R❤️❤️mmates

6

As First drives home, he is overcome by a strange, unsettling feeling that seems to spread throughout his body. Arriving at the driveway, he hastily exits the car and rushes to the house.

"Khao? Are you here?" he calls out as he steps into the dark living room. Every room is dimly lit, and for a moment, First assumes his roommate must be out. However, he soon discerns the sound of muffled crying.

"Khao? Are you in there?" First inquires, approaching his crush's closed door. He gently knocks, and the sobbing momentarily ceases. Although he cannot identify the reason, he is sure the younger man is inside the room.

"Khao? Can I come in? Please," First says as he gets closer to the door, making sure not to miss his roommate's response. The sobs resume, and it's evident that Khao is trying to stifle them so that First won't realize he's inside.

"Khao! I will come in now!" First moves his hand to the doorknob and is about to enter when Khao shouts, "No! Please! Please don't come in!"

The younger man's desperation in his voice breaks First's heart and makes him even more determined to enter the room.

"Why? Please. I need to see you. Khao!?" The older man cannot imagine what might have happened to his crush, but he knows that he needs to get to him; he needs to help, comfort, and care for him.

"No! Phi! Please!" Khao's voice fades and is replaced by uncontrolled sobs.

Suddenly, items being thrown against the wall drown the desperate whines, and First just opens the door.

He stops for a second, looking at Khao, who is lifting a chair and about to throw it.

"Khao! Stop!" First dashes to the young man, bringing his arms around the latter from behind to make him stop.

"Please, Phi! Make it stop! It hurts too much. I ..." Khao's body is shaking, but First can sense that only his embrace keeps the man from falling to the ground in exhaustion.

"Shhh. I am here now. Shhh. Let me take care of you."

Slowly, Khao gives up his last strength, and they both fall to the ground with First's arms still around his young roommate. In a swift motion, Khao turns in the other man's embrace and brings his arms around him, releasing all his held-back emotions and letting his tears stream freely down his face.

"Phi! It hurts! It ..."

"I know. But I am here now. I will not leave you." First, gently caresses the young man, who is still in his arms over his back and head. When Khao finally seems to calm down, First helps him onto the bed.

"Phi! I am so tired. I ..." Khao murmurs as his crush slowly lets him down on the mattress.

"Shhh. Just sleep. I will stay here. And when you wake up, we will talk." The older man soothes his young roommate, slowly brushing his fingers through his soft hair.

When Khao's body relaxes, and First is sure he is asleep, the latter moves away from him to call his friend Net to let him know he will not come back to school today.

First is still confused about what might have happened to the man he likes, but seeing him so vulnerable raises his anger toward the person who might have hurt him. Without a sound, he steps back into the bedroom. Khao hisses in his sleep, and it is only now that First remarks about the bruises on his wrists and the swelling on his cheek. He cannot believe that someone bullied his younger roommate.

Quickly, he goes to the bathroom to get the medicine to apply to Khao's bruises. As he sits beside the young man, the latter stirs in his sleep, and his shirt flies open. It is only at that moment that First sees that the white shirt is ripped. His eyes move down over his roommate's torso, and a single tear escapes his eye.