How To Serve Your Love ✅

Step 13: Decide Together

As the semester neared its end, both Prae and Alex found themselves at a crossroads. With final exams just around the corner and graduation looming in a few months, the question of what came next hung heavy in the air. Prae, in particular, had been thinking about their future together—where they'd live, what their careers would look like, and how they'd balance their relationship with their ambitions. It was a lot to think about, but she knew one thing for sure: she didn't want to make any big decisions without Alex.

One evening, after a long day of classes and lab work, Prae invited Alex over to her dorm room. She had been meaning to have this conversation with him for a while, but the timing never felt quite right. Tonight, though, she knew they needed to talk—about their future, about the decisions they had to make together.

When Alex arrived, he could tell something was on Prae's mind. She seemed thoughtful, a little more quiet than usual. He wrapped his arms around her from behind as she stood by the window, looking out at the campus lights twinkling in the distance.

"Hey," he said softly, resting his chin on her shoulder. "What's going on? You look like you've got a lot on your mind."

Prae leaned back into him, appreciating the warmth of his embrace. "I do. I've been thinking a lot lately... about us, about what happens after we graduate."

Alex turned her around to face him, his brow furrowing slightly. "Yeah? What have you been thinking?"

Prae took a deep breath. "Well, there's a lot we need to figure out. Like where we're going to live, what kind of jobs we're going to take... I just don't want to make those decisions without talking to you. I want us to decide together."

Alex nodded, understanding the weight of what she was saying. "I've been thinking about that too. There's so much up in the air, and I don't want to make any decisions that could affect us without talking to you first."

Prae felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had been nervous about bringing this up, but hearing Alex say those words made her feel like they were on the same page.

"So, let's talk about it," she said, gesturing for him to sit down with her on the couch. "We don't have to figure everything out tonight, but I think we should start thinking about what we want—individually and together."

Alex nodded, sitting down beside her, their hands naturally intertwining. "Okay, let's start with the basics. Where do you see yourself after graduation?"

Prae thought for a moment before answering. "I've been looking at a few job opportunities in engineering. Some are here in the city, but there's also a position in Chiang Mai that caught my eye. It's with a company that focuses on sustainable energy solutions, and I'm really interested in that field. But it's far from here, and I don't know how that would work for us."

Alex listened carefully, nodding as she spoke. "That sounds like an amazing opportunity, Prae. And honestly, I've been thinking about moving too. I've had my eye on a geology research position with a university in Chiang Mai. It's not set in stone, but if I could get that position, we could move together."

Prae's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, really? You'd consider moving there too?"

Alex smiled. "Of course. I want to be with you, and if Chiang Mai is where we both find great opportunities, then why not? We can build a life there, together."

Prae felt her heart swell with love and gratitude. The thought of moving to a new city had felt daunting at first, but hearing Alex talk about the possibility of going with her made everything seem so much more exciting and possible.

"Wow," she whispered, her voice soft. "I didn't think it would be that easy to decide."

Alex laughed gently, squeezing her hand. "It's not set in stone yet, but the idea of us being together, wherever we go, makes it a lot easier to think about. We'll figure it out."

They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, both of them taking in the possibilities that lay ahead. Moving to a new city, starting their careers, and most importantly, navigating these new stages of life together.

"There's another thing I've been thinking about," Prae said quietly, her tone more serious. "I know we've been doing long hours of studying and working, but... I want us to make sure we're not losing ourselves in all of that. I don't want to get so wrapped up in work that we forget to make time for us."

Alex looked at her, understanding the concern in her voice. "You're right. We've worked hard to build this relationship, and I don't want our careers or busy schedules to take that away from us. We need to make a plan—no matter where we end up, we prioritize us."

Prae smiled, feeling reassured by his words. "Exactly. We can figure out a way to balance everything. I just want to make sure that we're always checking in with each other, that we don't let life get in the way of what we have."

Alex nodded. "Agreed. We'll make it work, whatever it takes."

They spent the rest of the evening discussing more details—what kind of apartments they could look at, how they'd split their time between work and personal life, and how they could support each other's career goals without sacrificing their relationship. It felt good to talk openly about these things, to share their hopes and concerns, and to know that they were both equally committed to making this next phase of their lives work.

By the end of the night, Prae felt lighter, more confident about the future. They might not have all the answers yet, but they had a plan. And most importantly, they had each other.

As they lay in bed, Alex turned to her, his hand resting gently on her cheek. "No matter what we decide, Prae, I want you to know that I'm with you—every step of the way."

Prae smiled, leaning in to kiss him softly. "I'm with you too, Alex. Whatever we decide, we'll do it together."

TBC