winter's sun • sarawattine ✓

2

Man patted Sarawat's back as he sobbed uncontrollably, his shoulders shaking with each pitiful cry. The scene was one of raw, unfiltered emotion-a stark contrast to the festive air surrounding them. He had been wrapped up in a burrito of blankets in Man and Boss' shared apartment. The café down their apartment had long since closed, the once bustling atmosphere now replaced by a heavy silence.

"I think you should give up now, Wat," Man murmured softly, his voice laced with concern. Meanwhile, Boss meticulously examined Tine's sketchpad, which had been left behind in the café in the heat of the moment.

Sarawat sat up, wiping the tears from his face with trembling hands. He glanced at his watch, the numbers blurring through his watery eyes. It was already 10:43 PM, and the weight of the night pressed heavily on him. How long was he crying for? How pathetic!

"I think I should skip Earn's New Year's Eve party, Man. I can't go. I don't feel well," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

"We understand, but you can't just withdraw from life and wallow in misery like a weeping philosopher! You have to stand tall and face challenges head-on, even if it means risking another fall," Man advised, his tone uncharacteristically philosophical. Man was rarely the voice of reason, often more of a jokester, but tonight, he seemed to grasp the gravity of the situation.

"I agree with you, bro," Boss chimed in, patting Sarawat's back with an encouraging thump. "Wat, you shouldn't give up on yourself. Sober up, and we'll go to the party together."

"But-" Sarawat started, his voice catching in his throat. He swallowed hard, trying to suppress another wave of tears. "He'll be there."

"That's exactly why you should go," Man countered, nodding sagely. "You need to confront your feelings head-on and find a way to move past this one-sided love."

They all sat there in silence, watching as Sarawat wrestled with his emotions, caught in a "To be or not to be" moment of indecision.

"Wat," Boss began with a grin, breaking the silence. "I think I have another reason for you to go find your loverboy. Actually, make that two reasons. Ready to hear them?"

Sarawat nodded eagerly, his curiosity piqued.

"First," Boss said, leaning in conspiratorially, "the New Year is still roughly two hours away. There's still a shining ray of hope to find your Sun."

"That didn't help," Man interjected impatiently, while Sarawat listened intently. "What's the second reason?"

"This one's a bombshell, I swear," Boss declared, handing the sketchpad to Sarawat. "Take a look at this."

Sarawat hesitated for a moment before taking the sketchpad. As he opened it, his breath caught in his throat. His hands moved as if on autopilot, flipping through the pages with increasing urgency. Each page revealed meticulously drawn sketches, rendered with flawless strokes and an unmistakable attention to detail.

His eyes widened as he realized the truth-every sketch was of him. Each drawing captured his likeness with an almost surreal precision, from the curve of his jaw to the intensity in his eyes.

His heartbeat quickened, a sense of disbelief washing over him. The despair that had weighed him down only moments ago began to lift, replaced by a burgeoning sense of hope. "Could it be that Tine felt the same way?"

Sarawat's mind raced as he stared at the sketches, each one a silent testament to Tine's feelings. His heart, which had felt like a hollow shell, now beat with renewed vigor. The Winter's Sun, which had seemed so far away, now felt within reach.

"You see, Wat?" Boss said with a knowing smile. "Your Sun is no longer out of reach."

Sarawat looked up, his eyes shining with a mixture of tears and determination. He felt alive once again, the weight of his sorrow melting away under the warmth of newfound hope.

"I... I have to go," Sarawat said, his voice filled with resolve. "I have to see him."

Man and Boss exchanged triumphant glances, their encouragement finally breaking through Sarawat's despair.

As they stood to leave, Sarawat felt a sense of purpose he hadn't felt in weeks. He was ready to face the New Year, ready to confront his feelings, and ready to embrace whatever the future held. The night was still young, and the promise of a new beginning awaited.

Sarawat stepped out into the cold night, the air crisp with the scent of snow. The world around him was a canvas of white, each flake a symbol of a fresh start. As he walked towards Earn's party, the city lights twinkled like stars, illuminating his path.

With each step, Sarawat felt his confidence grow. The sketches had ignited a fire within him, a belief that perhaps Tine's feelings mirrored his own. The Winter's Sun, once distant, now seemed to shine brightly, guiding him forward.

At the party, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. People mingled, laughed, and danced, celebrating the final hours of the old year. Sarawat navigated through the crowd, his eyes searching for Tine.

And then, he saw him. Tine stood near the back, his eyes catching Sarawat's almost immediately. There was a moment of stillness, the noise and chaos of the party fading into the background.

Sarawat took a deep breath, his heart pounding, and made his way towards Tine. This was it-the moment he had been waiting for, the moment to finally express everything he had held inside for so long.

"Tine," he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "Can we talk?"

Tine nodded, a mix of curiosity and something else-something hopeful-shining in his eyes.

Winter's Sun was no longer a distant dream-it was a reality, bright and warm, right before him.

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