2gether AU: Stay, be Still

Chapter 22: So Real, so Surreal

Wat's POV

Tine was taking a break from work.

Good, he needs to put himself first sometimes.

It was a good thing that those symptoms were just a one-off thing that wouldn't affect much of Tine's health. Although there was definitely something fishy going on.

And I couldn't exactly pinpoint what was that.

Nevertheless, the bottom line is, Tine is going to take a break.

Tine called in the second day after he came back from his checkup, they approved his temporary break without a second word.

It shouldn't really be that big an issue, Tine had been literally working non-stop for the past few months.

Also, he had just wrapped up his big case last week.

There was no reason for them to turn Tine's application away.

Our days were a little different now, given that Tine was having a lot more free time to do what he wanted to do.

Waking up in the morning was more difficult for me, I just wanted to stay in and cuddle Tine for the entire day.

He was just perfectly squishy at all the right places, and he smelt like crisp lilies in the mornings.

I've no idea how he managed that while I felt grossly groggy in the mornings.

Coffee in a keep cup was no longer a thing, Tine insisted that it was not good for my health.

So, my keep cup now has warm milk in it, and it reminded me of Tine.

The warmth radiating from his big bright smile, the sweetness emitting from his lean figure.

Going home in the evenings was always my motivation to go through work, not that I didn't enjoy working together with Ctrl+S, but Tine at home was really a big temptation.

Occasionally, Tine would appear at our studio with lunch boxes and that turned me into a pouting mess.

"I thought you were going to rest at home today!" I put on my biggest pout to Tine.

"It's fine. Also, it had been a while since I saw them. Oh, hi, P'Dim!" Tine waved a little too enthusiastic for my liking.

"Oho, Nong Tine is here. Ai'Wat, what's with that face?" P'Dim landed a punch on my shoulder.

"I don't like you." I muttered under my breath, praying to the God above that P'Dim wouldn't hear me.

Well, he was too busy talking to Tine.

I groaned inwardly, bringing my lunch box to a corner and started eating by myself.

Fine! Don't talk to me anymore, Tine Teepakorn. Oh! It's green curry! My favourite!

For that second, everything seemed too much yet too little.

I forgive you, hehe.

Tine seemed to put on some weight, from this angle, and I was definitely happy to see that change.

There's just more of Tine for me to love him now.

"Ai'Wat, do you like your special delivery?" Tine plopped himself comfortably across the table.

"Yes and no, I am happy to see you here but I also wanted you to have more rest. That's the point of taking a break, right?" I winced at how sulky I sounded.

Tine cooed gently while soothing the creases threatening to form between my brows.

"I'm doing just fine, don't worry okay big baby? I wouldn't be here if I'm not in a good shape to drive, right?" He cupped my cheeks in his palms, squeezing them with so much love that I could feel my core melting from within.

How am I supposed to stay mad for more than 3 seconds with Tine pampering me like that?

I nodded wordlessly, nevertheless, I still wanted him to get as much rest as he could.

"I've made you Chef Tine's special green curry, and the chef is also here to feed you. Show me that goofy smile of yours, come on!"

Tine angled my chin slightly until our eyes met. He smiled adorably and I couldn't help but curl the edge of my lips by a little.

"There! That's better! Should we eat now?"

With that, we spent the rest of my lunch break finishing up Chef Tine's special.

Things were so real, yet so surreal.

///

"Tine, I'm back. Love?"

My voice echoed loudly in the empty apartment, radiating a sense of eeriness.

I assumed Tine was still out having a great time with P'Type and Man.

But wait a minute, something is not adding up.

The wardrobe was left ajar, and some of Tine's clothes were missing.

I didn't recall Tine telling me that he would be away for the next few days.

Maybe he left me a text when I was driving home just now.

I fished my phone out from my pocket and I could feel myself breaking down a little with the lack of notification on my screen.

Maybe he left me a note somewhere then?

My heart trembled in fear and I felt my knees growing weaker with each passing second.

Tine, no, you can't do this.

There was a letter pressed neatly on the bedside table, and I could recognise Tine's handwriting just fine.

A little curve at the end of the capital "S", that was Tine's signature.

"Tine?"

My voice cracked a little, I couldn't believe that Tine had left me alone, in this place where we were supposed to call home.

I read the letter which Tine had left behind with a pair of shaky hands and teary eyes.

My erratic heartbeat contrasted to the silence blanketing me, beads of sweat seeped through my palms, moistening the edges of the paper I was holding.

I couldn't believe my eyes, I couldn't believe the message my brain is processing now as hot tears sprawled across my cheeks.

I didn't expect to come home with my heart broken into pieces like this.

I just want my Tine to come back to me.

"Ai'Tine."

"Tine."

"TINE!"

"TINE!"

I laid on the side of the bed where Tine usually sleeps, inhaling the faint smell of Tine greedily.

My tears penetrated the sheets and bloomed into evidence of heartbreaks as I chanted Tine's name repeatedly.

I didn't know when I fell asleep somewhere in between my sorrowfulness, I just knew the night was exceptionally cold without Tine.

Tine, I thought we promised that we will communicate openly, right?

--- 

Note 

This chapter is finally here, I had been running away from writing this chapter because there was way too much angst in one chapter. And can you believe that this is the shortest chapter I've written for this book? I can literally feel Sarawat's heartbreak from here. 😭😭