Than's hands stayed firm on the wheel. The dashboard clock blinked 5:56 p.m.—red against the gathering dusk. Outside, streetlamps awakened one by one, their light spilling across wet asphalt.
He glanced sideways. "Nil, I spoke to my landlord."
"You can move in whenever you're ready."
Nil's lashes dipped. For a moment, the only sound was the steady hum of the engine. "...Mn." His tone barely rose above breath. "Thank you, Than."
"I did it as a friend." Than's gaze flicked toward him, brief but steady. "So don't thank me."
Nil hesitated, eyes drifting to the shifting glow beyond the glass. "Then... can I move in after a few days?"
Than's fingers tapped once against the wheel before stilling. He kept his attention forward, expression unreadable.
"Nil," he began, quiet yet unwavering, "I know you're close to them."
Nil turned his head slightly, watching the last streaks of daylight fade beyond the glass.
"But even the warmest ties can hold you back," Than went on, unhurried.
"...You think I should leave now?" Nil's lashes lowered.
"You'll still see them." Than's glance flickered his way.
"But it's time you found your own space. As your friend—" his tone quiet but resolute—
"I want you to step forward."
The reflection in the window caught Nil's face—half in glow, half in dusk. "Maybe you're right," he breathed.
His phone rested on his knee, screen dark—then lit again, again—Kao's name appearing, vanishing, appearing once more, unseen.
Than's gaze stayed on the road. The silence lengthened, taut as a held breath, before he finally spoke. "Nil... can I ask you something?"
"Mn..." Nil shifted his gaze lazily toward him.
"Are you... In a relationship with P.Kao?" Than asked.
Nil's breath caught. His eyes widened a fraction, and he gave a sharp cough, half-swallowed. Than's brows furrowed in concern. "Hey—are you alright?"
Nil waved it off, forcing a faint curve to his lips — "...No. No, no..."
"Oh." Than paused on the word, thoughtful.
Nil arched a brow. "Why would you think that?"
"Because I've seen the way he looks at you." Than cast a brief glance at him, then returned his attention to the road.
"He's cold with everyone, but with you... His expression shifts. So does his temper."
Nil stayed silent.
He dropped his eyes, gave the smallest nod, and offered no reply. His reflection in the glass turned away.
Kao's repeated attempts to reach Nil went unanswered. The phone, set to silent, sat unnoticed on his lap until the glow of the screen caught Than's peripheral vision.
"Someone's calling you?" Than asked casually.
Nil picked it up. The name on the screen froze him — Stranger — and beneath it, the stark tally of eight missed calls. His brows knit briefly before he thumbed the screen and lifted it to his ear.
The line connected almost instantly.
"Stranger—" Nil began, and then choked, his words caught halfway. He glanced at Than, who stared at him
"Is 'Stranger' someone's name?" Than's one brow raised.
"No... It's my uncle. I call him 'Stranger." Nil's lips pressed together.
From the other end came Kao, confusion sharp in his tone. "What? Uncle?"
"Me, uncle?"
"Why is Than with you?"
Than's eyes remained on the road, but the slight set of his shoulders showed he was listening. Nil drew a steadying breath, lowering his tone. "I'm sorry, Uncle. My phone stayed silent, so I—"
"Why is Than with you?" Kao demanded again.
Nil swallowed. "The shooting ended early. I'm in the car with my friend Than. He's dropping me at the café...after that, I'm going to shift."
A beat of silence, "Fine. I have a meeting now. Message me your new address." Kao said. The faintest undercurrent — something sharp, almost possessive — threaded through his tone before the call clicked dead.
"Hello? Hello? Stranger—" Nil tried again, but the line had already gone cold.
"What happened?" Than glancing over.
"Mm. Nothing." Nil's reply was soft, but the way his fingers lingered around the phone betrayed otherwise.
As Than guided the car to a gentle stop outside the café, Nil lingered in the quiet of the room, hands trembling slightly as he folded the last of his clothes. Mary moved beside him, her presence steady, helping him with careful hands, but she said nothing.
Nil's gaze roamed over every corner—"Everything... everything here was meaningful."
"I knew I could not live here forever..." The words trembled
His teeth pressed lightly against his lower lip as he tried to hold back.
"But..."
The words faltered, swallowed by the quiet,
"But I never imagined it would be so soon..."
There was little to take with him—only two small bags, filled with clothes. He turned to Uncle Tham, wrapping himself in the elder's arms.
Nil's eyes glimmered with unshed tears. "This place... will always be yours."
"Whenever you want, just come."
Nil clung to him once more, as if the hug could tether him. Then he turned to Techno, pulling him close as well. "Nil, if you need anything... just remember me."
A small, grateful curve lifted Nil's lips.
"I will... brother."
Nil stepped forward, intending to wrap his arms around Mary—but before he could, she beat him to it, pulling him into a tight hug.
"Will you forget us?" Her tone trembled slightly, as if afraid of the answer.
Nil exhaled slowly. "Never..."
Mary's grip tightened, almost challenging him.
"Even if I forget?" he added.
Nil chuckled, "Then just come and slap me hard." A teasing glint flickered in his eyes.
Than's laugh rolled through the room, effortless and bright. Mary stayed pressed against him, forehead resting lightly on his chest.
"If you cry so much..." Nil teased, "...dark rankles will gather under your beautiful eyes."
His lips curved with mischief. "Then no one will like you... except Techno."
"No way," Mary snapped, sticking her chin out in mock indignation.
"Even I won't," Techno added, rough around the edges, yet soft with care.
Mary tilted her head, "Tell me... can we come see you?"
Nil pressed his palms gently to her shoulders, steadying both himself and the moment. "Always. I'm not leaving all of you so easily."
A smile lifted his face, tender and firm. "Every Sunday... I'll come here."
"And just come," he added, softer this time,
"...whenever you have time."
Nil carried his belongings, glancing around the café one last time. Each table, each chair, every cup—pieces of his life, his small family—etched into memory. Yet he had to go. Slowly, he stepped toward the new place.
Kao was seated in the meeting room, eyes fixed on the documents before him—but his thoughts were miles away.
"Kao..." came Mr. Charoen's voice.
A second time, "Kao."
A third, sharper, "Kao!"
Kao didn't respond. His mind held only one image—Nil.
"Why is Nil still with Than?"
"He's shifting... why didn't he tell me?"
Across the table, Lave's brows lifted in surprise, and others glanced at one another. Shin moved closer, bending toward Kao's ear. "Kao... what are you doing? Everyone's staring at you!"
But Kao didn't so much as blink in acknowledgment. His lips pressed into a thin line, annoyance shadowing his expression. Without another word, he pushed back his chair and strode out of the cabin. Shian, startled, quickly followed.
"Shian, handle everything today. I have somewhere to be." Kao slid on his blazer, clipped and brisk.
Shian froze. "But... the clients are waiting—"
Kao didn't glance back, adjusting his collar. "Then cancel."
"At the last minute?" Shian's disbelief edged every word.
"Kao, where are you going?"
"And how am I supposed to—Kao!"
"Kao—"
The apartment was modest—two bedrooms, a kitchen, three bathrooms, two balconies, and a dining room—but bare of furniture, its emptiness echoing faintly against each step.
When Kao arrived, his gaze immediately caught the scene in the kitchen: Than, sleeves rolled up, standing beside Nil, both moving in quiet coordination as they cleaned.