A pair of wrinkled fingers trembled.
"Auntie Ja is saying, 'Visit again... Don't forget I'm here...'" Kao translated, pulling Mok a little closer.
"Kha..." Clasping his hands, Mok bowed respectfully.
Just then, Rak emerged from the kitchen carrying a food container, his back already drenched in sweat.
"Rak... Did you prepare this?"
Handing it over, Rak tilted his head with a warm smile. "You're heading back to the dorm, right? Make sure you eat it all."
He patted Mok's shoulder affectionately.
While everyone exchanged final goodbyes, Kao slipped away toward the car to load the luggage.
As they walked outside, Rak murmured softly, "Do you really need to leave today...?"
Mok shook his head in silence, his eyes scanning the surroundings for a specific person.
"Kao!" he called out, hurrying over to explain that he needed to leave for a short while on his own.
Kao nodded understandingly, promising to wait right there.
Shortly after Mok departed, a familiar voice sounded from behind him.
It was Nut, who had just returned after dropping off the temple master.
"You're back? Where's the car?"
"Parked it out back," Nut replied, his attention shifting. "Rak, I'm thirsty..."
Nut barely finished speaking before Rak headed back into the kitchen. Loosening his collar, Nut fanned his shirt, complaining about the unbearable heat.
"Where's Mok?"
"Mok..." Kao grumbled. "He needed to see someone. He didn't say who, but I have a feeling."
"Artit, right?" Nut raised an eyebrow. "I've never seen Artit like this. He wouldn't even let the chairman enter that place. What made him change his mind?"
The two of them watched the path Mok had taken toward his destination.
Creak!
Mok pushed the large door open and coughed.
"No matter how many times I open this, it's still creepy."
An uneasy sensation settled deep in his chest.
After a cautious glance behind him, he slowly ascended the stairs toward an unfamiliar door.
Knock! Knock!
Silence answered.
His knuckles began to ache.
His expression hardened as frustration crept into his voice.
"I know you're in there. Aren't you tired of hiding like a criminal? You pervert... First you made him fall in love with you, and now you're ghosting him. Haven't you had enough of playing with people's feelings?"
"Just see him... at least do that." His voice dropped to a desperate whisper.
"You really are a bastard. Look what you've driven me to do."
Biting his lip, Mok backed away.
Pausing near the stairwell, he cast one final look at the door.
He kept picturing that day.
One night during the week Toffee was unconscious, around 2:30 a.m.—
The entire house had fallen into a deep sleep.
Warm breaths brushed against Mok's neck, waking him in the middle of the night.
Blinking away drowsiness, he slid out from under the heavy arm resting on his waist.
Mok leaned closer to catch his faint murmurs.
"Don't... want... don't..."
His fingers wiped away the beads of sweat from Kao's forehead, unsure how else to soothe him.
Picking up his phone, he crept out of the bedroom.
Closing the door without a sound, he collapsed onto the hallway couch and dialed a number.
From the line—
"Hello..." a sleepy voice answered.
"Uncle, it's me... Mok."
"What is it...?"
"Kao is having another nightmare. What should I do?"
"Who?"
"Kao."
"Just wipe him down with warm water... and reassure him that he isn't alone."
"That's all? Uncle... you're not lying to me, right?"
"Mok... do you even know what time it is? Don't torture an old man every night like this, I'm begging you. Also, make sure he comes to the hospital so I can prepare his prescription..."
"Uncle... Uncle?"
Mok cried out several times, but only soft snoring answered.
Ending the call, he sighed. "It wasn't even that late. Can't he give me a real solution?"
Then, his uncle's past words echoed in his mind—
"Mok... There isn't a perfect cure, especially when it's psychological. What people need most is time to heal. Be patient. Support them. Stay beside them."
"Most people fail at the last part. Not because they lack heart... but because they give up, asking, 'How long do we have to hurt because of them?'... But what about the one who's actually suffering? They don't even have the chance to cry out loud."
"...it's not that difficult. Just stay with that person."
Covering his eyes with his forearm, Mok leaned heavily against the couch cushion.
"How can I do that...?" he mumbled.
At that thought, another memory from his school days surfaced.
"Mok..." The girl choked out. "You don't love me... Then why did you agree to be my boyfriend?"
Mok sat on the trackside bench, wearing his white school uniform with the blue name patch. His gaze stayed fixed on the girl standing before him.
"Because you asked me in front of the whole school."
His blunt answer nearly broke her.
Her face had already become a blur in his mind. All he remembered was her tightly clenched fist as she turned away.
Expressionless, Mok remained seated.
It was getting late, and dark clouds were slowly gathering overhead.
"I liked her... that's the truth. I wanted something beautiful, the kind of love I believed only happened in stories."
"But I thought you were different. Not like everyone else who only talked to me because they wanted something from me."
"In the end... you weren't any different. I am not perfect for you..."
The image slowly faded, pulling Mok back to the dark hallway.
He frowned, wondering why those thoughts had surfaced now. Without dwelling on it any longer, he stood up and headed for the kitchen.
Small orange nightlights glowed faintly in the dark.
His shadow stretched across the floor tiles as he filled a bowl with warm water, just as he did every night.
Carrying it carefully, he returned to the bedroom because Kao was still alone.
Then he froze.
Someone slouched against the doorframe, sitting on the floor outside the room where Toffee lay unconscious.
Tears soaked through the handkerchief bound tight over his injured hand.
Mok held his breath, ensuring Artit never noticed his presence.
Only after he finally walked away did Mok continue into the bedroom.
He let out a quiet sigh upon finding Kao still asleep.
Checking the time, he murmured, "Kao will wake up soon. I need to hurry." He quickly unbuttoned Kao's pajama top.
Gently, he wiped his skin with the cloth.
"Phi... just a little longer..."
"I lied to you, Phi... I just wanted to lessen your pain. You can scold me later... but please don't hate me."
Kao let out a weak hum.
Mok glanced at the bowl. "I need to get more water."
He went to stand, but a strong hand locked around his wrist. "Damn, the water almost spilled." Placing it safely on the nightstand, Mok looked down at the older boy.
Giving in, he crawled beneath the blanket and folded Kao into his arms.
"This time... you win. Just half an hour, then I need to take this bowl back..."
Mok left a soft kiss on the tip of Kao's nose, flushing the sleeping boy's cheeks warm.
They fell asleep facing each other.
Back to the present—
Exhaling quietly, his fingers tracing the dust on the stair rail.
His footsteps echoed across the marble path before reaching the green tiles in front of the small mansion.
As he crossed the expansive garden, a cool breeze grazed past him.
Beside the lotus pond waited a little girl, her hair tied back by a large ribbon as a bright smile bloomed.
Her light yellow dress swayed.
Mok averted his gaze from the water as the child approached, her tiny fingers holding his hand.
Feeling the gentle pressure, Mok glanced over his shoulder before stopping.
There was nothing behind him except the sound of birds singing beneath the evening sun.
"Aung... Nong Aung..."
Someone called her repeatedly from the shadows.
A man holding a blue fan stood nearby, his eyes hidden beneath a sacred white cloth.
"It's time," the man said.
Aung looked up at Mok. "Will he ever know who he is... just like my Phi?"
"No. It is the law," the man replied. "Mok can never know that he has already lived another life."
"Aung, we can't remain in the mortal world any longer. You've already spent years protecting this boy."
The mysterious man gently took her other hand. "The guardian is waiting for us near the gate."
Her head dropped sadly. As they walked away, Aung stared back one last time.
"You are me... and I am you..."
Tears streamed down her face like rain.
"Goodbye... Thank you... for living."
Aung smiled brightly, becoming one with the evening sun... the lotus pond... and the jasmine flowers her brother loved.