After that night,
everything changed.
The same house
was no longer the same.
It wasn't just a place anymore.
It had become
a controlled space.
Phat could feel it
from the very morning.
The housemaids walked past more often.
There were more footsteps in the house.
Even the driver
looked at her longer than usual.
As if everyone
knew something.
And the clearest of all—
Panop.
He never brought it up again.
But he didn't let her go.
"What time do you finish today?"
"In the evening."
"I'll pick you up."
A normal sentence—
but not a coincidence.
"It's okay, I can go back myself."
"I said I'll pick you up."
His voice wasn't loud.
But there was no room to refuse.
Phat fell silent.
As if everything
had already been decided.
At the office,
everything looked the same.
But it wasn't.
Phat walked through the lobby.
People around her seemed normal.
But to her—
it felt like someone was always watching.
Kan stood farther away,
talking about work,
just like usual.
His eyes
never turned toward her.
Just like yesterday.
Like every other day.
As if nothing
had ever happened.
Phat's chest tightened.
But all she could do
was walk past him.
As if he were just
another person.
That evening,
Panop's car was waiting.
Right on time.
Phat got in.
There were no words at first.
Only silence.
"Did you see him today?"
The question came without warning.
Phat paused.
"…I did."
She didn't lie.
Because she knew she couldn't.
"And?"
The next question.
"It was the same as always."
A short answer.
Panop nodded slightly.
He didn't ask more.
But the atmosphere in the car
grew heavier instantly.
"That's good."
he said.
"That's how it should be."
Those words
closed every door.
That night,
there was no sound from the balcony.
No one came.
Not even hope.
Phat sat on the bed,
her phone in her hand.
The same name
was still there.
But she didn't dare press it.
Because she knew—
this wasn't just about her anymore.
There were eyes.
People.
Family.
Watching.
She stood up
and walked to the balcony.
She pulled the curtain aside.
Darkness.
Still.
No shadow.
No one.
Phat stood there.
The night breeze passed by.
But this time,
it wasn't cold.
It was heavy.
As if telling her
everything
had truly changed.
She closed her eyes.
Kan's image
was still there.
But the distance—
it had grown farther.
So far
it was almost out of reach.
And this time,
it wasn't because he didn't come.
But because she
could no longer
let him come.