Chapter Text
He hated it.
So much.
He hated how everything revolved around these stupid clocks.
Getting to now someone peacefully didn't exist anymore.
It was all about "show me your wrist" and "let's see how much time we have."
He hated it, utterly.
Love shouldn't be about time, it should be just about living in the moment, and enjoying the time you can spend togehter. Imagining your whole life with that person, love them without having to worry about an expiry date.
Now it's all shattered into tiny little pieces.
The world is full with desperate people trying to find the one, sinking deeper and deeper into their misery, blindly chasing their infinity signs.
Pran, himself, can't remember what love was like before. This whole clock thing started way before he was born. His grandmother is the only one amongst his relatives who got married out of pure love, no stupid clocks involved.
Her talking about all her past boyfriends, and Pran's grandfather, passion glistening in her eyes, as she tells all her adventurous stories, and how she could live in the moment and never had to worry about time.
This is enough for Pran to understand how much better life was back then. No clock ticking above your head counting back every minute, every second you're able to spend togehter with your lover.
This is why he decided to live like this.
A bandaid covering his wrist all the time, giving no chance for the clock to ruin his life.
Altough it makes his life hard enough.
When he is at a bar, and someone is trying to get closer to him, he always starts with showing his covered wrist to the other.
They never stay.
Or at least Pran never met with someone who was willing to give up finding the one just to be with him. So maybe he never really had a relationship, but at least he hadn't had to live that miserable life, like others.
Everyone was so so desperate to find the one.
Because if you found them, the clock would turn into an infinity sign immediately, engraving itself into your skin for eternity. But if you weren't lucky enough (which was true to the 60% of people), than the little countdown would start. There where cases where the countdown didn't even start, thanks to the lack of future together. Going through the disappointment, and trauma every damn time. He has seen it enough through his best friends love lives.
It is just a regular Friday night for Pran. Sitting in a bar, staring at the half empty glass in front of him.
Waiting for a miracle.
Waiting for someone who won't turn their back as soon as they see his wrist. He is a hopeful romantic, sue him.
But something changes.
He can feel it.
Someone is staring a hole into his sculp.
Pran slowly turns his head, only to lock his eyes with a beautiful stranger. He looks mesmerizing in his black shirt. Pran can clearly see the muscles laying beneath the fabric as the shirt gets closer to him.
Which can only mean that the owner of the shirt is trying to get closer to Pran. (Yeah, he is a literal genius, he knows.)
He knows this is the perfect timing to reveal his wrist. He feels sorry already knowing that this beautiful stranger probably will act like everyone else in this situation. But for some unknown reason, deep down he feels like this time it will be different. That this man is different from everyone else. So as he raises his hand in front of the man, he watches every little muscle movement on the stranger's face.
The man breaks their eye contact as he slowly registers what Pran is trying to show him, and stares at the bandage on his wrist. After a couple seconds he locks his eyes again with him. The expression doesn't change, and before Pran could say anything the stranger already have taken the seat next to him.
"Hi" greets the stranger "I'm Pat. I have watched you sitting here all alone, so I thought I would bless you with my amazing company. I hope you don't mind." he says as he gives him a sheepish smile.
Pran immediately starts to shake his head. "I should be the one, saying that. Haven't you seen my arm? What are you doing still here?"
Pran actually can't believe what's happening. This is his longest conversation by far with someone he met at a bar.
"Trying to get to know a really cute guy" says Pat with a wink.
Pran can't help not smiling at the man in front of him. God, he's is already losing his mind, this won't end well for sure.
"Who is not only cute but has dimples too!" exclaims Pat, excitedly poking one of his dimples.
Pran can't not notice the way Pat stares at him. It makes really weird things to his heart.
What the actual heck is happening?
Pran is sure he is only dreaming this whole conversation.
"Would you be kind enough to tell me your precious name, mr. mistery man with really cute dimples?"
"Pran"
"Well, nice to meet you, Pran, can I get you another drink?"
Pran only nods.
He is still speechless.
Pat literally treats him like clocks where never a thing. Like they were just two ordinary boys trying to get to know eachother, just because they want, and they can.
And god, this is the best feeling Pran has ever felt.
Time moves, but Pat stays.
He is everything Pran ever dreamed of.
Maybe it's exaggerating to say after only one date but still. Pran is already head over hills for this man.
But obviously Pat can't know that. He is already full of himself enough.
Pat thinks differently than Pran. He believes in the love clock, but fortunately not being obsessed with it, at all. So he had no problem with Pran asking him to cover it, without looking at it.
A loud knock abruptly cuts off Pran's thoughts. He knows who he's going to find behind the door but his heart still almost jumps out of his chest at the sight of the man in front of him, as he opens the door.
"Hey."
They say in sync.
They both laugh at that.
Then they just stare at each other.
"You look really good today."
They say that in sync, again. So of course they start giggling again.
God, they are helplessy in this.
"The connection between us is undeniable, dimples"
Pat says as he leans closer to Pran to press a light kiss on his cheeks.
Pran can't help blushing.
This man is really obsessed with calling Pran dimples. And the latter's heart can't get used to it, it wants to stop everytime he hears it.
He tries to push Pat away. Without any force though, so it has no effect on the man who is still pressing his lips to his face.
"What on earth are you doing?"
It only feels right to whisper since they stand so so close to eachother.
"God, Pran you smell so good" Pat mumbles.
Now Pran feels like he could turn into a tomato in any minute. And this time he actually proceeds to push him away.
"You are such a freak, I dont even understand why I agreed to go on a second date with you." Pran rolls his eyes playfully.
Its obvious for both of them how Pran actually finds Pat endearing, in every way possible.
"Because I stole your heart at our picnic date. I'm the best at planning a date, and you cant prove me otherwise!" Pat seems really confident.
Too bad, Pran knows he'll win this bet.
"Just wait until you see where we are going!" he smirks as he lightly slaps Pat's cheeks, and starts to run towards the elevator.
Pran took Pat to the beach.
He magically knew a small part, that no one else did.
There was nothing else just them, and the shooting sound of the waves crashing down on the shore.
They walked along the water, played a little, splashing water all over eachother. Eventually they settled down on the sand sitting close to eachother, staring at the ocean.
"So, what are your plans with the clock?"
Pran knew exactly that with this question he could ruin there date entirely. Pran overthinked everything, all the time. And the clock question was something too big for him, it just bringed up so many questions, made his anxiety grew bigger. And he knew that eventually he has to talk about this with Pat. But he was just so scared that he will leave him eventually. And the last week was just unbelievably beautiful. Their first official date, and then texting every night until they fell asleep, waiting for the weekend, for their second date. Pran would never want to ruin this.
"Well, I don't really care about that right know. I have you here next to me, and that's all that matters." Pat looks deeply in his eyes, and locks their fingers together, giving the back of Pran's hand a small kiss.
Pran could cry.
He does not deserve this man.
He is just too pure, too precious for this world.
But instead of crying he moves towards Pat, slowly closing the distance between them. Pat doesn't hesitate to gently grab the back of Prans neck, and hold him even closer. As their lips meet Pran feels overwhelmed. With Pat, his scent, his strong arms holding him, his fingers gently stroking his head. Pat overwhelmes Pran so much. And Pran feels like, he... He... Still cant find the words.
Feels like he loves pat. So much too much for it to be actually real. Too much for just a week long acquaintance. And for a split moment he thinks how he just knows deep down how on their wrists there are the infinity signs. He is so sure about it in that moment. There is no way that this man, who is kissing him, holding him, is not his soulmate. All his worries leave his body. He let's himself sink into this bless in that second.
But as soon as they part, Pran feels these thoughts go back where they came from. Because in reality he can't let himself have these silly dreams, to believe in Pat's and his love clock. But honestly it doesn't matter anymore how much he tries to bury these thoughts, because he already fell for Pat, he is going to get hurt at the end anyways.
"Pran, are you okay? Did I hurt you? I'm so sorry, I didn't mean..."
Pat makes him realize that tears started to roll down on his cheeks uncontrollably. Oh no, now he ruined their first kiss. Well done, Pran. He cuts off Pat's panicked rambling.
"No, no, no, I'm fine, you have done nothing wrong, I swear!"
But Pat is already in panicked mode, and cant get out of it easily. Now he is holding Pran's face, looking closely, guilt glimmering in his eyes. Pran wanted everything just not their date to go in this way, and to make Pat feel like this.
"Hey, Pat, it's okay, I'm okay, I swear! It's just, you know... I get lost in my head sometimes, I tend to overthink everything, and yeah, sometimes it happens at the worst times possible, I never wanted to ruin our first-"
Now Pat is the one, who cuts off the others rambling.
"Pran, it's okay, relax, you just scared me there for a minute" he gives him a reassuring smile. Stroking his face in a shooting matter.
"But you know, that whatever it is, you can share it with me, I'm here for you."
Oh, god, Pat is like perfection.
Pran stayes silent for a minute, trying to collect his thoughts. He really has to tell his feelings to Pat, and try not to scare him away this soon at the same time. He eventually takes a deep breath and starts to talk.
"Well... it's just the love clocks-" Pat doesn't even let him finish his first sentence.
"As I already said, I don't care. Please could we just try to get to know each other without thinking about that?" There's some kind if desperation, pleading in Pat's eyes. And who is Pran to say no to Pat?
He actually finds it really interesting how things started with him wanting no clocks in their relationship (or whatever it is), and now Pat is the desperate one about it.
Pran as an answer only leans closer to Pat, and locks their lips together in another kiss.
After this they don't talk about the clocks for a while. Pat has that magical ability to reduce Pran's overthinking. They really go on dates, and enjoy each other's company without having to worry about the possible countdown on their wrists.
And time passes.
It has been a month since they first met in that bar.
"Did you do all of this?" Pat's shocked expression was worth all the struggle. It's really hard to try to explain what Pran sees when he locks his eyes with Pat's, eventhough he has been seeing the exact same expression for a while now.
Love.
The promise hidden there, that he will be by Pran's side no matter what.
Devotion.
Something, like Pat looks at Pran like he is his whole world.
It's definitely crazy.
Pran can only hope that Pat sees the same emotion in his eyes anytime he looks into them. But judging by Pat's bright smile, that plasters his face every damn time, it seems like he is on the right track.
"Yes... as you've experienced, my love language is not words, as yours, I had to find a way to show you how much i care about you..." Pran's too shy now to look at Pat at all, so he looks at his work instead. He decorated his living room, just how romantic and sappy Pat likes it. On the table there's Pat's favourite dish, made by Pran, with a lots of love. He hopes this will really let Pat know how he feels. Before he could invite Pat, to sit down, there's two arms engulfing his whole being entirely.
"You okay? Is it too much?" Pran's face is smushed into Pat's torso, so his voice only comes out muffled.
"No, no, not at all, I love it so much baby, thank you for all of this." Pran's heart skips a beat. Pat had called him like this, but he just can't get use to it at all.
Pat stares at him with teary eyes.
"I've been thinking about asking you this a long time. I think this is the perfect time to do it. So... Pran... Will you do me the honor, to be my boyfriend? I did researches and this is how they called it back then. Dating. And I know that we had been doing that, but I just really want to make this official."
Pran just can't get himself to say a thing. He is not a man of words after all. So he does what he can the best.
Kiss Pat senseless as an answer.
The decorated room, and the dinner gets forgotten for a couple of hours.
The past month was just so magical, Pran really can't believe that any of it was real. After their beach date, they keep betting on who can organize better dates. They turn out to be the complete opposite of eachother.
Everything that Pran is, Pat isn't.
But yet, they complete eachother, they fit together like long lost puzzle pieces. Pran was thinking more about finally giving a name to whatever was going on between them. Fortunately it looked like Pat had the same thing in his mind.
Boyfriends.
They are boyfriends now.
And this is possibly the rarest thing you can hear nowadays.
Let me explain.
So after the love clocks, dating (obviously) completely has changed. There where mostly only two types of relationships to be found, based on your expiry date. If your relationship was not meant to be for eternity, most people were afraid to commit, and get hurt later, so they only had a casual relationship, no strings attached. They even did this if their wrist showed ten or more years together. It was really tragic to see people suffer years with a relationship that had no future.
And if they indeed were soulmates, they mostly got married right after. They were about to be together for the rest of their lives, why to wait any longer with marriage, I'm I right?
So this is why most people weren't dating. Pran only had known about this through his grandmother's past experiences. But now he could really experience it on his own skin. He couldn't wait to start a new life with him and Pat dating eachother.
Boyfriends.
He still couldn't believe it.
And more time past.
They had been dating for more than a year now.
It had been a roller coaster. They moved in together, letting them to get to know each and every little fault of eachother.
These could be the fuel to their fights. Well, not really fights. They mostly just bickered about it. It was sort of their own little love language. Letting the other know that they just love the other more with their little ticks, and faults. Covered in slight insults.
Yeah, it sounds weird, but it was just soo them.
Pat and Pran.
In their little bubble, their own world.
"I love you"
Pat looked down confused at his lover.
"What?"
Pran didn't understand the expression on his face. "Why? I can't say 'I love you' to my boyfriend just because I feel like it?"
Pat rolled his eyes. "Yes, of course you can, but you rarely do it. I'm usually the sweet talker."
"Well, maybe the sunset has a negative effect on me." Pran said as he tried to snuggle closer to his boyfriend.
They were on their balcony, Pran lying down on Pat, snuggled up in blankets, just enjoying the great weather, and beautiful sunset.
"I love you too, you know... Meeting you was the greatest moment of my life. I'm so grateful to have you."
"Well, yeah, without me you would wear the same dirty clothes everyday, and eat trashy food,-"
"Hey! Excuse me, I'm not even that bad!" Pat sits up pretended disbelief playing on his face. They both know that Pat's life would probably like how Pran painted it. Or he just got so used to having Pran in his life, that he can't even imagine not living like this.
Yeah, this romantic explanation sounds a thousand times better.
They both start to giggle and somehow end up starting a pillow fight.
"I think we should take of our bandages." Pran bursts out without thinking about it, just before Pat could smash a pillow in his face. Pat, in shock puts down the pillow and holds Pran's hands in his.
"Wha- What?" He is completely speechless.
"I don't even know why I said that, I didn't even think about it since we had last talked about it, soo lets just forget it...: Pran chuckles nervously. Pat immediately shakes his head.
"No, please, Dimples, don't do it. You remember our promise, right? We don't bury anything inside, we talk about it together, and try to solve it. So please tell me what you feel. Maybe, yeah you haven't really thought about it, but there must be a reason you said it out loud." Pat waits patiently, as Pran tries to collect his thoughts, only shootlingly massaging his hands.
"Well, I honestly think that you are my soulmate. You make me feel things I've never felt, you have the ability to tore down my carefully built up walls. And... and you have faults, and do things I hate, but somehow it just makes me love you more? And see, me talking about it is also something I could never do unless it's you. And I feel like I just want to take care of you until we die, I really want to spend my life with you. I know, that it has been just one year since we started dating, but still, I...i-
Pran can't find more words, he feels like he let out all of his unsaid feelings at once, it feels emotionally exhausting, yet, relieving. He looks into Pat's eyes, filled up with tears, but radiating an enormous amount of love. This makes his eyes tear up too.
"Pran you are my infinity. I can feel it. You made my life so much better, I dont think life is worth it without being with you, without not being possible to wake up next to you, or just poke your adorable dimples at any given opportunity. (And yes, as these words leave his mouth he pokes Pran's dimples, for good measure) You truly make me a better person, and make me want to be better for you, every day. God, I love you so much I can't even express it with words."
"Then don't." Pran only whispers before grabbing his lover's face to pull him into a desperate kiss, filled with all their said, and still unsaid feelings.
They don't even have to say anything after this. They carefully take off eachothers bandages, than turn their wrists at the same time.
For a couple of moments they just stare into eachothers eyes, not looking at the results yet.
Unspoken words are shared. Words like, it's going to be okay. They will runaway if things won't go as planned, and never look back. It will indeed be okay, because they have each other.
There is no going back now.
They take a big breath.
Inhale.
Exhale.
And look down.
Pran jumps into Pat's waiting arms, as he kisses him deeply.
Pran can feel the infinity sign burn a hole into his skin.
They are soulmates.
They Are SOULMATES
He found the love of his life. But somehow it doesn't feel new at all. In some ways they had always known.
As they let go of eachother, and stare into eachothers eyes, it's so obvious for both of them.
It was all this time.
When Pat asked Pran out, not being bothered by the denial of clocks.
When they started doing bets on who is a better date planner.
When Pat accidentally put a red shirt amongst the white clothes making them all pink, and Pran in response only made him wear those clothes for weeks, and forbid him from using the washing machine ever again.
When Pran came home tired after a long day and Pat tried to cook for him, and even if it didn't taste good Pran eat every bit of it.
When Pat got Pran to start playing the guitar again, and after that the latter couldn't stop writing love songs, denying with his whole being that they where about Pat.
When Pran injured his leg, and Pat took the best care of him. Not letting him to take one step, carrying him everywhere in his arms.
When Pran as an early bird wakes up, always making sure not to wake Pat up before its time.
When Pat drives Pran to work everyday, only to be able to spend a little more time with him.
When they can understand without a single word how the other feels, or what he wants.
How they would do anything for eachother.
All these little signs.
Being the clear proof of their undeniable connection.
And now the infinity sign is just a reassurance to that.
That their love is timeless.
That their love is forever.