Toffee stood still, his fingers playing with Artit's shirt.
Artit leaned closer, brushing his lips against Toffee's ear.
"We are already late."
Hearing that, Artit pulled him closer by the waist, their bodies touching.
"Hia," Toffee called softly.
Artit hummed. "What's wrong?" He lifted his gaze from Toffee's ear to his face.
"I'm done, let's go." Toffee glanced at him as Artit brushed his lips against Toffee's lips.
Their breaths mingled. Their lips parted slightly to take a breath, and both giggled.
"Let's go." Artit held his hand, and they went downstairs.
They ate breakfast while the table was filled with stories from Toffee's mother. Toffee's father laughed, teasing his wife, but eventually stopped, as if a little afraid.
They were ready to leave.
"Mae, let's hug again."
"Come here." She held him close.
"Toffee…" She touched his face. "Make sure you eat properly, especially vegetables. Don't buy too many drinks from outside. Take your medicines and sleep well, okay? Call us if anything happens."
"Khab, Mae. Love you." He hugged her again. Then she gently turned to Artit.
"Artit, come here…" He stepped forward, and she held him too. "You are just like my Toffee. You have a home here. Come here if things get too hard." Her voice almost broke.
"Mae." Toffee called softly, rubbing her shoulder.
She wiped her tears and held Artit's hand. "Don't forget to eat and sleep well. And, son, don't spoil Toffee too much."
"Mae…" He called again.
"Paa."
Toffee clung to his father. His father sighed, "Oh, now you remember you have a father?"
"Pa… not you too."
His father grabbed his cheek lightly. "Come with me."
While Artit and Toffee's mother talked near the car, his father pulled Toffee inside. They went to the kitchen, and his father brought out a container filled with their favorite food.
"Pa, when did you cook all this?"
"Oh. I couldn't sleep, so I prepared it. You have to eat everything. He is treating you well, right?"
"Mm…" Toffee nodded with a small smile, staring at the wounds on his father's fingers.
His father patted his head. "Just like he treats you well, you should treat him the same. He's a good one. Well done, my son."
"Pa..." Toffee looked away shyly.
"Okay, okay, I'm not teasing you."
"Pa is happy that Artit loves you. I don't need to know everything about your life. It's enough that you are happy and healthy.
But if things get too hard, we are here.
If it is something that makes your mother worry, come to me. You know I'm strong—you can tell me anything." His father's eyes turned red.
"Pa." Toffee's smile faded. He hugged him tightly.
"It's almost time, go." His father held back his tears, hugging him.
"Mae, Pa... I'll come back when I have time. Don't worry, bye."
Artit added, "We'll come again. Don't worry, I will take care of him. Bye, Mae, Pa."
"Drive safely. Don't rush." They waved until the car disappeared from sight.
They stood at the gate.
"Toffee is growing up, right!" she said softly.
"Mmm… it feels like just yesterday when I played with him as a child."
"Our children are growing up, if only Krit were here."
She took his hand and held it.
"Honey, how about calling Krit again?"
"No, I already tried. Not even a single response." He looked into the distance.
"Then how can we know if our son is doing well?" she said, her voice rising with worry.
"He is probably busy. He is our son—he will be alright," he said, comforting her.
Both of them stood there, sharing the same concern.
In the car…
"Baby, let me pull over." He reached out and wiped Toffee's face as silent tears fell.
Toffee was holding the container tightly.
"Hia… don't… I'm okay… it's just…"
His voice broke as he wiped his tears. "I'm okay."
Artit nodded back. "Mm… tell me if you want a hug." Artit glanced at him.
"Hia, you're driving."
Artit smiled. "I forgot!"
Toffee widened his eyes. "Really, Hia?"
The car entered the dorm. Artit parked, and they went inside.
Artit carried Toffee's things in one hand, and with the other, he held Toffee's hand.
Toffee's eyes stayed on Artit without even blinking.
Artit glanced at him. "You're sweating..." He tried to let go of Toffee's hand to wipe his face, but Toffee didn't allow it. His grip tightened.
"Toffee, let me…"
Without listening, Toffee shook his head. "I won't let go," he lowered his head like a sad puppy.
"I'll wait in the car. I'll drop you for your afternoon class, then I'll come and pick you up."
"Really… you'll wait?"
"Mm, I will." Artit brushed his lips against Toffee's hair.
"If I don't wait, then who will?"
Toffee felt relieved.
"I'm not going anywhere, so why are you scared?"
"I'm not scared. I just don't want to let go." Toffee murmured.
Artit kept a straight face. "I don't want to let go either… can I just hold him like this forever…" he thought.
"Hia, the elevator... it's open."
"Let's go."
"Floor 3..."
They got off and walked toward the room, stopped in front of the door.
The hallway was quiet. Neither of them wanted to go inside. They just stood there, staring at each other.
At that moment, someone opened the door from inside. Toffee got startled and looked at Artit.
Mok stood there. "Surprise." He opened his arms, trying to hug Toffee, but Toffee ignored him.
"Oh… Toffee, you just hurt me," he said, placing a hand on his chest.
Then suddenly, "Sawadee khap P'Artit," he greeted.
Artit greeted back. "I'll be waiting for you downstairs." He ruffled Toffee's hair.
Mok took the things from Artit.
Still, their hands remained tightly held. They gazed at each other, not wanting to let go.
"What did I do in my life to witness this love?" Mok wondered as he forcefully separated their hands.
Artit was too stunned to speak.
"P'Artit, I think it's better if you wait outside." Mok said with a small smile.
Artit forced a smile. "I will."
He muttered, "Aren't you supposed to support me?"
"You're making this difficult. I think it's better if you both..."
Mok and Artit exchanged a stare.
"Can you two just stop?" Toffee interrupted, frowning. "It's scary… why are they both smiling like that… Hia's smile is nice, but why does it feel scary now? Someone help me…"
"Hia, bye. I'll come after I change." Toffee quickly pulled Mok inside while Artit left.
Toffee hit Mok's shoulder lightly. "Mok, don't be rude."
Mok stood stunned, his mouth open. "Toffee…" He pinched Toffee's cheek.
"Ahh…" Toffee cried out.
"You've changed, oh my God, really." Mok spoke in disbelief.
On the other side of the bed, Lamon slowly woke up, rubbing his eyes.
"I think I heard Toffee." he mumbled.
Lamon froze when he saw him. Tears fell as he rushed from the bed and hugged Toffee tightly.
"Mok, you liar, didn't you say he wouldn't come," he cried, his voice breaking.
Mok adjusted his glasses. "Did I…" he said, avoiding him. "Shit I forgot..." Mok looked away awkwardly.
"I was so scared, I couldn't even sleep." Lamon cried, breathing heavily, rubbing his red nose.
"Lamon… don't cry…" Toffee held him gently. "Look, I'm okay, I'm fine."
"Don't cry, don't cry…" Toffee repeated softly until Lamon slowly calmed down.
Toffee wiped his tears. "Everyone came to see me. I didn't even know. It's my fault for not knowing."
"You…" Mok raised his voice. "You can just sleep peacefully like that, do you know how many of us…"
His voice stopped. "How scared we were to even look at you…"
"Thank you, I didn't know, I just… slept…"
He let out a breath, "I met someone, I saw a story, I saw them cry, laugh, and love… I even felt their cold bodies. It's hard. I don't want to remember, but I can't forget… it's something I have to carry…" Toffee looked out through the window.
"You've changed, Toffee." Lamon said softly. "You're still the same, but something feels different around you…"
"Is it bad?" Toffee looked at them.
"No." Lamon smiled, Mok nodded as well.
"Oh, I forgot…" Lamon wiped his tears. "Toffee… were you scared when you fell?"
Toffee paused...
"I don't remember much. I only remember falling into the water, after that, nothing."
"It was scary," Mok interrupted. "Really scary."
Lamon struggled to breathe. "Why?"
"The pond isn't even that deep… but when I tried to swim, it felt endless. I almost caught your hand, then something grabbed me."
Lamon moved closer to Toffee, hiding behind him.
"Mok, don't scare him…"
"Toffee, I'm serious… It was the lotus roots... How can they be that strong? I still don't understand."
"You're okay, right?" Toffee asked with concern.
"I'm okay, don't worry…" Mok said, reassuring him.
Lamon whispered, "It's scary."
Toffee gave a small smile as he comforted him, but his thoughts drifted.
"Is it dangerous? If he didn't want to harm anyone and only wanted me, then why did he try to attack Mok? Forget it, I've closed that chapter… That's right. Daeng and Kiat's story has ended, this is my life now..."
"Toffee," Lamon called, pulling him out of his thoughts.
"Mm." Toffee glanced at both of them and looked around. "I really missed this."
He lay down on the bed. Lamon lay beside him. Both of them started giggling.
"Really, are you both forgetting me?" Mok jumped onto the bed.
The sudden movement made Toffee and Lamon almost fall off the bed.
"Mok, you—!" they shouted at the same time.