The sky was still a deep shade of indigo, the first hints of dawn barely kissing the horizon. The early winter air was crisp, carrying a slight chill that clung to the skin. It was just before 5 A.M, and the city was quiet, save for the occasional distant hum of passing cars. Arthit stepped out of his room, dressed in a fitted workout jacket and sweatpants, his running shoes laced up tightly.
He exhaled slowly, watching the faint cloud of his breath dissipate into the cold air. It had been a while since he last went for a morning run—his schedule had been too packed, leaving little time for exercise. But today, with a rare window of free time, he was determined to get back into his routine.
Staying in shape wasn't effortless, after all. His physique was a result of years of dedication, dating back to his time in San Francisco. He halted in front of the neighboring room, rapping his knuckles against the door a few times. A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing Daotok.
He was already dressed in workout attire, though his posture suggested he wasn't entirely awake yet. Arthit wasn't surprised—North had called him the night before, inviting him to join their workout session. Initially, he assumed North just wanted to pry into his situation with Daotok, but instead, the invitation turned out to be genuine.
Since he was already planning to exercise, Arthit accepted, and North had promised to bring Daotok along as well. It was almost surreal. Just last night, he had laid everything bare— confessing his feelings without holding back. Now, here he was, waking up to exercise alongside him. He had no idea how Daotok felt after he left his room the previous night.
Maybe he was indifferent, maybe he buried himself in work as usual. Either way, Arthit had already decided—he wasn't going anywhere. Rejection didn't scare him anymore. If Daotok wanted to push him away, he could try, but Arthit wasn't the type to give up easily. If anything, the man himself had claimed he'd never be with anyone for the rest of his life, so why should it be a problem if Arthit stayed by his side?
"Ready?" Arthit asked as Daotok stepped out, locking his door behind him. Daotok gave a small nod, his eyes still heavy with sleep.
"Let's run."
"Huh?"
"From the condo to my department," Arthit stated casually.
Daotok furrowed his brow, clearly doubting his sincerity. "You're serious?"
"Of course. It's just a short run."
Daotok sighed but didn't protest further. "Alright."
Together, they headed downstairs and began stretching. The silence between them was comfortable, interrupted only by the occasional rustling of trees as a breeze swept through the streets.
"You used to exercise a lot, didn't you?" Arthit asked as he watched Daotok stretch his legs.
"I did," Daotok admitted.
"And now?"
"Not anymore. Too much work."
"North told me you overwork yourself," Arthit commented, glancing at him. "You don't need to rush everything, you know."
"The faster I finish a project, the happier the client is," Daotok replied matter-of-factly. "They'll hire me again for their next project."
Arthit exhaled through his nose. It was typical—Daotok was meticulous, dedicated to his work to an almost self-destructive degree. Arthit knew firsthand how doctors were excellent at advising others to rest but rarely followed their own advice. Once they finished stretching, they started jogging.
Arthit slowed his pace to match Daotok's, taking note of how sluggish he was. "At this pace, it'll take us twenty minutes," he teased.
"Go ahead without me."
"Leave you behind? No way." Daotok didn't argue further, and they continued running in relative silence until they reached the university grounds. By then, the campus was beginning to stir with early risers—other students and faculty members engaging in their morning routines.
As they approached the track, Arthit spotted familiar faces warming up. "Taking your dog for a walk this early?" he greeted with a smirk. North shot him an unimpressed look.
"Want the dog to pee on you?" Arthit laughed, shaking his head.
"Didn't think you'd come along, Shorty."
"North sold it well," Daotok muttered, still catching his breath.
Johan, who had been stretching nearby, turned to them. "You ran all the way here?" Arthit nodded.
Johan raised an eyebrow. "Didn't bring a change of clothes? You can shower here and stay for the presentation."
"Damn, why didn't I think of that?" Arthit mused, before glancing at Daotok.
"But I can't. I have to take him back."
"Did you even ask if he wants you to?" North quipped.
"Shut up," Arthit muttered, chuckling.
Johan clapped his hands together. "Alright, I feel like playing basketball."
Arthit's eyes lit up. "You guys in?" he asked, looking at North and Daotok.
"Basketball?" North hummed, pretending to consider it.
"North's not playing," Johan cut in.
"It's just you and me."
"Is that so?" Arthit asked, turning to Daotok. "What about you?"
Daotok hesitated. "I don't know how to play basketball."
North slung an arm around him. "Then we'll just hang around here. I'll run with 'Phii Pung Dai' (Flying Ghost) around the area."
Arthit rolled his eyes but smirked. As he turned to leave, he caught a glimpse of North's mischievous grin. It was definitely suspicious. And knowing North, that meant trouble was brewing.
✨✨✨✨
The morning air was crisp, the first light of dawn barely touching the horizon as Daotok jogged alongside North. The rhythmic sound of their footsteps filled the quiet street, accompanied only by the distant chirping of birds. It was around 5:30 A.M, far too early for Daotok's liking, and he wasn't shy about making that known.
"Remind me again why we have to do this so early?" Daotok muttered, adjusting the sleeves of his hoodie. "Couldn't we just go in the evening?"
North smirked, clearly expecting the complaint. "Because my boyfriend has to be at his faculty by seven, and morning runs are way more refreshing. Trust me, you'll feel better afterward."
Daotok sighed, knowing that arguing with North was pointless. He had a way of being persuasive without even trying. Still, Daotok had a sneaking suspicion that North's insistence on inviting him had less to do with fitness and more to do with a certain someone. North had always been one of the people pushing him to find a boyfriend, and now that he seemed to have a particular candidate in mind, he was relentless.
North had vouched for him, claiming he had already done a thorough "investigation" and given his stamp of approval. Not that Daotok cared. He wasn't bothered by who rooted for whom—what unsettled him was the lack of control over his own life. He hated feeling trapped, whether by expectations, tight clothing, or the suffocating grip of a nosy neighbor who refused to respect his boundaries.
He had felt it before, when a ghost once pressed down on his chest, and last night, when Arthit hugged him too tightly, as if staking a claim. If North knew, that meant Easter and Typhoon probably knew too. And if North knew, the entire world would know soon unless specifically instructed to keep quiet. That, at least, was something Daotok could rely on —North could keep a secret if explicitly told to. As long as he didn't get drunk, that is. But his neighbor? That man wanted the whole world to know. It was as if he were sending out a warning: stay away, Daotok is mine.
He wished people would stop meddling. Work was one thing—clients could contact him as much as they liked. But anything outside of that irritated him. He didn't want texts, unexpected visits, or surprise gifts. Unfortunately, Arthit didn't seem to care. No matter what Daotok said, he didn't listen. He only ever heard himself. And the worst part? He wasn't wrong. "That guy" had once told him that he'd probably never let anyone else into his life again, and deep down, Daotok feared he might be right.
He just hoped things wouldn't get so chaotic that he lost his mind from sheer exhaustion. But from the way things were going, peace was nowhere in sight. At first, he had assumed Arthit was just curious, intrigued by someone as peculiar as him. But the seriousness in his eyes, in his voice, told a different story. He was determined. When Daotok told him to find someone else, he had meant it. He wasn't anything special. He was dull, unremarkable, and certainly not worth this level of persistence.
Someone like him could easily find someone better. North had once bragged about how wealthy Arthit was, and from the looks of it, that was true. The car he drove, the things he owned—it all screamed money. Not to mention, he was a medical student, clearly intelligent and skilled. As for his looks? There was no denying he was attractive. Personality-wise, Daotok had no comment. He wasn't exactly a saint himself.
"Hey," North suddenly spoke up, breaking Daotok's train of thought.
"Hmm?"
"You know what I'm about to ask, so just spill it. What happened last night?"
"Didn't you already ask him?"
"Nope. Asking you first before I ask him. So, what happened?"
Daotok exhaled heavily. "Not much. He told me he liked me and wanted to be with me. Wouldn't take no for an answer. So now, he's basically decided he's going to stick around."
North let out a low whistle. "Wow, really?" His grin stretched wide. "Can you believe it? The freest man in the world, like P'Arthit, wants to be with you."
Daotok frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You know he's super stubborn, right? The world revolves around the sun, but right now, that sun is orbiting around a star like you."
"Is that so?"
"Yep. He might be studying medicine for reasons we don't really know, but you probably do. He doesn't care about anything else—he just does what he wants, goes where he pleases. Total freedom. Nothing can stop him now."
"Oh, I see."
North nodded, his tone turning more thoughtful. "You know, P'Joe once mentioned that Arthit is super attached to his family. That means you're on the same level of importance to him."
"Huh." Daotok absorbed that, unsure what to make of it. They had slowed to a walk now, North clearly wanting to focus more on the conversation than exercise.
"You're pretty obvious, North."
"Obvious about what?"
"You're rooting for him."
"Hey, no way! I'm neutral."
"Your tone says otherwise."
"If you don't like him, just say so. I'll help."
"I don't like him."
"Why not? He's not bad, you know. He's handsome, super popular, and might even help your work get more recognition." Daotok scoffed. "And?"
"And he's ridiculously rich. If you ever don't want to work, he could take care of you for life. He's also incredibly skilled. Just look at what he's studying."
"For someone neutral, you're very much on his side."
North laughed but didn't deny it. "Fine. Let's talk about his flaws, then. He's rude, crude, and vulgar. Never listens to anyone, extremely self-centered. If he's unhappy, he'll curse you out. If he's mad, he might throw punches. Hot headed, impatient, easily annoyed, shameless—"
"Sounds a bit like you."
"What?! No way! I thought you were my ride-or-die, Daotok!" North shook him dramatically. "Where's your loyalty?"
"I mean, in terms of being hot-headed, quick-tempered, cursing when annoyed, and sometimes resorting to physical fights."
"Am I hot-headed?" North frowned in disbelief. "You'd have to ask everyone whose face you've punched." North's brows furrowed as he crossed his arms, eyes narrowing in suspicion. "How do you even know about that?!"
Daotok leaned back against the wall with a smug grin. "Ter talks about it all the time. Says you often get into fights, and the only way to stop you is to threaten you with your boyfriend."
North clicked his tongue in irritation. "Damn that Ter. I should've pushed him off the balcony that day when he was drying clothes."
Daotok snickered. "If you'd done that, Ter would haunt you for sure."
North let out a reluctant chuckle. "True. Ugh, never mind. He's scary enough alive."
Daotok tilted his head, his grin widening. "So, if your boyfriend steps in, you'll listen? Are you scared of him or something?"
"No way! Don't put it like that," North huffed. "It's because I love him, and I don't want him to feel upset or uncomfortable. He's scary when he's mad, so it's better to compromise when we can."
Daotok studied him for a moment, the sudden softness in North's tone not lost on him. "From crazy North to this. Love is so strange and hard to understand."
North shrugged. "Really? I think it's simple."
"Hmm?"
"I'm someone who sees things simply, I guess," North explained. "For me, love is love, and everything else is everything else. If you're scared, that's normal. Be scared because there's no guarantee it won't happen. Just ask yourself, if what you're afraid of happens, will you be able to handle it?"
Silence settled between them. North watched as Daotok's expression wavered, as if his words had struck something deep.
"There has to be someone who makes you feel that way," North continued, his voice quieter but firm. "Wanting to love them so much that you forget your fear." More silence.
Daotok looked away, his fingers idly tracing patterns on the fabric of his jeans. Then, as if trying to break the tension, North smirked. "Damn, I sound so cool right now."
Daotok huffed a small laugh. "Is that what you thought when you started dating your boyfriend?"
"Kind of," North admitted.
"Have I told you about how I first met P' Johan? I was confronting my ex's new boyfriend when P' Johan stepped in to help me. I was still hurting from my ex, but I didn't start dating P' Johan to forget him. At that time, my ex wasn't even on my mind because P' Johan had already filled it. People kept warning me about him because of all the rumors, but I didn't listen. I liked him. I wanted to be with him. I wanted to love him, and that was it. Even if he left me tomorrow, I wouldn't regret choosing to be with him because the time we spent together was amazing."
Daotok absorbed North's words, his fingers now still. "I see. So, you're the type to charge headfirst into everything."
"Yeah, exactly. That damn P' Arthit is probably the same as me. Right now, he's probably banging his head against the wall that is you."
Daotok stiffened but didn't respond. North sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "And why the hell am I talking about myself all of a sudden? Whatever. Just consider it an example. Personally, I don't think love is as complicated as people make it seem. I get it if you're hesitant to open your heart because you're scared it'll be like that awful guy from before. But why let that jerk keep hurting you over and over again?"
Daotok blinked, his posture tensing. "'Hurting me over and over again?' What do you mean?"
"Hurting you once wasn't enough," North said, voice steady but firm. "He made you miss the chance to meet someone good, someone who's ready to love and take care of you. Why let one person, someone you claim you no longer care about, keep haunting you like this?" A long pause followed. Daotok looked down at his hands, expression unreadable.
"If you say you don't care, then forget everything about him. Forget everything he's done to you. You're still scared because his story is still buried in your heart, isn't it?" North's words cut deep, deeper than Daotok was willing to admit. His mind raced, trying to make sense of the sudden clarity. If he really didn't care about that person anymore, why was he still letting the past cling to him like an old wound that refused to heal? After what felt like an eternity, he exhaled.
"You're right, North... I thought I had let go of everything about him. But how could I have let go when the scars he left are still etched in my heart? Thank you."
North frowned. "Thank me for what?"
"If you hadn't said that, I probably wouldn't have realized it. Now I'm a bit upset with myself for still letting him hurt me with the same old things."
"Did I never tell you this before?" Daotok shook his head.
"No." North scratched his cheek.
"Wow, why didn't I ever tell you? This is like, basic stuff." Daotok chuckled weakly. "Maybe you forgot. You're really forgetful."
"Oh, really? So, how are you feeling now? Better?" Daotok hesitated, then nodded.
"Well... yeah. If I can stop being afraid of getting hurt the same way again, I think I'd feel much better." A slow grin spread across North's lips. "And then you'll open up to P'Arthit, right?"
Daotok's shoulders tensed immediately. "Just because I've moved on from old wounds doesn't mean I'm ready to open up."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't like him."
North groaned. "Ugh, seriously?! After I just hyped him up about how great he is! All those awful traits of his—if you can tolerate mine, surely you can handle his too."
Daotok sighed. "I don't have a problem with his rudeness or anything like that. But... how do I put it? I just feel more at ease being alone."
North studied him for a moment before raising an eyebrow. "Oh, so you've cleared up your feelings about that awful guy then?"
Daotok nodded. "Yeah."
"So not opening up because of past wounds isn't an excuse anymore. The only reason left is that you just prefer being alone."
Daotok considered that. "Yeah, I guess that's it."
North smirked. "But if someday you realize that having him around is better than being alone, would you open up then?"
Daotok blinked. "Better than being alone? Hmm, I can't even picture what that would look like."
North clapped him on the back. "Well, that's his job then, to make you see how having him is better than being on your own. Gah, P' Arthit owes me a drink for this!"
Daotok scowled. "So he really did pay you off?"
North gasped in mock offense. "No way! I'm neutral, don't you get it?"
Daotok rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright. Neutral it is."
✨✨✨✨
Under the harsh glow of the gymnasium lights, Arthit dribbled the basketball with practiced ease, his breath coming in sharp pants. He wasn't just the captain of the soccer team—he could hold his own in basketball too. And right now, he was making Johan work for every point. The scoreboard hadn't budged in ages, both of them too stubborn to give in despite their exhaustion.
"So, do you think North will take my side?" Arthit asked, shifting his weight as Johan lunged for the ball. He dodged, smirking.
Johan scoffed, swiping at the air where the ball had just been. "Try buying him a drink or two. He'll back you up completely."
Arthit raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Johan shrugged. "Yeah, but I think he's probably already on your side anyway."
"Why's that?"
"He roots for everyone," Johan muttered, still focused on the ball. He made another attempt to steal it, but Arthit twisted away, using the moment to wipe sweat from his forehead with the hem of his shirt.
"Too cocky, man," Arthit taunted.
Johan's lips curled into a grin before he feinted left and managed to swipe the ball. "Gotcha." Arthit cursed under his breath and took off after him. They repeated the same back-and-forth for several more minutes, neither willing to surrender a point. "Just give me one!" Arthit whined, breathless. "I'm panting like a dog over here."
Johan huffed. "I'm panting too, but I'm no dog."
"Idiot," Arthit shot back. "So, what do you think about someone still hung up on old wounds? I mean, I've already said I'm not that person anymore."
Johan dribbled slowly, contemplating. "No idea. If they're that obsessed, maybe we should just kill the guy who hurt them. That might give them some peace of mind."
Arthit let out a dry chuckle. "Not a bad idea. I already beat him so bad he landed in the hospital, but I guess that wasn't enough. How am I supposed to kill someone who's already lying in a hospital bed?"
Johan grinned. "Move him to Fah's hospital and get Fah to help. Easy."
Arthit shook his head, laughing at the absurdity of the conversation. "Man, you're wild. If the truth ever came out, we'd be screwed."
"Don't worry. Fah wouldn't think too much about it."
Arthit shot him a skeptical look. "Really? Would he even want to stay friends with us?"
Johan snorted. "Probably. Even if we mess up a couple of times, we're still friends. Or you could consult Hill. His family has a stake in it."
"A stake in the hospital?"
"No, a stake in a casino. What are you even thinking?"
Arthit smirked. "But you're part-owner of that casino, right? I remember."
"Call it a casino, not just a gambling den."
"Still against my principles. I can't condone it."
Johan rolled his eyes. "Seriously, what can you even do under the Five Precepts?"
"What are they again? Oh wait, I don't follow Buddhism, so I don't have to follow them."
"Same here."
"So being part-owner of a casino is fine," Arthit quipped, raising an eyebrow.
Johan smirked. "Exactly. Just like how fooling around with someone's spouse isn't a problem."
Arthit's expression darkened. "Not exactly. She had a husband and didn't tell me."
Johan burst out laughing, shaking his head. "You idiot! You even ended up in jail for it!"
Arthit groaned. "It wasn't my fault! She was married and didn't tell me." Johan mimicked his voice mockingly,
"Joe, I'm in the holding cell! Come bail me out!"
"Man, I thought you'd gotten busted for a drug test or something. Turns out you punched her husband and wrecked the place. What a mess!"
Arthit scoffed. "My urine isn't purple, dude. It's rainbow-colored, I'm telling you."
Johan wheezed with laughter. "Who even says that? You talk so much nonsense."
Arthit grinned. "Well, only nonsense people can handle nonsense conversations."
Johan suddenly looked past him, his gaze shifting toward the gym entrance. Arthit followed his line of sight and saw two familiar figures walking in, looking completely unfazed by their so-called run.
"Why do they look so fresh?" Arthit asked, frowning. Johan smirked.
"I don't think they ran. Probably walked."
"What the hell? North invited me to run." Johan chuckled. "They probably just strolled the whole time. The only reason North agreed to exercise outdoors was because I made him buy new shoes."
"Oh, so North only runs to make the new shoes worth it, huh?"
"Exactly," Johan admitted, letting the basketball roll away as they made their way to the bleachers. The newcomers had settled on the first row, looking comfortable and refreshed. Arthit dropped onto the bench next to the shorter of the two, studying his face.
"Tired?" Daotok nodded and handed him a bottle of water.
Arthit blinked, surprised. "Whoa, seriously? Does this mean you like me now?" he teased, flashing a grin. "
Calm down, dude. He's just giving you water, you idiot," North interjected before his friend could respond.
"North told me to buy it," Daotok muttered, looking away.
Arthit shrugged nonchalantly, twisted the cap off, and took a long sip. "So what? In the end, you still bought it for me." He leaned in slightly, catching Daotok's gaze. There was a brief pause before the other tilted his head to meet his eyes. Smirking, Arthit reached out to ruffle his hair, earning a small, annoyed huff in return. "Thanks," he murmured, still grinning.