TO SHOU WITH LOVE

41 - MUSIC FESTIVAL

The security checkpoint had only a few people, and most of the audience had already entered the venue.

Instead of heading directly towards the stage, Sailub took Thanapon to the beer square on the east side of the venue.

Stopping at one of the stalls, he turned to Thanapon, eyes shaded under the cap, and asked, "How's your tolerance for alcohol?"

"It's okay," Thanapon replied.

"With your personality, saying it's 'okay' means it's quite good," Sailub turned to the vendor and said, "Give us a pitcher of wheat beer."

"I have to ride back later," Thanapon reminded Sailub.

"Just focus on drinking," Sailub said, "Don't worry about anything else."

Taking a pitcher of beer from the vendor, Thanapon followed Sailub towards the main stage.

The performance had already been underway for quite some time, and the front rows of the audience waving their arms seemed to be fully immersed.

Sailub found a relatively quiet spot facing the main stage on the grassy lawn. "Here is good."

The view wasn't perfect, but Thanapon wasn't eager to dive into the crowd.

Besides, both he and Sailub were quite tall, so their line of sight easily cleared the crowded heads and reached the stage.

Thanapon opened the can tab with one hand, handed the beer to Sailub, and opened one for himself.

Tilting his head back, he took a few sips.

The bands performing were of good quality, and many of them were regulars on his playlist.

Some of them had even appeared on Sailub's car playlist.

Surrounded by various sounds, the slightly bitter taste of the beer slid down his throat as he listened to the music.

This mildly dizzy feeling made him feel quite comfortable.

Since Tony's death, he hadn't relaxed like this.

No, perhaps even earlier, he hadn't relaxed like this since coming to Bangkok.

When he put on his headphones, the music could also help him relax, but he could sense that it was a kind of illusory security.

Standing beside Sailub was different.

He gave him a very reassuring sense of stability.

The closer he got to Sailub, the stronger that sense of stability became.

Thanapon watched the band on stage, the restless crowd around him, and the rock flags dancing in the night sky.

But most of the time, he watched Sailub without making a sound.

After watching for a while, he could discern Sailub's preferences for a song.

When he liked a song, Sailub's drinking pace would slow down, his fingers would lightly tap along with the beat on his other arm, and occasionally he would close his eyes and immerse himself in the music.

At these times, Thanapon's gaze on him would become slightly more unrestrained.

As the chorus of a song ended, Sailub opened his eyes and looked towards Thanapon. "Why are you staring at me all the time?" he asked.

Thanapon's pupils were darker than those of ordinary people, and when he stared at someone, they seemed even heavier, as if carrying a weight.

This time, the eyes under the brim of his cap seemed to contain a hint of inquiry.