As the car moved, Toffee's eyes stayed on Artit without even blinking.
He quietly touched Artit's hand on the steering wheel.
Artit slowly glanced at him, touched his cheek, and asked, "What's wrong? Are you okay? You look…"
Artit slowed the car and parked.
He placed his hand on Toffee's forehead, starting to panic.
He took his phone and tried to call Mix, but Toffee stopped him.
"Hia, don't… I'm okay. I just… I'm worried that… that…"
Toffee's voice froze.
Artit gently touched his nose to Toffee's and said, "Then why is my baby acting like this?"
"Hia… what did you call me?" Toffee asked, blushing all over as he avoided Artit's touch.
"Baby… What's wrong with it? Do you hate it—"
Artit's eyes widened, and he muttered, "But that's what I practiced calling you for a long time…"
Toffee looked at him, as if he had heard that, and asked, "What are you talking about?"
"Forget it." Artit kissed his forehead.
"What's wrong?"
"Hia, aren't you scared to drive?"
"Is that why your eyes are red?" Artit placed a soft kiss near his eye. "I am scared to drive, but I want to do it for you."
"Hia, if you're scared, you don't have to. I know you can just be yourself…"
"Toffee, I am scared… but I still want to. You made me overcome this fear. Even if it's not completely me, I want to try. Sometimes, small changes like this make it worth it, right?"
They held each other quietly.
"You can hear it, right…?"
"I can hear it, Hia…"
"Heartbeat… heartbeat…"
Their lips brushed as they gazed at each other, remaining motionless in one another's arms as Artit watched the sun.
The sun was already preparing to set somewhere far away, spreading its last light.
As the car reached Toffee's house, the sound of it made his mother and father come outside, as if they had been waiting for him.
Even from inside, Toffee was smiling from ear to ear.
"We're late, Hia…"
"Who made us late?" Artit teased, biting his own lip.
"Hia… don't…"
Artit smiled.
Toffee got out of the car and hugged his mother.
His father sulked for a moment, then Toffee hugged him too.
Soon, all three of them were holding each other.
Watching them, Artit felt a quiet relief. He was happy. Slowly, Toffee was returning to his old self again.
He sighed, wondering, "If my parents were here, would they be happy for me?"
Artit looked at the sky. It wasn't fully dark yet, but he could see a half-moon and tiny stars, as if they were smiling at him.
"They would… I know," he thought, smiling softly.
Then Toffee's mother called him. Artit looked surprised as he walked toward them.
"Sawasdee khab, Auntie Thara, Uncle San…"
He clasped his hands together and greeted them.
Both Toffee's mother and father looked surprised.
They glanced at Toffee, then back at Artit. "Aren't you two in a relationship?" his mother asked.
Toffee opened his mouth. "Mae… how did you know…? Wow… you are really—"
"I'm not blind, my son."
She then looked at Artit, who seemed confused. "Why are you addressing us so formally? Just call us the way Toffee does."
"Can I?" Artit looked at Toffee, and Toffee nodded.
She smiled, stepped closer, and pulled Artit into a tight hug. "Thank you, my son…"
Artit didn't respond at first. He just froze.
It was the first time he had felt such warmth from anyone other than Toffee.
After his parents died, he had never allowed anyone to hold him like this.
Even Auntie Ja couldn't hug him. When Nut or Auntie Ja hugged him, he never responded.
Slowly, Artit lifted his hands and returned the embrace. A single tear slipped down his cheek.
Toffee panicked, but his father gently wiped the tear and assured him, "It's okay…"
They all shared Artit's pain, lifting a heavy weight from his heart.
After that long-forgotten warmth, they all went inside.
Toffee and his mother sat in the living room, talking, while Artit and Toffee's father went into the kitchen.
In the kitchen…
"Take that…"
"Khab… Pa… here…"
"Do you know how to cook?"
Artit touched the back of his head. "A little…"
"Oh, at least you know something. Let me tell you—never let Toffee cook. Otherwise, it will be a disaster. This is a warning from me… never. And don't tell him I said this."
He shook his head as Artit quietly agreed, while his father-in-law's "cooking lesson" began.
In the living room…
Toffee's mother looked at him carefully. "What about your medicine? Should we go to the hospital and do a full check-up?"
"Oh, Mae, stop… I'm okay. Really, I've recovered… don't worry…"
"Do you know, when we saw you lying there without any response… how scared we were, even though your father acted calm, he was the most worried…"
"We didn't know what to do… It felt like we were about to lose someone precious…"
"Mae… why are you—"
"Let me finish. Toffee, I know… I know something happened to you that can't be explained normally. I could feel it even before they told me a little."
"You don't have to tell me, and I don't want to force you… but if it becomes too hard to carry, your home is here. We are here for you."
Tears fell, and his mother gently wiped them away as they held each other.
"Thank you, Mae…"
"Don't say that… you are our son. We are always here…"
As they embraced, Artit and Toffee's father saw them from a distance and stayed still, not wanting to interrupt.
Dinner was prepared just like that.
After the small talk, Toffee guided Artit to his room.
Artit stepped inside. The walls were filled with photos of Toffee and his family.
Toffee explained the story behind each one.
"Here… this is my brother. Don't look like that, Hia. I know you already know. P'Nut told me that you know everything about me…"
Artit touched the back of his head and rubbed it nervously.
Toffee hugged him from behind. "Look at that… whenever you hide something or lie, you always touch your hair, right? Hia, it's funny to watch you…"
"Toffee, don't tease me…"
Toffee pointed at himself. "Did I…?" he said, laughing.
Artit then noticed a separate room connected to it.
It was filled with paintings, drawings, and sketches. He looked around carefully.
Among the dust-covered sketches, he saw a drawing of Toffee's ex-boyfriend.
"Why is that jerk here…"
Artit grabbed the paper, clenched it, and tore it.
"Hia, did you see my—"
Toffee entered the drawing room. Artit quickly hid the torn paper in his pocket.
"Hia, what's wrong?"
"Nothing… I was just looking around," Artit said, avoiding Toffee's gaze.
"It's dusty here—you might get sick. Come here, Hia."
As Toffee checked something on his phone and held it up to show Artit, his mother entered the room.
"Son… there's another blanket set. You can use that."
She looked at Artit with a knowing smile before leaving.
"Okay… goodnight, and don't forget to lock the door."
She left quickly, going downstairs in a hurry, while Toffee looked confused, wondering why.
Artit, on the other hand, started sweating.
"Hia, why do we need another blanket when we already have one?"
"Toffee, I'm going to freshen up…"
"Clack…" He slammed the door, muttering, "That was a close call."
Artit rushed into the bathroom, leaving Toffee still staring at his phone, confused.
After Artit came out, Toffee looked at him.
"Wow… I didn't know my brother's clothes would fit you. But isn't it a bit tight, Hia…?"
"No… it's fine."
"It's a good thing I took a pair of clothes for you before we left. That's when someone said, 'Why do you need my clothes…?'" Toffee pouted.
"Oh, Toffee… I know you secretly take my clothes to wear, right?"
"Hia, you…! I'm going…"
Toffee ran into the bathroom.
Artit smiled softly. "If we ever go on a trip, it's better if I pack more clothes of mine…"
He kept smiling at the thought—though it was only a plan, and they hadn't even gone on a trip yet.
While looking around, Artit noticed something on the table.
He walked closer to check—it was a Polaroid camera. He picked it up, trying to see if it was still working.
From behind…
The dye in Toffee's hair had almost faded, changing from blond back to black. Water dripped down from his wet hair.
"Hia… it's broken."
Artit turned back. Toffee was wearing Artit's shirt.
"Hia, I can't button it fully..." Toffee complained, tucking his wet hair behind his ear as water pooled on the floor.
Artit stood completely captivated by the sight.
"Hia... Hia..."
Artit finally snapped out of his daze when Toffee kept calling his name.
Artit looked at him. "It's already dirty. Why are you wearing it? Change it…"
"No…"
"Don't be stubborn, Toffee. It already has my sweat on it. You'll get sick…" Artit said, fighting to control the sudden heat rising in his body.
"No…" Toffee shook his head.
Artit stepped closer, trying to make him change his clothes.
His lips brushed against Toffee's damp hair, and he paused.
Artit drew in a slow breath, steadying himself.
The sound of their heartbeats grew louder.
As Artit stepped closer, the fabric of his pajamas brushed lightly against Toffee. For a moment, he didn't move.
"Toffee… you're not wearing anything underneath, right…? "
"Well… that's right…" Toffee covered his mouth. "I forgot…"
He tried to run back into the bathroom, but Artit stopped him, holding him from behind.
Artit leaned close and licked Toffee's wet neck. "You know this drives me crazy…"
His breath was uneven, and he started to sweat. "You did it on purpose, right…?"
Toffee, almost breathless, said, "Today… I didn't plan—"
Artit didn't give him a chance to finish. He carried Toffee onto the bed.
As Artit carried him, Toffee clung to him tightly, his body growing colder.
He slowly laid Toffee on the bed, his wet hair clinging to his skin. His legs were still damp, and his body was completely bare.
Artit slowly moved closer, his fingers brushing up from Toffee's feet.
Toffee's breathing grew heavier. He bit his lip.
As Artit reached to unbutton Toffee's oversized shirt, he slowed down…
"Toffee…" He touched his wet hair gently and breathed in its scent. "Can I...?"
Toffee nodded, his hand moving to Artit's face. "Yes…"
Artit whispered near his ear, "If it hurts, you can tell me. I'll stop…"
Toffee nodded.
"If it feels strange, tell me… you haven't fully recovered yet…"
"Khab… Hia, you don't need to worry. I'm okay…" Toffee said, blushing.
They looked at each other, with no space left between them.
Artit moved down, nipping lightly at Toffee's neck before kissing him deeply.
Toffee opened his mouth as Artit deepened the kiss.
The dripping sound from the bathroom echoed in the background. The windows were fully closed, and there was no breeze.
Artit quickly slipped his hand under Toffee's shirt, touching his chest and nipples. Toffee shivered at the contact.
Artit's fingers moved lower. Toffee lifted himself slightly, gripping Artit's hair tightly.
"Hia…"
Artit slowly used his tongue, then—
Toffee trembled.
His body felt cold, but inside, he was warm. A shiver ran through him as Artit's tongue didn't stop.
Artit glanced at Toffee.
Toffee brushed his lips against Artit's, then slowly moved down to his Adam's apple. He bit there gently, then moved to his chest.
Without leaving any space, he marked along Artit's neck and chest.
"You like it?" Artit asked.
Toffee pulled him closer by the shoulder, and their lips met again.
"I want water, Hia…" Toffee said, breathing heavily as he looked at him.
Artit quickly took a glass of water and helped him drink. "Are you feeling unwell…?"
"No… just my throat feels dry…"
"Hia…"
Artit looked at him with concern, but Toffee kissed him again.
A faint smile appeared on Artit's face as he leaned down, his tongue moving softly.
"Ah…" a quiet sound escaped Toffee.
Artit paused. "It's okay, right…?"
Toffee cupped his face gently. "Mm… Hia, I'm yours… and I'm okay…" He pouted slightly. "If you don't want to, we don't have to…"
"Who said I don't want to…" Artit brushed his forehead softly. "I want…"
Artit removed his pants.
Toffee looked at him, then hesitated. "It's really… wait… it's kind of scary…" He swallowed nervously.
Artit's mind filled with worry—he wondered if Toffee would get hurt.
At the same time, a quiet happiness settled in his heart.