It didn't happen in just one night.
Panop had been noticing for a long time.
The strange sounds from the balcony.
The lights left on late at night.
The change in Phat's expression.
And most importantly—
her eyes.
A look he recognized.
Because he had seen it before—
in himself.
That night,
he didn't knock.
He walked upstairs slowly,
quietly,
as if he meant to.
This time,
he didn't call her name.
He simply stood at the door—
then pushed it open.
What he saw
made him stop.
Phat stood near the balcony.
And another shadow—
pulled back immediately.
Fast—
but not fast enough.
Panop saw.
Not clearly—
but enough.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Kan stood at the balcony.
Phat froze.
No one spoke.
But everything
was already clear.
"Leave."
Panop's voice was calm—
but cold.
Kan looked at him.
He didn't step back immediately.
"P'—" Phat began.
"I said leave."
This time,
his voice was heavier.
Kan's hand clenched.
His gaze didn't waver.
But in the end,
he chose—
to step back.
He climbed out,
just like always.
But this time,
it wasn't the same.
The door closed.
Only the two of them remained.
"Explain."
One word.
Heavy.
Phat stood still,
her heart pounding.
"I…"
The words caught in her throat.
There was no simple way to explain.
Panop looked at her—
for a long moment.
"Since when?"
The question was direct.
Impossible to avoid.
She didn't answer.
"I asked—since when?"
His voice was still calm,
but clear.
"For a while."
The answer was soft—
but it admitted everything.
Panop closed his eyes slowly,
as if holding something back.
"Do you even know what you're doing?"
Phat pressed her lips together.
"I do."
"And you still did it."
Silence.
The answer didn't need to be spoken.
Panop let out a quiet laugh.
There was no amusement in it.
"Act like strangers during the day."
"Let him climb in at night."
Each word
pressed down harder.
"This is what you chose?"
Phat lifted her head.
For the first time,
she met his eyes.
"I didn't choose it."
That made him pause.
"It just… happened."
Her voice trembled.
"And you let it happen."
Panop replied immediately.
"Even though you knew how it would end."
Silence grew heavier.
"He's not someone you can have a future with."
The words were clear—
and harsh.
"I know."
"I know exactly where someone like him would take you."
Phat clenched her fists.
"You don't know everything."
She spoke.
For the first time—
she argued back.
Panop went still.
His gaze shifted.
"Then do you know how this ends?"
She fell silent.
Because she didn't.
And that—
was the answer.
Panop let out a slow, heavy breath.
"I'm not stopping you because I hate him."
His voice softened slightly.
"I'm stopping you because I don't want to see you break."
Those words made Phat freeze.
"I'm not broken."
"You already are."
The answer came instantly.
"From the moment you let him in like this."
Tears gathered in her eyes.
But she didn't cry.
"End it."
A command.
Short.
Final.
"P'…"
"I'm not asking."
He cut her off.
"I'm telling you."
Silence pressed down on everything.
"End it with him."
That sentence
cut through everything.
Phat stood still.
Her chest hurt.
Not because she was being scolded—
but because she knew,
this time,
she might really have to choose.