Kao swallowed. "What do you want?"
Mok grabbed Kao's hand.
"I want..."
Another worry weighed on Mok's mind.
He was sweaty and Toffee always said Mok's scent was different from other people's.
Stronger.
Just thinking about it made him uncomfortable. If Kao could smell him, it would be embarrassing.
"I want to take a bath."
Mok finally let the words leave his mouth after taking a slow breath.
"Oh, that's what you want."
"Why are you sweating more, Kao?"
"No... I am not," Kao muttered while wiping his forehead.
Kao led Mok toward his room.
The condo was arranged simply.
Right after the entrance was a small area for shoes, followed by a luxurious glass kitchen.
Beyond that was the living room, furnished with soft pale-white couches that looked cozy and comfortable.
Large glass windows faced the balcony.
At night, the view was beautiful. A few chairs and a small garden area sat outside, though it was empty now.
There was also a spare room that nobody used, so Kao only cleaned it occasionally.
Compared to the guest room, Kao's bedroom was much plainer.
It only had a bed, a glass table, and a window that was barely open.
Kao guided Mok inside as his gaze drifted around the room.
Seeing Kao's bedroom, it didn't even suit him.
It was dark and gloomy, but Kao appeared much brighter in the photo frame on the table.
"Mok... Mok..."
"Ah... what?"
"I've been calling you."
"Sorry."
"My clothes are in the bathroom wardrobe. You can use them. There's a new towel, soap, body wash, shampoo..."
Kao continued.
"Use warm water if you want."
Noticing Mok standing there absentmindedly, he opened the wardrobe.
Mok froze.
"I hate it."
Kao blinked in surprise.
"I hate gloomy colors."
Scratching the back of his neck, Kao replied, "I usually wear these colors. There are white shirts in there too."
He pulled out one of his college shirts.
Noticing Mok's expression, he lowered it.
"If you don't like them, I'll buy new clothes. You take a bath first. I'll go and—"
Before Kao could leave, Mok caught his arm.
"Why do you always decide everything yourself before even asking me?"
"What? I..." Kao searched for the right words.
"That's because you didn't like it, so I thought..."
"That's my question, Kao. Why are you trying so hard?"
"If I don't like it, just say, 'Don't wear it, I only have this.' Why do you care so much?"
"If you lower yourself like this, no one will..."
Mok went quiet catching Kao's expression.
A trace of sadness crossed Kao's face.
"I didn't think that much, sorry. I always do it this way... but you are not them. I just..."
Kao's eyes grew slightly red.
The sight made Mok feel bad.
"I messed up. He will hate me, I am sure..."
His hand brushed lightly against Kao's waist.
Picking up a gray shirt, Mok held it up.
"I'll wear this."
Shocked, Kao let out a "Mmh."
His hands traced the gray shirt Mok had grabbed.
"You don't need to..."
Mok cut in, "Who said I don't need it? Then what will I wear? Do I have another option?" His voice was very deep and low.
A smile slowly appeared on Kao's face.
"Move."
"Huh?"
"Why are you looking at me like that? I need to take a bath."
"Get out."
A faint chuckle escaped Kao. "I am going."
Still reluctant, Kao took a few small steps away.
"If you need anything, just call me. And... maybe don't lock the door."
Only then did Kao glance back over his shoulder.
The distance between them was barely a few steps.
"What am I, a child?"
Kao shook his head. "No..."
Mok closed the gap between them.
"Then why are you treating me like one?"
His breath traced against Kao's ear, instantly turning it red.
They were so close that their noses could almost touch.
"I think we're a little too close, Kao-p..."
Mok stood completely still.
"My name... It's..." Kao trailed off.
"Is my name that bad to say?" Kao mumbled.
It wasn't that Mok disliked the name.
Quite the opposite.
The atmosphere changed as Kao's hand settled over Mok's waist, drawing him in.
Kao almost leaned closer, but Mok somehow created a small gap between them.
"Mok, is it okay if you're late for your bath?"
A grin appeared on Mok's face.
"I stink... I smell terrible."
His attention moved toward Kao's lips, making him gulp nervously.
"It's alright. I'm good at enduring things. Besides, I have a strange sense of smell, so it's completely okay."
Mok smirked.
"You're weirder the more I get to know you."
"Am I?" Kao snatched Mok by the hip.
The distance between them disappeared once again.
The shirt slipped from Mok's hand, landing beside the white shirt Kao had dropped earlier.
Kao tilted closer, breathing in the scent that lingered on Mok's shirt.
"That's a good smell... You still want to take a bath?"
Before Mok could answer, Kao lifted him and pinned him lightly against the wall.
Mok wrapped his arms around Kao's neck.
Thud!
His slippers slipped off to the floor.
Kao's fingers hurried to the buttons of Mok's shirt.
After undoing a few buttons, Kao snuggled his face into the opening of Mok's shirt and rested against his chest.
The shirt wasn't fully unbuttoned yet, but Kao showed no intention of moving away.
"You pervert..."
Kao laughed. "Then I want to be a good pervert."
Mok, still in Kao's arms, frowned.
"Put me down, Kao."
"I can't... I..."
Biting his lip, Kao struggled to find the words.
"I'll put you down."
Reluctantly, he set Mok back onto the floor.
With a smirk, Mok gave him a light shove.
Kao ended up sitting on the floor beside the wardrobe.
Mok quietly removed his shirt.
While doing so, his foot brushed against Kao's side before stopping.
The contact made Kao cover his mouth.
"You're hard."
Kao caught Mok's foot and held it gently.
"I am."
Mok moved closer, whispering right against Kao's ear.
"Oh, really?"
Even as he spoke, his hand crept toward Kao's waistband, unzipping his pants.
Kao trembled.
"Wait... Mok, don't..."
"What wait? Kao, I think you've got the wrong person."
Kao struggled to steady his breathing, his fists tightening on the fabric on the floor.
Mok glanced at his own hand and grinned.
He raised his fingers toward Kao's eyes.
"Didn't I say not to touch there?" Kao muttered, slightly embarrassed.
Their eyes locked for a moment.
Then Mok rose to his feet, took off his pants and shirt, and threw them on the floor.
"One last question. Do you want it or not?"
As soon as Mok asked, Kao's gaze dropped to Mok's legs.
"I... want..."
Mok teased Kao's chest with his bare foot before ignoring him and heading into the bathroom.
Pushing open the glass shower door, he looked back at Kao on the floor before stepping inside to turn on the water.
Running a hand through his hair, he called out,
"Hey, Pun. Come here."
Kao slowly got up.
He tried to take off his shirt.
"Don't. Come just like that."
Wearing only a shirt with the top button left open, Kao stepped toward Mok.
He entered the bathroom. The cold tiles grazed against his feet as he moved closer to Mok.
They stood beneath the shower as water poured down over them.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Their hands intertwined, and their heartbeats increased.
"Pun, take off the watch," Mok said, trailing his fingers over Kao's watch.
"Mok..."
Kao's voice was trembling.
"It will not get damaged, so can we just leave it?"
Smack!
Mok's lips dropped onto Kao's.
Mok hummed, parting his lips to catch his breath because something felt off.
Kao's hand moved across Mok's chest.
Then his lips nipped Mok's skin, teasing lightly.
"Ah…" Mok grabbed Kao's hair.
Water soaked them completely.
Kao raised his head and left a gentle kiss on Mok's forehead. Keeping his body close, he pulled Mok's hips against his.
Both naked underneath, Kao's hips slipped downward, sliding tenderly between Mok's legs.
"Kao… faster…"
Kao buried his face against Mok's shoulder.
His voice dropped. "Mok…"
He shook slightly as he held Mok.
"You're more of a pervert than I thought, Pun. Didn't you just come a little while ago? You even got it all over my legs..."
Kao smacked Mok's neck lightly.
"You also came… but for me, it's nowhere near enough, Mok…"
Their feet tangled beneath the falling water.
"Kaopun. Final question."
Mok looked at him.
"Do you really want me?"
Cold water continued pouring over them.
Mok wondered if Kao only wanted something physical, or more than that.
"Will it be over after tonight?" The question lingered in his mind.
But Kao's mind was already in chaos.
Even the slightest touch from Mok was enough to undo him.
Kao stepped forward, shut the glass shower door, and met his lips with Mok's.
One hand settled carefully at Mok's waist.
That alone answered everything.
The water poured down as they both held each other.
Later the same night, far away from Mok and Kao…
In the women's dormitory of Phassakorn College…
Someone had already finished arranging her bed and belongings.
Her long black hair was tied into a ponytail, her fair skin standing out under the warm night air.
She opened the window and looked outside.
A quiet sigh escaped her.
"Finally, I'm back…"
Her hand rested over her chest.
"Do I still have a chance?"
Bua stayed there for a moment, lost in time, before walking toward a box filled with her old school photos and belongings.
Night deepened as shadows settled over the pictures.
Her fingers traced one of them.
Suddenly, the door opened.
A voice called out. "Bua…"
She turned immediately, unsurprised.
"You're back, Bua!"
Nene stood at the door.
Bua opened her arms, and Nene rushed in, hugging her tightly while whining.
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming today?"
"Get off me, Nene…"
But Nene only hugged her tighter.
"Stop crying…"
Bua scolded her lightly, though there was no real anger in her voice. She handed Nene a bag.
"What is this?"
Nene opened it at once.
"My favorite color! I'll wear this for the college program!"
"Where did that whining baby go…" Bua muttered under her breath.
Nene kept talking nonstop, as usual.
Bua gently pressed a finger to Nene's forehead.
"Stop talking so much."
Nene froze for a second.
Then the room filled again with their familiar noise and laughter.