The night didn't rush us.
It didn't need to.
The yacht swayed gently beneath our feet, the water dark and endless around us. Somewhere in the distance, faint music drifted from the marina, but out here it felt like our own separate world.
Taeng leaned back against the table, looking far too pleased with himself.
"So," he said, glancing between me and Chak, "now that we've all officially traumatized Non…"
Kit huffed softly. "He'll survive."
"He said he was emotionally wounded," Taeng added.
Chak didn't look concerned. "He needs some time."
I laughed before I could stop myself.
The sound felt lighter than it had all evening.
Taeng noticed.
He always notices.
His expression softened for a second before he masked it with teasing again.
"Look at him," he said quietly to Kit. "Glowing."
"I'm not glowing," I protested immediately.
Chak's arm tightened slightly around my shoulders.
"You are," he said calmly.
My pulse skipped.
Taeng pointed dramatically. "See? He agrees."
Kit stepped closer to Taeng, resting casually beside him. "Let them breathe," he murmured.
Taeng tilted his head. "You're one to talk. You literally kissed me in front of everyone."
Kit didn't even blink. "Yes. Because I love you, Tea."
The confidence in those words made Taeng freeze for half a second.
Then he smiled again.
God, they were unbearable.
Chak's hand slid from my shoulder down to my waist, slow and deliberate.
Not possessive.
Protective.
"You're quiet," he murmured to me.
I hesitated. "I'm just… processing."
"What part?" Taeng asked immediately.
"Taeng," Kit warned.
But I shook my head. "It's okay."
I looked at all three of them.
"At first, I thought tonight would end in disaster."
Taeng snorted. "It almost did."
"Emotionally," I clarified.
Chak's thumb brushed gently against my side.
"And?" he asked.
"And it didn't."
The wind picked up slightly, lifting my hair.
"They laughed," I said softly. "They teased. They stayed."
Kit's expression turned serious.
"Of course we stayed."
Taeng nodded. "We're idiots, not monsters."
Chak didn't speak.
But I felt the way his body relaxed beside me.
Like something inside him had finally unclenched.
"You were ready," Kit said quietly to Chak.
Chak met his eyes. "Yes."
No hesitation.
No defensiveness.
Just truth.
Taeng watched that exchange carefully.
Then he smiled a little. "You know… if we're all being honest tonight…"
Kit gave him that look again.
Taeng ignored it.
"I was terrified too."
I blinked. "You were?"
"Of course," he said. "You think I wanted to be the only one holding hands while everyone stared?"
Kit glanced at him sideways. "You volunteered."
"I did not volunteer."
"You absolutely did."
Chak huffed quietly — almost a laugh.
The yacht rocked gently again, slower this time.
The world felt steady.
Taeng stretched his arms above his head. "So what now?"
Kit looked at Chak.
Chak looked at me.
And for once—
No one rushed to fill the silence.
"They know the truth," I said slowly. "But the others still don't. We'll have to pretend there's nothing between us. For now."
My stomach flipped.
Kit nodded once. "Fair."
Taeng glanced at me, playful but softer now. "You sure?"
I swallowed.
Chak's fingers intertwined with mine again.
Steady.
Warm.
"I'm sure," I said.
And this time—
There was no panic behind it.
Taeng studied my face for a moment longer.
Then he smiled.
"We're not announcing it like that."
Taeng grinned. "I am."
Chak gave him a look.
Taeng raised his hands defensively. "Relax. We're going."
Kit paused before turning away. He looked at me briefly.
"You're safe," he said quietly.
It wasn't dramatic.
It wasn't loud.
But it meant everything.
I nodded. "Thank you."
Their footsteps faded down the deck.
And then—
It was just us.
Chak searched my face carefully.
Not doubting.
Just making sure.
"You don't have to," he said softly.
"I know."
That mattered.
He stepped closer — close enough that I could feel his warmth through the thin fabric of my shirt.
"Say it again," he murmured.
I blinked. "Say what?"
"That you're sure. That you want to stay with me. Forever."
My heart pounded.
But I didn't look away.
"I'm sure, Chaky."
The corner of his mouth lifted.
"My artist," he said softly.
And when he kissed me this time—
It wasn't about proving anything.
It wasn't about being seen.
It was just us.
Finally alone.
And for the first time—
There was no fear left in it at all.
---
Chak's lips were still close to mine when footsteps echoed softly from the lower deck.
Taeng's voice floated up first.
"Are we leaving, or are we moving in?"
Kit answered dryly, "We're leaving."
I pulled back slightly, breath uneven but smiling.
Chak looked at me for a second longer before stepping away — though his hand didn't let go of mine.
"Change of plans?" I asked quietly.
He nodded once. "We're all going back."
Not rushed.
Not awkward.
Just… together.
Taeng reappeared at the stairs, looking between us suspiciously.
"We're not interrupting anything, are we?"
"You already did earlier," Chak replied calmly.
Taeng gasped. "I will never recover from that accusation."
Kit came up behind him and lightly nudged him forward. "Let's go."
The four of us moved toward the exit of the yacht, the wooden deck creaking softly under our steps. The marina lights reflected on the water, shimmering gold and silver against the dark surface.
As we stepped onto the dock, Taeng slowed beside me.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
I nodded. "Yeah."
He studied my face, then smiled softly. "Good."
Chak's fingers intertwined with mine again as we walked.
He didn't hide it.
Kit took Taeng's hand and pressed a slow kiss to his knuckles. Taeng looked at him with a sparkle in his eyes, and then their fingers intertwined again.
The hotel wasn't far. The night air was warm — the kind that makes everything feel suspended in time.
Taeng stretched dramatically as we approached the entrance. "So. Back to reality."
Kit glanced at him. "You mean interrogation."
Taeng sighed. "Non is absolutely waiting behind the door."
"He is," I said immediately.
Chak hummed softly beside me. "Let him wait."
We stepped into the hotel lobby together. The lighting was soft, golden. Calm. A complete contrast to the chaos from earlier.
For a second, our reflections caught in the glass doors.
Two couples.
Side by side.
No distance between us.
Taeng noticed it too.
He nudged Kit lightly. "Look at us."
Kit followed his gaze. "…Loud."
"Iconic," Taeng corrected.
Chak squeezed my hand once before pressing the elevator button.
The doors opened with a quiet chime.
We stepped inside.
The space felt smaller than usual. Closer.
The elevator doors slid open on our floor.
As we stepped out, we could already hear voices down the hallway.
Non.
"I'm telling you, they're not coming back tonight!"
Pim's voice followed. "You're being dramatic."
Amara laughed softly.
Taeng grinned. "And there it is."
Chak leaned closer to me as we walked down the corridor.
"Ready?" he murmured.
I exhaled slowly. "With you? Yeah."
His expression softened. "Good."
We reached the door.
Taeng knocked dramatically.
The voices inside stopped instantly.
The door flew open.
Non stood there, staring at all four of us.
His eyes dropped immediately to mine and Chak's still intertwined hands. Then to Kit and Taeng's.
He gasped.
"You came back together."
Chak didn't flinch. "Yes."
Non looked at Taeng and Kit. "And you two?"
Taeng smirked. "We also survived."
Pim appeared behind Non, arms crossed but smiling.
Amara leaned around them.
Anamarija stood further back, observant and calm.
For a split second, everything felt still.
Then Non stepped aside dramatically.
"Fine," he said. "Enter. But tomorrow? We talk."
"Tomorrow," Chak agreed.
Non closed the door behind us with exaggerated slowness.
The click echoed louder than it should have.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Non was still staring at our hands.
At this point, I was starting to think he might frame the image in his memory forever.
Pim was the first to break the silence.
"Okay," she said, clapping once. "Nobody panic. We are adults."
"We are not adults," Non whispered dramatically. "We are emotionally devastated."
Amara rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "You said you supported them."
"I do support them," Non insisted. "I just didn't expect to witness domestic hand-holding in 4K."
Taeng snorted.
Kit walked past him calmly and sat down on the edge of the couch like this was the most normal night of his life.
Chak didn't let go of me.
Not when we moved further inside.
Not when everyone kept looking.
And I was very aware of it.
Very aware of how different this felt from weeks ago.
Before.
When everything had to stay hidden.
Anamarija was standing near the window, the city lights reflecting faintly in her blue-grey eyes. She hadn't said a word yet.
She wasn't shocked.
She wasn't teasing.
She was observing.
Measuring.
Non suddenly pointed at me again.
"You," he declared.
My stomach dropped. "Yes?"
He narrowed his eyes. "You look too calm."
"I'm not calm," I replied immediately.
"That's true," Taeng added helpfully. "He was panicking on the yacht."
I shot him a look. Traitor.
Chak's thumb brushed lightly over my knuckles.
"He doesn't need to be calm," Chak said evenly. "It's done."
Done hiding.
Done pretending.
Done lying.
The words settled into the room.
Pim softened. She stepped closer and looked at both of us carefully.
"I'm happy for you," she said quietly.
Amara nodded. "Me too."
Non hesitated.
Then he crossed his arms.
"…I'm also happy."
Silence.
We all looked at him.
"But," he added quickly, pointing aggressively at Chak, "if you hurt him—"
"I won't," Chak interrupted calmly.
Non blinked.
The confidence in Chak's voice left no space for argument.
"Noted," Non muttered.
Taeng leaned against the wall, watching everything with a grin. "This is better than any drama series."
Kit stood up slowly and walked over to Taeng. Without saying anything, he brushed his fingers against Taeng's jaw and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
"So cute," Amara said immediately.
"That's not fair," Non complained. "I want to find someone like that."
Taeng smirked. "Lower your standards first."
"Rude."
Laughter filled the room — easy, warm, real.
The tension that had followed us inside finally dissolved.
Taeng dropped onto the couch beside Kit without thinking — close. Too close to be casual.
No one missed it.
Non's eyes narrowed again.
Pim leaned forward.
Amara gasped softly.
But before the interrogation could begin, Amara's gaze shifted.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Toward Anamarija.
She tilted her head slightly.
"Anamarija," she said sweetly, "you're the only sibling without a partner."
The room stilled.
Anamarija blinked once. "What?"
Non snapped his fingers dramatically. "She's right."
Anamarija looked between them. "What are you talking about?"