TO SHOU WITH LOVE

106 - RUBBING SALT TO WOUND

The studio fell silent, and the ringing in his ears gradually became noticeable, not a sharp ringing, but rather a heavy, lingering buzz like the prolonged resonance of a struck bell, enveloping him without warning.

Sailub clenched his fingers, staring at the crack in the wooden floor beneath his feet.

He watched as the faint gap became blurred by the mistiness in his eyes, taking a while before it cleared up again.

He couldn't quite explain how the conversation had reached this point, the process of how he had spoken recklessly was now intractable.

He felt an impulse to chase after Thanapon and stop him, but he quickly restrained himself.

He felt aggrieved too, not understanding why Thanapon insisted on rubbing salt into his wounds.

He even began to doubt Thanapon's feelings for him.

How could a qualified lover bear to watch the person they loved in pain?

Or perhaps youthful feelings were just that shallow, incapable of discerning whether someone was hurting?

Was there still a need to continue such a love?

Forget it, let's calm down. Sailub thought.

This relationship had heated up too quickly after all.

Perhaps it was indeed time to consider whether they were truly suited for each other.

If they weren't, it wouldn't be a bad thing to cut their losses in time.

With that thought, he walked over to close the door, his fingers grasping the handle, but his gaze involuntarily drifted towards the doorway.

Facing the empty corridor, he was momentarily lost in thought, then gently closed the door.

Leaning against the door, he stared absentmindedly and weakly out the window.

He really left. He thought with a touch of disappointment.

He spent the afternoon in the studio, feeling restless, and not making any progress in arranging a song.

In the evening, just as the sky was turning dark, Sailub asked his driver to take him home early.

He felt exhausted, and the ringing in his ears kept coming and going, wanting to go back and rest for a while.

Getting out of the car, climbing the steps, he stood in front of the door, pressing his thumb against the fingerprint recognition area.

"Drip," the sound of successful fingerprint recognition, and the lock opened.

But he didn't move his finger away, still holding onto the doorknob, standing there.

Suddenly, his mind flashed back to that night, when Thanapon gently rubbed his ears with his palm at the doorway.

And there was the moment when he said he wanted Thanapon to register his fingerprint, and the stunned look that flashed across Thanapon's face.

It was only two nights ago, when he just stepped inside, and Thanapon turned around and pressed him against the door, kissing him somewhat passionately.

All of Thanapon's kisses that night seemed a bit fierce, a bit out of control, leaving many marks on his body and even a few bite marks on his shoulder.

It was as if he really wanted to leave his permanent mark on Sailub.

Sailub knew why Thanapon lost control.

For him, registering the fingerprint was just a passing thought, something he did on a whim.

But for Thanapon, it seemed to carry significant meaning.