Accidentally Married

28. Confession 2

Nai sat on the plush sofa, his hands nervously twisting together in his lap as he waited for Dona to speak. 

Dona's voice was gentle yet firm. "Nai, I understand why you are feeling the way you are. But I think there is more to Zo's situation than meets the eye."

Nai looked up, confused. "What do you mean?"

Dona exchanged a glance with Lam before continuing. "I believe Zo might be confused about his sexuality. It is possible that he thinks he is straight because that's what society has taught him to believe, but deep down, he could be gay. It is more common than you might think, especially in a society that heavily reinforces heterosexual norms."

Jib furrowed her brow, leaning forward slightly. "You think Zo might actually be gay?" She had indeed noticed the hint of affection in the gaze Zo directed at her son. 

Dona nodded. "Yes, it is a possibility. Society often raises children with the assumption that they will grow up to be straight. It is the default expectation, and many people go along with it because it is all they have ever known. But when someone starts to experience feelings that don't fit into that mold, it can be confusing, even frightening."

Nai listened silently. Back when he was a teenager, and he figured that he was gay he was frightened as well. Thanks to his parents and friends who were supportive, he managed to embrace his new identity easily.

Mike who had been silent until now, spoke up. "So, you're saying Zo might be struggling with this? And that is why he is so adamant about staying in the marriage?"

Dona smiled gently. "Exactly. He might not even realize it himself. It is a process of self-discovery that can take time. He could be clinging to the idea of being straight because it is what he is always believed, but deep down, his feelings for Nai might be telling him something different."

Nai's heart pounded in his chest as he listened, a mix of emotions swirling inside him. "But he told me he has only ever been attracted to women. He even said the thought of being with a man disgusted him. How can I reconcile that with what you are saying?"

Dona's expression softened with understanding. "Sometimes, people say things out of fear or confusion. Zo might be reacting to the conflict between what he thinks he should feel and what he actually feels. It is not easy to confront the possibility that you are not who you always thought you were."

Lam nodded in agreement. "Dona is right, Nai. It is not uncommon for people to go through this kind of struggle. Zo might need time to come to terms with his feelings, and he might need your support to do that."

Jib reached out, placing a comforting hand on his knee. "You don't have to make any decisions right away, Nai. But maybe it is worth considering that Zo's insistence on staying married isn't just about his family's reputation. He might be trying to hold on to something he doesn't fully understand yet."

Nai felt a lump in his throat as he considered their words. "But what if... what if he never figures it out? What if I'm just setting myself up for more heartbreak?"

Dona leaned forward; her eyes filled with empathy. "There is always a risk in love, Nai. But if there's even a chance that Zo is struggling with his identity, wouldn't it be worth exploring? If you care for him, maybe giving him the time and space to understand himself could lead to something more. But that is a decision only you can make."

The room fell into a contemplative silence, the weight of Dona's words settling over everyone. Nai looked around at his family, their supportive faces offering him a sense of comfort and understanding.

Finally, Nai nodded, a small sigh escaping his lips. "I'll think about it, Auntie. I'll think about everything you've said."

Dona smiled warmly, her hand reaching out to gently squeeze Nai's. "That's all I ask, Nai. Just give it some thought. And no matter what you decide, we're all here for you."

"It's already late. You should go back to bed. It's not nice to keep your husband waiting na," Mike said teasingly.

"Dad!" The tip of Nai's ears turned red.

The four seniors roared in laughter seeing Nai's embarrassment.

"I'll get going. Good night, everyone." Nai said as he turned to leave.

"Good night Ja" The four of them said.

"Don't stay up too late." Nai said worriedly seeing the wine bottles being emptied one after another.

"Khrab/ Kha," The elders said dismissively.

Nai could only sigh and leave.

"I am glad that you talked to them," He heard Aum as he entered the hallway.

Aum smiled widely when Nai turned to face him. "I know that you have your reservations when it comes to committing to a person like P' Zo, but I think that you should give it a short. Maybe you might end up hitting a jackpot."

"Thanks man," Nai fist bumped on his shoulder.

Aum chuckled. "By the way, there is something I want to ask you. What kind of man is Khun Saifah?"

"P' Saifah? Why are you asking about him out of nowhere?" The frown on Nai's face was replaced by an expression of enlightenment. "Don't tell me you want to know more about P' Sailom's family!"

"What the heck is wrong with you? I was asking about him because of Jui. He had been acting weird around Khun Saifah."

"Weird? In what sense?" Nai raised an eyebrow, curious.

"I don't know how to put a finger on it, but it was indeed weird. Weird in the sense that Jui was not being Jui after Khun Saifah arrived. It was as if someone had possessed his body. Do you know how respectfully and formally Jui was talking to him? "

" Khun Saifah is exactly his type. Handsome, tall, hot, confident, all that." Aum shook his head, trying to piece it together. "But Jui didn't make a move. In fact, he barely said a word to him. Just polite, distant. And Khun Saifah... well, he was definitely trying to hit on Jui, wasn't he?"

Nai nodded slowly, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Yeah, P' Saifah was interested, no doubt about that."

Aum sighed, pushing off the wall. "So why didn't Jui go for it? It's not like him to just stand back, especially when someone like Khun Saifah is giving him attention. And honestly, Jui looked tense the whole night. Do you know if something's going on?"

Nai leaned back against the wall, arms crossing over his chest. "You are right, it's not like him at all. I noticed too, but Jui hasn't said anything to me." He hesitated for a second before adding, "Maybe something happened that he is not telling us. P' Saifah's interest should have been exactly what Jui wanted, but... who knows?"

Aum frowned, deep in thought. "Whatever it is, I hope Jui is okay. It just didn't feel right."

Nai gave him a nod, understanding. "We will figure it out. Let's give him some space for now, but we will keep an eye on him."