Unmasked

Practice

Tin and Can went for a run together after untangling themselves from each other's embrace. While running, Tin couldn't help but think about Yacht and Lemon. He wondered why Yacht had to abruptly leave the island the previous night. Although he wanted to reach out, Tin assumed that if something was wrong, Lemon would have contacted Can or Yacht would have reached out to him.

As they followed the path, they exchanged friendly waves with other joggers. When they approached the beach, Can greeted two men heading in the opposite direction.

Tin glanced at Can, but since Can didn't say anything, they continued their run in silence. In fact, Tin was even running slightly ahead of Can.

When the curiosity in Tin's mind couldn't stay quiet any longer, he spun around and walked backwards, keeping his eyes on Can. "Did you have a fling with one of them?"

"Have a fling with who?"

"One of those two guys." Tin pointed back down the road.

"Would you feel jealous if I did?"

Tin let out a groan, turned around, and continued running.

"Whoa!" Can shouted, "Hold on a second!" Can rushed towards him and grabbed his arm, pulling Tin to face him. "Wait, you can't just drop a bomb like that and leave."

"What do you expect me to say?"

"I want you to respond. Are you feeling jealous?"

"Why should I be jealous?" Tin avoided looking at Can. "Just because he's muscular with gorgeous dark hair, and tempting lips, and the gaze of a deity, doesn't mean I'm jealous."

Can gently held Tin's face. "No. I didn't have relations with either of them."

"Shit."

"What now?"

"I've never been one to feel jealous. You know me well." Tin walked away, deep in thought. "I used to believe that if someone wanted to leave, I should help them pack. But now, whenever a man even glances at you the wrong way, I feel this urge to punch him for simply breathing. I mean, just this morning, all those handsome European men couldn't take their eyes off you while you were jogging, and I can't help but wonder why you picked me out of all of them."

Can grinned, and Tin felt the urge to punch him in the face.

"Don't laugh at me."

"I'm not." Can approached him. "Tin, I didn't choose you, Ho chai khung chan leuk khun." หัวใจของฉันเลือกคุณ (my heart chose you)

"Your heart...."

"I already expressed my feelings to you - both in the past and in the present. Despite your desire to see me suffer, my feelings remain unchanged. I have an intense love for you that goes beyond friendship." Can ran his fingers through his damp hair and let out a deep sigh. "There's nothing platonic about it. Currently, I'm patiently waiting for you to understand. However, if I'm being truthful, I've been waiting here all along. I can't wait indefinitely."

"So you'd move on and just fall in love with other people than me. Wow"

Can's lips curled into a faint smile. "No, it implies that eventually I will have to accept the reality that you will never view me as anything more than what I am now. It will be time for me to let go and find a new path. Perhaps I'll even relocate here and explore new opportunities. That's just the way life goes."

Tin gave a nod of agreement. He shifted his gaze towards the water, taking in a deep breath of the salty air. The shifting dynamics of their relationship brought about a sense of fear within him. Every little thing seemed to make him anxious, yet he couldn't deny the intense emotions he felt for Can, which also frightened him. As he noticed those men eyeing Can, his world seemed to crumble bit by bit. He longed to break free from his own thoughts and express to Can what he desperately needed to say. However, there was an invisible barrier preventing him from doing so.