"The terrace is actually nice." Lamon stood near the edge, looking down at the view. "Oh, I can see so many cars..."
Clank!
Dropping the decoration supplies, Mok and the others glared at Lamon, who wouldn't stop nagging.
...
The floor was perfectly smooth, requiring only a few red carpets for the setup.
Mok blew up the balloons by mouth, catching his breath every sixty seconds. He chose a combination of white balloons mixed with red and violet ones, tying them securely together.
Small golden bulbs hung across the terrace, waiting to be turned on.
Tiny green decorations sat scattered around the space.
A brown chair stood in the center with an acoustic guitar leaning against it, and a bouquet of deep red roses rested on the seat.
Everyone stayed busy with their work, used to the steady evening wind.
Darkness gradually settled over the terrace.
Unlike yesterday, the sky was clear, showing a sea of shimmering stars that seemed to long for the half moon.
Taking a sip of his sparkling drink, Mok wiped the dampness from his forehead. Standing near the concrete railing, he observed the crowded roads stretching far below.
"Kao, it's really okay to use this terrace, right?"
Wiping the remaining sweat from Mok's face and gently fixing his messy hair, Kao sighed. "If you ask the owner of this building, maybe there won't be a problem."
"So you didn't ask? I told you yesterday, Kao... yesterday. You had time, but you didn't do it."
"Noi... don't chew on that! You'll get hurt!" Mok called out to the little pup, who was gnawing on the decorative flowers. Spitting them out, the pup lifted his round eyes toward him. "Come here."
"Why are you scolding him?" Kao blowing softly on Mok's warm skin to cool him down.
"Did you ask for permission or not? This is your last chance."
Kao simply shrugged.
"Kao..." Mok's tone turned serious.
"I didn't. But if you call me Phi, then he'll agree."
"What..."
"Call me Phi, then I'll agree."
"You must be joking." Biting his lip, Mok looked away.
"...Phi."
"I can't hear you."
Grinding his teeth, Mok muttered, "Phi... Phi..."
After making sure the others were far away, Mok closed the distance between them and ran his tongue up the back of Kao's neck.
"It's salty... so the owner agreed, right? I already paid an advance," Mok teased.
A smile spread over Kao's face as he smoothly took everything from Mok's hands.
"The owner decided to help. As long as the deposit exceeds the initial payment, he'll do anything..." After reading Mok's expression, Kao quickly ducked before Mok could swat him.
"Mok!" Phayu shouted. "Why are you standing there in the dark? Tell me where these white roses should go."
"Damn... " Mok hurried over, and the two of them sorted the flowers Phayu had bought.
...
Not far from the stage, they had set up a table loaded with food and drinks. Toffee was in charge, going over his handwritten list to make sure everything was there.
Pssh!
Popping open a bottle of sweet soda, he suddenly remembered something he had forgotten and placed it beside the table.
"Noi... come here!" Mok cried out. "Kao... watch him! He's trying to eat the fast food!"
"Artit!" Oat called down from a step ladder where he was fixing the overhead lights. "The lights!"
"Okay! I will turn them on. Give me a minute!" Artit ran out to the switch.
The tiny green leaves and blossoms swayed in the breeze, shining beneath the fresh, warm light.
The stage was blanketed with white petals, and the red carpet stretched neatly from the entrance.
"Guys, is that glued down?" Toffee wondered.
Phayu tilted his head, noting that the wind wasn't that strong, but they had still secured the fresh petals because they had no choice.
It was around eight o'clock.
Lamon sat on the chair, practicing the lyrics Bua had written.
"When is May getting here?" Artit inquired, stepping back into the area.
"I told her to come at 8:30." Kao glanced at his watch. "It's already time."
The night grew noisier, and everyone grew restless after hearing that May had arrived at the parking area.
"Guys... my heart is racing," Phayu pressing a hand against his chest.
"Me too."
"But we're not even the ones doing the confession!"
The younger boys exchanged anxious looks while the seniors enjoyed teasing them.
"Lamon, start singing the exact second Phi May arrives, okay?" Toffee cheered.
Lamon hummed in response. His damp forehead and shaking fingers on the guitar strings gave away his nerves.
"Lamon..." Oat called out. "You can do it."
"Khap..." His hair stirred with the breeze as he smiled, their eyes locking for a brief moment.
...
The click of heels resounded nearby, and an instant later, the heavy door swung open.
Thud-clank!
May was met by bright lights and the rich scent of flowers.
A sweet melody caught her attention, accompanied by the relaxing chords of the guitar.
Like a little bear,
waiting for you to reach...
All I have is this sweet... I've carried for years...
You know nothing at all...
But I held onto everything...
If the night has a little moon...
who will be with me...
Stopping briefly, the melody shifted with the change in his voice, sounding almost like a plea.
Hey, can you hear,
I have something to tell,
It should be fast,
So give me a moment...
The younger boys hid their mouths in excitement.
Midway through, the guitar shifted once more as his voice grew deeper and lower.
Falling for you...
I am... falling for you...
May's lips trembled as she shut her eyes, the music continuing around them.
When you are with me...
I have nothing to fear,
Even the night is lonely,
but that smile you gave me,
Those hands that hold me...
I... just wanna... hold... them... together...?
The noise surrounding May gradually faded as the world seemed to stand still.
Her white heels came to a dead stop on the red carpet. When her eyes fluttered open, Bua was kneeling right there with the bouquet of red roses extended in her hands.
Everyone's focus entirely on Bua.
Only one person stayed fixed on Lamon.
Lamon's eyes never wavered as a slight smile touched his lips.
"Lamon..." his friend called.
Ignoring Oat, who had drawn near, Lamon moved away, thinking, "Why do I feel like giving up?"
Nearby, Bua forced herself to look at May.
"Phi May... I like you." Her words trailed off. Wearing an awkward smile, she waited for an answer as her heart pounded against her ribs.
A heavy silence descended.
May stood motionless, pressing both hands against her chest.
Another set of footsteps drew near from behind.
"Nin..." the seniors murmured together.
The bouquet in Bua's grasp began to sink.
"Why are you here?" one of the older boys asked.
Nin slipped her fingers into May's from behind. Her black hair hung low, shielding her expression beneath her sharp eyeliner.
She stared down at the girl with the flowers. "That's what I want to ask. Isn't this supposed to be a regular party for Kao winning the race? Then why..."
Everyone was speechless.
The hardest part to accept was the way those two joined hands.
A wave of emotions swept through Bua. No matter how hard she tried, her eyes couldn't leave their connected fingers. The same painful memory from her school days flashed through her mind.
The bouquet slipped from her grasp, crashing to the ground.
She ran.
"Bua! Bua!"
She never paused, running as though there were no tomorrow. Tears streamed down her cheeks without ceasing, and her heavy sobs vibrated through the dark stairwell.
Finally halting, she gripped her chest and dropped to the floor, one palm flattening against the dusty surface.
"She doesn't like me... May doesn't like me... Fool... I'm really a fool..." A bitter smile touched her lips.
Trying to stand despite a sudden wave of weakness, she walked away, dragging her feet. Tears soaked the strands of hair framing her face.
Back on the terrace—
"May, didn't I tell you this party was for us?" Artit questioned.
May didn't speak, but Nin replied instead. "Artit... I..."
May picked up the abandoned bouquet.
Tiny drops of dew still clung to the petals.
Her gaze drifted across the space before fixing on the stage. With unsteady hands, she read the handwritten lyrics.
"Bua wrote it," Lamon said, completely brushing Nin off.
The faint, translucent marks left on the white paper didn't escape May's notice.
"Guys... what's happening here? I mean, who is that girl? Does she like May?"
Nin laughed to break the tension. "You guys are treating me like I'm not supposed to be here."
"Nin, why are you here?" Artit asked coldly.
"Artit, I'm really hurt. I'm your friend too."
Artit chuckled darkly. "Don't make me laugh. Do I need to remind you what you did to May?"
"She already forgave me. And who are you to judge me?" Nin snapped, her face hardening.
"So what now? What do you want from her—her money, her support?" Oat countered flatly.
Kao quickly intervened to calm him down.
Paying no attention to the argument, May suddenly bolted. Nin caught her wrist.
"May... wait..."
"Let go. I don't want to say it twice," May warned, glaring toward the stairs.
The sharp clatter of her footsteps echoed down the stairwell as she broke into a run.
"It's my fault... Why couldn't I speak when I needed to? Why didn't I run after her right then?"
"Bua... where are you..."
She searched every floor, staircase, and connecting door. She even waited by the elevator before hurrying back to the parking area, hoping she might find her there.
The stiff heels had already rubbed her feet raw, causing sharp pain.
"Bua... Bua..." Her voice cracked.
...
At last, near the thick hedges where Kao had once found Noi, she noticed part of a skirt.
Without making a sound, she drew closer.
Hidden between the trees and greenery under a tall, leggy lamppost, Bua was curled up on the ground with her arms covering her head.
"Bua..."
She stayed silent.
"Sorry... Sorry... Sorry..."
Grasping Bua's ankles, May apologized over and over.
"What are we, Phi May? Just what are we?"
Bua's tone was thick, as if her throat were choking her.
"First, you acted like you knew me. We went on dates. You even introduced me to your friends. I know you were joking when you told everyone we were in a relationship..."
Her words caught as a flash of lightning split the heavy clouds.
"Was that all an act? When you embraced me... when you shared your worries... when we went on our first date... was all of it fake?"
May reached out to brush away the wetness on Bua's cheeks, but Bua still buried her face.
"Can you stop crying...? It hurts, Bua... It really hurts me..."
"You're not answering." Grabbing May's shoulders, Bua wept, "Why?" Then she hugged her tightly. "Why don't you like me?"
"Bua... Take a breath... Don't cry..." Keeping her tucked against her chest, May whispered, "... I don't know how to say it."
"... Bua... I like you."
"It wasn't love at first sight. I approached you because... I was curious about you, but the more I got to know you... the more I wanted you..."
"I... I love you..."
"I love you, Bua... Forgive me..."