with cars, motorcyclists zipped through tight spaces, and the aroma of sizzling street food permeated t

, the continual motion, and the reality he had to be

e met

ickered more than it worked. Arthur was unloading a package of books in their little living room when a loud knock surprised

," Nick replied, smi

mood. But there was something about Nick, his effortless confidence, the way he bo

nt on, they we

ht alleys, climbing over fences they certainly shouldn't have, and sneaking into marke

food vendors to eat whatever smelled the finest. They raced each other up the footbridges over traffic-jammed roa

wrapping his arm around his shoulder

where they'd sit on the floor paging through manga; a noodle store where the owner, an old woman with a harsh t

airs left behind by prior occupants, but to them, it was everything. It was

ed up at the sky. "I'm going to own a skyscraper one day

believed it. Nick had a knack for

d his job without any fuss. Nick, on the other hand, was impossible to ignore. He was the type of stud

ld eat the spiciest som tam (papaya salad), he always wanted to win. Arthur soo

the only one who could put Nick in his place. She had an older brother who maintained a street f

observing as Arthur and Nick battled about who was

rked. "I

eyes. "You're

malls, not buying anything but trying all the free samples in the food court. They did group s

lot of takeout. Some evenings, when she was extremely weary, she wouldn't ta

kering about something. His parents ran a modest shop selling secondhand electronic

place. It was messy and chao

d him one evening, offering him a dish of s

how much he needed to hea

assed, things

n, he was doodling in his notebook w

re you

a sketch of Nick, unintentional but apparent. Nick

k grinned. "Damn

ved him. "

racing. He didn't know why, but recently,

ared

out Nick. The way his smile could light up a room. The way he a

into something more, but by the time th

he rooftop again. Nick was spread out, arms behind

l always be like t

him, brows arc

tated. "Bes

lped. The words were on the tip of h

he d

, staring up at the stars, wishi