Crossing Paths

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 22: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲

Pete awoke to the harsh glare of sunlight piercing through the blinds, his head pounding with the unmistakable throb of a hangover. His mouth felt like it had been stuffed with cotton, and the remnants of last night's emotions clung to him like a heavy fog. He groaned, rolling over in bed and immediately regretting the sudden movement as the room spun around him.

For a moment, he lay there, trying to piece together the events of the previous night. The celebration at the bar, the endless flow of drinks, the tears he had shed in front of his friends. And then, the memory of Vegas, picking him up, holding him as he poured out his heart, and... the kiss. Pete cringed inwardly, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. He had tried to seduce Vegas, and he had fallen asleep in the middle of it.

He had made a fool of himself.

Pete forced himself to sit up, blinking against the brightness of the morning light. His head pounded in protest, but he knew he couldn't afford to dwell on the awkwardness of last night. The weight of the conversation they hadn't had still hung in the air, but Pete wasn't ready to face it—not with his head splitting in two and the taste of regret still lingering in his mouth.

He needed to get out of the apartment.

With a groan, Pete swung his legs over the side of the bed, his feet meeting the cool floor. He glanced over at Vegas, who was still sound asleep beside him, his features softened in the early morning light. For a moment, Pete's heart ached with a mixture of love and guilt. He wanted to reach out, to touch him, to say something—anything—but the fear of an awkward conversation held him back.

Silently, he slipped out of bed and headed for the bathroom. The cold water splashed onto his face helped clear his mind a little, but it did nothing for the gnawing anxiety in his chest. As he dressed quickly in a fresh set of clothes, he avoided looking at his reflection in the mirror. He didn't want to face the person he had been last night—the one who had let his emotions get the better of him, who had crumbled under the weight of his own insecurities.

Once dressed, Pete grabbed his bag and quietly made his way out of the apartment. The early morning streets of Bangkok were already bustling with activity, the city waking up to another day of heat and noise. He navigated the familiar route to the university on autopilot, his mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. He knew he couldn't avoid Vegas forever, but for now, he needed space. He needed to focus on something else, anything else.

At the university, Pete met up with his friends, who were in high spirits after the success of their final project. Despite his hangover, Pete managed to muster a smile as they congratulated each other on a job well done. The atmosphere was light, filled with the excitement of having completed something they had all worked so hard on.

But his friends could see through the facade. Nok, always perceptive, pulled Pete aside after a few minutes, her eyes full of concern.

"You okay?" she asked softly, her hand resting on his arm. "You don't look so great."

Pete forced a chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "Just a bit hungover. Nothing I can't handle."

Nok's brow furrowed, and she gave him a pointed look. "This isn't just about the hangover, Pete. We all saw how upset you were last night. Is everything okay with you and Vegas?"

Pete hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I don't know, Nok. Things are... complicated right now."

Nok squeezed his arm reassuringly. "That's why we're going to the beach. You need a break, Pete. You've been under so much stress, and it's time for you to relax and clear your head."

Pete looked up, surprised. "The beach?"

Nok grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yeah, we've decided to head to my family's resort for a couple of weeks. Just us, no distractions, no stress. You need this, Pete."

Pete's heart lifted at the thought of getting away from everything—the city, the stress, the tension with Vegas. A part of him felt guilty for leaving without telling Vegas, but he knew he needed this time to himself. He needed to figure out what he wanted, what he needed, without the weight of their relationship hanging over him.

"When do we leave?" Pete asked, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice.

"Today," Nok replied with a wink. "We've already packed, and we're not letting you back out of this. We're going to get you out of your head for a while."

Pete's smile widened, the first genuine smile he'd managed in what felt like weeks. "I'm in."

The rest of the day passed in a blur of activity as Pete and his friends prepared for their impromptu getaway. There was a palpable sense of relief among them, a shared understanding that this trip was as much about celebrating their success as it was about finding some much-needed peace.

They left for the beach that afternoon, the journey filled with laughter and light-hearted banter that did wonders to lift Pete's spirits. The further they got from Bangkok, the lighter Pete felt, as if the city's oppressive weight was finally lifting from his shoulders.

As they arrived at the resort, the sight of the ocean stretching out before them took Pete's breath away. The waves lapped gently at the shore, the sound soothing and rhythmic. The air was fresh and salty, a stark contrast to the city's smog-filled atmosphere. It was exactly what he needed.

For the first time in a long while, Pete felt a sense of calm settle over him. The resort was beautiful, with pristine beaches and cozy bungalows nestled among swaying palm trees. It was the perfect escape, a world away from the pressures and problems he had left behind.

As the sun set that evening, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Pete sat on the beach with his friends, a cold drink in hand. He watched the waves roll in and out, the rhythmic motion mirroring the steadying of his own thoughts. For now, he could let go. He could breathe.

And he could take this time to figure out where he stood, not just with Vegas, but with himself.

But as much as he tried to push thoughts of Vegas aside, Pete couldn't help but wonder how Vegas would react when he realized Pete had left without telling him. A part of him felt guilty, but another part knew that this was necessary. He needed this time to himself, to reflect and recharge.

As the night deepened and the stars appeared in the sky, Pete felt a sense of peace that had eluded him for weeks. Surrounded by friends who cared about him, with the sound of the ocean in his ears, he allowed himself to relax, to let go of the worries that had plagued him.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Pete slept soundly that night, the soothing lull of the sea a comforting presence in the background.

But even as he drifted off, a part of him couldn't help but wonder what awaited him when he returned to Bangkok—and to Vegas.