The morning sun shimmered over the calm waters, reflecting golden hues across the beach. Karan, barefoot and slightly sandy from yesterday's chaos, jogged along the shoreline, trying to clear his mind before breakfast. The wind tugged at his hair, the waves crashed gently at his feet, and for the first time in weeks, he felt… **at peace**.
Or at least, he thought he did.
A shadow fell across the sand. He glanced up and froze.
"Fancy seeing you here," Arthit said casually, hands in his pockets, sunglasses shielding his eyes. The sunlight caught his hair, making him glow against the backdrop of the sea.
Karan's stomach tightened. He hadn't expected to **see him here**, especially not on a trip that was supposed to be family-only, carefree, and **Arthit-free**.
"I… didn't know you were here," Karan said, trying to keep his voice steady.
Arthit smiled faintly, a knowing glint in his eyes. "I like surprises."
Karan's pulse quickened. Memories of that night — the kiss, the confession, the struggle — flickered through his mind. He looked away, focusing on the waves, hoping the ocean would wash away the tension building between them.
---
Awkward Beginnings
"Careful! Don't run into a crab," Korn shouted from a few feet away, holding a bucket in one hand.
Karan jumped slightly, and Arthit's eyes flicked to the younger brother. A faint smirk tugged at his lips. *Family… chaotic, adorable, alive,* he thought. The contrast with his own carefully curated world made him feel… restless.
"Who's your friend?" Korn asked innocently, tilting his head.
"I… I'm not anyone," Arthit said smoothly, though his gaze never left Karan.
Karan groaned inwardly. "Korn! Don't ask questions," he hissed, though a part of him couldn't help noticing how effortlessly Arthit handled even a kid's curiosity.
---
Private Conversation
Later, while the family prepared breakfast on the beach picnic table, Karan stepped aside to help his father with the portable grill. Arthit followed silently, closing the distance between them.
"Karan… you look… distracted," Arthit said, leaning against the post of the canopy. His voice was low, intimate, almost teasing.
Karan stiffened. "I'm… not distracted. Just… focused," he said tersely, flipping a pancake.
Arthit tilted his head, eyes scanning Karan's face. "Focused… on what? Cooking… or avoiding me?"
Karan paused, spatula mid-air. His ears burned. "I'm not avoiding you," he said firmly.
Arthit stepped closer, so close Karan could feel the heat radiating from his body. "Good. Because I don't do being ignored," he said, a hint of challenge in his tone.
Karan's heart raced. "I'm not… ignoring you. I'm… living my life."
Arthit's gaze softened slightly, almost vulnerable. "And yet, every choice, every thought, seems to lead back to me."
Karan's hands trembled slightly, flipping the pancake with more force than needed. "Don't… make this harder than it already is," he muttered.
Arthit's lips curved into a small, dangerous smile. "Harder? Oh, Karan… we haven't even started yet."
---
Sparks Amidst Chaos
The morning sun climbed higher, and the beach became livelier. Korn and Nova built sandcastles nearby, occasionally launching a sandball at each other, while Mrs. Kim called everyone to eat.
Karan and Arthit stood just a few feet apart, the tension between them almost palpable.
"I don't… understand you," Karan said finally, voice quieter now, almost a whisper. "One moment, you kiss me, confess, and the next… you just appear, teasing me here?"
Arthit's expression softened, but the intensity remained. "I don't expect you to understand. I just… need you to feel what I feel. And if that scares you, good. It should."
Karan swallowed hard, heart pounding. "You… you're impossible."
Arthit smirked. "And yet… you can't look away."
Karan's cheeks heated. "Stop saying that."
"I won't," Arthit said simply, his gaze fixed, unwavering.
---
Funny Interruption
Just then, Korn ran over, squealing. "Karan! Look! I trapped a crab in my bucket!"
Karan groaned, rubbing his temples. "Korn! Not now!"
Arthit chuckled quietly, watching Karan's flustered state. He stepped forward, kneeling slightly to look at the bucket. "That's… impressive. But careful. He looks dangerous."
Karan blinked. "Arthit… don't—"
Arthit's playful grin and calm demeanor made Karan's heart stutter. Korn laughed, oblivious to the silent storm building between the two.
---
The Confession Resurfaces
After breakfast, while the family explored the beach, Karan and Arthit found themselves walking along the shoreline, side by side. The ocean stretched endlessly before them, waves crashing rhythmically — a perfect backdrop for a conversation that neither wanted, yet both needed.
"Karan… about the night we kissed," Arthit began, voice low, almost pleading.
Karan's jaw tightened. "There's nothing to talk about. You have your life, your engagement… and I have mine."
Arthit stopped walking, turning to face him fully. "Do you really believe that? Do you think I care about her? About a photoshoot, a contract, appearances?"
Karan looked away, gripping his arms around himself. "Then… why… all of this? Why me?"
"Because," Arthit said, stepping closer, "I've tried… everything else. Everything else is predictable, manageable, controllable. But you… you're fire. You're chaos. You're… me at my most honest, most unguarded. And I can't stop wanting you."
Karan's heart pounded, mind spinning. "I… can't… get involved. I can't ruin anything. I have to focus…"
"You focus on your career," Arthit said gently, his voice a whisper, "and I'll fight for us. When the time is right… I'll make sure you don't have to choose."
Karan looked into his eyes, feeling the intensity, the longing, the undeniable pull between them. He didn't answer. He simply kept walking, leaving Arthit behind by the water's edge, frustrated but determined.
---
A Promise in Silence
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, the family gathered around a bonfire. Laughter, music, and the scent of grilled seafood filled the air. Karan smiled genuinely, the warmth of family and the beauty of the beach grounding him.
But as he sat by the fire, staring into the flames, he couldn't ignore the memory of Arthit — the kiss, the confessions, the intensity, the fire in his gaze.
Arthit, standing at the edge of the gathering, watched him quietly, the flickering light reflecting off his sharp features. No words were spoken, yet a silent promise lingered between them: **their story was far from over.**
The waves continued to crash, relentless and untamed, much like the desire, tension, and unspoken love growing between Karan and Arthit. And though the night was calm, both knew that **the tides of their hearts were only beginning to rise.**
---
End of Chapter 9 — Tides of Desire