Kiat slowly walked closer to Daeng.
They didn't speak or make a sound.
Kiat just assured him with his eyes, saying, "I am here," while Daeng smiled back, as if saying, "Thank you for being here."
Kiat slowly sat next to Daeng. The sitting area of the pond was made of strong-scented wood, so the smell of the wood was stronger in the night.
The water was still dripping from the lotuses.
Drip... drop...
Drip... drop...
The only sounds were those drops from the lotus stems, the frogs that didn't sleep even though it was late, and the night owls starting their chores in the night.
Everything was quiet except for those sounds.
"Here... I plucked it," Kiat said straight to Daeng as he smiled.
Daeng took the flowers and looked at them deeply. He thought for a moment.
"Kiat... can I draw this for your shop?" Daeng asked, but Kiat didn't reply.
Kiat was just looking at both Daeng and the lotuses, captivated by the night view.
Kiat was thinking, "It's rewarding. Now I feel it was good that I plucked them."
"Kiat... Kiat..." Daeng touched Kiat's pants; they were wet. Daeng pressed his hands against his wet pants and called Kiat again.
Suddenly, Kiat woke up and asked, "What did you say?"
"I am calling you," Daeng said. He touched Kiat's thigh and said with worry, "Why are you wet?"
"That's because it was so deep, but it was worth it, right?" Kiat said, looking at the lotuses.
"Kiat, can you look straight?" Daeng pointed out to the pond and said, "It's full of lotuses, right?" Daeng looked at Kiat, just as Kiat had been looking at him.
"But you didn't like plucking them..." Kiat said quickly.
"That's right. I don't like it. But you know, I can see any kind of lotus fully, even without plucking them..." Daeng said. In his mind, he thought, "Look at you, all wet." What if something happens to you?"
"Can't you just forgive me just this once?" Kiat asked with a worried face.
"It's not because I didn't like it," Daeng said, "but what if something happens to you?"
Kiat was surprised. He slowly whispered into Daeng's ear, "I won't do it again, Khab." So can you forgive me?"
While he spoke, he slowly kissed Daeng's ear. The smell of Kiat's sweat was stronger than the scented wood.
As he breathed in Kiat's scent... Daeng thought, "I like his smell." Just as he thought that, the bundle of lotuses fell into the pond. Panicking, Daeng said, "What can we do... they fell!"
Without wasting a second, Kiat jumped into the pond.
He slowly descended into the water with only a small splashing noise, but the water was already a mess.
Kiat grabbed the lotuses while Daeng panicked.
Kiat slowly moved closer to Daeng without getting out of the water. "Here... protect them, Nong Daeng," he said.
Daeng quickly grabbed them. Because of his shyness, his words were frozen. Finally, Daeng said, "Get back up. You are already half-wet—no, you are completely wet. Also, the water is cold; you will get sick!"
While Daeng spoke with worry, Kiat slowly touched Daeng's waist and pressed against him.
Kiat hugged Daeng tightly, his head resting against him. Daeng could feel Kiat's breath. Daeng slowly touched Kiat's hair while Kiat looked up at him.
Daeng slowly leaned down toward Kiat's lips. They both pressed together and opened their mouths.
The sound of their kiss was strong, while the lotus water dripping from the side of the scented wood created a new smell...
As they were immersed in each other, it felt like lightning struck. Daeng suddenly pushed Kiat back, looking worried.
Kiat, who was enjoying the kiss, was surprised by the push and asked, "What's the matter? Are you alright?"
With a flustered face, Daeng said, "Someone will see us..." He was worried about being caught because they were still outside in the garden.
Kiat thought for a moment. He hesitated, fearing that Daeng might hate him, but eventually, he asked. "Can we go somewhere else? Can we?" His eyes were full of expectation.
Daeng hesitated for a moment and said, "But it's already late... how?"
"There is a place... my secret place. Can I take you there?" Kiat asked.
"Let's go," Daeng replied.
As Daeng helped Kiat out of the water, they prepared to leave. But then Daeng suddenly stopped. "Wait, I need to inform Chim. Otherwise, it will become a disaster."
Just as Daeng said that, they waited for Chim to come to him.
While waiting for her, Daeng was worried about how messy and wet Kiat looked.
As he watched him, Kiat said, "I am strong. I won't get sick." Even as Kiat said that, Daeng's hands tightly gripped Kiat's wet, dirty shirt.
Meanwhile, Chim stood frozen, looking at both Kiat and Daeng. They didn't even notice that Chim had already been there for a long time.
She said slowly, "Young Master Daeng, it is time to go to bed, khab."
Both of them were surprised. Daeng struggled to find the words. He thought to himself, "I think it's better if I go to bed, but I want to know more about Kiat. What am I going to do?" "You can do it, Daeng."
"Chim," he said in a low voice, "can you help me?"
As Daeng spoke, Chim interrupted. "Wait, wait, Young Master. I think I already know you guys are planning to sneak out, right?" she said, sounding quite proud of herself.
"How did you know, Chim?" Daeng asked in surprise.
"I know everything," Chim replied. In her mind, she thought, "How many people have sneaked out with their lovers?" I am the mastermind! With a smirk, she felt she could do anything.
Kiat thought, "She is scary."
"Chim... Chim..." Daeng called to her.
"Young Master, you need to come back before the sun rises, okay?" she said with worry.
Daeng nodded and handed her the lotuses.
"Chim, can you take these to my room?" he asked with a smile.
Chim smiled back and watched them go through the dark. Before he left, Daeng looked back and smiled at Chim.
While Chim was giggling, she suddenly saw the head servant (Daeng's nanny). Chim thought, "You can do it, Chim!" Where did all my courage go? I am even sweating!"
She tried to sneak inside. She might get caught, but she was a very good liar.
As Kiat and Daeng walked, they reached the end of the Third Mansion garden. Daeng asked, "How can we go out?"
Kiat said, "Nong Daeng, how did you think I sneaked into the Third Mansion? Isn't it obvious? I can't just walk through the main mansion straight to come here. I have to go outside and then enter the Third Mansion."
Kiat spoke with a proud voice.
Daeng was surprised and wanted to ask more, but Kiat said, "Don't be scared; you can ask me anything. But first, we need to get out; otherwise, someone will see us."
The voices of the guards who were making their night rounds could be heard.
The two guards were talking while checking the grounds with their lamps.
"Come here... slowly..." Kiat whispered. He used his secret passage and helped Daeng get outside.
They started to go into the woods... into the dark woods. Daeng's hands gripped Kiat's wet shirt tightly while he panted.
"Are you scared?" Kiat asked.
Daeng nodded no, but Kiat said, "There! I think I saw a snake..."
Daeng got scared. He hugged Kiat and tightened his grip even more. "Where? Where? I am scared!"
"Nong Daeng," Kiat whispered.
Even though it was dark, they could see and feel each other. "I am just joking. But it is a forest, so of course there will be snakes. You are also tired, right? Get on... I will carry you."
Daeng pouted exactly like Aung. Kiat laughed and forced Daeng to agree. Kiat carried Daeng all the way.
As Kiat suddenly stopped, Daeng slowly got off. He looked as if he were seeing something that truly captivated him.
The forest was filled with small, yellow wildflowers, and their scent pierced his nose—it was a nice and sweet smell.
The white moonlight made everything clear, even though it was dark.
The yellow color made it feel like it wasn't night at all.
The forest was beautiful as Daeng slowly walked and touched the flowers. He smiled, truly happy, as Kiat slowly walked toward him.
Kiat stepped close, his chest touching Daeng's shoulder. To Daeng, the scent of Kiat's sweat was even sweeter than the flowers.
Daeng slowly looked back at Kiat as Kiat kissed his forehead.
As the sounds of both of them awakened the fireflies, they flew through the yellow flowers.
They led the way from low to high, like beautiful stars leading a dream. They moved even higher, as if they were hoping for something...
Daeng watched them fly.
"It's beautiful," Daeng said.
Kiat looked deep into Daeng's eyes; to him, Daeng was even more beautiful than the view. Kiat said, "That's right, it is beautiful," while he looked at Daeng.
Slowly, Kiat touched Daeng's waist and pulled him close. Kiat's hip touched Daeng's, and Daeng could feel everything—the hot breath and the wetness of Kiat's skin.
Kiat slowly reached to touch the lower back of Daeng. As he did, Daeng looked up at him.
"I don't think I can control myself... can I?" Kiat asked.
Daeng kissed Kiat's cheek as a yes.
Kiat slowly led him to a place only Kiat knew.