With Jaran's protective arm around him, Tiwa doesn't need the sun to bring warmth. He feels safe and secure, shielded from the harsh realities of his life. He is grateful that it guides him through the uncertainties and challenges they face together. With a slight smile, he leans his head on the warm shoulder beside him, which is a source of strength, giving him the courage to face whatever may come their way.
Suddenly, he feels the chilly breeze blowing with heat as they reach the diner. He turns to see Pravat appearing out of nowhere, like a rainstorm with a cat. He is caught totally by surprise. What brings him here? There is a slight suspicion on his face, but not so much that this seems impossible. For some reason, though, it makes his stomach flip-flop.
He swallows hard and turns back to look at Jaran, who is engrossed in a conversation with their manager on the phone. He doesn't know what to do to balance this situation. Fear grips him as he worries about Jaran losing control and hopes God will save him, no matter what. Taking a deep breath, he refocuses on Pravat and silently pleads with his eyes for him not to create any drama.
Pravat grins mischievously as he pets the cat and plants a kiss on its head before tossing it toward Tiwa, catching him off guard and disrupting Jaran's hold on him.
Losing his balance, Tiwa screams and falls back with his eyes closed. The hand that snakes around his waist stops him from falling and keeps him in the air. His eyes blow wide open as they meet with the lunatic when he's being pulled closer and brushed against the alpha's cells to mix in scents and hormones.
In that split second, when they are in front of each other, time stops for both of them. They stare at each other, completely oblivious to everything else around them. The feelings inside Tiwa are indescribable because Pravat tries to dissolve his stone-like heart with a chilled smile. Despite the wind blowing away the leaves of their past, the marks of their memories are still etched on the branches, making them feel alive again.
One morning, Tiwa played on the street and enjoyed the holiday with his cousins until he spotted a cat defiantly loafing on the concrete. The cat looked through the narrow slits of its eyes at Pravat, who stood right across from it with folded arms. Tiwa wondered what was going on between the two, as they seemed to have a silent conversation about something interesting.
Intrigued, he approached Pravat and tapped his shoulder to catch his attention. "What are you doing?" he inquired, his gaze shifting between Pravat and the cat. He sensed a tense atmosphere enveloping them yet remained clueless about its cause. His mind began concocting peculiar ideas, following in the footsteps of Pravat's enigmatic behavior.
"Staring contest," Pravat responded nonchalantly.
"What?" Tiwa asked with an unbelievable look. He couldn't make sense of the words he was hearing. It was strange. Maybe Pravat had tried to fool him again with his silly ideas. Yeah, that was possible. It was the only thing Pravat would do to him—fool him!
"Shhh," Pravat hushed as if he had heard the gears turning in Tiwa's mind. His actions sparked curiosity in Tiwa even more, leading him to lean closer. Without much thought, Pravat wrapped his arm around Tiwa's shoulders and whispered, "This stupid cat may have won the last round, but I believe I have it cornered this time," he stated firmly, his gaze fixed on the black cat with unwavering seriousness.
Tiwa was about to interject and offer his advice when he saw Pravat shut his eyes for a moment before reopening them. It was clear that Pravat had made up his mind, and nothing could change it. Deciding to stay silent, Tiwa bit his lip nervously as he observed the unfolding situation.
Pravat continued to do his tricks multiple times until the cat finally pulled its claws in and its tail stopped flicking like an irritated, sentient ribbon on the concrete.
Tiwa was shocked when the cat blinked back slowly, a sure sign of acceptance in the language of its usual temperamental state. He was even more surprised to find the cat curled up on the concrete like a furry doughnut as Pravat approached to caress its head. It was exceptional. He wished he had done the same.
"Can I join the both of you?" Tiwa asked stiffly.
Pravat shot him a look that made Tiwa feel like he was being weird. "Baby deer, you had already joined by the time I was putting my arm around your shoulders. Hmm, if you want to play again, remember, you will," Pravat said as he rubbed the sensitive spot between the cat's eyes, causing it to mewl cutely before yawning and stretching out.
Tiwa felt a pang of resentment at not being able to hold on to the moment as Pravat did, but he eagerly stepped forward, wanting to be a part of it all.
As his hand reached for the cat, Pravat threw it at him and giggled. The action caused him to fall back, but Pravat wrapped his arm around him and kept him from falling. Together like that, they stared into each other's souls and got into what they had felt for. The electricity between them sent shivers throughout their bodies, but they had no idea what it was. It felt weird.
The roaring behind them breaks the spell they are under. They look at Jaran, who growls in complete anger, and then back at each other. Eyes widening in fear, Tiwa swallows the lump in his throat and pushes Pravat away. His body shivers all over, and he worries about the future. He doesn't know what to do, but he can sense that it's getting worse.
"B-Brother!" He swallows hard, attempting to give a weak smile, but knows that nothing can fix the current situation. His mind races with ideas to ease the tension, but Pravat's bitter laughter distracts him.
Jaran shoves Tiwa out of his way and stands face-to-face with Pravat, who has a telltale look in his eyes as they stick to Jaran. "Don't," he growls and shakes his head before adjusting his position and blocking the lunatic's view of Tiwa. "Don't you even think about it!" Without giving him a chance to interrupt his talking, he growls. "There's no way that Tiwa will fall for your shit."
Pravat smirks and scratches his neck to mock Jaran before tilting his head to lock eyes with Tiwa, who is trying not to make his scent sour in annoyance. Looking back at Jaran, Pravat waves off and begins to walk away. Like an ice droplet on a leaf, they roam here and there and get scattered in the wind. What kind of relationship is this? Even though no one understands anything, this relationship lengthens.