Part 16

The next morning, the sun filtered through the thin curtains of Longtai's bedroom, casting a soft glow over the room. Longtai stirred under the covers, his body heavy with sleep and his head pounding. His hair was a mess, sticking out at odd angles, and his eyes were swollen and puffy from the hangover. His mouth was dry, and his throat felt scratchy as he slowly blinked his eyes open, squinting at the brightness of the room.

He groaned, his hand flying to his forehead as the throbbing headache made itself known._What the hell happened last night?_ He sat up slowly, the world tilting slightly as he did. The room was spinning just a little, the remnants of the alcohol still swirling in his system. His body felt like lead, heavy and sluggish, as if he'd been hit by a truck. He rubbed his temples, trying to remember how he'd ended up in his bed.

That's when it hit him. He was in his bed. He didn't remember getting here.

Longtai glanced around his room, disoriented. His heart started to pound a little faster, panic creeping in as his mind tried to piece together the events of the night before. His last memory was at the party-Yok, Emma, the shots. He remembered the music, the laughter, and then-his stomach sank-he remembered leaning on Yok as they left. But how did he get here?

And then the flashbacks started to hit him like a freight train.

Longtai's eyes went wide as bits and pieces of the night began flooding back, like puzzle pieces falling into place, each one worse than the last. He remembered Yok holding him up, his arm around him, guiding him to the door. He remembered leaning into him, feeling the warmth of Yok's body against his own. And then-oh God-he remembered sitting on his couch, drunk out of his mind, clinging to Yok and asking the stupidest question in the world.

Why do I want to kiss you right now?

His face went bright red in an instant, the embarrassment washing over him like a tidal wave. He could feel the heat crawling up his neck, spreading across his cheeks as the rest of the memory came rushing back-the way he'd pulled Yok closer, the way he'd actually kissed him. And Yok had... _kissed him back_

"Shit," Longtai muttered, his voice muffled as he buried his face in his hands. "What the fuck did I do?" His heart was racing now, and his headache felt even worse as he groaned in frustration. He collapsed back onto the bed, his head hitting the pillow with a dull thud as he tried to drown in the sheets.

He cursed again, grabbing the pillow and pulling it over his face. The overwhelming embarrassment clawed at him, making his whole body feel hot with shame. He couldn't believe he'd actually done that-he'd actually kissed Yok. And worse, he'd done it while he was drunk, after all the careful effort he'd put into hiding how he felt, how much he liked Yok. And now... he had just thrown himself at him.

Longtai groaned louder, pressing the pillow tighter against his face as if it could somehow smother the shame. "I can't believe this... I'm such an idiot..." He felt like his entire body was on fire, a mix of humiliation and regret churning in his stomach. He couldn't even imagine facing Yok now._How was he ever supposed to look him in the eyes again?_

"I need to leave the country," Longtai muttered, his voice muffled under the pillow. "I need to move... somewhere far away. Maybe Europe. Or... or Antarctica." He groaned again, flipping onto his stomach and burying his face deeper into the bed. The thought of seeing Yok again, of having to deal with the aftermath of his drunken confession and that kiss, was too much to bear.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" Longtai cursed softly into the mattress. His mind was racing, every embarrassing moment from the night replaying on a loop in his head. He couldn't believe he had been so bold, so stupid. How could he have let his guard down like that? He had been trying so hard to keep his feelings for Yok hidden, to not let it show, and now... now he'd ruined everything.

Longtai peeked out from under the pillow, staring at the ceiling. The hangover was bad enough, but the weight of the embarrassment was suffocating. "I can't go outside. I can't face him." His voice was a low whisper, almost as if saying it out loud would somehow make it worse.

Maybe he could just stay in bed forever. Hide under the covers and never leave. Or maybe he could pack his bags and move to another country like he'd just said. Start fresh somewhere far away where no one knew him or his stupid drunken actions. Anything would be better than having to face Yok again after what he'd done.

"I'm never drinking again," Longtai mumbled into the pillow, his face still flushed with embarrassment. His mind was racing with a thousand thoughts, all of them centering on the same thing-Yok. What had Yok thought? How had he reacted after the kiss? Longtai had been too drunk to remember the details, but now he was consumed with worry about what Yok might think of him.

_I'm screwed,_Longtai thought, groaning into the pillow one last time. He closed his eyes, willing the ground to swallow him whole. But no matter how much he tried to hide, he knew that eventually, he would have to face the consequences of last night.

---

Yok stood in front of the mirror, staring at his own reflection with an intensity that made the room feel smaller. His hair was still damp from the shower, water droplets slowly trailing down his bare chest, glistening under the soft bathroom light. His hands rested on the edges of the sink, knuckles white as he leaned forward, letting out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.

His eyes flicked to his lips in the reflection, and instinctively, his fingers traced over them-his mind immediately flooding with memories from the night before. He could still feel it, the way Longtai's lips had pressed against his. The sensation lingered, as though it had burned itself into his skin, soft yet intoxicating. _God, he kissed me_

He ran a hand through his damp hair, his heart thudding faster in his chest at the thought. Last night had been a blur of emotions, Longtai clinging to him, pulling him close, their faces so near that he could feel every breath, every tremor of Longtai's body. Drunk Longtai had been bold-too-bold. The memory of that clumsy, heated kiss sent a rush of warmth through Yok's body again, causing his pulse to quicken.

He closed his eyes, remembering the way Longtai's hands had wrapped around him, the soft but insistent grip. The vulnerability in Longtai's eyes had almost been too much for Yok to handle. It was like Longtai, in his drunken state, had stripped away all the layers he usually kept hidden. He'd been raw, open-completely different from the quiet, reserved Longtai Yok had come to know.

Yok cursed under his breath, gripping the edge of the sink harder, his gaze lowering to the floor. "Fuck... what if I hadn't stopped him?" The thought lingered in his mind, dangerous and tantalizing. If he hadn't pulled away, if he hadn't reminded himself that Longtai was drunk, there was no telling what would've happened. Yok wasn't sure he would've been able to hold back. He had wanted more-he still wanted more.

His hand moved from his lips to his chest, his heart pounding beneath his skin. The heat of the moment had made him reckless, even now just thinking about it made him feel weak. The sight of Longtai, so close, so vulnerable-looking up at him with those beautiful almond eyes-had stirred something deep inside Yok, something he had tried so hard to ignore.

_I wanted him,_ He couldn't deny it anymore. He had wanted more than just that kiss, and the fact that he had to stop himself, to put distance between them before things went too far, left him feeling conflicted. He had practically run out of Longtai's apartment last night, his mind a mess, needing space before he did something he would regret.

But the worst part was, he didn't regret the kiss.

Yok stared at his reflection again, frowning at the man who looked back at him. His lips pressed together in a thin line as he remembered how Longtai had looked-how his face had been flushed from the alcohol, his lips slightly parted, breathless. The way he'd clung to him, like he needed Yok to steady him. And the way Longtai had whispered, so close to his face, asking if he could kiss him.

Yok exhaled sharply, his hand gripping the counter. _Fuck, why did he have to ask that?_

He didn't trust himself. Not in that moment. Longtai had been too close, too tempting, and if Yok had given in... if he hadn't stopped him... who knows where it would've ended? He wanted to protect Longtai, to be the friend he needed, but in that moment, all he could think about was how much he wanted him.

Yok's fingers ghosted over his lips again. He could still feel the kiss, clumsy yet filled with a yearning that left Yok breathless. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts, but the memory was too strong. His body reacted just thinking about it.

"Shit..." Yok muttered, running a hand down his face in frustration. He couldn't stop replaying the scene in his head. Longtai had been so bold, so unlike himself. He wasn't sure if Longtai remembered anything, but if he did, what would he say? What would his reaction be?

The thought made Yok's stomach twist. Would Longtai regret it? Would he be embarrassed? Maybe he would laugh it off and pretend it didn't happen. Or maybe he would avoid Yok altogether. Yok wasn't sure which possibility scared him more-the idea of Longtai pretending it meant nothing or the idea of him being too embarrassed to face him.

Yok let out a long breath, staring at the mirror. _How do I even face him after this?_ He needed to know if Longtai remembered. He needed to know how Longtai felt about all of this, about him. But at the same time, Yok wasn't sure if he was ready to hear the answer. If Longtai regretted it, if he didn't feel the same way... Yok didn't know what he would do.

But one thing was clear. Yok's feelings for Longtai had become impossible to ignore.

His eyes narrowed at his reflection, the tension in his body still lingering from last night. _I have to know,_ he thought to himself, but the fear of ruining everything hung heavy over him. One way or another, things had changed. That kiss had changed everything.

But right now, all Yok could do was wait. Wait to see if Longtai remembered. Wait to see what came next.

And that terrified him.

---

Longtai sat at his desk in the classroom, his head resting heavily on his arms as he stared blankly at the notes in front of him. The words blurred together, a jumble of letters that made no sense. His mind was a chaotic whirlpool of thoughts, each one dragging him deeper into a spiral of embarrassment and anxiety. _How am I supposed to face Yok after last night?_he pondered, biting his lip as he felt the heat rise to his cheeks.

What would he even say? Would Yok pretend it never happened? The very thought made Longtai's stomach twist. Or worse, what if Yok brought it up casually, as if it were no big deal? Longtai could feel his heart racing at the possibility, and he huffed loudly, unable to contain the frustration that had been building inside him.

The sound echoed in the otherwise quiet classroom, drawing the attention of his classmates. Heads turned, and Longtai could feel the weight of their gazes on him. His embarrassment shot through the roof as he suddenly became hyper-aware of how he must look, his cheeks burning hotter than the sun. _Great, just great. Now everyone's staring at me,_he thought, wishing he could disappear into the floor.

"What's going on, Longtai?" the teacher asked, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. The entire room fell silent, all eyes trained on him, and he felt like he was under a spotlight.

"Uh, nothing!" Longtai replied, trying to wave it off, but his voice came out strained. He hated being the center of attention, and he was acutely aware of how awkward he must seem, looking all flustered and out of sorts. He forced a smile that felt more like a grimace and quickly returned his focus to his notebook, pretending to write something down, anything to distract from the embarrassment washing over him.

"Okay, if you say so..." the teacher replied, looking mildly skeptical but choosing to continue with the lesson. Longtai sighed in relief but could still feel the eyes of his classmates boring into him.

Meanwhile, in another classroom, Yok sat at his desk, doodling absentmindedly on his notepad. His pencil moved fluidly across the page, sketching out a half-formed dragon intertwined with flowers, but his mind was elsewhere-focused on Longtai. _What's going on in that pretty head of his?_ he wondered,

Yok felt a pang of concern as he remembered how drunk Longtai had been last night. He hoped he wasn't feeling too terrible this morning. He had already grabbed some hangover medicine before heading to class, stashing it in his pocket, thinking he might swing by and check on Longtai after school. He just needed to know how he was doing.

As he doodled, Yok's thoughts drifted back to the kiss they had shared. The memory made his heart race-Longtai's breath against his lips, the softness of his touch. He couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between them, and he wanted to know if Longtai felt it too. But what if he didn't? What if Longtai wanted to pretend it never happened?

A deep frown formed on Yok's face as he contemplated these questions, the pencil in his hand growing still. He wanted to reach out, to make sure Longtai was okay, but he also didn't want to overstep. The tension hung in the air, thick and heavy, and Yok couldn't help but feel like he was on the precipice of something important. He just had to find the right moment to talk to Longtai, to see how he really felt.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Yok's heart skipped a beat. He gathered his things quickly, determination surging within him. He needed to see Longtai, needed to find out if they could face this together. He pushed through the throng of students, making his way through the crowded hallways, his mind racing with possibilities.

Back in Longtai's classroom, as the bell rang, Longtai glanced at the door, half-expecting Yok to walk through at any moment. The anxiety twisted in his stomach again. _What if he doesn't come?_ Longtai thought, his heart sinking at the prospect. He couldn't bear the thought of seeing Yok act as if nothing had happened, of pretending that everything was normal.

As he tried to focus back, his mind kept drifting to the worst-case scenarios. What if Yok acts like nothing happened? Longtai imagined him grinning that warm smile, casually asking how he was, while all Longtai wanted to do was crawl under his desk and hide. Or what if he brings it up? The mere thought of having to confront it made his stomach twist. He could always lie and say he didn't remember anything from last night, but that felt deceitful.

He bit his lip, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of his notebook. _What if I just lie and say I don't remember anything?_ He could play it off, act like he was fine, but that would mean continuing to hide his feelings, to deny what happened. The internal struggle felt unbearable.

With a shaky breath, Longtai pushed himself up from his desk, determined to leave the classroom. He could handle this. He would just act like nothing was wrong. He took one step toward the door when he caught a glimpse of Yok moving through his classroom already, his heart racing, seeing Yok now.

Longtai's heart raced as he watched Yok move through the classroom, his confidence wavering with each step Yok took closer. _I can't face him. Not now._ Panic surged within him, and without thinking, he slipped off his chair and crouched low under the table, pressing himself against the cool floor. The edge of the desk provided a sliver of safety, the familiar scent of dust and wood enveloping him like a blanket.

He held his breath, hoping that Yok wouldn't spot him, praying that the chaos of students flooding out would drown out the sound of his heart hammering in his chest. _What am I doing?_he thought frantically. _This is ridiculous!_ But the shame of what happened last night pressed down on him, making him feel small and vulnerable. Hiding felt like the only option, a temporary refuge from the storm of emotions swirling inside him.

From his hiding spot, he could see the hem of Yok's jeans as he walked past, the soft chatter of students filling the air around them. Longtai's fingers fidgeted with the edge of his notebook, the rough paper grounding him in this moment. _Just let me be invisible for a while,_ he thought, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Longtai?" Yok's voice rang out, filled with concern. The sound sent a shiver down Longtai's spine. He bit his lip harder, determined not to make a sound.

"Maybe he left already," Yok murmured to himself, turning back to the classroom door, looking like he might head out in search of Longtai. The relief washed over him like a tide, but it was short-lived.

Just as Yok started to leave, Lain, one of their classmates, sauntered over to Longtai's desk, peering under the table. "What are you doing down there?" she asked, arching an eyebrow, her curiosity evident.

Longtai froze, his mouth dry as he scrambled for words. "I was, um, looking for my pen," he stammered, the excuse sounding flimsy even to his own ears.

Lain's expression shifted to one of disbelief. "You're looking for a pen under the table? Seriously?"

Before Longtai could reply, Kai, another classmate, joined in, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes at Longtai. "Come on, man, are you hiding?"

"No!" Longtai shot back a little too quickly, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. He was acutely aware of how ridiculous he must look, crouched in a ball under the desk.

"Looks like it," Kai teased, leaning down slightly to get a better look at him.

Lain rolled her eyes. "We need to finish the group assignment tomorrow; the deadline is approaching. You can't just hide under here."

Longtai shifted uncomfortably, his thoughts racing. _They can't know what happened. I can't let them know._ "I'm not hiding!" he insisted, his voice a mix of panic and defiance.

"Then come out," Kai said, his tone teasing but with a hint of seriousness.

Longtai hesitated, torn between the need to stay hidden and the inevitable pressure to face the situation. He let out a heavy sigh, realizing he couldn't stay here forever. Slowly, he inched out from beneath the table, his heart still racing as he faced his classmates.

"See? No big deal," Lain said, a smile playing on her lips. "You're being dramatic."

Longtai forced a smile, trying to shake off the embarrassment that still clung to him. "Yeah, sorry,"

Kai clapped him on the back, laughter in his voice. "Who were you hiding from? Well anyways, Next time, just ask for help instead of hiding. We got your back, okay?"

---

Longtai sat in the study room with Lian and Kai, their group assignment finally completed after hours of discussion and revisions. Lian was tapping her pen against her notebook, satisfied with their progress.

"Well, that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," Lian said, stretching her arms over her head with a tired smile. "We actually make a pretty decent team."

Kai chuckled, leaning back in his chair, "Yeah, decent... until next time when we procrastinate again and freak out the night before."

Longtai managed a small smile, though his mind was elsewhere, distracted by thoughts of Yok. He kept glancing at the clock, wondering if Yok had already left the campus.

"You okay, Longtai?" Lian asked, noticing his distant expression.

"Hmm? Yeah, just... tired," he said softly, closing his notebook and slipping it into his bag.

"Same," Lian sighed. "Let's get out of here before we're tempted to stay and work on more projects."

They all gathered their things and started walking out together. As they left the study room, Lian and Kai continued chatting, and Longtai quietly listened to their conversation, though his mind wandered.

"You know," Kai said, nudging Lian, "I heard Professor Saowaluk is extending the deadline for the final project."

Lian scoffed, "Oh, thank god. I swear, she wants us to lose sleep over her class."

Longtai nodded absently, half-listening to their banter. His eyes scanned the hallway ahead, his pace slowing slightly. He was hoping Yok had already left, and the thought of bumping into him was causing a knot of anxiety to form in his stomach.

Longtai's steps faltered when he spotted a familiar figure up ahead, leaning against the wall, casually looking down at his phone. Yok.

His eyes widened, and his heart skipped a beat. His face flushed, and he quickly glanced around, trying to think of a way to escape before Yok saw him.

Lian and Kai, noticing his sudden change in demeanor, exchanged confused glances. "Longtai, what's wrong?" Kai asked.

But Longtai was already in panic mode. He crouched slightly, trying to make himself smaller, and quickened his pace, hoping to pass by unnoticed. His heart pounded in his chest, and his fingers gripped his bag tightly.

_Just get past him,_ he thought, his eyes darting around for an exit.

But before he could make it past, his plan backfired. He bumped into someone directly in front of him.

Longtai looked up, dread filling his chest, and there he was-Yok, standing right in front of him with a smile.

"There you are," Yok said, his voice warm and casual, though his eyes were focused on Longtai with that familiar, piercing gaze.

Longtai's eyes darted to Yok's lips, and in an instant, the memories of their kiss flooded back into his mind. _Shit._His face turned red, and panic took over.

"I-I forgot something in the classroom," Longtai stammered, barely looking at Yok before turning around and walking quickly in the opposite direction.

"Longtai, wait!" Yok called after him, following with a light jog.

Longtai's heart was racing as he sped up, but his focus on escape was so intense that he didn't see the pillar directly in front of him. He walked straight into it, his forehead colliding with the hard surface with a dull thud.

"Ow..." Longtai muttered, staggering backward, his hand pressed against his forehead. Before he could regain his balance, his legs gave out and he slid down to the floor.

Yok rushed over, kneeling beside him with a worried expression. "Are you okay?!" Yok asked, his hands hovering near Longtai but not quite touching him, unsure if he should.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine," Longtai muttered, utterly embarrassed, rubbing his forehead as he tried to get up.

Yok's worry turned into light frustration. "Watch where you're going, Longtai. You can't just run off like that! Seriously, what's going on with you? You've been ignoring me all day."

Longtai couldn't meet his eyes, still too flustered from everything. His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he fumbled to answer it, glad for the distraction.

"Hello?" Longtai said, pressing the phone to his ear.

"Where are you?" Tain's voice came through. "I'm here at the university, picking you up."

Longtai's eyes lit up with relief. "I'm just... near the library. I'll be there in a second," he said, shooting up from the ground with newfound energy.

Yok watched him curiously, a slight frown forming. "Who's that?"

"My friend, Tain. He's here to pick me up," Longtai said, not even giving Yok time to respond before grabbing his bag. "I've got to go. I'll see you around, Yok."

Before Yok could protest or say anything further, Longtai bolted down the hall, leaving Yok standing there, frustrated and more confused than ever.

As Longtai rushed toward the entrance to meet Tain, his mind raced with thoughts of what had just happened. He couldn't believe he had almost run into a pillar to avoid Yok, and now, his heart was still pounding from the encounter.

---

Longtai sat across from Tain at their usual spot in the café, idly stirring his drink while letting out a soft sigh. His hair was falling into his eyes, and his gaze kept shifting toward the entrance, hoping Yok wouldn't show up. He had been ignoring him for days now, avoiding every corner where Yok might be, practically doing mental gymnastics just to escape any possible run-ins. It was a silly routine, and he knew it. But the memory of that kiss-it was haunting him.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Tain asked, eyeing him over the rim of his coffee cup. He had noticed Longtai's faraway expression for the past few minutes.

Longtai let out another sigh, fidgeting with the straw in his drink. "Yeah, I'm fine... just tired."

"You don't sound fine," Tain commented, a bit of concern flickering in his eyes. "How's your health been lately? You haven't mentioned being sick for a while."

Longtai perked up slightly at the question, glad for the topic shift. "I'm good, actually. Haven't felt sick these past few weeks."

Tain's expression softened into a relieved smile. He set his coffee cup down and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "That's great to hear. I was starting to worry you'd end up with another cold."

He glanced at Longtai's face, clearly reassured. His body language relaxed, his posture less tense now that he knew Longtai was in better health.

At that moment, Longtai's phone buzzed. He pulled it out and checked the screen-another message from Yok.

Yok: Are you going to keep ignoring me? Again?

Longtai groaned internally and nearly banged his head on the table in frustration, only stopping at the last second. He let his forehead rest against his hand instead, his hair flopping in front of his eyes.

Tain raised an eyebrow. "Okay, seriously. What's bothering you?"

Longtai hesitated, then mumbled, "Tain... what would you do if someone kissed someone by mistake because they were drunk?"

Tain leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Wait, you kissed someone?"

"No!" Longtai quickly lifted his head, his eyes wide in denial. "No, I didn't kiss anyone. I was just... asking, you know, for a friend."

Tain wasn't convinced and gave Longtai a playful smirk. "Oh, so now it's 'for a friend,' huh? Sure, sure. Totally believable."

Longtai's face flushed slightly. "I'm serious. It didn't happen to me!"

Before Tain could press any further, Phupha arrived with another round of drinks, setting them down on the table. He looked between the two, sensing the tension in Longtai's face. "What's going on here?"

"Tain thinks I kissed someone, but I didn't," Longtai said quickly, trying to dismiss the whole thing.

Phupha raised an eyebrow, his protective instincts immediately kicking in. "Wait, what? Longtai kissed someone?"

Tain grinned, leaning back in his chair with a teasing glint in his eyes. "That's what I'm trying to figure out, Phupha. He won't tell me who."

Phupha crossed his arms and stared down at Longtai, giving him a stern, almost parental look. "Who was it?"

Longtai's eyes widened in horror. "No one! I didn't kiss anyone!"

Phupha wasn't having it. "Was it a girl? Or was it-" He paused for a second, raising an eyebrow, "-a guy?"

Longtai's face turned bright red as he waved his hands in protest. "It wasn't anyone! Stop asking!"

Tain leaned forward, still grinning mischievously. "I mean, you did say 'for a friend,' but the way you're acting right now makes it seem like it was definitely you."

Longtai buried his face in his hands. "I'm telling you, it wasn't me!"

Phupha shook his head, still suspicious but not wanting to push too hard. "Tain, leave him alone. He's clearly embarrassed." Then, turning to Longtai, he added, "But if someone kissed you-or you kissed them-I need to know who it was. I don't want you getting hurt."

Longtai peeked through his fingers, feeling overwhelmed. "It's... complicated."

"Complicated, huh?" Tain quipped, leaning his elbow on the table. "Was it a good complicated? Or a bad complicated?"

Longtai groaned. "Can we drop this, please?"

Tain smirked again. "Fine, fine. But one last question-are you sure it wasn't me you kissed?"

Longtai lifted his head just enough to give Tain a deadpan stare. "Tain, I would never."

Tain and Phupha both burst out laughing, unable to resist teasing him further.

Phupha, still grinning but a little more serious, added, "Look, if you ever need to talk about it, just know we've got your back, alright?"

Longtai managed a small, grateful smile, but as his phone buzzed again with another text from Yok, he sighed, knowing this awkward situation was far from over.

--

As the car came to a slow stop in front of his home, Longtai unbuckled his seatbelt and waved goodbye to Tain and Phupha. Phupha leaned out of the window, giving him a small nod. "Take care of yourself, alright?"

"Yeah, I will. Thanks for the ride," Longtai replied with a faint smile, trying to sound more casual than he felt.

Phupha lingered for a moment longer, his gaze slightly more protective than usual, before driving off. Longtai stood on the sidewalk, watching the car's taillights disappear into the distance. Once they were gone, he let out a long, shaky breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, his shoulders sagging under the weight of the thoughts he had been trying to suppress all day.

He looked up at the sky, its fading evening light casting a soft glow over the neighborhood. But his mind was far from peaceful. Phupha's earlier question kept playing in a loop in his head.

_"Was it a girl? Or was it... a guy?"_

The words echoed, bouncing around in his brain, refusing to leave him alone. A sinking feeling settled in his stomach as he considered what that meant-what it meant for him. For Yok.

He swallowed hard, his thoughts spiraling. _I kissed Yok. Yok is a guy._ The realization hit him again, this time with more weight. He had been so caught up in the moment, in the haze of alcohol, that he had almost forgotten.

But now, sober, he couldn't stop thinking about it.

Longtai's fingers curled into fists, a lump forming in his throat. He started to walk slowly toward his front door, but each step felt heavier than the last. His mind was pulling him back, dragging him into memories he had buried deep.

Flashback:

The image flickered like an old film reel—grainy and blurred, every detail just out of reach. A face loomed in the haze, familiar but distorted, like it was trying to escape recognition. The voice that followed was sharp, cutting through the fog like a blade.

"I'm done with you, Long."

The words echoed in the hollow space, ringing in his ears long after they'd been spoken. The memory twisted and warped, dragging him to another moment—another piece of the shattered puzzle. A figure loomed over him, their grip tight on his shirt, knuckles digging into the fabric as they smiled. It wasn’t a real smile, just a mockery, a cruel thing stretched across their face.

"Did you really think this was real?"

The words weren’t just spoken; they pierced. Shards of glass lodged in his chest, each one a reminder of the betrayal, of the lies that had been whispered in moments of warmth. The memory was fractured, incomplete, like a torn photograph, but the pain... the pain was clear. It burned brighter than any image, sharper than any voice.

And then, he was alone—abandoned, staring at a figure who had once promised everything and now only left him with the cruelest of rejections.

Silence.

The scene faded, leaving nothing but emptiness.

-

Author's Note:

"Longtai may be a cutie, but his mind is always racing with overthinking and insecurities. Keep reading to see how he navigates it all!"

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