I woke up slowly, the morning light seeping in through the edges of the curtains.
For a moment, I didn't move. I just listened—to the quiet hum of the ceiling fan, to the soft rhythm of Phu's breathing beside me.
His arm was still wrapped around me, and I was still curled against his chest like nothing had changed overnight. But everything had.
The storm had passed. But the ache lingered.
I shifted slightly. Phu stirred, his eyes fluttering open. As soon as he saw me awake, his arms tightened around me just a little more.
"Good morning," he whispered, his voice low and husky.
I gave a small nod. "Morning."
There was a silence—not uncomfortable, but full. Like neither of us knew quite where to begin.
Then Phu spoke again, softer this time.
"Do you feel okay?"
I nodded. "Yes."
Phu stretched a little, brushing my hair back gently. "Okay," he said softly. "Let's grab something for breakfast. I'll take a quick shower, then it's your turn."
I reached out and held his hand before he could get up. "Can we shower together?"
He paused, looking at me with a raised brow and a soft grin.
"You naughty boy," he teased, his voice low. "Your sister's home."
I pouted. "It's not like she doesn't know…"
Phu chuckled, leaning in to kiss my forehead."I know she knows. But when we're back in Bangkok, we can be as naughty as you want."
I grinned, feeling my heart lighten just a little more.
"Fine," I said with an exaggerated sigh. "I'll go shower in her room then."
He laughed and finally stood up, stretching again before heading toward the bathroom.
After our showers, we all gathered in the small dining area for breakfast. The air was quiet but calm—like the house itself was finally breathing again.
Phu prepared toast and eggs while I made tea. Mayuree sat across from me, watching quietly.
After a while, she spoke.
"Are you okay?"
I looked up at her and smiled gently. "Yes." And this time, I meant it a little more than before.
She nodded. "Alright. I need to leave shortly—got work later. But if anything happens, or you just feel off, call me. No matter what time."
I nodded again, warmth blooming in my chest. "Thank you."
She smiled and stood, giving my shoulder a light squeeze. "That's what sisters are for."
Around 11 a.m., Mayuree grabbed her keys and gave us both a final hug before heading out.
"Take care of each other," she said with a warm smile before closing the door behind her.
And just like that, the house fell into a quiet calm—just me and Phu.
Phu turned to me. "What do you wanna do?"
I thought for a second and smiled. "Let's watch a movie."
"Movie sounds perfect," he replied, already heading to the TV.
We scrolled through a few titles until we settled on something light. Nothing too dramatic—just something that let the room feel easy again.
I lay down across the couch, my head resting gently on Phu's lap, my legs stretched out.
His fingers automatically found their way into my hair, brushing through it slowly, over and over again.
Around 2 p.m., we heard the front door open.
Dad was home.
He stepped in, looking completely drained—his shoulders heavy, eyes a little sunken. The kind of tired that wasn't just physical.
We exchanged a quick glance—Phu and I both silently agreeing: We won't tell him. Not yet.
He didn't need more stress. Not today.
"Hey, Pa," I greeted, trying to keep my voice light.
He gave us a faint smile. "Hey… I'm gonna shower and rest. I'm really tired today."
I nodded. "Of course. Go rest."
Before heading to his room, he paused. "What time are you leaving?"
"Around eight. The flight's at ten," I answered.
He gave a slow nod. "Alright. Try to wake me before you go. If I don't wake up… just take care of each other, okay?"
Phu and I both nodded. "We will."
He offered a tired smile, one hand resting briefly on my shoulder, then disappeared into his room.
After the movie, Phu and I had a simple tea time—just some toast, fruit, and warm drinks. It wasn't much, but it felt enough. Peaceful, easy. Something about the silence between us now felt comforting, not heavy.
As the clock ticked past 6:30, we slowly started packing. Phu folded our clothes carefully while I made sure we didn't leave anything behind.
Around 7 p.m., I walked quietly into Dad's room to check on him.
He was still asleep.
Lying on his side, breathing slowly, peaceful for once. I didn't want to wake him. After everything, he deserved rest—at least for tonight.
I glanced at his desk, found a small sticky note, and a pen.
I paused for a second, then scribbled softly:
"I'm leaving first, Paa. Take care and rest well. I love you."
I placed it gently beside his alarm clock where he'd be sure to see it in the morning.
Then I just stood there for a moment longer, watching him sleep.
"Goodnight, Pa…" I whispered and quietly stepped out, closing the door behind me.
By 7:30 p.m., our bags were zipped, the house was quiet, and our Grab had arrived.
Phu helped load everything into the car while I took one last look at the gate—my home. It felt different now. He reached over and gave my hand a gentle squeeze, grounding me.
We got into the car, and as we pulled away, the lights of the house slowly faded behind us.
On the way to the airport, Phu pulled up his hoodie and slipped on a cap and mask, covering almost all of his face.
I gave him a look, raising an eyebrow. "Really?" I teased.
He grinned under the mask. "You want me to get mobbed at the check-in counter? Imagine the headlines—'Actor seen flying from small town with mystery boyfriend.'"
I laughed quietly, leaning my head on his shoulder. "Okay, fair point."
"We'll eat once we get there," he said softly, checking his phone for the time. "We've still got a bit before boarding. Something light, yeah?"
I nodded. "Yeah… something warm."
He looked at me with those gentle eyes again, and for a moment, even in the backseat of that Grab, surrounded by the dull sounds of city roads—we were okay.
Together.
We grabbed McDonald's at the airport—easy and fast, just enough to fill our stomachs before the flight. We didn't say much. We didn't need to. The quiet between us was calm now, like our hearts had finally taken a breath.
Once we boarded, I rested my eyes during the flight, the hum of the cabin and Phu's presence beside me soothing enough to let my body relax.
We landed in Bangkok just 75 minutes later. The city lights greeted us like they always did—bright, busy, and alive.
Phu's manager was already waiting by the arrival gate. Everything was moving quickly.
As we reached the car, Phu turned to me with a small smile. "I'll drop you home first."
I nodded, but when we pulled up in front of my place, I noticed he wasn't getting out with me.
"You're not coming in?"
He gave me a gentle look. "No, babe. I've got early work tomorrow. A shoot call at 6. I'll come see you after work, I promise."
I tried not to pout, but he must've noticed.
Still, he got out of the car and walked me all the way to my front door.
There, he wrapped his arms around me in a hug that lingered just long enough to say everything we didn't.
I hugged him back, then leaned in and kissed him softly.
"Take care," I whispered. "And make sure you message me, okay?"
He smiled, eyes warm beneath the glow of the streetlamp. "I will."
He kissed me once more—gentle and slow—before stepping back with a soft wave.
And just like that, he was gone into the night, while I stood at my door… already missing him.
I stood there for a moment, then closed the door and walked inside. The room felt too quiet, too still. Empty.
Even though it had been days since the incident, that lingering fear still clung to me like smoke. I didn't like being alone at night—not anymore.
I turned on the living room light, the warm glow offering a bit of comfort. I told myself I'd turn it off later, but deep down I knew I wouldn't.
Just as I settled on the couch, my phone buzzed.
Phu: "I miss you already 😔"
A tiny smile tugged at the corner of my lips.
Me: "You just left 💔"
Phu: "Exactly. Too long already."
I stared at the screen, heart full and aching all at once. I could still feel his kiss on my lips, his warmth wrapped around me like a memory refusing to fade.
Me: "Sleep early, okay? Big day tomorrow."
Phu: "Only if you promise to dream about me."
God. He could be so cheesy sometimes. And yet… I wouldn't change a thing.
I held the phone to my chest for a moment before setting it aside. Then I crawled into bed, leaving the living room light on.
Sleep came quickly. But it didn't last.
I jolted awake around 3 a.m., chest tight, breath shallow. Sweat clung to my skin, and I could still feel the echo of something dark from a dream I couldn't fully remember. Panic pressed down on me, heavy and unrelenting.
I reached for my phone, tempted to call Phu.
But I stopped myself.
He'd be waking up in a few hours. He needed the rest. I could wait.
Still, I kept the phone close, clutching it like a lifeline. Just knowing he'd be there—soon—was enough to keep me from spiraling.
I glanced at the time—still too early. My throat felt dry, and my body was on edge, restless. I got out of bed and walked to the kitchen, hoping a cold drink would calm my nerves.
I opened the fridge, reached for the water bottle… and that's when I saw it.
A brown envelope. Tucked beside the egg tray like it had been sitting there for hours, maybe longer.
I froze.
I didn't notice this before—I was sure of it. I always kept things neat. That envelope wasn't mine.
My chest tightened. Panic buzzed under my skin as I ran to the front door. Still locked. I checked the emergency exit. Closed. Secure.
So how…?
I turned back toward the envelope. My feet felt heavy, but I made myself walk. Each step louder than it should've been in the silence of the house.
I was scared—terrified, actually—but I knew I had to open it.
Hands trembling, I peeled it open.
And my heart dropped.
Inside were photographs. Picture of us Kissing. Hugging. Laughing in my hometown—private moments no one should have seen.
My breath caught in my throat as I flipped through them, each one stabbing a little deeper. Someone had been watching us. Close. Too close.
On the back of every photo, a message was scrawled in rough handwriting:
"You know the drill. Wait for my call."
I stood there frozen, my pulse pounding so loudly it echoed in my ears. My brain was trying to catch up, trying to process what this meant—but I already knew.
This was a warning.
And whoever sent it… knew exactly how to get to me.
I didn't know who to tell.
Definitely not Phu—not yet. He had a big shoot today, and I didn't want to throw him off. I told myself I'd wait until he finished. Then I'd figure out how to explain… everything.
But sleep? That wasn't happening.
I lay in bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, the envelope still on the table like it was watching me. Every creak of the house made me flinch. My ears strained for sounds that weren't there, and my heart beat faster with every passing minute.
I just needed to hear Phu's voice.
I waited. 6 a.m. felt like years away.
At 6:10, my phone finally rang.
Phu.
I answered instantly.
"Morning, baby," he said, his voice soft, warm. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah," I lied. "You?"
"Yeah… just got up. I need to shower and be there by 7:30."
"Okay," I said, trying to sound normal.
"See you later," he added.
"Okay," I whispered again, biting down on the worry that was threatening to break through.
I knew I couldn't go in today. Not after what happened. Not like this.
I sat on the edge of the bed, crafting my excuse. Maybe I'd say I wasn't feeling well. Or I was out with my sister. Anything that would keep him from worrying—or calling.
If I messaged him too early, I knew he'd ask questions. So I waited until 7:30 a.m., right when he'd be getting ready.
In the meantime, I texted Nok and Phi Tann to let them know I had an emergency. I told them I'd try to come in after lunch, if possible.
Nok replied quickly:"It's okay. Today's shoot is just with Phu anyway. Ariya's part wrapped over the weekend."
I thanked her and put my phone down.
Now, all I could do was wait.
Wait for the person who sent those pictures…To call.To message.To show me what they wanted.
And as every minute passed, the silence got heavier.