Accidentally Married

46. Answer

The balcony was quiet, dimly lit by the golden glow of the lanterns hanging around the perimeter of the rooftop. From inside, laughter, music, and chatter spilled out into the night air. But out here, it felt like another world entirely. A bubble of stillness.

Sak leaned against the rail, eyes distant as he watched the city lights flicker below.

His hands clenched the cool metal railing, jaw tight. He was regretting coming here. Regretting saying yes for Nai's sake. Regretting not leaving the moment Sailub's mother had opened her mouth.

She knew. She knew.

And she had said it—in front of his elder brother . That part had shaken him to his core.

He knew that Nai have heard it. He had definitely heard. And soon, he would be asking questions.

Sak didn't even want to imagine how that conversation would go. Hell would break loose if Nai knew the truth.

He squeezed his eyes shut, mind racing to conjure a believable lie. Something convincing. Something that wouldn't destroy everything.

"Where the hell is P' Jui?" he muttered under his breath. Jui would have known what to say. But the guy had vanished like smoke in the wind.

Now it was just him. Alone. Anxious. Stressed beyond reason.

Then, a soft yet familiar clearing of the throat.

Sak turned.

And there he was, the last person he wanted to come face to face with.

Sailub.

Awkwardness flooded the space between them. The silence was thick and uncomfortable.

Sak wanted to scream in frustration.

Sailub stepped forward hesitantly, hands in the pockets of his tailored blazer.

"Thanks for coming to the party. I never thought that you would actually come ," he said, voice low but polite.

Sak didn't even blink. "I didn't come for the party. I came for P' Nai."

It was cold. Purposefully.

Sailub nodded, lips pressed in a thin line.

Sak looked away, trying not to let the swirl of emotions in his chest surface again. Hurt. Anger. Disgust. Sadness. His stomach churned just having Sailub near him.

All the memories came flooding back. That night. The betrayal. The touch that wasn't welcome. The words that cut deeper than any knife.

He took a breath, ready to turn and leave, but Sailub stepped in his way.

"Don't," Sak said, tone sharp. He frowned. "Move."

Sailub didn't. He inhaled deeply, steadying himself. "Look. I just— I want to say I am sorry, alright?"

Sak stared at him blankly.

"I mean it," Sailub added. "That night—what I did—It was wrong. I was just... excited. I hadn't seen you in so long, and—"

"Excitement? Excitement doesn't justify what you did," Sak snapped. "You think that makes it okay for you to force yourself on me?"

"No," Sailub muttered, jaw tightening. He was clearly forcing himself to stay calm. "I know it doesn't. I have e been thinking about it ever since. I realized I screwed up. That's why I am apologizing to you. I would never do that again. I swear. "

He looked genuinely remorseful, but Sak wasn't moved. Not anymore. Maybe once, but not now.

"I don't care how excited you were, Phi. You crossed a line," Sak said, voice quiet but fierce. "You made me feel small. Used. Disrespected. You don't get to just say sorry and expect me to act like nothing happened."

Sailub's eyes darkened. "Sak, I am already apologizing alright? Why are you being so damn stubborn about this?"

"Stubborn?" Sak echoed, incredulous. "You think this is about being stubborn? This is about my self-respect. You crossed all the boundaries I set that day."

Sailub looked away, jaw clenched. He had lowered himself to apologize to Sak. Yet, Sak was not moved. He wasn't used to people saying no to him, Sak realized. Especially not like this.

"I want to be with someone who respects me. Who sees me as a person, not someone to chase or play with." Sak's voice trembled slightly, but he didn't let himself waver. "I lost whatever feelings I had for you the day you proved I couldn't trust you, phi."

He stepped aside to walk past, but Sailub caught his wrist. The grip was firm, a bit too tight.

"What the hell are you doing?" Sak hissed, eyes narrowing.

Sailub didn't answer right away. He stared into Sak's face, his own features contorted in frustration and confusion.

"I just want to know," Sailub said finally, his voice hoarse, "how it was so easy for you to cut everything off. To walk away. Just like that."

Sak winced as Sailub's grip tightened, but he didn't pull away yet. He met Sailub's eyes, and his own were beginning to sting.

"You want to know how?" he said quietly. "You want to know how it's easy?"

He took a step closer, voice lowering.

"It is easy when you find out the person you liked only approached you to ruin you. When they used you. When they sexually assaulted you and thought it was just 'excitement.' When the person you once trusted showed you nothing but disregard."

Sailub's hand dropped away like it had been burned.

He went still. Silent. He had no defense.

Sak swallowed hard. His voice cracked, but his face remained firm. "You don't get to ask why I moved on. You don't deserve an answer. Not until you can answer mine."

He held Sailub's gaze for a moment longer. His eyes shimmered with unspoken pain, but his spine stayed straight, proud. Strong.

Then he shook off the last of Sailub's touch and walked away, leaving the other boy standing alone in the night, his apology echoing uselessly in the silence.