Accidentally Married

29. Bed

Zo stepped out of the bathroom, his skin still warm from the hot bath he'd taken to wash off the lingering scent of alcohol. 

His hair clung damply to his forehead, dripping water onto the floor. He felt a flicker of anticipation as he glanced at the bed, but his heart sank when he saw that it was empty.

For a moment, he just stood there, staring at the neatly made bed where Nai should have been. 

Zo let out a quiet sigh and sat down on the edge of the bed, his posture slumped. He didn't expect anything grand or romantic; just lying beside Nai, even in silence, would have been enough for him. 

The distance between them had been unbearable, both emotionally and physically, and tonight he had hoped that maybe, just maybe, things would be different.

But Nai was gone.

He buried his face in his hands, feeling a dull ache in his chest. How many more nights like this would there be? How many times would he reach out only to find that Nai had already pulled away?

The sound of the door opening startled him out of his thoughts. Zo blinked and looked up, surprised to see Nai walking back into the room.

"Why are you sitting like that?" Nai asked, his voice soft but with a hint of confusion.

Zo quickly sat up straight, not wanting to show how disappointed he had been. "I... I was just thinking," he mumbled, his gaze dropping to the floor.

Nai, without a word, crossed the room to pick up a towel from the chair. 

Zo watched him, unsure of what to expect. Nai was often distant, and Zo had grown used to the coldness that had become the norm in their relationship. He hadn't even thought that Nai would notice him like this, let alone care.

"You didn't dry your hair," Nai said, his tone gentle but firm. "If you sleep with it wet in this weather, you will catch a cold."

Before Zo could respond, Nai was standing in front of him, towel in hand. He began drying Zo's hair with gentle, rhythmic motions. 

The warmth of the gesture caught Zo completely off guard. He stared up at Nai, half-expecting him to pull away at any moment, but Nai didn't. Instead, he continued to towel dry his hair with unexpected care.

Zo's chest tightened with a mix of disbelief and joy. This was the first time Nai had touched him like this—so tenderly, so thoughtfully. Unable to hold back his emotions, Zo wrapped his arms around Nai's waist, hugging him tightly as he sat on the edge of the bed.

Nai froze for a moment, startled by the sudden hug. 

Zo waited, afraid that Nai might pull away or scold him, but instead, Nai's body slowly relaxed. He wasn't used to this kind of affection either, and the hug made him feel both shy and warm inside.

Nai continued drying Zo's hair, though his movements were slower now, more deliberate. His heart raced as he realized just how close they were. It was such a simple moment, yet it felt monumental in the context of their relationship.

As Zo held onto him, Nai reflected on the conversations he had had earlier with his parents, with Aum's parents. He had been so stubborn, so caught up in his own prejudices about their relationship. He had built an emotional wall around himself, refusing to let Zo in, convinced that their marriage was just a formality and nothing more. 

But after talking things through, Nai had realized how unfair he had been, both to Zo and to himself. They were married now, and if he didn't try to make this work, he would never know what they could truly be.

Nai had made a quiet promise to himself: he would give this marriage, and Zo, a real chance.

Zo felt warmth blossoming in his chest. Nai was here. He wasn't pushing him away. And now, he was even drying his hair, something so small yet so meaningful. The closeness made Zo feel like maybe, just maybe, things could change between them.

The moment was interrupted by the sudden buzzing of Zo's phone on the nightstand. Zo groaned inwardly, glancing at the screen. It was his mother, Gina.

With a sigh, Zo reluctantly let go of Nai and answered the call. "Hi, Mom," he said, trying to hide his annoyance.

"Zo, are you with Nai?" Gina asked without preamble.

Zo glanced at Nai, who was folding the towel neatly. "Yes, I am."

"Good. Put me on speaker, please."

Zo hesitated for a second but did as she asked. "You are on speaker now."

"Hello, Nai," Gina said, her voice taking on a formal tone.

Nai stood straighter, still feeling a little awkward about interacting with his mother-in-law. "Hello, Mom," he replied politely.

Gina didn't waste time on small talk. "This weekend, we need you both to attend a wedding. It's the daughter of one of our long-time family friends—the Phumalees. You remember them, right? They are one of the main shareholders of our company."

Zo's face fell. Of course, he remembered the Phumalees. Cherd, the bride-to-be, used to be a close friend of his, but they had drifted apart, and things between them had grown cold. The idea of seeing her again, especially at her wedding, made his stomach twist.

"Do we really have to go?" Zo asked, a trace of reluctance in his voice.

"Yes, it's important for the whole family to attend," Gina replied firmly. "I expect both you and Nai to be there with us."

Zo sighed, glancing at Nai to see if he was on board with this. Surprisingly, Nai nodded, agreeing without hesitation.

"We will be there," Nai said, his voice steady.

Zo blinked, slightly taken aback. Nai agreeing to attend with him, as a couple, in public—this was a first. His heart swelled with a mixture of happiness and nervous excitement. 

This would be the first time they'd make a public appearance together as a married couple, and the thought of standing beside Nai in front of so many people made him feel both proud and hopeful.

"Great. I will send you the details later," Gina said. "See you both this weekend." With that, she hung up.

As soon as the call ended, an awkward silence settled between Zo and Nai. They both stood there, uncertain of what to do next. 

This would be the first time they shared a bed since getting married, and the shyness between them was palpable. Neither of them knew how to act like a typical married couple—there had been too much distance, too much hesitation.

Nai, trying to act casual, walked over to his side of the bed. "I will sleep on the right side," he said coolly, sliding under the covers without waiting for a response from Zo.

Zo stood there for a moment, watching Nai with a mix of fondness and nervousness. He finally climbed into bed beside him, trying to ignore the butterflies in his stomach.

 They were close, but not close enough. He longed to close the gap between them, but for now, he was just happy they were sharing this space.

As they lay in silence, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting a warm light over the room, Zo couldn't help but smile to himself. 

This was a small step, but it was a step nonetheless. And for the first time in a long time, he felt like maybe things were finally heading in the right direction.