Dew had been sitting beside Win for over thirty minutes-completely silent.
Win had ignored him at first, brushing off his presence like a mild irritation.
But now, the silence felt suffocating.
His patience snapped.
He stood to leave-anything to get away from Dew.
"Phi... I'm sorry," Dew said suddenly, grabbing Win's wrist, stopping him.
Win turned, expression unreadable.
"About yesterday..." Dew continued, voice low, eyes pleading. "I just-I got jealous. I got a call from P'Sky... he said Nani was with you, and I-"
"You nearly choked me to death because you were jealous," Win said coldly, yanking at his hand.
But Dew wouldn't let go.
"Phi... I'm sorry," he repeated, tighter this time, fingers clinging to Win's wrist like a lifeline.
"Let go of me," Win hissed. "I fucking heard you. What the hell do you want from me, Dew?"
Before Dew could respond, the sharp sound of footsteps approached.
They both turned.
Sky's father.
Win's father.
Dew's father.
Their towering presence cast a heavy shadow.
Dew's father spoke first.
"What's going on here?"
"We're just talking, Dad," Dew answered quickly, releasing Win's wrist.
The boys stood straighter, putting on smiles they didn't mean.
"Sawasdee krub," both Dew and Win greeted the men, though Win's jaw was clenched tight.
He didn't even try to hide his dislike toward Dew's father.
"You shouldn't be fighting with your nong," Win's father said sternly, eyes flicking over him.
"We weren't fighting, sir," Dew answered in his usual polished tone.
"P'Win takes really good care of me."
"Hope you're not covering for him," Win's father muttered, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Win didn't flinch. He didn't respond either.
He just stared-cold and blank.
They were all the same, these men.
Selfish. Controlling. Tainted.
"Do you know where Sky went?" Sky's father asked.
"No, sir. We haven't seen him," Dew replied quickly.
"What about my adoptive son?" Sky's father turned to Win. "I saw him with you."
"He went to use the restroom," Win said flatly.
"When he comes back, tell him to come find me. Same with Sky if you see him," the man said with a finality that dared no refusal.
"Be good boys," Dew's father added with a patronizing smile before the three men walked away, their backs just as heavy as their presence.
Win watched them go, especially Dew's father.
A familiar heat rose in his chest-rage, revulsion, resentment.
He turned to Dew, and all of it exploded behind his eyes.
He didn't say a word.
He just stomped off, shoulders tense, fists clenched.
Dew hurried after him, calling out-but Win didn't stop.
He couldn't stand to look at Dew. Not now. Not after everything.
Dew rushed behind Win, his voice low but desperate.
"Phi, please... just talk to me."
But Win wasn't listening. His steps were sharp, fast, like he was trying to outrun something-someone.
"Stop following me," Win snapped without looking back.
"I just-"
"You just almost killed me."
Win turned suddenly, face inches from Dew's. "And now you think sorry's enough?"
Dew flinched. "I panicked. I thought-"
"You thought what?" Win cut him off. "That you had a right to put your hands on me? That you could do whatever you wanted just because you were jealous?"
Dew looked down. "I didn't mean-"
Win grabbed Dew by the collar, yanking him close.
"Next time you lay a hand on me like that, Dew, I will put you in the fucking ground. Do you understand me?"
There was no fear in Dew's eyes-only regret. And pain.
"I'm not trying to lose you," Dew whispered.
Win scoffed, releasing him with a shove.
"You already did."
▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎
Sky stood under the warm stream of the shower, water pouring down his face. The images of Nani crying, begging, moaning his name were so clear in his head . His fists were pressed against the tiled wall, jaw clenched.
Why did it feel like Nani was slipping through his fingers even after he claimed him?
He could still feel Nani's body wrapped around him. Still taste the way he said I love you-like a goodbye.
"Mine," Sky muttered.
The water dripped down his back.
He shut the water off abruptly, stepping out and gripping the towel around his waist.
Back in the bedroom, Nani lay curled under the sheets, skin still flushed, hair messy, eyes distant.
He didn't look at Sky when he entered.
He looked like he wanted to leave.
Sky's chest tightened.
"You're not going anywhere," he said.
Nani blinked slowly.
"You're not thinking about walking out of this, are you?" Sky asked, his voice low, approaching the bed.
Nani finally looked at him-but the look wasn't fear.
It was tiredness. Sadness.
"Do you even know what love is, Sky?"
Sky's jaw twitched.
"I know what's mine."
"You don't own me," Nani said quietly.
Sky's hand twitched at his side.
He climbed into bed slowly, hovering over Nani, eyes cold.
"I do now."
Nani stared up at Sky for a few long seconds, his chest rising and falling, lips still swollen from the madness of before.
"...Okay. You own me," Nani finally whispered, voice soft-too soft. "Can you let me go now? They must be looking for us outside."
Sky didn't move. His eyes were glued to Nani's face, unblinking. The kind of stillness that wasn't calm-it was calculated. Dangerous.
Nani swallowed. "Phi..."
He softened his tone, almost coaxing. "I'm not going to run away from you. I wouldn't dare." He reached up and brushed his fingers against Sky's cheek, slowly... cautiously. "And your dad must be looking for you now."
That seemed to work-barely.
Sky's jaw flexed. His grip on Nani's wrist loosened-but not completely.
"I don't like people looking what's mine," he murmured, his voice low, cracked at the edges. "But fine."
He let go.
Nani sat up slowly, careful not to look too eager. He didn't want Sky to see it.
Sky's eyes never left him. Even as Nani moved, he watched. Like a predator letting prey crawl, only because it was already broken.
As Nani reached for his shirt, Sky suddenly grabbed his hand again-tight, sudden.
"Just remember..." Sky whispered against his skin.
"If anyone else touches you-talks to you like they know you-I'll destroy them. And I won't stop there, Nani."
His tone was soft. His smile, sharp. His threat, a promise dressed as devotion.
Nani nodded once.
But his fingers trembled as he buttoned his shirt.
Sky is now scaring him.