After Ping and Keng's father finished talking, they returned to the room together.
The moment Keng saw Ping, he pulled him close to his side, his arm wrapping around him protectively, his expression suddenly serious—as if afraid someone might take Ping away again.
"You don't have to be so protective," Keng's father said with a laugh. "Ping, how can you love someone like this? He's far too aggressive about the things he cares about."
"What's going on?" Keng asked, confused, glancing between them.
"Well," Keng's mother said with a gentle smile, "your father has decided to let you both be."
"I can't lose my only son," Keng's father added, trying—and failing—to sound stern.
The moment those words sank in, Keng tightened his hold on Ping, hugging him like he never wanted to let go.
"Do you have no shame at all?" his father said, shaking his head. "You're acting like we're not even here."
Everyone burst into laughter.
"I don't think we're needed here anymore," Keng's mother said warmly. "We should leave."
"Yes," she added, turning to Ping, "we're leaving him in your hands now."
Keng didn't even notice them go—he was far too wrapped up in Ping, his world reduced to the person in his arms.
Only Ping, still half-trapped in Keng's tight embrace, managed a soft goodbye as they left the room.
After a while, Keng's friends barged in dramatically.
"Thank goodness my friend is alive!" Tao exclaimed, throwing himself at Keng in an exaggerated hug. "I thought you died!"
"Oooooiii—get off me!" Keng groaned, trying to push him away. "I might actually die if you don't let go right now."
"You can't even be romantic," Tao said, shaking his head in disappointment.
"You really scared us, man," Jinn said seriously, looking at Keng.
"Yeah," Bank added. "We're glad you woke up. If not, Ping would've admitted himself into the hospital just to take care of you."
"Senior handsome," Rain sniffed dramatically, rubbing his eyes as he rested his head on Ping's shoulder, "you made my friend suffer. Poor Ping."
"Get off me," Ping said, pushing Rain's head away.
"Oh, seriously?" Rain protested. "Have you forgotten I was there for you when senior handsome was sick? And now that he's awake, you're treating me like this?"
"Don't worry," Jinn said calmly, taking Rain's hand. "I'm here for you."
"What are you doing?" Rain asked, blushing—but he didn't pull his hand away.
"Oooooiii," Tao and Bank chorused. "Newest couple!"
"What?" Keng asked, surprised. "Are they a couple already?"
"No—we're not!" Rain quickly said, finally pulling his hand back, shy.
"Someone's shy," Ping teased, laughing.
"Ping, not you too!" Rain complained.
"Well, you did the same to me," Ping replied, sticking out his tongue.
"I did not!" Rain shouted.
"Yes, you did!" Ping shot back.
And with that, the two of them took off, running after each other around the room.
"What childish boyfriends you guys have," Bank said, shaking his head.
Everyone smiled, watching the grown boys chase each other—laughing, alive, and finally at peace.