"Hia, hurry up! We're going to be late!"
Ping called from the doorway, arms folded as he tapped his foot impatiently.
Inside the room, Keng's voice came back lazily, full of amusement.
"Just a second, teerak."
Ping sighed, shaking his head-but the small smile tugging at his lips gave him away completely.
It had been exactly one year.
One year since the accident.
One year since fear, silence, waiting, and tears.
And today... Today was different.
Today, Keng was graduating.
Ping leaned against the doorframe, watching the room quietly as memories flickered through his mind without permission-the hospital nights, the endless worry, the moment Keng finally opened his eyes again.
Now, all of that felt distant. Like a scar that no longer hurt.
"Done!" Keng's voice suddenly rang out brightly.
He stepped out of the room looking far too proud of himself, gown slightly messy, smile bright enough to make Ping forget every complaint he had prepared.
Ping blinked at him.
"...You took forever."
"I had to look perfect," Keng replied seriously.
Ping scoffed, but his eyes softened.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's go before I change my mind and leave you here."
The graduation venue was lively, filled with students, families, laughter, and cameras flashing everywhere.
The moment they arrived, Tao's voice cut through the noise immediately.
"Oooooiii, Keng!" he shouted, waving dramatically.
"What exactly were you two doing that made you this late?"
Without even glancing at him properly, Keng walked past.
"Mind your business, *ssh*l*."
Tao gasped loudly like he had been personally stabbed.
"Rude!"
Ping laughed softly behind him, trying to hide it.
They moved toward the seating area where both families were already gathered.
Ping straightened immediately.
"Sawatdee khap, mom... dad," he greeted politely, bowing slightly toward Keng's parents.
Keng's mother smiled warmly at him.
"How are you, dear?"
"I'm fine, Auntie," Ping replied politely, smiling back.
"Tsk," Keng clicked his tongue immediately.
"Seems like Ping is your favorite now."
"Don't be jealous," Keng's father replied casually, patting Ping's shoulder.
"He's far more well-behaved than you."
Keng opened his mouth to argue-but stopped when he noticed someone else approaching.
Ping's mother.
His expression immediately changed.
"Sawatdee khap, mom," Keng said instantly, stepping forward and pulling her into a quick hug without hesitation.
"How are you, baby?" she asked warmly.
"And congratulations."
"Thank you, Mom," Keng replied with a bright grin.
Ping narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Mom," Ping said slowly, pretending to be offended.
"So now you're just going to call him your baby in front of me?"
His mother didn't even look at him.
She was already greeting Keng's parents like they were old friends. Ping blinked.
"...Wow."
Keng smirked immediately.
"See? You stole my parents," he said. "And now you don't even want to share yours. So selfish."
Ping groaned.
"How did I end up with someone this childish?"
"Mom!" Keng suddenly whined dramatically, turning toward Ping's mother again.
"He called me childish!"
Ping's mother laughed loudly.
"Ooi, Ping," she said teasingly.
"Don't be mean to your boyfriend. Come on, let's take pictures."
Ping sighed deeply.
"This is my life now..."
After the group photos, the atmosphere slowly relaxed.
Ping's mother turned to Keng thoughtfully.
"So now that you've graduated," she asked,
"what do you plan to do next?"
"I'll take over my family's business," Keng replied confidently. Then he added without hesitation,
"And marry little Ping."
Ping immediately choked.
"Hia-!"
"Of course," Keng's mother added gently, as if it was the most normal thing in the world,
"you'll wait until Ping finishes school too, right?"
"Of course, Mom," Ping replied quickly, cheeks turning pink.
Satisfied, the parents slowly stepped away, giving the boys space.
For a moment, it was just the two of them.
Ping exhaled softly.
"I never thought our families would become this close."
"Me neither," Keng said, intertwining their fingers naturally.
Their hands fit together like it had always been that way.
"Hey, lovebirds!" Tao suddenly shouted, breaking the moment.
Ping groaned immediately.
"Not again..."
"Since you're done with your parents," Tao continued dramatically, "let's take our group picture!"
"Yeah," Bank added lazily.
"After today, we might not see each other like this again." He wiped his eyes exaggeratedly.
"Oooooiii, Bank," Jinn scoffed.
"Is it because you've spent too much time with Tao that you're acting like him now?"
"*ssh*l*," Tao snapped, smacking the back of Jinn's head.
"Can we just take the picture already?" Rain sighed.
"I'm hungry," Tao added instantly.
"Me too," Ping muttered.
Then-
"Wait," Jinn said suddenly.
Everyone turned.
Jinn stepped forward slowly.
Rain blinked.
"P'jinn-what are you-"
But Jinn wasn't looking at anyone else anymore. Only Rain.
Then, in front of everyone... He went down on one knee.
Rain froze completely.
Jinn pulled out a small ring box.
The crowd around them slowly went quiet.
"Rain," Jinn said softly, his voice steady but full of emotion.
"We've known each other for four years now. We've fought, laughed, annoyed each other... and stayed."
Rain's breath hitched.
"And I want to be part of every phase of your life," Jinn continued.
"Will you... be my boyfriend?"
For a second, Rain didn't move. Then his ears turned red.
He had imagined this moment before. Too many times. But never like this.
"...Yes," Rain said softly, stretching out his hand.
The moment the ring slid on-
"KISS! KISS! KISS!" Tao, Bank, and Ping shouted immediately.
Jinn hesitated for a second, clearly worried Rain might feel shy in front of everyone.
But Rain didn't wait.
He stepped forward on his toes and kissed him first.
The crowd erupted instantly.
"Oooooiii!" Tao shouted.
"I've never felt this single in my entire life!"
Bank sighed dramatically.
"Same."
Jinn stood up slowly, still holding Rain's hand.
Tao turned immediately.
"Keng don't let them outshine you."
"They can't," Keng replied proudly.
"We were together before they even dreamed of meeting each other."
"That won't do," Tao teased.
"Look at them."
"Fine," Keng said, pulling Ping.
Ping blinked.
"Wait-what are you-"
Before he could finish, Keng pulled him closer.
Then kissed his cheek.
Ping froze.
"Hia-people are watching!"
"Let them watch," Keng said calmly.
And then- he kissed him properly. Soft. Confident. Completely unbothered.
The crowd went wild again.
Rain laughed into Jinn's shoulder.
Tao looked personally offended.
"Okay," he said dramatically.
"I need a relationship immediately."
Bank patted his shoulder.
"You need therapy first."
Under the bright sun, surrounded by friends, family, laughter, teasing, and love... Nothing felt broken anymore.
Four hearts. Two couples. One truth.
They were finally, finally free to be happy.