Against the Tide

Chapter 23: Ghosts from the Past

Life in Bangkok had been a whirlwind of new experiences for Daou and Offroad. Their relationship had grown stronger as they adapted to their new surroundings and the challenges of their careers. But just as they were finding their rhythm, an unexpected figure from Daou’s past returned to shake things up.

It was a typical Tuesday evening when Daou left his office after a long day. As he stepped outside, he was caught off guard by the sight of someone familiar—**Phayu**, his ex, standing near the entrance.

Phayu was an Omega, and despite the time that had passed, he still carried the same delicate beauty and magnetic presence that had once captivated Daou. But this wasn’t a welcome surprise; Phayu’s presence stirred memories that Daou had tried hard to bury.

“Daou,” Phayu greeted softly, his voice carrying that familiar, soothing tone. “It’s been a while.”

Daou’s mind raced, trying to process the sight of Phayu standing in front of him. The last time they had seen each other, their relationship had ended in a mess of unresolved emotions and misunderstandings. Now, seeing him again brought all those buried feelings rushing back.

“Phayu… What are you doing here?” Daou asked, struggling to keep his composure.

Phayu smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m in Bangkok for a while, for work. I heard you were here, so I thought I’d see how you’re doing.”

The casual nature of Phayu’s words didn’t fool Daou. There was more to this encounter than a simple reunion. Phayu’s scent—a subtle, sweet pheromone unique to him—lingered in the air, reminding Daou of the bond they once shared.

“I’m doing well,” Daou replied, trying to keep the conversation short. “A lot’s changed since we last saw each other.”

Phayu nodded, his eyes scanning Daou’s face as if searching for something. “So I’ve heard. And you’ve moved on, haven’t you? Found someone new?”

Daou tensed at the question. The last thing he wanted was for Phayu to stir up trouble in his relationship with Offroad. But he also knew that avoiding the past wouldn’t help.

“Yes, I have,” Daou said firmly. “I’m happy with Offroad, and we’re building a life together.”

Phayu’s smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. “I’m glad you’re happy, Daou. But I can’t help feeling that we never really got closure. There are things I’ve wanted to say for a long time, things that still weigh on me.”

Daou felt a mix of frustration and guilt. He had moved on, but Phayu’s words struck a nerve. The truth was, their relationship had ended abruptly, with too many things left unsaid. But Daou didn’t want to dredge up the past, especially now that he had Offroad.

“Phayu, whatever we had is in the past,” Daou replied, his voice steady. “I’m in a good place now, and I don’t want to go back.”

Phayu took a step closer, his Omega scent growing stronger, more intoxicating. “I understand that, Daou. But don’t you think we owe it to ourselves to have that final conversation? To finally put everything to rest?”

Daou hesitated. He didn’t want to engage with Phayu, but he also knew that leaving things unresolved could come back to haunt him. The last thing he wanted was for his past with Phayu to interfere with his future with Offroad.

“I don’t know, Phayu,” Daou said quietly. “I’ve moved on, and I don’t want to disrupt what I have with Offroad.”

Phayu’s gaze softened, a hint of sadness in his eyes. “I’m not here to disrupt anything, Daou. I just… I need to close this chapter for myself, and maybe you do too.”

Daou sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. He didn’t want to reopen old wounds, but he also didn’t want to leave things unresolved. “I’ll think about it,” he finally said.

Phayu nodded, accepting Daou’s response. “That’s all I ask. I’m in town for a few days if you decide you want to talk.”

As Phayu walked away, Daou stood there for a moment, grappling with the emotions that had been stirred up. He knew he needed to talk to Offroad about this, but he wasn’t sure how to bring it up.

When Daou got home that evening, Offroad greeted him with his usual warmth, but Daou couldn’t shake the unease that had settled over him. As they sat down to dinner, Offroad noticed that Daou was quieter than usual.

“Something on your mind?” Offroad asked gently, sensing that something was bothering Daou.

Daou hesitated, then decided to be honest. “I ran into someone today… my ex, Phayu.”

Offroad’s expression remained calm, but there was a subtle shift in his demeanor. “Oh? What did he want?”

“He said he wanted to talk, to get some closure,” Daou explained, trying to find the right words. “But honestly, I don’t know if I want to have that conversation. I’ve moved on, but seeing him again brought up a lot of old feelings.”

Offroad reached across the table, taking Daou’s hand in his. “It’s okay if it brought up some emotions. The past has a way of doing that, especially with someone like Phayu.”

Daou looked into Offroad’s eyes, feeling a sense of relief. “I don’t want anything to come between us, Offroad. You’re the one I love, and that’s what matters to me.”

Offroad squeezed his hand reassuringly. “Then that’s all that matters to me too. If you need to talk to him for your own peace of mind, I’ll understand. But if not, we can leave the past behind and focus on what we have.”

Daou nodded, feeling a sense of clarity. “I’ll think about it, but no matter what, you’re my priority.”

As they continued their evening together, Daou couldn’t help but feel a lingering unease. He knew that Phayu’s reappearance was going to test their relationship, but he was determined to face it head-on, with Offroad by his side.