We returned to the living room. Kit and Taeng were sitting on the floor in front of the couch, playfully tickling each other and laughing like two carefree kids. Their laughter was warm, filling the room with a sense of comfort and ease.
I glanced at the stack of dishes on the counter and quietly headed into the kitchen. I rolled up my sleeves, turned on the faucet, and began washing a teacup. The warm water calmed me, the motion of my hands helped me focus but still, I felt someone's presence behind me.
"We'll help," Kit said gently. I turned, still holding the wet cup in my hand. Kit and Taeng were already reaching for a towel and some soap. The three of us started cleaning in a soft, peaceful silence.
Then Chak appeared, leaning against the kitchen doorway with one hand in his pocket and a glass of water in the other. His eyes were fixed on me.
"Leave the dishes. The housekeeper will clean them tomorrow," he said calmly but firmly.
I turned to face him, water still dripping from my fingers. "But why should someone else clean up after us when we're the ones who made the mess?"
Kit chuckled before Chak could reply.
"That's been Chak's habit since college. If there were too many dishes, he'd leave them and call the housekeeper. Classic Chak."
Chak walked over to me, his scent something like wood and lime reaching me before he did. He gently took the cup from my hands and set it down on the counter. Then he took my hand in his.
His gaze softened.
"I'd rather spend time with the people I care about than do dishes. Time for us, Niran."
My heart skipped a beat. I hadn't realized how much I needed to hear that. I simply nodded.
Kit grabbed a bag of chips from the cupboard and poured them into two bowls one for me and one for Taeng.
"Movie night without snacks isn't a real movie night," he said with a grin and sat back down next to Taeng.
Chak led me by the hand into the living room. Our steps were in sync, like we had done this a thousand times before. I sat down on the couch, Chak beside me. Kit wrapped his arm around Taeng's waist, and the two of them joined us, still holding each other close.
The movie started playing—a romantic comedy. Kit cracked a joke. I reached for some chips and slowly leaned my head on Chak's shoulder. His arm instinctively wrapped around me, like I belonged there. We breathed in rhythm. I could hear his heartbeat. My eyes began to close.
When I woke up, I was lying in Chak's bed. The soft light from a bedside lamp cast a warm glow across the room. The blanket was gently pulled up to my shoulders. Chak wasn't beside me.
I slowly sat up, my bare feet touching the cool floor tiles. I walked quietly toward the living room.
Before I reached the doorway, I heard voices.
"…Thanks for not telling him," Chak said, his voice low.
"I promised you that day no one would ever find out," Kit replied. There was a protective tone in his voice.
I froze. My body tensed, and my hand trembled against the doorframe. I stepped inside.
"What didn't you tell me, Kit?" I asked quietly, but clearly. Both of them turned toward me. Kit's face flushed immediately.
"Chak should be the one to tell you," he said, stepping slightly back.
My eyes locked onto Chak's face. "Tell me what?"
I stared at him, my heart beating louder than it should. I saw Chak glance quickly at Kit, like he was searching for permission. In that moment, I knew—whatever he was about to say, it was a part of his past he never wanted me to discover.
Chak gestured for me to sit down.
He stared at the floor for a while before finally speaking—his voice barely above a whisper.
"When I was finishing university… I fell in love with a guy."
I said nothing. Just listened. His eyes stayed on the ground, as if the truth were too heavy to meet my gaze.
"Kit was supposed to go to the event, but he told me to go instead. And so we came up with this idea so the guy wouldn't recognize who I really was."
He let out a soft, bitter chuckle.
"Kit dyed my hair that morning. Silvery blond. Said it suited me."
A faint smile flickered across his face, then faded.
"When I met him… when I shook his hand… I felt something I had never felt before. I don't even know his name. I only knew him for three hours, but for me… that was enough. Enough to know."
His voice cracked slightly as he looked at me.
"He was a first-year. I gave him my number. But he never called. And I… I waited. Every day, I waited."
He paused. His fingers curled slightly on his knees.
"That same week, Chai told family he had a boyfriend. And I saw their reaction cold, cruel, like he'd committed a crime. And in that moment, I decided I'd forget that boy. Forget what I felt. I made myself a promise... that I'd never be gay."
A sharp silence filled the room.
"I was afraid," he whispered. "Not just of my family. Of the world. Of what people would say if they ever found out I had fallen for a boy. That night, when I came back… I looked Kit in the eyes and said, 'Don't tell anyone. Not now. Not ever.' And he never did."
Chak didn't say anything at first. He just held me a moment longer, then finally whispered,
"Come."
He led me toward his bedroom, our hands still lightly linked. The room was dim and quiet, with the familiar scent of his cologne in the air—earthy, clean, slightly citrus.
Near the bed stood a little black suitcase. Chak crouched down, unzipped it, and pulled out two sets of pajamas. He handed me mine wordlessly, already knowing which were his and which were mine.
I took them, but my fingers hesitated.
Chak stood up, peeled off his shirt with practiced ease, and reached for his pajama top.
That's when I froze.
The clothes in my hands suddenly felt heavier, and my heartbeat picked up.
"I'll just… change," I muttered, backing up a step.
Then louder, I said, "Wait—can you, um… turn around?"
Chak paused, glancing at me with a raised brow.
There was no teasing in his face, only quiet amusement.
"Sure," he said, turning his back to me without question.
I exhaled. Quickly, I turned away too and began changing into the familiar pajamas we'd packed together earlier that week.
My hands fumbled a bit with the waistband. My shirt caught slightly on my head. And all the while, I was hyper-aware of Chak standing just a few steps away, respectfully silent.
When I was done, I took a breath.
"…Okay."
He turned around, now dressed in his own pajamas. We looked at each other for a second too long—both of us standing in a quiet room, barefoot, hearts full of unsaid things.
He simply lifted the blanket on the bed and said,
"Come lie down."
And I did.
We lay in silence, bodies close beneath the blanket. The space between us had vanished, replaced by something softer. Something real.
My head rested on his shoulder, and I could feel the slow, steady rhythm of his breathing. It calmed mine.
Then, gently, he turned his head toward me. His lips brushed against my forehead in the softest kiss.
"Good night, my artist," he whispered, voice low and warm.
My chest tightened in the best way.
I lifted my head just slightly, turned toward him, and pressed a quiet kiss to his cheek just near the corner of his mouth.
"Good night, my Chaky," I whispered back, barely audible.
He let out a soft breath, almost a smile.
And then, with my head nestled against his shoulder and his hand holding mine beneath the covers, I closed my eyes.
Sleep came easily.
Because in that moment, I wasn't afraid.
I was exactly where I wanted to be.
The morning light was soft, spilling gently across the room through half-closed curtains. The air was still and quiet, wrapped in the comfort of a night spent in safety.
I blinked my eyes open slowly, momentarily disoriented… until I felt the familiar weight of Chak's arm around me.
I had fallen asleep on his shoulder.
And he was still here.
Still holding me.
His face was turned slightly toward mine, relaxed in sleep lips parted just a little, hair falling messily across his forehead.
I stayed still for a moment, just… watching him.
Then, carefully, I lifted my hand and brushed a lock of hair away from his face. My fingers lingered for a second longer than they should have.
And then… I reached out and touched his lips.
Lightly. Just once.
The pad of my finger brushed across them as if tracing a thought I didn't dare speak out loud.
What would it feel like to kiss him?
To really kiss him not in a dream, not in my head but here, awake, like this?
I didn't move closer.
I didn't kiss him.
But the thought stayed.
Heavy. Sweet. Terrifying.
I smiled to myself, cheeks a little flushed, and whispered in my head:
One day.
Slowly, I felt a shift beside me.
Chak's breathing changed—slowed, then paused.
His eyelids fluttered open, revealing dark, sleepy eyes that met mine instantly.
I felt my heart skip a beat.
He didn't say anything at first. Just watched me.
Then, with a small, amused smile, he whispered,
"These lips are yours."
His voice was low, warm, almost teasing.
He brushed a fingertip gently over his own mouth, then looked back at me.
"And you can kiss them anytime you want."
I swallowed hard, cheeks flushing.
For a moment, all I could do was stare, caught between disbelief and desire.
Then he reached out, took my hand in his, and gave it a soft squeeze.
"Good morning, my artist," he said softly.
And in that quiet room, filled only with the light of dawn and our breathing, I knew this was only the beginning.
For a moment, I hesitated heart pounding so loud I was sure he could hear it. Then, slowly, carefully, I leaned in.
Our eyes met one last time—a silent question, an unspoken permission.
His breath hitched, but he didn't pull away.
I pressed my lips softly against his.
It was gentle. Tender. Like a secret shared just between us.
Time seemed to slow.
When we finally parted, his eyes were half-closed, lips slightly parted, a small smile playing at the corners.
"That was… perfect," he whispered.
I smiled shyly, cheeks flushed.
"Good morning, my Chaky," I said.
And in that simple moment, everything felt right.
We slowly pulled apart, still close enough to feel each other's warmth. The silence between us was full of new promises and quiet excitement.
After a moment, Chak smiled softly and said, "Come on. Let's get some breakfast."
I nodded, feeling a flutter in my chest as we got out of bed and headed toward the kitchen.
The morning light spilled through the windows, casting warm glows on everything.
When we reached the kitchen, we froze.
There, right in front of us, were Kit and Taeng locked in a gentle kiss, completely unaware we had arrived.
For a moment, none of us said anything.
Without a word, Chak instinctively wrapped his arm around me, pulling me close. I leaned into him, feeling the steady beat of his heart.
Kit and Taeng quickly pulled apart, cheeks flushed crimson. Their eyes darted nervously between us.
Chak smirked lightly and looked down at me with a teasing glint in his eyes.
"We're not the only ones who started the day with a kiss," he said quietly.
I felt my cheeks heat up as I glanced away, unable to meet his amused gaze.
Taeng cleared his throat and tried to smile, while Kit rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
The tension melted into a warm, shared understanding.
As we all moved around the kitchen, preparing breakfast side by side, Kit gently wrapped his arms around Taeng from behind, pulling him into a warm embrace.
Taeng smiled softly, resting his hands over Kit's as they worked together mixing ingredients and setting the table.
Their quiet affection blended naturally into the lively kitchen atmosphere, a comforting presence alongside the teasing kisses between Chak and me.
Chak stood close to me, occasionally brushing a stray lock of hair from my forehead. At one moment, as I handed him a plate, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek.
I smiled, warmth flooding my chest.
Not wanting to be outdone, I lightly touched his lips with my fingertips, then quickly hid my smile.
Kit and Taeng exchanged amused glances but said nothing, giving us space to enjoy the small moments.
The day had started with uncertainty and nerves, but here in this kitchen, surrounded by laughter and love, everything felt perfectly right.
After breakfast, we headed back to the bedroom to change.
I felt a flutter of nervousness as I slipped into fresh clothes, but Chak's calm presence beside me helped ease my mind.
Chak dressed simply just a shirt and pants. He glanced at me and said with a grin, "I'll change properly at work, don't worry. For now, I'm here to help you get ready."
I smiled, grateful for his support.
Once we were both ready, we grabbed our things and left the apartment, stepping into the bright morning with hearts full of quiet hope.
When I arrived at the office, I headed to my desk, still feeling the warmth of the morning lingering inside me.
The moment Chak stepped into the office, the atmosphere shifted instantly. A cold tension filled the room, as if the air itself had grown heavier.
His eyes burned with anger as he strode purposefully toward my desk. Without a word, his voice sharp and icy, he commanded,
"Bring me the folder with all the reports. Now."
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my racing heart, and hurried to fetch the folder.
Before I could move, Chak turned to Amara and said in a cold, sharp voice,
"I don't want anyone disturbing me today. Keep everything quiet."
"Yes, sir," Amara replied, then glanced at me.
His gaze swept across the room, daring anyone to question him.
Then he walked straight to his office.
I grabbed the folder, my hands trembling slightly, and followed him. I stepped inside and handed over the papers. His sharp gaze remained fixed on me as he began flipping through them with precise, mechanical focus.
A moment later, I stood outside his door, hesitating. Then, slowly, I knocked. When no reply came, I gently pushed the door open.
Inside, Chak was halfway through changing his shirt it hung loosely over one shoulder, his back slightly turned. His gaze was distant, absorbed.
I stepped forward, holding out a fresh, pressed shirt. He took it from me wordlessly.
As I helped him button it, my fingers brushed his skin. The contact sent a shiver up my spine—electric, but grounding. His expression softened for just a heartbeat. Something unspoken passed between us.
"I love you," I said quietly, meeting his eyes.
He paused, truly looking at me. The tension in his body eased, and then… he nodded slowly.
The coldness in his eyes melted into warmth as he whispered,
"I love you too."
A faint smile touched his lips tender
Like the world had paused just for us.
We said nothing more.
But it was enough.