Wut and Phol walked ahead while Pheet and Kiran stayed slightly behind.
"What do you want to do, darling?" Kiran asked, looking at Pheet.
Wut slowly turned his head, not believing what he had just heard. He looked at Pheet, who was trying to hide his face.
"Don't be shy, darling."
Wow. Am I dreaming? Wait—what just happened again? Oh. Pheet didn't say anything… still—
Before he could process it further, Wut felt a hand—no, Phol's hand—on the back of his neck, gently pulling his head forward.
"Leave them alone," Phol whispered.
"No, I need to know everything. Like how, when, where—when did they even meet—" Wut muttered to himself.
Phol reached for his hand and gave him a small, sweet smile.
Pheet wanted to go shopping, and Wut had already decided he would not be leaving his best friend alone with Kiran.
Wut picked up a blue shirt-and-shorts set.
"What do you think of this?"
"Hm." Phol glanced around, then grabbed another set in a different color. "How about this one for you?"
Wut raised his eyebrows and tilted his head.
"Matching? Ooh, I like that. Thanks, hon."
They ended up trying so many summer outfits it felt like they had gone through the entire store.
Still inside, Wut noticed someone familiar walking in.
"…Min?"
He looked again to be sure—and the person looked back at him.
"Min! What a coincidence!" Wut exclaimed, excited.
Phol, who had been browsing, turned around—and froze.
Wut was already smiling, talking comfortably with Min.
Phol stepped closer, placing a hand on Wut's shoulder, his eyes fixed on Min.
"Who is he?"
Wut, completely unaware of the tension in Phol's gaze, smiled.
"Oh, Phol—this is Min, a friend I made at university."
Only then did Wut look at Phol properly.
His eyes… felt different. Sharp. Almost like an angry animal.
Wut paused, then gently placed his hands on Phol's cheeks, making him look at him.
"Love… what's wrong?"
Phol blinked, snapping out of it. Something in his expression shifted—like he had almost said too much.
He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Wut's forehead.
"It's nothing. I'm just tired. Haven't been sleeping much… too many company letters."
As long as Phol said he was fine, Wut didn't push.
"Okay, so—Phol, this is Min. My newly made friend from university. Min, this is my boyfriend, Phol."
Min smiled sweetly.
"So you're the boyfriend Wut's been talking about every day. Nice to finally meet you."
He held out his hand.
Phol didn't take it.
"Oh! Min, do you want to hang out with us?" Wut asked. "Since you just got back, I can show you around."
"That's actually a great idea," Min said.
"Are you two done? Can we leave now?" Kiran shouted from the other side of the store.
Phol stayed quiet.
As they walked, Min kept asking Wut questions—about places, about the city—slowly pulling him further and further away from Phol.
Phol walked behind them, watching.
Pheet glanced at Wut, then back at Phol.
"So… how does it feel?"
"What?" Phol snapped back to attention.
"Watching someone else steal the person you love," Kiran added casually.
Phol frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing," Kiran shrugged. "Just saying."
At lunch, they sat at a restaurant.
Wut and Phol sat together.
Pheet and Kiran sat together.
Min sat beside Pheet—facing Wut.
"So… Min, right?" Kiran started.
"Yes?"
"You've been away for how long?"
"About three years, I think."
"And why did you leave?"
Min's eyes flickered briefly toward Phol before returning to Kiran.
"Family issues. I had to go overseas… but now I'm back."
A waitress approached them.
"What would you like to order?"
They hadn't even opened their menus—except for Phol.
"I'll have grilled salmon with lemon butter," Phol said calmly. "And he'll have the same."
Wut blinked but didn't argue.
Pheet ordered for himself and Kiran, while Min chose the day's special.
After eating, Phol paid—he was the only one with his wallet nearby.
They parted ways after that.
That night, Wut couldn't stop thinking about how quiet Phol had been.
He knocked lightly before entering Phol's room.
Phol was sitting on the edge of his bed, doing nothing. Just… there.
Wut walked over and sat on his lap, facing him.
"Babe… are you okay?"
Phol pulled him closer, wrapping his arms around him.
"I already told you. I'm fine."
Wut held his gaze.
"I don't buy that."
Phol kissed his chin.
"Stop overthinking. Let's go to bed."
He tried to stand, but Wut didn't move.
"Not until you tell me what's really going on."
Wut leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead, then tilted his head slightly.
"From start to finish."
Phol sighed, leaning back into the chair.
"Are you sure? It's going to be long."
Wut smiled softly.
"I have all the time in the world for you."
It's better to fix things before they shatter.