Pravat sits on the bed, staring at the door with a slight smile on his face. It's difficult for him to smile, knowing what is happening outside. Tiwa may be naïve, but he's not. He thinks about something until the door creaks open and snaps him. He gets up from the bed, opening his arms for Tiwa, who walks in slowly with tears streaming down his cheeks.
Seeing Pravat, Tiwa immediately flies into his arms and buries his face into his neck to sob his heart out. "I'm sorry," he chokes on his tears, pangs of guilt beginning to eat him up alive. "I'm so sorry."
"Baby deer," Pravat whispers, hugging him tightly while running his hand down Tiwa's back, soothing, which makes the tears worse.
Pravat can't bear to see his mate in such pain; it breaks his heart. He wishes the floor would open up and swallow him whole, just so he wouldn't have to witness Tiwa's suffering. But he knows he needs to be strong for both of them to support Tiwa through this difficult time. Taking a deep breath, he kisses the top of Tiwa's head and closes his eyes, releasing calming pheromones around him.
Tiwa takes a whiff of the musk scent, gaining a little strength to speak. He pulls away and shakes his head, wailing. "B-Brother apologizes and wants me to go with him. I don't want to, but I have to." He squeezes his eyes shut and lets out another fresh tear. About to say more, Pravat places a finger on his lips and shakes his head.
"You shouldn't think about it again. You shouldn't explain yourself. I know!" Pravat says, looking directly into Tiwa's eyes, tears welling up in his own eyes now.
Tiwa throws himself at Pravat again, choking and babbling barely understandable things through his wails of desperation while clutching him tightly. "Why is all this happening only to me? What sin have I committed to bear this life? I couldn't be happy for even a minute," he whimpers, spilling his heart out. He can get the answers if he asks those questions to himself. But at that time, he must accept to whom his life belongs.
"Tiwa!" Jaran shouts, standing impatiently outside the door.
Reluctantly, they part ways with each other, and Tiwa sniffs again, his eyes misty. It hurts to see him like this, so Pravat pecks him on the lips to comfort him. No one can break this bond between them, no matter how hard they try, because it is formed by longing and unsaid words that will soon be known by all. He strokes Tiwa's cheekbone with his thumb and gives him a soft look while thinking about lightening the mood.
"Even though you have been crying for minutes, you are still pretty," he says.
"Shut up," Tiwa slaps Pravat's arm and turns his head, a stray tear rolling down his cheek. Despite his cheeks turning beet red, he presses his face against the crook of Pravat's neck again, tightening his arms around him. "Aren't you going to stop me?"
"No! Until you fully surrender yourself to me, until you realize you can move on with me without any grief or regret," Pravat replies, pressing his lips against Tiwa's hair and holding him tighter.
Tiwa pulls away and looks Pravat in the eyes until the alpha leans in to kiss him softly, reassuring him that everything is going to be okay this time. He then presses his cheek against Pravat's chest and drops a soft kiss right over his heart, feeling the steady beat beneath his lips. Pravat runs his fingers through Tiwa's hair, a gentle smile on his face as he holds him close a little longer.
Their moment is interrupted as the grumpy alpha shouts again and knocks on the door madly from the other side. "Tiwa!"
Tiwa nods at Pravat with fresh tears brimming in his eyes and turns to leave. Before he can push open the door, Pravat stops him with a hand on his wrist and pulls him closer. He dips his head into Tiwa's neck, letting out a shallow groan and allowing the delectable scent to bathe his nose and tongue. Licking lazily at the bonding mark, he bites and leaves him shivering. An apologetic whine leaves his lips for the speckles of blood that litter Tiwa's scent glands and the presence of a newly blooming bruise.
Pravat leans back to tip Tiwa's face toward him, thumbing away his tears. "Make sure to let the world know our unsaid love story!"
Tiwa simply nods and rushes out of the room in one quick go when he understands that he can't stay any longer.
Pravat feels empty as he walks to the door and sees Tiwa running down the hallway without waiting for Jaran to accompany him. Jaran, still grumpy, stands outside, looking at his little brother like he doesn't know him at all. If he realizes with his whole heart, it's best for everyone.
Feeling another presence, Jaran growls and clenches his fists before turning to face Pravat. "You are accomplishing your goal, aren't you? Using an omega's heat to get back at me! I won't forget that," he says through gritted teeth. "If Tiwa had any sense, he wouldn't let you mark him. So don't think you've beaten me yet!"
"Do you think so?" Pravat raises an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest. "Tiwa is my mate! So he would let me mark him, even if it was not back then." Upon hearing that, Jaran pulls a face as if someone has put a particularly sour grape into his mouth.
"I think you know that, too," Pravat says. "You should also know that you lost a long time ago when you failed to protect Tiwa from those strangers in the alley. As his brother and my competitor! Our fight is like a relay race, and winning means nothing if the baton is dropped along the way. You know who the baton is here!" He leans closer. "I'm not foolish enough to play with someone who is already defeated."
Jaran looks down at his hands, feeling defeated. His knuckles are white from clenching them so tightly. The words hit him hard, reminding him of his failure and the consequences that follow. He has let Tiwa down, and now he is paying the price for it. He rubs the back of his neck and walks off without another word or a glance.
Meanwhile, Pravat's lips slowly turn up into a small smile as he feels satisfied. It is his turn to be proud now. A hard smack on his head brings him from his own world and makes him look at Decha, who stands with his hands on his hips.
"Hey, are you stupid?" Decha scolds, his tone firm but concerned. "I thought you fought for Tiwa, but you let him go like you didn't care."
"I care; that's why I let him go," Pravat responds, his voice calm but resolute. "When Jaran approached my door, I knew the truth was revealed. I knew he would apologize and convince Tiwa to take with him."
"Then why did you not stop him? Did your love weaken in front of pride?" Decha pauses, his eyes searching Pravat's face for answers.
"Pride?! Where is it?" Pravat chuckles, shaking his head slightly. "It's love. Pure love! I could stop Tiwa if I wanted to, but I wouldn't. I don't want to overwhelm him with emotions as the concert approaches." He speaks decisively, his voice filled with conviction. "It doesn't mean I give importance to his concert or my job. I'm just giving respect to the hardships he works through for his dreams. I'm just trying to help him with what I have witnessed."
Decha furrows his brow, not entirely convinced.
"Everyone might forget or just call it 'a last concert', but I can't. I thrived on seeing Tiwa high on the world, adrenaline coursing through his veins, and a microphone clutched in hand even if he was in heat. Not just for others, but for himself too!" Pravat pauses, looking Decha straight in the eye. "My love isn't about keeping him like a caged bird. My love is about letting him fly as much as he wants and return to this golden jail willingly at the end." He points to his chest, where a throbbing heart lies beneath.
"I see now," Decha murmurs, a sense of admiration in his tone. "Are you sure he will return to you?"
Pravat doesn't respond; instead, he smiles warmly and gets inside his room. He has faith in his love and his bond with Tiwa. It overcomes any challenges that come their way and withstands any distance or time apart because their love lets them both be free to be themselves, knowing that they will always have each other to come back to.