Mok swung the car door open and almost stepped inside when Kao's comforting hand suddenly caught his wrist.
From behind, Kao's chest brushed lightly against Mok's back.
Startled, Mok froze without turning around.
The soft exhale from Kao's nose grazed the edge of his ear.
It was warm.
Their hands locked together, completely unaware of the gesture.
The sun still hung above them, though its light had already begun to fade.
"Kao…" Mok called gently, trying to hint that he wanted to get into the car.
"Mok… you're injured. I'll drive."
Kao didn't want to let go of him.
A strange feeling of loss lingered inside him. Even while holding Mok's hand, Kao wished time would slow down. Usually, his days felt long, yet today had disappeared in a single blur.
"But… don't you need to go back?" Mok asked hesitantly.
"I still have time. It won't take long."
"But it's my car…"
Mok peeked at him cautiously.
"I can take a taxi later. Don't look at me like that. It's scary. Please… let me drive."
Standing this close, Mok suddenly realized something.
He wasn't the only one who was tired, worried, and injured.
Kao hadn't even gotten proper rest today.
Mok had seen him since morning.
They came to K9 around lunchtime, and yet within such a short time, so many things had already happened.
Mok slowly reached up and touched Kao's cheek.
The redness wasn't very visible anymore, but Mok still noticed it.
Kao answered the movement by intertwining their fingers.
With great dissatisfaction, "I'm allowing you to drive my car this time."
Keeping a straight face, Mok handed the keys to Kao before pulling him along.
"You're acting like a child now…" Mok hissed before climbing into the passenger seat.
Meanwhile, Kao couldn't stop smiling.
His gaze remained fixed on the keys in his hand.
Before getting inside, Kao turned his gaze toward K9.
"Everyone was still there. So it's okay if I'm not there for once."
His eyes drifted to Mok sitting inside the car.
"I'll never get another chance like this."
"Kao… why are you still standing there?"
Hearing Mok's voice, Kao quickly got into the car.
Mok avoided looking at him, his attention fixed outside the window instead.
Kao started the engine.
As the car gradually glided onto the road—
"Mok… let's grab something to eat. I know a good place. Can we?"
"Mhm…" Mok hummed softly.
The steady breeze from the window stroked against his face, making him look strangely tired.
Kao sensed it immediately.
"Mok…" Kao's fingers caressed his cheek gently.
The contact made Mok glance at him slightly.
"If you're tired, just sleep." Kao's hand stayed there, quietly supporting Mok's face.
Mok gave a small nod.
Slowly, his head leaned against the seat, tilting toward Kao's side.
Kao's hand remained trapped beneath him.
Carefully, Kao tried to pull it away.
A quiet murmur escaped Mok's lips.
Once his fingers were finally free, Kao tenderly pushed Mok's hair back before focusing on the road again.
Outside, the sun slowly began to set, though traces of light still lingered across the sky.
The final rays of sunlight fell quietly across Mok's sleeping face.
As the car slowed to a stop, they arrived in front of a restaurant.
The engine turned off.
Kao leaned back against the seat with a tired sigh. Quietly, he admired Mok's resting features.
Small strands of hair covered Mok's eyes slightly, and his lips remained faintly parted.
Kao's fingers slipped through the loose strands of hair as he leaned a little closer.
His breath caught.
For a moment, he almost pressed his lips against Mok's.
But just before they touched, Kao stopped himself.
"I can't keep stealing kisses from him."
A small smile escaped him instead.
Tenderly, Kao rubbed the tip of his nose against Mok's.
"Mmh…" A sleepy sound slipped from Mok.
Mok breathed softly in his sleep.
Kao quickly covered his mouth to stop himself from laughing.
"He must be really hungry."
Still, Kao continued stroking Mok's hair carefully.
Then Kao leaned closer once more.
"I should get out before I lose control."
Just as he prepared to leave the car, a sudden weight pressed against his arm.
Startled, Kao glanced downward.
At some point, Mok had shifted closer in his sleep, resting his head comfortably against Kao's arm.
"Mok…" Kao lowered his voice instinctively.
"I can't call him. He'll wake up."
Carefully, he unbuckled his seatbelt and closed the windows without making any noise. Then he shifted slightly toward the edge of the seat.
Little by little, Mok moved closer.
From Kao's arm… to his shoulder…
Until finally, Mok's head rested against Kao's chest.
Mok was clearly uneasy in that position, and Kao wasn't any better, yet neither of them moved away.
His soft breathing traced against Kao's bare chest.
Kao didn't know whether he should hold him or not.
But eventually, his arms slowly wrapped around Mok.
"He must be uncomfortable."
"Mok…"
Even then, Kao still called his name whisper-low.
No answer came.
"Okay… calm down. Otherwise, he'll wake up from my heartbeat alone."
"Mok… let's stay like this for a little while."
Silence answered him.
"I hope he heard that."
Kao lightly placed his lips against Mok's hair.
Kao couldn't sleep.
Awareness of Mok kept him wide awake. He closed his eyes to escape the feeling, but the memory of Mok's plump lips consumed his mind. Still, he did his best to stay perfectly still.
Lazily turning his head, Mok frowned slightly in discomfort.
His body ached, yet the warmth surrounding him kept pulling him back to sleep.
A while later...
Mok lightly opened his eyes.
His nose and lips were pressed against Kao's bare skin.
Confused, he blinked twice. What filled his vision was Kao's chest.
Surprisingly, Mok didn't panic. Instead, he simply stared blankly for a moment.
"Am I dreaming? It feels like I'm sleeping with someone."
Then reality slowly sank in.
Mok lifted his head slightly and accidentally bumped into Kao's jaw.
Seeing Mok awake, Kao loosened his hold around him.
"Mok... If you want to sleep more, then sleep."
Still sitting close to Kao, Mok quietly shook his head.
"Then, let's eat something."
Mok quickly sat upright, completely flustered, and gave a quick nod in response.
His mind became chaotic.
"How did I end up sleeping on him? Why was I leaning all over him like that?"
Embarrassed, Mok grabbed his phone and used the blank screen to fix his hair and check his face.
Meanwhile, Kao had already stepped outside because of a phone call.
Mok pressed a hand tightly against his chest. "How am I supposed to face him now?"
Outside the car, Kao answered Oat's call—
"You jerk, where did you disappear to?"
Kao scratched the back of his neck.
"Oat… I had some unavoidable business. Help me out this time."
Before Oat could continue yelling, Kao quickly hung up.
A chill ran down his spine.
He already knew Oat was probably cursing him internally.
"Kao…"
Mok stepped in front of him with slightly flushed cheeks.
Kao instinctively moved closer.
Mok looked over at Kao's arm guiltily.
"Did your arm hurt? Sorry…"
Kao gently touched his own arm before stepping closer to Mok again.
"You're not heavy."
Immediately, Kao's fingers grazed against Mok's red ears.
"Are you sick?"
"You clueless bastard—where are you touching? I'm sensitive there…"
Mok quickly shoved Kao's hand away.
Thinking Mok disliked it, Kao apologized immediately.
Meanwhile, seeing how genuinely clueless Kao looked, Mok became even more flustered.
Ignoring him, Mok tried walking ahead.
"Wait for me, Mok!" Kao hurried after him.
The restaurant was crowded with scattered noises from clattering dishes and overlapping conversations.
Not every table was occupied, but the place was still lively.
Several students wearing the same uniform as Mok were also inside.
Laughter and loud food orders filled the air.
As soon as they entered, Kao walked ahead and quickly found an empty table.
"Mok, sit here."
He pulled out a chair for him.
Mok sat down quietly while Kao remained standing beside the table.
"What do you want to eat?"
Mok thought for a moment before shaking his head.
"I don't know. Just order something tasty."
Kao pinched his cheek lightly.
"Ow—" Rubbing his cheek, Mok glared at him.
"Sorry…" Kao laughed softly before turning toward the kitchen area.
"Auntie, can I order?"
As Kao walked away, Mok continued soothing his cheek.
"So childish…"