Anyone But You [PhayuRain] [Love In The Air]

24: ONLY YOU

Phayu's voice was subdued, his eyes full of anguish as he recounted the painful events from the past that had haunted him for nine years.

They lay on the bed facing each other. Bodies parallel. Two feet separated them as the story unfolded.

Their heads rested on separate pillows. Pillows that not only cushioned their heads but caught Rain's tears as every event, conversation, and threat was exposed and peeled back like an onion, stinging and sharp.

Phayu held nothing back, telling Rain all the ugly details about what his father had done that led to the choice that he had made.

They couldn't help but feel sad for the boys they had been, the loss of the love that had felt so strong and  dazzling.

Phayu confessed until there were no secrets left. All his thoughts, reactions, and actions laid bare out in the open.

Quiet descended.

Phayu's mind whirled, looking at Rain helplessly as he silently processed everything he had heard.

The moment he had longed for, prayed for, and waited so patiently for was finally here. Yet Rain still seemed so far away.

Would he finally realize that he never wanted to leave him?

That he had not picked his career, the company, or his family over him?

That he only gave in to the marriage to stop his father from hurting Rain and his family?

Would he know that Phayu would rather have cut out his own heart than ever hurt him?

The sound of rain that had receded as Phayu talked became prominent again.

It beat a steady tattoo on the roof.

It pelted the glass on the window in a tinny echo.

It hit the greedy ground with a sloppy plop.

The air inside felt heavy, as much with old wounds, betrayals, and the unfairness of it all, as with the sacrifices, the loss of their youthful happiness, and new memories with others that filled the years that came after.

Even though confessing all the painful details was necessary for them to move forward, Phayu realized that the cruelty of what had been threatened against his family could push Rain more definitively out of his life.

Even if he now understood his reasons, and forgave his actions, would Rain even want a future with the son of the man who would have ruined his family without a second thought?

He looked at Rain helplessly again, the two feet between them might as well have been the ocean and countries that had separated them for the last eight years.

It hurt him to see the tears that drenched Rain's eyes. He ached to reach over and wipe them away. 

Wanted nothing more than to pull him into his body and curl around him to soothe his pain. 

To swear to him that he would never hurt him again.

But he wouldn't. Rain needed to make the next move.

But Rain was still silent, not saying anything.

He hadn't said a word as he told him the story. Hadn't asked any questions. Hadn't piped in with any reaction.

So Phayu waited.

He was used to waiting.

*