The breeze gently entered through the open door of Artit's room.
Artit opened his eyes slowly. He looked at his arms—Toffee was not there.
It was already morning.
Without any delay, Artit looked around the room, but Toffee was nowhere to be found.
He went out and searched all around, asking Nut, Rak, and Auntie Ja… but they didn't know where Toffee was.
After that, Artit paused for a moment, then hurried to the other mansion where he usually stayed.
He opened the door and entered the hall.
The long black curtains were drawn open, and light filled the room.
The breeze softly brushed against Toffee…
Toffee was sitting on a chair, painting. He was so immersed in it that he forgot everything.
Artit stepped in quietly, a faint smile appearing on his face.
His gaze moved to the canvas.
From behind, Artit leaned down and kissed along Toffee's collarbone.
The paintbrush dropped from Toffee's hand. He turned to look at Artit, their lips parting as they breathed together.
A silent tear fell from Toffee's eye, and Artit wiped it gently.
Artit gently pulled Toffee closer as he sat on the chair and guided him onto his thigh.
"Phi…"
"Toffee, let's paint together…" Artit said softly with a smile.
Toffee gave a small smile.
Artit picked up the brushes, and they started painting together.
The warmth in the hall grew, even though the cool breeze was still there.
Artit had already finished, but his hand still held the brush.
Sweat formed on Toffee's neck, the drops soaking into his shirt… but he was still lost in his painting.
Artit leaned in closer, brushing his lips lightly against Toffee's skin.
He whispered, "Toffee… it's sweet…"
Again, the red paintbrush fell to the ground, but Toffee had already finished the painting.
He looked at Artit. They licked their lips, the warmth between them growing.
"Ahh… Phi…" Toffee met his eyes again. Artit's hand slipped inside his shirt.
Artit's hand touched Toffee's wet chest and nipple as he whispered, "It's wet, Toffee…"
"Phi… it hurts…" Toffee kept his eyes on Artit, while Artit's gaze stayed on him.
Sitting on top of him, Toffee kissed Artit's forehead.
"Phi… I have something to say…" Toffee hesitated, his breath uneven.
He asked softly, "Phi… So… will you be my boyfriend?"
"I love you…" Toffee closed his eyes, blushing deeply.
Artit was silent. He didn't say anything.
Without thinking, Toffee spoke again, but Artit covered his mouth as Toffee lowered his head.
"…And you don't want…?"
Artit shook his head. "No… how can I not…" He sulked a little. "I wanted to ask first, but…"
Hearing this, Toffee let out a breath and lightly hit Artit's chest. "Really… you scared me…"
A soft smile returned to Toffee's face as Artit laughed.
They both laughed, realizing they had both planned to confess.
"Then… how about asking again…?" Artit said, looking at Toffee before placing a kiss.
"Mmm…" Toffee mumbled.
"Toffee, I love you. I've loved you for years. Will you be my boyfriend…?"
"Yes… I will…" Toffee blushed as Artit kissed his palm.
"Phi Artit… I also love you. Not for years, but it feels like I already belong to you… So can you be my boyfriend?" Toffee lifted his eyebrow slightly.
"Khap… I will… I will be your boyfriend…"
Artit tucked Toffee's hair back, then kissed his ear and his throat.
"Phi… wait…"
Toffee looked at the painting as Artit hugged him, and they both gazed at it.
"They look beautiful in wedding dresses, right…?" Toffee glanced at Artit, while Artit nodded with a smile.
It was the painting of Kiat and Daeng—they had drawn them together just as they were on their wedding day.
"Toffee… it's hard to forget, right…" Artit's gaze was still on the painting.
"Mm… how can I…? Because it's important… And it's also the happiest and most beautiful…"
They looked at each other.
"Phi, I have to go back… It's already been a week, I can't be absent from class anymore. I'm not that sick anymore, so…"
"Also, Mae and Pa… they really want to see me. Do you know how many times they've been video calling me? They even want videos of me eating and taking medicine…"
"I don't want to… I'm going back home…"
"Phi… Phi… Phi… are you ignoring me…?"
"Right… who am I to you, Toffee…?"
With a blush on his face, Toffee said softly, "My boyfriend…"
"Right, I'm your boyfriend… then why are you still calling me Phi? I hate it…"
Toffee crossed his arms. "Is that why my boyfriend is sulking…?"
Artit tried to keep a straight face, but he ended up smiling.
"But isn't Phi—" Artit interrupted Toffee. "Call me Hia… then I will listen to you…"
Toffee was surprised. He swallowed hard, fanning himself, and mumbled, "H… Hia…"
"I didn't hear anything, Toffee… just air…"
"Hia… Hia… Hia… okay…!" Toffee hit Artit's chest lightly.
Artit rubbed his chest and looked at him. "My Nong really doesn't like my chest, right? What did this poor Hia do to you…?" Artit pouted.
"Hia, stop… don't be like that. It's so cringe. Where did you learn it?"
"Where did I learn it? I didn't…" Artit avoided Toffee's eyes and brushed the back of his head.
Toffee picked up the red paintbrush and painted Artit's face.
"Toffee… you…!" Artit quickly painted Toffee's nose and cheek in return.
Toffee tried to run, but Artit caught him, and they both started playing with paint.
The floor was scattered with different colors as they played, until it mixed with their sweat… and they both leaned closer, sharing a soft kiss.
They played there for a long time…
Both of them were covered in paint from head to toe.
Toffee hid behind Artit's back while Artit tried to avoid Nut, Rak, and Auntie Ja.
Auntie Ja had a big, chubby but cute Orange cat—his name was also Orange.
Even Orange looked at them in disgust. Drenched in sweat and paint, they both looked like they had somehow won a war.
At full speed, both of them ran inside while four pairs of eyes followed them.
As soon as they entered, Artit locked the door without even looking.
Clack…
As Artit and Toffee entered the room, the laughter that the three of them had been holding back filled the hall…
But Orange had enough of their noise, so he walked outside to see his girlfriend.
Nut softly whispered to Rak, "Can we try painting…?"
Rak looked at Auntie Ja, who was cooking, and tugged Nut's shirt. "Can we…?"
He pulled Nut, but Nut hesitated. "Rak… she will see us…"
From inside the room, Toffee's voice could be heard.
"Hia… it's still not coming off… the paint…"
"Toffee, wait…" Artit tried to calm him.
"No… it's not…"
Nut swallowed hard and looked at Rak.
Rak shook his head. "No… forget it tonight…" He pulled Nut back and went to help Auntie Ja.
Nut looked upstairs, wondering why nothing was going his way, and sighed.
After the painting war, Artit and Toffee had trouble washing off the paint, while Nut struggled to make up with Rak.
Because Rak misunderstood Nut, thinking he was messing with him, and the Orange cat's girlfriend ran off with another cat.
Everything slowly calmed down…
Time passed, It was already a warm evening.
Toffee and Artit stood at the front.
Toffee was saying goodbye to everyone.
Rak hugged him, while Nut lowered his head to Toffee.
"Where is P'Mix…?" Toffee looked around.
Nut replied, "Mix went to the temple to see the Master."
"Oh... okay khab..." Toffee grabbed Artit's hand and asked, "Hia, when are we going to the temple?"
"Next week..."
"Okay..."
Toffee looked at Nut, Rak, and Auntie Ja. They were the ones he was grateful to…
Auntie Ja raised her wrinkled but beautiful fingers as Nut translated, "Thank you… son… Come back when you have time… Be happy…"
Toffee smiled, clasped his hands, bowed to her, and said, "Thank you, Auntie Ja…Thank you for raising Artit like this. Thank you for giving him love. Thank you for never giving up on him…"
Auntie Ja… she just stood there, tears falling… yet she looked stronger than anyone.
Artit held Toffee's hand, and their eyes met as if Toffee was saying, "I'm okay…"
Before leaving, he looked at the garden.
"Do you want to go there…?" Artit asked softly.
"Mm…" Toffee nodded.
The two of them walked while everyone else stayed behind.
Toffee took in the garden and the lotus pond.
Seeing his worried face, Artit whispered, "If you want, we can renovate it…"
Toffee gazed at Artit. "No… let it be like this. I want to see it the same every time I come here…"
Toffee closed his eyes as a warm breeze embraced him.
When he opened them, someone stood in the distance… smiling.
In his mind, Toffee called out, "Daeng…"
From afar, someone called, "Daeng… dear…" It was Kiat. Daeng smiled at Toffee and walked toward Kiat.
Seeing this, Toffee smiled.
Artit gently touched Toffee's face. "Toffee…"
Toffee met Artit's eyes.
"Why are you sweating? Are you not feeling well…?" Artit asked, worried.
Toffee hugged him. "No… it's just a little too warm…"
"Then… can we go…?" Artit asked, still worried that Toffee might get sick.
Toffee nodded. "Mm… let's go…"
One last time, Toffee looked back. Daeng was smiling as he walked away.
Toffee whispered,
"Meeting you is a blessing, Daeng… you will always be in me… but it will stay only with me… forever…"
Toffee walked forward while Artit held his hand.
"Toffee…" Artit called softly.
"Love you, Hia…" Toffee said.
Artit stopped and kissed Toffee's forehead. "Love you…"
As they walked away, Daeng slowed his steps and watched Toffee.
Seeing them together, he smiled. A single tear fell from his eye.
Kiat held Daeng's hand, and the two of them slowly vanished from the garden.
The lotuses moved gently, the orange jasmines filled the air with their scent, like a farewell...
Even the breeze felt empty… as if they had disappeared.