A New Safe Space

Beach Therapy

Akk stood in front of his apartment door, exasperated but unsurprised to find Ray waiting there a full 30 minutes early. Dressed in a fitted white beach shirt, stylish shorts, and expensive sunglasses that framed his sharp features, Ray held out a coffee cup with an almost innocent grin. Despite his casual attire, he looked striking, and the playful smirk only heightened his charm. Akk couldn't ignore Ray's effortless allure, though he was determined not to let it distract him.

"Please, let me in. I brought coffee!" Ray pleaded, waving the cup like a peace offering.

"You're early, Ray. No need to beg," Akk sighed, stepping aside to let him in. Surprisingly, he found himself at ease with Ray's lively morning chatter as he moved around, finishing his last-minute preparations. Ray's gaze following him around made Akk feel both warm and a bit self-conscious.

Later, the group gathered for their trip, piling into the small bus they'd rented for a relaxing day at the beach. Akk had hesitated about joining, especially knowing that Ayan and Yok would be there. His nerves had only heightened with Ray's unexpected presence. Ray was shameless, unfiltered, and likely to say anything to anyone—and the last thing Akk wanted was for the group to know the complexity of their connection: how they'd met, that Ray had been his intern, and most of all, that Ray Pakorn was the heir to the very company Akk worked for.

Ayan, in particular, would find it ironic. Akk had once been outspoken about Ayan's privileged background and how it made him feel out of place. Now here he was, with someone even wealthier. As Akk watched Ray, he realized that in some ways, Ray and Ayan were similar but also very different. Both were confident and relentless, but where Ayan was calm and reflective, Ray was passionate and direct.

As the bus pulled up, Akk immediately noticed the surprised looks on his friends' faces. Khan, the mastermind behind the invitation, hadn't told anyone Ray would be joining. Akk fought the urge to kick him—first for inviting Ray and second for not giving their friends a heads-up.

"Hey, everyone, this is Ray! Akk's, uh... friend," Khan announced cheerfully, clearly enjoying the awkward surprise.

Ray, ever the charmer, greeted each person warmly, shaking hands as he introduced himself. When he reached Ayan, there was a slight pause, Ray's gaze flickering with recognition—he knew this was the man who had made Akk so miserable the night they met enough for him to say yes to a night with a stranger. He shot a glance back at Akk, who avoided his eyes, before moving on to Yok and greeting him with a brief but friendly handshake.

Ray then pulled a bottle of whiskey from his bag, handing it to Khan with a grin. "This is for you. Thanks for inviting me. Really appreciate it. Otherwise, my weekend would have been spent missing someone who didn't even care enough to invite me."

"Ray..." Akk warned, his tone low.

"I know, I know! I'll behave," Ray said with a wink before slipping into the seat beside Akk and leaning comfortably against his shoulder.

The group exchanged curious looks, surprised by how at ease Ray seemed with Akk. Akk, known for his reserve, quietly tolerated Ray's closeness, and the genuine, soft laughter that escaped him caught everyone off guard. Even Ayan, who hadn't heard Akk laugh like that since the year before they broke up, felt a bittersweet pang. Toward the end of their relationship, Akk had withdrawn so much that Ayan had almost forgotten what his laughter sounded like.

By the time they reached the beach, everyone had settled into a relaxed mood. The group spread out on the sand, setting up for a barbecue and beach games. Some splashed in the water while others chatted in the shade of umbrellas.

Akk tried to keep a low profile, but with Ray nearby, that proved difficult. They found themselves at the water's edge, where Ray playfully splashed Akk, his laughter echoing as he dodged a return splash. Despite his usual serious demeanor, Akk couldn't help but smile. He gave in to the moment, chasing Ray into the shallows, sunlight glistening on their skin.

As Ray laughed, his hair damp and sunglasses pushed onto his head, Wat discreetly snapped candid photos of the pair. His girlfriend had gone off to chat, leaving him a free moment to capture the soft, almost tender interactions between Akk and Ray. There was something fragile yet hopeful in the way they looked at each other. Watching his best friend finally seem happy again, Wat felt a sense of relief. It had been too long since they'd seen Akk this lighthearted and carefree.

As the sun began to set and the barbecue was in full swing, Ray and Ayan found themselves standing together, casually chatting. Their conversation was light yet meaningful.

"So, you and Akk...?" Ayan asked, his tone curious but without judgment.

Ray took a sip from his drink, his gaze drifting to Akk, who was laughing with Khan and Thua. "We've known each other for a while. Things are... complicated, but I like him. More than I expected to. I'm not sure he feels the same, though."

Ayan nodded, a wistful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "He deserves someone who can make him smile like that."

Ray glanced at Ayan, noticing the sincerity in his voice. "Maybe, but I think Akk's been the one doing more for me lately—more than he realizes."

Ayan's smile turned pensive as he thought of how Akk often struggled to see his own worth, always feeling like he wasn't enough. "Yeah, Akk has a way of overlooking the fact that he's a pretty great person."

Ray's expression shifted, a question hanging in the air. "Then why did you break his heart?" His tone wasn't accusing, only curious.

Ayan's eyes softened. "I guess you two haven't talked about it yet. Akk might be brokenhearted, but it wasn't me who did it. He broke my heart, Ray... it's a long story, and it's really Akk's to tell, but here's what I can say—I never left him. He was the one who left me." With a quiet, rueful smile, Ayan turned and made his way back to his boyfriend.

Ray watched him go, confusion swirling in his mind. Akk had left Ayan? But from what Ray had seen, Akk carried a deep hurt. Pushing aside his thoughts, Ray joined Akk, who was holding a barbecue skewer, and playfully took a bite from it. The look of surprise on Akk's face made the bold move worth it.

The evening wound down around the fire pit, filled with laughter and chatter. Ray was pleasantly surprised by how much he enjoyed the company. This group of friends was different from his own—calm, with an easygoing, light-hearted atmosphere. From their conversations, Ray gathered they had known each other for years, some since high school, maybe even middle school. They treated him warmly, and even Ayan, now nestled in his boyfriend's arms, seemed to genuinely wish the best for Akk.

As the night sea breeze cooled the air, Akk noticed Ray shivering and placed a cardigan over his shoulders. Ray's heart fluttered at the thoughtful gesture, the warmth of the fabric and the gesture comforting against the unfamiliar chill.

Content from the day's events and slightly sun-drunk, Ray drifted off to sleep on Akk's shoulder. Akk, seemingly unbothered, continued scrolling through his phone, his free hand resting on Ray's leg to keep him from slipping as he listened to his friend's silly banters. Eventually, he gently woke Ray, murmuring that it was time to head to the tent they were sharing.

That night, Akk's self-control was pushed to its limits as Ray tested how long Akk could resist him. Pretending to be asleep, Ray edged closer, burying his nose in Akk's neck to breathe in the familiar scent he craved. His leg slipped over Akk's long, toned ones, drawing them even closer. It was the safest and warmest Ray had ever felt since that night more than three months back.  Ray wasn't sure when he or the now hot-and-bothered Akk finally drifted off to sleep, but he knew he did with a satisfied smile on his face.

The trip back home for Akk and Ray was filled with their familiar cat-and-mouse banter—Ray's relentless teasing met by Akk's sharp retorts, which Ray had come to realize weren't signs of hatred at all. Despite Akk's curt responses, when Ray snuggled closer and pretended to fall asleep, Akk simply sighed in resignation and let him stay.

From the back of the bus, Khan and Wat exchanged knowing glances. Even Ayan, who initially felt a pang of bitterness seeing Akk treat someone better than he had treated him in the last year of their relationship, found himself relieved. For the first time in a long while, Akk seemed truly happy—and if this pretty boy was the reason, they all had no problem welcoming him into their circle.