Arthit stood in the bathroom, his breaths ragged and uneven, chest rising and falling as he braced himself against the tiled wall. The warm water cascaded over his bare skin, but it did little to soothe the heat burning within him. His right hand gripped himself firmly, moving in a desperate, hurried rhythm as his mind wandered to a singular thought—Daotok.
He could still see him in his mind's eye, sprawled across the bed, his delicate frame writhing beneath unseen touches. His flushed cheeks, the way his lips parted with those sweet, breathy moans, the intoxicating scent of his skin—it was all too much. The memory of marking that pristine, white flesh with his lips, of feeling Daotok's body shudder in response to every teasing lick and graze of his teeth, pushed him to the edge.
A strangled groan escaped his throat as pleasure finally surged through him, his grip tightening as he reached his peak. His body trembled as the aftermath washed over him, leaving him momentarily weak-kneed.
Exhaling heavily, he let the water cleanse him, washing away the evidence of his thoughts—though not the thoughts themselves. Those lingered, taunting him, refusing to let go.
Last night had been a battle against self-restraint, one he had nearly lost. He hadn't been able to stop himself from slipping into Daotok's bed, drawn in by his warmth, his scent, the sheer temptation of him. Even in sleep, his body had responded, shifting instinctively toward Arthit's touch, as if craving it.
It had taken every ounce of willpower not to take things further, to pull away before crossing a line neither of them was ready for. But it had left him restless, and despite handling himself multiple times throughout the night, he had still woken up with that unbearable ache.
And now, mere hours later, he found himself right back where he started. Shaking his head, Arthit forced himself to push those thoughts aside as he quickly dried off and got dressed. His hospital rounds awaited him, and he needed to focus.
There was no way he could explain being late because he was preoccupied with... personal matters. But even as he rushed out the door, his mind lingered on Daotok, on the way he had blushed, the way he had hesitated before admitting he was preparing himself for intimacy.
Damn it. Arthit wasn't sure how he had fallen this hard, but now that he had, he doubted he would ever recover. By the time he arrived at the hospital, his friend Hill was already waiting for him, arms crossed, a knowing look in his eyes as Arthit stumbled in, slightly out of breath.
"Late wake-up?" Hill asked dryly.
"No, I woke up early," Arthit responded immediately.
Hill raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you late?"
Arthit sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Jerking off."
Silence stretched between them as Hill stared at him, expression unreadable.
"You really didn't need to go into that much detail," Hill finally muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I didn't ask."
Arthit shrugged, unbothered, as his phone vibrated in his pocket. Pulling it out, he grinned when he saw a message from Daotok.
[DAOTOK]: [Sent an image]
[DAOTOK]: What's this?
[ARTHIT]: It's me.
He chuckled to himself, remembering how he had secretly changed Daotok's phone wallpaper to a picture of himself. If Daotok wouldn't let him stay by his side all day, then this was the next best thing.
[ARTHIT]: Don't change it. I miss you.
[DAOTOK]: Hmm.
[ARTHIT]: What are you doing?
[DAOTOK]: Heading to my faculty.
[ARTHIT]: I'm starting my rounds.
[DAOTOK]: OK.
[ARTHIT]: Not this one. Send me a heart. Hurry, hurry, hurry. Hurry, I'm about to start rounds.
[DAOTOK]: [Sends heart emoji]
[ARTHIT]: Now I have the energy to do rounds. Shaking his head fondly, Arthit pocketed his phone and got to work, though his mind remained elsewhere.
By the time he was done, exhaustion weighed on him like a lead blanket. He barely had the energy to drag himself back to his dorm, but the moment he swiped his keycard into the neighboring room and spotted Daotok packing his bag, his fatigue vanished. Without hesitation, he crossed the room and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
Daotok stiffened at first, caught off guard, but then his hands hesitantly came up to pat Arthit's back. That small, comforting gesture was enough to melt away the tension in Arthit's body, grounding him. He tightened his grip, inhaling deeply before pressing a quick kiss to Daotok's cheek.
He hugged me back. So cute.
"Where are you going?" Arthit murmured against his shoulder.
"To exercise."
"Huh? Exercise? Where?"
"The gym."
Arthit narrowed his eyes, finally noticing the workout attire. Daotok adjusted his bag strap, glancing at him curiously.
"Can I come?"
"No."
Arthit frowned. "Why?"
"I'm going alone."
"That's dangerous. What if someone bothers you?"
"No one would harass me except you."
Arthit smirked. "Of course, but if someone else tries, they're dead."
Daotok sighed. "I can handle myself."
"Well, too bad. I'm coming," Arthit declared stubbornly. "No way am I letting someone else train you. What if they try to mess with you? Wait here. Don't even think about sneaking out before I'm ready, Shorty."
"Alright."
Grinning, Arthit rushed back to his room to change. He had originally planned to relax after his rounds, maybe work on some music. But the thought of Daotok alone at the gym? Not happening.
When he returned, Daotok was leaning against the door, waiting. The sight of him in workout clothes was unexpectedly refreshing. Smirking, Arthit threw an arm around his shoulder as they walked out together.
"What made you decide to exercise?" he asked curiously.
"How else would I have the energy to fight you?" Daotok answered, completely serious.
Arthit burst out laughing. "You're working out just to have the strength to fight me?"
Daotok nodded. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to hit you hard enough."
Arthit grinned, utterly charmed. "Well, that's actually a good thing. When the time comes, you'll be able to stick with me until the end without passing out on the bed."
Daotok blinked in confusion before his face twisted into a scowl. Smirking, Arthit leaned in to steal another quick kiss on his cheek, ignoring the way Daotok glared at him.
"Whose vehicle should we take?" Arthit asked.
"We can go separately."
"Nope, let's take your bike. I love riding on the back."
"No way. The tires are flat."
Arthit groaned. He'd find another excuse to stick close to him. There was no way he was letting Daotok out of his sight now.
"Then you can drive my bike."
Daotok hesitated, eyeing the large motorcycle with uncertainty. "I can't handle riding a big bike."
Arthit sighed, shaking his head. "Fine. Then you better hold onto my waist."
A brief silence stretched between them before Daotok silently complied, waiting for Arthit to get on first. As the engine roared to life, he climbed on behind, his movements awkward and hesitant.
The moment Arthit revved the throttle and sped forward, Daotok had no choice but to wrap his arms around the older man's waist, his grip tightening instinctively as the wind rushed past them.
It didn't take long to reach the fitness center Arthit frequented. Upon arrival, he parked the bike and secured his belongings before turning to Daotok.
"Have you been here before?"
Daotok shook his head, scanning the facility with cautious curiosity.
"Is there anything specific you'd like to try? I can teach you."
"It's my first day. I just want to try running for now."
Arthit nodded. "Alright then. I'll be working out nearby. Call me if you need anything."
"Okay." Daotok gave a simple response before heading toward the row of treadmills. Meanwhile, Arthit made his way to the workout area, taking a moment to stretch before selecting his preferred weights.
Once he adjusted the weight stack, he focused entirely on his routine, pushing himself through each rep with precision. Still, during his breaks, his eyes occasionally wandered toward Daotok, observing him with an unreadable expression.
"P' Arthit."
The unexpected voice pulled him from his thoughts. Turning, he found a familiar woman sitting beside him, clad in tight workout gear that accentuated her toned figure. A warm smile curved her lips, her cheeks flushed from exertion.
If this were the old him, he might've openly admired her.
"Long time no see," she said playfully. "Did you change your Line ID?"
"No."
"Then did you block me? Why?" She pouted, feigning hurt. To some, it might seem endearing—perhaps even to his past self—but now, it only felt like a nuisance. She leaned closer, her bare shoulder nearly brushing against him.
"Do you have a girlfriend now?"
"Not... yet."
Her fingers lightly grazed his hand. It did nothing for him, but a flicker of concern passed through his mind. He discreetly glanced around, searching for Daotok's reaction. But Daotok wasn't even looking in his direction.
Frustration stirred within him. Damn it. She was practically throwing herself at him, yet the one person he actually wanted to react, didn't even care.
"How about grabbing dinner after this?" she suggested, her voice dripping with familiarity.
Arthit remained silent.
"Please? I've missed you so much." She leaned in further, and the overpowering scent of her perfume assaulted his senses. He grimaced slightly. Normally, fragrances like hers wouldn't bother him, but for some reason, today it felt suffocating. Then, something soft pressed against his arm.
Damn. She was using her chest to tempt him.
"No one satisfies me like you," she whispered, her breath warm against his skin. "I miss the passion we shared."
His skin crawled—not from her touch, but from the thought that Daotok might misunderstand. Then again... part of him wanted to see if Daotok would get jealous. He remained still, but when he turned to check again, Daotok was gone.
Crap. Where did he go?
"You never used to reject me. What's changed?" she pressed.
With a heavy sigh, Arthit pulled his arm away. "Leave me alone," he said curtly, rising to his feet. Without sparing her another glance, he strode toward the restroom. Inside, he found Daotok standing by the sink, splashing water onto his face.
"Hey."
Daotok barely reacted, humming in acknowledgment.
"Did you see what happened just now?"
Daotok wiped his face dry before looking up. "You mean with that woman who approached you?"
"Yeah. Weren't you jealous at all? She even pressed her chest against my arm, you know. Don't you see how hot I am? You should feel a little possessive!"
Daotok blinked.
"Why aren't you saying anything? I'm getting upset."
"I was jealous."
Arthit stilled. "Really?"
"I wasn't feeling happy, so I didn't want to look. That's why I came to the bathroom," Daotok admitted, his voice steady, his face unreadable. "Does this count as being possessive?"
Arthit's heart thumped. "Yeah. So why didn't you come to me?"
"I don't know. Maybe I didn't know what to do."
Daotok took a small step closer, then another, before tentatively wrapping his arms around Arthit's arm and resting his cheek against it. The warmth of the touch sent a shock through Arthit's system, making him freeze.
"I can do this too. Hugging your arm."
Ah... Damn it. That's way too cute.
Instinctively, Arthit pulled him into a tight embrace, pressing him against the bathroom wall. He inhaled deeply, taking in the soft scent of Daotok's skin—gentle and calming, the complete opposite of the artificial perfume from earlier. But as he leaned in, Daotok tensed slightly, his expression hesitant. Guilt twisted in Arthit's chest.
Why did I even want to make him jealous in the first place?
"Who was she?"
"I don't know. I don't even remember her name."
"She was just a casual fling, right?"
"Yeah. I'm sorry. I just wanted to see if you'd get jealous." His voice softened. "Don't make that face."
"So... Can I be jealous of you?"
Arthit smirked, cupping Daotok's cheek. "Of course, you can. I'm jealous of you too. You can be jealous of anything, everything."
"Okay." Daotok pressed himself against him in a quiet embrace.
That was all it took. Just this, and Arthit would willingly give up everything for him.
"Do you still have feelings for her?"
"No. Never did. I only think about you."
"Really?"
Arthit took Daotok's hand and placed it over the front of his pants, letting him feel the undeniable evidence of his words. Daotok yanked his hand away, face turning bright red as he averted his gaze.
"Alright... I get it."
Leaning in, Arthit whispered huskily, "This is just from hugging. You have no idea how crazy you make me. I've never been like this with anyone else, only you."
Daotok gulped. "Ah... let's go home."
"Okay."
Arthit took a deep breath, forcing his body to relax. Walking out while tense and on edge wouldn't do him any favors. He turned to the sink, splashing cold water onto his face, letting the shock of it clear his mind. It worked— temporarily. The moment he stepped outside, a strange sense of unease settled over him.
Daotok should have been waiting.
His sharp gaze swept the area, but there was no sign of the small figure he had come with. Frowning, he approached a familiar trainer and asked if he had seen Daotok.
"He went outside with someone else," the trainer said casually.
Instantly, every muscle in Arthit's body tensed. A sinking dread coiled in his stomach. He knew. He didn't know how, but he knew something was wrong. Without wasting another second, he rushed outside, scanning his surroundings.
A scream.
His heart stopped for a fraction of a second before he sprinted in the direction of the sound. When he rounded the corner, the scene before him made his blood boil.
Daotok had a woman's arm twisted behind her back. She cried out in pain before he released her, shoving her away. The woman turned sharply, hand raised to slap him, but Arthit intervened in an instant. He caught her wrist mid-air, gripping it hard enough that she let out a yelp.
"What the hell is going on here?" he demanded, his voice sharp with anger.
The woman's face paled, her previous bravado shrinking in his presence.
He turned to Daotok, Worry overtaking his fury. "Are you hurt? Did she do anything to you?" He reached out, hands skimming over Daotok's arms, shoulders, back—checking for any sign of harm.
Daotok met his gaze, unbothered. "She just wanted to know if P'Arthit was dating me. Since we came together, she called me over to talk."
"Talk?" Arthit scoffed, glaring at the woman. "What kind of talk is this?"
She took a shaky step back. "D-Don't shout. I'm scared. He twisted my arm! You saw it! Why are you so angry? You're not usually like this."
"She tried to slap me first," Daotok interjected, voice flat.
"You lying brat!" the woman snapped, eyes flashing.
Arthit's patience snapped. "Who are you calling a brat?" His voice was a growl, low and dangerous. The woman flinched, her entire body trembling before she collapsed onto the pavement. Her delicate frame shook as she tried to garner sympathy.
"I'm a woman," she whimpered. "Can't you see? I couldn't possibly fight back."
Daotok ignored her, stepping closer to Arthit and curling his small hands around Arthit's wrist. "Let's go home."
His touch instantly soothed the storm inside him. Still, Arthit couldn't fully let go of his anger at someone daring to insult his boyfriend. "Please?"
Daotok added, his voice softer.
Arthit exhaled, unwilling to deny him anything. "Alright."
They gathered their things and prepared to leave, but Arthit couldn't shake the guilt pressing against his chest. "I'm sorry."
Daotok tilted his head. "Why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything wrong."
"You almost got hurt."
"I can protect myself."
Arthit narrowed his eyes. "Really? Did she do anything else to you?"
Daotok hesitated. "She... pushed me."
A muscle in Arthit's jaw clenched. "Did it hurt?"
"A little, but I'm fine."
Arthit sighed, the tension still refusing to leave his body. He reached out, taking Daotok's small hand in his own and pressing a soft kiss to the back of it. "You're amazing. This won't happen again. I promise."
Daotok watched him quietly before nodding. "Okay."
Later that evening, Arthit sat in his apartment, the weight of the day still heavy on his mind. No matter how he turned it over in his head, the fact remained: Daotok had gotten hurt. If he had been just a few minutes late, what could have happened? The thought made his stomach churn.
A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. He wasn't in the mood for company, but the knocking persisted. Sighing, he opened the door— only to find Daotok standing there, his drawing supplies in hand. Without a word, Daotok walked in, placed his things on the table, and settled down.
Arthit leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "What made you decide to come over?"
Daotok glanced up. "I thought it might help cheer you up."
Arthit chuckled, shaking his head. "Ah, you're too cute for your own good. I'm losing my mind here." Without hesitation, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Daotok's smaller frame, pulling him close. "Were you scared about what happened today?"
Daotok barely blinked. "Not at all."
"Why not?"
"I'm kind of used to being picked on."
Arthit stiffened. "Really?"
Daotok shrugged as if it was nothing. "I'm fine. There are plenty of people who don't like me."
Arthit exhaled heavily, pressing his forehead against Daotok's shoulder.
"You're way too good to me."
"Yeah."
"I love you."
"Mm-hmm."
Arthit smiled against his skin. "I love you so much it feels like my heart's about to explode."
Daotok responded by patting his head lightly, the same way one would comfort a troubled child. Arthit let him, savoring the moment. When he finally pulled back, Daotok glanced up at him.
"Stay the night with me."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I'm leaving at nine. I just came to keep you company."
Arthit groaned. "Sigh, fine. I'm taking a shower first. I'm hot. Have you showered?"
"I already did."
"That was fast. Oh, you rushed here to see me, huh?"
Daotok turned his face away, not answering.
Arthit grinned. Unable to resist, he leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to Daotok's flushed cheek before heading to the shower, feeling lighter than he had all day.
Leaning back in his chair, Arthit rested his chin on his hand, his gaze fixed on Daotok, who was immersed in his work. The soft glow of the desk lamp cast a warm hue over Daotok's face, highlighting the slight flush on his cheeks. Unable to resist, Arthit reached out, his fingertips grazing Daotok's skin ever so gently.
"You're staring too much," Daotok murmured without looking up, his voice laced with shyness.
"I always look at you like this." Daotok fell silent, his ears turning an even deeper shade of red. Arthit smirked, leaning in slightly. "Why? Are you embarrassed?"
"Yeah."
Arthit grinned, satisfied with the reaction. The night stretched on, and when the clock struck nine, he kept his promise and walked Daotok back to his room. Despite the comfort of being by his side, disappointment gnawed at Arthit—he wanted to spend the night together. But he respected Daotok's boundaries. Besides, he still felt guilty about teasing him earlier that morning.
After leaving Daotok's room, Arthit found himself knocking on Min's door, needing a distraction. Maybe a beer would help clear his mind, though he doubted it.
Min opened the door, raising a questioning brow. "What's up?"
"Want to have a beer?"
Min studied him for a moment before stepping aside. "Alright, come in. But what's gotten into you?"
Arthit plopped down on her couch as she set a can of beer on the coffee table in front of him. Cracking it open, he took a long sip before sighing.
"Someone caused trouble for Dao today."
Min's eyes darkened. "Who? Who had the nerve to mess with my precious Dao?"
Arthit scoffed. "Your precious Dao?"
"I've officially adopted him as my child. He's sweet, adorable, and he helped me out before—so naturally, I adore him even more."
"Tone it down a little. His boyfriend is sitting right here."
Min snorted. "You? Boyfriend? Ha!"
"Idiot," Arthit muttered, taking another swig of beer. "But hey, Dao was jealous of me today."
Min nearly choked on her drink. "Jealous? Of you?"
"Yeah."
He recounted the incident at the gym, explaining how a woman had insulted Daotok, calling him a brat. By the time he finished, Min was seething.
"That idiot! How dare she talk about Dao like that?" Min slammed her empty can into the trash. "So, what? You're still mad at that woman?"
"I'm mad at myself too."
"Why?"
Arthit ran a hand through his hair. "Dao said the past is the past, and it's not my fault. But because I was such a jerk back then, he's dealing with the consequences now. It's like when Joe's wife got harassed because of his past. I used to think Joe was overthinking things, but now I get it. I'm no different."
Min crossed her arms. "Dao told you it wasn't your fault, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then why blame yourself?"
"I don't know, Min." Arthit exhaled heavily. "You know I've never cared about anything before. But with Dao, I care. Just this once, just for him, I care more than anything. And today, he almost got hurt because of me.
What if that woman had a knife or a gun? What if I hadn't gotten there in time?" His voice dropped, thick with emotion. "I can't lose him, Min. Do you understand?"
Min's expression softened. "You're overthinking this."
"Yeah, I know I am. But I can't stop."
She squeezed his shoulder lightly. "You really love him, huh?"
Arthit didn't answer, but his silence spoke volumes.
"Have you told Dao how much this is weighing on you?"
He shook his head. "I didn't want to make him worry. He probably thinks I've let it go."
Min sighed. "You've decided he's your life partner, haven't you? Then you need to trust him, let him in."
Arthit leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "Yeah... If anything happened to Dao, I'd never forgive myself."
"Then make sure nothing happens to him."
He let out a dry laugh. "Easy for you to say."
Min's eyes gleamed mischievously. "You know, I should handle this woman. Just say the word, and I'll take care of it."
Arthit chuckled despite himself. "I don't remember her name."
Min groaned. "You're hopeless!"
After finishing his beer and venting, Arthit found himself in front of Room 702. He hesitated before knocking softly. The door opened, revealing Daotok, who immediately frowned.
"Have you been drinking?"
"You can smell it?"
"Yeah."
"But I'm not drunk."
Daotok sighed, taking Arthit's hand and guiding him to sit on the couch. Without a word, he fetched a glass of water and pressed it into his hands. Arthit sipped it, feeling his throat relax.
"What's wrong? Why are you drinking?"
"I... don't feel at ease."
"It's about the gym, isn't it?"
Arthit exhaled deeply. "Yeah." His eyes softened as he studied Daotok's concerned expression. Despite himself, he smiled. "I'm such a mess. You're the one who got targeted, yet I'm the one worrying so much I can't sit still."
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For worrying about me more than I worry about myself."
Arthit's heart clenched. "Do you ever regret choosing me?"
"No," Daotok answered without hesitation. "If I were going to regret it, why would I have chosen you in the first place?"
Arthit's grip tightened around his waist, pulling him onto his lap. "You're amazing, you know that? But even so, I don't want to let you go to someone better. No way, no chance." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Does that make me selfish?"
"You're drunk," Daotok said softly, but he didn't move away.
"I'm not."
"Whoever insists they're not drunk is definitely drunk."
"Drunk or not, even when drinking water, all I think about is you."
Daotok remained silent, his face unreadable.
Arthit rested his head on his shoulder, his voice laced with vulnerability. "I love you."
"I know."
"I love you so much. And when I thought you might get hurt today... I was terrified." His voice cracked, the weight of his emotions pressing down on him. "I can't lose you. There's only you and my dad left. I won't let either of you go. Not again."
Daotok's arms wrapped around him, his fingers threading through Arthit's hair. "I'm here."
Arthit closed his eyes, sinking into the warmth of Daotok's embrace, letting himself believe in those two simple words.