Chapter 23 - Curry Kisses and Paper Promises

Nib reclined on his bed, bathed in the soft glow of the room's warm lighting. The enticing aroma of Kimsy's jungle curry soup wafted through the air as Win entered, cradling a steaming bowl in his hands. Nib's eyes widened in pleasant surprise, a hint of anticipation sparkling within them.Nib exclaimed with genuine admiration, "Wow, jungle curry... I had no idea you were such a culinary virtuoso. Well, once we're bound in matrimony, we won't have to fret over culinary endeavors any longer."Win chuckled softly as he carefully set the bowl down on the bedside table. "Haha, that was a good one, Nib. But I can't take credit for this masterpiece. It's a gift from Kimsy herself."Nib's eyes softened, touched by the gesture. "Kimsy is such a sweetheart!"Win responded, a hint of playfulness in his tone, "Let's not get too carried away with the theatrics."Nib pouted slightly, and his voice carried a hint of playful melancholy. "Hmm."Win, with polite amusement, offered the bowl to Nib. "Enjoy..."Nib regarded Win with mock hurt, his tone dripping with faux sorrow. "Why must you be so cruel to me?"Win, feigning surprise, retorted, "Cruel? Me?"Nib sighed dramatically, his words teasing. "You see, I'm not feeling quite myself. How can I possibly manage to eat this on my own?"Win raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of amusement and disbelief. "Oh, so in the bathroom, you were perfectly fine, but in the bedroom, you're suddenly unwell again. Quite the mystery, isn't it?"Nib nodded in agreement, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Yes, you're absolutely right. The bathroom and this room... and truth be told, I'm really not feeling my best. Could you, perhaps, lend me a helping hand?"Win hesitated for a moment but ultimately conceded with a sigh. "Fine, but only because you're under the weather."Without further ado, Nib opened his mouth expectantly, a twinkle of satisfaction in his gaze. Win couldn't help but smile as he fed him, his thoughts drifting inward.Win mused silently, "I love you..."Nib broke the comfortable silence, his voice filled with sincerity. "Can you make me a promise, Win? Promise me that once we're married, you'll always feed me like this."Win, feeling a touch of frustration creeping in, responded with a hint of exasperation.Win sighed, "Nib, can we please stop dwelling on the topic of marriage?"Nib implored gently, "Win..."Win relented, his tone softer. "I'm sorry, Nib, but..."Nib's voice carried a tinge of uncertainty as he broached the topic that had weighed on his mind for some time, ''Tell me, Win... Are you truly committed to our relationship?"Win's brow furrowed, a mixture of surprise and exasperation flickering across his features.Win replied, a touch of frustration in his tone, "What kind of question is that? After all we've been through, you're asking me this now?"Nib fell into a contemplative silence, the room enveloped in an uneasy stillness.Win continued, his voice softening with sincerity, "I've never doubted us, Nib. You're the one constant in my life, an indelible presence. But marriage... It carries a weight I'm not ready to bear."Nib's eyes searched Win's face, longing for answers. "That's precisely what I need to understand—why you always shy away from the idea of marriage. Do you realize I've planned our future together? Our home, our meals, even our honeymoon destination..."Win met Nib's gaze, his eyes reflecting his inner turmoil. "I want to be truthful about our relationship. Remember when I shared my brother Joy's story and his boyfriend's accident with you?"Nib nodded slowly, recalling the conversation.Win continued, his voice tinged with somber memories, "In the lead-up to that tragic accident, Joy engaged in fierce clashes with our parents. He yearned to marry his boyfriend, a fervent desire vehemently opposed by our family. Frustration reached a breaking point, and, ultimately, Joy made the heart-wrenching choice to leave home. It was a night etched in my memory, the clock striking 10:00 p.m.Then, the inexplicable occurred. By 12:30 am, our world shattered irreparably. A call came, delivering news of a catastrophic accident that had befallen Joy. My parents, guided by grim medical pronouncements, rushed to the dimly lit hospital corridors. Despair clung to them as they gazed upon their son, his life hanging by a thread. Tears streamed down their faces as they grappled with the cruel helplessness of the situation.For months, my mother bore the relentless weight of sorrow, an unending torment. It consumed her, day by day, with no respite in sight. My father, too, suffered, emerging from the trauma only after arduous days. Their son's absence left an indelible void, a wound that threatened to swallow their very souls.I stood witness, powerless to ease their suffering. The thought of inflicting such agony on them once more, especially due to my own choices, was a burden too heavy to bear."Nib remained silent, absorbing Win's painful revelation.Win continued, his voice trembling with emotion, "I'm not saying I don't want to marry you, Nib, but if our parents don't agree, we may have to reconsider our path."Nib finally found his voice, speaking softly, "To claim I completely understand your situation would be foolish, but perhaps it's time to confront those haunting memories from that night."Win sighed, his gaze distant. "No one willingly dwells in the shadows of their past. I've tried to move on, but that night's specter lingers as if it has something left to say, something left unresolved."Nib implored, his voice gentle, "Win, have you ever seen your brother's boyfriend in person? And did you ever witness his lifeless body after the accident?"Win nodded solemnly. "Yes, he showed me a picture on his phone once. But as for that night... I never truly saw his lifeless form. I have no idea what transpired, but a week later, when I inquired at the hospital, they told me that Khunpol's body had already been claimed by his wife."Nib's eyes widened in shock. "His wife?"Win affirmed with a sense of bewilderment, "Yes, I was just as surprised. Given the depth of our grief for my brother, I didn't delve into it further."Nib's concern was evident. "How could you be so negligent? There might be a connection between this mysterious serial killer and your brother's tragic fate."Win pondered this possibility. "Why do you say that?"Nib explained, "You mentioned that Joy and his boyfriend were in an accident three years ago, and while Joy survived initially, he passed away a month later. This series of incidents in Bangkok began three years ago, too..."Win nodded slowly, his mind racing. "You think there could be a connection?"Nib continued, "It's a possibility. Do you remember which hospital they were both admitted to?"Win's eyes widened as the pieces of a puzzle began to fall into place. "The same hospital where Shine is currently receiving treatment... Bangkok Hospital."Nib contemplated this revelation, the weight of uncertainty still heavy in the air.Win gently urged, "Come on, Nib, don't let this burden weigh you down. Have some soup..."With that, Win left the room, retreating to the balcony, leaving Nib to grapple with the unsettling connections and unanswered questions that loomed over their lives.After Win's departure, Nib also arrived, finding his place on the balcony, gracefully seating himself on one knee.Nib gazed into Win's eyes with a depth of emotion that transcended time and uncertainty.Nib whispered, "Our future may be a mystery, but here, at this moment, we exist. I want to cherish it, Mr. Win. Will you be my partner, not just for the future, but for the present?"Win's heart swelled, and he replied with a smile that radiated pure love, "Always."He extended his hand, and as Nib reached for it, Win questioned, "Now, what do you have for me to wear?" With nimble fingers, he crafted an origami ring from paper, sliding it onto Nib's finger.Touched by the gesture, Win's eyes shone with affection as he murmured, "It will forever remain close to my heart."In response, Win also placed a paper ring on Nib's finger, sealing their unspoken vows with a symbol of their love. They embraced tightly, their hearts overflowing with affection as they professed their love for each other. Win's eyes brimmed with tears, and he whispered to himself, "I cannot fathom a life without you, Nib. I will fight for our love until my last breath."As they held each other close, Nib sensed dampness on his shoulder. He attempted to pull away to check but found himself held even tighter by Win. With concern in his voice, Nib inquired, "Are you crying?" He tried to separate, but Win clung to him, closing his eyes and murmuring, "It's tears of joy," as he embraced Nib with even greater intensity.