Forget Me Not

Testing the Waters

The days flew by, and the weekend arrived before Tine even realized it. He glanced at his phone and let out a deep sigh, something that didn't go unnoticed by Sarawat, who was driving beside him.

"Hey, everything okay?" Sarawat asked.

Tine sighed again and turned slightly to face the driver, whose charming smile had already won him over. "Look, my brother has a tendency to exaggerate. He can be aggravating with his questions and often makes people feel bad about themselves. So, please, whatever he says, just let it go and don't take it too seriously. He likes to push people's buttons to see how long they can last."

Sarawat chuckled, keeping his eyes on the road. "That doesn't sound so bad. Aren't all older siblings like that? They can be overprotective because they've been through situations you haven't experienced yet."

"And that gives them the right to think they're superior?"

"No...but it explains why they end up annoying their younger siblings sometimes."

Tine clicked his tongue and turned to face the front. From the corner of his eye, Sarawat could tell he was a bit upset and not eager to meet his brother so early. Originally, Type had agreed to meet them for dinner, but then he changed it to lunch. Now, he wanted them to have brunch together. This constant change of plans annoyed Tine, especially since his brother always acted like a nightmare to his lovers.

What Tine didn't realize was that Sarawat was observing him carefully. Sarawat thought about his own brother, Phukong, and how irritated he had been when he found out Sarawat had snooped around his previous workplace. If Phukong knew the whole truth, he'd be more than pissed off to learn that Sarawat had been keeping him under surveillance since he graduated from college.

Feeling the need to address the mood inside the car, Sarawat pulled over and parked his Mustang. Tine was baffled by this and turned to him. "What are you doing?"

Sarawat shut off the engine and faced him. "Has your brother ever interfered with your decisions?"

Tine blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question. "No, of course not."

"So, he annoys you but still lets you do what you want?" Tine nodded. Sarawat continued, "I have a younger brother too, you know. He's often careless with his decisions because he thinks he has nothing to lose. Overprotective siblings can be a pain, but what they do for you makes up for that."

Tine pursed his lips. "I don't hate him, but it's frustrating. I see him as possessive, overreactive, territorial, and controlling."

"That's because he's trying to protect you, Tine. The fact that he acts that way means you have a close relationship. Overprotective siblings are known for their unwanted opinions," Sarawat said, making Tine laugh. "But here's something younger siblings don't know. If they don't share their opinions and something goes wrong, they feel partly to blame. It's like they should have been there for you, should have helped you."

Tine looked at him and smiled. "Type is always there for me...the only person I can turn to for the good, the bad, and the ugly."

Sarawat nodded. "Yep. I'm the same with Phukong. If trouble finds him, I'll always help him out."

Fair point. Tine had seen many sides of Sarawat since they first met, but he had never witnessed this protective side of him. Though he hadn't met any of Sarawat's brothers, it was clear that the youngest Phukong held a significant place in his life. As their eyes met, Sarawat's words resonated with Tine, and suddenly, all the annoyance he felt for his older brother vanished.

Sarawat had a way of speaking that never made others feel judged. Feeling much better, Tine leaned closer and kissed Sarawat. Warmth spread through his body, stirring something deep within both of them. It was a moment that felt like the best life could offer. Though reluctant to part from each other, they knew someone was waiting for them.