IN THE MATTER OF MONTHS

16. Paint me red

"You need to flip it right, that's it"

"I don't.. Don't think I am doing it right"

"It's just flipping, I doubt anyone can do it wrong"

"I am sure I can, Tine"

He laughed out loud, It was 8 in the morning and Tine was here in Sarawat's mini kitchen, ready with the Pancake batter which he prepared from scratch and maple syrup because pancakes were one the few sweet things Sarawat liked, and he wanted to spend as much time as he can with Sarawat before they move on from this game of push and pull and focus on the things that matter in their lives. Tine has been churning himself in the dilemma of letting his uncompromised feelings for the young businessman over his responsibilities towards his family. He cannot avoid Cheryl forever and he also cannot let go of Sarawat without finding his closure, without ending it on a better note. Without holding on until he has to let go. If this is it, if this is how his first love is going to end Tine is going to end it like a man, he will make the most of these few days they have, wrapped in an illusion, and then when Sarawat would have to leave and Tine would let him go without any past baggage. He would set the man who owns his heart free and love him from afar, he has done that all the while now but this time he will have fond memories to bask in, and then maybe, one day he will finally find someone whom he can love the way he loves the man who will marry his sister.

"Don't space out on me, you said you are going to supervise while I do this flipping thing" Sarawat pulled him out of his internal monologue, he had been feeling a little at peace since he decided to stop fighting his feelings and embrace them.

"I.. how did you manage to ruin that pancake? I just asked you to flip after they turn a little crispy"

"What part of I suck at this do you not understand, Tine?"

"Uh- he came forward, gingerly rubbing Sarawat's cheek which had a little pancake batter smeared on it- look at the mess you make" he murmured eyes darting all over his beloved's face.

"We could just grab some breakfast in the restaurant downstairs, you know I can't cook for the love of God" Sarawat supplied, wanting nothing more to forget the Pancakes and flip Tine on his bed instead, his brain was still hazy from sleep he was never the one to wake up early and the few times that he had done was all because of the gorgeous man in front of him. Either to follow Tine to his early morning runs or to drop him off to class or just because Tine had asked him to.

It's funny how he revolved around Tine, he remembered Man calling him a whipped lover. He was indeed, Whipped.

"You are just very lazy"

"You are right, I am glad that you are here so early in the morning. Love waking up to see your face, but I want to sleep some more, I have been so exhausted because of your overachiever brother"

"Hey! No need drag P'Type in between"

"He gives me so much work, Tine" Sarawat sulks turning off the stove and washing his hands, setting aside the uncooked breakfast, and guides Tine towards the bedroom towards his unmade bed.

" He is just a little bit obsessed with his work," Tine says defensively, not even noticing the quick shift in his tightly made schedule.

"Yeah, and he is also a perfectionist" Sarawat settled his bed a little, pushing Tine to lie down and quickly placing himself beside before Tine could voice out his protest.

But Tine never protested, he just shifted a bit to find a more comfortable position "you are the same when you work Ai'Wat. You are not the one to complain. You even forget to eat your meals. Do you... Still do that?"