Peace

Chapter 17: Family

The alarm on the nightstand is buzzing loudly. Win groggily extends his arm out and presses on a button to make it stop. He breathes out before opening his eyes to the faint light coming from the thin curtained window. The clock shows 7 o'clock in the morning. Bright is clinging to him like a koala, snuggling up to his body. He plants a kiss on his hair and silently gets out of bed, careful not to wake him up.

Win walks over to the window and takes a peek at the world outside. The morning looks ebullient with the sun that has just come up in the East. Today is his graduation day at Thammasat University. He's finally graduating from the place that gave him the taste of Hell and also Heaven. Nevertheless, Win chooses to remember the university as his happy place where he first met his love, Bright.

The young man approaches their bed and pulls the weighing scale from underneath. It has become his routine to do it every day. He steps on the device and waits for the number to show up. 70.5 kg. He exhales a deep breath and hides the scale back under the bed. "Prince?"

Win startles at the voice. A flash of surprise washes over his pale face with a cold sweat forming on his forehead. "Y-yeah?" He croaks out.

"What are you doing there? It's still early," Bright mumbles with his eyes half closed while pulling the duvet higher until it reaches under his chin.

Win almost coos at the sight. "Cold?" He asks as he gets back under the duvet. He wastes no time and wraps his arms around Bright. They are cocooned in the thick duvet, accompanied by the warmth they have for one another.

"You're graduating today," Bright whispers. He gives Win a smooch on his neck and sniffs his scent that he has found himself to be addicted to. Win squirms because he feels ticklish.

"I don't feel like going. I should've opted for the university to just mail me the degree certificate," Win tells, resting his chin on top of Bright's head.

Bright shifts a little and looks at his boyfriend. "Don't say that. Today is your day. Four years of your hard work is paid off now. Besides, don't you want to visit our favorite spot one last time?"

Win smiles at the mention of the spot by the field under a shady tree. "I miss it," he states. His phone suddenly pings with a message. He grabs the phone on the nightstand and reads the message displayed on the screen.

Mama ❤️
See you later at 9:30. Don't be late, please?

"Who is it?" Bright asks.

"Oh, it's mama. She said she'll meet us there," Win tells. He replies with an 'ok' and places his phone back to where it was before.

Bright sits up and starts to press on each joint of his fingers on both hands. Win notices how he would do it every time he wakes up in the morning. "You should shower, Prince. I'll make breakfast. Anything you'd like to eat?"

Win thinks for a moment. "Just a plain toast," he shrugs.

"Prince, that's plain," Bright says.

"It is indeed plain, idiot," Win playfully shoves his boyfriend on his shoulder and gets up from the bed. "I love you," he grins at him before he enters the bathroom.

Bright prepares everything for Win and he gets into the shower once the younger man is done. Thankfully, it's Sunday. If not, he'd feel bad if he cannot attend Win's graduation day because of work. The man takes a quick shower. When he finishes, he walks out to the sight of Win already dressed up in his uniform. His graduation gown is spread out on their bed. Win looks so handsome and neat.

"That's your outfit," Win points to a pair of black trousers and a white button-up shirt hung on a hanger in the closet.

The older man nods and starts getting ready. After that, he styles his hair in front of the mirror while Win is scrolling through his phone. Bright grabs a black tie with tiny white dots pattern from one of the drawers. He stares at it for a good minute and glances at his boyfriend.