Accidentally Married

71. Nong

Nai walked slowly down the long hallway of the Boonruang mansion, his mind completely elsewhere. The conversation with Sainam kept replaying inside his head like a broken record.

The wedding is happening.

The calm certainty in her voice still sent chills down his spine. He had expected pressure. He had expected persuasion. What he hadn't expected was an outright declaration that Saifah and Jui's consent ultimately didn't matter.

Nai exhaled heavily. 

He had been told that the driver would be taking him and his friends to the village in about an hour. Until then, he was free to rest in his bedroom.

Rest.

The very idea felt ridiculous. How was he supposed to rest after the bomb Sainam had just dropped on him? More importantly, how was he supposed to bring up the subject with Jui? Or Saifah?

The more he thought about it, the more impossible it seemed. 

What was supposed to be a fun vacation with friends was quickly turning into something entirely different.

He was so deep in thought that he almost missed the voice calling his name. "Hia Nai!"

Nai blinked and turned around.

A familiar figure was hurrying toward him from the other end of the hallway. The moment he saw the bright smile plastered across the younger man's face, Nai couldn't help smiling back. It was Ko.

The younger Boonruang was practically jogging toward him with enough enthusiasm to power an entire city.

Watching him approach, Nai suddenly noticed something he had never really paid attention to before.

Ko resembled Zo. Not just physically. Their personalities as well. If Zo was a golden retriever—warm, loyal, affectionate, and endlessly patient—then Ko was an energetic beagle. Curious. Cheerful. Always excited about something.

Though Nai had only interacted with Ko a handful of times, the younger man somehow always behaved as if they had known each other for years. Strangely enough, it never felt intrusive. Instead, it made Nai genuinely fond of him.

"Swadee Khrab, Hia Nai!" Ko greeted brightly.

Nai laughed. "Wadee, Ko."

Ko stopped in front of him and grinned. "What are you doing here?"

Nai raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

Ko blinked. Then he burst out laughing. "Fair point."

Nai folded his arms. "I thought you moved out."

"I did." Ko nodded immediately. "But I left some things here." He pointed vaguely toward the upper floors. "So I came back to grab them." Then he shrugged. "And since I was already here, I figured I would stay the night."

"That makes sense."

Ko's smile widened.

Nai chuckled softly before asking, "How is living alone going?"

Immediately, Ko's face lit up. "It's amazing." Then he quickly glanced left and right before leaning closer. "But please don't tell Mom."

Nai stared at him. "...Why?"

Ko lowered his voice dramatically. "Because she thinks I am struggling."

Nai couldn't help laughing.

Ko nodded seriously. "No, really, Hia. Mom never wanted me to move out in the first place." He sighed dramatically. "In her eyes, I am still her baby."