Glad We Met [WilliamEst AU]

William's POV

My heart pounds a frantic rhythm against my ribs, each beat louder than the chaotic symphony of the city as I practically sprint out of ONER. I'm on my way to Est's condo, every fiber of my being pulled in that direction. Traffic snarls around me, a cruel joke of fate, and I'm on a razor's edge. My eyes dart to the clock every few seconds, silently pleading with time to just… slow down. I can't afford to miss even a single, precious moment before Est's flight takes off.
There are still a couple of hours before departure, a fact that should offer some comfort, but to me, it's a terrifyingly short eternity. It's not enough time. Not when I'm about to give Est the one thing we've both been secretly, desperately waiting for—hope.
The world tour documentary. It's finally being released.
Our story, the one we've kept buried deep under layers of silence and setbacks, is about to be shared with the entire world. We've never dared to speak about it, not since everything shattered. But a deep, unshakeable certainty lives within me: Est hasn't stopped hoping either.
Because this isn't just a collection of old footage. This is our story. It's the quiet, stolen moments we thought no one saw. The lingering glances that spoke volumes. The soaring dreams we shared, the bitter fights that tore us apart, and the love that somehow, miraculously, bloomed behind the scenes, hidden from public view. This documentary is the one thing that truly saw us for who we were, beyond the stage lights and the curated performances. This documentary is the eyewitness of our journey, our love.
Two hearts, beating as one. One incredible, unforgettable journey.
And now, finally, the world is going to see it.

_______

I burst into Est's condo, not even pausing to knock. My fingers fly across the keypad, punching in the code, and the soft click of the lock echoes with a quiet familiarity I haven't felt in days. Inside, everything is just as it always is—neat, soft-lit, and a little too quiet.
And there he is. Est. In the bedroom. He’s calmly folding clothes, zipping compartments, methodically going through his packing as if he isn't about to fly halfway across the world in just a few hours. I stand at the doorway for a second, taking him in—the slope of his shoulders, the quiet concentration on his face—before finally making a sound, a soft inhale.
Est turns, sensing my presence. The moment his eyes land on me, he freezes. He just… blinks. Like his brain refuses to register the image in front of him.
"You’re… here?" he whispers, his voice a blend of disbelief and wonder.
I don't reply. I just let a wide smile spread across my face, brighter than the Bangkok sun, and run straight to him. My arms wrap around him, lifting him off the ground like a prize I've just won.
"Whoa! What the—?!" Est yelps, a breathless laugh escaping him. "William!"
"You didn't think I'd let you leave without seeing me, did you?" I beam, holding him close.
But Est, still caught off-guard, blinks again as he remains suspended in the air. "Okay, wait—hold up. Since when can you carry me like this? I am really curious about your workout routine."
I smirk as I gently place him back on the floor. "I’ve been training just for this moment," I say with mock seriousness. "Gotta make sure I can sweep my boyfriend off his feet—literally."
Est narrows his eyes, hands on his hips. "No seriously. When did you get so strong? Is this some weird gym phase? Or are you on protein shakes now?"
"I mean… maybe. Just a few deadlifts here and there," I shrug, flexing dramatically.
Est laughs, shaking his head. "Okay, okay, Mr. Muscles. Now explain yourself. How are you even here? Don't you have practice or a shoot or… something idol-y?"
I pout. "Wow. Idol-y? You think I'd ditch work to see you?"
Est raises a brow. "Would you?"
"I mean... yes. But this time, I didn't!" I grin. "My shoot got cancelled—location issues. And guess what? It wasn't even my idea to come here. It was Phi Tawan’s. He said I should be the one to take you to the airport."
Est's expression softens at that, a quiet warmth spreading across his face. "He really said that?"
I nod. "Told me not to waste time pretending I didn't want to."
Est looks away for a second, a small, knowing smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Well, he's right. I didn't think I'd get to see you again before leaving."
I take his hand, my thumb tracing the back of his. "And yet—here I am."
Just as Est is about to say something, my eyes suddenly light up, the realization hitting me with a jolt of pure excitement.
"Oh! Wait—wait—I almost forgot!"
I gently tug Est to the bed and make him sit, then drop to my knees in front of him, holding both his hands dramatically.
"I have big news," I say, my voice dipped in a thrill I can barely contain. "Like, documentary-level big."
Est blinks, confused. "Documentary?"
I nod eagerly, my heart practically thrumming. "The world tour doc. It's being released."
Est stares, his eyes wide. "You’re joking."
"Nope. And guess what? Tawan said your presence is mandatory. Director-nim."
A Shared Breath, A Silent Promise
Est sits frozen on the bed, his eyes locked onto mine, as if a blink might shatter this fragile, beautiful moment.
"The documentary… it's real?" he asks, his voice barely a breath.
I nod, a soft, tender smile playing on my lips. "It's happening, Est. It's really happening. And you—you—are the heart of it."
There's a beat of profound silence, like the entire world pauses to let the truth sink deep into our souls. And then Est moves.
He doesn't rush forward, doesn't fall into my arms in a dramatic burst. No—he leans in slowly, deliberately, as if his heart is finally catching up to his body. His hands find my shoulders first, fingers curling there as though grounding himself in this unbelievable reality. And then he wraps his arms around my neck, pulling me in with a quiet, desperate kind of hold—gentle, but full of an unspoken longing.
I catch him instantly, my arms sliding around his waist, holding him just as tight, just as fiercely. I close my eyes and let my chin rest on his shoulder, breathing him in, memorizing the way he fits perfectly in my arms. Neither of us says anything, but in that profound silence, there is everything—relief, disbelief, overwhelming joy, and an unyielding love. It's a kind of healing only time and truth, finally revealed, can bring.
Est's fingers tighten slightly at the back of my neck, and his breath hitches—a tiny, broken sound, as if the happiness has overwhelmed him just before the tears can fall.
I feel it too—the faint trembling in his body, the way he clings to me like he isn't ready to let go, ever. So I don't. I just sway us slightly, a silent dance without music, in our own quiet world that has suddenly expanded to hold only us.
"You deserve this, Phi," I murmur softly, my voice muffled against his shirt, thick with emotion. "You've always deserved this."
Est doesn't reply. He just presses his face deeper into my shoulder, the smallest, most beautiful smile forming through the tears that gather, shimmering, in his eyes.