The transparent red candy lay beside his shoes, which were cold from the chill. He bent down and picked it up, sensing its desperate need to find some tenderness.
In his large palm, the small candy found its place. Holding it close, Kao watched the old lady who was still being scolded by her husband.
"These kids nowadays don't even have manners..."
"Dear, just stop. Everyone is watching us."
The old man hissed, turning away from his wife.
Kao walked away, heading straight toward the snack bar that had caught his attention.
On the balcony, flowers of different colors bloomed in pots filled with rich soil. The small green bushes the children used to play around stood silent beneath the direct sunlight.
"Why are you running away...?" Lowering her head, the old lady's voice broke.
"I don't need surgery. I've already lived enough." He spoke louder, but his words cracked with emotion. Leaning her head against his frail body, she spoke again. "You old man, what about our daughter? Have you thought about her? Don't you think she is pushing her wedding date forward because of us?"
"What are you saying? They can marry whenever they want, whether I'm alive or not."
"She wants you. She wants you there."
"Why are you being so stubborn? I don't want surgery. Why waste money on me? It could be used for..."
"...Her marriage." The tears he had held back for so long finally fell into his lap.
"Dear, she cares about you. She needs you there. As parents, that's our duty. She has never been a needy child. She's our sweet daughter. If our son were alive, he would scold us for doing this."
The same tears that had run from her eyes now soaked the old man's shoulders. Holding her hands, he apologized, carrying the guilt of not being able to save his own son even though it had never been his fault.
Some fathers were like that. They wore grumpy faces and spoke in harsh voices, hiding their true desires as a form of self-defense. What they forgot was that a son, a daughter, or a wife could always be waiting behind that wall. Sometimes, breaking even the smallest part of it could change everything.
Hearing everything from a few steps away, Kao pretended not to notice. Instead of leaving, he left the bag of food behind and asked a nurse to make sure the couple ate.
"Ma'am..." A tall nurse in flat shoes knelt down and gently touched the old woman's knee. "This is for you," she said, handing over a bag.
Confused, the elderly lady pointed to herself.
"Yes, for you. He mentioned he was your son..." The nurse offered a warm smile before stepping away. Together, the couple opened the bag.
"Dear, it's your favorite bun..."
"Ohh... It is..."
...
Clenching the papers in his hands, Mok sat on the hard chair, desperately wanting to cry, but no tears came.
In the quiet hallway, he spotted a familiar pair of shoes.
Lifting his head, Mok's hands tightened, then rose slightly but he felt scared—scared of what Kao might say.
Mok seemed to be holding his breath, waiting for Kao's reaction. Whether he wanted to apologize or not was up to him.
"Phi... I..." He searched for words.
"I love you, Mok..." Kao said, pulling him into an embrace.
Choking back his tears, Mok held Kao as if he never wanted to let him go. His flushed face buried itself against Kao's shoulder. He wanted to ask questions, speak, and apologize a million times, but all he could manage was, "I... love... you... Kao... I..."
Patting his back, Kao pressed a soft kiss to his neck. He knew Mok was still hiding his true feelings. Kao could feel the deep love behind his words— the genuine care that had nothing to do with guilt or duty.
Their eyes met.
Kao wiped the dampness from Mok's face and smiled. Mok lightly tapped Kao's chest, as if silently apologizing for everything. Once again, they held each other close.
Looking past him, Kao noticed the empty hallway. With Mok back beside him, the version of Kao who had just been crying and pleading was gone.
"Kao, we can skip it. Let's go back." Mok almost tore the papers. Kao stopped him, brushing his lips against Mok's forehead. "I'm ready." Resting his head on Mok's shoulder, he added, "I'm really ready."
Frozen with worry, Mok felt the air grow heavy. "Let's come tomorrow..."
"Mmh..." Kao hummed.
After taking a room at the nearby hotel, Kao went to freshen up while Mok stayed on the phone.
"Uncle, sorry. We'll come tomorrow."
"It's okay. You guys are all right, aren't you?"
No answer came.
"Mok, don't be like that. This is reality. You need to accept it. Not everything can be smooth sailing. Okay, dear? Sleep early. I'm hanging up."
"Khap..."
The call ended.
Staring at the screen, Mok's mind went blank, just like the phone in his hand.
Mok clearly felt something more than hurt when Kao left earlier.
His head rested against the wide glass window overlooking the evening city. Love was incredibly powerful; it had almost given him a heart attack. He still questioned what exactly made him love Kao so much, but he knew only he could find that answer.
Letting out a sigh, he was truly glad everything had returned to normal.
He headed into the bathroom.
It was a wide space without a speck of dust.
A glass-enclosed shower stood beside a bathtub scented with flowers.
As Mok stepped inside, a pair of curious eyes watched him from the overflowing bathtub. Only Kao's chest was visible above the water. One leg hung out of the tub, letting small drops drip onto the soaked floor.
"Are you seducing me by chance?" Mok asked as he untied his robe.
"Did I...? Why would I seduce my own boyfriend? Also..." Kao stopped scanning Mok's attire. "You're the one doing that. Letting me see your boxers and your body..."
Kao gulped, his mouth falling open.
"Your boyfriend...?" Mok parted his lips, closing the distance between them. "I only said I love you, but I never agreed to be your boyfriend."
Speechless, Kao caught the robe in his hands. "That's foul, Mok..."
Mok stared at the ceiling, completely avoiding him. Grinning, Kao quickly rose and knelt in front of Mok.
With a smirk, Mok bent down and whispered into his ear, "Did you learn that from Bua? Or have you experienced a lot of situations like this?"
With a pout Kao quickly claimed his place by hugging Mok tightly and threatening not to let go until Mok answered.
He left him with no choice.
"What are you spouting like an old man? Stop... It's tickling, Kao."
"I am kneeling, proposing to you... Agree... Mok... Be my boyfriend..."
"No..."
"Owch... It hurts... Where are you biting..."
Kao bit his man's soft hip again, making Mok scream.
"Mmh... I agree... Stop, stop biting my.... Kao... stop..."
Kao jumped and almost tripped, but he was happy. Mok was still processing whether he had made the correct decision.
Slipping into the bathtub together, Kao rested his head against Mok. He turned, gave Mok's chest a quick nip, then kissed his lips. "About what you said earlier... you're the first one."
Mok blinked twice. He wanted to know what Kao meant, but Kao was already teasing him with another kiss. Locked in each other's gaze, Mok courageously asked, "What do you mean?"
"You're the only one. I've never been in a relationship. You're my first when it comes to kissing..." Kao's hand wandered elsewhere.
After being hit lightly by Mok, Kao was pulled into his arms. Embarrassed, he clung to him for a second before suddenly pulling away and sprinting outside, leaving his body naked and wet.
Kao scratched his hair, muttering about what had just happened because everything had occurred so fast.
"Mok... Mok... Mok... What did you just do...?"
Covering his face, Mok stood at the closed bathroom door, his cheeks pink under the moonlight. He fanned himself, trying to calm down.
'I can't control my body... I... really am a pervert...'
'Damn you, Mok. So I'm the first in everything. He's mine.'
'Wait... Stop. I can't smile like this.'
He was caught in an emotional war. Little did he know that Kao was doing the same thing, looking down and thinking he was a pervert too.
...
There wasn't even a single breeze that night. All the curtains had been drawn open, allowing them to enjoy the stars and moon. A soft white glow stretched through the glass, accompanying their quiet bickering.
"How many times did you kiss me, Kao?"
"What's wrong with kissing my boyfriend? My boyfriend, my Mok..."
"Stop... It's cliché..."
"Nope... My Mok... My boyfriend... Haha.."
He said it like a child bragging about coming home after getting first place in class. Mok's mind had already gone crazy just from seeing how adorable he was, but he kept a poker face.
They shared each other's warmth.
"Can I be honest, Mok?"
Mok hummed.
"I never thought I'd get into a relationship. I always thought it was a big responsibility, and I never thought I'd like someone. I never imagined we'd be lying together in one bed or spending time with each other. It's like a dream... and I never want to wake up."
Only silence followed.
Mok peeked at Kao, but he was already asleep. Relieved, he leaned his head on the puffy pillow and shifted closer to hug Kao, but Kao just faced the other way. That broad back somehow felt lonelier than it should have.
'Why am I getting a bad feeling...?'
Mok shook his head, trying to wash away his worries. He traced Kao's skin and gave him a quiet kiss. 'He'll be okay,' Mok told himself, closing his eyes.
Both of them fell asleep, but Kao's phone kept ringing throughout the night.
...
'Too bright... and hot...' Mok groaned.
A blanket covered him along with the naked body beside him. "We didn't draw the curtains..."
Kao shook his head.
Stretching his legs, which were tangled with Kao's, Mok snuggled against Kao's neck.
"I'm hungry, but I don't want to go to the lobby. Can we eat here?" Smacking his forehead, Mok struggled to breathe beneath the blanket. Both of them stayed inside, holding each other close.
One hand reached out in search of the phone. "Don't whine. Let me check the time. We need to go to the hospital. Let me brush my teeth first."
"Mok... Give me... a peck..." Kao doesn't have a plan to stop.
Giving up, he played with Kao's hair one last time. Mok leaned closer and whispered into his ear, "Kao, you have a mole here, right behind your ear?" Biting the spot, he wanted more than a simple kiss.
A sudden heat pressed against Kao's body.
"I want..." His mind went blank. Pushing Mok away, Kao jumped out of bed.
Barefoot, he rushed toward the wall phone to order room service, pretending that was his plan all along.
Mok gave Kao a death glare. 'It's not like I didn't kiss him, so petty...' Gritting his teeth, Mok went to brush his teeth.
...
On the other side, 'That's a close call,' Kao thought in relief. If Mok started with a kiss, it didn't mean he would end there—the only way out was to slip away. Sighing, he ordered the food and waited for Mok, forgetting that he was the one who had started everything.
There was another table opposite Kao.
Their bags lay there and his phone kept vibrating.
Annoyed, Kao cut the call and switched off his phone.
"Kao... what happened?" Mok asked, walking out.
"Nothing..." He opened his arms.
Holding each other, he said again, "I love you..."
"Stop, Kao... I am getting goosebumps."
"I love you...."
"Aww.... Don't hit me.... But I really love you..."