The chirping of birds and the rustling wind slowly pulled Mok out of sleep. His body felt heavy, and his sore eyes blinked open.
He lowered his gaze and noticed Kao still asleep, his messy black hair resting against Mok's lap. Mok gently ran his fingers through the dark strands before pressing a light kiss to Kao's forehead. In response, Kao tightened his grip around Mok's bare waist.
"When did he even take off my shirt?" Mok looked down, noticing the bite marks scattered across his chest.
"Are you a cat or something…? I might need a shot," he muttered under his breath, careful not to wake him.
Mok's eyes caught the watch resting nearby.
He had removed it earlier because it looked uncomfortable while Kao slept. Picking it up, he gently slipped it back onto his wrist, pressing a brief kiss to the faint scar there before fastening the strap.
He adjusted his glasses and looked toward the window.
Morning sunlight filtered inside, brushing over Kao's feet before reaching his face. Mok raised his hand to block the sunbeams, shielding him from the light, but the warmth gradually grew too strong.
"Kao… Kao…" he called softly.
A low murmur answered. Kao blinked his eyes open and met Mok's gaze.
"Mok…" His voice immediately turned worried.
"I'm sorry, I fell asleep." He sat up quickly and touched Mok's neck. "Is it painful? How long have I been lying like this? Why didn't you wake me?"
Mok placed his hand over Kao's. "Relax, Kao… I'm fine. It doesn't hurt much."
Kao opened his mouth but the words failed him. Instead, he spread his arms wide and drew Mok close. "You can do the same to me…"
Mok lightly tapped his forehead against Kao's. "Look at the time. I need to go back."
Kao cast his eyes downward, drawing in a quiet breath of Mok's scent, his face clouding over.
"Maybe next time…"
Mok's unexpected promise made Kao go still. A flush crept up his neck, turning his face red in the soft dawn glow.
"Mmh… next time," he breathed the promise. His eyes fell on Mok's bare chest, tracking the marks he had left behind, before settling on his mouth.
"Your lips are dry… let me fix it."
Mok blinked in confusion. "What are you—"
Kao didn't let him finish. He pressed forward, sharing his inner warmth, and Mok gladly accepted it.
"Open…" The soft command brushed against Mok's skin. He yielded immediately, drawing a shared gasp from both as a wave of heat surged through them. Hearts raced so fast that the frantic rhythm echoed clearly inside the cramped car.
Time seemed to pause.
They stayed close, wrapped in each other, sharing a quiet moment that belonged only to them.
The intimacy broke when a ringtone cut through the quiet. Pressing a lingering kiss to Mok's cheek, Kao stepped out of the car and into the sunlight to answer it.
Mok sat up, quickly pulling his shirt back on and adjusting his clothes. After a moment, he left the back seat to join Kao in the fresh air.
He looked around the open field.
Dew still clung to the grass, and the morning air carried a crisp, fresh chill. It felt incredibly peaceful—a rare break from their daily life.
He grabbed his phone from the front seat and captured a few photos of the scenery before gently closing the door.
From a distance, he noticed Kao, who seemed distracted as he spoke. "Something feels off. Who is on the phone? He doesn't look happy." Mok spoke to the empty field.
But even through his distraction, Kao's eyes kept stealing glances back to Mok. From afar, a small, genuine smile still rested on Kao's face whenever he watched him.
Kao ended the call and put his phone back into his pocket. "What should I tell him now? How am I supposed to explain this?"
An uneasy tightness settled in his chest as he struggled to find the right words.
Making his way back to the car, he took another quiet breath. The moment Mok noticed his troubled expression, he panicked slightly. "What happened? Is everything okay?"
"Mok…"
Kao spoke quietly. "Toffee isn't feeling well, but he's with Artit right now. Let's go there together, just the two of us."
"I… I don't understand." Mok frowned, his heart racing. "Toffee was completely fine when we split up yesterday. How did this happen?"
His voice shook slightly. "He's really okay, right? He isn't in the hospital?"
"No." Kao gently tucked Mok's hair aside. "Don't worry. I'll explain everything once we arrive."
He opened the door for Mok, waiting until he was safely inside before returning to the driver's seat.
As the engine started, the tense silence between them was swallowed by the rush of morning traffic.
When the traffic light turned red, Kao stopped and reached across the seat to lace his fingers with Mok's.
Mok had been staring out the window, trapped in his own thoughts. The gentle touch brought him back to reality.
"I'm okay, Kao… I don't know why, but I just have an uneasy feeling."
When the signal changed to green, they moved forward, eventually leaving the crowded city streets behind for an empty, secluded road.
A massive iron gate soon came into view.
Past the thick greenery stood an old mansion— astonishingly grand despite its obvious age.
Stepping out of the car, Mok looked across the vast estate, his anxiety growing by the moment.
"Mok…" Kao called in a low voice.
At that exact moment, someone walked through the mansion's main entrance.
"P'Nut…" Kao approached and hugged him tightly.
"It's been a while." Nut smiled, affectionately ruffling Kao's hair. "You've lost weight again." His eyes briefly assessed Kao before shifting entirely to Mok.
"Where are they?"
"Upstairs." Nut nodded toward the newcomer. "And who is this?"
"P'Nut, this is Mok. My junior… and the person I told you I like." He whispered into his ear.
Mok's face flushed crimson as he offered a polite, traditional greeting.
Nut gave Kao an encouraging pat on the shoulder. "I'm happy you finally found someone. Come, let's go inside."
Once inside the mansion, Mok paused by the doorway, wondering whether to remove his shoes.
"You don't have to," Nut assured him warmly.
Sandalwood incense perfumed the air, making the cool house feel strangely comforting.
Mok scanned the polished marble floors, which showed no signs of the building's true age.
Mok calmed his racing heart as Kao took his hand, intertwining their fingers. A faint smile touched Mok's lips as they followed Nut upstairs.
The master bedroom door creaked open.
As they crossed the threshold, a weak voice broke the stillness. "Mok… how did you get here?"
"Toffee…"
Mok stood frozen.
Behind him, Kao tilted his head toward the hallway. "I'll be downstairs. Take your time."
With that, he left with Nut, letting the door click shut behind them.
Mok moved quickly to the bedside, resting his hand against Toffee's feverish forehead. Looking at his friend's pale face, Mok's chest tightened with worry. "Where did you go to end up like this…? You look terrible."
"Mok…"
Mok answered with a quiet, soothing hum.
"I've been calling you. Why didn't you answer?"
"You're not fully recovered either," Mok said gently, ignoring the question. "Let's go to the hospital. I'll call—"
"Wait." Toffee cut him off, weakly grabbing his sleeve. "It's only a fever. I will be fine after I take my medicine." A small pout formed on his face. "You know I hate staying in bed. How about a little walk?"
His pleading expression made Mok sigh, though he remained unconvinced. Instead of arguing, he stayed by the bedside until Toffee finished eating and swallowed his pills.
During the quiet wait, Mok silently observed his surroundings. "The security here is incredibly tight… and there are so many cars parked outside. Is there some kind of gathering happening?"
Then, he noticed something strange. "And that red thread tied around Toffee's wrist… what exactly is going on here?" The questions weighed heavily in his mind as he watched the staff busy around the room.
Once Toffee finished his medicine, Mok turned his attention back to his friend.
"Don't overthink. At least he is okay."
"Here we go again... Mok, why are you spacing out?" Toffee asked.
Pinching Toffee's nose, Mok just teased him back.
A cool breeze blew in, rustling the curtains.
When Toffee shivered, Mok went to the window and shut the glass. Looking through the pane, he caught sight of Kao and Nut talking seriously beneath an old tree in the courtyard below. After tracking them for a moment, he drew the curtains together and turned back toward the bed.
"Want to go outside for a bit?"
Toffee eagerly moved to get up, but Mok quickly held his arms. "Slow down." He wrapped a small blanket around Toffee's shoulders before checking his temperature one last time.
Relieved that the fever had dropped, Mok finally nodded. The two of them headed out together.
Supported by Mok's arm, Toffee shuffled down the long corridor. Slowly, the numbness in his legs began to disappear.
"Can you really walk?" Mok sounded doubtful.
"Khrab," Toffee smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, I am strong."
Mok was skeptical but stayed close as they stepped ahead.
Thud!
At the sudden noise, both of them spun around instantly.