From the small gaps between the curtains, sunlight peeked through.
The fabric waved gently as if greeting the morning. Like an ocean reflecting the sun, everything inside the room shimmered.
In the living room, two large, soft mattresses covered the floor, where everyone lay sleeping. On the right, beside the windows, Artit held Toffee in his arms, his breath brushing against the younger boy's face.
Shifting his weight, Toffee blinked his eyes open as a sudden ache throbbed in his head, his lips curving to one side before his teeth left a playful mark on Artit's Adam's apple, waking him instantly.
"Morning... baby," Artit whispered. The low murmur only made them pull each other into a tighter embrace. Beside them, Lamon lay in Oat's arms, resting both legs on top of Oat's waist. In the middle, Phayu slept with his hands resting on the pillow where Noi had been. At the far edge, Mok and Kao occupied the remaining space.
Carefully lifting the heavy arm wrapped around him, Kao shifted his attention to Mok's heavy breathing. A sudden sharp pain hit him, making him press a hand to his forehead as his gaze drifted toward Noi, who was already awake and waiting for him.
The little pup eagerly stretched his paws toward Kao.
"Shhh... Don't bark..."
Before Kao could finish the warning, Noi was already snuggling against his chest. Scooping the pup into his arms, Kao stood up and headed toward the kitchen.
"Can we get something to drink?"
The quiet morning quickly filled with low whispers and the puppy's playful drool.
...
The honking cars outside and the slight heat eventually woke Mok. His fingers searched beneath the blanket before he noticed Toffee and Lamon watching videos together on the bed, while Phayu remained sound asleep.
"Mhhh...." Phayu let out a loud sound.
"He must have been having a good dream."
The clinking sound of plates and the rich aroma of food drifted into the room. Smiling, Mok closed his eyes again.
"Heavy... My chest feels heavy..." Groaning, Mok forced himself up. Pulling the blanket aside, he discovered a small figure resting there. Pressing his lips to the pup's head, he gave him a small peck.
"Noi... Did you drink your milk? You look like Santa." He mumbled lazily, closing his eyes again. "Give Daddy a minute."
Mok tried to nap again, but the pup's wet tongue refused to leave him alone.
"Ohh... You won't leave me, right?" Supporting himself with one hand on his knee, Mok half-sat and asked, "What do you want from me?"
Noi's small, round eyes shifted toward the kitchen. "Did you miss Daddy? Wait... Noi... What's this?" Mok's eyes widened. Tiny white paw prints covered the floor tiles, and even Mok's clothes were a total mess.
Letting out a sigh, he thought, 'I knew it. There is no such thing as a normal day in this house.' Still, the frustration disappeared the moment he saw his baby's cuteness. Holding the pup close, Mok planned to clean everything up.
...
"Not this spoon, Mok. That one," Kao instructed.
Mok's face darkened. "What's the difference? Just because that spoon is smaller?" he hissed.
"Is it ready?"
"Mmh."
"Kao. Nowadays, you only have a few words to say to me. What? Are you regretting being with me?"
Silence answered him.
Clack!
Throwing the spoon down, Mok stormed toward the balcony while Kao stood there, still processing what had just happened.
"Kao, where is the spare towel?" someone shouted from the bathroom.
"It's in the cupboard. Just search for it yourself."
"Kao... Where is the AC remote?"
"Artit... It's right there."
"Phi Kao, what's the Wi-Fi password?"
"Kao is handsome 999839."
"Pfft!!"
"Kao... Phi Kao..."
The calls came almost every minute, pushing Kao into a sour mood. To make matters worse, Noi had already caused trouble and was now staring up at him.
Barkk!!!!
...
On the balcony, Toffee was settled in a large chair, drinking his morning tea and watching the bright sky.
Mok bolted toward him, filled with irritation.
A handful of tea spilled from Toffee's cup. Startled, he glared at Mok.
"I know what you're thinking."
"What are you saying, Mok? I don't understand."
Unbothered face!!!
"Your hands are already poised to throw that tea in my face."
Again that unbothered face!!!
"Really? I have no idea... My bad," Toffee chuckled.
The anger inside Mok quickly burned away. Resting his hands against the glass railing, Mok stared down at the streets packed with people. Quiet footsteps approached from behind, carrying a hot cup. Seeing what was happening behind the folded curtains, Toffee smiled before turning his attention back to Mok.
"You like him, and he likes you. Then why keep this distance...? You know, calling him your boyfriend is better than just calling him a normal senior."
Mok didn't answer. His fingers tightened around the railing. "Can I really love him? I'm just scared."
Toffee let out a breath. "First, you said no one would love you. Now you're doubting yourself. It's not about how long or how short you've known him. It's about real feelings. He's a good person. He's excellent at caring for others. More than that, he'll treat you better than anyone."
Toffee took a sip while still monitoring what was happening inside. "Though, I'm actually scared of you. What if you do something to him? Mok... I'm not allowing you to hurt him."
Gritting his teeth, Mok thudded his fist against the railing. "Toffee..." he called his name in a serious tone, while Toffee took another loud sip.
"Actually, you two already look deeply bonded. The way he cooks what you like and even prepares your toothbrush... Ohh, I'm blushing from secondhand embarrassment."
"I'm going..." faking a clumsy stumble and whispering, "Poor Phi Kao," Toffee slipped inside without another word. He already had a secret plan to make Artit like Kao. But Artit was already doing all of this for Toffee, except the cooking.
Poor man. He still had a long way to go.
"Hia..." Toffee called out, almost tripping over his own feet.
Clutching his waist, Mok laughed. "He is getting too bold these days." He chuckled again when he witnessed Artit scolding Toffee for running around while Toffee pouted. Because of that, Artit grew worried and was now giving him the silent treatment.
"Damn... How many things are happening here?" Then his attention fell on Kao, who was tasting the curry like a professional chef.
"Don't think about it, Mok... It's a hallucination."
In Mok's wild imagination, Kao was seducing him while wearing a cute anime apron, his red lips tasting the spicy red curry. The aroma filling the kitchen matched the exact scent Kao always wore. Mok blinked twice and fanned his pajama shirt. Just thinking about 'how hot he was...'
And now, another unexpected problem was on his plate.
'I'm hard... Shit.'
Mok ran inside and headed straight to the bathroom before anyone even had time to notice.
"Hia... Mok just ignored me..."
All eyes turned to the figure who had just dashed past like Superman.
...
Once again, a quiet weekend knocked on their door.
Knock! Knock!
"I'm coming, Kao."
"Take this charger too. And you packed your bag, right? It has everything? You didn't forget anything?"
Mok hummed in confirmation. After saying goodbye to Lamon and Phayu, he slid his feet into his black shoes.
"If you need anything, you can call P'Nut."
"Okay... Then I'm going."
Toffee smiled, expecting a hug. Patting his back, Toffee said, "Mok, don't forget we're here. You need to call us."
"I will."
Before he could continue, two more arms wrapped around him tightly.
"You guys... It's hard to breathe."
"Don't forget we're here. You need to call us," they mimicked Toffee, only to get hit by him.
After freeing himself, Mok waved. Opening the door, one specific figure was waiting for him. Handing a small bag to Toffee, Kao said, "Take care of him. Bye, Noi... Pa is leaving."
The little pup barked and crawled out of Toffee's arms, not wanting them to go. Fearing Noi would jump on him, Mok and Kao skipped any further goodbyes.
They hurried into the elevator.
A faint bark still echoed in their ears.
Inside the lift, Mok locked his fingers tightly with Kao's, his heart heavy with anxiety.
"He'll be alright, Mok," Kao assured him.
Their eyes met, their breathing almost matching.
"How did you get him inside anyway? Dorm rules say no pets."
"Of course, I hid him under my jacket."
"Haha..." Mok's third wall somehow broke before he could guard it.
Kao paused, cupping Mok's cheeks. "Smile more. You have no idea how beautiful you look when you do."
"Liar," Mok mumbled as he stepped out.
"Wait for me..." Kao followed closely behind him.
Once they were seated inside the car, the heat was intense.
"Please buckle your seat belt." Kao bowed his head.
"Done."
"Okay, I'm going to start driving."
"Let's go," Mok replied. A soft smile lingered on his face as he checked his phone. "Our appointment is after lunch, let's have lunch first."
"But we need to get a new form to enter the hospital."
"That's right." Mok bit his nails anxiously.
"Then first, the hospital. After that, we can grab lunch." Taking Mok's hand away from his mouth, Kao caressed his hair. His silent reassurance made Mok feel less anxious.
Their small talk continued throughout the one-and-a-half-hour journey. They stopped twice to take a break before continuing.
"Two drinks, khap... Make them cold."
Near the car, Mok leaned against the door.
The slight breeze brought him a burst of fresh energy.
Even while ordering the drinks, Kao's gaze stayed fixed on Mok. He admired everything about him—the black hair swaying in the wind, the beautiful eyes hidden behind his glasses, and the outfit that was fashionable yet loose enough to be comfortable.
"The order is ready."
"Thank you." Kao took the beverages and walked back. Handing over one cup as cold moisture beaded down the sides, Kao supported the bottom of the cup so Mok's fingers wouldn't get wet.
They took a short walk along the pathways of the nearby park.
"It's a coconut drink." Again, that long white straw reached his lips. Mok swallowed and hummed with satisfaction.
"What are you looking at so intensely?" Mok reached out for the cup.
"Mhh!" Surprised by the chilly contact, their eyes met, instantly losing themselves in each other and forgetting where they were.
The phone vibrated heavily, startling Kao.
With a quick throat-clear, he checked the screen, seeing a message from 'KindaCute Pet Daycare.'
Mok peered over.
"A puppy kindergarten. This one is good, and the reviews are all five stars. That's why I applied there. We can check it later if they accept our application."
Earlier in the car, they had discussed how leaving Noi alone all day in the condo wasn't good, so they had come up with a plan. If the pup played with other dogs during the day, Kao would pick him up in the evening. If Kao didn't have time, Mok would.
Actually, more than two people, including Toffee's parents, were willing to look after Noi. But Mok and Kao didn't want to burden them.
"My mae said to give Noi to them. I almost had a fight with her. We at least need a strong plan before everyone starts a tug-of-war over him."
Kao sighed as he listened, and his headache returned, though it wasn't too bad.
Dumping the plastic cups in a bin, they walked back.
Kao climbed into the driver's seat.
Once again, they resumed their serious discussion.
Halfway through the journey, Mok's uncle called to ask when they would arrive at the hospital. But one thought stirred inside Mok's mind like heated ocean water.
"How will I tell him that going to the hospital is actually for him, and not because of my own trauma?"
He rolled down the car window and stared blankly outside.
On the other side, Kao was worried, unable to understand why Mok seemed so troubled. 'It would be good if he told me what's going on in his mind,' Kao thought, taking a deep breath and keeping his eyes on the road ahead.