WHILE THE WORLD ISN’T WATCHING

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EPILOGUE: A PLACE TO RETURN

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The first morning without Boom, Smart woke up in his apartment and took a few seconds to remember why the other side of the bed was empty.
During the eight days they had spent together, he had grown accustomed to finding him there, to hearing his voice upon waking, and to discovering that even when neither of them felt much like getting up, they always ended up finding some excuse to stay in bed just a little longer.
Now, instead, the silence seemed to take up too much space.
Smart picked up his phone from the nightstand and opened the chat they had kept going since Boom left for China.
Smart: Let me know when you arrive, okay?
Boom: I'm on my way already. I'll text you when I get there.
Smart: Alright. Try to get some rest whenever you can.
Boom: I will. Take care of yourself too.
Smart smiled as he read it. Then he placed the phone back on the bed and stared at the ceiling for a few more seconds.
He knew Boom had commitments to fulfill and that both of them were used to organizing their lives around their respective schedules. It wasn’t the first time they had to spend time apart, but that didn’t make missing him any easier.
During those days together, they had found a peace that didn't depend on making grand plans. They had cooked, played games, watched series, gone for walks, and shared moments that, in any other context, might have seemed insignificant.
But now, it was precisely those little things that Smart began to miss.
He got up, made coffee, and tried to focus on his pending tasks. However, throughout the morning, he caught himself looking at his phone more times than necessary.
When the notification finally arrived that Boom had landed, Smart felt like he could breathe a little easier.
Boom: I've arrived. Everything's fine.
Smart: That's great. Now try to get some rest when you can.
Boom: I will. I already miss you.
Smart stared at those words with a smile he couldn't hold back.
Smart: Me too. So much.
The conversation went on a little longer, until Boom had to attend to his first obligations.
Smart put the phone down and went back to his tasks, though the feeling of absence didn't completely disappear.
During the first few days, Smart tried to maintain his routines. He worked, took care of pending matters, and tried to keep his time occupied, but there were small moments when Boom's absence became more obvious.
Sometimes it happened while preparing something to eat and remembering a conversation they had shared in the kitchen. Other times, while watching a series they surely would have ended up watching together, even if just to comment on the most absurd scenes.
One afternoon, while checking his messages, he remembered that he had the keys to Boom's apartment and decided to drop by.
He didn't have any extraordinary reason for doing so. He simply wanted to make sure everything was alright.
Upon entering, he found the place just as they had left it. There were a few things out of place, a mug in the kitchen, and one of Boom's garments over a chair.
Smart picked up the clothing and carefully folded it. When he finished, he stood for a moment holding it in his hands. He recognized the familiar scent and smiled with a mixture of tenderness and nostalgia.
"I really miss you," he murmured.
Then he went ahead with what he had come to do. He tidied up the living room a bit, checked on the plants, and watered the ones that needed it.
When he finished, he walked over to the photo wall.
The pictures were still there, held up by the small fairy lights they had put up together. Some were from especially sweet moments; others captured such everyday situations that probably neither of them would have thought to photograph if they hadn't loved keeping memories.
Smart turned on the lights and sat down in front of them.
He sat contemplating them for a while, recalling the circumstances of each photograph and the conversations that had accompanied those moments.
Then he picked up his phone and sent a picture to Boom.
Smart: Look what I did today.
Boom: What did you do?
Smart: I came over to clean up your mess.
Boom: My mess? My apartment was perfectly fine.
Smart: Sure. The mug you left in the kitchen must be a decorative art piece, I suppose.
Boom: It has sentimental value.
Smart: You're impossible.
Boom: And yet you miss me.
Smart smiled before replying.
Smart: Yes. A lot.
Boom's reply came right away.
Boom: I miss you too.
Smart set his phone on his lap and looked back at the photographs.
There was something comforting in knowing that, even while being far apart, they could still share those little things. A photo, a joke, an unimportant anecdote.
It wasn't the same as having him close, but it allowed them to maintain a part of their daily routine while they waited to see each other again.
Before leaving, Smart checked one last time that the plants were fine. Then he locked the door, carrying with him the certainty that he would be back soon.
Boom had also begun to discover how much someone could be missed in the middle of a packed schedule.
His days in China were organized around the commitments he had to fulfill. There were schedules to respect, travel, meetings, and activities that demanded his full attention even when exhaustion started to pile up.
Still, he always found some time to reach out to Smart.
Sometimes he would send a photograph of something he had seen during the day. Other times, a brief message to ask how he was or to tell him some anecdote that probably only the two of them would find funny.
One night, after an especially long day, Boom arrived back in his room and dropped his things on a chair.
He was tired, but before getting ready for bed, he opened the chat with Smart.
Something had happened during the day that he wanted to tell him about. It was nothing important, just an absurd situation that had made him laugh, but his first impulse had been to share it with him.
Boom: Are you awake?
Smart replied shortly after.
Smart: Yes. Are you done for the day?
Boom: Finally.
Smart: How did it go?
Boom began telling him what had happened. Smart replied with questions and comments, until both of them ended up laughing about the situation.
The conversation went on longer than Boom had anticipated.
When they finally decided to video call, Smart's smile appeared on the screen, and Boom felt a part of his fatigue melt away.
They talked about their days, the things they had done, and some plans they wanted to share when they were together again.
When it was time to say goodbye, neither of them seemed willing to end the call.
"You should get some sleep," Smart said. "You have things to do tomorrow too."
"I know."
Boom kept looking at him through the screen.
"What?" Smart asked with a smile.
"Nothing."
"Boom."
He let out a small laugh.
"Because I wanted to see you just a little longer."
Smart's expression softened.
"Me too."
They stayed looking at each other for a few seconds, with no need to fill that instant with words.
Finally, they said goodbye.
When the screen went dark, Boom left his phone on the bed and sat in silence for a moment.
He had spent the day surrounded by people, talking, working, and keeping up with everything expected of him. But, at the end of it all, he had wanted to tell Smart a story that meant nothing to the rest of the world.
And that was what he missed the most: sharing his life with him without having to carve out a specific time slot to do it.
As the days passed, video calls became an important part of their routines.
They couldn't always talk for long. Sometimes, Boom had to log on from his room after finishing his commitments; other times, Smart only had a few minutes before moving on to his own obligations.
Even so, both of them tried to carve out a space to see each other.
During one of those calls, Smart was at Boom's apartment. He had dropped by to check on the plants and ended up sitting in the living room, with the photo wall right behind him.
Boom recognized it immediately.
"Are you in my apartment?"
"Yes."
"Again?"
Smart raised his eyebrows, feigning indignation.
"What do you mean by again? Someone has to take care of your plants."
"My plants are doing perfectly fine."
"Because I'm keeping an eye on them."
Boom burst out laughing.
"Then I guess I have to thank you for taking care of my apartment, my plants, and my reputation."
"Especially your reputation."
They both laughed.
Afterward, they talked about how their day had gone. Smart told him a bit about his pending tasks, and Boom told him about the activities he had to attend to.
The conversation flowed naturally, as if the distance was nothing more than a temporary inconvenience.
At one point, Boom looked back at the wall appearing behind Smart.
"I like seeing those photos."
Smart turned his head slightly to look at them.
"Me too."
"When I get back, I want us to have time for ourselves. Without worrying about anything else for a while."
"We can do that."
"I mean it. I want to arrive, see you, and spend time with you. Without having to rush off anywhere else."
Smart smiled.
"Then that's what we'll do."
Boom stared at him for a second.
"I miss you."
This time, Smart didn't try to joke or hide what he felt.
"I miss you too. So much."
The call went on a little longer until Boom had to get ready to rest.
When they said goodbye, Smart stayed seated in front of the photo wall for a few minutes.
Then he turned off the lights, watered one last plant that needed it, and headed back to his own apartment.
The waiting was still there, but now it had an expiration date.
Boom would be back soon.
As the end of his commitments in China drew closer, Boom found himself thinking more and more about going home.
One afternoon, while he had a free moment, he opened the chat with Smart.
Boom: What are you going to do when I get back?
Smart: Besides checking that you didn't let your plants die?
Boom: I knew you were going to say that.
Smart: Someone has to worry about them.
Boom: And not about me?
Smart: About you too. A whole lot.
Boom smiled as he read it.
Boom: When I get there, I want to see you.
Smart: I'll be waiting for you.
Boom read the message again before putting his phone away.
He didn't need an elaborate promise. Knowing that Smart wanted to see him just as much as he wanted to see him was enough to make the return feel even closer.
The dawn of his return arrived after Boom's final commitments in China.
The trip was long and exhausting, and by the time he finally arrived in Bangkok, a good part of the morning had already passed.
Smart had pending matters of his own, but before getting to them, he decided to do something to welcome him back.
He stopped by a shop and bought the chocolates he knew Boom liked best. Then he headed over to his apartment.
He walked in, left the chocolates on the table, and turned on the lights of the photo wall.
The images lit up, and Smart paused for a moment to look at them. Each one held a different memory, a laugh, a look, or one of those instants that had turned their days together into something so special.
Lastly, he pulled out a note he had carefully prepared and left it next to the chocolates. Right beside it, he placed a small gift box.
Smart stared at it for a few seconds before gently arranging it next to the envelope.
He wanted Boom to find the letter when he walked in. The little box, on the other hand, would have to wait.
Smart took one last look around the living room before leaving. Everything was ready to welcome him.
Boom arrived at his apartment a few hours later.
He was tired. The trip had been long, and all he wanted was to drop his things, take a shower, and rest for a bit before seeing Smart.
However, the moment he opened the door, he stopped dead in his tracks.
The lights on the photo wall were turned on.
His gaze swept over the pictures and then shifted toward the table, where he found the chocolates, the letter, and a small box.
For a few seconds, he stood motionless.
He didn't need to ask who had prepared all this.
He walked over to the table and recognized Smart's handwriting on the folded sheet. He picked it up carefully, sat down, and began to read.
Smart's Letter To my favorite person,
Boom,
If you're reading this, it means you're finally back home.
You have no idea how many times I imagined this moment while you were away. I thought about what I would do when you returned and how long it would take me to hug you. In the end, I decided to leave you a few words so you'd find a little piece of me waiting for you.
I wanted you to find something nice the moment you opened the door. Something to make you smile, even if you arrived tired and all you wanted to do was drop your suitcase in any corner and sleep for hours.
Because that was what I missed the most, you know?
The little things.
Being able to tell you any silly thing without having to check the time to see if you were busy. Hearing your voice when we were in the same room. Watching you do whatever while I pretended to concentrate on something else. Having you close without needing a screen, a phone call, or a countdown for the moment we'd have to say goodbye again.
I missed that special way you have of making ordinary days feel extraordinary.
I realized that I don't need us to do grandiose things to be happy with you. Sometimes, all I want is to share a meal, listen to you talk about your day, argue over some silly nonsense, and end up laughing at something that probably wouldn't be funny to anyone else.
I want those moments with you. The ones nobody photographs, the ones that don't need a special occasion, and the ones that seem so simple that you don't realize how much they mean until you miss them.
That's why I turned on the lights on our photo wall. Each one holds a little piece of us, a laugh, a look, a moment that maybe seemed insignificant when it happened, but now makes me smile. I wanted you to find those memories waiting for you when you got back, just like I've been waiting to have you close again.
I also left you your favorite chocolates. I hope you enjoy them when you have a moment to rest.
I missed you so much, Boom.
More than I let on in some calls and more than I showed in certain messages. Sometimes I was so busy trying to make the distance feel less heavy that I didn't know how to explain to you just how much I wanted you to be here.
But you're back now.
And you have no idea how happy it makes me to write those words.
I want to hug you, listen to all your stories, and have you sitting right by my side, sharing our laughs and even those silences where just feeling each other close is enough to know we're right where we want to be.
Today I'm bringing lunch for both of us. I want us to eat together, to talk about everything we missed, and to simply let the hours slip by, slowly recovering all those little things we had to save for later.
Now that you're back, I want to fully enjoy having you near.
And I think that's what I love most about us: that with you, every single moment, no matter how small, turns into something special. Even the simplest things take on a different meaning when I share them with you. That's why I keep so many of our memories in my heart; I don't need anything extraordinary to happen for an instant by your side to become unforgettable.
Sometimes a look from you, a shared laugh, an unimportant conversation, or simply feeling you close is enough for that moment to stay with me long after it has ended.
During these days away from you, I thought about all the memories we've created and the ones we still have left to live. I want to hold on forever to everything beautiful we've shared and keep creating moments we can look back on one day, smile, and say: "Do you remember that day?"
Because every single moment with you has a place in my heart, even the ones that seem small and that maybe you don't even imagine I remember.
And I want many more with you.
If one day you're far away again, I want you to remember that I'm going to miss you even in the middle of my busy days, when I have a thousand things to do or when I just want to tell you something silly before going to sleep.
Because I always find some way to want to share whatever happens to me with you.
And because, out of all the wonderful things that have happened to me, one of my absolute favorites remains finding you.
Next to this letter, you'll find a little box. I want to ask you not to open it just yet, okay? Wait until I get there. There's something I want to share with you, and I'd rather be by your side when you discover it.
Get some rest when you can, enjoy your chocolates, and don't worry about a thing for a while.
I have plenty of things to tell you too, but I'd rather do it looking into your eyes, with the chance to hug you whenever I want, without having to say goodbye at the end of a phone call.
Welcome back, Boom.
I missed you on the big days, on the difficult days, and above all, on the days when absolutely nothing happened.
Because even those days were better when I could share them with you.
And now that you're back, I want us to have many more.
With all my love,
Smart.
When Boom finished reading, he sat in silence for a few moments with the letter in his hands.
He looked back at the chocolates and the illuminated wall. Then he paused on one of the photographs, smiling as he recognized the moment they had shared.
He had missed Smart during the trip, but finding that surprise made him understand just how much he had been missed in return.
His gaze drifted back to the small box.
He felt curious to discover what was inside, but he would respect Smart's request. He wanted to open it with him, just as he had asked in the letter.
He picked up his phone and called him.
Smart answered after a few rings.
"Did you get back?" he asked.
"I'm back."
"Everything okay?"
Boom looked at the letter once more.
"Smart..."
"What's wrong?"
"I saw what you left."
Smart smiled on the other end of the line.
"Did you like it?"
"Did I like it? How am I supposed to explain to you how much I liked it?"
Smart looked down, smiling.
"I just wanted you to have something nice when you arrived."
"I read the letter."
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
"Thank you," Boom added. "For the chocolates, for the photos... for everything."
"I wanted you to feel like you were back home."
Boom squeezed the phone gently.
"You managed it."
After talking a bit longer, Boom asked when he would be able to see him.
"I'll be there in a couple of hours," Smart replied. "I need to swing by my apartment, take a shower, and change."
"Alright."
"And I'm bringing lunch for both of us."
Boom smiled.
"Then I'll wait for you."
"Get some rest in the meantime, okay?"
"I will. But don't take too long."
Smart let out a laugh.
"I'll do my best."
When they hung up, Boom placed his phone next to the letter. He was exhausted, but now he had one more reason to smile.
He took a shower, put on comfortable clothes, and rested for a while, comforted by the knowledge that he would soon see Smart again.
Meanwhile, Smart returned to his apartment and finished his pending tasks.
He showered, changed clothes, and spent a few minutes getting ready with more care than usual. He wanted to look good when Boom had him right in front of him.
Not because he needed to impress him, but because he liked the idea of making their reunion special down to the smallest detail.
Before leaving, he picked up the food he had bought for both of them.
He checked the time, made sure he had everything, and finally grabbed his keys.
During the drive, he felt excitement grow with every minute that brought him closer to Boom's apartment. They had talked through messages and video calls, told each other about their days, and shared laughs across a screen. But none of that could compare to having him right in front of him again.
When he arrived, he knocked on the door.
Boom got up immediately and went to open it.
Upon seeing him, Smart smiled.
For an instant, they both stood staring at each other, as if needing to verify that they were truly there, face-to-face, without a screen between them.
"Ah, I finally get to see you," Boom said.
And he was the one who took the first step.
He pulled him into a tight embrace, wrapping his arms around him and pulling him against his chest. Smart set the food aside as best as he could and returned the hug, closing his eyes when he felt Boom right next to him.
For a few seconds, neither of them wanted to let go.
"I missed you so much," Boom murmured against his shoulder.
Smart hugged him a little tighter.
"Me too. You have no idea."
Boom pulled back just enough to look at his face. Then he noticed how well-dressed Smart was and gently brushed a hand down his arm.
"You dressed up so nice."
Smart let out a shy laugh.
"I wanted you to see me like this."
Boom's smile grew even wider.
"I love seeing you like this."
He pulled him into another hug, this time with a calmer, more tender warmth, as if he wanted to memorize the feeling of having him close. Smart rested his head against his and let out a sigh he had been holding in ever since he had said goodbye to him.
"Did you like the surprise?" Smart asked.
Boom smiled.
"So much. And the letter..."
He paused and hugged him again.
"I think I'm going to save it to read it all over again."
Smart chuckled softly.
"You can read it as many times as you want."
"I will."
Then Boom noticed the food Smart had brought.
"Did you bring lunch too?"
"I promised you I would."
Boom looked at him with an expression so tender that Smart felt the urge to hug him all over again.
"You thought of everything."
"I wanted us to be able to spend time together."
Boom took his hand and led him inside.
Food could wait a few minutes. Stories could too.
First, they needed to hug a little more, look at each other, laugh, and get used to that closeness they had missed so much.
When they finally pulled apart, Boom looked toward the table, where the little box was still waiting next to the letter.
"By the way..." Boom said, turning back to Smart. "Can I open it now?"
Smart smiled.
"Of course. That's why I asked you to wait."
Boom went to get the box and returned with it in his hands. He sat down next to Smart on the couch and carefully lifted the lid.
Inside were two silver necklaces, each with an elegant and discreet circular pendant. Boom picked them up to look closer and discovered a date engraved on the back of both.
19 · 09 · 2024
He stared at the numbers for a few seconds.
"Smart... is this the date we met?"
Smart nodded.
"Yes. I wanted us to have something to remind us where it all started. That day neither of us knew what would come next or all the memories we'd end up sharing."
Boom looked back at the necklaces, gently stroking one of the pendants with his thumb.
"And you bought two?"
"I wanted each of us to have our own," Smart replied. "So you could carry yours with you and I could carry mine too. And look..."
He took both pendants and brought them together. The pieces locked into place, forming a complete circle.
Boom watched them join and smiled.
"How lovely."
"I thought it would be nice if, when we're together, we can put them together. And when we're apart, each of us would still have a piece of that day."
Boom looked up at him.
"I love it. Truly."
Smart handed him one of the necklaces.
"Do you want me to help?"
Boom turned around and moved his hair aside so Smart could put the chain on him. Smart carefully fastened the clasp and settled the pendant in the center of his chest.
Then, Boom took the other necklace and put it on Smart, helping him fasten the clasp as well.
When he finished, he adjusted the small pendant over his chest and smiled at the sight of it.
"Now we each have one."
Smart interlaced his fingers with his.
"And a date we can always remember."
Boom brought the two pendants together once more to watch them form the complete circle. Then he pressed a soft kiss to Smart's cheek and hugged him.
"Thank you for this."
Smart returned the hug, resting his cheek against his hair.
"I wanted to give you something that meant a lot to us."
Boom stayed close to him for a few more seconds, with a hand resting over the necklace he had just put on.
He didn't need to say anything else. It was enough to know that both of them would carry a reminder of the day their paths crossed for the very first time.
Finally, Boom pulled back and looked at the food Smart had brought.
"Well, now yes. Let's have lunch before it gets cold."
Smart let out a laugh.
"I was waiting for you to say that."
And together they headed to the table, still wearing their new necklaces around their necks.
Because, in the end, that was what they both had wanted during those days apart: to go back to sharing the small things.
And now they could do it.
In Boom's apartment, the photographs were still glowing on the wall. The chocolates waited beside the letter, which Boom had carefully folded after reading it.
Smart glanced toward the living room and smiled.
Boom followed his gaze.
"Thanks for setting all this up," he said. "Really."
Smart interlaced his fingers with his.
"I wanted you to feel like you were back home."
Boom squeezed his hand gently.
"With you, I always feel that way."
Smart looked at him, feeling a surge of emotion, and leaned in to hug him once more.
Outside, Bangkok kept up its usual rhythm. There were schedules to review, commitments to fulfill, and days that would fill right back up with responsibilities. But for now, none of that needed to occupy their thoughts.
For now, they were together.
And while the photographs softly lit the living room, Boom rested his head on Smart's shoulder and smiled.
He was back home.
And Smart was right there to remind him that out of all the places he could return to, some had something that made them entirely different.
It wasn't just the walls, the furniture, or the memories kept in photographs.
It was the people waiting for them.
The little things someone prepared just thinking of you.
The hugs that seemed to hold everything you hadn't been able to say across the distance.
And that quiet certainty that, even after travels, commitments, and days apart, there was still someone to share daily life with.
Someone with whom the simplest moments could turn into forever memories.
Someone to return to.
A place to return to.