Tiwa blinks and stares at the darkened room with so many thoughts tangled up in his mind. He doesn't know what awakens him now, but he's restless again. He turns his head to the side and looks over the clock to check the time. The bright red light on the alarm clock reads 3:41. The tiny red indicator dot is beside the letters, and though he can't read the puny writing on the side of the clock, he knows the dot is for a.m.
It's 3:41 a.m., and he's alone in the hotel room. Yeah, he can tell that his brother is not with him. It is usual that Jaran will disappear when he can't calm his raging heart. Staying near a raging alpha is not safe for an omega, and he knows well.
Back to the reason for Tiwa's wake-up: It isn't the first time he has woken up late at night during sleep hours. Each time, he has the same logic for being an owl at night, but this time, it is different. He didn't wake up from his nightmares. He didn't wake up with frustrations or worries. He woke up to a slight noise that bothered him in his sleep. He can't tell whether it was in his dreams or reality.
Unsure, he reaches for his phone and unlocks it, intending to reach out to his brother for reassurance. However, before he can do so, a message from an unknown number catches his eye. "Did the sender not consider waiting until morning? Is there something urgent that needs my attention?" With a mix of curiosity and apprehension, he summons the courage to open the message and delve into the contents of it.
"You left your glasses in my car. Come over and get it." - Unknown number
Tiwa immediately assumes it must be from Pravat. Gripping his phone tightly, he remembers the moment when Pravat took his glasses off and put them on the windshield. Feelings of rage and worry swirl within him as he runs his fingers through his hair, getting caught in the tangles of curls.
He thinks about texting back, but he puts the phone down as soon as he picks it up. A growl of frustration escapes him because he doesn't want to imagine what Pravat is doing this late. He doesn't want to imagine it, yet the images flood his thoughts anyway, and he abruptly sits up as if he can dodge his thoughts. He bites his lip worriedly and thinks about what to do.
He needs his glasses back, but he also doesn't want to go to Pravat's room now. What can he do? How can he make these two things possible? He feels helpless as he crosses his legs under him and palms his face, thinking about a way that will help him. Another text cuts through his thoughts and makes him check his phone.
"Come on, baby deer. I miss the moon in the sky when I look out the window. I feel your pretty face will help something with that." - Unknown number
Something about it gives Tiwa the impression that Pravat is not talking about the moon but about his life. Tiwa can't help but feel a pang of empathy for Pravat, realizing that beneath his stoic exterior lies a depth of emotion and experience that he usually keeps hidden.
He gets up from the bed and heads to the bathroom to freshen up. Washing his hands and splashing cold water on his face, he stares at his reflection in the mirror. Despite feeling pathetic, he can see that he doesn't recognize himself anymore.
Pale and anxious, his hair is a mess, attempting to escape the cap he has just put on. With shaky fingers, he removes the cap, combing through the still-damp hair before putting it back on. Hoping to look decent, he takes a deep breath, palms his face, and recalls everything one last time before leaving the room.
On the way to Pravat's hotel room, Tiwa can't allow himself to put a name on this night. Not mentally, and certainly not verbally. If he does, what little is left of the walls he's built around his heart will crumble into sand. He needs those walls. Every contemptible event of his childhood had laid a single brick until all he could feel was empty.
Shivering slightly, he stops at a certain door and gazes at it before softly knocking. No response. He is aware that Pravat is purposely doing this and testing his patience. He makes a vow not to let Pravat's mind games affect him, despite the past events. If he gives in, it will only bring chaos into his life. With a groan, he impatiently turns the knob and is surprised to find the door unlocked.
He gets in and meets the darkness that the room has hemmed in. It confuses him. Shaking his head, he runs his fingers over the wall to find a switch and turns on the light. The man who sits at the window is his ultimate nightmare, Pravat Hiranwong. Making his breath a thread, Tiwa wishes to tie him there and stop him from bothering. Is it possible?
"Finally, the moon has arrived." Pravat breathes out, turning his attention back to Tiwa. His face curls into an enormous smile when he realizes just who is standing in front of him. "Hasn't it, baby deer?" He raises an eyebrow.
Tiwa tries not to be swayed by that look as Pravat moves away from the window and starts walking toward him. His heart pounds in his chest, reminding him to breathe as he notices Pravat is wearing only a pair of basketball shorts with no shirt on. He has trouble focusing on something other than the tight and toned stomach that is barely an arm's length away.
He shifts uncomfortably with the shyness that he didn't feel before. His eyes lift when he sees Pravat's arm lift the beer bottle in his hand, which no doubt he has consumed before.
"P-Pravat!" Tiwa exclaims, feeling a deep sense of happiness in his heart. He can't quite explain why he feels this way, but it's spiraling out of his control. Is it because Pravat has saved him? Nah! There are many unsaid things between them. Despite the distance separating them, he's losing himself to Pravat.