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The courtyard was dappled in late morning light. Students were scattered across the benches and pathways — laughing, scrolling through their phones — but Est and William seemed to exist in their own quiet corner.
Est was leaning against William, half his weight pressed comfortably into him, his head resting against William’s shoulder. His hair brushed William’s jawline every time he moved. William didn’t mind — if anything, he felt his heartbeat slow, steady, like his body was syncing to Est’s.
“So, Phetchabun’s a four-hour drive,” Est began, scrolling through his phone. His tone was practical, but the way he slouched into William’s side made him look like he had no intention of moving anytime soon. “We’ll leave Saturday morning at five so we can stop by some local restos on the way. My sister and I will take turns driving.”
“I can drive too,” William offered, voice casual, though he couldn’t stop the small smile tugging at his lips. The way Est included him in his family’s plans did something warm to his chest. “Include me in the rotation.”
Est turned slightly, his lips curving. “Okay, deal.” He went back to his notes. “We’ll probably get to the restaurant P’Earn booked by ten. My cousins and aunts will already be there helping with decorations.”
William nodded. “That’s great.”
But his heart skipped a beat at the mention of Est’s relatives. He wondered what they were like. Would they like him? Would they see the same person Est saw — or just the “bad boy” image he was always trying to escape?
“We’ll stay at my parents’ house and leave Sunday around five in the afternoon, is that okay?” Est asked, glancing up.
“Of course,” William said easily.
“Then we’ll drop P’Earn off first, then me,” Est continued. “You can stay the night if you want.”
William grinned, mischief flickering in his eyes. “Then we’ll cuddle?”
Est sat up instantly, shooting him a glare that wasn’t nearly as intimidating as he wanted it to be. “No. I changed my mind. You can go home after you drop me.”
William chuckled, his arm looping around Est’s waist to tug him back down gently. “How about a kiss, then?” he murmured against his ear, his breath warm.
Est stiffened for a heartbeat — then blushed, deep and vivid, the color creeping all the way to the tips of his ears. His lips twitched, trying and failing to hide his smile. “You’re impossible,” he muttered under his breath, but he didn’t pull away.
Across from them, Tui and Lego were watching, pretending to study but clearly not paying attention to anything else.
Lego nudged Tui with his elbow and whispered. “Is it just me, or are those two suddenly so clingy and sweet? It’s gross. Did something happen?”
Tui snorted, leaning back. “Probably because our friend finally came to his senses and stopped being an idiot.”
“Huh?” Lego frowned, confused. “What does that mean?”
“Never mind,” Tui said with a knowing smile, shaking his head.
Later that day, when Tui and William were finally alone after class, Tui crossed his arms and smirked slightly. “So,” he began, “you’re finally together?”
William’s grin was immediate, bright and unguarded in a way Tui hadn’t seen in weeks. “Yeah,” he said, almost shyly. “We already talked about it. He said it’s been real for him all this time.”
Tui’s expression softened. “And how do you feel about that?”
William looked down for a second, rubbing the back of his neck. “It feels… great,” he admitted, a small laugh escaping him. “Like I don’t have to hold back anymore. No more guessing if it’s okay to touch his hand, or wondering if I’m reading things wrong. I can just… be with him.”
There was something raw in the way he said it — relief and disbelief tangled together, like he was still getting used to the idea that something good was finally his to keep.
Then William looked up and met Tui’s eyes, his voice soft but sincere. “Thank you, Tui.”
Tui blinked. “For what?”
“For not giving up on me when I was being stupid. For talking sense into me that day outside the café. If you hadn’t stopped me…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “I probably would’ve ruined everything.”
Tui laughed quietly, reaching out to clap him on the back. “It’s nothing, Will. Really. I’m just glad you two finally figured it out.”
William grinned, that familiar spark returning to his eyes. “Yeah. Me too.”
As they started walking back to the courtyard, the late afternoon light stretched long and soft across the campus. From a distance, they could already see Est sitting on the bench, waving at William, that easy smile waiting just for him.
Tui caught the look on William’s face — the way his shoulders relaxed, the way his eyes lit up — and smiled faintly to himself.
Finally, he thought. He looks happy.
___
Saturday, 5 a.m.
The sky was still tinted with dawn when Est and his sister pulled up in front of William’s house. The headlights cut through the dim morning fog. William jogged out, duffel bag slung over his shoulder, his hair slightly messy from having woken up too early. He waved, that easy grin of his brightening the dim morning.
Earn rolled down the window, beaming. “It’s nice to finally meet you, William!”
William chuckled as he slid into the backseat. “Sawadee krap, P’Earn. It’s nice to meet you too.”
Even in the faint morning light, Earn could see the way William’s eyes softened when he looked at her brother — and that alone made her smile wider.
As soon as they started driving, she teased, “Est told me you got jealous because of me.”
William groaned. “Oh my god, he actually told you that?”
Earn laughed, eyes gleaming in the mirror. “He did! He said you didn’t talk to him for two days.”
“Because,” William said, feigning indignation, “Est never told me he had a sister! And there were no pictures of you anywhere in his condo!”
Both siblings burst out laughing.
“Her picture frame is in my drawer,” Est said defensively.
“I gave him a framed photo,” Earn said, pretending to pout. “But he wouldn’t display it.”
“That’s because your face looks creepy!” Est shot back. “I asked for a normal picture, but she gave me one where she’s smiling like that girl from the horror movie Smile!”
“Because you said you love horror films,” Earn quipped and laughed so hard she had to wipe her eyes.
“Ooh, I have to see that,” William said, leaning forward with genuine amusement.
“I’ll show you when we get to the condo tomorrow,” Est said, shaking his head with a smile.
The drive was peaceful — soft music playing, the siblings bickering in that warm, familiar rhythm that only family could share. William occasionally chimed in, his laughter blending easily with theirs.
They stopped at a roadside diner, eating steaming bowls of soup and grilled pork skewers, and William found himself savoring not just the food but the simple joy of belonging — of being part of their small, noisy world.
William got along with Earn effortlessly. They bonded over music, traded playlists, and when she mentioned her work as a veterinarian, William’s interest was genuine — asking about her favorite rescues, the animals that stuck with her, the way she handled loss.
Est watched them, a quiet warmth blooming in his chest. It amazed him — the way William could charm people without even trying, how his kindness wasn’t loud but steady.
By the time they arrived at the restaurant, the sun was high and golden. The parking lot buzzed with family — Est’s cousins unloading boxes of flowers and décor, his aunts giving instructions like generals. William immediately helped, carrying boxes, holding ladders, following Est’s lead. Every time someone thanked him, he smiled shyly, dipping his head a little.
When Est introduced him — “This is William, my boyfriend” — the warmth that greeted them surprised even him. His aunts were quick to smile, one even whispering to Est, “He’s cute. And polite. Good choice.”
Est just grinned. “Right?”
The surprise went perfectly. When Est’s mom entered the restaurant, she froze — hands flying to her mouth, tears spilling almost instantly when she saw both her children waiting with a cake. William stood back quietly, watching the moment unfold.
After the hugs, laughter, and dozens of photos, Est found William through the crowd, took his hand, and led him toward his parents. His palms were slightly damp, his heart pounding hard enough to hear it in his ears.
“Mae, Por,” Est said softly, “this is William. My boyfriend. A real one.”
Both parents smiled — wide, genuine, without hesitation. His mother reached forward first, hugging William tightly.
“Thank you,” she said warmly, her voice thick with emotion. “For protecting our Est and pretending to be his boyfriend before. He told us everything.”
William blinked, surprised. “He did?”
Est laughed, cheeks flushing. “I did. Eventually.”
His father chuckled, shaking William’s hand with a firm grip. “And thank you for helping him during training. We were worried — we couldn’t be there, and Earn lives an hour away.”
William shook his hand, smiling shyly. “It was nothing, really.”
His mother’s eyes softened. “You don’t know how happy we were when he told us you were finally together. We’re relieved — now someone can look out for him too.”
William’s throat tightened. Est, sensing it, gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
“Have you introduced William to everyone, Est?” his dad asked.
“I did, Por,” Est said with a proud smile.
“Good. Go eat now, sons.”
The celebration flowed on — food, karaoke, laughter. Everything felt easy, almost too good to be real. Until a familiar voice cut through the noise.
“Uh-oh,” Earn murmured, nudging Est. “Look who’s coming.”
Est groaned softly. “Not now.”
Earn glanced at William. “That’s our neighbor, Angie. She’s had a crush on Est since we were kids.”
Angie approached, her smile bright but her eyes sharp. “Hi, Est! Happy birthday, Mrs. Supha!”
“Thank you, Angie,” Est’s mom said kindly.
Angie’s smile faltered as her gaze landed on William. “Mrs. Supha,” she began carefully, “I just thought you should know — there are rumors at Est’s university. About his boyfriend. They say he’s… a bad boy. That his parents are mafia, that their house is full of gambling and drugs.”
The air stilled. The laughter around them dimmed into a low murmur.
Est’s jaw tightened. He felt his pulse thrum in his ears. William’s hand found his under the table, a quiet, grounding touch. Earn’s eyes widened, but before she could speak, their mother beat her to it — calm, steady, unbothered.
“Oh, Angie, we don’t really believe in rumors,” she said simply. “We only believe what we see.”
“But—” Angie began.
Est stood abruptly. His chair scraped against the floor, sharp and final. His eyes were fixed on Angie, cool but unwavering. “You have no idea what you’re talking about, Angie,” Est said, his voice dropping low. “I’ve been to William’s house. I’ve met his parents.”
Angie stammered, surprised by his certainty. “But the—”
Est cut her off, his voice rising with protective fury. “There is no ‘bad boy.’ William is the kindest person I know. Those rumors are utter lies.” He pulled out his phone and showed her a photo. “This is his family. His dad’s a neurosurgeon. His mom’s a pediatrician. So maybe next time, don’t believe everything people say about someone you don’t know.”
Angie’s expression faltered, shame creeping up her neck. “I… I’m sorry,” she murmured, turning to William. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”
William smiled softly, shaking his head. “It’s okay. You didn’t know. I appreciate that you were just looking out for Est.”
Est gaped at him. “What? You’re seriously being nice to her right now?”
Angie blinked, surprised, then managed a small, embarrassed smile before retreating.
Est sat back down and turned to William, still fuming. “I can’t believe you. You don’t always have to be so kind! I told you not to let anyone think the worst of you.”
Before William could answer, Est’s dad chuckled, voice warm. “Est, sometimes kindness and silence are the best ways to stop hate. Good job, William.”
Earn and their mom burst out laughing, while Est groaned dramatically. William laughed too, reaching out to nudge his shoulder.
“Sorry about that, William,” Est’s mom said later.
“It’s okay, Mrs. Supha,” William said, his voice soft and sincere.
She smiled, gentle and maternal. “Call us Mae and Por, dear.”
William hesitated, cheeks tinged pink, then nodded. “Yes, Mae… Por.”
A wave of profound relief washed over him. The simple acceptance was the answer to every fear he’d ever held.
__
Note:
This update will include 2 parts—chapters 16 & 17
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