Daotok carefully lifted Waralee and placed her gently back into her tank, ensuring the lid was securely fastened before stepping away. His eyes flickered toward the clock, and he noted that it was time to get ready for class. He had planned his morning efficiently, having enough time to grab breakfast and walk to campus. Although an alternative had been offered— the use of Arthit's car or motorbike—he had politely declined.
He wasn't comfortable using other people's vehicles, especially something as big as a motorbike that he had no experience riding. Borrowing a car felt even worse. It just wasn't in his nature to rely on someone else's things if he could help it. With that thought lingering in his mind, he made his way to the bathroom.
Even after days of staying in Arthit's room, the space still felt unfamiliar to him, making his morning routine slightly awkward. The bathroom, in particular, felt foreign—every movement required extra thought, and each item felt out of place in his hands. He showered quickly, dried off, and dressed in his usual attire before grabbing his backpack from beside the sofa. A quick check ensured he had everything he needed for the day, and with the keycard in hand, he stepped out, locking the door behind him.
Thanks to the convenience of modern technology, Daotok rarely had to carry physical textbooks anymore. His professors uploaded all lecture materials to the class Facebook group, allowing him to rely solely on his tablet for notes. It made things simpler. He never had to worry about forgetting something important, and thankfully, when Arthit had retrieved his belongings, his backpack was among them, fully stocked with everything he needed.
As he made his way to campus, he passed the medical faculty—one of his usual routes—where he had been roped into a morning run. The memory was still fresh in his mind, and as he walked, he considered his predicament. If he was forced into running every day, he could only see two possible outcomes: either his body would adjust, and he'd grow to like it, or he would start to resent running, mornings, and the medical faculty as a whole. He could only hope for the former, for the sake of his sanity.
Before reaching the university grounds, he stopped at a small street-side food stall to grab a quick breakfast. The lack of a personal motorbike wasn't much of an issue, as campus shuttles were available. His classes proceeded as usual, uneventful but necessary, leading up to the evening when he had to attend art club. Daotok braced himself as he walked toward the clubroom. He knew, without a doubt, that the moment he arrived, he would be bombarded with questions about Arthit.
It was inevitable, and while he wasn't in the mood to entertain their curiosity, avoiding it completely was out of the question. As he stepped into the clubroom, he was caught off guard. Everyone was already there. Usually, he was the first to arrive.
"You're late today," Easter greeted him with his usual cheerful tone.
North was slumped over the table, seemingly deep in sleep, while Typhoon was sketching idly. He glanced up when Easter spoke, his gaze landing on Daotok. "Huh, you're all early today."
"We're on time. You're the one who's late."
"Oh."
"Why are you late? Did your professor keep you back?" Easter asked curiously.
"No, I didn't bring my motorbike," Daotok replied simply.
"Huh? Why not?"
He hesitated, unsure of how much North had already shared with Easter and Typhoon. Instead of answering directly, he stepped forward and shook North's shoulder, attempting to wake him. "North, wake up."
The response was immediate but lazy. "What the hell?" North grumbled, swatting Daotok's hand away without even opening his eyes. It was clear he hadn't even registered who was trying to wake him. Though, if it had been his boyfriend, he probably would have responded differently.
"He's always sleeping," Easter commented with amusement. "Even on the way here, he made me carry him to the club. No idea why he's so tired."
Daotok merely nodded. He had a pretty good guess—it was likely the morning run that had drained North's energy. Even he felt drowsy from the exercise.
"North, wake up!" Easter suddenly shook him harder, far less patient than Daotok.
"Ugh, you jerk! I'm trying to sleep," North snapped, voice muffled against his arms.
"Yeah, well, wake up!"
"No! I'm tired, you idiot! Tired people need sleep, moron."
Easter smirked. "I'll call P' Johan and tell him you've been napping during class."
"Go ahead. P' Johan naps during class too."
Easter's expression fell. "What the hell?" Frustrated, he resorted to a more effective method—he reached over and tickled North's side.
"Dammit, Ter! What the hell are you doing? I almost fell off the chair!" North shot upright, glaring at him.
"There, you're awake now."
North groaned, rubbing his face. "You're so annoying. Why'd you wake me up anyway? The professor's not even here yet, right?"
"Because Dao called you."
North blinked, turning to Daotok. "Oh, so just because he called me, you had to tickle me? I almost pissed myself, you idiot."
"Gross," Typhoon muttered, wrinkling his nose. His reaction earned him a flick to the forehead from North.
"Gross? What's your problem? Never almost peed yourself before?"
"Never. Blah! You always resort to violence. I don't want to play with you anymore."
"You're lying. Every kid has been there at least once."
"Not me. When I was a baby, I didn't even wear diapers. I crawled straight to the toilet after I was born."
"Cat, you're so full of it."
"No, I'm not! I'm not lying either," Typhoon argued, sticking his tongue out at North, who groaned.
"Ugh, someone grab me some scissors. That tongue is driving me nuts."
"Enough," Easter cut in, shaking his head.
"It's always like this when we're together. Now, what was it you wanted to talk about, Dao? I completely forgot."
"Oh, I was going to have my fortune read," North answered.
"I've been waiting for you, Dao."
"And yet, you swatted his hand away earlier. You ungrateful jerk," Easter snorted.
"Next time, poke me with a stick if you don't want to hurt your hand," North muttered.
Daotok sighed before getting started. "Alright, let's do this. No fire today— just your birth date."
North smirked. "Works for me."
As North recited his birth date, Daotok jotted it down and began cross referencing it with his notes, preparing to unravel his fortune for the day. Daotok shuffled the tarot cards in his hands, the familiar rhythm calming him as he glanced up at North.
"Looks like work or studies might not be going smoothly for you right now," he said, scanning the drawn cards. "But your love life is steady and harmonious. That's impressive, North. Have you been doing merit-making?"
North grinned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not exactly, but whenever I pray or chant, I always wish for good things for P' Johan and for us to have a smooth relationship."
"P' Johan's not Buddhist?" Easter asked curiously.
North shook his head. "Nope."
"Then what religion does he follow?" Typhoon chimed in, tilting his head.
"It's not just P' Johan. P' Arthit isn't Buddhist either. Guess what he follows."
"Christianity, for sure," Easter guessed.
"Nope."
"Islam? No, probably not," Typhoon added.
"Wrong again."
"The Bacon Cult?" Typhoon smirked.
North snorted. "That's possible, but no."
"Then what is it?"
"He believes in himself."
Easter groaned, rubbing his temples. "Excuse me, but what kind of person believes in themselves like it's a religion?"
Daotok wasn't surprised. From the moment he heard Johan wasn't Buddhist, he had assumed Christianity, but it never quite fit. Someone like Johan didn't seem like the type to respect anyone but himself—so full of confidence that it was almost infuriating.
"Yeah, it's not shocking, right, Dao?" Typhoon nudged him, and Daotok nodded in agreement.
"What about P' Hill?" Typhoon turned to Easter.
"Just a regular Buddhist."
"P' Tonfah?"
"Buddhist too, but he likes studying other religions. Once, he even took me to a church because he wanted to learn more about different beliefs."
"That's so P' Fah," North chuckled. "Like an empty glass, always ready to be filled with new knowledge. Anyway, what's my fortune say next?"
Daotok glanced at the cards again. "Your luck is still pretty bad, as usual. Weren't you wearing that bracelet I gave you?"
North's grin turned sheepish. "Uh... I lost it. Can I get a new one, please?"
Daotok shook his head. "Nope. There was only one. Your luck might get worse this month. Be cautious of someone close to you. He might bring you trouble."
North immediately turned to the others, eyes wide. "Hey, you guys!"
"Not anyone here, and not your partner," Daotok clarified, rolling his eyes. North had never been the luckiest person, but his optimism often balanced it out. "Just be careful. And don't pick up anything weird."
"What if I find money on the ground? Can't I pick it up?"
"Pick it up and return it to the owner."
North nodded rapidly. "Oh, yeah, right. Of course! Return it to the owner. Anything else?"
"No, that's it. Ter, do you want me to read yours?"
"Yeah, sure," Easter said, giving his birth date.
Daotok studied the cards and smirked. "Ter, you'll have the chance to meet new people who bring positive things into your life, but only in a friendly way. Your love life is stable, no arguments for now. As for work or studies, everything will go smoothly. Your professors might even go easy on you."
Easter gasped. "That's so true! Just the other day, I submitted an assignment to the strictest professor, and he barely criticized my work. Meanwhile, my friends got roasted alive. Dao, you're so accurate! Cat, you should give it a try."
"No thanks," Typhoon refused flatly.
North snickered. "Not this again. Cat hates fortune-telling. He says he doesn't like knowing too much."
"By the way, why is Ter's fortune so good while I'm struggling with work? I have a presentation tomorrow, and I'm doomed."
"It might not be as bad as you think," Daotok reassured him. "Just go back and prepare thoroughly. If you do your best, the professor won't have much to critique. Don't rely too much on fortune-telling."
North pouted. "Why is a fortune-teller telling me not to rely on fortune telling? That's so weird. You've never read your own fortune, have you? Is your love graph skyrocketing?"
"I don't read my own fortune," Daotok said simply. "I'd rather not know what's coming. It's more exciting that way."
North considered that for a moment before nodding. "That's an interesting take. Anyway, where's the professor? Still not here?" "He'll come. He's always late."
"Before we got sidetracked, weren't we talking about something else? Oh yeah! The thing with P' Thit and Dao. That's today's main topic, isn't it?" Typhoon said, bringing everyone back to the earlier subject. Daotok sighed, already regretting staying in this conversation.
"Oh, right! North mentioned that P' Thit likes Dao, then immediately fell asleep. So, what's the story?" Easter pressed.
"I couldn't believe it when I first heard. I thought I misheard. I was frozen for ten whole seconds."
"True! I can confirm. Ter completely shut down," Typhoon added.
"What about you, Cat?" Daotok asked.
"Shocked. That's P' Thit we're talking about. And this is Dao. You both have celestial names, sure, but one's the day and one's the night—you're complete opposites."
"That's a good metaphor," North mused.
"But shooting stars can appear during the day too. You just can't see them because the sun's too bright... and too hot. Damn sun, still this hot even though it's winter." Daotok sighed.
"Yeah, our names really complement each other."
"It kind of works,"
North continued. "P' Thit is fiery, while Dao is calm. A perfect balance of opposites."
"Really?" Easter scoffed.
"Someone as wild and over-the-top as him? That's not balanced at all. But how did he even start liking you? P' Hill once said P' Thit is as far from love as you can get."
"Yeah, exactly! And I'm going to snitch," North declared.
"He went to a massage parlor."
"With P' Joe," Easter added.
"And me," North admitted.
"It was a normal Thai massage, okay? Three hundred baht."
"Really? A Thai massage?" Typhoon narrowed his eyes.
"Yeah, but there were bad things too, you know?" North said, turning to Daotok.
Daotok smiled slightly. "It's not about that. I just don't like him."
"Then why bring it up if the conclusion is that you don't like him?" Easter looked at North skeptically.
"He started it!" North huffed. "The day he confessed, he held Dao's hand and wouldn't let go. He asked if Dao didn't like it, and Dao said he didn't like him. "
"Why would he set himself up like that?" North frowned.
"Who confesses just to be rejected?"
"So you rejected him?" Typhoon asked. Daotok nodded.
"Didn't he feel bad?"
"Didn't show any signs of it."
"Dao, 'I don't like you' won't faze someone like him," North said, shaking his head. "If you really want to get to him, you'd probably have to tie him to a chair and toss him into the ocean."
Daotok arched an eyebrow, turning to his friends with an incredulous look. "Isn't that a bit extreme?"
"Well, punching him wouldn't hurt either—not when you're this small," North quipped, grinning. "Even hiring people to gang up on him might not work. P'Thit is famous for being a fighter. I heard that when they drew his blood, the needle almost melted. He's that hot-blooded."
"Wow, what is he, some kind of modified human?" Easter blurted out, earning a chuckle from North. Typhoon, who had been listening intently, leaned forward.
"Anyway, what happened after you rejected him? Tell us everything, starting from when he confessed. I really want to know what he did." Since Easter insisted, Daotok exhaled and began recounting everything— how Arthit had threatened to break his door down, how he had hugged him, grabbed his hand and refused to let go, confessed his feelings, ignored Daotok's rejection, kissed his forehead without consent, and even forced him to stay in his room. Silence fell over the group. For a moment, no one said anything.
Then North burst out laughing, looking utterly entertained, while Typhoon and Easter exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions a mix of concern and disbelief. "What the hell? That's next-level, man," North said between laughs. "What kind of person confesses and then forces someone to stay with them? Not even a little white lie to soften the blow—he straight-up admitted, 'I took your keycard. There's no spare because the office is closed for three days.' He planned everything!"
"Yeah, I don't want to criticize, but that's just... yeah," Easter added before letting out a loud laugh.
Meanwhile, Typhoon sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "Still, Dao is a perfect match for this. He's so good at staying calm and indifferent."
"True," North said. "Imagine someone courting you the normal way—like chatting on Line or setting up casual meet-ups. All my friends would fail miserably."
"So, should I be accepting P'Thit's methods of courting Dao?" Easter asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"You're really all in on this ship, aren't you?" Typhoon teased, smirking at North.
"Of course! Once I board a ship, the captain always sinks with it," North declared proudly.
Daotok narrowed his eyes. Did North mean that he was the captain of this ridiculous ship? "Then Dao, just jump ship already,"
Easter sighed, exasperated. "And who would stay? Dao, of course. He's like an Easter egg—every ship he boards reaches its destination,"
North said excitedly. Daotok frowned. "Me?"
"Yes, you. Who else?" North grinned.
"Easter, the one who never lets a ship sink once he's on board."
"So, are you going to support them, Ter?" Typhoon asked, turning to him. Easter looked at Daotok for a moment before shrugging.
"If my friend is okay with it, I'll support it wholeheartedly. But, seriously, everyone, just look at Dao's face. Has he given up on life or something?"
"Uh, this is my normal face," Daotok replied flatly.
North burst into laughter again. "See? It's normal! Now, come on, everyone, let's cheer for my brother. We're sailors of this ship—let's row this boat together!"
"I like that phrase," Typhoon mused.
"Even you, Cat?" Easter groaned.
"Honestly, if you ask me whether I'd cheer or not, I'd say... I don't know. Dao is someone you can't really push into anything, you know what I mean?"
"Why are you talking like Dao isn't sitting right here?" North asked.
"Or are you hinting that having him here is like having no one at all?"
"No, no," Easter quickly denied.
"I'm just saying that everything depends on P'Thit. North, all this effort you've been putting into hyping him up—has it worked?"
"Not at all."
"Exactly. It feels more like a raft than a boat. One person is paddling furiously, while the other is just lying there, maybe even dipping his feet into the water for fun."
"You mean I'm the one dipping my feet into the water?"
"Of course."
"Oh, I see." North grinned.
"You're just like that." Daotok sighed, shaking his head as North continued his dramatic sulking, hugging his knees like a pouting child.
They continued chatting and teasing each other until their club advisor arrived, signaling the start of their activities. By the time the club meeting ended, the sky had darkened, and everyone prepared to head home. Easter, North, and Typhoon hopped onto their motorbikes, while Daotok lingered behind.
"Are you sure you don't need a ride?" Easter asked, looking a bit concerned.
Daotok shook his head. "I feel like taking a walk."
"Alright. Be careful."
"I will. You all drive safely too. North, make sure to drive carefully."
"Why single me out?" North whined.
"Because you're a reckless rider. You like to speed."
"Vroom, vroom!" North pretended to rev his bike but held the brake so it didn't move.
Daotok smirked before waving them off. Once they were gone, he put on his headphones and started strolling through campus. He wasn't lying—he did want to take a walk. But more than that, he wasn't quite ready to go back to his condo yet. His feet led him to the university's reservoir, where people jogged, played guitar, and took photos. The crisp evening air felt refreshing, and the fading sunset cast a golden hue over the water.
He found a quiet spot near the bridge—one Typhoon had once said was a romantic place to propose. As Daotok sat there, letting the atmosphere calm his mind, his headphones suddenly buzzed with an incoming call. Without checking the caller ID, he pressed a button and answered.
"Hello?" The moment Daotok answered his phone, a deep, irritated voice rang through the receiver.
"Where are you?" The sharp edge in the tone made it clear who was on the other end. There was no need to check the caller ID; he could tell Arthit was in a foul mood.
"I'm on campus," Daotok answered calmly.
"North said you're walking back. Why didn't you take a car?"
"I didn't want to trouble anyone." A heavy sigh came through the line.
"Dammit. You walked to class?"
"I used the campus shuttle," Daotok reassured him.
"Well, at least that's something. Where on campus are you now?"
"At the reservoir."
"There are two reservoirs."
"The older one." A pause. The irritation in Arthit's voice softened just slightly. "What are you doing there?"
"..."
"No more questions. Stay there; I'll come pick you up."
"It's fine. I'm staying here a little longer."
"Then I'll come stay with you."
"No need. I want to be alone."
"Yeah? Well, I'll come and be alone with you." The call ended before Daotok could protest. He exhaled, pressing his phone against his forehead for a moment.
There was no point in arguing. Once Arthit had made up his mind, there was no stopping him. Accepting his fate, Daotok leaned back, soaking in the quiet night while he still could. Minutes passed before he spotted a tall figure approaching from a distance. Even in the dim light, Arthit stood out—his height, his presence, the natural confidence in his stride. Others noticed him too; he was the kind of man people couldn't help but stare at. When his sharp gaze locked onto Daotok, his pace quickened.
"Not worried about mosquitoes?" Arthit asked as he settled down beside him.
"They're not biting," Daotok replied, his voice steady.
"How long have you been here?"
"Since around five."
"It would've been easier if you'd taken a car."
"I didn't want to."
"Stubborn." Daotok didn't bother responding to that. A comfortable silence stretched between them, only interrupted when he spoke again. "What are you doing here? Enjoying the scenery?"
"Yeah."
"And my snake, what's her name—Waralee? She didn't bite you, right?"
"No, she didn't." "Good. So, how long are you planning to stay?"
"A little while longer."
"Move over." Daotok glanced at him.
"Why?"
"I'm going to lie on your lap." Before Daotok could react, Arthit waved his hand dismissively as if to shoo him over. Then, without hesitation, he stretched out, resting his head against Daotok's lap like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Your clothes will get dirty," Daotok pointed out, eyeing the ground beneath them.
"I can wash them."
Daotok sighed. There was no arguing with him. The weight on his legs felt unfamiliar, an odd sensation that left him momentarily stiff. He lowered his gaze slightly and found himself meeting a pair of keen, dark eyes despite the dim lighting.
"Interesting angle," Arthit commented. "What are you listening to?"
"The same playlist as usual."
"Let me listen too." Daotok hesitated but handed over one of his earbuds, already knowing resistance was futile.
"Why lie down here? It's dirty."
"Because I want to rest my head on your lap," Arthit replied without a care.
"Hey."
"Hmm?"
"I like this. You smell nice."
Daotok swallowed. "Uh... okay."
"How was class today?"
"It was normal."
"Really? My case presentation this morning was a total disaster. Rounding in the ward was exhausting too. Why didn't you reply to my texts?"
"I didn't feel like it."
"At least reply sometimes. I'm waiting, you know." Daotok stayed quiet. His hand unconsciously brushed against soft strands of hair, but he quickly stilled himself. "Good thing it's winter; otherwise, the mosquitoes would be unbearable. Do you know why there aren't many mosquitoes in winter?"
"No idea," Daotok answered softly.
"Hey."
"What?"
"Why do you like me?" The question came out of nowhere, catching Arthit off guard. He took a moment before responding.
"That's a question I can't answer. I told you, it just has to be you."
Daotok's lips parted slightly, but he found himself at a loss for words. He let out a quiet breath. "Someone else would've probably said yes by now."
"Yeah, maybe."
"It's exhausting for nothing."
"How many times are you going to say that? It's not exhausting, alright?"
"I don't get it."
"That's your problem."
"It's going to get even more exhausting, you know."
"Is that so? How exhausting? Like climbing Everest or swimming across an ocean?"
"Maybe as exhausting as that."
"Perfect. Climbing Everest or swimming across the Atlantic are also on my life goals list. So, don't tell me it's exhausting for nothing because it's definitely not for nothing." Daotok exhaled.
"Give me your phone," Arthit said, holding out his hand. He had no choice but to hand it over. Arthit typed something, and soon, the music changed. A new song began playing, one that Daotok didn't recognize. If I got down on my knees, and I pleaded with you. If I crossed a million oceans just to be with you. Would you ever let me down? If I climbed the highest mountain just to hold you tight. If I said that I would love you every single night. Would you ever let me down?
Daotok blinked. "What is this?"
"This is the first time I've shared a love song with someone," Arthit murmured, lying on Daotok's lap. He reached out, took Daotok's hand, and pressed a soft kiss to his knuckles. The simple action, combined with the song's lyrics, sent Daotok's heart into an erratic rhythm. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt like this. "And I mean every word of the song," Arthit whispered.
Daotok swallowed hard, his voice barely audible. "It's a beautiful love song."
Arthit chuckled softly, squeezing Daotok's hand. "Yeah. Just like you."