Secret Admirer

8. Ring

"June, I don't think this is it," Kayu said feeling distressed. The whole engagement thing was giving him a headache. He knew that he was not mentally or emotionally ready to take such a huge step in his relationship with June. 

Since it was just the two of them in the resort suite they were supposed to stay at, Kayu could finally talk to June openly.

"I know," June hugged his fiancé.

Kayu didn't hug him back, evidently mad at the fact that he had been proposed to within just a month of them seeing each other. "Since you know why did you do this?" 

"My parents want us to get engaged," June lied. The real reason why he proposed to Kayu was because he didn't want the latter to leave him.

The fact that Kayu was yet to submit his resignation letter yet, was enough for him to know how much the little guy cared about Ciro.  He knew that Kayu couldn't forget his feelings for Ciro so easily. 

Those feelings were something Kayu had nursed with him for years, despite knowing that Ciro was in a serious relationship. Even imagining that Kayu would let go of his feelings for Ciro just because he had started seeing him sounded like a dumb thing to him.

If one day Ciro showed any kind of interest towards Kayu, he was afraid that Kayu might choose Ciro over him.

He didn't want to take chances in this. He didn't want his second relationship to fail like his first did and the proposal was just a precaution he took.

He felt that Kayu was perfect for him. Around the time when he started chatting with Kayu, he tried to chat with others and explore more options but in the end, he came back to Kayu.

Kayu made him feel comfortable. Kayu never judged him for being so open and straightforward. Most people mocked him for being sensitive and nursing the scars he got from the previous relationship, but Kayu never did.

Meeting Kayu had put him in a space of comfort. They gelled in so well. 

Kayu was so different from Buri. He was soft-tempered and caring. He believed in emotional bonding, unlike Buri who believed in physical bonding and had pulled June to the bed, just a few minutes after he confessed his feelings.

June couldn't help but compare Kayu and Buri often and he felt that Kayu was the best option for him.

Hearing that it was because of June's parents, Kayu's eyes softened. He knew that the couple worried a lot about their son. He returned the hug. "Then, you should have talked to me, no?"

"I am sorry," June mumbled looking guilty. But internally he was not feeling guilty at all. He was aware of how much of a principled person Kayu was. Now that they were engaged, he knew that Kayu would never cheat on him or leave him.

Kayu cupped June's face. "I forgive you this time. But there should be no next time. You should discuss it with me before making such important decisions, okay?"

"Okay?" June smiled and nodded. He held Kayu's hand. "This ring, this is the one my dad used to propose to my mom. I had it resized to fit you." He said, emphasizing the importance of the ring and its emotional value.

Seeing the emotions that were swelling up in Kayu's eyes while looking at the ring, June knew that his trick was working.

"Thank you," Kayu muttered softly as tears spilled from his eyes. He couldn't believe that June would entrust him with such a valuable item. He was starting to feel emotional. "It's so beautiful."

June fought back his urge to smirk. He put a sweet smile on his face as he kissed Kayu's hand that adorned the ring. "It suits you well."

Kayu blushed. Though his feelings towards June were not deep, he still felt shy. It was the first time a guy was holding him like that and kissing his hand. 

June wiped Kayu's tears and said in a warm voice. "Just because I proposed to you today, it doesn't mean that we need to rush into our wedding as well na. We can take our time. I am sure that my mom and dad would be rest assured seeing you wear this ring."

Kayu nodded shyly. He really did need time. 

"And don't worry. When we are both ready to get married, I will give you a really good proposal. Not like this lousy one."

"It wasn't lousy." Kayu pouted with pink cheeks. "It was romantic."

He had never imagined June to get on his knees in front of so many people to ask for his hand. He found it really romantic.

June prevented himself from laughing out loud. Impressing Kayu was really easy. "Thank god. I was worried that you didn't like the proposal."

Kayu pouted harder, fiddling with the ring, "I am not such a superficial person."

June smiled in victory. He stole a sniff kiss on his fiancé's cheeks, making the latter turn a darker shade of pink.

The moment was interrupted by the buzzing of Kayu's phone.

"Just a minute na," Kayu pulled out his phone to check. Having been Ciro's secretary for years, he never ignored any calls or messages. 

June nodded, letting go of Kayu. He saw the latter's face turn grim. "What happened, Kayu? Who is it?"

"Khun Ciro," Kayu tucked the phone back in his pocket. "He is at the reception."

The news made June's mood turn sour. "Didn't you say that he won't be here?"

"That's what he said to me as well, June. Normally he would come here with Khun Aya. Now that they broke up, he said that he wasn't interested in coming here. I don't know what made him change his mind."

June knitted his brows. He didn't know if Ciro's arrival at the resort was good news or bad news for him.

"June, I need to go meet him," Kayu said. "If he is planning to stay over, I will have to arrange the food and accommodation for him as well." 

"Alright. You get on with your work," June said, acting like an understanding boyfriend.

"Thanks, June." Kayu smiled genuinely at him. "I will come back as fast as I can."

After Kayu left the suite, June hit the shower. He had to wash off all the chlorine that had accumulated on his body after the swim in the pool.

When he stepped out of the bath, he realized that he hadn't brought in a change of clothes. His mind was too distracted with the thoughts of Ciro's arrival. Sighing to himself, he wrapped a towel around his waist and got out of the washroom.

He pulled up the mini suitcase that he had brought and started looking for clothes to wear. He was told that there would be a campfire and barbecue. He was wondering what he should wear as all of Kayu's colleagues, and their families would be there.

He picked up a blue t-shirt and shorts. Just then, he heard footsteps behind him. "You are back so quickly?" He asked assuming that it was Kayu.

He turned around and saw that the person standing behind him was not Kayu, but someone whom he had been familiar with years ago.