Page 1 of 423 Toss-Up by Serenista

Sun Yan

💖 Greetings From the Author 💖

Book : Toss - Up (Take A Chance To Win Her Love)
Writer : Serenista
Released : 13 September 2020
Translator : Sun Yan (daphne.shn@gmail.com)

I always tell myself that I don’t like writing dramatic stories, but it’s
impossible to avoid drama completely. Usually, every novel has some
drama to make the plot more engaging. Still, I don’t often write stories that
stay heavy and dramatic all the way through.

When I started this story, I didn’t expect it to be that intense. I just wanted
to write about a secret crush and begin with a little excitement, instead of
saving that part for the end like I usually do.

But after I uploaded it and saw readers’ comments, I thought, Oh? Is it

really that dramatic?

Because while I was writing, it didn’t feel heavy at all—it flowed easily.
Normally, when I write dramatic parts, I don’t enjoy it much and sometimes
feel stressed.

Maybe it’s because this time I was writing about Tense’s warmth. She
doesn’t show her pain very much since she’s good at hiding it. But when I
reread it, I realized—if I were Tense, I’d probably feel suffocated too.

Even so, there’s happiness in simply being close to the one you love. I’ve
experienced that myself—unable to express my feelings, yet still wanting to

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Sun Yan

be near that person. I think many of you might have felt the same way, and
that’s exactly what I wanted to capture in this story.

It may feel exhausting at times, but in reality, love often takes time to
slowly grow. Opening the heart of someone who already loves another
person is never easy.

Some will end up heartbroken, and only a few will have their feelings
returned. But that’s love—no matter the outcome, we still find happiness in
loving someone.

Sending love and encouragement to everyone who is in love. :D

.
Author

💖💖💖
Serenista

.
💚💚💚💚

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Sun Yan

I walk within a game of chance.

The one I’ve wagered my heart on is the very person who invited me to
play.

I don’t know how the outcome will turn out in the end,
but I’ve chosen to keep walking along this game.

Because at the very least...

I get to play a game where you and I stand on the same board.

.
💖💖💖

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Sun Yan

💖 Prologue 💖
The glow of a grand chandelier lit the ceiling above the red-carpeted floor.
Around the hall stood ornate columns carved with intricate patterns,
enclosing the wide space. Two curved marble staircases rose gracefully on
either side, leading up to the mezzanine.

From the balcony, overlooking the lively crowd below—guests dressed

elegantly to match the glamorous theme—stood a slender figure in a
tailored white suit for women, gazing intently at something.

Her delicate arms, wrapped in fine fabric, rested lightly on the balcony rail
as her eyes followed a certain figure—a woman holding a glass of wine,
smiling while conversing cheerfully with others.

Though the hall was filled with beautifully dressed guests, only one person
truly stood out in her eyes.

She wore a short, well-fitted white dress, refined with long, pure-white
sleeves that extended halfway past her arms, the ends flaring in soft ruffles.

The wide neckline revealed the graceful line of her neck, where long,
shimmering earrings swayed, perfectly complementing her softly curled,
light-brown hair that framed her delicate face.

Thanatcha chose to stand there, watching that figure move gracefully

along with the other guests at the event, feeling satisfied.

For more than a year, her feelings had allowed her only this—admiring
from afar. She had no chance to approach, no chance to draw closer. And
there was another reason, one that bound her heart to nothing more than
distant longing.

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Sun Yan

Nichapat was the woman Thanatcha had secretly, yet earnestly, admired
since their university days—almost a year now. To say it was a secret crush
was only partly true.

While she never announced it openly, her close friends knew well enough,
and she often revealed her feelings in ways that made it far from hidden.
Word eventually reached Nichapat’s friends, and it seemed Nichapat herself
was aware, too.

Even so, Thanatcha never believed she was someone Nichapat paid much
attention to. Perhaps Nichapat had already forgotten about her altogether.

After all, Nichapat was undeniably charming, admired by many. To her,

Thanatcha was likely just another admirer among countless others, someone
who fell for her and was easily overlooked.

But things were more complicated than that. The truth was, Nichapat also
liked women—just as Thanatcha did. And for this reason, Thanatcha found
herself all the more drawn to her, holding onto the hope that someday she
might have the chance to approach her.

Yet, for now, she could do nothing but watch from afar. Because Nichapat
already had her heart set on an older student she admired deeply. Many
people knew about it; gossip spread quickly, echoing like a cruel reminder
to all the men who secretly longed for her. And, painfully enough, it
included women like Thanatcha as well.

The party went on in full swing, yet she knew this wasn’t where she was
supposed to be. She should have been downstairs, blending in with the
lively atmosphere. But she had no desire to waste time on anything else.
This might very well be the last chance she had to see Nichapat.

It had already been three months since they both graduated. If not for this
free party—hosted at a new hotel owned by Nichapat’s close friend—they
would have said their final goodbyes back on graduation day.

Fate, however, seemed to be on her side. After three long months, she found
herself face to face with Nichapat once more.

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Sun Yan

They met once more at a distance, just as always. In truth, there had only
ever been one time she had seen Nichapat up close—since the day she first
began secretly liking her until now.

Her gaze wandered around the hall, careful not to linger too long on a single
point. To stare too intently would only draw attention. Yet, when her eyes
inevitably drifted back to the one place that mattered most, she found
several pairs of eyes turning toward her at once.

One of them nudged Nichapat with an elbow, urging her to look. Nichapat
turned, glanced in her direction, then smiled and said something to her
friends—something that made Thanatcha’s heart skip and her composure
falter.

She quickly looked away, pretending to admire something else, desperately

trying to mask her nerves.

She had no idea what Nichapat and her friends might have said about her.
But even so, it was a small thing to be glad about: she had, for the briefest
of moments, caught Nichapat’s attention. Even if it lasted only a fraction of
a second.

She couldn’t risk staying in the same spot, drawing attention as though she
were deliberately staring. If Nichapat realized she was being watched, she
might feel uncomfortable.

So, Thanatcha casually strolled along the balcony, pretending to admire the
lively scene below. After a while, she stopped at another spot and once
again looked for the one person her eyes longed to find.

But this time, Nichapat was no longer there with her group of friends.

She was surprised to see Nichapat’s friends still standing and chatting in the
same spot, yet Nichapat herself was nowhere to be found. Perhaps she had
slipped away to the restroom.

Anxious that Nichapat might leave early without saying goodbye,

Thanatcha kept scanning the hall, afraid this might truly be the last time

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Sun Yan

they crossed paths.

Her steps quickened toward the marble staircase, her eyes darting over the
balcony to the floor below. But just as she neared the stairs, she froze.
Someone had stepped directly into her path.

“Were you looking for me?”

Thanatcha stopped dead in her tracks, staring wide-eyed at the figure before
her. She hadn’t expected Nichapat to appear so suddenly—so close.

Seeing her stand frozen, Nichapat closed the distance with a half-step
forward.

“W–wait…”

Thanatcha stammered, completely caught off guard.

“What is it? Weren’t you looking for me?”

Nichapat teased, her smile curling playfully, as if deliberately provoking

her.

“What are you doing here?”

Thanatcha managed to ask.

“I came up here to see you,”

Nichapat said with a smile, stepping a little closer.

“You… came to see me? Why?”

Thanatcha asked in confusion. She had never imagined—never even dared

to hope—that Nichapat would have any reason to approach her. Yet here
she was. But why?

“There has to be a reason, doesn’t there?”

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Sun Yan

Nichapat winked, leaning in so close that Thanatcha instinctively tilted her

head back and stepped away to create space. But instead of distance, the
gap between them only narrowed, as Nichapat pressed forward, guiding her
until her back met the balcony rail.

“I need your help.”

Nichapat’s elegant face tilted slightly, her gaze fixed on Thanatcha as she
rested an arm against the railing, effectively caging the smaller woman
within her reach.

Thanatcha stiffened, her neck leaning back in bewilderment. This was

already far beyond anything she had expected. Yet nothing surprised her
more than the request that came next from Nichapat’s lips.

“Here…”

Nichapat’s slender fingers brushed lightly against Thanatcha’s chin, her

eyes locking with hers as she prepared to make a proposal. The faint curve
of her lips carried an allure that felt deliberately seducing.

“Please be my bed partner tonight.”

💖💖💖💖
Translator: sunyan

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Sun Yan

🎀 01.The Special Offer 🎀

Book : Toss - Up (Take A Chance To Win Her Love)
Writer : Serenista
Released : 13 September 2020
Translator : Sun Yan (daphne.shn@gmail.com)

A pair of long legs stepped out of a sleek black car that had just pulled up to
the entrance of a newly opened mid-sized luxury hotel. Dressed in fitted
white trousers and a matching women’s suit jacket over a crisp white shirt,
Thanatcha adjusted her blazer, a flicker of nervousness passing through
her. Was she really dressed well enough for the event?

Her friends had assured her she looked stunning—and she knew it was
good enough to catch the eye of the woman she secretly admired.

“You look fine. What, worried your charm’s faded after three months away
from campus? Afraid your popularity rating dropped?”

Teased Papada, her close friend with the round, gentle face.

“As if I’ve ever cared about that,”

Thanatcha replied, her gaze already sweeping the grand banquet hall the
moment she stepped inside, searching for someone in particular.

“Oh, I see.” Papada smirked knowingly. “You’re just worried about looking
good in someone’s eyes.” She gave her friend a playful nudge on the
shoulder. “So? Have you spotted her yet?”

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Sun Yan

“Not yet,”

Thanatcha admitted honestly. She never hid her feelings, and those close to
her always knew.

“Go ahead and keep your eyes on her. Looks like you won’t be lonely
tonight anyway—the whole faculty seems to be here,”

Papada said with a grin, waving at a few familiar classmates across the
room.

“Let’s wait for the other two to finish parking before they join us. Take it
easy, don’t wander off just yet.”

She looped her arm through Thanatcha’s and guided her through clusters of
acquaintances from other departments toward their closer group of friends.

“I wasn’t planning on going anywhere,”

Thanatcha chuckled softly. Walking alongside her best friend, she had the
chance to glance around at familiar faces from their faculty—friends she
hadn’t seen in quite some time.

She felt a sense of privilege being part of this event: a party hosted by
Satita, the daughter of the hotel’s owner, who wanted to invite a large
group of her friends to experience the new hotel.

The hotel was set to officially open the following week, but tonight’s party
served as a rehearsal for the staff—a chance to practice welcoming and
serving a select group of guests.

For her classmates, it was also a rare opportunity to gather again, three
months after graduation, before everyone became too absorbed in their
separate jobs.

Inviting only one department would have felt too small, so Satita had
decided to extend the invitation to the entire faculty, even offering some of
her close friends a free night’s stay.

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha wasn’t among the lucky few. She wasn’t close enough to Satita
to be treated as a VIP guest. Still, she knew her well enough by face and
name.

More importantly, one of her friends was close to Satita, which made Satita
a “friend of a friend” to her. And, most significantly, Satita was Nichapat’s
best friend—the woman she had quietly admired for so long.

Now, her eyes scanned the room, searching, but still no sign of her.

This was a rare chance—perhaps even the last chance she might ever have
to see Nichapat again. On graduation day, she had accepted that it might be
their final encounter. Yet fate, it seemed, had been kind, granting her this
unexpected reunion.

But what then? What could she do, other than watch from afar as always?
In the end, she would probably have to let go of the thought of moving
closer—because she knew very well that Nichapat already had someone she
liked, someone she cherished deeply.

“Look…”

Papada nudged her friend’s shoulder gently, tilting her head in a certain
direction.

Thanatcha followed her gaze—and her eyes immediately caught sight of

someone who had just entered the grand hall.

A graceful figure in a white dress stood out brightly among the flow of
guests passing by, weaving her way through small clusters of people
gathered in conversation.

Her beautiful face lit up with warm smiles as she greeted familiar friends
while heading straight toward her best friends, who were waving at her
from across the room.

In that moment, Thanatcha finally had the chance to see Nichapat up close.
The crowd shielded her well enough that she could watch unnoticed, and

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Sun Yan

she was content to linger there, quietly admiring the sight before Nichapat
disappeared again.

She watched that striking beauty embrace her two closest friends, a pang of
envy stirring inside her. To see the woman she secretly loved in such an
intimate gesture with others—it only made her seem all the more precious,
someone to be cherished beyond measure.

Yet Thanatcha knew… she wasn’t wishing to be— just Nichapat’s friend.
She wanted to be more than that. Yet she never dared to hope she could be
closer than this—standing at a distance, simply watching.

“Don’t forget to blink,” Papada teased, finally loosening the arm she had
been holding for a while. “Here—have a drink.”

She quickly handed over a glass of wine she had just taken from a passing
server.

“Wine?” Thanatcha frowned.

“Mm-hm. Why? In a hurry? It’s just a sip. The real stuff’s over there.”

Papada nodded toward the bar in the back, where rows of bottles were lined
up and ready for guests. But since the party had only just begun, no one was
planning to drink themselves into a stupor right away.

“I see.” Thanatcha smiled faintly.

“But I don’t think you’d want to get drunk anyway—you’d lose control,”

Papada laughed, just as she spotted their two friends finally arriving after
parking the car. She raised her hand, signaling them to come over.

Thanatcha spent some time with her friends, enjoying the cocktail-style
dishes until she was comfortably full.

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Sun Yan

As the night grew later, the atmosphere became livelier—someone went up

to greet the gathering of classmates, inviting everyone to raise their glasses
in a collective toast.

Soft music filled the air, light enough to sway along to, but not so loud as to
overwhelm conversation in the elegant setting of the hotel’s grand hall.

Though her focus occasionally drifted away from her friends’ chatter,
Thanatcha stayed with them long enough before feeling the need to slip
away for a while.

The faint buzz of alcohol was starting to cloud her head, and she was afraid
she might lose track of the one person she didn’t want to lose sight of
tonight.

Excusing herself to the restroom, she happened to catch sight of Nichapat at

just the right moment—stepping away from her group to take a phone call
in a quiet corner. Her expression carried a touch of unease before she finally
rejoined her friends.

“Why are you making that face?”

Ansaya asked her best friend, who was walking with a sulky expression.

“My parents again,” Nichapat replied with a sigh.

“The same old story?” Satita asked.

“Yeah.” Nichapat nodded. “So I told them I was at this party with my
boyfriend, and that I’d be staying here tonight. But after I said that, they
told me they’d come pick me up as soon as the party was over.”

“You actually told them that?” Ansiya burst out laughing. “That’s bold. But
then what? Won’t they just come pick you up anyway?”

“I don’t know.”

Nichapat bit her lip, glancing off to the side, her expression heavy with
thought. Finally, she spoke her mind.

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Sun Yan

“I have to do something.”

Her eyes narrowed, her teeth sinking into her lip even harder, as if to
cement the determination that was slowly forming in her heart.

Meanwhile, Thanatcha had made her way back from the restroom and was
now standing on the mezzanine balcony.

Light from a grand chandelier glowed above, shining over the red-carpeted
floor. Around the hall stood intricately carved columns, encircling the wide
open space.

On each side, curved marble staircases led up to the mezzanine. From the
balcony, one could see the lively crowd below, filled with guests dressed in
glamorous attire.

Resting her slender arm, wrapped in a fine suit jacket, on the railing, she
gazed down at a figure holding a wine glass, smiling as they chatted among
a small group.

Among all the elegantly dressed guests, only one person stood out most in
her eyes.

It was the figure in a short, elegant white dress. The look was modest, with
long pure-white sleeves reaching past the elbows, ending in wide ruffles.
The neckline dipped gently, just enough to give the dress a graceful touch.

The graceful curve of her neck was adorned with dangling earrings that
shimmered with every movement. They matched perfectly with her soft,
wavy, light-brown hair that framed her slender face with elegance.

Thanatcha chose to remain on the balcony, watching with quiet satisfaction

as that beautiful figure moved gracefully among the guests.

Her feelings, which had lasted for over a year, gave her only one option—to
admire from a distance. She never had the chance to get close, nor the
courage to approach. And there was another reason too, one that forced her
to simply hold back and watch from afar.

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Sun Yan

Nichapat was the woman Thanatcha had secretly admired since their
university days about a year ago. To say it was a “secret crush” was partly
true, yet not entirely.

Her close friends knew about it, and Thanatcha herself never truly hid her
affection. Inevitably, word reached Nichapat’s circle of friends, and it
seemed that Nichapat herself might have heard about it as well.

Even so, Thanatcha believed she was not someone Nichapat cared about—
and perhaps Nichapat had already forgotten her feelings altogether.

After all, Nichapat was undeniably charming. Though her charm mostly
attracted men, Thanatcha figured she was just another admirer among many
—someone easily overlooked.

But things were more complicated than that. In truth, Nichapat also liked
women, just as Thanatcha did. This fact gave Thanatcha even more reason
to quietly admire her from afar, holding onto the small hope that one day
she might have the chance to get closer.

Yet she still chose to stand at a distance, because Nichapat already had
someone she truly liked—a senior who was well-known among their circle.

Many people knew about it; it was gossip passed from one to another,
crushing the hopes of the many men who admired her. And among those
disappointed admirers was Thanatcha herself.

The party continued in full swing, and perhaps the balcony was not where
she should be. She should have been downstairs, joining in the lively
atmosphere.

But she couldn’t bring herself to move away. She didn’t want to waste this
chance, because it might be the last time she would ever see Nichapat.

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Sun Yan

It had already been three months since they both graduated. If it hadn’t been
for this party—hosted at a new hotel owned by Satitha, Nichapat’s close
friend—they might never have met again after that final day at university.

Fate seemed to be on her side. After three long months, Thanatcha finally
saw Nichapat again.

Still, it was from a distance—just as it had always been. The only time she
had ever been close to Nichapat was once, long ago, before she fell into this
quiet, one-sided affection that lingered to this very day.

Her gaze drifted occasionally around the hall, pretending to take in the
atmosphere. She couldn’t allow herself to stare in one place for too long; it
would be far too obvious.

But whenever her eyes returned to the one figure that held her attention, she
found herself caught. A few people in Nichapat’s group had noticed her
staring. One of them nudged Nichapat with an elbow, urging her to turn and
look.

And then it happened. Nichapat glanced her way. The group exchanged
smiles, whispered something among themselves, and Thanatcha’s heart
raced so quickly that she had to look away, feigning composure.

She couldn’t know what Nichapat and her friends had said about her. But
still, it was something—something small yet enough to make her heart
swell with fragile joy. For the briefest of moments, she had stepped into
Nichapat’s gaze. Even if only for a heartbeat.

“I think she’s looking at you,” Ansaya teased with a grin. “Honestly, it

seems like she still likes you.”

“Likes me?”

Nichapat glanced back up at the mezzanine. She saw Thanatcha quickly

looking away.

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Sun Yan

“Is that what you think?” she asked, amused, before breaking into a small
smile.

“What’s this? Don’t tell me you’re interested,” Satitha said. “I thought you
liked P’Wa. But really, maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to move on.
You might actually have a better chance with someone else.”

“Don’t try to lead me on,” Nichapat shot back.

“Why not? I think she doesn’t seem so bad,” Ansaya replied, smirking. “If
someone like her came to flirt with me, I’d probably give it some thought.”

“As if she’s ever tried to flirt with me,” Nichapat rolled her eyes at her
friend. “When has she ever?”

“Well, who would dare? You keep turning people down, telling everyone
you already like someone else. Word gets around, you know. I bet she’s
heard too—that’s why she never made a move.”

“I just don’t want to keep giving people false hope. But if…”

Nichapat had been bothered by a thought for some time. Now that the
conversation had turned in this direction, she pulled that thought together.

“I know what to do,”

Nichapat suddenly declared, surprising her friends.

She wrapped an arm around both of them, drawing them close, and
whispered something in their ears. The moment she finished, both friends
pulled back with startled expressions.

“You can’t be serious!” Satitha exclaimed, laughing in disbelief.

“Mhm.” Nichapat pushed at their shoulders with both hands, then turned to
Satitha with her palm open. “Well? Which room is mine?”

“Do you really mean it?”

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Sun Yan

Satitha’s voice rose in pitch as she dug into her handbag. Finally, she
pressed the requested item into her friend’s hand.

“Yes. I’ve got to at least try,” Nichapat said with a sly smile. Clutching what
Satitha had given her tightly in her hand, she added, “I’ll leave the rest to
you two. I’m going.”

With that, she excused herself, slipping away quickly. She moved through
the crowd with purpose, heading out of the hall without looking back.

Thanatcha knew she couldn’t stay rooted in the same spot any longer. If
Nichapat had noticed her, it might make her uncomfortable to realize
someone was watching from above.

So Thanatcha forced herself to move, strolling slowly along the balcony as

if admiring the view of the lively party below. After a while, she stopped at
a new spot and cautiously searched for Nichapat again.

But Nichapat was no longer there.

Her friends were still standing in the same place, laughing and chatting
together, yet there was no sign of Nichapat among them. A flicker of unease
ran through Thanatcha.

Perhaps she had slipped away to the restroom? Or worse—maybe she had
already said her goodbyes and left the party altogether. The thought filled
her with sudden panic.

Afraid of missing her chance, Thanatcha hurried toward the marble

staircase, her heart racing as her eyes swept the floor below. But just as she
reached the steps, she froze.

Someone had stepped directly into her path.

“Were you looking for me?”

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha froze in place, staring in shock at the beautiful face now standing
so close. She had never expected Nichapat to suddenly appear right in front
of her. When Thanatcha failed to move, the other woman stepped half a
pace closer.

“W-wait…” Thanatcha stammered, her voice unsteady.

“What? Weren’t you looking for me?”

Nichapat crossed her arms, a teasing smile tugging at her lips as if she were
deliberately provoking her.

The only thing Thanatcha could think to ask slipped out.

“What are you doing here?”

“Came up to see you, of course,”

Nichapat replied smoothly, taking another step closer.

“To see me? Why?”

Thanatcha asked, utterly confused. She had never dared to imagine—never

even allowed herself the hope—that Nichapat might have a reason to
approach her. And yet here she was. But for what reason?

“There has to be a reason, doesn’t there?”

Nichapat winked as she leaned in closer, so near that Thanatcha

instinctively tilted her head back. She stepped backward, trying to create
space—but Nichapat only followed, each step pressing forward until
Thanatcha’s back met the balcony rail.

“I need your help with something…”

Nichapat murmured, tilting her head slightly, her arm braced against the
railing to cage Thanatcha neatly in place.

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha’s throat tightened as she leaned back in confusion, her mind

spinning. She had never expected Nichapat to approach her like this. And
yet what came next shocked her even more.

“Here…”

A slender hand gently lifted Thanatcha’s chin, forcing their eyes to meet.
Nishapat’s lips curved, her voice dripping with deliberate temptation as she
delivered her offer.

“Please be my bed partner tonight.”

💖💖💖
sunyan

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Sun Yan

🎀 02.A Night to Remember 🎀

"Please be my bed partner tonight."

The firm voice and steady gaze that came with the invitation left her frozen
in place. It could have been a joke, but before she could ask, the other
person repeated it again.

"Why are you just standing there? Are you going to sleep with me or not?"

"What?" Thanatcha asked in confusion.

"Sleep. Together. Didn't you hear me clearly?"

"Me?"

Thanatcha asked in disbelief. Maybe this was some kind of prank. After all,
having the person she had secretly liked for so long suddenly invite her like
this made her heart waver with hope. Still, she needed a reason.

"You... want to sleep with me? Why?"

"When I ask someone to sleep with me, if there's no other reason, then it's
simply because I want to. And since I asked you, there must be a reason."

Nicha raised an eyebrow at her.

"Come here."

The reason given was vague, leaving no time for her to prepare herself.
Suddenly, the one who had invited her took her by the wrist and pulled her
along.

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Sun Yan

The elegant woman in a white dress, walking gracefully in two-inch heels,

led the one in a white suit across the mezzanine toward a door that opened
into an inner area.

On the way, they passed by two other guests, but neither had time to pay
attention to anyone else. Nicha pulled Thanatcha through the door into a
small hall inside, then led her up the stairs to the upper floor.

"Wait-where are you taking me?"

Thanatcha asked as she was dragged up to the wide, empty corridor above.
The hotel only had one group of guests gathered in the main hall
downstairs, so up here, it was just the two of them.

"To talk, just the two of us,"

Nichapat said with a sly smile. She released Thanatcha's wrist, then turned
and pressed her back gently against the wall.

"What's your name?"

Nichapat asked, leaning in closer while resting one hand lightly on

Thanatcha's shoulder. Her playful fingers brushed over the small shoulder
hidden beneath the white suit.

"I..."

Thanatcha's voice faltered as she gazed at the beautiful face so near her
own. She had never imagined she would get the chance to see, up close, the
woman she had secretly loved for so long.

From the moment Nichapat closed the distance on the balcony, her nearness
had made Thanatcha's heart race. And yet, still dazed by everything
happening, she couldn't fully take in the overwhelming feeling that came
with staring at that stunning face.

"What's your name? Why won't you answer?"

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Sun Yan

Nichapat asked again, her hand sliding from the shoulder to trace along the
line of Thanatcha's jaw. Seeing her this close, she realized the woman
before her looked even better than she had remembered from afar. She felt
no regret at all for choosing this person to be her partner for the night.

"Tense," Thanatcha finally replied.

"My name is Tense."

"Wow, that's a cool name," Nichapat smiled.

"I'm June."

"I already know your name," Thanatcha answered honestly.

"So it's true then? What I heard-that you like me? Or was I misinformed?"

Nichapat asked directly. This wasn't a moment for hesitation; she wanted to
hear the truth straight from Thanatcha herself, even if the answer wouldn't
change her own feelings.

"If I answer... would it make things better, or worse?"

Put on the spot like that, Thanatcha felt she should be just as
straightforward. She never imagined that someone like Nichapat would
boldly confront her with such a question.

Thinking it over, she realized there must be a reason she was given this
"privilege." But what was that reason?

"It doesn't make a difference," Nichapat said plainly. "Your answer won't
necessarily give you what you hope for."

"Then I suppose I don't need to answer."

"Be honest with yourself-if not with me."

"Fine then. I'll be honest-with myself, and with you,"

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Thanatcha said at last. She had never been the type to hide her feelings, but
she also knew her place well enough not to intrude when she was certain
the other already had someone she liked.

That was why she had never tried to approach Nichapat before. And
because there had never been a chance to connect, this moment was the
very first time they were speaking openly about each other.

"Oh? And what does honesty sound like?"

Nichapat tilted her head, curious.

"I like you."

"Ah..."

Nichapat froze. She had wanted to hear that confession, had even pushed
for it herself. But the moment those straightforward words came out-paired
with the gaze that accompanied them-she suddenly felt flustered.

There was purity in Thanatcha's eyes. That steady gaze carried the weight
of a sincere confession, almost like a declaration of love. The longer
Nichapat held it, the more it unsettled her-strange, considering she had been
the one to ask in the first place.

"Really?"

Nichapat averted her eyes, trying to hide her reaction.

"I've said it. So... what now?"

"Well..." Nichapat quickly turned her gaze back to her. "Good. At least it
means I chose the right partner for tonight."

"Partner? For the night? I thought you already had someone you liked."

"I do like someone. But I'm still single,"

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Nichapat said with a sly smile. Her hand slid from Thanatcha's shoulder up
to the back of her neck, and then both arms wrapped loosely around it.

"And that's exactly why I have to do this."

She tugged her closer, lowering Thanatcha's face until it hovered near her
own, then leaned in to whisper softly at her ear:

"Let's go upstairs."

Thanatcha's heart was still pounding wildly. From the moment Nichapat
whispered that invitation, her pulse had only quickened. The words alone
were tempting enough, opening the door to possibilities-but the sultry,
seductive tone of that whisper sent her emotions spinning far beyond her
control.

And that was how she ended up here-inside a luxurious suite on the eighth
floor.

"You like women, don't you?"

Nichapat asked as she carefully slipped off her high heels, setting her bare
feet onto the soft carpet. Then she walked toward Thanatcha, who was
already stepping further inside to look around the room.

"Yes, I do..."

Thanatcha turned back to face her, but the words caught in her throat when
the beautiful woman closed in again-so close it felt like she was about to be
kissed.

"If you like women, then you must have been with one before. You can't be
that inexperienced,"

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Nichapat murmured, her eyes flicking between Thanatcha's gaze and her
lips, while she bit her own lightly-like savoring the sight of something she
truly desired.

"You still haven't told me your reason,"

Thanatcha said firmly. No matter how seductive Nichapat's presence was,

that unanswered question kept her from surrendering completely.

"Mm, you're right. You deserve to know," Nichapat said with a smile.
"But... can it wait until later?"

She deliberately pressed closer, forcing Thanatcha to step back until her
shoulders touched the soft fabric wall.

"Then promise me... that knowing later won't make me regret this decision."

"You won't regret it," Nichapat answered without hesitation. "I see more
advantages than problems."

"And what advantage is that?"

"That you'll get to spend the night with the woman you like."

"Is that all?"

"Listen to my conditions,"

Nichapat whispered, her fingers brushing the buttons on Thanatcha's crisp

white shirt, even though the suit jacket hadn't yet been removed. She
slipped open the first button.

"Condition number one: tonight, you get to be with me. But when morning
comes, it ends there-no strings attached, no continuation afterward."

"And the second?" Thanatcha asked quickly.

"The second option is that you could refuse me right now, and there would
be no chance for anything to continue from here either."

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Sun Yan

Hearing both options didn't require much thought. If Nichapat had been just
a friend, she wouldn't have chosen the first option, risking their relationship
for a fleeting moment.

But the difference now was that there would be no opportunity to continue
at all. If Nichapat hadn't come tonight to present this choice, no matter what
she picked, there would be no chance to move forward.

So wouldn't it be better if choosing the first option gave her a whole night
to spend with Nichapat?

At least she would get to be with the woman she liked for an entire night.

And after tonight... she might still have a chance to continue, if fate
allowed.

"I choose the first option."

"Really?"

Nichapat grinned. Strangely, that answer made her heart race-not because of
any feelings toward the person in front of her, but probably from the
excitement of what was about to happen next.

Their eyes met as Nichapat unbuttoned the second button of Thanatcha's

shirt, then slid his hand under her white suit jacket, pulling it off one
shoulder.

Thanatcha didn't move, except to keep her gaze locked on her teasing eyes.
Her eyes slowly traced down to her sharp nose, the pinkish-orange lipstick
on her inviting lips, and the well-proportioned face that made Thanatcha
feel flustered up close.

Thinking about what was about to happen, she swallowed nervously as she
felt her chest pressing against hers.

"Stay still," Nichapat said, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Are you

inexperienced... or have you never done this before?"

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Sun Yan

It was a teasing remark that seemed to have an effect. After she spoke,
Thanatcha grabbed her shoulders and pressed her body against the wall
instead.

Her face moved forward impatiently, pausing slightly as their lips nearly
met. Their eyes locked, and even though she knew it wasn't love, at least
her gaze and actions showed desire. Whatever the reason, this was the most
special opportunity Thanatcha had right now.

Their lips met. Her body felt weightless for a brief moment at the first
touch. Thanatcha kissed her slowly at first, then pressed a little harder when
she seemed eager for a more passionate response.

Since this was the only chance she had...

She would give Nichapat the most memorable touch she could.

She pressed her shoulders against the wall, slid her right hand to cup her
jaw, and tilted her face to meet her lips. Her breath against hers as she
kissed her deeply stirred her, intensifying the desire building within her
body.

"Huff..."

Nichapat responded to Thanatcha's kiss, leaving her breathless. But it was

only the beginning of a touch that made her wonder how much more
excitement Thanatcha could give her, considering this was their first real
intimate moment on a night they had just gotten to know each other
seriously.

Nichapat slid her hand under her suit jacket to pull it off her shoulder. The
jacket's owner seemed just as eager, so she quickly removed it and tossed it
aside, all while their lips remained locked.

Nichapat smiled in pleasure as she pulled back briefly to catch her breath,
then wrapped her arms around Thanatcha's neck and drew her in for another

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Sun Yan

kiss.

Thanatcha's kiss was so intoxicating that it felt as if just kissing like this
was enough-if not for the curiosity that sparked within her: if her kiss could
feel this satisfying, how much more pleasure would her movements in bed
bring?

Her slender hands unbuttoned the remaining buttons down to her waist,
hurriedly pulling the shirt from the white pants she was wearing, before
undoing the final button.

It happened in a single motion as Thanatcha pulled back her lips and

unhooked the small shoulder bag resting on the beautiful woman's shoulder,
letting it drop lightly to the floor.

For a brief moment, their eyes met again. Thanatcha slowly traced her
hands around Nichapat's slim waist before pressing her lips to her once
more. This time, she only continued the touch briefly, savoring the first kiss
before moving on.

Thanatcha's lips then slid down slowly, brushing against her slightly tilted
chin so she could press a kiss there. It felt like a dream, being this close to
the beautiful face she had admired from afar, without needing a long
prelude to their connection. She pressed kisses along her jawline, her heart
racing as she felt the beauty she wanted to cherish all to herself.

She could hear Nichapat's shallow breaths close by, which pleased her even
more. It showed just how much her small touches could stir her-and she
wondered how much more would happen when she got to touch her even
further.

She wanted to rush things out of impatience, yet also wanted to savor each
touch slowly. When she struggled to control herself, she became hasty-but
when she was lost in the moment, she lingered, letting herself fully absorb
each sensation.

Like now, her lips pressed against Nichapat's graceful neck, lingering
slowly. She kissed and traced it gently until her low, ragged breaths stirred a

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sense that she could no longer hesitate. Her lips, which had been slow and
teasing, moved eagerly over his pale neck.

"Mm..."

Nichapat moaned softly, sensing her hands sliding down to undo the zipper
at the back. She slowly pulled the dress down, letting it fall to the floor,
revealing her beautiful figure to someone she had only just met.

Seeing such a delicate, alluring body right in front of her made her want to
pull Thanatcha into her arms.

It wasn't just a thought-Thanatcha wrapped her arms around Nichapat's slim

waist, pressing her hips against hers, her face brushing her collarbone, then
lowering toward her soft chest. Her other hand cupped her chest, stroking it
lightly, feeling every curve.

The rapid, husky sounds escaping from the person beneath her revealed
their intense desire, which gave Thanatcha a sense of satisfaction. In that
moment, she paused all touches and grabbed her slender wrists, guiding
them toward the bed impatiently.

Nichapat fell onto the soft mattress under her push, watching as she stepped
back to remove her clothes, leaving only two small pieces covering her.
Then she jumped onto the bed, straddling her.

"Want to explain yourself now?"

Thanatcha asked, pinning her wrists above her head while pressing her lips
to her, awaiting an answer.

"You'll find out soon enough,"

Nichapat replied, her voice slightly breathless. She lifted her head to kiss
Thanatcha in response.

"Is this some kind of spiteful plan against someone, or..."

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Before Thanatcha could finish her question, she was pushed down, and
Nichapat flipped to straddle her instead.

Seeing Nichapat above her took her breath away. Her eyes traveled from
her beautiful face, down her elegant neck, paused briefly at her chest, then
slowly followed her body down to her knees pressing against the soft
mattress to hold her in place.

"No,"

Nichapat shook her head and lowered herself slowly until her face was
close to Thanatcha's neck, then pressed her lips against it, enjoying the
contact with the woman who had agreed to be on the bed with her tonight.

"Mm..."

Thanatcha made a soft sound in her throat. She closed her eyes, thinking
she might be dreaming about the person she secretly liked, perhaps going a
little too far. But it felt more like reality.

Whatever it was, Thanatcha knew that right now she was on the bed with
that woman, kissing her, touching each other's bodies, and feeling
Nichapat's tongue exploring her skin, sending shivers through her lower
body.

"How many girlfriends have you had?"

Nichapat asked, reaching under Thanatcha's back to find the clasp of her
bra.

"Why are you asking? You just said you thought I was inexperienced,"

Thanatcha replied, letting Nichapat undo the clasp but not allowing her to
do much more.

Now that she wanted to be the one admiring the other's beauty first, she
pushed the beautiful woman to turn over onto her back instead.

"So I just realized it's the same thing," Nichapat said with a sly smile.

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Sun Yan

"For me, it's connected,"

Thanatcha replied, sliding the white bra off Nichapat's shoulders, leaving
only the thin cups covering the center of her chest.

"I've had two girlfriends before, and I've been single for about a year."

"Then why haven't you found someone new?" Nichapat teased.

Thanatcha paused for a moment at the question. She could answer honestly
but chose not to.

"Because you already like someone,"

Nichapat answered for her.

"If you already knew, why ask?"

"Just curious," Nichapat teased back.

"Just like you,"

Thanatcha thought. She had assumed she would be more careful with her
words around the woman she liked, but Nichapat was so teasing. This back-
and-forth banter suited them far better.

"You've had a girlfriend before, right? Then why haven't you found
someone new?"

Being teased back like that made her flinch. Nichapat went quiet-the
question hit a nerve. Even more so because she had been the one to say it to
Thanatcha first. She had also been single for two years, quietly liking
someone for over a year.

"You don't have to answer my question,"

Thanatcha said, noticing her reaction and not wanting to upset her. She
didn't want to waste time on words when there were other things distracting
them on the bed.

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Sun Yan

"I already know."

She slipped her hand under the woman's back and unclasped her bra
effortlessly; in an instant, it was completely removed.

Her eyes followed the revealed figure in front of her. The shapely, beautiful
chest made her stare, swallowing nervously. Her gaze drifted down to the
lightly toned abs, sculpted from occasional workouts, and the slender, firm
waist that completed the alluring proportions of the body.

"You're very beautiful."

Thanatcha couldn't help but stare, so she said it directly. She noticed the
small smile playing at the corner of the other person's lips, a smile that
seemed pleased by her compliment and made her want to lean closer.

Thanatcha reached for the strap slipping off the shoulder but let it stay there
as the other person unclasped it. Then it was removed entirely and set aside
together with the bra, tossed gently onto the side of the bed.

Her face leaned down to kiss her beautiful lips again. After only a few
minutes of separation, she yearned for the chance to touch them again, as
she had the chance for only tonight to do so.

The softness of their tongues met without resistance. When their rhythms
matched, it was the perfect kiss for both of them. The gasps they heard,
signaling their need for a break, they pulled their lips away.

Thanatcha's lips shifted, tracing the corner of her mouth, her cheek, the tip
of her chin, and then circling the beautiful breasts she couldn't help but stare
at.

The tip of her tongue licked around, causing the person being touched to let
out a rapid breath, accompanied by a chest heaving up and down with the
rhythmic breathing. A small gasp escaped as the sensitive spot was
occupied by lips that let their tongues work simultaneously.

"Ah..."

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A moan escaped, as her chest arched slightly, allowing the other to caress it
as she pleased. A hand swept down her back, moving down to the nape of
her neck, pressing it haphazardly before stopping to grip the black hair in
her hand.

Thanatcha was lost in her thoughts, the more she touched, the more she
wanted more. Her emotions surged, unstoppable.

If this moment were a fantasy, she would have been irritated when she
regained consciousness. But she would have also been repulsed and
embarrassed by the thought of letting herself have such thoughts about
someone she had a genuine crush on.

"Uh..."

Nichapat bit her lip, suppressing her emotions. She felt a commotion, even
though Thanatcha had momentarily stopped focusing on her breasts.

Thanatcha's face moved lower, occupied with her legs, covered in repeated
kisses. The kisses were gentle, interspersed with small, indelible ones. It
made her let out a raspy, embarrassing sound.

"After this..."

Thanatcha lifted herself up. She grabbed the edge of the small piece of cloth
and slowly dragged it down her leg. Her gaze scanned every spot it slid
down, discovering just how beautiful those legs looked.

Thanatcha moved back up, straddling the beautiful, naked body with her
hands. She met her gaze, ran her hand through her eyes, and leaned down to
whisper what she'd left to say,

"You can make it louder than before."

She pressed a light kiss to her cheek, placing her hand comfortably against
her lower mound before gently poking the spot that made her flinch.

She smiled happily at the woman who was half-awake looking at her. The
teasing continued for a long time, but it seemed there was more she could

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Sun Yan

do.

Thanatcha didn't want to hesitate when her face pressed against her
beautiful body again. Her lips traced her breast, kissing her side, and down
to her beautiful hips before inserting herself in between, allowing her face
to rest comfortably in the desired position.

The next touch was initiated, the tip of her tongue sliding through the small
slit, sliding down slowly. That alone caused her beautiful body to lift almost
to its full height, teasing and nibbling at the same spot again. She lingered
for a long time until she heard a melodious moan that didn't seem to
displease her plea.

Thanatcha gently move the legs to make space, feeling the soft yet firm
touch. At the moment when the movement lifts the hips, it's important to
hold the legs in a way that allows her to control each motion comfortably,
letting her body respond naturally to the sensation.

"Ah..."

Even though every touch was smooth, it perfectly masked Thanatcha's inner
feelings. Her heart was beating rapidly, causing her hands to tremble
slightly, but she managed to control it.

The other woman didn't notice it. Her shoulders jolted up, following the
beautiful body's twitching and rising as she eagerly thrust into her.

Then, Thanatcha slowly relaxed, afraid that she might get hurt again. Her
concern, wanting to be careful and make every touch memorable, made her
move up to look at the beautiful face closely and ask in a soft voice.

"Does it hurt?"

"....."

Nichapat shook her head repeatedly. She grabbed Thanatcha's shoulders.

Thanatcha's skin was so smooth it felt like it would slip out of her hands.

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Sun Yan

She scrambled up a little to hug Thanatcha's neck. It was a good support for
her.

"Ah... ... harder."

"Really?"

Thanatcha smiled. She was pleased that Nichapat had dared to speak so
directly to her desires. She had never imagined it like this before. Getting to
know Nichapat in bed was even more exciting and made her even more
infatuated.

So... how could she just let their relationship end, just for tonight?

"Sure,"

Thanatcha whispered, then gradually increased her pace, fulfilling her

request. She pressed her lips to the crook of her neck, perfecting the searing
sensation. She pressed her lips together, pushing them closer together,
bringing their feelings to the limit. Even she, the one giving the touch,
could let out a satisfied moan.

"Ah..."

Nichapat arched her body frequently. Thanatcha knew the signal. When she
felt tired, she had the strength to push harder and knew the moment when
she could take Nichapat to heaven.

Slowly, the beautiful figure relaxed onto the soft bed, exhausted but
peaceful. The room was filled only with the sound of their breathing,
rhythmically blending together.

Thanatcha's lay down beside her, catching her breath, watching her rise and
fall with each inhale. She asked herself repeatedly if this was real or just a
dream.

When she reached out and took Nichapat's hand and kiss, feeling it
returned, and met her gaze as Nichapat slowly turned to look at her, it
confirmed that this was truly happening.

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The gaze they exchanged meant the moment of closeness and desire
between them was far from over.

With the night still ahead, she wasn't ready to let it end so easily.

💖💖💖
sunyan

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Sun Yan

🎀 03.A Farewell That Wasn't

Really A Goodbye 🎀

Their breaths mingled softly as the two bodies thrust tirelessly into each
other. Thanatcha held onto one of Nichapat's legs tightly, moving closer as
her beautiful body moved in a swaying rhythm.

"Ah,"

Thanatcha closed her eyes, letting out a moan as her arousal finally reached
its climax. However, she was interrupted slightly by the sound of a phone
ringing in the distance.

Nichapat lifted her head slightly to look for the source. She remembered
that her phone was in the bag Thanatcha had taken off her shoulder and left
against the far wall. It would be inconvenient to reach for it-but she didn't
really need to. This was now her turn.

"Is that your phone?" Thanatcha slowed her movements.

"Mm," Nichapat replied, her voice tired. "Don't worry about it."

"Not answering it?"

"Just ignore it... ah..."

Instead of losing focus because of the interruption, she dragged her

emotions further away. Her eyes closed, her body moving to satisfy what
was left behind, causing Thanatcha, who had slowed down, to speed up
again.

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In that moment, the sounds from their throats blended into a sweet rhythm.
The other person's voice only stimulated her to climb even further, the
emotions that easily carried each other to the point of satisfaction.

"Ah..."

The two bodies went still, the only movement coming from their gentle
rising and falling with each breath.

"Grab the blanket," Nichapat said.

"Hm?"

"Pull the blanket over."

Thanatcha was slightly surprised. She thought Nichapat might be tired and
just want to pull the blanket over and finally rest-but that wasn't the case.
When she drew the blanket over both of them, Nichapat flipped over and
straddled her.

"Do you want to continue?"

"What?"

Thanatcha exclaimed. She was more than pleased by the invitation, but she
hadn't expected Nichapat to want to linger in desire rather than sleep. Then
again, it wasn't late enough to rush to bed, though their fatigue would likely
make sleep come easily.

"Mm... why? Are you tired?"

Nichapat traced her fingers lightly over Thanatcha's cheek.

"Not really... but..." Thanatcha raised her eyebrows, recalling the reason
behind Nichapat's actions. "Tell me the reason."

"The reason...?"

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Knock, knock, knock!

The knock at the door made them both pause for a moment. Thanatcha
moved slightly, trying to position herself more comfortably, unsure of who
might be visiting or why-but Nichapat pressed her down, keeping her in
place.

Nichapat looked at Thanatcha and gave a sly smile.

"My reason has probably arrived,"

She said, grinning as she pulled the blanket over them more securely. Only
their faces and a bit of shoulder peeked out, while she leaned in to kiss
Thanatcha without a care.

"W-wait..." Thanatcha pushed Nichapat's shoulder. "Who's there?"

"I don't know," Nichapat replied.

Click!

The sound of the door opening made Nichapat freeze. Though she tried to
act calm, a slight thrill and worry ran through her. When she pretended to
turn under the blanket to look, her expression changed to one of shock.

"June..."

"Mom!" Nichapat exclaimed.

Thanatcha moved slightly, feeling even more shocked when she heard
Nichapat call the name of the person who had entered the room. Following
behind Nichapat's mother was an older man, along with two close friends
lingering near the door.

"June, what are you doing?!"

Naphitta shouted in alarm when she saw her daughter on the bed in a faintly
alarming state. She clutched her chest, then turned to her husband.

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"You-get out of here right now!"

She commanded, pushing him toward the door. Satitha, the daughter of a
hotel owner, quickly stepped in to replace him, while Ansaya hurriedly
closed the door behind them and joined them in the room.

"Mom..."

"Your mother?"

Thanatcha asked, looking at the woman, who appeared to be around fifty

and was walking straight toward them.

Nichapat didn't answer. She sat up straight, clutching the blanket, and gave
her mother a tight, awkward smile.

"Is this the boyfriend you were talking about?"

Naphitta struggled to get the words out, biting her lip with a grimace as if
she could barely contain her frustration.

"Mm," Nichapat pouted. "Yes, Mom. I already told you I have a girlfriend.
And I'm not going back tonight, so why are you coming to see me?"

"But you have..."

Naphitta opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat. She
couldn't say anything more, knowing deep down that her daughter didn't
have anyone else-almost blurting it out because it was only her own
thought.

"Oh dear... what am I supposed to do? My daughter's done something like

this already."

"Mom, I'm grown up now, and I want to choose my own lover. I already
told you I'm not interested in men."

"Oh..."

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Naphitta looked like she might actually faint. Satitha, seeing this, quickly
stepped behind her and held her shoulders.

"Auntie, are you okay?"

Satitha asked worriedly, then glanced at her close friend. Their eye contact
gave her the chance to glare at her friend silently, mouthing a word that
only the friend could read:

"Idiot."

"Oh dear,"

Naphitta muttered, waving her hand across her face. She glanced at
Thanatcha for a moment, then sighed softly and turned away.

"Never mind. Do whatever you want. I won't interfere anymore."

"Mom..."

Nichapat shifted forward, but she couldn't really get up while hiding under
the blanket. Though she had meant to act this way, a small worry lingered
that her mother might faint from overthinking.

"Let's talk at home tomorrow morning,"

Naphitta said calmly, giving her daughter a final glance before walking out
of the room.

Satitha and Ansaya looked at their friend at the same time. Nichapat raised
her hand, flicked her fingers lightly at them in a playful wave, and gave a
wide smile.

The two friends shook their heads in mock annoyance, then glanced at
Thanatcha, who was sitting stiffly under the blanket, and offered a friendly
smile.

Thanatcha returned the smile, still a bit bewildered, and watched as the two
left the room. She quickly turned to the "troublemaker" sitting beside her,

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Sun Yan

softly laughing to herself, completely at ease.

"So this is your reason?" Thanatcha asked in a firm voice.

"Mm," Nichapat nodded. "It worked pretty well. Good timing."

"Why did you do it?" Thanatcha wasn't angry, just confused by Nichapat's
reasoning. "You told your mom that I'm your girlfriend."

"Mm. Well, my parents were trying to find a man for me to marry. They're
getting older, and when they met a wealthy family with a son they thought
would be a good match to take care of me, they wanted me to be with him.
Since he seemed interested in me too, I thought I'd make them happy by
pretending to be with someone else. It worked out perfectly for my
parents."

"Were you forced?"

"My parents aren't cruel. They've been kind to me since I was little. It's just
this one thing-they worry and want me to have someone reliable to take
care of me. When that guy showed interest, it was like using my parents as
matchmakers."

"You told them you don't like men,"

Thanatcha said, tilting her head, her mind full of questions.

"My parents have known for a long time. I used to tell them every time I
had a girlfriend, but they just kind of acknowledged it without much
reaction. When I was younger, I didn't think it would last, so I just let it be
and pretended not to notice. After I graduated, they wanted me to have a
serious boyfriend-probably as a way to make me stop dating women,
because they were afraid a woman couldn't take care of me the way they
wanted. Also, they're a bit old-fashioned," she chuckled softly. "They told
me not to rush into anything. They wanted someone who could truly take
responsibility for me. Maybe then they would accept it."

"But they saw you..."

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Sun Yan

"Well, I did it on purpose,"

Nichapat pushed the blanket away and turned to lie face down next to
Thanatcha.

"I told them I'd already gone through that stuff. I've been with women
before-why would anyone need to take responsibility for that? Besides, this
isn't the old days. But when I told them, they just said I was making it up,
claiming I had serious girlfriends, because they didn't believe me. So that's
why I had to do this. Tomorrow, they're going to make me meet that guy, so
I had to find a way to escape."

"But what if they insist?"

"They won't. I think I know them well enough," Nichapat smiled. "They're
not the type to force me, but they might hesitate and try to postpone
tomorrow's meeting. And if I already have a girlfriend, they probably
wouldn't pressure me too much."

"Isn't it true that they want you to hurry and build a relationship with a
man?" Thanatcha frowned.

"No way," Nichapat shook her head confidently. "My parents wouldn't go
that far. Honestly, I don't want to do it either. But isn't it normal? When
you're old enough to take responsibility for yourself, having a boyfriend-or
a relationship with someone-isn't wrong." She smiled.

Thanatcha looked at her faint smile. She was just beginning to understand
Nichapat's deeper self. It wasn't that she thought poorly of her, but Nichapat
seemed more complicated than she had imagined.

She was beginning to see another side of her life-the family upbringing
Nichapat had gone through.

Even if she didn't fully understand everything, she could grasp the basics of
Nichapat's life and saw that Nichapat was more open than she had thought.
If she had to describe her personality, she'd say Nichapat was a beautiful
woman who still kept a small measure of control over her own decisions.

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Sun Yan

It was fascinating to learn these new things about her. Yet the thought she
chose to voice was this,

"You're even more cunning than I thought. You were cunning from the
moment you dared to come over and ask me to be your sleep partner."

"Mm,"

Nichapat said, unfazed. She smiled, clearly pleased, and shifted to straddle
Thanatcha again, taking control.

"Yes, this is who I am."

She tilted her head slowly, letting her hand trace the sharp line of
Thanatcha's jaw.

"Do you still like me like this?"

She pressed a gentle kiss to the side of Thanatcha's ear, nibbling lightly
before issuing a command she wanted Thanatcha to remember.

"I want you to remember tonight... and forget it all by tomorrow."

Her beautiful eyes slowly opened, then widened as she took in the sight of
the luxurious, brand-new ceiling. She realized she was the first guest-or
perhaps the first couple-to stay in this room.

She quickly turned to look at the person lying next to her, recalling what
had happened last night. Seeing them still asleep, lying on their side facing
her, brought back vivid memories of the night before.

Her gaze dropped as she felt the weight on her body. She saw Thanatcha's
arm draped across her and muttered a soft complaint.

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Sun Yan

"Who said you could hug me? I didn't give you permission,"

Nichapat said, giving the still-sleeping person a sour look-but she didn't
struggle or move away.

After muttering that, she went quiet, letting her eyes wander over
Thanatcha's face in sleep. She found herself noticing how nice it looked.

"You're kind of cute when you're asleep," she smiled, then furrowed her
brow slightly. "You could probably charm anyone easily... so why don't you
like someone else?"

Nichapat knew her own heart wasn't free. Her friends and others knew she
already had someone she liked, which was why she hadn't agreed to date
anyone for over a year. If she counted from the last time she was truly
single, it had been two years.

Her first boyfriend was a salesperson back in ninth grade, but it only lasted
a short time-less than a semester. She realized something wasn't right and
ended the relationship herself. At the time, she figured she was still too
young.

By eleventh grade, she had a girlfriend-a classmate who wasn't part of her
close friend group. As they got to know each other better, they both realized
they liked each other and started dating. Their relationship lasted about a
year and a half, ending when they graduated from high school.

She didn't date another woman again until her second year of university.
This time, it was with the owner of a café she liked to study at with friends.

One day, she went to sit and study alone at the café. As they talked and got
to know each other, they started to feel an interest in one another and
eventually decided to become a couple.

Their relationship lasted about a year, until the other person had to move
their café farther away. Frequent meetings became difficult, and the other
person seemed too busy to spend time with her. The growing distance
eventually led to their breakup, though it ended on good terms.

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Sun Yan

She stayed single for about six months. Then she met Wiphawa, and for the
first time, she fell in love with someone. But being together wasn't easy, as
she didn't stay in one place often. Nichapat understood the challenges of
long distance well, since she had ended her previous relationship for the
same reason.

But even so, she still liked her, secretly hoping she could overcome this
difficult obstacle-and that she would be willing to accept the good feelings
she offered.

"Should I be reminding myself more?"

Nichapat muttered, thinking about whether Thanatcha should go like

someone else, when she already had someone she liked. But considering
Thanatcha's feelings, it was probably similar to her own situation-falling for
someone who didn't seem ready to commit seriously.

"Sigh," she exhaled softly.

She gazed at Thanatcha's sleeping face, feeling a quiet pleasure. Memories

of the night before, spent together in bed, replayed in her mind-a night full
of heat and intensity, carried on for as long as it could.

Since she had set the terms for her to enter into this arrangement, she had
wanted to give her all without holding back. But come morning, everything
would end according to the conditions she had laid out.

It was a little sad to have such a good bedmate and know it would only
happen this once. But she couldn't waver. Even though she was single, she
already had someone she liked.

She tried to get out of bed, but worried about waking the sleeping person
beside her. Carefully, she lifted the arm draped over her body-but before she
could put it down, the other person stirred awake.

"Oh, you're awake?"

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Sun Yan

Nichapat smiled. Now that they were up, she could get up without
worrying. She pushed herself into a sitting position and moved toward the
edge of the bed-but froze when the person beside her grabbed her wrist.

"What?" she frowned.

Thanatcha stared at Nichapat silently. She didn't respond. Her reaction was
instinctive-aware that someone was about to end their time together on the
bed. She felt a little regret that she hadn't woken up first, but was lucky to
wake up while Nichapat was still there with her.

"I told you," Nichapat leaned closer, "once morning comes, everything
ends."

She twisted the hand that was being held and used her other hand to pull it
free.

"I'm going to take a shower now."

With that, she got out of bed and walked toward the wardrobe.

She picked up a bathrobe and wrapped it around her naked body before
walking into the bathroom.

Thanatcha watched Nichapat disappear into the bathroom. She turned her
head to look at the ceiling of the luxurious room, wanting to remember it
for the last few minutes before parting from the person she liked, knowing
they would never have any relationship again.

"I'm at the hotel, Mom. There was a party in the hotel last night, so I stayed
here,"

Thanatcha said, sitting on the bed and talking on the phone, after getting up
to put on the bathrobe.

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Sun Yan

"I'm not going anywhere else. I'll probably go back to my room in a little
while. I hope you're doing well, Mom."

She listened as her mother talked about everyday matters.

"Yes, Mom. Take care of yourself too. Okay... love you, Mom."

"Were you talking to your mom?"

Nichapat asked, walking around and drying her hair in a bathrobe.

"Yeah," Thanatcha replied, her mood flat.

"Ah... here it is. Thanks a lot,"

Nichapat said as she picked up all the clothes that Thanatcha had neatly laid
out at the foot of the bed. She carried them into the bathroom and came out
wearing just a bra and panties, which showed off her figure.

Thanatcha watched her, not in a lewd way, but simply wanting to remember
these last moments together, just the two of them.

"Can I ask you something..."

Thanatcha said, looking at Nichapat as she picked up the dress she had
worn last night.

"Why did you choose to come to me?"

"Why?"

Nichapat turned to her and smiled casually, as if it was no big deal. She
walked over and sat on the bed in front of Thanatcha.

"Can you zip this up for me?"

Thanatcha's eyes followed Nichapat's back as she carefully pulled the

zipper up, closing the dress just as requested.

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Sun Yan

"Thanks a lot,"

Nichapat said, standing again. She smiled before answering the question
that had been lingering.

"I chose you because you seemed the most interesting."

"Interesting...?" Thanatcha raised her eyebrow.

"That's interesting... we can create set some conditions,"

Nichapat replied quickly, not wanting Thanatcha to overthink it. She smiled
once more, then walked over to grab her small shoulder bag, pulling out
some powder and lipstick to touch up her makeup just enough to leave the
hotel with a bit of color on her face.

"I'm heading out now. You can check out by noon-you can even stay until
then if you want."

"Mm,"

Thanatcha said, getting up from the bed. She followed Nichapat as she
slipped on her shoes near the door.

"I'm going now,"

Nichapat said, tapping her foot lightly to fit her shoes properly, then looked
up at the person standing there seeing her off. Seeing that blank, lifeless
expression felt strange in her heart, but what other explanation could there
be? She smiled.

"Don't make a face like you're heartbroken. We agreed on this from the
start. You just have to accept it."

"Do I really look like that?"

Thanatcha tried to adjust her expression, but it didn't help much.

"Yes... your face looks like that,"

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Sun Yan

Nichapat stepped closer to look at Thanatcha's face. She brushed aside a

few stray strands of hair before speaking what she truly felt.

"I'll tell you... something..."

Nichapat said, biting her lip and hesitating slightly, but she forced the words
out.

"I may not... like you, but I like..." She leaned in close to whisper into her
ear.

"I like when I'm in bed with you."

Finishing the words that made Thanatcha's heart skip a beat, she slowly
pulled back, gazing closely at her. She couldn't help but recall the
sensations from the previous night and decided to add a little something
more.

Tilting her head slightly, she pressed a kiss onto Thanatcha's lips, holding it
for a brief moment before pulling away.

"Goodbye, Tense,"

She said, raising her hand and flicking her fingers lightly before turning to
open the door and walk out of the room.

The one left standing felt a sudden emptiness in her chest. She was still
stunned from that kiss, and before she could react, the other had said
goodbye and left.

Now she found herself back where she had always been - quietly watching
Nichapat from a distance. The difference now was that she had realized her
hopes were something she shouldn't hold onto, because they would never
come true or return.

She walked slowly back to the bed, feeling completely drained. But before
she could go far, her eyes caught something on the floor near the wall-the
same wall where she and Nichapat had started their passionate night
together.

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Sun Yan

She crouched down and picked up a thick card, turning it over to look at the
back, then opened it to see what was inside. Her surprise slowly melted into
a smile.

In the midst of despair, and not daring to hope anymore, it suddenly felt like
a new possibility had appeared.

She felt a quiet confusion in her heart-should she really end her story with
Nichapat here?

But if there was still a path left for her to hope, why should she stop it at
this point?

💖💖💖
sunyan

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Sun Yan

🎀 04.Expectations Coming
Forward 🎀

“Damn it… where did it go?”

Nichapat was frustrated as she couldn’t find something important. She

dumped out her small shoulder bag, searching every corner, but still
couldn’t find what she was looking for.

It was the invitation card to Wipha’s music show, which Wipha’s driver had
delivered to her the day before.

“Ah… it can’t be lost. It’s a VIP card!”

She said, slapping the bag onto the bed in frustration.

“June.”

The voice calling from the front of the room made her pause. She walked
over to open the door.

“Yes, Mom. Come in.”

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing, just looking for something.”

“Aren’t you going out to see your girlfriend today?”

The question made her pause once again, but she quickly forced a smile at
her mother.

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Sun Yan

“She’s not free today. I just want to rest at home. We can meet another day.
Why do you ask?”

She raised her eyebrows at her mother.

“Nothing, I just wanted to know what your relationship with her is usually
like.”

“Ohhh…”

Nichapat dragged the sound, carefully hiding her expression, afraid her
mother might ask more questions.

Yesterday, after returning home late in the morning, she had seen her
parents sitting quietly. It wasn’t anger—they simply didn’t know what to
say.

So she took the lead, explaining that she already had a girlfriend and
wanted to continue the relationship. Things were going well, and she didn’t
want her parents to interfere because it was her happiness. They had
nothing more to say.

They allowed her to continue the relationship because they assumed it

wouldn’t last until she grew old. When she reached the age to start a family,
they expected her to think things over again.

Yesterday’s conversation had gone smoothly. At least her parents were still
kind and gave her some freedom for the time being.

But she still had to think about how to show them the positive side of her
relationship with her girlfriend, and how long it would take before she
could introduce her real girlfriend to her parents. For now, she had to avoid
the topic, which made her anxious.

“What’s her name?”

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Sun Yan

“Huh?” Nichapat exclaimed.

“Your girlfriend’s name,” her mother clarified.

“Ohhh…”

Now came the awkward part, and it was really awkward. Nichapat felt
flustered inside, unsure which name she should say.

Saying the name of someone she had already had a past relationship with
and ended things with would be difficult, because when she eventually
introduced her real girlfriend with a different name, her parents might be
surprised and think she had quickly switched partners.

If that happened, they might see her chosen relationship as unstable.

But saying the name of someone she liked but wasn’t actually dating yet
didn’t feel right either, because if they weren’t really together, it would just
be a lie—and things would get even messier.

“Hmm…?”

“Why aren’t you answering? Can’t you just tell me your girlfriend’s name?
She’s your mother’s future daughter-in-law!”

“Mom! Calm down, please! What are you saying?”

Nichapat covered her mouth in shock at her mother’s bluntness.

“Well, isn’t that how people talk these days? If I’m going to keep up with
you, I’ll speak like this,”

Naphittha said, a little annoyed.

“Oh… okay, Mom. Whatever you want,”

Nichapat said, gently rubbing her mother’s shoulder.

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Sun Yan

“Really? Did you really have sex? Or are you just pretending to deceive
me?”

Naphittha yelled at her daughter.

“Ah… w-wait, Mom! What do you want me to say?!” Nichapat held her
forehead.

“I mean… we… ah… no, that’s not right. It already happened—you saw it,
Mom. Right?”

“Yes, I saw it, but I just…”

Naphittha tilted her head back, as if she might faint again. “Well, whatever.
What can I do to fix it?”

“If anything could be fixed, it would take a long time. She's not even my
first girlfriend, Mom,” Nichapat said.

“Don’t remind me!”

Naphittha gave her daughter a hard smack on the shoulder.

“Ouch! Mom, why are you hitting me?”

Nichapat pouted, holding the shoulder her mother had just hit.

“I’ve graduated, Mom. And before I graduated, I’ve been growing up for
how many years now?”

“I don’t know, and I don’t care,”

Naphittha said, turning her face away. But she couldn’t resist Nichapat’s
question and looked back.

“So… tell me. What’s your girlfriend’s name?”

“Oh, my girlfriend’s name,”

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Sun Yan

Nichapat said, smiling. She forced a natural expression, then beamed

proudly.

“Her name is Tense.”

Finally, she admitted the name, at least speaking about her real partner from
that night, without using anyone else’s name as a cover.

“Tense, huh?” Naphittha repeated the name. “That’s a hard name to

remember.”

“Yes,”

Nichapat nodded. When her mother said it was hard to remember, she
secretly wished her mother would forget the name immediately.

“Tense… hmm, I think I can remember it,” Naphittha said with a smile.

“Uh…”

Nichapat fell silent. She had really hoped her mother would forget it, but
instead, her mother seemed determined to remember it right away.

At that moment, she wished she could bang her head on the bed pillow ten
times and pray that her mother would quickly end this topic.

“Well, since you’re dating, why don’t you bring her to meet your father and
me? That way we can get to know her properly.”

“Ouch! Isn’t that too soon, Mom?”

Nichapat’s knees almost gave way. Her mother kept making things harder
for her.

“I just graduated, Mom. And even if whether I have a boyfriend or a

girlfriend, it still takes time to get to know each other. In the end, he—or
she—might be the one I’m really serious about or maybe not. I don’t have
to rush to introduce my girlfriend, Mom. When I’m older and more serious,
I’ll be more confident. I’ll bring her along then.”

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Sun Yan

“How could this happen…? Well, anyway, Mom knows that young people
breaking up and getting back together is normal—whether it’s a boy and a
girl, or even a girl and a girl,”

Naphittha sighed, finally accepting that her daughter had a girlfriend.

“But there’s no harm in letting adults know. That way, if any problems
come up, we can give some guidance. If she’s not uncomfortable and is
serious about you, why not find a chance to invite her over sometime?”

“Ah… okay, Mom. I’ll do that when it’s convenient,”

Nichapat reluctantly agreed. She didn’t tell her mother when she would
bring her girlfriend, and her mother wasn’t pressing. If it happened later, it
would give her some time to figure things out.

“Mm, I won’t bother you. Just let me know if you go anywhere or stay over
with her,”

Naphittha said, lifting her head slightly without looking at her daughter. She
walked out of the room and closed the door gently, almost as if she didn’t.

Nichapat peeked to make sure it was shut, then hurried to lock it properly
before collapsing onto the bed, completely drained.

“Ugh, I’m going crazy,”

She groaned, letting out a long sigh. She glanced at the contents she had
emptied from her bag and realized she needed to find that one item—it
might help her resolve this problem quickly.

She went to check the drawer she had already searched, just to be sure, but
it wasn’t there. She had looked downstairs before, but no luck either.
Clearly, it was gone from her bag. She called Satitha to ask the hotel staff to
check, but the answer came back: nothing found.

“What am I going to do?”

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Sun Yan

She muttered, tossing and turning on the bed in frustration. Her mind raced
with thoughts of the missing invitation card and her mother’s conversation,
which had mentioned someone that triggered a sudden realization. She
quickly sat upright.

She grabbed her phone, holding it tightly in her hand, hesitating for a
moment. She didn’t want to compromise the plan she had set for herself—
but if she didn’t try this method, she had no other options left.

Her eyes stayed fixed on the phone as she reminded herself that even after
she decided to make the call, she would still have a chance to rethink—she
could either go through with her last resort or change her mind later.

With that in mind, she quickly dialed her best friend.

“An, I need your help with something…”

Lively music blasted through the room, but the girl lying there didn’t seem
to feel any of it. She rested her arm on her forehead, one knee raised,
staring off into space as her mind wandered to someone else entirely.

After leaving earlier to buy a plant, as planned in the morning, she had
come back exhausted and collapsed here.

Now, with her mind a little free, she found herself thinking about someone
again. Three days had passed, and the memory felt so faint it almost seemed
like she had imagined it—but she still knew it had really happened.

“When will I see her again?”

She murmured, half-asleep. The thought of being apart made her yearn for
her even more. Had she reached the peak of her determination? Not really

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Sun Yan

—it was just a small step forward. For her, the true peak of being in love
with someone was winning that person’s heart.

Sometimes, she felt secretly confident that she still had a chance. Yet, as the
days passed, moments of doubt crept in. Even so, another part of her still
believed there was hope.

“I should go plant the tree… not lie here daydreaming,”

She told herself. She pushed herself up, placing her feet on the beige
wooden floor. Her bed was simply a mattress laid on slatted wooden boards,
part of the minimalist room she had decorated herself.

Five feet wide, it was large and soft enough for a comfortable sleep. She
spent most of her time in this room and rarely went anywhere else.

Thanatcha was sitting by the front door, filling a plant pot with soil. The
bedroom door nearby was left wide open. As she prepared to transfer the
newly bought plant into its pot, she hummed along to the music playing.

Focusing on this simple task helped her clear some thoughts from her mind.
But suddenly, the sharp ring of the phone brought a new wave of
anticipation.

She quickly brushed the soil off her hands, wiped them with a cloth, and ran
to check the phone on her bed. The number was unfamiliar. Curiosity
sparked a bit of hope, though she kept her expectations in check as she
answered.

“Hello?”

“Hello, is this you?”

The voice and question surprised her, but she couldn’t help smiling,
thinking she must have recognized the voice correctly.

“Who’s this?” Thanatcha asked.

“Tense,” the voice on the other end said sharply. “Is this you?”

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Sun Yan

“Ah…”

The person laughed softly when her name was called correctly, confirming
that no one had dialed the wrong number.

“Yes, it’s me. And you… who is this?”

She pretended to ask, though she thought she already knew, wanting to be
sure she wasn’t imagining things.

“Don’t you really remember me?”

The caller asked, a hint of irritation in their voice.

“I thought I might remember, but you still asked who I am. How could I be
sure?”

“It’s me,”

The voice on the other end said, with a tone as if resigned to confess once
again. Nichapat felt uncomfortable about going against her own wishes, but
she finally decided to go with this method.

Thanatcha listened as the voice on the other end repeated her name, just to
make sure she remembered — and it made her smile even more widely.

She spoke to the voice on the other end in a calm tone, carefully hiding the
excitement she felt.

“I’m glad we’re talking again.”

💖💖💖💖
sunyan

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Sun Yan

🎀 05.The First and a New

Meeting 🎀

Book : Toss - Up (Take A Chance To Win Her Love)

Writer : Serenista
Released : 13 September 2020
Translator : Sun Yan (daphne.shn@gmail.com)

A voice echoed through the microphone in a large lecture hall at a

university, where about two hundred people were attending a special lecture
that day.

A 35-year-old young speaker stood at the center of the stage, giving a

lecture to students on the topic, "Social Freedom and Thai Politics."

At this moment, more than half of the audience was listening attentively,
some were losing focus, and a few were dozing off after about an hour of
listening.

Thanatcha sat looking at the handout she had received when entering the
hall. This was a special activity organized by the faculty, allowing students
to sign up for lectures on different interesting topics each semester.

Many students had signed up on their own, while some were encouraged by
professors or close friends. She was one of them. When a familiar professor
in her department recommended the lecture, she decided to sign up and
ended up sitting here.

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Sun Yan

Although she felt a little sleepy, the content was interesting enough to keep
her listening for over an hour.

"I'm going to summarize everything for you. Does anyone want me to focus
on a particular aspect of freedom?"

The lecturer asked. He was a tan-skinned man with slightly curly hair,
looking a bit older than his age.

Most students didn't seem to have any questions. Some were thinking about
what they might ask, while others looked ready for the lecture to end,
shifting in their seats as if preparing to leave.

When no one else spoke up, a female student sitting cross-legged in the
middle of the room raised her hand and stood up, shouting loud enough for
the lecturer to hear.

"Could you talk about the rights and freedom of same-sex couples? This is
something that the world is currently pushing to have supported by law, but
you haven't addressed it yet," Nichapat said.

"Freedom of same-sex couples, huh?" the lecturer repeated. "How would

you like me to approach it?"

"Well..."

Nichapat thought the lecturer could interpret her question in his own way,
since someone as knowledgeable as him could explain it in many ways. But
if her question was too broad, she would clarify.

"Please talk about the laws, the rights same-sex couples should have, or the
possibilities of legal changes in the future."

"For Thailand, this is probably still difficult. Basic issues of everyday life
for citizens are more urgent and need to be addressed first. Specific
individual needs may not yet be considered important at this time," he said.

"Specific individual needs?" Nichapat frowned. "Is that a fact, or is it your

personal opinion?"

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Sun Yan

The lecturer paused for a moment. He looked around at the students

listening to the exchange between him and the fellow student.

It seemed that this conversation had sparked everyone's interest, including

Thanatcha herself. She was sitting and watching Nichapat speak-with full
attention.

"That may be my opinion as well, but in reality, it's also a fact," he said.

"It's a fact from people who think they are unaffected by this issue, because
they believe the right thing is for women to marry men and build a family
together. But same-sex love is something they cannot accept."

"I apologize that I haven't understood that feeling and have never really
paid attention. It's something I've never studied seriously. But still, that's
what I wanted to cover today..."

"You mean... this is about social and political freedom, so it wasn't prepared
to be discussed specifically?"

"Do you mean the rights and freedom of same-sex couples aren't political
issues?"

"Some aspects might be related, but because this is still seen as a personal
matter, I don't yet consider it a political issue that affects all citizens in
society," he explained.

"So people with different genders and sexual orientations aren't citizens of
society?"

Nichapat countered. She felt increasingly frustrated hearing the opinion of

someone called an expert on social freedom and human rights, yet who
seemed to ignore certain groups in society.

Nichapat's question silenced the room. Every pair of eyes turned to her
before shifting to the person who was supposed to answer.

"You keep saying it's a personal matter and that you haven't understood or
cared about it. That's because you probably view those genders negatively

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Sun Yan

as well, isn't it? Am I right? But if I've misunderstood you, I apologize."

The lecturer standing at the center of the stage didn't respond. He seemed
unsure how to act when confronted with a view that matched his own
private thoughts.

It was true that he still hadn't accepted the issue of same-sex couples, so he
didn't want to speak about something he wasn't personally engaged with.

"If you say this isn't a political issue, I'll tell you-it should be included under
which human rights category that you've been connecting to politics,"

Nichapat said loudly so everyone could hear. The silence in the room made
her voice carry throughout the sloped lecture hall.

"You said there are five human rights: one, civil rights; two, political rights;
three, social rights; four, economic rights; and five, cultural rights. Does
anyone know which category same-sex couples' human rights fall under?"

Soft murmurs arose as some students whispered their opinions quietly, each
seeming to have their own answer, but no one dared to speak loudly enough
for Nichapat to hear.

She listened, and when one person dared to answer, several others echoed
the same response. It was exactly the answer Nichapat had in mind.

"Yes, it should be included under social human rights. In this part, you, the
speaker, talked about the freedom to choose a partner and build a family,
but you didn't go into the details that everyone, regardless of gender, should
have the freedom to choose their partner-not just a male-female
relationship. This freedom should also cover the rights of same-sex couples
and the existence of laws that support all types of partnerships,"

Nichapat explained honestly. She picked up the documents on the table and
her shoulder bag hanging on the chair, and then added to the speaker:

"I think that next time you talk about human rights to an audience, you
should have information on this topic. Or, if you don't know much about it

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Sun Yan

yet, I believe you should be open to learning about it first. Excuse me,"

She said, bowing slightly, slinging her bag over her shoulder, and walking
away from the chair. As she passed through the crowd, the other students
from the faculty watched her in awe.

A soft round of applause started, and then others joined in. Some hesitated,
perhaps afraid it might seem disrespectful to the speaker, and a few quickly
lowered their hands. The applause in appreciation of Nichapat's thoughts
was brief, but it was a great honor for her.

Thanatcha was among them. She smiled at every word Nichapat spoke and
clapped along with the others in admiration. At that moment, she kept
watching the graceful figure walk through the conference room door.

There was something about this woman that drew her in, making her want
to follow. She quickly grabbed her documents and phone, placed them in a
tote bag, and hurried after Nichapat.

Because she had fallen slightly behind, she lost sight of Nichapat. Looking
around at the hallway-a corridor leading to small office rooms and a
restroom on the other side-she didn't know which way to go.

She decided to run down the stairs at the front of the building to look
outside but couldn't find her. She quickly ran back inside and tried heading
toward the women's restroom.

Just as she hurriedly stepped into the restroom, she froze when someone
stepped out.

"Oh! Sorry!"

The figure coming out of the restroom exclaimed, nearly bumping into
Thanatcha.

Thanatcha stood there, stunned. She hadn't expected to see Nichapat so

close. She had only wanted to follow her from a distance, and now that she
was this near, she didn't know how to act.

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Sun Yan

From afar, she had noticed Nichapat's beauty, but up close, it struck her
even more-Nichapat was stunning, and standing in front of her made her
feel flustered.

There were many beautiful women in the faculty, but Thanatcha had never
really noticed this one before. This was a woman who had suddenly
impressed her and made her want to get to know her.

"Ah... my face is all wet,"

Nichapat said, pressing her hand to her cheek. She felt embarrassed-she had
just washed her face in the restroom and walked out with it still wet, and
most of the makeup she had applied that day had been washed away.

"And the tissue paper ran out too,"

Nichapat added, bending to rummage through her shoulder bag before

looking up and laughing at Thanatcha.

"Even in the restroom it's all gone?" Thanatcha asked.

"Yep, completely," Nichapat sighed. "Do you happen to have any tissue?"

"Tissue..."

Thanatcha quickly rummaged through her tote bag but realized she hadn't
brought any. There was only one thing that could help, so she pulled it out
and handed it over.

"I have a handkerchief, if you don't mind. It's freshly washed and unused."

"Not having a runny nose is fine,"

Nichapat smiled. She took the handkerchief from Thanatcha without

hesitation and quickly used it to dab her face.

Thanatcha almost laughed, but instead she just gave a small smile. The
woman in front of her seemed playful and straightforward, which made
Thanatcha even more interested in her.

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Sun Yan

On top of that, Nichapat's ideas expressed earlier in the conference room

had resonated with her-because Thanatcha also liked women. It wasn't
about finding "your kind"; it was about a right she felt she deserved, just
like any other citizen.

"Washing my face helped me calm down a bit," Nichapat smiled as she

dabbed the tip of her chin dry. "Were you in the lecture just now?"

"Yes," Thanatcha replied.

"And...," Nichapat hesitated slightly before asking, "when I was

speaking..."

"You spoke really well. I agree with you," Thanatcha said.

"Wow," Nichapat snapped her fingers. "At least someone thinks the same."

"There were quite a few people who applauded you," Thanatcha added.

"You think they clapped because they agreed with me, right?" Nichapat
looked a little excited at the thought. "And you agreed because you're open-
minded about this topic too, huh?" She smiled.

"Yeah," Thanatcha smiled back.

"It's great to meet someone who thinks the same," Nichapat said, handing
the handkerchief back to Thanatcha. "Do you want me to wash this for
you?"

"No, it's fine," Thanatcha said, taking the handkerchief back.

"Okay, thank you so much. I have to go now,"

Nichapat said with a smile, giving Thanatcha a small wave before walking
away, leaving her standing there, watching her go.

Thanatcha clutched the handkerchief in her hand, looking at it for a moment

before a smile spread across her face.

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Sun Yan

She felt lucky to have had a brief conversation with Nichapat, even though
she didn't know if they would ever have the chance to speak again.

At the same time, she remembered the question Nichapat had asked about
her views on love between women-and how she had shown that she agreed
with Nichapat's perspective.

What Nichapat didn't know...

She didn't know that Thanatcha herself liked women.

And she didn't know that Thanatcha was already secretly falling for her.

Thanatcha sat, staring at the handkerchief she had pulled out from the white
shirt she was wearing that day.

She thought back to the first time she met Nichapat on that day.

Who would have known that after secretly liking Nichapat for years, she
would suddenly be invited to bed by her and spend the entire night
together?

She thought it would end there, just as Nichapat had agreed. But fate wasn't
cruel to her-not completely. She was about to see that woman again.

If it wasn't fate being kind, maybe it was her own boldness. She had
successfully arranged to meet Nichapat this evening with a little bit of
persuasive talking.

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Sun Yan

"You really don't remember me?" the voice on the phone said, slightly
annoyed.

"I think I might remember, but you still asked me who I was. How could I be
sure?"

"It's me,"

The voice admitted reluctantly, almost as if she had no choice but to tell the
truth again. She felt uneasy for going against her own intentions, but in the
end, she decided to do it this way.

"It's June!" she said, snapping her voice slightly.

Thanatcha smiled when the woman repeated her name. She wasn't trying to
tease or provoke her, but she wanted to be sure that the woman calling her
now was the same woman she had feelings for.

"It's nice to talk to you again,"

She said with a smile-one that could hide Nichapat, but couldn't hide
herself.

"Um, I was just about to call and ask. I lost something. It must have been
that night."

"Which night?"

This time, Thanatcha deliberately teased her a little.

"No need to say much. I'm not embarrassed about this kind of thing. Answer
the question first."

Nichapat replied, answering the question with a small smirk.

Thanatcha couldn't help but smile. As their conversation continued, she

realized that this woman was extraordinary. It wasn't surprising, given their
first meeting, but after a whole year of only watching Nichapat from afar,
she had built up her own image of her.

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Sun Yan

She had always imagined Nichapat as a bright, expressive woman, and

now, seeing her like this-or as the woman she had secretly admired from
afar-she liked her completely, in every version.

"Did you lose something? What is it?" Thanatcha asked.

"A VIP invitation to a classical music concert," Nichapat replied.

"Oh, that one," Thanatcha said casually. "I have it."

"Really? You kept it, right? You didn't throw it away?" Nichapat's voice
sounded relieved.

“No. I didn’t throw it away. At first, I thought it was just some unimportant
piece of paper, but then I saw a signature on it, so I kept it in case someone
was looking for it.”

“Oh, what a relief,” Nichapat sighed. “Then, would it be convenient for me

to drop it off at my friend’s place today? At the hotel the other day… my
friend works there today. I’ll handle the transport costs myself. I’m afraid of
losing the card—it’s really important.”

“Today?”

Thanatcha sat, picking at the corner of her middle fingernail with her
thumb, frowning thoughtfully.

“I’m not free today.”

"Oh no, what am I going to do? I need it tomorrow!"

“What time do you need it tomorrow?”

"The event starts at 5 p.m."

“Then I’ll see you at the event.”

"What?"

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Sun Yan

"I'll meet you at the event and give it to you before you go in."

The conversation ended with Nichapat agreeing to meet according to

Thanatcha's plan.

At first, she seemed reluctant-probably afraid of breaking her own intention

to end things after that night-but she decided that meeting just this once out
of necessity would be fine. So today, the two of them would see each other
again.

Thanatcha folded the handkerchief neatly and put it back in her shirt pocket.
It had been a long time since she had taken it out-ever since she had
received it back from Nichapat.

She had taken it home, washed it, and kept it carefully. She had only used it
a few more times, but, afraid it would wear out, she stored it in a drawer-
and today was the first time she had taken it out again.

Since getting the handkerchief back, she had sometimes regretted not letting
Nichapat take it to wash as she had offered that day.

Then, perhaps, she might have had a chance to see her again when Nichapat
returned it. But thinking about today, it seemed okay-because meeting again
now carried so much more meaning.

"Have you been waiting long?"

The voice came from nearby, accompanied by the click of high heels
stepping into her line of sight. Thanatcha quickly looked up and saw a
beautiful figure standing with arms crossed, dressed elegantly-looking
different from the night they had met.

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Sun Yan

Her arrival made Thanatcha stand up eagerly, greeting the woman with a
smile.

"Hi! It's good to see you again."

💖💖💖
sunyan

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Sun Yan

🎀 06. Each Loves Their Own Way

🎀
“Hi, we meet again,”

Thanatcha greeted the person in front of her.

“Mm,” Nichapat crossed her arms and lifted her chin slightly. “Thank you
for taking the time to bring this.” She held out her hand. “So, where is it?
Give it to me.”

Even though her attitude seemed a little reluctant, at least her “thank you”
showed that Nichapat still noticed the small importance of Thanatcha—
though only briefly, for some reason.

Thanatcha took a small envelope from her bag and handed it over. Just
being able to meet was enough; she didn’t need to make a big deal or act
shy.

“I’m not trying to keep it a secret, I just didn’t know what to do with it. I
also didn’t know how to contact you. And…,” Thanatcha paused.

Nichapat frowned. She didn’t like leaving things hanging, so she asked,

“And what?”

“You don’t want me to see you again.”

“But I’m here now because I have to,” Nichapat said, opening the card in
her hand and then smiling. “Thanks a lot. I’ll go into the event now.”

“There’s still plenty of time.”

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Sun Yan

“I just want to get inside quickly. And we agreed we wouldn’t be involved

with each other anymore. Today, our business is done.”

“That’s true,” Thanatcha said, looking thoughtful.

“This will be the last time we meet. I already like someone, and today I’m
here for her.”

Nichapat’s straightforward words left Thanatcha silent. It was a clear

rejection, and what she should do was let go—just as she had always kept
her distance whenever she knew Nichapat liked someone. She had never
thought of interfering.

But now it was getting harder. The closeness of the previous night,
combined with seeing Nichapat again today, made it difficult to let go as
easily as before.

“I’ll go now,”

Nichapat said, saying goodbye. She looked at the still-silent Thanatcha and
seemed to understand. She gave a faint smile and wanted to say something
kind before leaving.

“Thank you again for taking the time to see me. I don’t mind meeting you,
but I also don’t want to give anyone hope when I like someone else.”

With that, Nichapat turned and walked away. She hadn’t gone far when
Thanatcha’s voice made her pause.

“I didn’t think this meeting would be the last time,” Thanatcha said.

Those words made Nichapat look back at her once more. Their eyes met for
a moment before Nichapat’s gaze slowly drifted away, and she hurried off.

If there was no reason to meet, they would each stay in their own places, far
from each other.

That’s all…

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Sun Yan

Nichapat believed that Thanatcha’s words were probably just empty talk.

Classical music played on the stage, performed by various instruments.

Every piece was pleasant and captivating, but sitting and listening for a long
time could make one drowsy.

Thanatcha sat in the back row of a medium-sized music hall, which used a
sloped floor for the performance that day. This was not part of any plan she
had made, and she wasn’t really a fan of this kind of classical music. The
reason she ended up sitting in the back row was because of the person
sitting in the front row.

She bought the cheapest ticket at the door just to attend the live music
performance, because she wanted to understand what made Nichapat so
anxious to use a VIP ticket today.

She already knew who was performing, and Nichapat was probably there to
watch that person’s performance. Still, she wanted to know what it was
about that person that made Nichapat love them so deeply for so long.

If she had a chance to study the interests of a woman she secretly liked, she
wanted to learn and understand more about what fascinated her.

She never had any plan to make Nichapat change her feelings from that
person to herself. At that time, she was just like air—someone Nichapat
would only glance past when they crossed paths—like many others who
had secretly liked Nichapat and tried to get close, only to be rejected.

Until the day Nichapat herself approached her for a reason she hadn’t
expected.

When she allowed herself to get closer, and Nichapat was the one who
opened that path for her, she no longer wanted to remain passive as before.

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Sun Yan

Finally, the performance reached the last part, where the pianist would
perform a solo. A woman with short hair, cut around the middle of her neck,
walked up to the piano and took her place.

She wore a white shirt under a black women’s blazer. Her height seemed
around 170 centimeters, while Thanatcha was only 162 centimeters. Not
dramatically taller, but tall enough—comparable to the woman Nichapat
liked, and tall enough to receive compliments occasionally, which gave her
some confidence.

In terms of height, she might lose. In overall appearance, she might hold her
own. But if it came to profile or presence, she would lose badly. While that
person stood out on stage under the bright lights, Thanatcha sat here, in the
back row.

Even though she considered her a rival in love, Thanatcha listened carefully
to the piano performance. When it ended, she applauded respectfully along
with the other guests. The tall figure on stage bowed to the audience before
walking backstage, and then the red curtain fell.

People gradually stood up and walked past Thanatcha, who was sitting in
the back row by the aisle near the exit. Some guests remained seated,
chatting quietly. Meanwhile, the VIP guests at the front by the windows
stood near the stage to take photos and greet acquaintances.

Thanatcha stayed in her seat. She watched the people passing by, searching
for Nichapat. She wasn’t in a hurry, even if it meant waiting longer. Though
it stung a little to sit and wait for someone, she chose to stay right there,
even if she might miss seeing her.

It didn’t matter if their eyes never met. She didn’t mind being the last guest
to leave the room.

The musicians gradually came out from backstage. They stood in front of
the lowered curtain, smiling and waving to the guests who had come to
appreciate their performance.

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Sun Yan

Wiphawa stood there as well, busy bending down to talk to guests at the
front, while the photographers prepared to take a group photo on stage, so
she couldn’t come down.

She lifted her slouched, sleepy body to look for someone in that front
group. Sitting at the highest point in the sloped room gave her a distant
view. That’s when she saw Nichapat, tilting her head up, talking to someone
on the stage. The sight made Thanatcha shrink her shoulders and sink back
into her seat again.

Resting her chin on her hand and her arm on the chair, she gazed off
absentmindedly. She debated whether she should get up and leave or just
keep sitting, and in the end, she chose to stay, doing nothing in particular—
just as before.

She glanced at the stage again when she heard the photographer shouting
instructions to the musicians from afar. She was about to look down once
more when her eyes suddenly darted toward the aisle where people were
walking, and she froze.

A figure in a yellow dress was making her way up the sloped steps. She
paused when she reached the level where Thanatcha was sitting. Both of
them looked at each other, equally stunned and surprised.

Thanatcha hadn’t expected to see Nichapat come out so soon. Caught off
guard, she felt slightly unsure how to react—but in the end, she was the one
to speak first.

“Hey,”

Thanatcha said, giving a small smile. She couldn’t think of a clever thing to
say, so she went with a simple, ordinary question:

“Is the event over?”

She watched Nichapat’s expression, which remained calm and seemingly

emotionless. From the moment she first saw her face, Thanatcha hadn’t

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Sun Yan

wanted to think that it was an unhappy expression. Meeting her again, she
realized it was simply the expression Nichapat always carried.

Thanatcha thought Nichapat might just walk past or leave without saying
anything, but she was wrong—it was the opposite.

“You came to watch the performance too?”

Thanatcha raised her eyebrows slightly at the question before answering,

“Mm.”

The figure in the white shirt followed the one in the yellow dress slowly.
When they reached the first spot where they had met earlier today, Nichapat
suddenly sat down on the sofa, leaving enough space for one more person
to sit beside her.

Thanatcha looked at the empty seat, hesitating to sit down on her own, but
Nichapat invited her.

“Sit here,” she said.

“Sit here?”

Thanatcha repeated, then turned and eased herself down beside Nichapat. If
this was surprising, it was part of the chain of small surprises that had
started earlier—before they left the music hall, it had been Nichapat who
suggested,

“Let’s go outside.”

Since the suggestion came from Nichapat, Thanatcha had followed her out.

“You bought a ticket to watch the performance too?”

Nichapat asked, turning to her. Thanatcha gave a small smile, looking

brighter than before.

“Well…”

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha hadn’t been ready for the question, but she had an answer
prepared, just in case they met again and Nichapat asked.

“Mm… Since I was here anyway, and I had free time, I bought the cheapest
ticket and went in to see what it was like.”

“So, how was it?”

Nichapat shifted slightly to turn toward her.

“It was nice. The live performance was beautiful, but I almost fell asleep,”
Thanatcha laughed. “Not that it was boring—just that sitting and listening
for a long time can be so soothing it makes you drowsy.”

“I understand,” Nichapat laughed. “I once accidentally fell asleep too.

Luckily, I was sitting somewhere in the middle rows. I didn’t mean to—it
just happened.”

She lowered her voice playfully. “But when I got a VIP ticket and sat in the
front row like today, I couldn’t dare fall asleep. And I wasn’t sleepy either,
because I was more focused.”

She smiled, then suddenly realized something and quickly looked at

Thanatcha with an awkward grin. She had almost forgotten she was talking
about someone else and worried it might make her feel bad.

But unexpectedly, Thanatcha asked,

“So… how was it? Weren’t you waiting to see her at the end of the event?”

The question made Nichapat pause. She lowered her gaze to the floor in
front of her and spoke absentmindedly.

“She doesn’t have that much time for me. She still has to stay for the group
photos with the media. We talked a little earlier, and she said the team
would take her to a dinner afterward, so I could leave now and not waste
time waiting.”

“So that’s why you walked out pouting, huh?”

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Sun Yan

“Really?” Nichapat asked. “How did you know?” She pressed both hands to
her cheeks. “Was my face like that just now—”

“Mm,” Thanatcha nodded.

“Mm… but how could I not make that face? I had so many plans for today.”

“Wait until you become someone important to her. Then it’ll feel special,”
Thanatcha said, smiling.

“Someone important to her…”

Nichapat frowned. Hearing those words stirred something inside her. She
had never really known how much Wiphawa valued her. Of course, they
weren’t officially a couple yet, but it wasn’t exactly casual dating either.

Wiphawa seemed to understand how she felt, and she would care for her,
but time and distance always seemed to work against them. Even when they
had the chance to meet, nothing moved forward.

The more she thought about it, the more discouraged she felt. Deep down,
she hadn’t stopped trying, but there were always moments that left her
feeling lonely in this relationship.

There was no point in dwelling on questions that had no answers right now.
What she should do was be patient. At least she had received the VIP ticket
she had sent her, which gave her some hope that their love might grow
brighter soon.

Nichapat smiled, then suddenly jumped up.

Thanatcha furrowed her brows, thinking she might be saying goodbye with
some final words—but it wasn’t like that.

“I’m really hungry,”

Nichapat said, looking at Thanatcha with a sweet smile.

“Come have lunch with me.”

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Sun Yan

💖💖💖💖
sunyan

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Sun Yan

🎀 07. A Difficult Push Away 🎀

Thanatcha held her fork and spoon while the waiter placed the food on the
table. She and Nichaphat had each ordered their own dishes, just enough to
ease their hunger and feel satisfied.

It might have been only a short meal together, but to her, simply sitting
across from Nichaphat at the same table already felt wonderful.

The café was medium-sized, simple, and not too expensive. Nichaphat had
searched on her phone for a nearby place and found this one, just a short
walk from the concert hall.

"Why does your food look so delicious?"

Nichaphat asked, glancing at Thanatcha's plate.

"Crispy pork with fried garlic," Thanatcha replied with a smile. "Do you
want to try some?"

"No, I won't take any. You might not get full," Nichaphat answered. "I was
just surprised. I've never ordered that before-I've only ever had the regular
fried pork with garlic."

"This one tastes better."

"Then I'll try ordering it next time,"

Nichaphat said, lowering her gaze to her own plate filled with vegetables.
She took her first bite, then looked up to find Thanatcha still watching her.
Frowning slightly, she said,

"Eat," noticing the other hadn't touched her food yet.

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Sun Yan

"Mm."

Thanatcha nodded and finally took a bite. Even though she was a little
hungry, what she truly wanted was just to sit there and watch Nichaphat.
She had never dared to imagine sharing a meal with her like this-but beyond
that, they had already once shared a bed.

She glanced at Nichaphat, carefully lifting bite-sized portions to her mouth

with such graceful movements. It was a striking contrast to how she was on
the bed.

Watching her like this in silence, Nichaphat seemed like a gentle, feminine
woman. But once they began talking, or when seeing Nichaphat from
another angle-like that time in the lecture hall-had shown Thanatcha a side
she never expected.

She liked that side of her. She liked the gentle, feminine appearance on the
outside, paired with the courage and straightforwardness hidden within.

Sitting across from each other now felt close, yet at the same time, so far
away. That day, they had shared a bed-holding each other, bodies pressed
together more than just in casual touches.

But here, now, even the thought of brushing her fingertip against Nichaphat
felt impossible. All she could do was sit quietly, eat, and wonder what she
should say to start a conversation.

Something harmless, something that wouldn't make it seem like she was
trying to get too close, or worse, trying to flirt.

But before she could say anything, Nichaphat spoke first.

"Hey..."

Her voice carried a hint of hesitation, as if she disliked bringing up the same
subject again-but she had to make it clear.

"You already know, don't you..."

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Sun Yan

She toyed with the food on her plate absentmindedly, then slowly lifted her
gaze to meet Thanatcha's.

"We shouldn't see each other again."

It was a conversation she wished would never happen, yet she should have
known-Nichaphat had already made it clear the very first time they parted.
But because of circumstances, they ended up meeting again.

Just as Nichaphat had said before the concert, Thanatcha hadn't thought that
would be the last time they saw each other.

And in the end, fate brought them together once more. For Thanatcha, it
already felt like an honor that Nichaphat had agreed to share a meal with
her now.

"I thought, well, since we've run into each other twice today already... it
wouldn't matter if we saw each other again. That's why I invited you here,"
Nichaphat explained. "But after today..."

"We shouldn't meet again," Thanatcha finished the sentence for her.

Her response left Nichaphat silent for a moment. Then she nodded lightly
and said,

"Mm."

"I understand your reasons. But you know as well as I do... we only saw
each other again because circumstances forced it."

Thanatcha set her spoon down on the plate and rested both arms on the
table. She leaned forward slightly, resting against the edge of the table.
Smiling, she spoke clearly so Nichaphat would hear every word.

"And if next time... circumstances bring us together again-"

"I... don't think I'd be able to stop it."

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Sun Yan

"June, is your outfit for Satitha's hotel grand opening all ready?"

Napittha asked her daughter, who was sitting in the backyard garden
reading a novel.

"It's all ready, Mom. Hanging neatly in the wardrobe,"

Nichaphat replied, glancing up at her mother who had just brought a plate
of fruit.

"Oh! Apples!"

She quickly reached for the red apple slices, neatly peeled and arranged on
a small plate in front of her.

"Good. I've had a new dress made for the occasion too. Since Satitha sent
invitations to your father and me, I should look my best."

"You'd look beautiful in what you already have, Mom," Nichaphat said with
a smile. "But I do want to see you in something new-just to see how
stunning you'll look."

She sat cross-legged on the chair, happily popping another piece of apple
into her mouth.

"Oh, and your girlfriend will be going too, right? The other day when
Satitha invited her friends from university to try out the hotel for the first
time, she went along. So I suppose she'll be at the grand opening as well?"

"My... girlfriend?"

Nichaphat froze, the apple still between her teeth. The unexpected question
from her mother caught her completely off guard. She hadn't prepared
herself for it-especially now that she thought Thanatcha's role as her pretend
partner had already ended.

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Sun Yan

"Yes, since I already know, there's no need to sneak around anymore. If she
comes to the event, bring her to meet your father and me," her mother said.

"Uh..." Nichaphat scratched her head awkwardly. "I'm not really sure yet,
Mom. She seems pretty busy. She might not make it."

"Not coming? Busy with what?"

"Well... just the usual stuff for someone who's just graduated," Nichaphat
replied quickly, forced to come up with an excuse. "She's caught up with
job hunting."

"Looking for a job? But the event's on Sunday," Napittha said with a frown.

"Uh..."

Nichaphat was at a loss. She didn't know what excuse to use when her
mother could counter every answer she gave. It made lying even harder.

"Well, she mentioned the other day that she was busy and couldn't come.
But I'll ask her again, just to be sure."

"Good. Take the chance to bring her to meet your father and me. At an
event like this, bringing your girlfriend isn't strange at all. I really want to
meet her, so we can talk a little."

"Yes, Mom,"

Nichaphat answered with a small, half-hearted smile. She couldn't bring

herself to agree wholeheartedly.

"Alright then. When you're done eating, take the dishes inside. I'll go start
cooking dinner."

"Yes."

Nichaphat watched her mother walk away. She turned back to the apple
slice still in her hand, bit into it, and puffed her cheek full as she sank into
thought.

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Sun Yan

"Ugh... what am I going to do?"

She pulled her knees up, hugging them tightly, then ran her hands through
her hair in frustration before letting out a sigh.

"When the day comes, I'll just say she was too busy to come. That should
work."

Thanatcha paced back and forth in front of a café not far from her home,
phone in hand. Out of the blue, someone had reached out to her, asking for
advice in an area she was skilled at. That was why she was here, waiting as
agreed.

"Tens!"

The familiar voice from behind made Thanatcha turn. She saw Anshaya
walking toward her with a smile, wearing a yellow spaghetti-strap blouse.

"Did you wait long? I just managed to find a parking spot."

"Not at all. I only got here about five minutes early," Thanatcha replied
casually.

Although she didn't know Anshaya very well-they had only passed by each
other in the faculty before-she did know one thing: Anshaya was
Nichaphat's close friend. But beyond that, the two of them had never been
personally close.

"Oh, okay. Let's head inside,"

Anshaya said as she led the way to an empty table in the corner. She chose a
table for four, since she had arranged for another friend to join them.

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Sun Yan

"What would you like to drink? My treat-for bothering you to come out
here."

"I'll have a chocolate mint frappe,"

Thanatcha replied after glancing at the menu board on the table, choosing
without much thought.

"Alright, I'll order. Just wait here."

Anshaya walked over to the counter to place an order for herself and
Thanatcha. A short while later, she returned with two drinks in hand. Just as
she was about to sit down, her eyes caught sight of another friend entering
the café. Straightening up, she waved with a smile.

"Over here!"

Thanatcha turned to look. She saw Satitha approaching in a simple light

green dress. Their eyes met briefly as Satitha came closer. Sitting down next
to Anshaya, across from Thanatcha, she greeted her with a warm smile.

"Hi, Tens."

"Mm, hi."

Thanatcha smiled at Satitha. It felt strange, sitting across from Nichaphat's

two closest friends. But today's meeting had nothing to do with the woman
she liked-this was about something else entirely, something personal.

"How was the party the other night? Fun?" Satitha asked.

"It was fun. Thanks for inviting everyone-I got to join because of that."

"And you got to see our beautiful friend too, didn't you?" Satitha teased
with a wink.

"Uh..."

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha bit her lip, feeling a little flustered at the direct question. It
immediately brought back memories she couldn't push aside-how that night,
Satitha and Anshaya had walked into the room while she was on the bed
with Nichaphat.

"Yeah... I saw her."

"And...?" Anshaya jumped in, clearly wanting to tease. "What did you think
of my friend?"

"You!" Satitha swatted Anshaya's arm lightly before they both burst out
giggling.

"Why would you ask her that? Look, Tens's face is red now."

She looked at Thanatcha's usually calm expression, catching the faint blush
of embarrassment that slipped through.

"Just teasing," Anshaya laughed. "I meant, how do you find our friend's
looks? June's really cute, isn't she?"

"Mm."

Thanatcha took the chance to answer, covering herself with Anshaya's

playful remark. She let out a small laugh.

"Of course she's really cute."

"Right?" Anshaya narrowed her eyes mischievously. "Doesn't that just make
you fall for her even harder?"

"It already has," Thanatcha admitted honestly at this point. "I like her even
more than before."

"Aww." Anshaya gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm rooting for you. It might
be hard, but that doesn't mean there's no chance."

She raised her brows in encouragement, making Thanatcha feel as though

she was being pushed forward instead of discouraged.

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Sun Yan

And no matter how Nichaphat's close friends truly felt about it, it was still
far better than being shut out or having her hopes dismissed.

"Thanks," Thanatcha said with a smile. "So, what did you two want to talk
about?"

"It's like I mentioned earlier-I want to redecorate my house in a minimal

style. I've looked at examples of how other people do it. For a small
bedroom, just arranging things neatly in a matching set would be
manageable on my own. But my room is a little bigger, and since I'll be
redoing the bedroom, I thought, why not redo the whole house too?"

"...."

"It's not a big place, just a small family home-my parents and me. I already
talked to them, and they don't mind. The house is getting old, and the
furniture that used to look fancy years ago has become worn-out. That's
why I want to start fresh and redecorate everything. I heard from a friend
that you decorated your own room in a minimal style, and even helped a
friend of yours with theirs. So I checked out the reviews you posted online,
and I really liked what I saw. That's why I wanted to ask for your help."

"Do you want me to give you advice?" Thanatcha asked uncertainly. "I'm
not a professional, you know."

"I'm not just asking for advice. Think of it as hiring you to help design and
handle the furniture shopping too. I'm interested in paying you for it. And
even if you're not a professional, I like the way you decorated your own
room-that alone is enough for me."

"I haven't really taken on a full house project seriously before. I'm planning
to start though-coming up with design ideas for people who don't have the
time to think of or create their own. That's why I don't have fixed prices
yet."

"Well, try making a price list then. Don't be shy-just use the standard rates
you'd normally charge. That's your cost anyway. Redecorating a house

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Sun Yan

always requires investment. But if you want to give me a special discount

somewhere, that's fine too." Anshaya laughed.

"Alright, let's first talk about which parts you'd like me to work on, and
which rooms need decorating."

"Okay."

"By the way-can I ask something?" Thanatcha interrupted. "Where did you
get my number from?"

"Oh." Anshaya smiled knowingly at Satitha. "Well..."

"The other day, June asked me to help get your number from a friend of
mine who knows you," Satitha answered for her. "That's how we got your
contact."

"I see," Thanatcha smiled. "So it was you two who helped June get my
number."

"Yeah," Satitha nodded. "And now you've got June's number too." She
grinned playfully. "Wow... so that's my handiwork, huh?"

"That's right. I got June's number and even got to meet her because you two
found my number for her. Thanks a lot."

"So, what happened? Any chance you'll meet again?" Satitha raised her
eyebrows.

"No," Thanatcha shook her head. "She turned down the idea of seeing me
again. But before we parted, we did have a meal together."

"Oh..." Satitha covered her mouth with both hands, then gave Anshaya a
knowing smile. "Still, she must have liked you. You already know the
reason."

"Yeah, I know," Thanatcha shrugged casually.

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Sun Yan

"But just because she said no doesn't mean you won't meet her again,"
Anshaya added.

"I think so too, but once we parted, I couldn't figure out how we'd meet
again."

"It's your hotel's opening event, Sā," Ansaya replied quickly.

"My hotel's opening event?"

Satitha glanced upward, then suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, right," she said, snapping her fingers lightly. "The other day when I
met June, she complained to me that she was worried about what her
mother said-about taking her girlfriend to my hotel's opening event."

"Take June's girlfriend to the event?"

Thanatcha frowned in confusion.

"Don't you know? The girlfriend her mother was talking about... that's you,"
Satitha said with a slightly annoyed tone. "That night..."

"Ah..."

Thanatcha recalled what Nichapat had said to her mother that night, calling
her as her girlfriend. Even though it had only been a fake girlfriend
situation for one night, what Nichapat's mother-she understood now-still
saw her as Nichapat's girlfriend, the kind of girlfriend they believed in,
though mistakenly, based on what they had seen and what Nichapat's
daughter claimed.

"I get it now."

"So, you get it now?" Satitha smiled.

"The girlfriend her mom mentioned is me."

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha's face lit up with a fresher smile, one that revealed a hint of
secret satisfaction.

"So what exactly is it that June's struggling with?"

"It's that she didn't intend to take a girlfriend to the event at all. But since
her mom kept pressuring her, now she has to figure out some kind of excuse
on the day itself."

"An excuse, huh..."

Thanatcha rested her chin on her hand. A sly smile curved her lips as a
thought came to her-that seemed to make her really happy. She glanced at
Nichaphat's two close friends before sharing what was on her mind.

"I don't see why she has to bother coming up with any excuse at all."

💚💚💚
sunyan

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🎀 08.The One Who Runs Away

And The One Who Chases 🎀

White high heels pressed against the plush carpet. The elegant figure had
just stepped away, wandering out to the balcony, restless over a problem she
still hadn’t found a solution for.

If it were just about dodging a question, that would have been easy enough.
But her father’s words from two days ago made it clear that what she had in
mind wasn’t going to be simple at all.

“She’s your girlfriend. Asking her to come along to the event shouldn’t be
that hard, should it? Unless she has some very important business. If you
say she’s busy, then busy with what? Besides, this is the opening of a hotel
where she’s partied before. At the very least, she should show up to
celebrate again—as your girlfriend, and as the close friend of the hotel
owner’s daughter.”

“Dad… it’s not like there won’t be other chances to see each other. If she’s
able to come, I’ll try to invite her.”

“Really, you should bring her. Unless… she’s just someone you dated for a
short while, and now you’re no longer involved with her?”

“Dad…” Nichapat answered in a soft, almost pleading voice.

“What? Don’t tell me you’ve already broken up with her. Wait—you

weren’t just dating her for fun, were you?”

Naphitta's eyes widened, she gave her daughter’s arm a light tap.

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“What do you mean ‘for fun’? Of course not, it’s nothing like that,”
Nichapat hurried to explain.

“Well, if it’s not just for fun, then try inviting her again. Tell her your mom
and I want to meet her. She’s already spent the night with our daughter, so
she can’t just keep avoiding us like this. We want to talk properly—to know
who she is, what kind of person she is. That way your mom and I won’t
have to worry so much,” Jirapon said firmly.

“Yes, Dad. I’ll try my best to bring her.”

Nichapat said in a soft voice.

Her pretty nails, painted with delicate pink flowers to match the sweet dress
she wore today, were pressed between her lips as she thought hard. She let
out a quiet sigh before her eyes caught sight of a close friend walking
toward her.

“Have you been here long?” Satitha greeted her beautiful friend.

“For a little while. I came with my parents, so of course they rushed me.
They were afraid we’d get stuck in traffic and arrive late,” Nichaphat
replied with a small smile.

“Yeah, makes sense. But why are you out here?”

Satitha asked as she smoothed the golden-brown fabric of her gown—the

kind that made her shine as the daughter of the hotel’s new owner.

“Well…” Nichapat sighed deeply, folding her arms. “Remember what I told
you the other day? My parents want to meet my girlfriend.”

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Sun Yan

“Oh really? They want to meet her?” Sarita grinned. “So who is it? P’Wa,
or…?”

She deliberately left the sentence hanging, teasing her friend.

“Neither of them!” Nichapat snapped. She let out another short sigh. “The
problem is, I don’t actually have a real girlfriend. That’s why I’m so
stressed.”

“Well, you’re the one who started this plan,” Sarita narrowed her eyes at
her. “Maybe it’s about time you hurry up and find yourself a real
girlfriend.”

“It’s just not the right time yet!”

“Oh, that’s true,” Satitha smirked playfully. “Miss Patience. Let’s hope the
right time comes soon, then.”

Folding her arms, she leaned teasingly closer to her friend.

“Anyway, I’m busy today. I’ve got to go greet some important guests. You
take care of yourself for now. I heard An’s almost here.”

“Mm,” Nichapat nodded.

“I’ll be off, then.”

Satitha waved lightly before disappearing into the growing crowd of guests
arriving for the event.

Nichapat watched her friend walk away. She knew Satitha wouldn’t have
time to meddle in her personal troubles, which meant she would have to
figure out a solution on her own.

She couldn’t possibly drag Thanatcha to meet her parents just to use her as
a shield again—only to deal with the consequences later. At the same time,
she couldn’t disappoint her father and mother either.

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Sun Yan

Her thoughts drifted back to her parents’ old idea—entrusting her to the
care of the man they had long intended for her.

The beautiful figure walked back into the event. She thought she would
have to make some excuse—say her girlfriend had just finished an errand
and would try to arrive on time, or reluctantly admit that she really couldn’t
come today.

But as she walked, pondering the best option, her gaze unexpectedly landed
on someone approaching nearby. When she looked up, the other person
froze at the same moment.

The moment she lifted her gaze, the other person froze as well.

“You…”

Nichapat stood stunned in front of Thanatcha, who wore a gray sweater

over a crisp white shirt, a green tie knotted neatly at the collar. Slim gray
trousers ended just above the ankles, and over one arm hung a tailored gray
women’s blazer.

The whole look was sharp, confident, and elegant—carrying the air of
someone from a distinguished family.

Nichapat had no idea how Thanatcha ended up at this event, but dressed
like this, it was clear her presence here was no coincidence.

“You came to this event too?”

Thanatcha greeted Nichapat with a small smile.

“I should be the one asking how you managed to get here,”

Nichapat frowned at the sight of her. She had thought they wouldn’t meet
again—yet here she was.

“Oh, really? Well, my friend happens to be friends with your close friend,”

Thanatcha said, tugging the corner of her lips upward.

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Sun Yan

“I see.” Nichapat bit her lip and nodded slowly. “So you must have mutual
connections from the same faculty.”

“Mm.”

“Whatever the case, I didn’t expect to run into you here. And there’s no
reason for us to talk, either. Let’s just say we’ve already greeted each other
out of courtesy.”

Nichapat’s lips moved in a faint mutter. “Feel free to enjoy yourself. I’m a
guest, you’re a guest, but we’d better keep our distance.”

With that, she turned and walked past Thanatcha into the hall without a
backward glance.

Nichapat let out another sigh—she had lost count of how many times
already. The more she thought about her worries, the heavier her chest felt.
Finally, she decided to make things simple and deal with it directly.

Right now, she intended to walk up to her parents and tell them that her
girlfriend wouldn’t be coming to the event today—because, in truth, she
didn’t have a girlfriend at all.

She didn’t exist.

There was only the person she secretly liked, the one she hoped might
become her girlfriend someday.

Nichapat walked slowly toward her parents, who were sitting on a velvet
sofa against the hotel wall. Around them, guests chatted with one another,
waiters carried trays of drinks, staff hurried about, and photographers
moved through the crowd capturing moments of the event.

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Sun Yan

Her eyes stayed fixed on her parents. Just a few more steps and she could
say what was on her mind—whether they asked her first or she spoke up
before they did.

But as she got closer, her steps faltered. A wave of anxiety crept in. Just
then, another guest passed by, blocking her view of her parents completely.
In that instant, a new thought struck her.

The sudden thought distracted her so much that she changed her mind,
turned around, and walked back the way she had come. Then, without really
planning it, she started heading again toward someone who was still nearby.

Before Thanatcha could even prepare herself—or notice that someone else
had just come back to the same spot—her arm was suddenly grabbed. She
was pulled close and swept along without a word of explanation.

Thanatcha looked startled when Nichapat hooked her arm and walked her
forward with firm steps. Confused, she glanced at Nichapat’s calm, serious
face, fixed straight ahead.

“W–wait… where are you taking me?”

“Be quiet. Just play along.”

“What?”

Thanatcha blurted out, still not understanding what Nichapat was up to. She
followed her gaze forward, and before she realized it, they were standing
right in front of her parents, who were sitting on the sofa with drinks in
hand.

The moment they faced each other, she immediately recognized them.

They were Nichapat’s parents.

“Dad, Mom, this is my girlfriend. She just got here,”

Nichapat said with a sweet smile, tightening her hold on the slender arm
linked with hers.

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Sun Yan

“Oh, you’re here!”

Naphitta smiled warmly at Thanatcha and quickly stood up. Her husband
set his glass down on the side table and rose as well.

“Hello, dear.”

“H–hello,” Thanatcha quickly greeted them politely.

“These are my parents,” Nitchapat introduced.

“Hello, sir, ma’am,”

Thanatcha said again, bowing respectfully as she put her hands together in a
wai when formally introduced.

“We thought you really weren’t coming. June told us you’ve been very
busy,”

Naphitta said kindly. Seeing the well-mannered young girl in person, she
found it impossible to scold her for getting too close with her daughter.

“Just a little, but I managed to clear my schedule,” Thanatcha answered

modestly.

“So, what is it that’s been keeping you busy?” Jiraphon asked.

“Oh, I don’t have a full-time job right now. But I take on small projects
designing room concepts. In the future, I’ll decide whether I want to pursue
it seriously or just as a side job. For now, I’m focusing on gaining new
experiences.”

“Designing room concepts? Did you study that in school?”

Naphitta’s face lit up with interest.

“Oh, no,” Thanatcha shook her head with a shy smile.

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Sun Yan

“It’s more of a personal passion. I learned through trial and error, and I
realized it’s something I’m really good at. Honestly, I regret not studying it
formally. I actually graduated from the same faculty as June—but in a
different major.”

“Really? So you two met because you studied at the same place?”

Naphitta turned to her daughter, who had been quietly listening. Caught in
her mother’s gaze, Nichapat gave her a small smile.

“Yes, Mom. We met because we were in the same faculty,” Nichapat

replied.

“So that means you’ve been together since your student days, right?”

“Uh…”

Nichapat darted a quick look at Thanatcha, caught off guard by the

question.

“We started talking while we were still in school,” Thanatcha answered in

her stead, “but we only officially became a couple shortly before
graduation.”

“That’s right. At first, it was just casual talking. Later, we decided to be

together.” Nichapat quickly added.

“I see,” Naphitta smiled. “Well, I have a lot more I’d like to ask, but today
doesn’t seem like the best time for a long chat. Why don’t we arrange a day
to have dinner together at home with your father and me?”

“W–what?!” Nichapat blurted out softly.

“What’s the matter? I just invited your girlfriend to dinner. Why are you so
surprised?”

Naphitta narrowed her eyes at her daughter playfully.

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“It’s not that, Mom,” Nichapat replied quickly, her voice small as she
scrambled for an excuse. “I just thought you might… not like her.”

“I haven’t even spoken to her yet. How could I dislike her before I even get
to know her?”

“Well… it’s just… she’s a girl,”

Nitchapat bit her lip nervously.

“And that’s exactly why I want to talk with her and understand better,”

Naphitta said firmly, though her tone was warm. “Find a day that works and
let me know. I’ll cook for you both.”

“Yes, ma’am,”

Thanatcha replied with a bright smile to Nichapat’s mother, who had

warmly invited her to visit their home.

The home of the girl she had secretly liked for so long.

She kept her expression neutral, but the sparkle in her eyes gave her away.
Nichapat caught it instantly and shot her a quick glance. Did she even
realize what she was doing?

“Alright, then. Now that you’re here, make yourselves comfortable. There
are drinks and snacks over there—better grab some before the ceremony
starts,” Naphitta said.

“Yes ma'm,” Thanatcha replied politely.

“Come on, let’s get something to eat. I’m starving,”

Nichapat quickly hooked her arm around Thanatcha’s again and hurried her
away before her parents could continue the conversation any further.

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Sun Yan

She kept dragging Thanatcha along until they reached the cocktail corner,
where plates of appetizers were laid out for guests to take freely. But when
they got there, the food wasn’t what caught Nichapat’s attention—even
though she really was hungry.

“This is all because of you,” Nichapat muttered, her face clouded.

“What? What did I do?” Thanatcha frowned in confusion.

“I tried not to run into you, but here we are. See? Now it’s gotten out of
hand. My mother even invited you to come over, and in the end, we still
have to meet again,” she said, letting out a deep sigh.

“So this is my fault?”

“I don’t know,” Nichapat replied, turning her face away.

“Okay, I get it—you don’t want me near you. But think about it: did I chase
after you? We just happened to cross paths here. When we went our
separate ways, I stayed in my place. I didn’t bother you. But who was it that
grabbed my arm and introduced me to your parents as your girlfriend?”

Thanatcha shot back, her voice edged with emotion.

Nichapat fell silent. She couldn’t bring herself to speak. A small pang of
guilt rose in her chest—she’d always assumed Thanatcha would be gentle
with her feelings, but she had forgotten that Thanatcha had her own
thoughts and emotions too.

Even if she didn’t like her back, she had no right to lash out at someone
who had willingly gone along with the arrangement she herself had
proposed.

Thanatcha stared at her, her usual softness gone from her face. When she
finally spoke, her voice was steady, as though she were holding her feelings
in check.

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Sun Yan

“I’ll stay away from you. I won’t bother you anymore. I’m sorry.”

With that, she turned sharply and began to walk away.

Thanatcha’s sudden walk away made Nichapat instinctively take a step after
her, then pause for a moment to think. She let out a soft, weary sigh and
lightly tapped herself on the head, frustrated and then rushed forward.

She caught Thanatcha’s wrist, stopping her in her tracks.

The two of them looked at each other. Thanatcha’s brows furrowed slightly,
while Nichapat gave a guilty-looking smile.

“Don’t run away just yet. We’ve already run into each other, haven’t we?”

Nichapat biting her lip as she swallowed nervously. whatever—this was

something she had to decide.

“Are you free this Wednesday?”

“Why?”

Thanatcha asked, her expression still carrying traces of tension.

“Would you… come to my house for dinner?”

💖💖💖💖
sunyan

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Sun Yan

🎀 09. Reaching The One You

Want To Be Near 🎀

She stood on tiptoe, trying to peek over the fence into the house. A little
awkward and uneasy, she felt strange standing in front of someone’s home
— someone who had arranged for her to come today.

Thanatcha paced back and forth in front of the gate. She glanced at the
small doorbell, unsure whether she should press it right away, call the
person inside, or give herself a little more time to settle her nerves.

She was now standing in front of the woman she liked. It felt like a miracle
that she had been invited here — first by that woman’s parents, and then
again by the woman herself.

That second invitation felt even more extraordinary. Even though it was just
an act, a role she had to play — pretending to be a fake girlfriend — she
still felt that this might bring her some fleeting happiness. And that was still
better than not seeing her at all.

She thought back to Sunday night, when Nichapat came to make up with
her by inviting her to her house. That moment made her heart beat a little
faster. She still remembered the smile clearly — a smile that seemed to be
meant to ease her anger and make her feel better.

“Alright, it’s settled then. We’re meeting this Wednesday. I’ll send you my
home address.”

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Sun Yan

Before she could even agree, the decision was already made for her. And of
course, she couldn’t refuse.

Even though she had been upset at the time, it was only a fleeting hurt —
not because of being pushed away, but because she had been treated like she
was in the wrong when she hadn’t meant it at all.

After inviting her to the house, Nichapat asked her to walk together and
find something to eat. Later, when Ansaya arrived, they ended up joining
the opening ceremony of the hotel together.

Nichapat never knew that Thanatcha and Ansaya had already met privately
before, but there was no reason to bring it up either.

That day ended with her getting the chance to say goodbye to Nichapat’s
parents before heading home. When Nichapat left the hotel with her
parents, she went back as well — only to start counting the days until today.

But when today finally came, she felt so excited that she didn’t quite know
how to act in this familiar place.

“June, is your girlfriend almost here? I’ve finished cooking.”

The voice from inside the house made Thanatcha step closer to peek
through the fence. She saw Naphitta coming down from the porch toward
the walkway in front of the house, glancing at her phone. Not far away,
Nichapat was at the front door, raising her phone to make a call.

“She should be here soon. I’ll call and check,” Nichapat said.

The moment Thanatcha caught those words clearly enough, she hurried
over and pressed the doorbell — quickly, before Nichapat could call her. It
was a sudden decision, but at least it spared her from standing there
awkwardly any longer.

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Sun Yan

“Oh? She must be here already, Mom,”

Nichapat said, peeking out. She quickly slipped on her sandals and walked
past her mother, who was plucking dried leaves from a tree. Half walking,
half running, she hurried to the front gate. When she saw her guest, a smile
spread across her face.

“You’re here,”

Nichapat said, pulling the key from the small gate and opening it right away
for Thanatcha.

The two of them stood looking at each other. Thanatcha kept her emotions
in check, observing Nichapat with a modest demeanor, as a guest visiting
this house for the first time.

Nichapat, on the other hand, let her smile fade and raised an eyebrow at her,
meeting her gaze at the front of her own home.

They were two people who had intended their relationship to be a one-time
thing, planning never to meet again, they ended up meeting each other
many times.

“Hey,”

Nichapat greeted her, taking her role as host. She knew the proper courtesy.

“Mm,” Thanatcha replied.

“Come in,”

The host said, stepping aside to let her guest enter before closing the gate
and leading the way into the house.

“You’ve arrived just in time,” Naphitta greeted Thanatcha warmly. “I’ve

just finished cooking. Have you eaten anything yet?”

“Hello, ma'm,” Thanatcha said politely, pressing her palms together in a

respectful wai. “I only had a light breakfast earlier.”

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Sun Yan

“Is that so? You must be hungry by now. It’s almost noon. June, take her
inside and wait. Your father went out to buy a few things nearby, he should
be back any minute.”

“Yes, Mom.”

Nichapat glanced at her guest, gave a small nod, and walked ahead.

Thanatcha took the chance to look around as she followed. Nichapat’s

house wasn’t very large, but it was spacious enough for three — parents and
daughter.

The yard was filled with lush greenery, leaving just enough space for a
walkway. She passed through the white metal gate that Nichapat had slid
open.

The gate had a clean insect screen, looking as if it were always kept
spotless, much like the white curtains that appeared brand-new, even after
years of use.

At the center of the house was a small open space facing the staircase. On
the left side was the living room, used for receiving guests, while on the
right stood a medium-sized dining table.

Just behind it was a compact kitchen. That was all there was to the ground
floor, but the greenery outside made the whole place feel warm and
welcoming.

“How did you get here?”

Nichapat asked as she led Thanatcha into the living room.

“There’s a bus that passes the main road near your neighborhood. It goes
right by my house, so I just took that. Since it’s the weekend, it only took
about half an hour.”

“I see.” Nichaphat nodded. “Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”

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With that, she disappeared into the kitchen to help her mother bring out the
dishes and set the table.

Around the same time, her father returned home. Once everything was
ready, Nichapat went to fetch Thanatcha and led her to the dining table.
Across from them, her parents sat side by side, while Thanatcha took the
seat next to Nichapat, directly opposite her mother.

“Go ahead, eat as much as you like. Make yourself at home,” Naphitta said
warmly.

“Yes, ma'm... thank you,”

Thanatcha replied with a smile. She tried to relax and not seem too tense.
And to play her part properly, she figured she should serve some food to her
supposed girlfriend.

But, more than that, it was something she genuinely wanted to do — to take
care of the person she secretly liked.

“Thanks,”

Nichapat said with a smile when Thanatcha placed food onto her plate. She
went along with the act as well, though with Thanatcha it didn’t feel like
much of an effort. She was easygoing by nature, someone who could get
along with anyone.

Across the table, Jirapond watched his daughter and her “girlfriend”. He
glanced at Naphitta, who looked back at him knowingly.

“The other day, we only had a short chat,” Naphitta said, turning back to
Thanatcha.

“You mentioned you had some kind of job? Was it interior decorating?”

“Oh, yes,” Thanatcha answered. “I don’t do all styles, though — only the
ones I’m really interested in. At first, a few friends noticed my work and
hired me, then they recommended me to others. That’s how it started.”

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“I see. And what style is it that you do?” Naphitta asked curiously.

“I specialize in a minimalist style,”

She explained simply for the parents to understand. “Lots of wood tones,
beige colors, or white rooms with green plants for decoration — things like
that.”

“Is that so? That’s impressive,”

Naphitta said with a smile. “You didn’t study it formally, yet you’re so
skilled. Do you plan to make it your main career?”

“At first, I didn’t intend for it to be my main job,” Thanatcha admitted. “But
as I started getting more and more work, I began to think it might be worth
doing more seriously. I also sell furniture online from a shop owned by an
uncle I know. Some customers just order the pieces to decorate themselves,
but for those who want me to design ideas and select the furniture for them,
I also handle that as part of the service.”

“That does sound like it’s becoming something more solid,” Naphitta
nodded slowly. “Will you look for other work as well?”

“I am looking,” Thanatcha said honestly. “But if I take on a full-time job,

I’ll only have weekends free to meet clients for decorating projects. That
makes me hesitate a little.”

“Think carefully,” Naphitta advised. “Choose the path that will give you
more stability.”

“Yes ma'm,” Thanatcha nodded respectfully.

Nichapat glanced between her mother and Thanatcha. She knew her mother
was probably concerned about whether her supposed girlfriend had a steady
job — someone reliable, someone she could depend on.

It wasn’t that her mother expected her to live off Thanatcha, no. If that were
the case, she wouldn’t have softened so quickly or spoken so kindly.

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What her mother seemed to want was for the two of them to be able to rely
on each other and take care of one another, should they ever think of being
together long-term.

But Nichapat knew it was only a short-lived illusion of trust.

She was already beginning to worry. The more her parents slowly warmed
up to Thanatcha, the harder it would be for her to eventually tell them the
truth — that she and Thanatcha would “break up.”

Especially since Thanatcha played her role so convincingly, her humble and
respectful manner naturally winning over her parents’ hearts.

“And about that uncle’s furniture shop you mentioned,” Jirapond asked,
joining in the conversation. “What exactly do you have to do there?”

“Oh, it’s a secondhand furniture shop I stumbled upon by chance. The uncle
who owns it is very skilled at making furniture, but he only had a small, old
shop with mostly local customers or regulars. He wasn’t familiar with
selling online, so he offered to let me take his furniture at a special price
and post it online for him. So, in a way, I became his online seller. It’s
worked out well — he earns more now, and lately he seems so happy
because he has so many more orders. He really loves working with wood.”

“That’s wonderful. You’re not just working for yourself — you’re helping
someone else earn a better living too,”

Jirapond said with a pleased smile, clearly impressed by what she was
doing.

“Yes, and I enjoy it as well,” Thanatcha answered with a bright smile.

“It’s good that you’ve already found something you truly enjoy,” Jirapond
added. “June is still undecided about her own path. She can’t decide
whether to go straight for a master’s degree or to work for a while first.
Right now, she’s still just shopping and hanging out with her friends.”

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“Oh, Mom,” Nichapat grinned. “I’m just waiting for the right time to apply
for graduate school. In the meantime, I’m looking at job options too. And
honestly, I just want to take a little break after finishing my degree.”

She flashed her mother a cheeky smile before turning to glance at

Thanatcha, who was watching her.

“For now, I’ll just let Tense take care of me.”

“Oh, please. She only just graduated the same as you. How do you expect
her to support you?”

Naphitta shot her daughter a sharp look.

“I was kidding,”

Nichapat laughed. She didn’t regret making the remark, because it revealed
something important — her mother clearly didn’t want her to rely on
Thanatcha alone for support.

It was such a contrast to the past, when her parents had wanted to find her a
well-off man to take care of her.

Now in their fifties, and with her being their only child, they had worried
about her future more than anything else. So when an acquaintance’s son
had shown interest, they’d been quick to play matchmaker.

For now… even though the future might get complicated when she had to
deal with the mess she herself had created — approaching through her
parents just to get closer — the outcome, at least in this moment, was good.
It gave her a chance to keep up appearances with the man her parents
wanted her to see.

“So, are you living alone right now, or with your family?”

Naphitta asked, continuing the conversation with Thanatcha.

“Oh, I live alone,” Thanatcha replied. “My parents are in the countryside.
Ever since I came to university, I’ve stayed in dorms. Later, when I wanted

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to decorate my own place, I started looking around for rentals until I found
a small house owned by a relative. Right now, I’m waiting to see if they’ll
sell it to me. But I’m not in a hurry — I want to save up more first.”

“You’re renting a relative’s house on your own?”

“Yes,” Thanatcha said with a smile. “It’s on my mother’s side of the family,
so the rent is very affordable. It’s just a small concrete house in a local
neighborhood, no yard or anything like that. But I really like it, and it’s
comfortable living there by myself.”

“That sounds nice,” Naphitta said with a gentle smile. “You seem like
someone who knows how to choose what suits you.”

“Yes,” Thanatcha nodded.

“Your parents must not be too strict, right? And…”

Naphitta’s eyes shifted toward her daughter before she finally decided to
ask the question. Then she turned her gaze back to Thanatcha.

“Do they know about you dating women?”

“Oh,” Thanatcha laughed softly. “Yes, of course. They probably knew since
I was in high school.”

“Really? How did they find out?”

“I brought my first girlfriend home once. I told them she was just a close
friend, but they figured it out. After she came around often enough, they
noticed and asked me directly. So I told them she was my girlfriend,”

Thanatcha admitted, looking a little shy.

“And they didn’t say anything?”

“No, they didn’t. It was like they had already suspected from the way we
were close. When I finally told them the truth, they weren’t shocked. I even
asked them how they felt about it, and they said I could do whatever I

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wanted — as long as I took responsibility for my own life, no matter what

path I chose.”

“That’s wonderful,” Naphitta said with a gentle smile. “Ah… that’s

something I’m still learning to understand.”

She glanced at her daughter, then at her husband, before voicing what was
in her heart.

“If it’s truly a good relationship, then it won’t be hard for us to accept it.”

The bedroom door closed behind them as the host led her guest upstairs.
After lunch, Thanatcha had helped carry the dishes into the kitchen, and
when she offered to wash them all, Naphitta gently refused.

She insisted on taking care of it herself, reminding her that this was her first
visit as a guest.

“If you want to help with the dishes, save it for next time,”

Naphitta had said with a smile. Thanatcha agreed, then followed Nichapat
upstairs, the two of them slipping away from the adults to talk in private.

“This is actually the first time I’ve brought someone who’s not a close
friend into my room,”

Nichapat said as she set her phone down on the beige wooden cabinet she
had been using since middle school.

Her room was medium-sized, with a beige wooden bed covered in soft pink
sheets. Pale blue curtains hung by the small balcony door, and a matching
beige wardrobe stood beside a wooden vanity with a mirror.

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Sun Yan

Although the room didn’t follow any particular decorating style, it felt
warm and tidy overall.

Thanatcha found herself observing instinctively, guided more by her

personal tastes than by the details of the room. She kept reminding herself
that she was now in the bedroom of the girl she liked — alone, yet with her
parents fully aware of her presence.

How amazing would it be if this fake relationship were real?

“So, how should I count this visit? What am I here as?”

Thanatcha asked, crouching to look at a photo of young Nichapat displayed

on the cabinet.

“A fake girlfriend,”

Nichapat whispered, a hint of playful emotion in her voice.

“That’s… sad,”

Thanatcha murmured, stepping closer to the owner of the room, who was
sitting on the edge of the bed. She remembered that night they had shared
the bed together and wondered if it had been a dream — because now, all
she could do was watch Nichapat sit quietly.

Glancing at the chair tucked under the desk, she pulled it closer to the bed
so she could sit nearby and talk comfortably.

Sitting on the bed together crossed her mind, but she feared it would give
the wrong impression that she had intentions of having sex with her.

“Come on, tell me. If I’m just your fake girlfriend, what’s she like — the
one you actually want as a real girlfriend?”

“Do you want me to tell you?” Nichaphat stretched slightly, feigning

surprise. “And…,” she hesitated, dragging out the word, “would it even be
okay for me to tell you?”

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Sun Yan

“It’s fine. I asked, so if you’re willing to answer, go ahead. I’m happy to

listen.”

“Happy to listen?”

Nichapat smiled, feeling a little strange that someone who liked her was
offering to hear her story — even though she worried it might hurt her in
some way.

But it also felt good. Aside from her close friends, who had anxiously
followed her love life and even once warned her to step back and look for
someone else, no one else had ever really listened. Maybe sharing it now
could offer a fresh perspective.

“Alright then, here goes,”

Nichapat said, settling into a comfortable cross-legged position and hugging

one knee to herself.

“She’s a musician.”

“I’ve heard that story before.”

“You knew?” Nichapat raised her eyebrows.

“Who wouldn’t?” Thanatcha replied. “Anyone interested in you would

know you have someone you like — even if they don’t know her
personally.”

“Really?” Nichapat laughed softly, a little embarrassed. “Ah… I never

exactly kept it a secret, anyway.”

“.....”

“I met her on a day when I was going through a rough time,”

Nichapat began, recounting the memory. Even as she spoke about a

sorrowful period in her life, a faint smile lingered on her face.

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha secretly watched that expression with a fragile feeling. Even

though she had asked to hear the story herself, it was curiosity she had
cautiously prepared for—building a strong emotional shield for herself.

She felt vulnerable as Nichapat began to speak about it. Her emotions were
just beginning to stir, and she wondered if hearing more of the story would
only make her feel even more defeated than she already did.

💖💖💖💖
sunyan

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🎀 10. Build a Wall 🎀

Book : Toss - Up (Take A Chance To Win Her Love)
Writer : Serenista
Released : 13 September 2020
Translator : Sun Yan (daphne.shn@gmail.com)

The door to the university music practice room creaked open as Nichapat,
dressed in her school uniform, stepped inside. She surveyed the spacious
room, empty and quiet.

The instruments were neatly arranged, giving the impression that she either
belonged to a music club or had come to practice alone. But in truth, she
was simply feeling bored and had wandered in on a whim.

It wasn’t her first time here. She had a senior friend who often practiced in
this room, and she had come along to watch several times — sometimes
with friends, sometimes alone. That familiarity made her comfortable
enough to walk in without hesitation.

Glancing at the instruments, she felt an urge to pick one up and play —
though she didn’t actually know how. Her eyes landed on the piano at the
front of the stage, and she thought that might be the only instrument she
could manage, even if she couldn’t play an actual song.

She sat on a chair in front of a piano covered with cloth. She slowly pulled
the cloth off. She saw the piano keys and pressed play once. The sound of
short musical notes put her into a trance.

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Something had been bothering her a little since last night. After she had
watched a drama on a digital channel that contained same-sex love stories,
both men and women, she had been aware of the criticism from her parents
that was rather bothersome to her.

“The stories in the dramas always seem so happy. But after the show ends,
do they really live happily ever after? No matter how they try to build a
family, it seems difficult. What about having children? And the legal system
doesn’t even recognize them yet.”

“It’s probably a mix of smooth and difficult experiences, Mom. No matter

the genders involved — even heterosexual couples break up unhappily all
the time. You can’t measure happiness by gender. And as for the law, it’s just
that society hasn’t opened up yet, which creates obstacles for some couples
who deserve the same rights as opposite-sex couples. That’s why society
should push for change.”

“It’s difficult. Even though there are many couples like that in our society,
the law is still unclear.”

Jirapond said, putting down the book he had been reading and join the
conversation with his wife and daughter.

“Difficult, yes, but that doesn’t mean it can’t change. It’s people from our
generation, like us, who have to do something about it.” Naphitta replied.

Jirapond raised an eyebrow.

“With all this trouble, don’t tell me… you actually want something like this
too?” said Naphitta.

“I’ve always liked it. I even told you both before that I have a girlfriend.
But you said it was just childish love, nothing serious. Now I’m in my third
year of university — I’ve grown up, but I still feel the same way.”

“You still haven’t changed your mind? Once you graduate, you’ll have to
start planning your future.”

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Sun Yan

“Then why can’t I have a future with a girlfriend?”

“I know, but you need to build a family in a way that won’t make your life
too difficult. I just want to make sure you have a stable relationship.”
Naphitta said gently.

“It’s okay. Even if I have to live alone, I can still have a stable life. Whether
I have a partner or not, and whatever kind of person that partner might be,
I want to choose what makes me happy.”

“Don’t argue with your mother like that. She’s only speaking out of concern
for you,”

Jirapond gently scolded his daughter.

“If you really care and understand me, then don’t forbid me from this. Let
me choose my own happiness.”

“But fleeting happiness doesn’t give you long-term fulfillment,” Naphitta

said.

“Even if I dated a guy just because he made me happy, if we eventually

broke up, I wouldn’t be happy either. I’ve already said it: happiness doesn’t
depend on whether the person is a man or a woman. It depends on who they
are. In the end, we have to see how far we can go together. You’re right,
Mom and Dad — my past relationships were childish, not serious. Maybe it
was teenage love. But the day I meet someone good, someone I truly want
to be serious with, that’s when I’ll be happy.…and whether it goes smoothly
or not, that’s my future. I haven’t met that person yet, but one day, I will.”

Nichapat stood up from the sofa, no longer wanting to argue with her
parents. She got along well with them on almost every topic, but whenever
the conversation turned to her love life, it always sparked disagreements.

In the past, it had only been minor debates about how her relationships
weren’t serious. This time, however, the argument felt more intense —

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Sun Yan

perhaps because she was nearing graduation and finally old enough to
reason from her own perspective.

“So, where are you going?” Naphitta asked, watching her daughter.

“I’m going upstairs. We don’t need to discuss this anymore,”

She said, walking past her parents and up to her room.

.
.

The next morning, she saw her mother awake and preparing breakfast as
usual, greeting her cheerfully. But Nichapat still felt uneasy. She grabbed a
single piece of bread and hurried off to class.

And that lingering discomfort stayed in her mind throughout the day.

Feeling bored, she had separated from her friends and wandered around,
eventually finding herself in the university music room.

Her gaze drifted over the piano keys as her fingers lightly pressed down on
one high note. She continued pressing keys at random, producing a series of
sounds that hardly resembled a melody.

Crack…

The sound of movement from the stage made Nichapat freeze mid-play. She
startled slightly when she saw a short-haired woman standing there,
watching her. Blinking in confusion, she quickly pushed herself to her feet.

“Oh! Someone’s here? I’m sorry, I thought I was alone.”

“It’s just me.”

The woman said, then jumped down from the not-so-high stage and walked
toward her.

“What are you playing?” she asked, smiling.

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Sun Yan

“Oh,” Nichaphat laughed, a little embarrassed. “It’s not really a song. I’m
just pressing keys randomly… I can’t play at all.”

“Really?” she replied with a quiet chuckle. “But there must be a reason you
came in here, right? Or did you just want to try playing?”

“No.” Nichaphat shook her head. “I was just bored, so I wandered in. I
didn’t expect anyone to be here.”

“I’m not really from here either. I had a practice session scheduled, but I
came a bit early. The instructor was still teaching, so I had to wait. That’s
why I’m here.”

“Oh, so you’re a musician?”

“Yeah, I’m a pianist,” she said, lightly pressing the piano keys. “Do you
want to hear me play?”

“Sure!”

Nichapat said with a bright smile, quickly moving aside to let the new
acquaintance sit down.

“You can sit with me, if you want,”

She offered, taking a long bench that could fit two people. It was a bit snug,
but not uncomfortably so. She scooted closer to the edge, making room for
Nichapat to sit beside her.

“Alright,”

Nichapat said, sitting down without hesitation. She looked at her up close
and smiled.

She was a woman with smooth, fair skin and slightly sharp monolid eyes
that suggested Chinese heritage. Her face wasn’t sharply defined, but it had
a charm that could catch a man’s attention.

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Of course, it didn’t have to be men — Nichapat herself felt drawn to her.

She wasn’t exactly her type, but it was close enough.

Even just a small display of kindness, the gentle, polite manner, made her
feel quietly intrigued — and that was before considering her musician
profile. That alone was interesting enough.

Though perhaps… she probably didn’t like women.

“Before we started talking, I noticed you looked a bit down.”

“Me?”

Nichapat pointed to herself, slightly surprised that he had noticed her mood
so clearly.

“Mm.”

“Well… there’s just something bothering me a little,”

Nichapat said with a dry laugh.

“How much is it bothering you?”

“Um… well…”

Nichapat hesitated. She wasn’t sure if she should say it directly, but maybe
talking to someone would help, even if she didn’t know how she would
react. She worried that if she admitted she liked women, she might react
awkwardly.

“You don’t have to tell me right away. Or if you don’t want to, that’s fine
too,”

She said, starting to play the piano. At first, the notes were random, not a
song, but the sounds were pleasant. Gradually, they flowed together and
became a melody.

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Sun Yan

Nichapat watched in awe as all ten of his fingers danced across the keys.
She smiled in delight, feeling cheerful and relaxed the entire time the piece
played. When it ended, she clapped her hands loudly.

“Wow!” she exclaimed, amazed. “That was incredible! I believe you’re

really a pianist now.”

“Feeling a bit better now, huh?”

“Mm,” Nichaphat nodded. “I feel a lot better now.”

She smiled, pausing as she studied her face, lost in thought, before finally
saying what had been on her mind.

“I… like women. But my parents don’t accept it.”

Before she realized it, the words were out. Seeing her neutral expression
after hearing her confession made her freeze. She wondered if she had said
something she shouldn’t have.

“Uh…”

Nichapat bit her lip, unsure how to react or what to say next. But before she
could continue, she broke into a soft chuckle and said something that
surprised her.

“You like women?” She asked, a quiet laugh escaping her throat.

“Ah… yeah,” Nichapat admitted reluctantly, still unsure what to make of

her laughter.

“Just… liking women,” She said, her laughter shifting into a smile.
“There’s nothing wrong with that.”

She rested her hand on Nichapat's head as if comforting her, before saying
something that made her even more surprised.

“Because I like women too.”

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“After that day, I went to see one of her performances at the university. She
personally invited me, and I really wanted to go. After the show, we
exchanged chat IDs and phone numbers to stay in touch,”

Nichapat recounted to Thanatcha with a smile.

“We kept in contact, but it was a bit difficult because she travels a lot, so we
didn’t get to meet very often.”

“So, you kept in touch, but you weren’t actually together? That’s right, isn’t
it?”

Thanatcha asked. She was a little surprised that hearing this didn’t make her
feel as emotional as she expected.

Perhaps it was because she was curious in the moment, standing in front of
the person telling the story. Or maybe she secretly hoped there might be a
small opening in the story for her to slip in.

“Mm, yeah. We weren’t anything,”

Nichapat nodded, her expression dropping slightly.

“During the first year, almost nothing happened. When we talked, it wasn’t
back-and-forth at all. She would take a long time to reply, which made me
tense. Sometimes I still felt a distance between us, and it didn’t make me
feel any closer to her. Even though at first, she was quite friendly and
relaxed with me.”

“Someone like you doesn’t seem like you’d get tense around anyone,”

Thanatcha said, a small smirk tugging at her lips.

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“What?” Nichaphat frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You seem to be very approachable and easygoing.”

“Me?” Nichaphat raised an eyebrow, tilting her head.

“You don’t realize it yourself?”

“I don’t know,” Nichapat laughed. “Some friends said I’m crazy.

Sometimes I’m quiet, but when I want to go after someone, I just follow my
own feelings. But no one has ever called me pushy.”

“Like the way you did with me?”

Nichapat looked at Thanatcha. She thought back to that night when she had
walked straight over to Thanatcha and snuggled up as her bedmate.

Thinking about it now made her feel a little embarrassed, but it was true —
she was generally easygoing and could brush things off quickly. In a way,
Thanatcha’s description of her as “pushy” might be accurate, because at this
moment she found herself smiling.

“Yeah… I guess that’s just how I am.”

“Mm,”

Thanatcha smiled in response. She hadn’t spent that long getting to know
Nichapat, but she was starting to understand her personality well.

“We’ve been up here long enough. Let’s go downstairs,” Nichapat said,

standing up.

Seeing that, Thanatcha quickly stood up too. But she hadn’t expected
Nichapat to step slightly toward her at the same time, and Nichapat hadn’t
anticipated that she’d rise from the chair at that exact moment.

They collided unintentionally. In that instant, each of them instinctively

grabbed onto the other.

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Thanatcha wrapped one arm around Nichapat’s waist, the other holding her
upper arm, while Nichapat curved toward her, one hand on Thanatcha’s
shoulder. Both stood on tiptoe, balancing carefully to avoid falling, and
once they steadied themselves, they looked into each other’s eyes.

Thanatcha’s heart beat a little faster as she looked at Nichapat’s face up

close. Even though they had been closer before, those moments had
gradually faded into disappointment.

Yet the chance to be close again hadn’t completely disappeared, and now
she found herself gazing at her beautiful face once more.

Even if all she could do was just look.

Nichapat met her gaze, her eyes moving in sync with Thanatcha’s, shifting
between her two eyes in the same rhythm as when they had struggled to
keep their balance moments ago. Nichapat’s body had leaned back slightly,
supported by Thanatcha’s arms.

She gently loosened her grip so that Nichapat’s body lowered, still carefully
supporting her weight, letting her lean back slowly without any discomfort.

In the end, Nichapat’s hips settled onto the bed as Thanatcha’s body swayed
forward toward her. In that swift moment, one of Thanatcha’s knees pressed
against the bed, bracing herself so that Nichapat’s body wouldn’t collapse
onto her and cause pain.

It created a straddling position over Nichapat’s legs, who was leaning back
at about a 130-degree angle, with Thanatcha’s body carefully supporting her
to prevent any further tipping.

Once again, their eyes met. In that precarious position, reminiscent of the
night they had shared on the bed, a small shiver of emotion ran through
them.

Thanatcha’s gaze drifted from Nichapat’s eyes down along the bridge of her
nose, stopping at her beautiful lips. Nichapat’s eyes instinctively followed,
settling on the same spot.

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The closeness made Nichapat recall every touch from that night—touches
she had long stopped thinking about, refusing to let them affect her
emotions. Now, they returned briefly, only for a fleeting moment.

As soon as she became aware, she quickly averted her gaze, turning away
before facing Thanatcha again with a composed expression, betraying no
trace of emotion.

“I know that in the end, we probably can’t avoid running into each other,”

Nichapat said, grabbing the collar of Thanatcha’s shirt and pulling her close
until their faces nearly touched. Then she added, her voice firm, a reminder
of the boundaries she had set:

“But please don't think of me as anything more than a friend.”

💖💖💖💖
sunyan

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Sun Yan

🎀11. Over the Line 🎀

She smoothed her skirt with delicate hands to look neat and brushed her
hair into place, making sure she appeared tidy before getting out of the taxi
and walking into a hotel, looking for the restaurant where she had arranged
to meet someone.

Nichapat paused to look at the sign pointing to the elevators but quickly
hurried along. She felt a little anxious, worried she might not have enough
time for today’s meeting. Finally, she arrived at the restaurant.

“Hello, how many in your party?” a staff member greeted her promptly.

“Hello, I have a reservation under the name Wiphawa.”

“Oh, right this way, please,”

The staff member said, gesturing and leading Nichapat to a small private
room with a sliding door. She knocked lightly and opened the door to
welcome the guest.

“Please, come in.”

“Thank you,”

Nichapat said, smiling at the staff member who was about to close the door,
then stepped into the room, meeting the gaze of someone who was watching
her as she lifted a glass of water to drink.

“You’re here! Please, have a seat,” Wiphawa greeted her guest with a smile.

“Yes,”

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Nichapat returned her smile and replied politely. Since they had met and she
learned she was two years older than her, she had been calling her “P’Wa”
from that day on.

It all started the day Wiphawa performed music on her university stage, and
they had been in touch ever since.

“Have you been here long, P’Wa?”

Nichapat asked as she sat down across from him. Between them was a wide
marble table, with a set of sushi and a glass of drink on it.

“About half an hour. Sorry for the sudden invitation. I don’t have much
time.”

“In that case, I’m sorry for taking your time, too. I’m sure you don’t have
much time,” Nichapat replied.

“I still have a little time,” Wiphawa said, checking her watch. “At least half
an hour. I have a flight tonight.”

“Okay.”

“Order whatever you want.”

She said, handing the menu that was on the seat beside her to her special
guest.

“Anything you like. I’ll treat you.”

“Treating me again?” Nichapat smiled. “It’s okay. I can help pay a little if
you want.”

“No need. You just graduated, haven’t started working yet.”

“I see. If I really go for my master’s and still haven’t started working, then
you’ll have to keep treating me like this.”

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“That’s fine,” Wiphawa shook her head with a smile. “We don’t get to meet
often anyway, and this is something I can do for you when we meet.”

Nichapat stayed silent. She looked at Wiphawa, saying nothing. Her words
were kind, and the remark about not meeting often highlighted the flaw in
their relationship—one that kept them from moving forward.

Wiphawa was a kind person, but her life came with many restrictions, and
her personal rules sometimes made Nichapat feel constrained as well.

Still, Nichapat patiently waited, hoping that someone as kind as Wiphawa

could one day accept her love without any conditions.

After Nichapat finished ordering, she looked at Wiphawa, who was

watching her, smiled, and started a conversation.

“P’Wa, you said you wanted to talk to me about something, right? That’s
why you arranged this meeting so suddenly?”

“It’s about something I heard at a friend’s hotel party. Is it true that you
slept with another woman?”

“W-what?”

Nichapat was shocked by the question. She hadn’t expected Wiphawa to

hear about it and had assumed that, since she was single and didn’t have a
defined relationship with her, it wouldn’t be considered wrong.

“Why are you so surprised? Or is it true?”

Wiphawa said, taking a piece of sushi from the plate in front of her.

She chewed slowly, still calm as she asked the question.

“Are you hungry? You can eat first.”

“How did you find out?”

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Nichapat wasn’t paying attention to the food. She stayed focused on

Wiphawa’s main question.

“You didn’t do anything in secret, right? Someone must have seen it and
talked about it—that you went up to a room with another woman.”

“And if it’s true?”

Nichapat countered, testing the thoughts of the person in front of her.

“Well…” Wiphawa put down her chopsticks and rested both arms on the
edge of the table. “I don’t want you to do that again. What’s done is done,
but can you at least tell me why?”

“My reason is that I had to meet a man my parents introduced to me, and I
wanted them to know that I don’t like men. I’ve always said I have a
girlfriend to avoid them, but they didn’t believe me. So I had to make it
obvious,” Nichapat explained honestly.

“And it had to be that obvious? You actually had to sleep with her?”

She asked, her voice calm but cold, holding back her emotions.

“They believed me immediately when they saw that,”

Nichapat said, feeling flustered by the question. Her voice sounded almost
angry—she hadn’t intended for her to know, but she also hadn’t meant to
hide it. She admitted it as soon as she asked.

“I wouldn’t have to lie if I were actually dating someone. I wouldn’t have to

make excuses and keep avoiding them like this.”

Having said it, she couldn’t help but feel a little hurt. She had spent a year
and a half with Wiphawa, yet their relationship still lacked clarity.
Frustrated, she let out her complaint.

Wiphawa listened quietly, her expression thoughtful, before speaking.

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“We’ve already talked about this before, haven’t we? Anything that’s done
clearly when we’re not ready… it doesn’t make the other person happy,”

Wiphawa emphasized what she had told Nichapat before.

“I travel a lot and hardly have time to see you, Jun. If we were dating, you’d
basically be like a single person who barely gets to see your partner.
Wouldn’t that make you uncomfortable?”

“I might really be like that,” Nichapat admitted. “But have you asked
yourself how you feel? Wouldn’t you feel the same way?”

Once again, Wiphawa was silent. She saw a flicker of hurt and displeasure
in her eyes, so she smiled.

“Of course I would feel that way. We both would. That’s why I don’t want it
to happen until the day I have more time to be with you.”

“Do you really feel that way?” Nichapat asked softly. “I thought that even if
people haven’t officially defined their relationship, if you truly care about
someone, you’d naturally think about them more. No matter the distance,
whenever you have a moment, you’d want to talk to them, see their face,
hear their voice, or do anything that shows you’re really thinking of them.
That’s how I feel about you…” Nichapat lowered her head.

“I want to message you all the time, even if you don’t reply right away, and
I wait until you do. When you see my messages, does it make you happy?
Does it make you smile? Have you ever wanted to check your messages just
to see if I sent something to you?”

“If we were in a relationship, of course I’d feel that way,” Wiphawa replied.
“That’s how I knew I chose that person to be special. But I try not to feel
too much, not to let my emotions get out of control or make me restless.
That way, I don’t make myself anxious or uncomfortable every time. And if
you’re feeling anxious, it’s because you’re reacting that way.”

“Because I feel too much?”

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Nichapat didn’t feel any better hearing that explanation.

“But aren’t feelings supposed to happen naturally? If we truly care about

someone, shouldn’t it just happen on its own?”

“People aren’t the same, Jun,”

Wiphawa said with a soft sigh, trying to explain herself calmly.

“I might be someone who’s patient and composed, while you might be

someone who expresses your feelings openly. We’re different—but that
doesn’t mean we can’t be compatible. I just want you to understand that
people feel things differently.”

“So the difference is that I’m not as calm and patient,” Nichapat said.

“It’s not like that… I’m not blaming you, Jun…”

“Then if I could be patient like you want, what would you want me to do?”

“Being yourself is fine. I’m glad you express yourself, and I notice it. But
what I want right now is to ask you not to sleep with anyone like that again.
When the time is right, I’ll take you to tell your parents myself.”

“But you have done it.”

She said the words, stabbing at her heart. She had never dared to bring this
up before. There had only been one previous conversation where Wiphawa
explained her own reasons. Now she wanted to know how Wiphawa would
respond this time.

“You slept with other women when you went out—even if it wasn’t serious,
and you didn’t feel anything—but you still did it.”

“That… that’s different,” Wiphawa began.

“Then why can’t I do the same?”

“Jun…”

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“We weren’t anything, either. You’re single. You have slept with other
women. And during the time I was talking to you, when we weren’t
anything, I slept with another woman just once. Does that make me worse
than you?”

“Jun, I…”

Wiphawa wanted to explain, but she interrupted before she could think of
the right words. She had spoken about this before, but now, repeating it felt
inadequate—especially since Nichapat was challenging her.

“You’re single. You meet so many people, and sometimes you want to relax
and let loose a little. And the reason you didn’t want a relationship with me
like that is because you were afraid it would cross a line. I’m not like other
people, so you wanted it to be different. Am I right?”

Nichapat said, reflecting back the words Wiphawa had once told her. Since
then, she hadn’t interfered or doubted her about this matter—until now,
when expectations were placed on her, and she was criticized for doing
something he herself hadn’t done.

“Because you’re not like anyone else. You’re special. Didn’t you want to
save that for when our relationship had developed further?”

“I’m already not like anyone else. I know that. And I’m glad you don’t have
anyone else as special as me,” Nichapat said, her voice restrained but firm.

“But do you want to come and sleep with me? Maybe we could try a
different approach, see if it makes you feel something more for me.”

“Jun—”

Wiphawa looked startled, but she shifted her gaze toward the door just as a
staff member entered to serve the food.

“Time flies—it’s almost been half an hour,” Nichapat said, glancing at her
wristwatch. “You probably don’t have much more time to meet me, so I

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Sun Yan

won’t keep you any longer. I’ll pay for my part of the meal.” She stood up
and looked at the staff. “Could I settle my portion of this bill separately?”

“Of course,”

The staff member replied, placing the food on the table before walking to
the cashier outside.

“Jun—”

“I just want us to take some time to think. I’ll think about what you asked
me to do as well. I’m not angry, but I don’t want to waste your time today
since you have to travel.” She picked up her bag and slung it over her
shoulder. “Excuse me.”

Her face showed no smile. Though she said she wasn’t angry, her
expression was calm and emotionless.

Nichapat walked out of the VIP room, leaving Wiphawa watching her go,
her emotions stirred.

Her elegant figure moved slowly along the sidewalk in the business district
near the luxury hotel she had just left.

Glancing down at the pleated skirt she had chosen to wear today, it
suddenly felt meaningless. The date she had imagined so vividly had
instead turned into a moment of frustration.

It wasn’t the first time she had shown her feelings like this, but she had
never let her emotions run this strong. In the past, she had only complained
a little.

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She couldn’t fully act on her whims, because they weren’t officially a
couple yet, and she feared annoying her before they even became a couple.

She didn’t know who had passed the story about her to Wiphawa. In a way,
it felt slightly satisfying that it affected her at all. At least she cared enough
to give her orders like that. But if she was going to scold and forbid her, she
thought it wasn’t fair.

For Nichapat, ever since she had liked Wiphawa, she had never paid
attention to anyone else. Many people had crossed her path, offering
choices, but she always pushed them away immediately, keeping herself
focused and showing her sincerity only to Wiphawa.

But what happened with Thanatcha was the first time she had made such a
decision. She had seen it as nothing serious, nothing meant to form a special
bond—after all, Wiphawa herself had done the same.

She wouldn’t have done it if Wiphawa had shown that she valued Nichapat
enough not to touch others. Even though they weren’t officially a couple,
because Wiphawa had acted that way, Nichapat’s choice wasn’t revenge.

She did it for the reason she had explained. If anyone called it spiteful, that
wasn’t entirely accurate. Any feeling of defiance was simply a byproduct of
her decision, not the purpose.

If only her act of defiance had worked, it would have been fine—if it
weren’t for the fact that it had led to an argument with Wiphawa first.

.
.

“Ugh… how boring. Where should I go next?”

Nichapat sighed, not wanting to carry this mood home to her parents.
Lately, they had been kind to her. Since the day she had brought Thanatcha
home, they had fussed less about her relationships with women.

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Perhaps they liked Thanatcha’s personality, or maybe they were gradually

accepting the happiness she had chosen for herself.

She thought of her two close friends, who surely wouldn’t have time for a
sudden meet-up right now. Both seemed a bit busy with their families.
When she thought of anyone else, the only face that came to her mind was
Thanatcha’s.

“What are you doing?”

She wondered, taking out her phone. Spotting an empty seat at the bus stop,
she walked over, sat down, and dialed Thanatcha.

Thanatcha stepped off the subway as she arrived at her destination for the
day. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she quickly pulled it out, stepping
aside to avoid blocking the walkway.

She looked at the screen and was surprised to see someone’s name appear.
She felt a flicker of happiness but didn’t have time to think before she
quickly answered the call.

"Hello."

“What’s up, Tense? What are you doing?”

Nichapat asked as soon as she picked up.

“I’m out walking and looking at plants. Is something wrong?”

Of course, it was surprising that Nichapat was calling, especially since she
had previously told her not to meet or contact her. But after the day she
went to her house, the warning that meeting could be risky might have been
the reason she reached out.

“Looking at plants? Where?”

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“Chatuchak. There’s a tree I want to use to decorate my room, so I came to

check it out.”

“Are you going anywhere after that?”

“No, I just got here.”

“Just arrived?”

Nichapat said, her voice happy, before saying something Thanatcha didn’t
expect:

“Can you wait for me? Let me walk with you.”

Thanatcha was sitting and sipping a drink in a small café in the middle of a
large weekend market that was unusually quiet since most shops were
closed on this weekday.

A little further ahead was the plant market, with stalls lined up on both sides
of the path. But she had chosen to sit here to wait for someone who was
taking a taxi to meet her.

It wouldn’t take long for them to arrive at this time of day, when traffic
wasn’t heavy, but her focus made the wait feel much longer than it actually
was.

Who wouldn’t be excited if the girl they liked asked to go out for a walk?
Even if she tried to act casual, she couldn’t help feeling something. She
might not be able to hope for their relationship to move forward just yet, but
at least she got to see her and be close to her.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket again, and she quickly pulled it out and
answered.

“Hello. I’m here. Where are you waiting?”

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Nichapat asked, referring to the spot Thanatcha had mentioned. After a brief
exchange of directions, she found her.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Was it long?”

“Not really,” Thanatcha shook her head. “I just sipped my drink while
waiting. Come this way.” She gently tugged at the shoulder of Nichapat’s
shirt to guide her closer.

“Mm,”

Nichapat followed her lead, noticing the slight crease in her shirt as
Thanatcha tugged. There were many places she could have held, but
Thanatcha chose to gently grip the fabric of her shirt with her fingertips—
probably out of caution, remembering how she had previously warned her
not to get too close.

“Let’s hurry across.”

Thanatcha turned to grab Nichapat’s arm, but before her hand could reach,
she suddenly hesitated and quickly pulled it back. Then she walked ahead,
crossing the street swiftly.

Nichapat frowned at the gesture. It was probably Thanatcha herself who had
set the boundary, not wanting her to overstep. But if even a small, simple
touch caused this much awkwardness, it was understandable that it felt a bit
uncomfortable.

“Wait for me,”

Nichapat quickly quickened her pace, stepping close to Thanatcha as an

idea came to her. They were walking along the sidewalk leading to the plant
market. When they reached another narrow street to cross, Nichapat took
Thanatcha’s hand, letting her guide her across together.

Thanatcha turned to Nichapat, surprised. She looked down at the slender

hand holding hers.

“What is it?” Nichapat teased, trying to act casual.

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Sun Yan

“No,”

Thanatcha shook her head and continued walking. Her hand tensed slightly.
If she had squeezed Nichapat’s hand, it would have been easy to hold and
guide each other, but instead, she let Nichapat hold it alone.

She didn’t know what Nichapat was thinking—especially since she had
been the one to tell her not to get any ideas.

But now, with Nichapat creating this closeness that made her heart flutter,
how could she stop her mind from wandering?

💖💖💖💖
sunyan

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🎀 12. Fake Girlfriend 🎀

“Hey, what are you doing looking at these plants?”

Nichapat asked as they walked past plants displayed along the street.

“Just to decorate my room. The green against white looks refreshing,”

Thanatcha replied with a smile.

“Oh, so that’s what you meant when you said your room is minimalist. I’d
love to see it.”

“My room?” Thanatcha frowned. “It’s not really suitable for you.”

“Why not?” Nichapat frowned back.

“My room only welcomes close friends and girlfriends,”

Thanatcha said casually, without looking at Nichapat. She turned her

attention to a plant displayed in front of a shop—the very plant she had
been looking for.

“What?”

Nichapat frowned more deeply. Just then, Thanatcha was focused on the
plant. That focus made her tighten her grip on Nichapat’s hand as they
walked into the plant shop.

She looked down at their hands, unsure if it was a moment of carelessness,

but suddenly Thanatcha was the one holding her hand, instead of the other
way around.

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“Excuse me, how much is this one?” Thanatcha asked the male shop
assistant.

“This one is 350 baht.”

“Do you have a smaller one?”

“Yes, please look inside. There are plenty more.”

“Okay, I’ll take a look first,”

Thanatcha said, holding Nichapat’s hand as they walked inside. She spotted
a plant she liked and let go of Nichapat’s hand so she could examine the
plants on the shelves more easily.

Nichapat leaned over to look at the plant as she moved closer, standing next
to her to get a better view.

“It’s so cute.”

“Yeah, it’s cute, isn’t it?”

Thanatcha turned and smiled at her companion who had come to stand
beside her.

“It really is,”

Nichapat nodded. She watched Thanatcha’s happy expression as she looked

at the plants. When Thanatcha moved on to look at other plants, Nichapat
couldn’t help but smile.

She began to glance around at the other plants with interest. There were so
many varieties she didn’t recognize. Even though she grew a lot of plants at
home, most were large decorative shrubs for the garden.

A few hanging plants were there too, but she didn’t know their names as
well as her mother did.

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Looking at all these plants made her want to have some in her own
bedroom. She walked over to the person who could probably give good
advice.

“I want a plant for my room. Can you recommend one?”

“A plant for your room?”

Thanatcha looked surprised, but the curiosity in her eyes made her smile.
“Sure,” she said, then turned to the shop assistant. “I’ll take this one,” she
said, pointing to a small potted plant she had chosen, and stepped aside for
him to put it in a bag.

After paying, the two of them walked out of the shop together, with
Thanatcha carrying the bag with the plant.

“I’ll take you to pick out another shop. What kind of plants do you like?”

“I’m not sure. Just pick whatever you think is good and suits me.”

“Alright,”

Thanatcha replied, looking at the shops as they walked. They continued

until they reached the end of the street, then turned and found another plant
shop that caught her attention. She walked in, pointed at a plant, and turned
to Nichapat.

“Do you like this one?”

“Mm, it’s pretty. What kind of plant is this?”

“Watermelon Peper,” Thanatcha replied.

“Watermelon Peper? That’s such a cute name,” Nichapat smiled.

“Do you want this one? It’s a bit hard to find around here. Or would you
like to look at others first?”

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“Other ones?” Nichapat glanced at the other plants in the shop. “They’re
nice too, but…” She looked back at the plant Thanatcha had recommended.
“I’ll take this one, the Watermelon Peper.”

“Alright, I’ll buy it for you.”

“Wait, I want to buy it myself. I’ll pay.”

“No need. I want to get it for you.”

Thanatcha didn’t know if Nichapat would think she was overstepping, but
she just wanted to buy the plant. As the one giving advice, she simply
wanted to gift Nichapat this plant.

Without waiting for a response, she paid and handed Nichapat another bag
with the plant inside.

“I’ll hold it,”

Nichapat said, taking the bag from Thanatcha’s hands. Thanatcha let her,
smiling.

As they walked together down the crowded street, Thanatcha wanted to

hold her hand again. This time, each of their other hands was free. Thinking
about holding hands, Nichapat shifted the plant to her other hand. She
walked closer to Thanatcha but didn’t reach for her hand yet.

Walking around like this together made Nichapat feel relaxed in a way she
rarely got to. Usually, she shopped at the mall with friends, and only
occasionally visited a market, but she rarely strolled and explored in an
atmosphere like this.

If knowing Thanatcha could help her experience life a little differently than
usual, she thought, it might be interesting.

But now that she thought about it… the relationship between them wasn’t
exactly clear, and it wasn’t obvious how they were supposed to interact.

Because of that, a certain thought came to her.

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“Hey.”

“Hm?”

Thanatcha turned to look at the person calling her, walking beside her.

“Can we be friends?”

It was a little embarrassing to ask something like this, but Nichapat was just
being herself.

“Excuse me?”

“Friends. The two of us can be friends,” Nichapat said, smiling brightly.

“Friends?”

Thanatcha raised an eyebrow. She didn’t know what had made Nichapat
suggest this, but it made her think carefully. After considering it, she
realized she didn’t really want that.

“No, thanks.”

“No?”

Nichapat’s expression immediately changed. She looked upset.

“Mm,” Thanatcha replied, seemingly unconcerned.

“Then what do you want to be? We already know each other,”

Nichapat hurried to catch up, noticing that Thanatcha seemed to be walking

faster, as if trying to avoid the question.

“What do you want me to be?” Thanatcha repeated the question. “Well…

but I don’t want to be your friend.”

“Not a friend? Then what? There’s only friends left, you know.”

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“Not a friend,” Thanatcha shook her head and quickened her pace.

By now, Nichapat realized she wasn’t imagining it—Thanatcha was

intentionally trying to walk away.

“Not a friend,” Nichapat sighed. “Then just tell me… what do you want to
be?”

Her words made Thanatcha stop abruptly, causing Nichapat, who had been
hurrying to catch up, to step forward. Seeing that the person who had been
walking away had stopped, she also stopped and took a step back.

“Can I choose?” Thanatcha asked.

“Except a girlfriend,” Nichapat quickly replied.

“Be my girlfriend,” Thanatcha answered.

“I already said…”

“A fake girlfriend,”

Thanatcha blurted out, finishing the sentence. She looked at Nichapat with a
serious expression.

Nichapat froze, staring at her for a moment before slowly frowning.

“I just want to be your fake girlfriend,”

Thanatcha said, her gaze meeting Nichapat’s, leaving no trace of joking in

her eyes. She hoped Nichapat would understand her request.

“Just being your fake girlfriend… that’s enough for me.”

She slowly looked away after saying what she wanted, then started walking
ahead again.

Even though Thanatcha walked at a relaxed pace this time, Nichapat

couldn’t catch up, still standing there, thinking about her words.

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Thanatcha glanced at the girl walking beside her, frowning slightly. She
looked straight ahead to watch the path, then glanced back again. Nichapat
noticed and asked:

“What are you looking at?”

“It’s just… walking around the market, but you’re dressed like you’re going
to dinner,”

Thanatcha said, looking at her pretty top and skirt.

“Like dinner?” Nichapat laughed. “Yeah, but not really dinner. I went for a
late lunch, but I didn’t get to eat.” She laughed.

“Why?” Thanatcha frowned. “And… how did you end up coming to see
me?”

She had already wondered why Nichapat suddenly called her for no reason
and wanted to go out for a walk with her after she mentioned where she
was.

But she had been too excited about the other person coming, wandering
around choosing plants, and didn’t get a chance to ask anything.

“I met someone,” the person admitted directly. “But it wasn’t a very good
meeting, so I excused myself and came away.”

“Not a good meeting?”

That answer didn’t make her think of anyone else, except Nichapat’s special
someone. But what had happened that made her describe it as a bad
meeting?

“Yeah,”

Nichapat nodded, her expression slightly sad, though she smiled faintly.

“It’s nothing serious. It’ll be fine.”

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In the end, she brushed it off and smiled, her face brightening.

“You said I dressed like I was going to dinner, right?” She looked down at
herself, then back up at the person walking beside her. “Then today, I’ll go
to dinner with you instead.”

“Dinner with me?”

“Yeah,” Nichapat nodded again and then smiled widely. “But it’ll be street
food dinner, around here.”

“What did you buy, June?”

Napittha asked her daughter, who had just walked into the house carrying a
white bag.

“Plants, Mom. I’m going to put them on the balcony,” Nichapat said,
holding up the pots and opening the bag for her mother to see. “Aren’t they
cute? Watermelon pepper plants.”

“They’re cute. But what’s this mood about? You don’t usually care much
about plants. We already have plenty in the garden.”

“Today, Tense went to look at some plants, so I went along. I saw these
little ones and thought they were cute, so I bought them.”

“Oh, you went with your girlfriend?” Napittha raised an eyebrow. “That
sudden rush to leave the house—was it because she asked you to go see
plants?”

She remembered when her daughter had taken a call, suddenly ran upstairs
to get dressed nicely, and said she was going out all of a sudden.

“Oh,”

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Nichapat laughed. Actually, she had another reason for leaving the house so
abruptly: someone else had invited her to have a meal at a hotel, but it only
took for a short while.

After that, she met Thanatcha and spent a couple of hours with her. But if
she had to answer—and her mother was already thinking along these lines
—she just agreed, saying,

“Yes, Mom.”

“Really? Hmm, that’s nice. Going to look at plants together—cute,”

Napittha smiled. “Tense seems to like things like this. That’s good.
Someone like her takes an interest in many things and even turns those
interests into a career. People like that usually manage well in life.”

“Yes,”

Nichapat smiled. It felt good that someone like Thanatcha earned her
mother’s admiration. She had thought it would be more difficult to
introduce her real girlfriend to her mother, but when she brought her to
meet the family properly, they seemed to accept her choice more easily than
she expected.

She wasn’t sure if it was because of Thanatcha—her basic personality and

the way she treated adults probably made people naturally fond of her.

Seeing this, she felt relieved that her mother had finally accepted that she
was dating a woman. But she still didn’t know how things would go if she
had to tell them that she and Thanatcha had broken up and reveal who her
real girlfriend was.

If that person would really agree to be with her.

“Take good care of the plants, okay? Don’t just leave them lying around,”
her mother said.

“Yes, Mom,” Nichapat nodded. She kept the plants in the bag as before.
“I’ll go upstairs first.”

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“Mm, go ahead. Have you eaten yet?”

“I already have, Mom,” she replied with a smile, carrying the bag of plants
up to her room.

Once she got to her room, she roughly placed her bag on the bed and took
the plants out to the balcony. She opened the bag and carefully set the pots
on the edge of the balcony, which was wide enough to hold them.

Looking at them, it seemed a little risky to place them there, so she thought
about buying a small table or shelf just for this plant, in case the branches
would grow more, and she’d need to repot it, just as Thanatcha had advised,
before the two of them parted ways.

Quietly, she stood looking at her first plant with a smile, and then
whispered,

“Don’t be naughty Watermelon Pepper.”

💚💚💚
sunyan

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🎀 13.A Relationship Without a

Name 🎀

The book was set down on the pillow beside her after she had been reading
for about half an hour. The longer she stayed at home, the more bored she
felt, wanting to find some reason to go out. She had sent messages to her
friends, but no one had replied so far.

“Everyone’s gone quiet,”

Nichapat sighed. She lay sprawled on the bed, arms and legs stretched out,
feeling completely bored. When she couldn’t reach her friends, the person
who came to mind was, of course, someone else.

Ever since she had contacted her the other day and gone for a walk to look
at plants together, she had enjoyed the relaxed time. So she tried sending
her a message, hoping she might have plans to go out again—but the reply
she got was disappointing.

JuneNichaP:
What are you up to?
Are you going anywhere today?

Tense:
I have work today.
I’m heading out to a client’s house.

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She sighed deeply, realizing that everyone she usually hung out with
seemed busy. But thinking further, maybe her close friend hadn’t replied not
because of being busy, but simply because she wasn’t on her phone.
Nichapat decided to call and see.

“An,”

She greeted Ansaya, someone she thought might have some free time, while
Satitha might be busy at the hotel.

“Why did you pick up so quickly?”

“I just picked up my phone. I just finished getting dressed. Hey, what’s up?”

“Nothing. I sent you a message but didn’t get a reply, so I thought you were
busy. Are you going anywhere today?”

“Today? No, not going anywhere.”

“Not going anywhere? Then you’re free, right? Let’s go shopping.”

“No,” Ansaya replied immediately. “I’m not going out, but I’m not free
either.”

“Oh? If you’re not free, what are you doing at home?”

“Me? Today I have someone coming to look at the house—the person I

hired to design the home ideas.”

“Oh, the one you were complaining about when you were planning to
redecorate. You found someone already?”

“Yeah, found someone. It’s been a few days,”

Ansaya laughed, remembering there was something she hadn’t told her
close friend yet.

“Oh, okay. Then I won’t bother you,” Nichapat said, sounding a little
disappointed. “Text me when you’re free, okay? I’m bored and want to go

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out.”

“What’s making you so bored?”

“I’m just bored. Staying at home, Satitha isn’t free, you’re not free either. I
was thinking of going shopping alone.”

“Going alone? Sounds like you’re really bored. Don’t sulk—I’ll find time to
go with you.”

“Mm, that’s fine. I won’t bother you.”

“Mm....”

Ansaya replied, though a thought popped into her mind. She hesitated for
just a second, wondering whether to say it now or wait, but figured she’d
have to say it eventually. So she quickly spoke up, a little loudly,

“Hey!”

“What?” Nichapat paused, almost lifting the phone away from her ear.

“You can come to my place if you want, if it’s convenient,”

Ansaya said, laughing awkwardly behind the words.

“Go to your place? But… aren’t you busy?”

“I’m busy, but you can come hang out with me if you want.”

“If I can come, that’s great. Better than staying at home doing nothing,”
Nichapat said with a smile.

“You can come, but I’m with a guest you know,”

She thought maybe if she mentioned this person’s name, her friend
wouldn’t be interested in coming, since she’d complained before about not
wanting to meet her or continue any closeness—but she wanted to try
inviting her anyway.

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“A guest I know?” Nichapat frowned in confusion. “Who?”

The doorbell rang, pulling the homeowner quickly to the front door. She
saw her close friend standing there and happily opened the door.

“You came much earlier than I expected,”

Ansaya greeted her friend.

“Well, I just wanted to get out of the house. I didn’t even change—this is
my home outfit. I just called a taxi to bring me over; it was quick.”

“So if I’m free and ask you to go somewhere after this, you’ll just go in this
outfit, right?”

Ansaya looked at her friend, who was wearing a blue sleeveless blazer top
with white shorts, white woven shoes, and carrying a small handbag
comfortably.

“Yeah, this will do. I’m not wearing pajamas out or anything,” she said,
glancing into the house. “By the way, has the person designing your house
arrived yet?”

“She’s here, just a little while ago. I was showing her the downstairs rooms.
Come in,”

Nichapat said, stepping aside for her friend and quickly closing the gate
before leading her inside. When they reached the living room, they saw
Thanatcha standing there, hands in her pockets, inspecting the furniture.

Nichapat watched Thanatcha without her noticing her. She pouted and
called out,

“Helping my friend design the house without even telling me?”

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha turned at the sound of her voice. She frowned when she saw her
standing there, even though Ansaya had already told her since arrived that
Nichapat will come to help her with the house design.

“There was no reason to tell you, so I didn’t. Besides, it’s the client’s
private matter. Your friend can tell you herself,”

Thanatcha explained, glancing at Ansaya, who took full responsibility for

the situation.

“My friend—Ans—didn’t tell me either,” Nichapat said, giving her a

pointed look.

“There just wasn’t a chance to tell you,” Ansaya said with an awkward
smile. “The last time we met was at the hotel opening, right? And we
haven’t seen each other since.”

“Yeah, I was just asking, no problem,” Nichapat said dismissively. “I was

just surprised that you hired her to do the design, that’s all.” She turned to
look at Thanatcha. “But how did it happen that my friend could hire you?”

“Ask your friend,”

Thanatcha said with a smile, walking over to inspect the area near the
window.

Her words made Nichapat snap back to look at her close friend again.
Before she could ask any questions, the person who could give the best
answer had already spoken for herself.

“I saw the reviews where Tense decorated her own room, and her friends
were saying that she did a really nice job. They also mentioned she’s
someone easy to reach, so I got in touch to talk. From our brief discussion,
Tense seems pretty skilled—even if she’s not a professional. By now, I
think we’ve probably agreed to hire her, so I had her come see my house.”

“When did you talk to her?”

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Nichapat grabbed her friend’s wrist and pulled her aside, far enough that
Thanatcha couldn’t hear them.

“Um… before Sa’s hotel opening event.”

“Before Sa’s hotel opening event?”

“Yeah. Sa came with me too.”

“What? Sa went with you to meet her, and I didn’t even know?”

“Yeah. At that time, I didn’t want her name bothering you. You wanted to
avoid her, didn’t you? So… what’s this today? I thought you didn’t want to
see her, but now suddenly you want to?”

“It’s not that bad,” Nichapat pouted. “By now, it’s too late to run away.
Things have already gone too far.”

“What?” Ansaya exclaimed, smiling.

“It’s nothing like what you’re thinking,”

Nichapat whispered sharply. Then she suddenly realized something.

“Wait a minute… you said you and Sa met Tense before the hotel opening
event. So, the fact that she suddenly showed up at that event…”

“Hey!” Ansaya gasped.

“Was it you guys who invited her to that event?”

“What?” Ansaya tried to dodge, her voice high-pitched.

“Was it? Just admit it.”

“Ugh, don’t blame me! Don’t blame me!” Ansaya frowned.

“Oh, saying that means it’s true, right?” Nichapat frowned, her brows
knitted tightly.

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“Yeah, we met her before the event, so we had to invite her. After all, the
hotel owner, Sa, already knows her,” Ansaya said.

“Ugh, so it’s because of you guys? I was trying so hard to avoid her,”
Nichapat said in frustration.

“Avoid her? And who was it that got you close to her? In the end, you’re the
one who dragged her over to meet your parents, aren’t you?”

She wanted to argue with her friend, but she couldn’t deny it. It was true. If
she hadn’t chosen to walk over to Thanatcha herself, she wouldn’t have had
to get her involved at all.

Thanatcha even helped her deal with her parents. But maybe, if she hadn’t
gone to her that night, Thanatcha might have come to her on her own at
some point.

But whatever. The outcome had already been set the moment she decided to
walk over to her.

If she thought about it carefully, it wasn’t all that bad. Since that day, she
had Thanatcha—like another friend she could think of whenever she wanted
to go out when her two closest friends were busy. And this was something
Ansaya and Satitha didn’t know yet.

“Why so quiet?” Ansaya grinned. “I’m just teasing,”

She said in a playful, coaxing tone, showing she was trying to make up. But
she couldn’t resist adding,

“But… maybe you should try being with her instead of your distant 'Phi'?
You already got together anyway.”

She knew the last comment might make her friend hit her, so she
immediately stepped back as Nichapat raised her hand like she was really
going to smack her.

Nichapat bit her lip and glared at her friend walking away. Hearing
Thanatcha’s nickname being used so casually by her friend, made she felt

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irritated that they had secretly gotten to know each other so well without
telling her at all.

But by now, she could let it go. It wasn’t just her friend who had grown
close to her—she had too. She had even asked her to be her friend, only to
be rejected.

“If you want the furniture to match the overall design, we’ll have to get rid
of the old pieces. Only a few items can stay. If there’s anything you want to
keep, I can try to adjust the design so it fits with the rest,”

Thanatcha said as she walked down from the top stairs with Ansaya, while
someone unrelated trailed behind them.

“I’d feel a bit sorry, but the furniture really is old. I guess we won’t keep it.
We can just get rid of everything since I’ve already set the budget,” Ansaya
said.

“Alright, then. I’ll take care of the furniture and see what kind you like. You
want a minimalistic style that looks a bit luxurious, right?”

“Mm-hmm,” Ansaya nodded as they reached the ground floor.

“Then try sending me examples of the furniture styles you like. I’ll compare
them and pick pieces that match the overall set for you.”

“Okay,” Ansaya nodded. “Um, go sit over there for now. I’ll get some water
for us.”

“Yes.”

Thanatcha replied. She glanced at Nichapat following them before they all
sat together on the sofa.

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Sun Yan

“You look so professional working like this,”

Nichapat teased as she plopped down on the same sofa as Thanatcha.

“I’m not that professional, but if I’m designing an entire house for
someone, I have to be serious. Usually, I only design bedrooms or two-
bedroom condos, things like that,” Thanatcha said.

“Really? If I weren’t at home, I’d let you design my room too,” Nichapat
said.

“You’d dare let me design your bedroom?”

“What?” Nichapat frowned. “Why not?”

“Well, when it comes to designing a bedroom, you have to be alone with the
owner, right?” Thanatcha smirked.

Thanatcha’s answer suddenly made Nichapat understand. She realized she

probably should have guessed it, but she wasn’t sure what Thanatcha meant
at first. Hearing her answer left her speechless.

“What are you thinking? Who would let you do something like that?”

Nichapat wrinkled her nose and grabbed a throw pillow, swinging it at the
person sitting next to her.

“Why are you hitting me?”

“Because you’re perverted! How can you think like that about a client? No
ethics at all!”

Nichapat swung the pillow again, forcing Thanatcha to block it with her
hands.

“Are you crazy? I’m not thinking about clients like that at all. I’m talking
about you,” Thanatcha defended herself.

“Well, if I hired you, wouldn’t I be your client?”

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“Hey!”

Thanatcha grabbed the pillow before it could hit her, holding it tightly.

“If you really hired me, I wouldn’t even think of you as a client,” she said
with a smile.

A sly curve appeared on her lips, making the other person flinch, before she
stepped back to sit down and calm herself, then said something.

“What are you thinking? I’ve told you already—not to think like that,”

Nichapat said, looking away slightly and letting out a soft sigh.

Thanatcha froze at those words. It was as if she was pushing her away
again, but not as harshly as before. At least, it felt like a wall had been
placed between them to hold back the emotions, allowing her to let go a
little. What she said sounded strong, but there was a hint of sarcasm in it.

“I’m not thinking that way about you, and I wouldn’t dare think like that
about any other client either… except if…”

Thanatcha gaze locked onto her just as she looked back at her.

“If, by chance, we clicked at that moment, and it was mutual… then there
would be nothing stopping it.”

Nichapat listened to those words with a calm, unreadable expression.

Thanatcha thought for a moment, then slowly looked away, turned her hip
back to sit properly, and didn’t say anything more.

.
.

Meanwhile, Ansaya stood a little distance away, holding a tray of glasses,

watching her best friend and her new friend.

She had been surprised ever since she overheard snippets of their
conversation while walking over. Now, seeing them teasing and playfully

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Sun Yan

hitting each other so naturally, she couldn’t quite follow how their
conversation had started.

By the time she caught the last few words, she couldn’t piece together the
whole story. What she did notice, however, was that their relationship
wasn’t as closed-off or distant as she had imagined.

The last she knew about them was when Thanatcha was invited to dinner at
Nichapat’s parents’ house, and Nichapat had made a fuss at the end of the
night.

After that, she hadn’t known anything about what happened between them
—whether they met again or developed their relationship further.

But seeing this scene now, she felt it was a good thing, and it made her
smile.

“I don’t know when they got close… but it would be great if we could be
together,” she murmured to herself, a quiet, pleased smile on her face.

💚💚💚
sunyan

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🎀 14. Hiding Feelings 🎀

“Have a safe trip home.”

Ansaya stood at the front of the house, seeing Nichapat and Thanatcha off.
Earlier, she had invited them to eat the delivery food she had ordered that
evening, and they chatted until their meals had settled a bit. Thanatcha
excused herself first, so Nichapat decided to leave as well.

“Mm, see you later. When you’re free, take me out somewhere,” Nichapat
said.

“Sure. I’ll find time to take you out, so don’t sulk. Or if Sa and I aren’t free,
you can invite Tense to go instead,”

Ansaya teased, subtly nudging the other person into the plan.

Nichapat glanced at Thanatcha, who looked back at her after hearing that,
then replied casually without thinking much:

“Does she even have time? No one can be free all the time. I even messaged
her today, and she said she wasn’t available. So she came to see you
instead, huh?”

“Huh? You already messaged Tense?”

Ansaya covered her mouth with her hand. Seeing the calm expressions of
the two in front of her, she quickly lowered her hand, hiding her sly smile.

There were probably things she didn’t know, but it didn’t bother her at all.
She liked it this way—better than sitting around watching her best friend
chase after someone for years.

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Sun Yan

“Never mind, then,” she shrugged with a smile. “Let’s go. Get home safely,
okay? Don't just stop by anywhere. Or if you do stop by, update your
friends.”

“Where would we even go?”

Nichapat asked, giving her friend a playful nudge on the shoulder. “I’m
leaving now.”

“Mm,”

Ansaya nodded, watching her best friend and her fake girlfriend walk off
together, a soft smile on her face.

“Are you taking the bus home?”

Nichapat asked Thanatcha as they left the neighborhood together.

“Yes. You’re taking a taxi, right? I can drop you at the stop first,” Thanatcha
replied.

“I want to take the bus back. I haven't taken it in a long time. How do I get
from here to my house? Do you know?”

“To your house…”

Thanatcha thought for a moment. She had taken the bus there once before,
so she had a rough idea of the route, though she didn’t know the exact bus
line.

“I’ll check when we get to the stop. If there’s no bus that goes that way, we
can take the train first and then switch to the bus.”

“Mm-,” Nichapat nodded.

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Sun Yan

They walked to the bus stop and sat for a while as Thanatcha checked the
route. They decided to take the train together and then transfer to a bus at a
station.

Thanatcha would get off midway at a stop just before Nichapat’s home so
she could take the bus on the route back to her own place.

At this time, the train was a little crowded, so they stood together inside,
holding the handrails. As the train moved, an advertisement on the screen
caught Nichapat’s attention—it was about a music event.

She watched the moving images on the screen and smiled, then quickly
grabbed her phone to record a clip. At that moment, she saw someone on
the screen. Even though they still had issues between them, seeing her face
made her smile without realizing it.

Thanatcha watched her actions, thinking she could probably guess what was
on the screen.

“We’re at the station,”

She said, warning her as she noticed the other person absorbed in her
phone. Thanatcha moved ahead through the crowded passengers near the
doors, weaving past people in her way.

When she realized the person following her was falling behind and another
passenger blocked the path, she reached out, took her hand, and guided her
to keep up.

The person walking after her froze for a moment after getting off the train.
But with people passing by in a hurry, trying to catch their rides, and others
coming from the opposite side, Thanatcha kept holding Nichapat’s hand as
they went down the stairs together.

They only let go briefly to tap their cards at the station exit. Once they were
past the gates, Thanatcha reached out and held Nichapat’s hand again,
keeping her attention away from the phone.

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha was still holding it in her hand. She tried not to think too much,
but seeing that smile on her face when she encountered someone else’s
story made her a little annoyed.

Right now, Nichapat was with her, and she just wanted Nichapat to pay
attention to her, not anyone else. She never thought of stepping in to take
her away or expecting something unrealistic. But the more they met, the
less she wanted to let Nichapat go back to that other woman.

It might just be a fleeting emotion, but at least for this moment, now that
she was holding that hand, she wanted to keep holding it until the time
came to let go.

“Hey, don’t walk so fast,”

Nichapat said softly as Thanatcha playfully led her along the sidewalk
toward the bus stop. She felt a little strange letting the other woman take her
hand like that, guiding her along, but what could she say?

After all, the other day she had held Thanatcha’s hand while they walked to
look at the plants. She just didn’t want Thanatcha to feel awkward being too
close to her. That was all.

She hadn’t let Thanatcha touch her more than that. At least holding hands
was something she did with friends. That’s why she had tried asking
Thanatcha to just be friends, so they could keep things simple—but
Thanatcha hadn’t agreed.

Nichapat’s voice made Thanatcha slow her pace. She glanced back at the
person walking behind her. If she had a choice, she wouldn’t want them
trailing after her like this.

She wanted to walk side by side, holding that hand, but that felt like too
much to hope for. So for now, she let go, knowing the bus stop was just a
few steps away.

“We’re almost at the bus stop,”

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha said, her voice slightly tense as her earlier irritation began to
fade. She smiled faintly and led the way slowly, while Nichapat quickened
her pace to walk alongside her.

They only waited a short time before boarding the bus and taking seats near
the back. Thanatcha let Nichapat sit on the inside by the window while she
took the outer seat.

Once on the bus, whatever had captured Nichapat’s attention on her phone
drew her focus again, but it didn’t last long—she soon tucked the phone
away into her bag.

Even though she didn’t want to be too interested, she still wanted to act
naturally, because deep down she was curious about that person—maybe to
see how their relationship was progressing, or to understand how the person
beside her was feeling at that moment.

“Just now… was that a music concert ad?” Thanatcha asked.

“Oh, yes,” Nichapat nodded with a smile. “In just over a week, there will be
this event. Musicians from England are coming to perform in Thailand, but
there will be a Thai orchestra playing as the opening act. They’ll even have
a chance to perform a piano solo together with the international musicians.”

“Ah,” Thanatcha smiled at the explanation. “You’re going to watch it too,

right?”

“Watch it…”

Nichapat hesitated, showing a thoughtful expression rather than answering

immediately.

“I don’t know yet. Maybe… or maybe not.”

“Maybe or maybe not?”

Thanatcha frowned slightly, surprised by the unexpected answer, her

curiosity growing.

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Sun Yan

“Mm,” Nichapat nodded, her expression hinting at something unspoken.

Thanatcha stole a glance at that expression. She wanted to ask directly, but
if Nichapat didn’t want to share.

“I’ve had a little problem with her,”

Nichapat finally admitted. She had been uncomfortable about this for
several days and wanted to share it with someone.

“She knows about… us…”

She paused, not wanting to directly mention that night, so she chose her
words carefully.

“About that night.”

“That night…” Thanatcha repeated, “The night you and I…”

“Mm,”

Nichapat quickly interjected before she could finish.

“Someone told her they saw us go up to the room together. When she found
out, she called me to talk. She seemed a bit displeased, but she wasn’t really
angry—she just told me to stop doing that with anyone else.”

“Well… you’re not doing it anymore,”

Thanatcha said, her voice tense. She knew that Nichapat was immediately
putting up boundaries. Letting it happen again was simply out of the
question.

“Mm,” Nichapat nodded. “But it bothers me that she comes and tells me
what to do, when she herself has the right to choose.”

“How do you mean?”

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“Because she and I aren’t officially together yet, right? Honestly, we’re both
still single. We each have someone special we’re talking to, but there’s no
clear relationship status. That’s why I felt bold enough to approach you like
that. What I did that night was to unlock my family’s acceptance—so they
would understand that I really want to be with a woman. If I could open up
to them successfully, then things between her and me would become
easier.”

Nichapat explained the reason behind her actions that night—the night
when Thanatcha hadn’t said much and had told her not to ask too many
questions, just to accept the conditions and leave it at that. This was the first
time Thanatcha had heard more of Nichapat’s thoughts.

“At the same time, I understand that she can do that because she’s single.
When she goes out, travels far, she has other women to sleep with. Her
reason is just to relax. The reason she doesn’t do that with me is because
she wants to treat me differently from others. She doesn’t want to skip
steps; she wants it to happen only after we’re officially together.”

“But she chooses to sleep with others…”

Thanatcha blurted out, feeling a bit annoyed on Nichapat’s behalf.

“Mm,” Nichapat looked at Thanatcha. “What do you think? Do you think

what she did was okay?”

“That…,” Thanatcha paused to think for a moment, “it’s hard to answer.

From the perspective of people getting to know each other, if you think
about the other person’s feelings even a little, it wouldn’t really be okay.”

“Exactly,”

Nichapat felt a little better, having someone who shared her viewpoint.

“But if you consider that neither of them is officially in a relationship yet,

and both are still single, maybe it’s something they can do. So, it’s a bit of a
tricky situation to talk about.”

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"Ugh,"

Nichapat let out a loud sigh as soon as she heard Thanatcha’s latest
comment.

“Because you’re single, right?”

Thanatcha’s expression showed a hint of irritation.

“Yeah, not wrong,” Nichapat replied. “I’ve done the same thing, just once.
But what made me angry was… why did she have to stop me? She could do
whatever she wanted freely, and I never dared to tell her not to, not even
once.”

“Then you don’t have to just do it once,” Thanatcha said with a smirk. “She
can do it because she’s single. If you’re still single, you can do it too.”

“Are you crazy?”

Nichapat bumped the shoulder of the person sitting next to her.

“What are you even saying?”

She looked away, not wanting to talk about that night. Even though she had
to admit she had felt impressed back then, she tried not to think about it
while still facing her. She had planned that after that night, they wouldn’t
see each other or talk about it again.

“I’m just joking,”

Thanatcha quickly added in a calm, modest tone, worried Nichapat might

push her away.

“Hmm,”

Nichapat glanced at her briefly, then looked away, lost in thought. She
lowered her head and said quietly,

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“Now that I think about it, maybe the reason I did what I did that night…
deep down, I also wanted to make her jealous. Maybe that’s true.”

That sentence made Thanatcha pause and glance at the girl who had her
head down for a moment, before slowly turning her face away.

What she had just heard made her feel a mix of relief and unease.

For now, both of them fell silent. No one spoke until Thanatcha noticed the
person next to her had dozed off. Her head was leaning toward Thanatcha,
almost falling onto her shoulder. She glanced at the bus stop sign as the bus
had just passed by.

The bus had just passed the stop where she needed to get off, and in a few
more stops, they would reach Nichapat’s home. Seeing the other person
asleep, Thanatcha didn’t want to wake her up and preferred to sit quietly
beside her until the end of the ride.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed some movement and looked again.
Seeing the head slowly leaning down, Thanatcha quickly moved her
shoulder to support it. The beautiful face rested perfectly on her shoulder.

Thanatcha stayed still, stiff, careful not to nudge and wake her. After a
while, she relaxed slightly and allowed a faint smile to appear.

Her gaze lingered on the face, hazy in the dim light, but just knowing that
someone was leaning on her brought a warm feeling to her heart. Even
though they had been physically closer before, the feeling was different this
time.

The closeness of that fleeting night was nothing like the intimacy born from
spending time together with shared emotions.

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Sun Yan

There wasn’t much time to fully savor the moment. In a few minutes, the
bus would reach the stop before the one where they needed to get off. She
would have to gently wake the sleeping person.

“June,”

Thanatcha whispered, gently nudging her shoulder. She reached out and
touched the tip of Nichapat’s chin, lifting her face up.

Nichapat woke up, squinting her eyes, then slowly looked up, her chin held
by Thanatcha’s hand. She stared at the person in front of her, confused,
before turning forward and realizing she was still on the bus and had dozed
off.

She quickly straightened up and fixed her hair. Once fully alert, she
remembered how she had been sleeping just moments ago and hurriedly
glanced at Thanatcha, who looked at her with a puzzled expression.

Realizing that she had probably leaned on her shoulder while asleep, she
felt a bit embarrassed, so she stayed quiet and changed the subject.

“Are we there already? Oh… why aren’t you getting off?”

Nichapat asked, remembering suddenly.

“It’s okay. I wanted to see you off first.”

“But then you’ll have to ride back the other way,” Nichapat frowned.

“Your house is across the street anyway. I’ll see you safely there, then catch
the bus on that side. It’s just a short ride back, not a problem,” Thanatcha
said. “Let’s get ready to get off.”

She quickly stood up, and Nichapat followed, holding onto the seat in front
to steady herself after just waking up. They walked together to the door and
waited until the bus stopped completely before stepping off.

The two of them crossed the street together. When they reached the
entrance to Nichapat’s alley, she quickly spoke up.

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Sun Yan

“You can go back. No need to walk me all the way home.”

“If you hadn’t stopped me, that’s what I was going to do,” Thanatcha
smiled. “But it’s fine. I’ll just part ways with you here. Take care on your
way home.”

Nichapat smiled. “Mm.” She nodded. “Thanks for riding with me all the
way.”

“Mm,” Thanatcha replied, standing there and looking at her for a moment.

“Go ahead. I’ll let you walk first, otherwise I’ll end up walking you all the
way to the bus stop,” Nichapat said.

“No need,”

Thanatcha quickly interrupted. Even though she wanted to spend a little

more time together, she didn’t want Nichapat to walk farther than necessary.

“I’ll go now.”

“Mm-hm.”

Thanatcha looked at her beautiful face for a moment, then slowly turned
and walked away. She wanted to glance back, but didn’t want to show too
much attachment or make Nichapat feel awkward. She held herself back,
keeping her feelings restrained.

It was Nichapat who watched Thanatcha walk out of sight before finally
turning and heading back to her own home. Along the way, she recalled the
moment she had dozed off and leaned on Thanatcha. Even though she
hadn’t realized it at the time, the memory of that closeness lingered as she
woke up.

She wondered if it was because she had been asleep that Thanatcha had
agreed to ride with her all the way, or if she had genuinely wanted to see her
home safely.

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Sun Yan

Seeing that kind intention brought a quiet warmth to her heart, yet for some
reason, she found it difficult to fully accept.

She could only think that if she ever received such a feeling from someone,
it would be truly wonderful…

💚💚💚
sunyan

mengabaikan orang yang menginginkanmu... dan menginginkan orang

yang mengabaikanmu... ribet amat 😅

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Sun Yan

🎀 15. The Person in Her Heart 🎀

It was a beautiful day, with a gentle breeze and sunlight that wasn’t too
harsh, perfect for sitting outside at the small table and chairs in the front
garden. For someone like Nichapat, who was currently unemployed, she
had to keep herself occupied with little activities while spending most of
her time at home, almost every day.

In the morning, she had spent her time watching movies, broken up by a
lunch break. By the late afternoon, when the sun had softened, she brought
out her English textbook to prepare for graduate school and sat in the
garden to study.

At least this way, she would be ready when the time came to actually apply.
As she studied, she considered what field and which school would suit her
best.

It could get boring, staying at home day after day like this. After graduation,
her friends gradually found jobs, while some close friends were busy
managing their family businesses. As for her… well, life wasn’t exactly
hard, but her family wasn’t as wealthy as her friends’ families.

Her parents had both worked very hard in the past. But after reaching a
certain point in their married life, they had enough money to invest in small
real estate projects.

Once they had savings and were confident they had no major financial
burdens, they left their jobs and stayed at home after Nichapat finished
middle school. Their income came from renting out three properties, as well
as from mutual funds and stocks they had invested in using their personal
savings.

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Sun Yan

Her parents tried to make her life as comfortable as possible. They had
enough money to support her graduate studies immediately if she wasn’t
ready to start a full-time job. At the same time, they didn’t really want her
to go too far from home.

They wanted to do the best they could for her, which also extended to her
future personal life and the concern of trusting someone to look after her. At
first, it was just ordinary, simple expectations.

By the time she was close to graduating, her parents were already in their
early fifties. Her mother had been 34 when she was born, and in a few
years, both her parents would reach sixty and slowly enter old age.
Naturally, her future was a source of concern for them.

At least, meeting Thanatcha had eased their worries somewhat. Even

though they weren’t certain about many things, they seemed willing to take
some time to see how it all would unfold.

Lately, Nichapat had been feeling a bit restless and bored. Staying at home
so much was tiresome enough, but being in a tense mood around someone
made her feel even more uneasy—though she couldn’t show it to anyone.

Ever since the argument with Wiphawa, she hadn’t been in contact with her.
Normally, she would send a message and wait for her reply during her free
time, but now she simply picked up her phone, read their last conversation,
and set it down again.

After spending about an hour reading, she stretched her arms and legs to
relax a little before picking up her book again. But after reading only a few
lines, the sound of the doorbell from the front of the house made her
quickly look up from her book.

She got up, peered outside, and hurried to the door, where she saw her
mother standing just inside.

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“Who’s there, June?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll go check,”

Nichapat said, walking out to the gate. She furrowed her brows when she
saw a stranger standing there, holding something in his hands. Looking
more closely through the fence, she realized it was a large bouquet of
flowers.

“Hello, is this June’s house?” the man at the gate called out.

“Yes, it’s me,” Nichapat replied, quickly opening the gate. “May I ask what
this is for?”

“I’m here to deliver these flowers,”

Said the young man, probably around thirty, holding the bouquet carefully
with both hands.

“Flowers?” Nichapat looked at him, confused.

"Yes, this bouquet is for you, Khun June. And this is the card that came with
it,"

He said, handing her the envelope addressed to her, following the

instructions to deliver it directly.

"Hm," Nichapat awkwardly accepted the flowers. "Do you know who sent
them?"

"That person said you should read the card yourself. Then you’ll know."

"Oh, okay. Thank you for delivering them,"

She said, smiling politely at the delivery person before walking into the
house, closing the gate behind her while still looking at the bouquet in her
hands. As soon as she turned around, she hurried inside to find a private
spot to read the card—but her mother appeared and blocked her way.

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Sun Yan

"Who sent you flowers, June?"

Napittha asked, peering at the bouquet wrapped in silver paper with white
and purple flowers. June couldn’t help but smile.

"Was it from my girlfriend?"

"Oh…"

Nichapat didn’t have time to think of an answer, and she still didn’t know
who had sent the flowers. But she knew the answer she should give her
mother couldn’t be anyone else, so she hummed in agreement.

"Who else could it be, Mom?" she said with a smile.

"For what occasion, I wonder? Looks pretty romantic. Instead of meeting in

person, someone sent you flowers," her mother said.

"Maybe she wanted to surprise me, Mom," Nichapat went along with it.
"I’ll take it up to my room for now,"

She quickly excused herself, eager to read the card.

"Mm, go ahead,"

Napittha smiled, stepping aside for her daughter. She watched Nichapat
walk into the house with the bouquet. She couldn’t exactly say she fully
approved of her daughter’s girlfriend, but seeing her daughter happy made
her feel that it was something to be glad about.

She carefully placed the bouquet on her bed, glanced at it briefly, and then
eagerly opened the pink envelope to read the card. Seeing the piano design
on the card made her smile even more, her excitement growing as she
unfolded it.

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Sun Yan

"A bouquet for someone far away.

You might be surprised to suddenly receive flowers.

Whenever I think of you, I want to send something as an apology. I know

what happened the other day may have upset you, and I felt I had to do
something. So, I’m sorry for making you feel irritated.

I want to make things better. From now on, I’ll try again—even if it doesn’t
mean much more than what I’ve already told you. I’ll pay less attention to
others and care more about you.

I hope you’ll give me a chance.

Finally… until we meet again, I’ll send you a clip of me playing a song
once you message me back.

When you get this message, don’t forget to reply. I’ll set a day for us to meet
the next time I return.

.
.

The message ended with initials that clearly hinted at who it was from. It
was the first time Nichapat had received flowers from Wiphawa, and the
card was more considerate of her feelings than anything she had ever
received before.

It wasn’t overly sentimental or flowery, and the words were simple, but the
message was enough to bring a smile to her face.

The gloom that had weighed on her over the past few days lifted
immediately. She felt happy that Wiphawa was starting to understand her
feelings.

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Sun Yan

After all the overthinking—wondering if she had been right or wrong to

vent her frustration at her—today she felt at ease. This was what she had
received: proof that Wiphawa was making an effort to understand her
emotions better.

Though she didn’t dare hope she would become more attentive than this,
she still wanted to watch her efforts unfold.

Sitting with a contented smile, she picked up her phone and found the piece
Wiphawa had once played for her on the piano, then set the phone on her
bed. She let the soothing music fill her heart, making her feel even lighter
and happier.

She looked at the bouquet and smiled in delight before stepping out onto the
balcony, letting the breeze wash over her as the music quietly completed the
atmosphere.

Her eyes wandered over the watermelon pepper plant she had placed on her
balcony about a week ago. For a brief moment, a thought about someone
else who might have bought it for her flickered through her mind, but she
didn’t dwell on it.

Just looking at the green plant lifted her spirits, making her want to pay
attention to the little things around her. In a cheerful mood, she picked up a
spray bottle and misted the plant she had nurtured herself for the first time.

“How many colors does this come in?”

Thanatcha asked a staff member at a large furniture store. She had come to
browse for furniture ideas for decorating Ansaya’s home, trying to imagine
which pieces and colors would match each part of the room.

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Sun Yan

Later, she might invite Ansaya to come and choose together, since Ansaya
had mentioned wanting to do that.

“There are two colors: white and beige. The white ones are over here.
Please take a look,”

The staff member said to Thanatcha with a smile.

“Thank you very much,”

Thanatcha said with a smile to the staff member before walking over to
look at the small white cabinet the staff had pointed out. She spent a few
moments imagining it in her mind, then took out her phone to photograph it
and jot down the measurements and price in her personal notebook.

After browsing the furniture area for a while, she arrived at the musical
instruments section, enclosed behind glass. She paused to look at the
instruments displayed inside.

A thought that had come to her mind made her decide to step in and take a
closer look. Inside were both Western and classical instruments, each
differing slightly in color and design.

Her eyes wandered over the smaller instruments until they landed on a
large, dark brown grand piano. Admiring its elegance, she hesitated to touch
it, not wanting to leave a mark. But the staff member approached and
encouraged her to try it.

“Are you interested in this piano? You can try playing it,” the staff said.

“Hm..,” Thanatcha looked at the staff. “Can I play it?”

“Yes, please, have a seat,” the staff said warmly with a smile.

“Thank you,”

Thanatcha replied, stepping up to the piano to try it out. She pressed a key
with the tip of her finger and heard a single note. She pressed another, and
then another.

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Sun Yan

The more she touched the keys, the more she wanted to play seriously, as if
it were a real performance. She decided to sit down, placing all ten fingers
on the keys, and ran through the eight-note scale.

Satisfied that she could play the notes correctly, she smiled and began
recalling a few melodies she was familiar with. Slowly, she pressed the
keys according to the notes, producing a recognizable tune.

She smiled again, glad that at least it sounded somewhat correct. But
thinking about the difficulty of playing a smooth, flowing melody made her
realize how challenging it would be.

The memory of someone she had once watched playing the piano on stage,
without really intending to, made her feel that she could never compare.

She thought about Nichapat’s meeting with that person, which Nichapat had
recounted to her, and how she had fallen in love at first sight. Thanatcha
sighed, realizing she would probably never dare to get involved seriously.

Being close to Nichapat—something that felt almost like a dream—was

already a great stroke of luck for her.

There were many ways she could win Nichapat’s heart, and it certainly
didn’t have to be by forcing herself like this.

But what method could truly let her into Nichapat’s heart?

Her eyes paused on the piano keys. She knew well enough that she couldn’t
really play. She only had a basic understanding of music and a little
knowledge of notes from what she had studied here and there.

Since this skill felt far beyond her reach, she stood up, turned to the staff
member who had been watching from a distance, and said thanks.

“Thank you.”

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Sun Yan

She picked up the ridged snack from the bag and ate one piece after another
until the bag was almost empty, her eyes on the TV showing a variety show
that she and her mother were enjoying together.

When the program cut to a commercial, her mother noticed that her
daughter had been staying at home for the past few days and asked,

“Not going out at all? I’ve been seeing you at home a lot lately.”

“I’d like to go out, but my friends are all busy. No one has free time,”
Nichapat replied.

“Oh, what about your girlfriend?” Napittha frowned. “Is she busy again?
Nowadays, young people like to go out whenever they have free time, don’t
they?”

“Oh…”

Nichapat realized she’d forgotten again. She had neglected to show that she
had a girlfriend. It probably seemed strange, because normally, if she were
dating someone, they would make time to see each other often.

Especially now, when she had free time and nothing pressing to do, she
should be able to see her regularly—or maybe she should come by her
house now that they had met her parents.

“She’s a little busy, just helping Ans decorate her house recently,” she
answered.

“Decorating your friend Ans’s house?”

“Yes, Ans is my friend. She had to take out all the old furniture and
redecorate the whole house. She likes the style Tense is good at, so she
hired her to help design some ideas.”

“I see… hmm, that’s good. Hiring someone you know personally makes it
easier to communicate.”

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Sun Yan

“Yes, Mom,”

Nichapat said with a smile, feeling relieved that she had a reasonable
answer for her mother. In situations like this, she thought maybe she should
find an excuse to go out and see Thanatcha, or take a walk alone, pretending
it was a date with her girlfriend.

With that question settled, the mother and daughter returned their attention
to the TV, which was still showing commercials.

It would be a while before the variety show they had been watching
returned, since it was popular and had many sponsors. Ads kept cycling,
seemingly uninteresting to someone lost in thought.

Finally, when one commercial came on, Nichapat quickly straightened her
posture. It was promoting a musical performance from the UK, in which
Wiphawa would be performing on stage.

It was the same commercial she had seen on the Skytrain.

“Mom, do you like listening to classical music like this?”

Nichapat asked casually, her eyes still on the TV.

“This kind of music? I can listen to it, but I wouldn’t go as far as buying
tickets to hear it live. I just listen to Suntharaporn at home,” her mother
replied.

“I like going to performances. If I get the chance, I’d love for you and Dad
to go listen too,” Nichapat said eagerly.

“If you want, we can go. Let you get a job first, then you can buy tickets to
take us,” her mother replied indulgently.

“All right, that works. I’ll take you then,”

Nichapat said, smiling joyfully. At least her mother hadn’t refused her
invitation.

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Sun Yan

“Mm, I’d like to watch live too, see how they play together to make it
sound so beautiful. Those musicians are talented, each instrument coming
together to enchant us. I’ve always wanted to play something too, but it
never worked out,” Napittha laughed at herself.

“I guess I’d be about the same, Mom,” Nichapat laughed. “Do you think
these musicians are cool?” she asked, smiling.

“Oh, of course it looks impressive. And that commercial just now—it’s an

international-level performance, right?”

Napittha said, referring to the ad that had just played.

“Yes,” Nichapat nodded. “If you say it looks good… Mom, would you like
it if I had a girlfriend who was a nationally recognized pianist?”

“What?” Her mother frowned at the question. “What are you asking? Are
you dreaming about having a pianist girlfriend?”

“Well, I like it,” Nichapat answered honestly. “When I’m worried about
something, it would be so nice to have a girlfriend playing the piano next to
me.”

“Daydreaming, huh? You already have a girlfriend, so why dream about

this?” Napittha teased. “And if you meet a pianist you like, are you going to
leave your current girlfriend?”

“N-no, Mom, it’s not like that at all. I’m just imagining, that’s all,”
Nichapat quickly explained.

“Oh, you…”

Her mother clicked her tongue and shook her head, giving Nichapat a
playful look.

“You don’t need to daydream so much. I just want you to have a good
girlfriend, and that’s enough for me. When I helped that guy come to court
you, it wasn’t because he’s rich and I wanted you to latch onto him. I just
thought I could trust him with your future. Most importantly, I wanted

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Sun Yan

someone who could take care of you, and someone you could rely on
together.”

Hearing this, Nichapat, who had been about to blurt out something
unrelated, fell silent. She pressed her lips together and listened to her
mother with a downcast expression.

“As for Tense, it’s hard to say I fully approve of her yet. But from what I’ve
seen talking with her, your father and I think she seems okay. In the end, if
she treats you well and can take care of you, meeting someone like her
would probably be very good for you.”

What her mother said just now gradually changed Nichapat's dejected
expression into a thoughtful one. She was thinking about what she had said.

It seemed that the connection between her and Thanatcha in her mother's
eyes was already a binding one that was difficult to break away from.

However, she knew it was all just hypothetical.

Reflecting on her mother’s words made her think of Thanatcha and the
qualities her mother had mentioned. In truth, she herself had also noticed
good things in Thanatcha.

It was just that… Thanatcha wasn’t the person she had been hoping for.

💚💚💚
sunyan

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Sun Yan

🎀 16. The Farther Apart, the

Closer We Feel 🎀

“What are you doing?”

As soon as the call was picked up, Nichaphat quickly asked her question.

“Nothing much. I’m at home watching a movie. This afternoon I’m going to
repot the plants I bought the other day,”

Thanatcha replied. She smiled, happy that the person she hadn’t spoken to
for days was the one calling her first. She’d been dying to call but was
afraid doing so would push the other person further away.

“Repotting your plants? Let me come and watch. If your watermelon

pepper plants grows well, I can do the same,” Nichaphat said.

“What? Are you coming… here?” Thanatcha sounded surprised.

“Yeah. I’m coming over. Send me your address.”

“My address…?”

Thanatcha repeated uncertainly. Deep down she was thrilled that the woman
she liked wanted to visit, but she was too shy to easily let someone into her
private space.

“I already told you…”

“Nope. I remember what you said. Don’t play hard to get. Send me your
address now. I’m on my way,” Nichaphat insisted.

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Sun Yan

“What’s with you today?” Thanatcha laughed.

“I’m your girlfriend,” Nichaphat blurted out. Thanatcha froze.

“Huh?”

“Your fake girlfriend,”

Nichaphat sighed softly after saying it. She didn’t mind calling herself that,
but it still felt a bit awkward. Since Thanatcha had once used that phrase
with her, she just decided to use it back.

“You said only friends and girlfriends are allowed to visit. Well, since I’m
your fake girlfriend, that still puts me in the same category. I’m your
girlfriend.”

“Wait…”

“Don’t play hard to get. I was the one who told you not to come see me
before, but now I’m coming to see you. Do you mind?”

“N…no, it’s not like that,”

Thanatcha quickly replied. She paused for a moment, thinking. The truth
was, she really wanted to see Nichaphat’s face and was happy that
Nichaphat was the one coming to her.

But having the woman she liked—and had been intimate with—alone in her
private space made her uneasy. She worried she might accidentally show
her feelings and lose control of herself.

She tried to set boundaries to protect herself, preparing for the

disappointment she could handle. She didn’t want the pain that might come
to dig deeper into her heart.

But since Nichaphat insisted, it seemed she couldn’t stop it.

“I’ll add your number and message you. And make sure to send me your
address, too,”

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Sun Yan

Nichaphat said firmly, ending the call.

And just like that, the call was over.

The sound of cars on the street outside her house made Thanatcha suddenly
spring up from the sofa—where she had been lounging, waiting for her
special guest to arrive.

She quickly opened the door, slipped on her sandals, and walked through
the white wooden gate to stand by the roadside. Just as a taxi was reversing
to turn around, she saw Nichapat standing on the opposite side of the street.

She waited for the taxi to move, and when Nichapat saw her standing there,
she smiled before quickly stepping across the road to her.

“You said your address is hard to find, but it's not hard to find at all,”

The visitor said as her first greeting.

“You just got lucky with a taxi that knows the way,”

Thanatcha replied with a playful smile, then turned and led the way into the
house.

“So, is this your house?”

Nichaphat followed quickly behind her. She looked at the wooden gate
made of slats, with small gaps through which she could see the little white
house inside.

On either side of the narrow yard, there was just enough space to sit and
plant some greenery. A few long steps—just three—led to the wooden door,
with three small steps taking you up to the slightly elevated main house.

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Sun Yan

“Come in.”

“Wow, your house is so cute,”

Nichapat said, looking around. She noticed nearly ten small plants along the
fence, with plenty of space left for even more. It seemed the owner loved
gardening and had planted until she was satisfied with her little personal
oasis.

Thanatcha held the door open, watching Nichapat explore her home. Just
seeing this woman admire the house she had decorated herself made her
feel proud.

Having a guest in her home was already exciting, but seeing Nichapat smile
as she looked around made it even more special.

“I want to see the inside,”

Nichapat said. She turned to the homeowner, who was watching her, and
smiled before quickly stepping inside.

“Ah… such a cozy home,”

Nichapat remarked, looking at the small living room. A white sofa and a
monstera plant sat against the wall, with a medium-sized bookshelf nearby
and a beige wooden drawer cabinet next to the bedroom door.

The room was small but uncluttered, with just a few pieces of furniture.
There was still some space beside the sofa for more decorations, but
Thanatcha decided it wasn’t necessary.

She left it open, hanging one picture on the empty wall and placing a small
potted plant on a wall-mounted shelf to add a touch of greenery and
freshness to the room.

On the right side was a small kitchen separated by a partition, with a tiny
dining table in front. On the left was Thanatcha’s bedroom, the door left
open.

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Sun Yan

Most of the time, she kept her doors open so the rooms were connected, and
living alone had made her used to moving freely without the hassle of
opening and closing doors. This meant Nichapat could explore the house
without waiting for her to open anything.

“Is this your bedroom?”

Nichapat asked, stopping at the open doorway. She looked inside from the
outside, still hesitant to step in.

“Mm.”

“Can I see it?”

“Mm, go ahead,”

Thanatcha replied casually. She watched Nichapat walk into the bedroom,
then followed her inside.

“Ah… I want a bed like this,”

Nichapat said, looking at the large mattress laid on slatted wood, covered
neatly with a white comforter.

“I’ve only seen them in reviews, but seeing it in real life… it looks so
comfortable.”

She seemed tempted to just jump onto it and lie down.

“Then lie down if you want,” Thanatcha said.

“Hm?” Nichaphat looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

“We’ve shared the same bed before; I don’t mind,”

Thanatcha said without thinking too much. Perhaps it was the images in her
mind that made her speak aloud, a quiet reminder of the times they had
shared.

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Sun Yan

Even though Nichapat seemed eager to make her forget, coming over like
this made it impossible for Thanatcha to completely erase those memories.

“Oh?”

Hearing her speak so directly didn’t embarrass her at all. If she dared to say
it, she could say it plainly—after all, she had started it.

“I don’t mind either,”

Nichapat said, stepping closer and placing both hands on Thanatcha’s

shoulders. Her eyes traced the firm shoulders she had once touched beneath
the fabric. What harm was there in touching them through the cloth again?

Nichapat slid her hands up to the back of Thanatcha’s neck, paused, then
slowly pulled her in, pressing forcefully until their faces were almost
touching.

She met Thanatcha’s eyes, which held a barely concealed excitement. Then
she spoke a sentence to restrain her own overstepping thoughts:

“But right now, I don’t want this.”

She gently pushed Thanatcha’s shoulders away and stepped back. But
before she could move away, she was pulled close again.

Thanatcha grabbed her slender arm and pulled her close, then wrapped her
arms around her waist. Thanatcha tightened her hold again, and her
beautiful body pressed almost completely against Nichapat, like an
embrace. Their eyes met as their faces came close in a perfectly timed
moment.

Just seeing the desire in the other’s eyes and the slight tilt of their face was
enough to make her feel lost in the moment.

Nichapat remembered the time she spent with Thanatcha that night—the
night she gave her gentle kisses mixed with passionate ones, along with
touches that drew her into a world of unstoppable desire.

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Sun Yan

That night, she felt so pleasureful that she accidentally confessed her
attraction before they parted. She thought she only wanted that fleeting
moment.

But now, after getting to know each other more deeply, a question arose:
was she truly captivated by the person in front of her only at that moment,
or was she deceiving herself…?

Nichapat's gazes drifted down to her lips as she drew closer. She stood still,
letting her approach little by little. When their lips finally touched for a
brief moment, Nichapat's slender hands pushed against her shoulders.

Then Nichapat lowered her heads. She stayed frozen like that for a moment,
realizing she were about to lose control, so she pulled herself and pushed
her away before stepping back, quickly changing the topic to steer all of
them away from their shared temptation.

“Let’s go plant some trees.”

“Where did you get these pots?”

Nichapat asked, sitting on a small bench across from Thanat, who was
scooping soil into a new plant pot.

“I ordered them on Instagram. There are a lot of cute shops.”

“Really? Then I’ll try ordering too. Send me the link.”

“You’re only ordering it for that one watermelon pepper plant, okay?”

“Yeah… why?”

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Sun Yan

“It’s a waste of shipping. If you want, I can order it for you, so it all comes
at once. Just tell me which one you want.”

“Then you choose for me.”

“Hmm, I’ll take a look.”

“Okay.”

Nichapat smiled. She turned to look at the cactus on the wooden shelf
against the wall. The owner had put it outside temporarily to get some
sunlight.

“I’ve heard people say cactus are hard to take care of. Is it really that
difficult?”

“Not really,”

Thanatcha said, watching Nichapat lift each cactus pot to look at them.

“As long as you know how to care for them and pay attention, they’re fine.”

“Really?” Nichapat put one cactus back and picked up another. “Ouch!”

“What’s wrong?” Thanatcha asked quickly, concerned.

“It pricked my hand… uh…”

Nichapat quickly set the cactus down. She had held it wrong, and its spines
had poked her.

“Is it serious? Let me see your hand.”

Thanatcha moved on the wooden bench and reached out to check

Nichapat’s wrist closely.

“It’s bleeding. How did you even hold it like that?”

“I… I don’t know,” Nichapat shook her head.

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“Come here. Go wash your hands right now.”

Thanatcha held Nichapat’s wrist firmly. She stood up and gently pulled
Nichapat along into the house, leading her to the bathroom in the bedroom.
She quickly turned on the faucet and held Nichapat’s hand under the
running water, gently rubbing over the prick mark as she helped rinse it.

Nichapat watched her hand being washed with such careful attention. Her
eyes followed Thanatcha’s face, brows furrowed as she focused on the
hand, even though it wasn’t that serious. Seeing her act as if Nichapat was
badly injured made her smile quietly.

“If this is a wound, mine would probably be completely ruined by now,”

she teased.

Nichapat’s words made Thanatcha look up and pause, her hand freezing.
When she realized how long she had been busy washing Nichapat’s hands,
she quickly stopped what she was doing and turned off the faucet.

“Does it hurt?”

She asked. She couldn’t tell exactly how bad the wound was, and after
washing away the blood, the small mark was barely visible.

“A little,”

Nichapat admitted honestly. Even though it was only a small prick, it did
hurt, so she answered truthfully.

“Then let’s put a bandage on it first.”

Thanatcha released her hand and led her back to the bedroom. She picked
up a small box from a wooden shelf, then sat down on the floor beside the
bed, lightly patting its edge.

“Sit here.”

“Okay.”

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Sun Yan

Nichapat looked at the bed in front of her. She hadn’t expected the owner to
actually invite her to sit there, but at that moment, she wasn’t thinking
anything weird and had no other thoughts in her head, so she went to sit
down without hesitation.

“Give me your hand,” Thanatcha said, holding out her palm.

Nichapat offered her hand. Thanatcha turned it over, carefully examining

the small streak of blood under the skin on her finger, and gently rubbed the
spot.

“Right here.”

“Mm.”

The nurse opened the first-aid kit and basic home medicine supplies. She
took a cotton swab from a clear packet, opened a small bottle of saline, and
dropped some onto the cotton before gently cleaning Nichapat’s small
wound.

Seeing her care and attention made Nichapat realize just how gentle
Thanatcha was. She couldn’t help but wonder—what would it be like if
Thanatcha had a girlfriend?

Thinking about the ex-girlfriends Thanatcha had casually mentioned—

apparently she had two—made her even more curious.

“Have you done this for your girlfriends before?”

The question made Thanatcha look up from Nichapat’s fingers, her brows
furrowed as she met Nichapat’s gaze.

“Of course I have.”

“You’d probably be a really sweet girlfriend,” Nichapat teased.

“I haven’t done this for anyone in a long time,” Thanatcha replied.

“Then why not find a new girlfriend?”

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Sun Yan

The question made her pause, causing her hands to hesitate over what she
was doing. Her gaze flicked up to Nichapat’s face, but finding no answer
that came to mind, she chose to stay silent and finished the task at hand.

“Ah…” Nichapat pursed her lips. “Sorry for asking something like that. I
shouldn’t have.”

“You probably forgot,” Thanatcha said, brushing it off.

“I just thought… maybe you’d stop holding onto someone you used to like
and start looking for someone who makes you happy. I…”

“I’m just pretending to be someone’s girlfriend. That’s why I can’t be with

anyone else,” Thanatcha quickly interrupted.

“But actually…” She paused for a moment, reaching for a bandage and
peeling it from its wrapper. “Right now, I’m talking to someone.”

“Talking to someone?” Nichapat frowned.

“Mm,”

Thanatcha nodded with a small smile, gently putting the bandage on

Nichapat’s finger.

“It’s nothing serious yet, but if I find someone I really open my heart to,
you won’t be able to come to me like this anymore.”

Nichapat met her gaze, noticing the soft smile on her face as Thanatcha
confessed something new to her.

She didn’t know when Thanatcha had started letting go of her and opened
herself to someone else.

It was a strange feeling, but she told herself she didn’t feel regret or
sadness.

In front of her, she reminded herself that this was something she should
genuinely be happy for.

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💚💚💚
sunyan

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🎀 17.Unsteady and Distracted 🎀

Book : Toss - Up (Take A Chance To Win Her Love)
Writer : Serenista
Released : 13 September 2020
Translator : Sun Yan (daphne.shn@gmail.com)

“If I really had someone who accepted my feelings… then by that time, you
wouldn’t be able to come to me like this.”

Nichapat thought about Thanatcha’s words while riding a taxi to a

restaurant where she had arranged to meet someone. After receiving the
sudden message upon waking up, she quickly got up, prepared her clothes,
and got ready to go out for today’s lunch date.

She had just met Thanatcha yesterday. When she returned home in the
evening, her mother asked if she had seen her girlfriend. She replied
honestly because her mother often asked about her girlfriend, even though
Nichapat rarely went out to see her.

So, she had made an excuse to go to Thanatcha’s house. She didn’t expect
that another person would arrive in Thailand late last night and immediately
message her to meet today. That’s why she had to leave home, again telling
her mother the same excuse—that she had a date.

But she wasn’t her girlfriend. None of them were—neither the person she
met yesterday nor the one she was meeting today.

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Sun Yan

It was slightly different, though, because the person she truly hoped could
become her long-term girlfriend was the one she was about to meet today.

She had just parted ways with Thanatcha the night before. This morning,
she didn’t have time to properly wake up and reflect on things as she
usually liked to do.

So, she only now had a chance, while sitting in the taxi, to think about
meeting Thanatcha yesterday. The first thing that came to her mind was
what Thanatcha had told her—that she was seeing someone, and if she and
that person became serious, she wouldn’t be able to see her anymore.

Thinking about it, it wasn’t really something she should worry about—
Thanatcha should have the freedom to see other people. Yet, for some
reason, it still made her feel unsettled and distracted.

Or maybe it was because she was worried that her greatest support might
slip away.

“How could she have time to meet or talk to someone else?”

She murmured to herself, feeling uneasy. She knew Thanatcha was busy
with her hobbies—decorating her house, planting trees, and even helping
her close friend with her home. Yet somehow she still found time to meet
her occasionally.

“It must be during the moments I’m not around,” she said.

“What did you say, ma’am?”

The taxi driver asked, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.

“Oh,”

Nichapat realized she had spoken aloud without noticing, as she often did
when her mind was restless.

“Nothing. I was just chatting with a friend on my phone—got a little

distracted,” she said with a dry laugh.

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Sun Yan

“Ah, I see. Shall I take you to the location you mentioned as before? This
way should be faster.”

“Yes, thank you. Please take me there,” Nichapat replied with a smile.

Her slender legs, clad in a simple white dress, stepped into the restaurant—
slightly tense. After the emotional confrontation with Wiphawa that day,
this was the first time the two of them were meeting again.

Since it wasn’t a fancy hotel like last time, she had chosen a simple, elegant
outfit and avoided bringing any expectations with her, so she wouldn’t
leave with a heavy heart again.

Yet, she couldn’t help a small hope that today’s meeting might go better.
Wiphawa had told her she wanted to pay more attention to her feelings—
and she had already shown it. As soon as Wiphawa returned to Thailand, the
first thing she did was schedule a meeting with her.

“June,”

A voice called from the table in the far right corner, catching her attention.

Nichapat turned to look at Wiphawa, who was sitting on the middle bench
of a four-person table, with four or five dishes already ordered and waiting.
She walked straight to her, stopped in front of the table, and gave a simple
smile.

“Have a seat,” Wiphawa invited, smiling at her special guest.

“Thank you,” Nichapat replied, sitting across from her. “You got here
before me again. Did you wait long?”

“Well, you were the one who arranged this meeting,”

Wiphawa said with a smile, checking her wristwatch. “Not long—about

fifteen minutes. You didn’t come late either. We still have ten minutes until
the scheduled time. I ordered the food early in case you got hungry. It’s
almost noon anyway.”

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Sun Yan

“Yes, I’m a little hungry,”

Nichapat smiled. She looked at the dishes already served on the table. Some
were her favorites, others she didn’t particularly like—but they were all
edible.

“Shall we start eating? These are some of your favorite dishes. You should
be able to eat them, right?”

“They’re fine. There are plenty, so I can eat,”

Nichapat replied, picking up the fork beside her plate, preparing to serve
herself. Her eyes scanned for the empty rice bowl near Wiphawa.

“Wait a moment,”

Wiphawa said, looking for a staff member. She raised her hand to signal,
and a waiter came over.

“Could you serve some rice, please? And also bring another drink—June,
what would you like?” She handed her the drink menu.

“Just a moment,” Nichapat said, opening the menu. She took a short time to
decide and then ordered, “I’ll have a fruit punch, please.”

“Sure,”

The staff replied, carefully serving rice onto both their plates and setting the
bowl on the table before taking the drink order to the kitchen.

“Go ahead and eat. Make yourself comfortable. I’m treating, as usual,”
Wiphawa said.

“Treating again?” Nichapat laughed.

“Yeah, I told you it’s something I can do,” Wiphawa smiled. “But more than
that… I’ll try to find more time to see you from now on.”

“You… will have time, right?”

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Sun Yan

Nichapat asked hesitantly.

Seeing her make the effort reminded Nichapat of the day she had
complained emotionally—it made her feel that Wiphawa truly cared.

Wiphawa seemed uncomfortable, but if she didn’t act this way, Nichapat
wouldn’t be able to see her effort to change today.

In truth… Nichapat didn’t have the right to push her, not if Wiphawa’s
feelings weren’t clear enough yet.

Still, at this moment, she couldn’t help but hope just a little more that
Wiphawa would feel positively toward her.

“I’m still busy, as usual,” Wiphawa said, “but I just want to make more time
for you, June. Thinking about it, my time is limited, and I’ve set restrictions
on when we can meet. Everything becomes harder that way. Nothing will
change unless I try to change first.”

Her words warmed Nichapat’s heart. She had been waiting for their
relationship to move forward, and so far, it had only been about maintaining
what they had while waiting for it to grow.

What kept her patient was the feeling she had for Wiphawa from the very
beginning, and the way she had expressed it—showing how she felt.
Wiphawa seemed to appreciate that, and that mutual care made their bond
special.

Sure, there were obstacles—time, distance—but Nichapat often thought that

if Wiphawa’s life weren’t so busy and if distance wasn’t a problem, meeting
would be easy. They might not have had to endure such a long, patient wait
to be together.

She had to wait, and she reminded herself that there was a reason for it.
Even though Wiphawa’s life as a world-class pianist seemed hectic, that
was part of why she liked her—she had fallen for her the first time
Wiphawa played the piano just for her, amid all her own restless worries.

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Sun Yan

“So, when will you have to travel next?”

Nichapat asked, curious as Wiphawa mentioned trying to adjust her

schedule.

“I’ll be in Thailand for at least another two weeks,” Wiphawa replied, “but
during that time, I’ll have to travel to other provinces for a few days at a
time, and I’ll have flights too. When I return to Bangkok and have free
time, I’ll contact you.”

“Okay,”

Nichapat said with a smile. She felt there was more to hope for in their
relationship. Wiphawa was polite and considerate toward her.

She might not be very expressive in certain ways—or maybe Nichapat

simply hadn’t had the chance to see those moments in their limited
encounters—but Wiphawa had a warm side, and her words carried care and
gentleness.

Her words were soft, like the moments when Wiphawa played the piano just
for her. Even when Wiphawa performed for large audiences, Nichapat felt a
special sense that the music was being played only for her.

“Eat more,”

Wiphawa said, noticing that Nichapat barely touched her food.

“Yes,”

Nichapat replied, quickly reaching for the dishes in the center of the table.

“Did you hurt your hand or something?”

Wiphawa asked, noticing the plaster on Nichapat’s slender finger.

“Oh,”

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Sun Yan

Nichapat quickly shook her hand and set her fork down. She held the
fingertip with the plaster and gave a sheepish laugh.

“I got pricked by a thorn,” she said simply, keeping it easy to understand.

“A thorn?” Wipawa frowned. “How did that happen? Is it bad?”

“Not really, just a little bleeding,” Nichapat reassured her.

“Mm,” Wiphawa smiled. “Just be careful, okay? Don’t ruin those beautiful
hands of yours.”

It might have sounded like a casual remark, almost like teasing, but
Nichapat still smiled. At least she could see a hint of concern in Wiphawa’s
words.

“I like this one,”

Ansaya said, placing her hand on the edge of the glass table, feeling the
material and admiring the furniture’s design.

“Then let’s go with this. I’ll reserve it along with the other pieces for your
bedroom,” Thanatcha said.

“Mm, okay,”

Ansaya nodded. Just then, her phone vibrated in her bag, and she quickly
pulled it out.

“June, why are you calling?”

“June?” Thanatcha frowned.

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Sun Yan

“Mm,” Ansaya replied, answering the call from her close friend. “Hey,
what? Are you serious?" she exclaimed. "I'm still here. I haven't gone back
yet. I'm at the furniture section of the bedroom. Um, I'll wait around here."

After the other side hung up, she tucked her phone back into her bag.

“June called?”

“Yeah. Why, didn’t you hear my friend’s name?” Ansaya grinned. “She
came here because I sent her a picture when I walked in, saying I was
checking out the furniture today. She wanted to see if she’d be interested
too.”

“She came here?”

“Yes, she’s already here. Seems like she finished her errands elsewhere and
followed me.”

“Oh,”

Thanatcha said, caught off guard. She hadn’t expected this, especially since
she and Nichapat had just met yesterday.

It seemed lately that circumstances were bringing the two of them together
more often. When she didn’t expect anything, something just came along on
its own.

“Not sure what mood she was in,” Ansaya said with a giggle. “As soon as I
said I was looking at furniture with you, she rushed over, like she was afraid
I’d steal you away.”

“I don't think so,” Thanatcha smiled.

“Who knows? Didn’t June say she wouldn’t come see you anymore? But
every time I tell her I’m coming to see you, she always shows up—ever
since the day you came to my house.”

“Well…” Thanatcha shrugged slightly. “She wants to see her friend—you,

of course.”

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Sun Yan

“That might be one reason, but if she knew you were here, she could avoid
it. Meeting a close friend alone is different from meeting when other people
are around.” She laughed. “Still, why not try to woo my friend a little? I’d
totally root for you.”

She said, lightly punching the person standing next to her on the arm with
her fist.

“How would that even work?” Thanatcha’s smile twitched into a resigned
expression. “If she already has someone in her heart, I wouldn’t do that. I
was actually thinking the same—if it’s true that she’s involved with
someone else, then I wouldn’t try.”

“Come on, it’s not that hard. Right now you’ve got the advantage—she’s
been seeing you more often. Take the chance and score some points. Like
when you negotiate with Sa about to go to the hotel opening. Isn't it because
you already had a plan in mind?” Ansaya smiled slyly. “And you even said
that if Sa let you come, you would lower the fee for decorating the house.”

“That was my way of still having a chance with June,” Thanatcha admitted
honestly.

“And after that, you got to continue without doing anything. Her parents
invited you to her house like that, and you had to play the role of a fake
girlfriend.”

“I didn’t expect it to go that far either,” Thanatcha smiled. “You probably

won’t tell your friends about this, right?”

“Tell them what? That Sa and I invited you to the hotel opening?”

“Everything, including that.”

“I won’t say anything to ruin it, but about the hotel opening, June already
knows.”

“She knows?” Thanatcha frowned.

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Sun Yan

“Yes, she knew the day you came to my house. But she didn’t complain
much. She seemed resigned. I just said that Sa allowed you to go; I didn’t
say it was your choice.”

“Thanks a lot,” Thanatcha smiled, feeling relieved. “I’ll even give you a
plant for decorating the house.”

“That’s not necessary,” Ansaya laughed. “By the way, did June see us
looking for her?”

Then Thanatcha heard a loud shout nearby:

“Ans!”

But the first person to turn around was Thanatcha.

Their eyes met, and then Nichapat smiled and pouted at Thanatcha.

“Going for a walk together without telling me at all!”

“I think this looks nice. Imagine if we put this bookshelf next to the desk I
mentioned—it would probably match really well,”

Nichapat said to her close friend as they walked around looking at furniture.

“You should just decorate your room yourself if you have so many ideas,”
her friend replied.

“I want to decorate, but my room doesn’t really need anything new right
now,”

Nichapat said, biting her lip. She glanced at Thanatcha, who was standing
in another corner, looking at a plant shelf.

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Sun Yan

Whenever she was with her friend, Thanatcha always liked to wander off
alone and act distant—just like when they first met at Ansaya’s house. They
only really started talking after a while.

Watching her face, focused and absorbed in looking at something with

interest, made Nichapat pause and stare. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen
her like that.

Seeing her so attentive reminded Nichapat of the day they went to buy
plants together; Thanatcha had looked just as serious and focused,
examining the plants carefully.

She couldn’t help thinking that it was the same kind of look Thanatcha gave
her when she admired her from afar—maybe just quietly liking her.

“What are you looking at?”

Ansaya teased, lightly bumping her friend’s shoulder.

“Hey, are you secretly staring at Thanatcha?”

“No! I’m not looking at anything. I’m just seeing what she’s looking at,”

Nichapat said quickly, glancing away at other pieces of furniture.

“Really? Come on…” Ansaya teased, tugging at the corner of her mouth.

“I think she’s cute. You’re really not interested in her at all? But asking is
useless—you’d just say you like P’Wa already. How could you like
someone else?”

“You didn’t ask me the first time either,” Nichapat scrunched her nose.

“That was a different time,”

Ansaya teased again, tugging at her friend’s sleeve mischievously.

“Maybe now you’ve changed your mind. And if you’re not interested in her,
I’ll just flirt with her myself.”

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Sun Yan

“Are you crazy?” Nichapat turned sharply to look at her friend. “What did
you just say?”

“See how flustered you are,” Ansaya said, tilting her head with a sly look at
her friend. “Why not? Can’t I flirt with her?”

“It’s not that I don’t… but you…”

Nichapat trailed off, unable to find the right words.

“But what? Just say it,” Ansaya urged.

“Well…” Nichapat bit her lip, then a thought suddenly came to her. “I’ve
already slept with her. Don’t you care?”

“Wasn’t it just once? It probably won’t happen again, right? If I were

serious about her, I could just ignore it. I’ll pretend nothing happened
between you and her, since you’re not actually interested in her anyway.”

Ansaya lightly patted her best friend's cheek with affection before smiling,
which was both playful and serious.

“But if I start courting her seriously, you can’t change your mind later.”

💚💚💚
sunyan

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Sun Yan

🎀 18.The Neglectful & the

Reassuring🎀

"Can you take this to the VIP guest room on the eighth floor?"

Satitha handed a small white paper bag, sealed tightly, to the staff member
to deliver.

"Sure. Is it room 802?"

"Yes, that's the one. Hurry, in case the guest goes out for a drink."

"Okay, I'll take it up right away."

"Thanks a lot,"

Satitha said, expressing her gratitude to the staff under her supervision
before turning her attention back to other tasks.

It was time for her to go home and rest after spending almost the whole day
overseeing the hotel's operations.

Since the hotel had just reopened, she had to pay extra attention in the early
days, dedicating so much time to her duties that she hardly had time to meet
friends.

Lately, though, she was looking for a free day to meet up with them. After
the hotel had been open for about a month, things were starting to settle into
place.

She glanced at her wristwatch-it was a little past nine o'clock. Time had
passed quickly, and she suddenly felt drained, wishing she could collapse

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Sun Yan

onto a soft bed and relax.

She walked over to say goodbye to the staff she knew before stepping into
the elevator to her private office, where she kept her bag, car keys, and
other personal items.

As the elevator stopped on the second floor, where the hotel bar was
located, two guests stepped inside.

"Hmm... which floor is your room on?"

Asked a woman with long curly hair that reached the middle of her back
spoke in a drunken voice.

"I don't know. Do you remember? Tell me the room number, and I'll take
you up,"

Said another woman with short hair, supporting the unsteady guest.

Satitha didn't usually concern herself with other people's private matters;
she was used to encountering all kinds of guests at the hotel.

If her eyes hadn't accidentally focused clearly on one person's face, she
would have let it pass. But what she saw was that the woman was a famous
pianist-one her friend admired.

"Hmm, you're just taking me up? Not staying with me?"

For a moment, Satitha repeated the question silently in her mind: "Staying
with me?" She paused thoughtfully.

Her curiosity made her forget that she would soon need to leave the
elevator. She didn't want the two of them to notice her.

Even though they didn't know her well, she wanted to appear uninterested
in their private matters. She wanted to step out of the elevator quickly, but
at the same time, she wanted to hear the conversation finish.

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Sun Yan

"Hmm... when we met in Singapore, we were together, weren't we? Now

you're going to leave me alone?"

"It's not like that, but-"

"What does a single woman like you have to worry about?"

The unsteady hand of the drunken woman reached out and lightly tugged
the collar of the one supporting her.

"Or do you have a girlfriend now?"

"It's not like that," Wiphawa laughed. "I'm still single, just starting to think
about giving up being single."

"Just starting to think about it, but still single," the woman in her arms
laughed drunkenly. "Stay with me tonight, then you can think about being
single or not later."

No reply came-only a soft, amused chuckle from the invited guest. Satitha
stood frozen, staring at the elevator buttons as if her face might melt into
the panel.

She tried to shrink herself as much as possible, not wanting anyone to

notice her standing there awkwardly.

Fortunately, she didn't have to worry about making a noticeable exit. When
the elevator reached the ninth floor, the two guests stepped out, supporting
each other, leaving her behind.

She couldn't help but peek, driven by curiosity-not because she wanted to
pry into the guests' private lives, but because this involved her close friend.

She had learned from Nichapat before that Wiphawa lived a carefree life
while traveling, often with women who were just temporary companions
without commitment.

Still, she hadn't expected to witness it firsthand. Seeing it now, she couldn't
imagine her friend having any real chance with her.

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Sun Yan

It was complicated, especially since her friend had just acted in a similar
way herself. Perhaps because their relationship was unclear, both of them
were free to follow their own desires.

Even though her friend's actions were part of a temporary plan that had
already ended, Satitha didn't know the truth: Wiphawa had just made a new
agreement with Nichapat, promising to give her more importance and to
avoid casual relationships with other women, in order to take their
relationship more seriously.

In the brief moment when Wiphawa rejected that woman, she secretly
thought positively—that perhaps she genuinely wanted to start something
serious with her friend. But in the end, it seemed to fall into the same old
pattern, which her friend also seemed quite accustomed to.

Sharing this news might seem like tattling, but what she did was ask
questions born out of curiosity and concern—a curiosity she herself wanted
to use to gently alert her friend, as a friend who didn’t want her to remain
trapped in such a relationship any longer.

Nichapat was sitting in stunned silence, holding her phone in her hand at
the end of her bed. She had just received a chat message from her close
friend, sent with a few simple words, yet it left her frozen in place.

"Hey, is your Phi Wa still using her single status to bring other women to
sleep with her?"

"I ran into her at the hotel."

She thought about typing a reply, but instead sat quietly for a long time.
When she finally gathered her wits, she quickly picked up the phone and

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Sun Yan

called Satitha immediately.

"Sa, tell me the whole story."

The glass of her drink hit the table hard enough that Satitha worried it might
crack. If anyone asked, she wouldn't have been able to say how many drinks
she had already had, leaving her close friend to sit there and keep the glass
raised out of concern.

"Hey, take it easy. You've had enough,"

Satitha said to Nichapat.

After Satitha sent her a chat message last night, Nichapat had called, asking
her to tell the whole story. After hearing it, she had gone quiet-only to
contact Satitha again around noon today to invite her out for drinks.

She had wanted to bring Ansaya along, but Ansaya wasn't free, so it ended
up being just the two of them.

"This isn't much. I can still talk to you,"

Nichapat said, glancing at her friend across the table before looking down at
her drink, ready to take another sip.

"So what are you going to do? I just found out that she agreed with you not
to sleep with other women anymore."

"I don't know..." Nichapat shook her head. "Should I wait for her to commit
to me before we start dating?"

"I don't know either. I'm not sure if it's just her personal preference or
because she's still technically single. If she's with you, will she still see
other people like this? I really don't know."

"I've always thought she acted that way because she was single and because
we hardly saw each other. Honestly, we weren't anything, and she had every

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right. I tried to understand and chose not to pay too much attention. But
after she said she would stop doing that..."

"I understand, June,"

Satitha said, her expression full of sympathy. "But I want to tell you, you
really need to think carefully. You can't just get used to it like before. And if
you're strong enough, I want to..."

"You want me to stop caring about her, don't you?"

Nichapat said knowingly. This wasn't the first time her two close friends
had said something like this. They wanted her to be with someone who
could truly make her happy.

They both knew that, in the past, she hadn't really experienced much pain.
But maybe they felt sorry seeing her wait patiently for so long to be with
the person she liked, so they tried to encourage other potential suitors. Still,
she had never been interested in anyone else.

"Well..." Satitha looked uncomfortable. "I just want you to be happy with
someone, finally. That's all."

"I used to think that if I could just be patient with Phi Wa for a little longer,
then when the day came that I could be with her, it would be worth the
wait,"

Nichapat said, giving a faint smile as she pictured it. The image was
beautiful, though like a distant dream she might never reach.

"Having a girlfriend who's a pianist, listening to her play when I'm bored,
sometimes following her to her performances, or waiting for her to come
back after traveling-it's a kind of waiting that makes me happy."

"Mm," Satitha reached out and held her friend's hand, smiling
encouragingly. "I know. When you get there, I'll be happy for you too."

She took another big sip. "I think I'm daydreaming too much," Nichapat
laughed at herself, raising her glass.

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"Your first meeting with her was so impressive, and the next time you saw
her, she made you fall for her even more."

"As time went on, distance became an obstacle. But now, it's not just that. I
feel like maybe I'm not important enough to her. Otherwise, she'd be more
eager to show it and take our relationship further."

"Mm," Sahita thought, but she couldn't push her friend any further.

"Am I just being too patient?"

"You need to ask yourself if you really want to endure it anymore,"

Satitha said, gently squeezing her friend's hand. "I have to go back soon. It’s
late. I have to go to the hotel early tomorrow. I’m sorry."

"It's okay," Nichapat replied, shaking her head.

"Shall we go?"

"No, I'm not leaving yet."

Nichapat finished her drink and then poured more liquor into her glass.

"You're not leaving? You'll be drinking alone then."

"Yeah, I'm fine. Go ahead. I'm still okay."

"Just make sure you stay in control until you get home. Don't order more-
you'll just get drunker. I really have to go. Are you sure you're not coming?"

"No, I want to sit and think a little longer."

"Alright... fine. I'll go then. Text me when you get home so I know you're
safe."

"Mm."

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Nichapat nodded faintly, flicking her fingers to signal that her friend
shouldn't worry, and went back to her drink. Her mind, focused again on her
own love life, didn't notice her friend leaving the bar. The only thing that
could make her forget everything else was the drink in front of her.

She poured the last bit from the bottle into her glass and, seeing only a little
was left, called out to a staff member:

"Excuse me, can I get another bottle of liquor?"

Thanatcha hurried out of the taxi. She had just received a phone call after 11
p.m. while she was drawing a furniture layout for Ansaya's house. After
hanging up, she paused everything and quickly called a ride to pick her up
at her house.

She stepped into a bar that was lightly crowded-not too busy, but not empty
either. It had a beachside café style, decorated with vintage light bulbs
around the room. The atmosphere invited people to sit and drink, but at that
moment, she probably wasn't very interested in drinking.

Her eyes scanned the room, looking for someone until she spotted a figure
sitting with their back turned at a small table for two, almost at the far end.
She walked over, circling to the front so she could see the person's face
clearly, quickening her pace a little.

The person sitting there noticed a figure stopping in front of her and slowly
looked up, smiling when she recognized who it was.

"Oh, you're here,"

Nichapat said with a warm smile, feeling comforted by Thanatcha's

presence.

"Come, let's drink."

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She grabbed her glass to take a sip, but a small hand caught it and gently
pushed it back onto the table.

"You've had enough. Stop drinking now,"

Thanatcha said, looking at the person who seemed sad and trying to hide it
with alcohol, though it couldn't completely mask her feelings. She didn't
know all the reasons why, but she could sense the person in front of her was
troubled.

She looked into the eyes that were fixed on her, noticing the body swaying
slightly. Seeing that the person might be struggling to stay upright,
Thanatcha stepped closer and gently supported that face.

Their gaze, soft and pleading, glazed and sparkling from the alcohol, made
her want to carry her home. But it remained just a thought, so all she could
do was stay nearby and take care of her.

"Let's go home. Your cheeks are so red from drinking,"

Thanatcha said, smiling affectionately, gently squeezing the drunk person's

cheeks until she puffed up like a little child's.

"Mm,"

Nichapat replied, blushing, her eyes half-closed as if drifting into sleep,

though she was still awake.

"You dare touch me... even though I used to forbid you so much,"

She slurred, her words nearly incomprehensible but still understandable.

"Not like her... she barely touched me, but she went to touch someone else."

Nichapat pouted a little, though not enough to cause a scene.

As she spoke, her head lolled forward, leaving Thanatcha off guard.
Nichapat's face nuzzled into the chest of the person holding her, making it
impossible to continue supporting her in the same way.

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Thanatcha quickly moved closer and wrapped her arms around the swaying
figure, gently lifting her head before letting it rest on her shoulder. With a
proper support to hold onto, Nichapat relaxed completely, wrapping her
arms around Thanatcha in return.

"You're so warm,"

Nichapat murmured with a soft smile. Her eyes closed as she tilted her
head, resting her chin on the small, warm shoulder. She held onto
Thanatcha tightly, then spoke in a tender, pleading voice,

"Let me stay with you tonight."

💚💚💚
sunyan

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🎀 19. A Night When I Miss You

🎀
“Step carefully,”

Thanatcha told Nichapat as they walked, supporting each other. The

beautiful figure in a sleeveless top and a long pleated skirt that reached her
knees took unsteady steps, but she still seemed to know the general
direction to go.

The two of them entered the house. Thanatcha helped the unsteady person
into the bedroom so she could rest on a proper bed. But just as they passed
through the open door, the slightly sobered one spoke up.

“Can I use the bathroom for a moment?”

“Sure,”

Thanatcha replied. She guided her to the bathroom, closed the door, and
waited while Nichapat took care of herself.

Nichapat bent over the sink, cupped water from the faucet, and splashed her
face to feel refreshed. When she looked up again, her face was covered in
water, wetting her hairline and the strands framing her cheeks.

She stepped out and looked around for a towel. Seeing a small towel
hanging nearby, she walked over and grabbed it.

“Is this your towel? Can I borrow it?”

Without waiting for an answer, she pressed her face into the soft fabric,
wiping away all the water. Only a slight dampness remained on her clear

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skin, with traces on her eyebrows, eyelashes, and hairline.

“You should’ve asked first. I'll get you a new one,”

Thanatcha sighed, moving as if to take the towel.

“Why? Don’t you like it if I use it?”

Nichapat quickly pulled the towel from the rack and held onto it.

“No, not at all. I’m not saying I don’t like you to use it… it’s just that I
already used that towel, and…”

“I’m not saying I don’t like you,”

Nichapat said, raising the towel in her hands to dab her face again.

“Wait a minute,”

Thanatcha said, stepping forward to take the towel from the drunken girl.
She hung it back on the rack roughly, then took Nichapat’s hand and guided
her to sit at the foot of the bed.

“I haven’t even finished drying my face yet! I told you, I don’t mind!”

Nichapat protested, plopping down on the soft cushion with a sulky,

stubborn air. She deliberately leaned her hip against Thanatcha’s, pressing
close, then cupped both of Thanatcha’s cheeks with her hands.

“A face that looks fresh and pretty skin like this… I really don’t mind,”

Nichapat said, lightly patting one cheek, still showing the sway of
intoxication. She seemed somewhat aware, but if she were completely
sober, she probably wouldn’t act this way.

Being looked at with her drunken, glossy-eyed gaze and a playful smile
made Thanatcha involuntarily smile back, charmed. But perhaps she was
mistaken about her intoxication, because Nichapat’s next words were calm,
soft, and surprisingly coherent:

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“Or maybe… the reason I don’t mind is because it’s you.”

Thanatcha sat quietly, watching the beautiful face, slightly tousled hair, still
gazing at her. To avoid feeling flustered, she looked away and reached into
the pocket of her jacket, where she had brought along a handkerchief for the
drunken girl.

She took it out and gently dabbed the still-damp face while Nichapat’s eyes
continued to stay fixed on her.

She unfolded the handkerchief enough to create a layer thick enough to

absorb the damp strands along the hairline. Seeing Nichapat’s wet face
reminded her of the first time they had really interacted.

That day, Nichapat had stepped out of the university bathroom and noticed
Thanatcha looking around for her. When Nichapat asked for a tissue,
Thanatcha had lent her a personal handkerchief instead.

She wondered whether Nichapat remembered that moment. Most likely, she
didn’t, because after that day, they had no reason to talk or interact—except
for the occasional glance from Thanatcha whenever she saw Nichapat from
a distance.

Sometimes, she even noticed Nichapat and her friends, looking while she
was there—perhaps because it had been said that she was one of the people
secretly fond of Nichapat, like others people who she didn't care about.

That day and today were similar in some ways, but also very different. Back
then, all she could do was offer a handkerchief for Nichapat to use. Now,
she was sitting close to the girl on her own bedroom bed, touching the
beautiful face she was helping to dry.

And the girl allowed her to do it.

Nichapat didn’t pull away, didn’t reject her, and her eyes remained fixed on
Thanatcha without shifting.

“You're doing a great job as a girlfriend,” Nichapat said with a smile.

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Thanatcha froze, her hand slowing as she gently lowered the handkerchief
onto her lap.

“I’ve never felt anything like this from that person,”

Nichapat said, her tone returning to a slightly more aware, yet still playful,
intoxicated state. She clung to one of Thanatcha’s shoulders, then buried her
face against the other. One arm wrapped around her back, pressing close,
her face nuzzling warmly into Thanatcha’s shoulder and neck, causing her
to stiffen slightly at the unexpected intimacy.

“Or maybe I should start liking you instead,”

The hushed whisper against her neck, accompanied by warm, gentle breath
on her skin, made Thanatcha tense even more. She worried she might
accidentally swallow, her mouth dry as the face pressed close to her neck—
but fortunately, the beautiful face pulled back before she could be caught.

Now, Nichapat was looking at her again. Her head had lifted slightly from
leaning against Thanatcha, but hadn’t moved far. That beautiful face met
her eyes closely, and then slowly, her gaze drifted down along her nose,
stopping at her lips.

There was no need to ask how she felt—there was no time or space for
rational thought. When two hearts connect with desire, their lips moved
toward each other instantly. They paused for a moment, testing the other’s
reaction.

But Nichapat didn’t hold back any longer. As her lips drew closer, it was a
clear signal that she wouldn’t resist. Thanatcha tilted her head slightly,
pressing her lips gently onto the same spot on the other’s, letting the two
mouths meet fully.

They lingered for a moment, allowing the long-missed touch to reconnect.

Then all hesitation vanished, and their lips moved together freely, following
their own desires.

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Sun Yan

The kiss started soft and slow but gradually deepened. As the mood
heightened, the intoxicated girl, fueled by alcohol, grew more impatient.
Nichapat shifted, placing one hand on the mattress beside Thanatcha’s hip.

Her slightly clumsy arms straddling Thanatcha’s legs prompted her to scoot
further onto the bed, inviting the beautiful figure to follow. As they leaned
into each other, their lips met again, and Nichapat climbed up, sitting astride
Thanatcha’s thighs, allowing them to embrace fully.

The bed’s owner could no longer hold back. She wrapped her hands around
the beautiful waist, lifting the strap of her top, and slowly pulled it off—
removing every piece of fabric covering that lovely body, allowing her to
return to the intimacy of that night.

That night, she had always remembered as if it were a dream. Since waking,
the memory had gradually faded, forcing her to constantly remind herself
that it had really happened—because she might never get the chance to
relive it.

But now, she was getting that chance—the chance to prove that what had
happened then was real, and that reality still lingered with her.

Her small hands quickly unhooked the skirt, sliding the zipper down just a
little before letting it hang. Before she could remove her top, the slender
hands of the girl on her lap helped pull it off over her head.

Nichapat kissed her, pressing her gently down onto the bed, their lips never
breaking contact. As the one being pursued, Thanatcha’s free hands reached
to unfasten the bra clasp of the girl in front of her, sliding the straps off her
shoulders. Just revealing her beautiful breasts, it was now Thanatcha’s turn
to take the lead.

Thanatcha pushed Nichapat onto her back. Her hands pressed and kneaded
the soft curves she had already guided down onto the bed. With her palms
gripping and pressing, she explored with eager delight, relishing every
moment of contact.

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Sun Yan

The faint, husky sound from Nichapat’s throat always made hearts tremble.
Every touch felt new, as if it were the very first time, even though this was
not their first moment together.

Their hands moved to remove each other’s clothes until only bare skin
remained. They embraced, exchanged warmth, pressed their bodies closer,
exploring the curves that drew them in.

When Nichapat ended up above Thanatcha again, her gaze lingered on the
woman beneath her, lips still wet from a kiss, her eyes showing an overflow
of longing.

Thanatcha might never know—or might think it was just a fleeting desire
born of drunkenness—if Nichapat hadn’t spoken.

“I’ve sometimes found myself… thinking of you when I’m in bed,”

Nichapat whispered, softly but clearly enough for only the two of them to
hear.

The confession made Thanatcha stare at her, caught off guard by the secret
revealed. It was something that brought a smile to her lips. Whatever self-
restraint she once had seemed forgotten, as this truth filled her with quiet
delight.

She reached out and touched the cheek of the one before her. Pausing their
closeness for a brief moment to speak did not break the mood—it only
fueled the fire of desire burning within her.

It was her gentle way of responding to the words she had just heard. The
hand that had caressed the soft cheek so tenderly now slid down to the neck,
stroking slowly, deliberately. When her restraint finally gave way, in an
instant she had Nichapat lying beneath her again.

Her face nestled into the smooth curve of Nichapat’s neck as she pressed
kisses there, possessive and insistent. She nipped lightly at her ear, now
flushed red, drawing soft gasps from Nichapat’s throat. With her lips close
to the ear, Thanatcha whispered quietly:

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Sun Yan

“I’ll make you stop missing her.”

She kissed the sharp line of her jaw, and with that, she had no need for more
words—every second from then on was meant for giving unforgettable
touch.

The one before her remembered it all too well, and so she ended the
conversation—before any more time was wasted—her last sentence.

“But after tonight, I’ll make you miss me even more.”

💚💚💚
sunyan

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🎀 20. Continuing the Touch 🎀

Book : Toss - Up (Take A Chance To Win Her Love)
Writer : Serenista
Released : 13 September 2020
Translator : Sun Yan (daphne.shn@gmail.com)

The white duvet shifted slightly as one body turned over, before awakening
fully after a deep, restful sleep.

This time, there was no sense of mistake and no regret. Thanatcha, for once,
had the joy of waking before Nichapat—and even greater joy in finding the
beautiful woman still sound asleep beneath the same blanket.

Last night, before drifting off, the exhausted beauty had moved closer to
hold her, resting her face beneath Thanatcha’s chin, while Thanatcha
wrapped her arms around her in return. They had fallen asleep like that,
embraced completely.

It was something that hadn’t happened the first time they were together.
Back then, although their desires were fully shared, Nichapat had not
allowed her to show affection beyond the passion of the moment.

So the next morning, it ended with saying goodbye and going their separate
ways.

If fate hadn’t been kind enough to give them reasons to meet again, this day
might never have come.

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She admitted to herself—it was her own intention to bring Nichapat back
into her life. The first time, she stubbornly made it happen through her own
quiet plan. But the second time onward, it was Nichapat who chose to come
closer on her own.

Everything had begun with the terms she agreed to that night. In them, she
saw the chance to continue what they had started.

Whether it could last or not didn’t matter; it was a risk worth taking, one
that cost her nothing but might bring her everything. And this moment, with
Nichapat here beside her—was the result.

A result she hadn’t dared expect, one that felt a little beyond what she had
imagined.

Perhaps it was simply her own good fortune.

And yet… she still didn’t know.

She feared she might be unlucky—if this was nothing more than a casual,
meaningless connection.

And that she was only a substitute in Nichapat’s life.

Lying there, watching the peaceful face still lost in sleep, she dared not
wake her, afraid she might hear words of farewell once again.

She feared Nichapat would push her away, shutting the door on whatever
they had, turning closeness into distance.

Even though the words Nichapat whispered to her last night had given her
hope, she still feared they were nothing more than drunken talk.

There was plenty of time left for her to sleep again, but she couldn’t. The
thought that Nichaphat might be gone when she opened her eyes kept her
awake.

So she slipped out of bed, brushed her teeth, washed her face, and tried to
clear her drowsiness. Her plan was to return, crawl under the blanket, and

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Sun Yan

rest beside the sleeping woman once more.

But disappointment met her instead—Nichapat was already awake, sitting

up and rubbing her eyes, just as she stepped out of the bathroom.

“Mm… you’re up already? What time is it?”

“Now?” Thanatcha glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. “Half past
eight.”

“Ah…”

Nichapat squinted at her, hair slightly messy—but in a way that only made
her look even more alluring. Sitting there with the blanket pulled up to
cover her chest, her bare shoulders peeking out, she looked both drowsy
and effortlessly sexy.

“Did you tell your mother you stayed over?”

It was the first worry that had crossed Thanatcha’s mind when she woke,
and she only now had the chance to ask. Thankfully, Nichapat seemed to
remember everything from last night clearly—proof she hadn’t been too
drunk to forget.

“I called Mom before I called you. I wasn't too drunk yet. Can I use your
bathroom? Oh—do you have another toothbrush?”

“I do. It’s in the cabinet—I’ll get it for you.”

“Can I borrow a towel too?”

Nichapat asked, stretching one hand out into the air while the other still
clutched the blanket tightly against her.

“You don’t need one,” Thanatcha teased slyly. “Just walk over like that.”

“Are you crazy? You pervert!”

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Nichapat grabbed a pillow and threw it right at Thanatcha’s face, hitting her
square on. “Give it here—just use the one you’re using!”

“I told you, if you need one, I’ll get you a fresh towel.”

Thanatcha picked the pillow back up and set it on the bed, still laughing at
the sight of the bare beauty hiding under the blanket.

“Oh, right—I just put the spare one in the wash.”

“Then give me yours.”

“As you wish.” She took her neatly hung towel and held it open in front of
the woman sitting on the bed. “Come on, stand up.”

“Just hand it over.”

“Stand up first. What, are you embarrassed?” Thanatcha teased with a grin.

“I’m not embarrassed.”

Nichaphat tossed the blanket aside and stood, pressing herself close against
the towel Thanatcha held out for her.

“I just don’t want to walk around naked in someone else’s room.”

“Really? It’s fine—this room only has me in it anyway.”

Thanatcha wrapped the towel around Nichapat, pulling the edges together
and tucking it loosely at her chest. She stopped there, then looked up at the
woman who stood watching her carefully finish the task.

“What?”

Thanatcha asked, raising an eyebrow after being stared at for so long.

“Nothing,” Nichaphat shook her head with a small smile. “Ah… you
brushed your teeth already, didn’t you?”

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Sun Yan

Catching the faint scent of toothpaste, she leaned in closer, pretending to

sniff near Thanatcha’s lips, freshly dried from washing.

“That won’t do—hand me my toothbrush.”

“Mm.”

Thanatcha stiffened, caught off guard by the beautiful woman suddenly

leaning so close. They had kissed and held each other countless times
already, but in the calm light of morning, this simple closeness felt
strangely different.

Maybe it was because, in her heart, she felt their bond had quietly moved
one step further.

Unless, of course… it was only her imagination.

Nichapat dabbed her face with a small towel while wearing the
homeowner’s bath towel wrapped around her body. She walked back and
dropped herself onto the bed, which lay flat on the floor.

The bed’s owner was sitting against the pillows, looking at her phone,
dressed in a loose collared pajama shirt that was just long enough to cover
her thighs.

“You said you called your mom before you called me to come get you,”

Thanatcha spoke up, still staring at her phone.

“Does that mean you had already planned not to go home last night?”

The one who had just sat down on the other side of the bed paused, setting
the towel down on her lap.

“Yeah, why not? I was that drunk. If I went home, my mom would have
scolded me.”

“She probably already knew the moment she heard your drunken voice,”

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha chuckled, glancing at the one who had answered so casually.

“At that time, I wasn’t as drunk as when you arrived. I could still talk
normally, so I called you clearly enough.”

“When you called me, you were already barely making sense.”

“Really?” Nichaphat looked a little blank. “Well, before I called, I had just
ordered another drink and had a bit more.”

“I see,” Thanatcha nodded slowly. “So you told your mom that because you
planned to stay over with me?”

“Of course I had to stay with you.”

Nichapat’s voice softened at the end as she admitted it directly. She didn’t
really mind much, which was why she confessed so easily.

“I was told Mom you’re my girlfriend. That way, she’d simply understand I
was staying with my girlfriend.”

“And your mom allowed that?”

“She didn’t say anything. At first she went quiet for a bit.”

Nichapat laughed softly, recalling how her mother must have been a little
shocked and needed time to accept it.

“But in the end, she didn’t complain. Maybe she’s starting to accept it little
by little. What else could she do?”

“Really…”

Thanatcha fell silent for a moment. She felt happy to be accepted as

Nichaphat’s girlfriend, but it wasn’t a joy she could fully embrace—because
she knew that title was nothing more than a pretend one.

Even now, she wanted to hope for more—wanted to ask about what
Nichapat had slipped out last night. Those words had given her hope, but

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Sun Yan

could she really believe in it? In the end, she didn’t dare bring it up.

“Hey…”

“Hm?”

“You’re not in a hurry to leave, right?”

Since she didn’t have the courage to ask what she truly wanted, she changed
the subject instead.

“Why?” Nichaphat frowned.

“Just wanted to know.”

“Is that all?” Nichaphat smirked.

“I’m just afraid that…”

Nichaphat caught on immediately and laughed.

“Oh, Are you scared I’ll leave you again, right?”

“If that’s not the case, then good.”

Thanatcha half admitted it, though she didn’t say it outright, and avoided
looking at her.

“So it is true,” Nichaphat grinned. “Seems like running away is useless. I

tried it once, but it didn’t work.”

“And then…”

Thanatcha wanted to ask directly where their relationship was headed, but
the words trailed off unfinished.

“I’m free today, not going anywhere,”

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Sun Yan

Nichaphat said as she lay down on her side, still wrapped only in a towel.
Lying like that made her look even more daring—radiating a kind of
sexiness.

A sexiness Thanatcha couldn’t look at directly, afraid her thoughts would

spiral out of control.

“That’s good then,”

She answered without meeting Nichaphat’s eyes. Only when Nichapat lay
down did she notice, and so she pretended to brush it off.

“Go put some clothes on.”

“What?” Nichapat frowned deeply.

“Open my wardrobe and grab anything you like. You can borrow it.”

“No. Why should I wear them?”

Nichapat’s frown grew even more stubborn.

“I told you to get dressed,”

Thanatcha said again, her voice carrying a hint of irritation this time.

“Why should I?”

“Then at least cover yourself with a blanket.”

“And why’s that such a problem?”

Nichapat teased, grinning as she continued to provoke her.

“What’s so wrong with me being like this? Tell me.”

As she spoke, she shifted onto her side, letting the curve of her hips show,
the towel slipping low enough to nearly reveal more.

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Sun Yan

“Dressed like this—”

Thanatcha turned, ready to give a reason. But the moment she saw Nichapat
lying on her side, propped up on an elbow in such a seductive pose, her
words caught in her throat.

That faint, playful smile on Nichapat’s face—like she was deliberately

trying to charm her—left Thanatcha unable to argue further.

Her eyes lingered openly on those soft, tempting curves. And since
Nichapat seemed willing to let her look, there was no reason to hold back.
No reason to restrain the emotions already stirring inside her.

“You really want me to put on clothes, don’t you?” Nichapat asked softly.

“I don’t really want you to,”

Thanatcha admitted, her earlier words reversing under the pull of her
emotions. She moved closer to the beautiful figure before her, locking eyes
with someone who showed not the slightest trace of carelessness.

The more she looked, the more she wanted to draw near—and once she was
near, simply looking wasn’t enough.

Her slender hand pressed gently against Nichaphat’s shoulder, guiding her
to lie down beneath her. Their lips hovered close, ready to ignite into a
heated kiss at any moment.

The fear of overstepping boundaries no longer felt so daunting—especially

when the one who had once resisted now seemed to be the one welcoming
her in.

Thanatcha’s gaze deliberately trailed down, openly lingering on the curves

revealed by the towel, as if Nichaphat herself were tempting her. She
shifted her body into just the right position, then slowly let her fingers trace
the edge of the towel at her chest, teasing it loose bit by bit.

“I never really wanted you to put clothes on,”

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Thanatcha whispered, her voice low—stretching out the moment, holding

back her desire for just a few more seconds.

“But I’m just worried you’ll miss lunch.”

“Ah… don’t bite so hard,”

Thanatcha gasped, trying to scold the one pressing over her, moving with
teasing mischief.

“You started it first,”

Nichaphat swatted away the hands trying to push her off.

“But I… ah—gentler, please.”

“Stay still,”

Nichaphat teased, nipping lightly at Thanatcha’s chest, leaving a mark for a

moment before pulling back to admire her own work with a sly smile.

“It hurts,” Thanatcha protested softly.

“It’s nothing. It’ll fade soon.”

Nichaphat scrunched her nose at her feigned complaint.

“Look at what you did to me instead.”

She glanced down at her own chest, where Thanatcha had left a kiss-mark
of her own. In the heat of passion, it had felt thrilling… but once she
noticed it afterward—she wasn’t really angry—just wanted to tease and get
back at her a little.

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Sun Yan

“But you seemed to enjoy it at the time.”

“I didn’t say I liked it, but…”

Nichaphat had meant to argue that she hadn’t enjoyed it, that it was just the
heat of the moment. But when she remembered how she herself had held
Thanatcha’s head down against her body, letting that kiss linger far too
long, she found she couldn’t deny it.

“But what?” Thanatcha grinned.

“Nothing,” Nichaphat quickly shook her head, flustered.

“Come on, let me see. Does it hurt that much?”

Thanatcha teased, nudging her down so she could lean over and inspect the
spot.

“Why would you look? It doesn’t hurt that much.”

“Well, you complained. Let me check—see if I need to apply medicine on

it. Hmm… though I do have a way.”

She pulled a sly face, and before Nichaphat could react, she suddenly
leaned in closer, pressing her face against her body more firmly.

That, of course, immediately drew out a cry of protest.

“What are you doing?”

Nichaphat smacked Thanatcha’s shoulder as lips pressed softly against her

breast, kissing lightly before a teasing tongue brushed over the mark.

“I-It’s almost noon already,”

Nichaphat tried to protest, though her voice faltered when that face slid just
a little lower, shifting the touch to an even more sensitive place.

“Mmm…”

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“So what if it’s noon?”

Thanatcha’s hands slid around her slender waist, a sly smile playing on her
lips. Lowering her face slowly, she whispered,

“I already told you… you might end up missing lunch.”

The two of them spent the whole morning tangled together in bed until
noon. After using up so much energy, hunger finally crept in, but neither of
them felt like getting up just yet. It was that lazy kind of comfort, the kind
where they could keep teasing and talking endlessly—almost as if they
really were a couple.

Thanatcha knew her own feelings clearly, but she wasn’t sure about
Nichaphat’s. Still, seeing her stay like this—sharing a bed with her not only
overnight but well into the next day—brought a quiet happiness. If possible,
she never wanted to give Nichaphat back to anyone else.

She glanced over at the girl curled up, laughing softly at YouTube on her
phone, and couldn’t help smiling too.

“Are you hungry yet?”

“Hm?” Nichaphat turned her head slightly toward Thanatcha, though her
eyes stayed on the screen. “Oh, yeah. But I can wait.”

“I’ll go make us something simple. What do you want to eat?”

“Instant noodles are fine,” she said, glancing at Thanatcha before turning
back to her phone.

“Instant noodles? That’s it?”

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“Mhm, why not? It’s tasty,” Nichaphat pouted. “Or are you going to make
an omelet instead?”

“No, come on. I can do better than that,”

Thanatcha said seriously. She wasn’t trying to brag about her cooking—just
wanted Nichaphat to know there were plenty of other choices.

“Oh?”

Nichaphat paused the video, set her phone aside, then rolled over to her.
Resting her chin on Thanatcha’s arm, she tilted her head up with a playful
look.

“Then you choose. What do you cook best?”

“It’s all good.”

“Really?”

Nichaphat drew out the word in mock disbelief before breaking into a wide
smile.

“Then make me something.”

“Sure, I’ll cook for you.”

Thanatcha meant to get up, but with Nichaphat leaning on her arm like that
—staring up at her almost pleadingly—she found it hard to move. She
lowered her gaze, caught between fondness and hesitation, then came up
with an excuse to send Nichaphat off instead.

“Go take a shower first. I’ll start cooking after.”

“Mm.” Nichaphat pouted, lifted her chin from Thanatcha’s arm, then
flopped down beside her, snuggling close. “Ah… your bed is so
comfortable. I don’t want to get up at all. It’s like a soul-sucking bed.”

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Thanatcha smiled. “See? You finally got to sleep in my bed like you
wanted.”

Nichaphat tilted her head back to look at her, caught by the reminder of
what she’d said the very first time she visited this room. But instead of
replying, she stayed quiet.

“If you like it, you can come sleep here again. I told you, I don’t mind.”

Those words made Nichaphat spring up to sit, grab a pillow, and smack
Thanatcha with it in flustered retaliation.

“What was that for?”

Thanatcha laughed, raising a shoulder and leaning back out of reach.

“Go make lunch,”

Nichaphat muttered, changing the subject quickly—clearly not wanting to

revisit that old conversation.

“I know, I know.”

Thanatcha chuckled. She was sure the pillow attack had nothing to do with
lunch, and everything to do with her playful teasing.

“Go shower. Do you want to wear the same clothes you wore yesterday? Or
go choose clothes from the closet, it's up to you.”

Thanatcha said while reaching for her long nightdress. She had only worn it
for a short while before it was taken off earlier that morning. Now, she
picked it up and put it back on.

She went to the bathroom to wash her face again before leaving the
bedroom. Then, she headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, leaving her
special guest to take care of herself.

Nichapat lazily got out of bed. The towel she had borrowed from Thanatcha
and used to wrap herself with was lying crumpled by the bed. She grabbed

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Sun Yan

it again and wrapped it around herself, planning to take a shower.

As she slowly made her way to the end of the bed, her eyes fell on a
handkerchief that Thanatcha had used to wipe her face the night before. It
was lying on the floor, so she reached out to pick it up and put it neatly
away.

When she lifted it and looked at it closely, she paused for a moment, staring
at it. She folded it back neatly along the original creases. After taking a
careful look, she couldn’t help but smile.

She held it in her hand, feeling the soft fabric, even though it was just a thin
handkerchief folded over into a thicker square. Slowly, she unfolded it, then
looked around for a safe place to keep it.

In the end, she placed it carefully on Thanatcha’s pillow, gazing at it for a

little while longer before finally heading off to shower.

💖💖💖💖
sunyan

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🎀 21. Unlocking Feelings 🎀

“Does it taste okay?”

Thanatcha asked Nichapat, who was sitting across from her at the small
dining table. It was a table that rarely saw guests, since Thanatcha usually
ate there alone every day.

“Mhm, it’s delicious,”

Nichapat nodded as she scooped more food onto her plate. For lunch,
Thanatcha had cooked two simple dishes using whatever was left in her
fridge: stir-fried glass noodles with minced pork, and a small pot of spicy
pork bone soup.

She had bought the ingredients yesterday and, since there were leftovers,
they were enough for another meal today.

“That’s great. You can cook too—not just decorate the house and grow
plants. You’re even a good cook,”

Nichapat said with genuine admiration.

“I only cook to feed myself,”

Thanatcha replied with a smile before her face turned serious.

“But if I had a girlfriend, I’d cook for her too.” Her words drifted out
casually.

Nichapat froze, her spoon hovering in mid-air. She looked at Thanatcha,

who deliberately turned her gaze elsewhere, then lowered her eyes to her
own plate.

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She imagined what it would feel like to be the woman in Thanatcha’s heart.
Surely, anyone who became her girlfriend would be lucky—having
someone like Thanatcha to care for her.

Even now, Nichapat felt a sense of gratitude and comfort, because during
her troubled days, Thanatcha had always been there for her, willingly
offering support.

“So… how’s it going with the girl you’ve been talking to?”

Nichapat asked softly, still staring down at her plate as she gently pushed
the rice into bite-sized portions.

“The girl…” Thanatcha fell silent for a moment, thinking over the question,
before suddenly recalling. “Ah…” She bit her lip, then answered, “It’s…
nothing serious. Nothing special yet. I’m not in a hurry.”

“Really?”

Nichapat lifted her gaze to look at her again. But once their eyes met, she
felt strangely uneasy, unable to act naturally. She tried to focus back on her
food, but something in the air between them had already begun to shift.

Something was bothering her, so she set her spoon down and asked quietly,

“You… don’t have any feelings for me, right?”

It was a question born from curiosity, but also fear of the answer. Deep
down, Nichapat was nervous—despite the fact that she had once warned
Thanatcha not to develop feelings for her.

The question made Thanatcha’s expression falter. She froze, caught off
guard, never expecting to hear it from Nichapat’s lips. It was so different
from before—when Nichapat had clearly and firmly drawn the line. This
time, her voice carried hesitation, as if she wasn’t sure why she was asking
at all.

But how could Thanatcha so easily stop her heart from feeling? The more
she allowed herself to grow closer to Nichapat, the harder it became to let

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go. There was no answer she could think of that felt right.

Lying would be the simplest escape. But it would also be the wrong one.

“And what if I do still have feelings for you?” Thanatcha finally said, after
careful thought. “Would you allow it?”

“About your feelings…”

The question caught her off guard for a moment, but she managed to think
of an answer that wouldn’t be too cruel. After all, she had been nothing but
kind to her. To push her away again would be harder than before.

“I don’t think I could stop you anyway. It’s just…” She lowered her head
and let the words trail off.

“Mhm.”

Thanatcha nodded slowly, feeling relieved that at least this time she hadn’t
rejected her outright. That alone was enough to give her something to hold
onto.

Still, it left her wondering—especially about what had happened between

them. What did it mean for their relationship now?

“And about us… what happened last night, and today?”

“That matter…”

Nichapat cut in quickly, almost defensively, but no words came after.

Nothing felt like the right answer, so she left it hanging.

Silence settled between them. The hope that had quietly bloomed inside
Thanatcha withered in an instant. No matter how much she warned herself
not to expect anything, those small, tender moments they shared always
made her hope anyway.

“…It’s fine.”

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Thanatcha exhaled softly. She didn’t want to corner her or make her feel
burdened. Pressuring her would only ruin the fragile closeness they had
now.

Moments like this didn’t come easily. Saying more would only make things
worse.

“I know… when you have special feelings for someone, it’s not easy to
suddenly change your heart and like someone else,”

Thanatcha said, sounding resigned. She was always ready to understand,

even if deep down it left her feeling uneasy and hurt. She knew she had no
right to demand anything more.
“Just like how I feel about you.”

With that, she ended the conversation and stood up, intending to walk away.
But before Thanatcha could take a step, the other woman caught her hand.

Nichapat rose to her feet, meeting Thanatcha’s gaze. Then, without

hesitation, she stepped forward and pulled her into an embrace.

“Thank you… for having these feelings for me.”

Nichapat rested her chin on the other woman’s shoulder, soaking in the
comfort she didn’t want to let go of. It was hard even for her to tell what she
truly wanted.

There was a feeling she had carried in her heart for so long—one she had
placed too many hopes in to simply pull away from now. Yet she couldn’t
deny that someone else had begun to stir something inside her.

“For me… some feelings are hard to put into words right now. But I won’t
stop you from feeling the way you do anymore. I have no right to.”

Nichapat slowly loosened the embrace, letting her eyes carry the weight of
her words.

“Because I know… you feel it too. Just like I do.”

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha met the eyes looking back at her. It felt like freedom—the
chance to finally release the feelings she had been holding inside. In truth,
she had never been able to stop herself from feeling that way; she had only
learned to keep it quiet, to carry it silently, especially after being told not to
show it.

From now on, Nichapat might allow her to express those feelings more
openly. But that didn’t mean she felt the same in return.

As Nichapat slowly turned her gaze away and moved back to sit down, a
swell of gratitude—and a deep yearning to hold onto her, to make her hers
—overwhelmed Thanatcha.

Before Thanatcha could think twice, she stepped forward and wrapped her
arms around her from behind.

“If you don’t like her… would you like me instead?”

Nichapat wasn’t startled by the embrace. Surprised, yes—but she didn’t pull
away. Instead, she stood still, letting Thanatcha hold her, her body curling
slightly so that the arms around her tightened even more.

She hugged tighter, thinking again about that question. It was the kind of
question that could take time to consider, or be hard to answer. But instead,
it made her smile before she finally replied:

“Maybe it’s possible.”

Thanatcha felt her mood lift as she cleared the table and washed the dishes.
The tense atmosphere from earlier could have weighed her down, but in the
end, it wasn’t cruel to her. At the very least, Nichaphat’s answer made her
feel better.

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Sun Yan

It was far better than a rejection. Even though she still stood in the same
place, it felt as though Nichapat had taken a small step closer to her.

She told Nichapat to sit and wait wherever was comfortable while she
washed the dishes. At first, Nichapat refused, wanting to help. But when
Thanatcha gently pushed her by the shoulder and insisted she sit, she finally
agreed.

Nichapat sat at the front doorway, which was left open to let the breeze in.
She stretched her legs out onto the top step as she scrolled through her
phone, replying to someone’s message for a while.

JuneNichaP:
Let’s cancel our plan for now.
When we meet again, I’d like to talk in private.

It was a message she had sent yesterday, but it had only been replied to an
hour ago today.

"ll"WA"ll":
Why?
Is something wrong?

JuneNichaP:
Ask yourself—do you have something you need to tell me?

"ll"WA"ll":
What do you mean—something I need to tell you?

Normally, Wiphawa wasn’t this quick to reply. But right after Nichapat sent
her last message, her answer popped up almost immediately.

Nichapat didn’t even have time to type a response before another message
arrived, as if she had just taken two or three minutes to think it over.

"ll"WA"ll":
What did you find out?

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Sun Yan

JuneNichaP:
You already know. When you’re ready, answer me in person.

"ll"WA"ll":
Then let’s just meet as usua.

JuneNichaP:
No. A regular restaurant like we usually meet at… that’s not really
suitable anymore.

"ll"WA"ll":
Then I’ll choose another place. I’ll send you the details later.

At that point, Nichapat locked her phone with a sigh, her face tightening
with annoyance. She glanced toward the kitchen, where Thanatcha was
neatly stacking dishes.

Having someone else there helped ease her irritation. Resting her chin on
her hand, she found herself smiling faintly, admiring how natural Thanatcha
looked taking care of the house.

Later, Thanatcha had gone to shower and get dressed, she was nearly
finished cooking. She left the soup to simmer until it was ready, then
slipped away to shower before returning to serve the meal.

The food was set on the table, and Thanatcha scooped rice into a plate for
her, making sure Nichapat could eat without having to do anything.

Seeing this brought Nichapat’s thoughts back to her time with Wiphawa.
She couldn’t recall ever seeing this side of her. Yes, there were moments
when she served her food, but whenever it came to rice, she always called a
waiter to do it—even if the rice pot was right next to her.

Maybe it was because her life was always so busy. Whenever Wiphawa had
a little time to herself, she only wanted comfort and convenience. Over

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Sun Yan

time, she had grown used to being taken care of, so she never really offered
the kind of care that Thanatcha gave her.

Thanatcha, however, had her own hands and feet and could manage
everything by herself. She didn’t need anyone to look after her all the time.
But when Nichapat received genuine care—without even asking for it—it
made her realize the difference and see that kind of attention more clearly.

She kept watching until Thanatcha finished drying her hands and walked
toward her. When Thanatcha noticed her staring, she frowned slightly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Nichaphat smiled before turning her face back toward the outside. But
when her eyes drifted to her phone again, her expression tightened. Sitting
down beside her, Thanatcha noticed right away.

“I haven’t asked yet.”

Thanatcha had been thinking about this since last night. But with the good
moments they had shared today, she hadn’t found the right time.

“What happened that made you drink like that?”

“Ah… I haven’t told you?”

Nichapat answered casually, realizing she couldn’t even remember if she

had mentioned it before. Since finding out, she had only spoken about it
with her two closest friends. After drinking last night, she wasn’t sure
whether she had told Thanatcha or not.

“Mm. All I know is… maybe you were upset about something she did.”

Thanatcha recalled only one thing clearly—that moment Nichapat had

complained about how she never did the things Thanatcha did for her. After
that, it had spilled into other emotions.

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“She slept with someone else.” Nichaphat confessed plainly. “It wasn’t the
first time. But this time… it happened after she told me she’d never do it
again. That she’d make our relationship better than before. But two days
ago, I found out she slept with another woman again.” Nichaphat lowered
her head. “If she hadn’t promised me, maybe I wouldn’t be this angry,
right?”

“I remember you once told me she knew about… you and me.”

Thanatcha pressed her lips together, uneasy about saying it outright again.

“Yeah, she knows about us. Someone told her what happened at the hotel,
so she called me to meet. She begged me not to do it again. But before that
—honestly—for years, I never did anything like that. And when I finally
did… it was because I wanted to free myself from the weight of my parents.
Even then, she excused herself, saying she did the same because she was
single. If that was her reason, then what I did wasn’t wrong either, right?
But when she asked me to stop, I respected that. I never even thought of
doing it again. Yet when I found out she kept doing the same things—why
should I care about her anymore?”

“Mm.”

Thanatcha only murmured to show she was listening. If she gave her
opinion, she would need to think carefully—because her words might sound
like she was only defending herself.

“When I think about how she doesn’t seem to care, I start to feel like I don’t
want to care either,” Nichapat said distantly.

“And if you stop caring…”

Thanatcha chose to ask a question instead of sharing her opinion.

“What will you do next?”

She had meant to ask out of concern, but once the words left her mouth, it
felt almost selfish—like she was asking for herself.

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Sun Yan

But so be it. With matters like this, anyone could tell there was a hidden
hope beneath the surface. She couldn’t fool herself, and she certainly
couldn’t fool someone who already sensed her feelings.

“I didn’t tell her what I found out. I just told her to ask herself if there was
something she needed to tell me. And I think she already knows. No one
knows better than she does.”

Nichapat let out a small laugh, as if mocking the truth of it all.

“The next time we meet, I’ll find out what excuse she gives—and whether
she can do anything to make me trust her again.”

“You mean… you might give her another chance?”

The question slipped from Thanatcha’s lips in a rush, and only after did she
realize what she had revealed.

Nichaphat looked at the one who had blurted out that question. She could
hear the trace of disapproval in Thanatcha’s voice. But she couldn’t blame
her—if Thanatcha felt that way, it was only natural.

Still, she realized she might have said too much, forgetting how the person
beside her might feel.

“We’ve only just started having real problems,”

Nichapat explained softly, choosing her words carefully to protect the

other’s feelings.

“Before this, we always understood each other’s reasons. We were only

ever… talking, not officially together. And it was me who showed her how I
felt, even though she was free to like someone else if she wanted. But
instead, she opened her heart and treated me in a way that was different—
special—compared to anyone else. That’s why I chose to understand, and
why I was willing to wait until she was ready for us to truly be together.”

"....."

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha sat in silence, listening to every reason Nichapat gave. Her last
question had already pushed the boundary, and now she was afraid to speak
again—afraid her emotions might show.

Sitting there, she seemed to accept and understand, or at least that was how
it looked. So she stayed quiet.

“I feel like a fool, enduring this.”

Nichapat said, voicing the thought that had been circling in her head. She
wanted the other person to know she wasn’t blindly clinging to someone.

“I just think… loving someone with such strong feelings—when the day
finally comes that it’s truly works out—it must be such a beautiful kind of
happiness.”

A moment of silence fell between them, as if Nichapat’s words were slowly

sinking in. Thanatcha was absorbing them—and in doing so, they made her
think of herself.

“If that’s how you feel, then there’s nothing wrong with it.”

Thanatcha said softly, her head lowered. She could sense Nichapat turning
to look at her.

“That’s why I’ve been enduring too.”

She lifted her gaze, meeting Nichapat’s eyes with a seriousness she hadn’t
expected from herself. She didn’t even know when she had started thinking
this way, but now the words were spilling out...

“But I believe… that patience will come to an end someday.”

💖💖💖💖
sunyan

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🎀 22. Hesitant Desire 🎀

“I’ll go now.”

Nichapat said her goodbye after changing back into the clothes she had
worn yesterday.

“Mm. Get home safe,”

Thanatcha said in a calm tone that didn't seem very lively.

“Yeah.”

Nichapat nodded. She looked at the woman standing at the doorway to see
her off. After spending the whole night together and the following day until
evening, she felt a faint ache at the thought of leaving.

This place had made her feel at ease, and now it was unexpectedly hard to
say goodbye.

More than her own reluctance, she noticed the weary, world-tired look on
Thanatcha’s face. From that, she could guess how the other woman must be
feeling.

“Hey…”

She called gently, reaching out to take Thanatcha’s hand and stepping
closer. As she leaned in, however, Thanatcha turned her face away.

“Can’t we say goodbye without conditions this time?” Thanatcha’s words

drifted out softly.

“Conditions?”

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Sun Yan

Nichapat frowned, but only for a moment—then she understood.

This moment felt so much like that one. The morning after they had shared
their first night together, she had left Thanatcha in the very same way—
along with a condition forbidding them from meeting again. She had
walked away after sealing it with a farewell kiss.

But it had never truly been their last kiss…

And they had never been able to keep that promise.

Not because Thanatcha was the only one who broke the rule, but because
Nichapat herself had never been strong enough to hold to it.

And that was what she kept asking herself—why was it so hard to let go?

“I don’t have any conditions,”

Nichapat said, hoping to ease Thanatcha’s mind, to take away the weight of
this goodbye.

“And I’m not saying this will be the last time we see each other.”

She gave the hand she was holding a gentle squeeze, a faint smile appearing
when Thanatcha finally turned to look at her.

“We’ll see each other again.”

It was a farewell spoken with words completely different from back then.
Believing she had eased Thanatcha’s worries, Nichapat slowly released her
hand and turned to leave. But before she could take more than a step, her
hand was suddenly pulled back.

Someone tugged her firmly, and as she turned around, Thanatcha’s lips
pressed against hers. In the same breath, she was pushed back against the
door, which clicked shut behind them.

That time, Nichapat had left with only a light goodbye kiss. But this time,
Thanatcha kissed her with a weight that felt like it was sealing her in place,

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Sun Yan

refusing to let her go.

It was a sudden move—startling at first—but Nichapat didn’t resist. She

kissed back, returning to the familiar warmth of Thanatcha’s lips. She
parted them willingly, eyes closing as she surrendered to the kiss that
lingered long, as if weighed by the fear it might be their last.

But Nichapat shouldn’t have been the one worrying. The choice to return,
or not, rested with her alone. Yet suddenly, one line of Thanatcha’s words
echoed in her mind—words that stirred unease within her:

“But I believe… that patience has to end someday.”

The thought spurred her on. She lifted her arms, wrapping them around
Thanatcha’s neck, pulling her closer, urging her into a deeper, fiercer kiss.
Their lips pressed harder, a clash of longing that almost tempted her to lead
them back to the bed once more.

But it remained only a thought.

Their kiss, drawn out until both were satisfied, finally broke. Lips parted,
their eyes met, and slowly—almost reluctantly—they stepped back from
each other. They looked at one another with the unspoken weight of a real
goodbye.

And though they both knew they might meet again, this parting left behind
an even stronger longing than before.

The last time, she hadn’t had the chance to say anything before leaving—
not even to ask Nichapat to stay. She had accepted the condition set
between them and kept silent about her own desire. But this time, she
wanted to be the one to say it.

“Next time, if I get to kiss you again… I won’t let you go back to
anyone else.”

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Sun Yan

Returning home left Nichaphat feeling drained, even though she had spent
almost the entire day resting at someone else’s house. After greeting her
parents, she went straight upstairs and collapsed onto her own bed.

Perhaps it was because something still weighed on her mind, as though it

had consumed all her energy—the lingering issues with Wiphawa, and the
words that kept echoing in her head during the ride home.

“Next time, if I get to kiss you again… I won’t let you go back to anyone
else.”

The thought brought her back to that farewell kiss before they parted ways
today. Even now, the touch of it lingered in her senses—just as vividly as
the heated night they had shared, and the fiery morning that followed.

She didn’t know what to call this relationship anymore. At first, she had
intended to keep it free of ties, but somehow she had let it slip further and
further.

Once she had given in and shared a bed with Thanatcha, it had grown into a
closeness that couldn’t be dismissed. To call it a mistake would be a lie,
because deep down, it had been her choice. Everything that happened had
come from her own willingness—her own desire.

To label it as mere friendship now… would be far too cruel to Thanatcha’s

feelings.

“I believe… that patience has to end someday.”

That line suddenly resurfaced in her mind. She wanted to understand what
exactly it was that unsettled her so much. Was it only regret for someone
who had once treated her with such care? Or was it something else entirely?

The vibration of her phone pulled Nichaphat out of her thoughts. She turned
to glance at it, then picked it up and unlocked the screen. A message from
Wiphawa appeared.

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“ll WA ll”:
This Sunday afternoon I’ll be flying back to Bangkok.
Come see me here in the evening.

The two short lines were followed by a link. Curious, she tapped it and
found herself staring at photos of a luxury hotel suite.

She scrolled through the images, taking in the elegance of the room with
quiet surprise. When she closed the link, two more messages were waiting.

“ll WA ll”:
I booked it just for the two of us.
Let’s have drinks there together—just us—so we can be completely
private.

The words startled her. It was rare for her to ever have such an opportunity
with Wiphawa. Though they had met face to face before, it had always been
in public places.

For someone who had long been waiting for their relationship to take a step
forward, an invitation like this naturally filled her with joy.

Being given such special attention gave her hope, even if a small part of her
remained doubtful. Still, it felt like a rare chance for the two of them to
finally open up to each other.

If she could speak honestly—just once—then perhaps this shallow,

uncertain bond she had grown used to might begin to change.

But what she couldn’t ignore was the promise Wiphawa had once made:
that things would be different, that she would change. And this time, she
needed to know whether she truly could.

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She read the message again, just to make sure she hadn’t misunderstood.
But the moment her eyes returned to the final line, her heart suddenly began
to race.

“This way, please.”

The hotel staff member led Nichapat to the front of a suite and pressed the
doorbell.

“Please wait for the guest inside to open the door. Once you’re in, feel free
to enjoy your stay.”

“Thank you,”

Nichapat replied with a polite smile. She watched the woman in her light
brown uniform with gold accents walk away, then turned her attention back
to the door in front of her, waiting for it to open.

She had chosen a sleeveless, knee-length dress in a soft yellow shade,

trimmed with lace details. It wasn’t the most glamorous dress she owned—
the kind she might wear to a party—but it was just right for meeting
someone at a luxury hotel.

At last, the door clicked open. Stepping out was Wiphawa, dressed neatly in
a white shirt.

“You’re here,”

Wiphawa said with a smile, reaching for Nichapat’s hand. She gently drew
her inside before closing the door behind them.

Nichapat stood still, taking in the luxurious suite. A sleek gray sofa sat
nearest the entrance, its surface catching the light. The walls were a soft

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grayish-white, decorated with architectural details reminiscent of Roman

designs.

Beyond that was the open space of the room, where a square dining table
was set with glasses and drinks. On the right side, a large upholstered bed
with high-quality linens occupied the space, radiating understated luxury.

“Do you want to sit here first?”

Wiphawa asked, wrapping an arm around Nichapat’s back near the sofa.

“Or would you like to check out the balcony view first?”

“No, I’d like to talk with you first,”

Nichapat replied, her tone flat. She hadn’t forgotten the matter they needed
to clear up.

“Is that so? Sure—what do you want to talk about?”

Wiphawa guided Nichapat to sit on the sofa, giving her a gentle push on the
shoulder to settle her in. She sank down beside her, their bodies almost
brushing. But Nichapat shifted slightly, angling her hips to face Wiphawa
directly, ready to speak with a serious expression.

“Do you want to go first?”

“Talk…”

Wipawa’s expression showed a hint of worry, but she forced a small smile.

“You mean what happened with that woman at the hotel the other day,
right?”

“If it only happened once, I could tell which incident I mean. But if it
happened more than once since you returned…”

“Just once,” Wiphawa quickly interrupted. “Since coming back to Thailand,

it only happened that one time. When I went out of town, I wasn’t with

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anyone else. I admit it was a mistake—I let it happen after promising that I
would improve our relationship. To explain, that night I didn’t plan to meet
anyone for that. I had scheduled a meeting with a senior colleague, along
with two of their team members. The others left early, so we ended up
drinking at the bar. Since that colleague didn’t have a place to stay in
Thailand, they stayed there before flying back to Singapore the next day.
That night, once we had been drinking and she got drunk, I intended to take
her up to her room and then leave…”

“But you still let it happen,” Nichapat finished the sentence for her.

“Yeah.” Wiphawa nodded, acknowledging it. “I didn’t intend for it to

happen, but in the end… it did. It’s an old habit from being single for so
long. I’ve wanted to change, and I’ve always thought I’d fix myself first
before committing to someone. I know my life is like this—I don’t have
enough time for anyone, and I don’t want to tie someone down, making
them chase after my chaotic life. That’s why I didn’t want to rush our
relationship. Can you accept it, June, if we were in a relationship and I
couldn’t give you enough time?”

Nichapat listened quietly, seeming to understand, but she was still

dissatisfied that Wiphawa had broken her promise. She knew that true
change for someone takes time—and if that’s the case, then perhaps there
was no need for promises, no need to restrict her own freedom either.

“Because I know my own limits, I chose to let it be this way,” Wiphawa

continued. “I’ll wait until I’m ready and can offer more time. By then, I’ll
be able to give someone more than I can now. And when that time comes,
I’ll also want a serious relationship. And besides you, June… I haven’t
really been like this with anyone else.”

“Am I really more special than anyone else?”

Nichapat’s pout instantly softened into a pleading expression, her voice

tinged with a hint of complaint.

“Why wouldn’t you be?” Wiphawa laughed. “I’m sorry for what I did that
upset you. That’s why I said I wanted to change myself before being with

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anyone. But now I’ve changed my mind. I think it’s better to let someone
come in and help me change.”

“Help you change?”

“Mm,” Wiphawa smiled. “I want you, June, to be the one to change me.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Do you want to be the one to change me?”

Nichapat lowered her gaze. She wasn’t sure why a wave of hesitation had
come over her—normally this was exactly what she had been waiting for,
something she would have accepted immediately. But one of her own
secrets flashed into her mind.

“Actually…”

“Hm?”

“I did the same thing you did,”

Nichapat admitted, meeting Wiphawa’s eyes as she confessed.

“When I found out you did it again, I went and did the same with someone
else. Because if you’re single, then I’m single too.” She spoke plainly,
without hiding the truth.

“The same thing I did…” Wiphawa frowned. “Was it with the same
person?”

“Yes,” Nichapat nodded honestly.

“Then why that person? Or did you have feelings for them?”

“It was familiarity and trust,” Nichapat quickly explained.

“Not because you liked them?”

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“I like you,”

Nichapat said firmly, not startled by the question. This was the truth she
wanted to reaffirm.

“I’ve liked you for a long time. But if you’re making me lose hope in us, I
could end up liking someone else. Isn’t that my right?”

“And right now… you still like me, don’t you?”

Nichapat paused for a moment, studying a side of Wiphawa she had never
seen before—an expression filled with worry and a hint of pleading. Seeing
her like that made her smile.

“Then you better make me like you just as much as before. If you wait any
longer, who knows what could happen,” Nichapat teased.

“So it’s not too late,” Wiphawa said, her worried expression giving way to a
smile. “Then I’ll make sure you stop noticing anyone else.”

“What?” Nichapat laughed. “How are you going to do that?”

“You like me for who I am. I have something special for you. That’s why
you like me, right?”

Wiphawa said, taking Nichapat’s hand in hers.

“Something special for me?”

Nichapat said, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

“Come here,”

Wiphawa said, tightening her grip on Nichapat’s hand and leading her over.
Near the balcony door sat a keyboard, accompanied by a long bench that
could comfortably seat two. She guided Nichapat to sit beside her.

The closeness between them brought a warmth that made Nichapat’s heart
race. Sitting next to Wiphawa in front of the instrument she loved, she felt a

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flutter of excitement.

“You once told me you liked it when I played piano for you,” Wiphawa said
softly. “It’s been a long time since I’ve played for you like this… just the
two of us.”

Nichapat looked at Wiphawa, a soft smile spreading across her face. She
hadn’t expected Wiphawa to create such a private, personal moment just for
her.

“I probably can’t bring the piano here today, but this keyboard can at least
give you a beautiful tune. What song would you like to hear?”

“You get to choose the song, P'Wa. Play whatever you want to play for me,”
Nichaphat replied.

“I actually already have a song prepared for you,” Wiphawa said with a
smile, “but in case there’s another song you’d like to hear…”

“There isn’t,” Nichaphat said softly. “I’ll like whatever you play.”

“Then…”

Wiphawa smiled, placing her fingers on the keys and beginning to play a
slow, gentle melody.

It was the very song she had once sent Nichapat, promising to play it in
person when the chance came.

Nichapat watched Wiphawa’s hands glide effortlessly over the keys,

producing a melody that was both gentle and enchanting. Her gaze
wandered to Wiphawa’s face, which turned to look at her from time to time.

In that moment, Nichapat felt the full weight of the romance Wiphawa was
offering her.

She thought back to the first day they had met—how Wiphawa had made
her feel at ease by playing the piano, how that had been the beginning of
their getting to know each other.

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A warm sense of happiness and contentment filled her. Their story had been
unfolding with new, special moments that made her heart race.

After waiting so long for their relationship to develop, this felt like the step
forward she had been hoping for.

One song flowed into another as Wiphawa played for her, and Nichapat
found herself drifting, her head leaning lightly on her shoulder. In that
fleeting moment, a small wave of happiness washed over her, yet it was
tinged with a subtle emptiness she couldn’t quite explain.

Perhaps it was the unfamiliarity of being alone together, learning to adjust

to this kind of closeness. She knew that as they grew more comfortable with
each other, these moments might feel even more fulfilling.

Even so, the fact that Wiphawa was giving her this special time, fully and
sincerely, was already a reassuring signal to her heart.

The music shifted, moving from lively to slow, from gentle to lingering,
until it finally came to a quiet stop.

Wiphawa turned to look at the person leaning against her, then gently lifted
her chin to meet Nichapat’s gaze.

“June.”

Nichapat stared at the eyes and smile that radiated genuine affection, and
before she could hesitate or think too much, Wiphawa’s lips met hers.

It was something she had been waiting for all along. Slowly, her eyes closed
in delight, allowing her to take the lead. It was their first kiss together, a
moment of exploration and discovery, because it had never happened
before.

Wiphawa’s impatience soon showed. The soft, gentle kiss deepened into
one full of desire for her.

Strangely, Nichapat responded slowly, yet her heart raced in a way it never
had with Wiphawa before.

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Before she could guess whether it would end with just a kiss or go further,
Wiphawa had already pulled Nichapat to her feet and led her to the bed.

Nichapat’s mind went blank, swept away by the feelings she had harbored
for Wiphawa all along—feelings that had sometimes been expressed in
teasing, daring ways, inviting her closer. Now, those long-suppressed
desires urged her to willingly surrender.

Wiphawa guided her onto the soft bed, her lips reconnecting with
Nichapat’s, carrying forward the heat of their previous kiss. In her mind,
Nichapat pictured Wiphawa’s confidence and skill in intimacy, more
passionate and assured than she had expected.

“I told you I wanted to take things step by step,”

Wiphawa murmured, breaking the kiss to look down at Nichapat’s beautiful

face beneath her.

“But if you’re okay starting like this, we can learn more about each other as
we go.”

She spoke, letting Nichapat understand her reasoning, before pressing her
lips to hers again.

Nichapat reflected on Wiphawa’s words. She had no objections to however

their relationship might begin; as long as it became something clear and
defined, she was satisfied.

Yet strangely, her focus began to drift. She felt a twinge of unease at the
intimacy unfolding, and when Wiphawa pressed her face to her neck, her
eyes fluttered open. In her mind, an image of someone else intruded,
reminding her of a different, tender touch she had once known.

At times when she had felt that other woman’s passionate touch, her own
body had been filled with desire.

When she had been kissed, she hadn’t wanted to pull away.

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Sun Yan

When their eyes had met, she had longed to hold that gaze as long as
possible, returning it with the same intensity.

“P’Wa—”

Her voice slipped out, unable to resist the sensations that were flooding her.
She pushed against Wiphawa’s shoulder, twisting her body away from the
touch. Once free, she quickly sprang off the bed, speaking with a mix of
urgency and fluster.

“I’m sorry, P’Wa.”

Her breathing came in rapid bursts, unsure if it was from the interrupted
intensity or from another stirring of emotion.

“This… this isn’t what I want.”

Without waiting to think further, she walked over to grab her shoulder bag.

She grabbed her bag from the sofa and turned to the owner of the room,
who was watching her with a puzzled expression.

“I’m leaving now, P’Wa. I’m sorry I can’t stay.”

With that, she slung the bag over her shoulder, slipped on her shoes, and
opened the door, stepping out of the room.

Her steps along the hallway felt unsteady, a result of the whirlwind of
emotions and confusion she had just experienced.

She hurried, wanting to distance herself from the room—and from the
feelings that had just surged—but the rush was paired with a wandering,
distracted mind, making her movements uneven and scattered.

Her head was full of chaos, and her heart was in turmoil.

She had always thought she would feel joy when the day came that her
long-held desire was fulfilled.

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But now, standing exactly where she had imagined she wanted to be, she
realized that this… was not what she truly wanted.

💖💖💖
sunyan

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🎀 23. The One She Wanted 🎀

Book : Toss - Up (Take A Chance To Win Her Love)
Writer : Serenista
Released : 13 September 2020
Translator : Sun Yan (daphne.shn@gmail.com)

She pulled her cloth shoulder bag down onto her arm and opened it to
search for her house keys while walking from the bus stop near her alley,
almost home after a long day.

She had gone out for work, stopped to eat on the way back, and was only
just returning in the evening.

Thanatcha took out her phone from her jeans pocket when she felt it vibrate
slightly. But she sighed when she saw there were no messages—nothing she
had been hoping for.

It had been two days since Nichapat excused herself and left. There had
been no contact since. Maybe she was busy, caught up fixing problems with
someone else.

Or maybe it was because of what Thanatcha had accidentally said that day
—words that might have made Nichapat uncomfortable, as if she were
being pressured into feelings she wasn’t ready to face.

"Next time, if I get to kiss you again, I won’t let you go back to anyone
else."

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She wondered if saying that had been a mistake. But even if she could go
back, she wouldn’t take it back. If she couldn’t be firm about what she
wanted, then all she would have was empty hope, the same as always.

Even if it was a mistake, it was still better than never showing her true
feelings at all.

Thanatcha let out a deep sigh as she reached the front of her house. Just as
she was about to unlock the wooden gate, she remembered she hadn’t
locked it earlier.

That afternoon, a shop had delivered the soil and fertilizer she had ordered
online. Since she wasn’t home, she had asked them to place the bags inside
the gate, then made sure only the inner door was securely locked.

She had planned to check the delivery first thing, but instead was startled to
find someone sitting right in front of her door.

The face lifted as she pushed the gate open. For a brief second, Thanatcha
was startled—she hadn’t expected anyone to be sitting there. The woman in
the elegant dress quickly stood up when she saw her.

“You…” Thanatcha greeted, blinking at her. “What are you doing here?”

“The gate wasn’t locked,” Nichapat replied. “I came to see you, but you
weren’t home, so I just…”

“…waited for me?”

Thanatcha frowned slightly. She didn’t really think Nichapat was waiting
for anyone else. What surprised her was that Nichapat had suddenly shown
up without a word beforehand.

Still, whatever the reason, it wasn’t what she had feared—because in the
end, Nichapat had come to her.

She didn’t know how long Nichapat had been sitting there, but it must have
been a while. Feeling guilty for making her wait, Thanatcha quickly walked

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Sun Yan

past the beautiful figure, unlocked the front door, and turned back to invite
her special guest inside.

“Come in.”

“Have you eaten yet?”

Thanatcha asked her guest, leading her into the bedroom. She began
unpacking her cloth bag, placing everything neatly on top of the cabinet.

“Not yet. But I’m not hungry,”

Nichapat replied, her voice flat and emotionless.

“Really? Well, if you get hungry, let me know. I’ll find you something to
eat.”

Thanatcha was busy gathering up her long hair in front of the mirror.
Through the reflection, she saw Nichapat standing in the middle of the
room, still and expressionless, as if something was weighing on her mind.
Thanatcha turned around and walked over.

“What’s wrong?”

Nichapat lifted her gaze to meet hers. Reaching out, she cupped
Thanatcha’s cheeks with both hands, gently squeezing them.

“You went to see her, didn’t you? How did it go?”

Thanatcha asked, sounding as if she already knew. It was only a guess, but
what else could it be? Other than her parents’ problems—which had already
been settled—there was only that one issue left.

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Sun Yan

“Yeah. I went to see her,” Nichapat admitted with a small nod.

“I see.”

Thanatcha’s reply was flat. She didn’t want to show too much emotion, and
she didn’t want to press for details. But she couldn’t help caring about how
Nichapat felt.

“Was it… good?”

“She booked a hotel room and asked me to meet her there.”

The words left Thanatcha speechless. She lowered her gaze, not wanting to
imagine what might have happened—but only one thought filled her mind.
That was, until Nichapat spoke again.

“But I didn’t let her do anything.”

Her tone was calm, almost indifferent, though her eyes dropped as she
recalled what had happened.

“It started… but I was the one who stopped it.”

Thanatcha lifted her head in confusion, her expression dazed. Her voice
came out rough and unsteady.

“Why?”

“I couldn’t.”

Nichapat’s answer was honest, plain and simple—the truth of what had
happened. Speaking it out loud felt like a release.

“I don’t know why, but I just couldn’t let her.”

Thanatcha watched the face that refused to meet her eyes. She knew she
could never fully understand Nichapat’s thoughts—if Nichapat herself
didn’t know the reason, then how could she?

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But if she tried to guess, she feared she would only be biased toward her
own hopes. Because while Nichapat couldn’t let someone else touch her,
she had once allowed Thanatcha to.

That was why Thanatcha didn’t press her for an answer. Instead, she wanted
to help Nichapat search for it—together, to figure out why it was different.

She lifted her hand and gently touched Nichapat’s chin, coaxing her to raise
her face and meet her gaze. Her fingers trailed softly along her cheek,
stopping just near her ear.

“And if it were me…?”

Thanatcha whispered, her voice low and trembling, as she slowly leaned
closer. At that moment, Nichapat’s eyes finally lifted, locking with hers
once more.

She gazed with eyes like an innocent young woman, her expression
showing how enchanted she was by the soft whispers, the gentle touch of a
hand, and the longing look returned to her with desire.

When their lips drew close, Thanatcha gave Nichapat the chance to pull
away—if what lingered in her heart was only a feeling she could never truly
share with anyone else.

But it wasn’t like that. When her lips pressed against Nichapat’s, there was
no sign of rejection. Instead, Nichapat’s lips parted slightly and softly
pressed back against hers.

Counting silently—one, two, three—Thanatcha could not hold back any

longer, not when the person she kissed was willingly responding. This was
proof of what she had been seeking, though it would only become clearer
the more she dared to continue.

Their lips exchanged a familiar kiss, without any hesitation from either.
Nichapat happily accepted Thanatcha's kiss.

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As her body was pushed down and she slumped onto the bed, Thanatcha
gripped and pulled her shirt, squeezing it against her own. Her hands
pressed against the back of Nichapat's neck as her lips pressed kisses all
over her neck.

Thanatcha helped her remove her clothes as she took them off for her. The
next thing she knew, her body was completely naked, sending her emotions
spiraling.

Thanatcha's ragged breaths intermingled with the emotions, stimulating the

lust in her body. Her moans seemed pleading, but they were pleas that only
fueled the intense touch.

Nichapat loved every time Thanatcha's lips touched every part of her body.
It was a feeling of love that wasn't expressed through words.

It was the delicacy Thanatcha gave her, just like she did with her in every
other moment. Nichapat willingly let her taste every part of her body. And
when she was satisfied, she wanted to give her the same touch.

The beautiful figure leaned over the body that was arching over the soft
cushions, caressing the soft skin until it stopped at a point that stimulated
her arousal.

Finally, Thanatcha ran her hands down Nichapat's head, gently squeezing it,
and tilted her head back, releasing a groan from her throat.

It felt like she was about to die, but Nichapat was happy as Thanatcha's
beautiful face was busy with the top of her breasts, while her deep,
penetrating touch stimulated her to the bliss she desired from below. Their
desires came together, and let themselves be carried away by the intensity
of the moment.

The night was still young, far from the hour of drowsiness and rest. So
instead of stopping, they gave themselves to the long night ahead, without
counting the time, without caring when it might finally come to an end.

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.
Thanatcha woke up at half past five, after she and Nichapat had fallen
asleep around nine the night before. They had given in to their passion a
little too early, and after indulging in each other several times until they
were both exhausted, they drifted off to sleep in each other’s arms until
morning.

Now, fully rested, she felt like getting up to go to the bathroom, but she
didn’t want to move away from the beautiful body still holding her close.

They had slept soundly through almost the entire night. Even when she
stirred slightly as the other body pressed closer, she easily slipped back into
sleep, wrapped in the warmth of the blanket and her lover’s embrace.

Nichapat had fallen asleep clinging to her from the moment she collapsed
onto the bed, completely drained. Her slender arms held Thanatcha tight, so
Thanatcha shifted slightly to return the embrace.

At times during the night their arms loosened, their bodies shifted apart, and
at other moments they drew close again—until finally, without knowing
when, the beautiful body had once more pulled her into a loving embrace.

The bedroom was still dark, but everything could faintly be seen as the sun
began to climb over the horizon, its light slipping through the thin white
curtains that hung over the balcony doors.

Seeing that the other was still sound asleep with no sign of waking, she
didn’t want to disturb her. She could hold off going to the bathroom a little
longer, so she closed her eyes again, letting herself drift back to sleep.

She awoke once more at six o’clock, stirred by the gentle movements of the
body resting in her embrace.

When Nichapat woke up, the sky was already bright. Sunlight slipped
through the curtains, lighting up the room clearly. Her small movements

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Sun Yan

stirred Thanatcha awake. When Thanatcha opened her eyes and saw the
other’s face, they both remained lying still.

Thanatcha leaned her head back a little to look at the beautiful face gazing
at her. She reached out to brush away a strand of hair from Nichapat’s
cheek, tucking it gently behind her ear, and smiled softly.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Mhm.” Nichapat nodded lightly on the same pillow.

“You didn’t eat anything last night. Are you hungry?”

She asked with concern, remembering clearly that Nichapat had said she
hadn’t eaten yet but wasn’t hungry—and afterward, neither of them thought
about food again.

“I’m really hungry,”

Nichapat admitted honestly. She could feel her stomach growling. Waking
up early in the morning made her hunger obvious—or maybe it was
because she had used up too much energy.

“You’re hungry, aren’t you?” Thanatcha laughed. “Shall we get up? I’ll
make you something to eat.”

“Mm,”

Nichapat gave what sounded like agreement, but instead of getting up, she
moved closer, wrapping her arms around the one who was about to leave
for the kitchen. It was as if she didn’t want her to go anywhere—and she
herself didn’t want to get up yet either.

“What’s this?”

Thanatcha chuckled fondly, hugging the beautiful figure back. She pressed
her head gently and stroked her hair. “You said you’re really hungry, but
you won’t even get up.”

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The sulking girl stayed quiet, nestled under Thanatcha’s chin. She didn’t
want to leave this warmth. Yet deep down, she couldn’t stop questioning
herself—about what she had allowed to happen in a moment of confusion.

She had turned someone else away, only to come back to this person and
allow her to do what she had never let the other one do. That thought left
her wondering.

Wiphawa had something special that made Nichapat fall for her—
something Thanatcha didn’t have. But Thanatcha, in turn, had a different
kind of special, one that gave Nichapat warmth, which Wiphawa could
never provide.

She was confused. Who did she truly care for? Was it really possible to fall
in love with someone in such a short time, while secretly liking another
person for years? She asked herself what could make her feelings change so
easily, as if her heart could be swayed without resistance.

Could she really turn away from the long relationship she had with
Wiphawa, after holding on to it so tightly for so long?

It had once seemed impossible—but now, in her confusion, it almost felt

easy. Wiphawa was still there, arms open, ready to welcome her back, loyal
to the feelings she had carried all along. Yet she had just run away from
that, not even knowing what she might be losing.

And if she were to go back now, to face her with an apology, she knew she
would end up hurting someone else. Thinking it through, that wasn’t what
she wanted—not now. Because at this moment, she still wanted to stay right
here, in the arms of the one holding her.

“Shall we eat something first? Then we can come back and cuddle again,”

Thanatcha said as she gently stroked the back of the one lying still.

Her words pulled Nichapat out of her confusing thoughts and made her
laugh instead. She loosened her arms to look at the face of the person who

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cared so much about whether she was full or not—and found herself
amused by the suggestion of going back to cuddle afterward.

In truth, Thanatcha didn’t really want to get up either, but she was worried
Nichapat might go hungry and end up with a stomachache.

Seeing that kind of attention given to the offer, she quickly agreed.

“Mhm, let’s eat then.”

💖💖💖💖
sunyan

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Sun Yan

🎀 24. Caring About Her Feelings

🎀
“You must be really hungry,” Thanatcha said while having breakfast, sitting
across from Nichapat, who was already on her second bowl of rice
porridge.

“Yeah, I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten anything since last night,”

Nichapat said, her mouth full, yet somehow still looking more cute than
messy.

Thanatcha smiled. She felt fond and pleased seeing someone enjoy the food
she had made. She thought Nichapat could probably handle a third bowl.

“So what were you doing that you didn’t get to eat?”

“We made an appointment to talk, and then…”

Nichapat hesitated to explain. After she woke up that day, she felt guilty
towards Wiphawa for running away from her like that, even though she had
gone to the trouble of booking a nice room to spend private time with her.

But at that moment, she had been confused and didn’t dare face her, so she
had left to gather herself.

“And when I came out of there, I just came to wait for you.”

“Really?”

Thanatcha put down her chopsticks, crossed her arms, and leaned back in
her chair, giving the person in front of her plenty of space to finish eating.

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Sun Yan

“And you? Where did you go?”

Yesterday, when she arrived at the house and saw the owner wasn’t home,
she didn’t dare call to bother her and ended up waiting for almost an hour.

“Me?” Thanatcha repeated the question. “I went to help decorate a room for
a junior at university.”

“Decorate a room for a university junior?”

“Yeah. A friend recommended me. She had already looked at some furniture
and wanted to redecorate the dorm she just moved into, so she asked me to
guide her when choosing things. Now the stuff is all in, but she’s not good
at this kind of thing, so she asked me to help arrange and decorate the
room.”

“You went to help decorate her room?” Nichapat’s eyebrows furrowed

slightly. “For free?”

“For free? No way. It’s a job. She contacted me to hire me from the start. I
don’t do anyone’s room for free just because they’re a junior of someone I
know. Otherwise, everyone would start expecting free work. Besides, I
didn’t even know her before.”

“Really? Is she a girl?”

“Yeah, a girl.”

.
sunyan's note:
(**Thai language does not specifically indicate whether ‘he’ or ‘she’.)

“So, did you go alone? Who was with her?”

“I went alone. It was just the room owner and me—no one else.”

“Just the two of you?”

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Sun Yan

Nichapat straightened up, her expression tightening with worry.

“Well, we needed space to decorate the room. You can’t do that with a
bunch of people around.”

“But still… you two are strangers to each other, right?”

Thanatcha went quiet, noticing Nichapat’s anxious expression. She found it

a little surprising to see such tension in the middle of a casual conversation.

“Oh, so what if we’re strangers? After a little while, we’d get along fine.”

This time, Nichapat fell silent. Her anxious expression softened into a tense,
stiff look before she bent over her bowl and quietly shoveled rice into her
mouth.

Thanatcha watched her, starting to understand the shift in mood from earlier
restlessness to this quiet tension.

“Is something wrong?”

“Do you still have to decorate that room? And… do you have more
appointments like this with other people?” she asked without looking up.

Thanatcha smiled. She was about to ask more but paused, thinking carefully
before speaking.

“What kind of question is that?”

She reached out and gently pressed her hand against the other’s forehead,
making Nichapat lift her head quickly and glare.

“I was working, not… doing anything else with them,” Thanatcha said.

Nichapat raised an eyebrow, surprised that Thanatcha seemed to understand

her thoughts—she had deliberately asked to express her concern, but now
seeing that she knew, she was startled.

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Sun Yan

“Yesterday’s work is done. And even if there’s a job like that again, I’m not
thinking anything of it. See? I told you—I don’t think of my clients that
way.”

“But you once said it could happen… if—”

“No one knows that I like girls. I don’t express my interest to anyone..”

“And what if you… suddenly were interested—”

Before she could finish, Thanatcha suddenly used her chopsticks to shove
food into her mouth, cutting her off.

“Eat it all,”

Thanatcha said, feeding her a large piece of minced pork wrapped in

omelet. Nichapat grumbled but swallowed it. Thanatcha then picked up
another bite-sized piece of omelet she had cut, holding it ready to feed her
next.

“I’m not interested in anyone else, you know.”

She watched Nichapat chew slowly, her face initially confused but then
relaxing as she heard Thanatcha’s next words.

“I’m not going to be interested in anyone else, anyway, since I already have
a girl who keeps coming to see me.”

“Pok-Kao,”

Nichapat shouted as she lay on her side, leaning on a pillow and playing
cards with Thanatcha. After finishing washing the dishes, she had found a
deck of cards on the cabinet and grabbed it to play together on the bed.

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Sun Yan

“What is this?” Thanatcha grumbled. “Old-fashioned.”

“Yay!” Nichapat teased. “Treat me to a snack if you lose.”

“Gambling, huh?” Thanatcha wrinkled her nose. “Fine, I’ll treat you. Let’s
make a bet: whoever wins once can ask for anything.”

“Anything?” Nichapat repeated. “Like… what?”

“Anything you want. But I already have something in mind,”

Thanatcha said with a sly smile, quickly shuffling the deck again.

“Oh really? Then I’ll flick your forehead.”

“Really? Fine,” Thanatcha drawled, accepting the challenge, and began

dealing two cards to each of them. “Want to draw another?”

“No,”

Nichapat said with a confident smile, making the other start to suspect she
had a good hand.

“I’ll draw.”

Thanatcha reached for a card from the deck, looked at it, shook her head
slightly, and placed it down.

“Six.”

“Seven!”

Nichapat quickly topped her, laying two cards on the bed and shifting her
body, ready to flick Thanatcha’s forehead.

“Come on.”

“What? I won again?”

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Sun Yan

The loser groaned, then reluctantly leaned forward to let the winner flick
her forehead.

“Ah!” she exclaimed softly as the flick made a popping sound. “You flick
hard! Wait a minute.”

“Something wrong? Threatening me?” Nichapat teased. “Deal again.”

“No, you deal this round. Every time I deal, you get lucky.”

“Fine,” the winner said, quickly shuffling the deck and dealing two cards
each. “No drawing?”

“I won’t draw either,”

Thanatcha said this time, a smile on her face, feeling like this round might
be hers.

“Trying to get revenge?” Nichapat teased as she laid her two cards down,
feeling victorious. “Pok-Kao!”

“Pok-Kao?” Thanatcha looked at her King paired with a nine, then placed
her two cards down. “Double Pok-Kao.”

“What?” the new loser shouted. “How did you get that?”

“Taking turns with luck,” Thanatcha laughed. “Double means you get two
requests.”

“How is that possible?” Nichapat shrugged.

“Of course! Next round, you can get a double too,”

Thanatcha said, gathering all the cards and stacking them behind herself.
She then leaned toward Nichapat, who was lying on her side. “Now pay up
for my double.”

“What?” Nichapat’s eyes widened as she was suddenly pushed back and
pinned slightly. “What are you doing?”

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Sun Yan

“We’ll see,”

Thanatcha said, lowering herself between Nichapat’s long legs and lifting
the large T-shirt Nichapat had borrowed up over her torso.

“What do you mean, ‘we’ll see’?”

Nichapat protested, as Thanatcha pressed her nose against her flat stomach,
nuzzling to tease her into squirming. She wiggled and squirmed, laughing
as she tried to escape, while Thanatcha continued to playfully nuzzle her.

“N-no, don’t do that! It tickles!”

Nichapat laughed loudly, trying to roll away, but Thanatcha held her in
place. After a moment, Thanatcha climbed up, burying her face in
Nichapat’s neck and nuzzling her nose, making the tickling worse.

“T-Tense… stop! Enough!”

Nichapat tried to push Thanatcha’s head away, still laughing uncontrollably.

Thanatcha teased her a little more before pulling her face back, worried that
Nichapat was struggling to breathe. The earlier mixture of shouting and
laughter turned into soft, steady breaths once she didn’t have to squirm
away.

“You’re so naughty,”

Nichapat said, pushing Thanatcha’s head away with all her strength. When
Thanatcha’s face came close again, Nichapat playfully pinched both her
cheeks.

“Ow! You won! How can you pinch me?”

“That doesn’t count,” Nichapat let go. “Cheater! You stopped playing cards
just to mess with me. So, what’s the other request?”

“The other request?”

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Sun Yan

“W-wait! Not like this!”

“It’s just a simple request.”

“For what?”

“Spend the night with me again tonight.”

“No way,” Nichapat refused immediately. “I didn’t go home last night, and
the night before that too… Mom would be so upset.”

“She knows you’re staying over with me, doesn’t she?”

“Yeah, she knows. But if it’s too often, she’ll find a reason to scold me.
Better to keep it reasonable.”

“Really?”

Thanatcha pouted, then flopped down in bed, feeling annoyed.

“What’s wrong?”

NichapNichapathat laughed. Just then, her eyes caught the movement on

her phone lying precariously on the pillow. She quickly picked it up to
check, since she had barely paid attention to it since last night. She saw a
message from her mom and hurried to read it.

Mom:
A bouquet of flowers was delivered to the house.

Mom:
Did Tense send it? Why would she? Aren’t you together?

After reading the message, Nichapat quickly sat up straight. She read it
again, looking shocked.

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Sun Yan

“What?” Thanatcha asked, surprised.

“Mom said a bouquet of flowers was sent to the house. Mom thought it
was from you, but she wondered—if we were together, why would
someone send flowers?”

Nichapat replied anxiously.

“So… who sent it?” Thanatcha asked, sitting up to look at her.

“I think…” She looked at the other person tensely before answering

honestly.

“It’s probably from P’Wa. She sent flowers last time too. Mom thought it
was from you, so I just went along with it.”

“Oh,” Thanatcha acknowledged, then looked away. “Do you want to hurry
back and check?” she asked without looking at her.

Nichapat noticed her attitude. If she had to go back, it wasn’t because she
was desperate to have the flowers—but because she worried her mom might
find something that revealed the bouquet came from someone else.

“I’m afraid there might be P’Wa’s name on the card, or something she
wrote, and Mom will find out,” she said, her voice anxious. “I need to go
back and check.”

“Mm,”

Thanatcha murmured, glancing back at Nichapat once more. Now that she
understood her reason, she realized she hadn’t thought of it that way at first.
If Nichapat wanted to go back for that reason, she had no objection.

“Then go check quickly.”

“Mm.”

Nichaphat nodded, feeling relieved when she saw a faint smile on

Thanatcha’s face. At least it seemed she wasn’t disappointed. She didn’t

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Sun Yan

expect Wiphawa to send flowers, thinking she might even be angry with
her.

But then she considered another possibility: maybe it was her way of
feeling sorry for what she did, and the flowers were meant as an apology.

Nichapat moved as if to get out of bed, but realized she didn’t want to end
this moment so soon. She had planned to stay here all day, and not wanting
it to end, a sudden thought came to her.

“Do you want to come with me?”

Nichapat asked with a smile, hoping Thanatcha would join her.

“Mom was asking about you, wondering when you’d be coming over again.
Do you want to come with me?”

💖💖💖💖
sunyan

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Sun Yan

🎀 25. Two Feelings 🎀

Book : Toss - Up (Take A Chance To Win Her Love)
Writer : Serenista
Released : 13 September 2020
Translator : Sun Yan (daphne.shn@gmail.com)

“Oh, you’re back already?”

Naphitta greeted her daughter, who was opening the gate to enter the house.
She was watering the plants in the garden. Seeing who had come with her
daughter, she smiled and quickly invited the guest in.

“It’s been a few days since we last met, Tense. Come inside first.”

“Hello, ma'm. I hope you’re doing well,”

Thanatcha said, respectfully greeting her girlfriend's mother. Even though

their relationship was still just for show, she played the role so convincingly
that it felt real.

“I’m fine—just sitting, lying down, watching TV, watering the plants here
and there. My shoulders and back ache, the usual for someone getting
older,” Naphitta complained.

“You’re not old at all, ma'm. These days, young people get aches and pains
easily too,” Thanatcha replied with a smile.

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Sun Yan

“You’re quite the sweet talker. By the way, why did you send a bouquet to
June?”

“Oh,”

Thanatcha said with a slight, awkward smile before answering, having

thought of a response.

“I ordered it yesterday to be delivered today, but I didn’t expect June to

come, so it wasn’t really a surprise,” she laughed.

“Really?” Naphitta laughed. “You really do put in the effort, don’t you?
Last time you sent flowers too. Even though you’ve been dating for a while,
you still have to be this sweet often? It’s like you just started dating and
need to score points with flowers.”

“Well…”

Thanatcha looked at Nichapat, about to answer, but Nichapat spoke first.

“Even when you’re already in a relationship, you can still be sweet, Mom.
Tense is just that kind of romantic,” she said with a smile.

“Oh, I just realized that women can be this sweet too. But it’s true, women
usually have this kind of sweet side,”

Naphitta said, tilting her chin slightly, as if recalling something.

She had to accept the relationship but didn’t reject it.

“Let’s go inside. I’ve put the bouquet in your room, so you can go see it
yourself.”

“Yes, Mom,”

Nichapat nodded. She quickly took Thanatcha’s hand, walking together into
the house to avoid answering any more questions. Half-walking, half-
running, she led her private guest to her own room. Seeing the bouquet on
the bed, she hurried over to look at it.

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Sun Yan

She lifted the bouquet for a quick glance, then moved it aside to check if
anything was underneath. She saw a gold envelope on the bed, tightly
sealed. She sighed in relief—it hadn’t been opened yet, and it had been
delivered discreetly.

“What a relief.”

“The flowers are pretty,”

Thanatcha said, standing with her arms crossed, watching from a distance.
She looked at the pink flowers mixed with large white ones—big enough
that if the sender held them up, their face would be completely hidden while
smelling them.

Nichapat turned to look at Thanatcha, who was holding the bouquet in her
arms with the gold envelope in her hand.

“I’m not as romantic as you said, and I’m not the one who sent the
flowers.”

“Does being romantic have to mean sending flowers?”

Nichapat said. She placed the bouquet and the gold envelope on the bed.

“When I said that, I was just talking about who you are, not the flowers. I
only said it so Mom would understand.”

“Am I really like that?”

Thanatcha asked calmly, with a modest expression.

“I’m not judging by just one bouquet. I judge by what you’ve done for me.”

“What I’ve done for you…”

“If you weren’t modest, you’d probably know your own nature… maybe
you just don’t realize what counts as romantic,”

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Sun Yan

Nichapat smiled. She picked up the gold envelope again, took scissors from
the drawer, cut along the edge, and pulled out what was inside. There was a
card with a painted flower design in Pantone colors, and on the back, a
handwritten message from Wiphawa.

June,

I messed up again... You told me to try it that way, so I did—but I didn’t

realize it would go against what you wanted. I was probably too hasty and
didn’t consider your feelings at the time, so it became the same mistake
again.

I want to make it right. I need to truly understand what you want—how you
really want things to start and how you want them to go.

This bouquet is another apology from me. I also want you to come and hear
the piano from me—the piano that will erase all the bad feelings you have.

I’m sending you a VIP pass. This pass lets you invite up to five close
friends. I’ve reserved seats for you. You can invite anyone you like—friends
or anyone you want.

After the show, I’m having a special party, and I’d really like you to come.
It would be great if you brought your friends too—come in big numbers if
you can.

See you,

Wa

.
.

Nichapat stood still after reading the message. Seeing that Wiphawa was
trying to make amends like this made her feel even more guilty, because she
had run away like that and hadn’t stayed to talk things through with her.

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Sun Yan

Wiphawa repeated attempts to make things right showed that she was
gradually giving her more importance, while her own excitement about it
was fading.

Nichapat had her reasons, and it seemed like she understood them, but she
was still confused and needed clarity about her own feelings.

She picked up the invitation to the music show she had seen advertised a
few times. It was a sturdy, horizontal card, about the length of her palm.
She flipped it over briefly, then slipped it back into its envelope, thinking
about who she should invite.

She didn’t feel excited enough to really want to go, but she had to—so that
her mistake with Wiphawa wouldn’t remain unresolved. She knew she
needed to talk to her, even though she didn’t yet know what to say. She just
knew she had to go.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed movement behind her. Slowly, she
turned to see the person standing there with a calm expression, though her
eyes showed worry. That made her realize she needed to address the matter
directly.

“She sent me an invitation to her performance this weekend.”

“You’re going, right?” Thanatcha asked in a flat tone, glancing down.

“I have to. There’s still unfinished business between us. I ran away from her
like that, and I can’t just let her feel guilty all by herself.”

“Mm,”

Thanatcha nodded, looking a little downcast, then slowly gave a small

smile.

“Then go, if you feel you have to.”

Thanatcha smiled again, then turned to walk toward the balcony—but

someone stepped up behind her and hugged her from behind.

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Sun Yan

She froze, stunned for a moment at the sudden embrace. She blinked,
looking at the arms wrapped tightly around her waist, holding the golden
envelope. Then she heard the person say something she hadn’t asked for—
but it still felt good to hear.

“Come with me,” Nichapat said in a coaxing voice.

"....."

“I want you to come with me.”

Soft classical music played in the background of the large music hall, where
international musicians had come to perform live. There would also be an
orchestra.

Thailand’s top musicians were performing, including a solo piano

performance by a professional pianist whom Nichapat knew well.

Today, Nichapat wore a yellow off-shoulder top paired with a short white
pleated skirt. She stood outside the venue, waiting for Thanatcha. After only
ten minutes, Thanatcha arrived, and the two of them walked into the event
together.

“Have you eaten yet?” Nichapat asked.

“Just a little to tide me over. I probably won’t get hungry before the show
ends,” Thanatcha smiled.

She felt a little tense being at the event. It wasn’t her first time attending a
music performance, but this time felt different. Before, she had been the one
chasing after Nichapat.

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Sun Yan

Today, they were walking together and would watch the performance side
by side. Yet one thing remained the same—she was still following her heart
toward Nichapat, though it no longer felt like such an effort.

She was not sure why decided to come to this event, following Nichapat’s
invitation, even though it’s actually a meeting between Nichapat and
Wiphawa. But because Nichapat told her that she just wanted to resolve
some unfinished issues, she asked her to come along.

She didn't know if it was out of concern for her feelings or for some other
reason, but perhaps it felt easier than leaving Nichapat to meet someone
else and reconnect with them as before, while she had to sit at home
imagining that pain. So, she decided to come.

She came for her own peace of mind, even though she had to feel
uncomfortable and worried about Nichapat meeting Wiphawa.

Right now… she didn’t want to let Nichapat run back to Wiphawa again,
because she had given her so much hope, and she herself had already
become deeply involved in that relationship.

If she were to be disappointed, it would be something she’d have to accept

—but she didn’t want to accept it.

“June,”

A voice greeted from behind, making both of them turn at the same time.
They saw Satitha walking toward them with Ansaya, which made Nichapat
smile with happiness.

“Sa, An,” she greeted her friends.

“Oh, Sa! You came! At first, I thought you weren’t going to come at all.”

“My mom asked me to take care of something at the hotel. I thought it

would take a long time, but it was quicker than I expected, so that’s how I
got here. So, have you been here long?”

Satitha smiled and asked her friend, then turned to look at Thanatcha.

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Sun Yan

It felt a little strange seeing Thanatcha here, at the event where her close
friend’s crush would be performing on stage.

From what she’d gathered in earlier conversations—when Nichapat called

to invite her and Ansaya was on the call with them—her friend had been
making some decisions and venting about how her relationship with
Thanatcha was getting complicated.

She was even starting to worry about Thanatcha’s thoughts. So, when it
came to meeting Wiphawa to make amends on the day Wiphawa wanted to
invite many friends, she had brought Thanatcha along for peace of mind.

That was why Nichapat had called to “get a friend” to come watch the
performance together. Being in a group would be more comfortable than
having Thanatcha come alone while she had to face Wiphawa.

“I just got here a little while ago. Do you guys want to go in and sit? The
show starts in half an hour.” Nichapat replied.

“Oh, there’s still time. No rush. When we meet, I want to talk first. Hey
Tense, we still have to meet next week.” Ansaya said.

“Where?” Nichapat asked quickly.

“It’s about me. I arranged to meet Tense at my house,”

Ansaya teased, making a playful face at her anxious close friend.

“Meeting at your house again?”

It wouldn’t be a big deal if it were just with friends, except that Ansaya had
once teased her, saying she would flirt with Thanatcha if she didn’t want her
herself.

“I’m coming too,” Nichapat said.

“Who invited you? I need to think about it first.”

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Sun Yan

“With a friend like me, you never need to think. Don’t even try to hesitate,”
Nichapat said, gently squeezing her arm.

Then, the vibration of her small purse phone made her glance down. She
picked it up and saw that Wiphawa was calling. She paused for a moment,
then looked at Thanatcha and her friends before answering.

“Yes, P’Wa,”

Nichapat said—her first time speaking to her since that day.

“So, I’ll hear from her after the event?”

Nichapat repeated what he had said.

“Oh… that should be fine. Should I invite everyone? Is that okay? If it’s
okay, then fine. Alright, see you then,”

She finished, hanging up the phone, putting it back in her bag, and looking
up at her friends.

“Did she call?” Ansaya asked.

“Yeah. She invited us to stay for the after-party. She reserved a private table
near the bar in the adjacent building. Let’s go, so we can stay together.”

Nichapat said, then glanced at Thanatcha, who gave her a brief look before
turning her eyes elsewhere.

“Shouldn’t be a problem. The event ends at 8:30, staying until 9 or 10

should be fine,” Satitha said.

“Like we never used to stay at clubs until 1 a.m. back in school,”

Ansaya laughed. She glanced at Thanatcha, who didn’t respond and seemed
to be looking at something else. After a while, she walked away, seemingly
having noticed someone.

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Sun Yan

Nichapat quickly turned to look when the person beside her walked away.
She saw Thanatcha walking toward a woman and lightly tapping her
shoulder to get her attention. When they saw each other, they greeted each
other warmly.

The woman was attractive and a little sexy. It wasn’t clear if she was a
client or a friend. Their conversation caught Nichapat’s attention, and she
kept glancing over for the three minutes they talked. After that, Thanatcha
invited the woman to join them.

“You were talking about the after-party, right? Can I bring a friend along?”

Thanatcha smiled and looked at Nichapat, then turned to the woman with
her.

“A friend?”

Nichapat gave a small smile to the new woman. Seeing that she was
beautiful and seemed close to Thanatcha, and that Thanatcha had personally
invited her, Nichapat felt a little annoyed but, out of politeness, didn’t
refuse.

“Sure, that’s fine. Let’s go together.”

💖💖💖💖
sunyan

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Sun Yan

🎀 26. Choices of the Heart 🎀

Nichapat and Thanatcha were waiting for their two friends, who had
excused themselves to go to the bathroom.

The two of them stood near the entrance to the hall, waiting to watch the
performance, which would start in about ten minutes.

Around the area were posters of music groups, including posters of the
special musicians performing that day, and a TV screen playing promotional
videos of international musicians. The video eventually showed a short
interview with a Thai pianist.

Nichapat stopped to watch the TV, her gaze fixed on the person being
interviewed, switching between her and clips of her performance.

Thanatcha watched with her for a moment, then slowly turned to look at her
—Nichapat eyes locked on the screen without blinking.

Even though her brow was slightly furrowed, as if lost in thought while
watching her, it was clear that she was giving attention to someone she had
liked for a long time.

At first, she wanted to come along at Nichapat’s invitation, and there hadn’t
been any problem. But ever since Nichapat got a call from Wiphawa, who
invited her to the after-party as well, she had felt a little annoyed.

It was uncomfortable to think about being in the same space as that person.

This person had been her romantic rival for the past year, ever since she had
secretly liked Nichapat—a rival she had always felt was so far ahead of her
that she didn’t dare compete.

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Sun Yan

But now… she wasn’t so sure.

She and Nichapat had more chances to be close than she did.

Yet in the end… Nichapat might still hold the same feelings for her.

“You like her because she plays the piano well, don’t you?”

Thanatcha suddenly asked, almost absentmindedly.

Nichapat snapped her head around at the question. Her brows knitted even
tighter than before, and she answered.

“From the beginning, that was one of the reasons I liked her.”

She just wanted to answer honestly, according to her true feelings.

Thanatcha’s question surprised her—she had been quiet and distant for a
while, and then suddenly asked something like that.

“Hmm,”

Thanatcha nodded slowly, still watching the TV, which had now switched to
a video of an international actor. She thought for a moment, then spoke
what had been on her mind.

“Ever since I secretly liked you and knew who you liked, I’ve always
thought I could never compete with her.”

Thanatcha eyes stayed on the TV screen as she spoke, before turning to

look at Nichapat, who was watching her.

Nichapat listened to Thanatcha, her brows still furrowed.

“When we got closer,” Thanatcha said with a faint smile, “I started thinking
that there’s only one way to make you like her less—and that’s to make you
like me more.”

Their eyes met. Thanatcha’s face still held a faint smile, which softened
further as he spoke the next sentence.

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“But right now… I think I might be hoping for too much.”

After saying this, she averted her gaze, just in time to notice Nichapat’s two
close friends walking toward them.

Thanatcha stepped aside and led the way to the entrance of the hall, leaving
Nichapat standing there, feeling as if she were frozen in place—if not for
her two friends coming over to greet her.

“June, we’re all set. Let’s go inside.”

Nichapat tore her eyes away from Thanatcha and looked at her friends,
forcing a small smile despite her unsettled mood.

“Mm.”

The performance began with a show by Thai musicians, opening the stage
before passing it on to international musicians, who performed several sets
in succession, showcasing the skill of professional artists.

Nichapat sat in the sixth row, on the left side facing the stage. She had
Thanatcha sit by the aisle, while she took the seat next to her so she could
also sit next to her close friend, who was in the next seat over. Satitha sat
beside her, and Ansaya took the innermost seat.

They all watched the performance attentively, and no one felt sleepy as they
enjoyed the spectacular music from the large ensemble. Even Thanatcha
seemed to like the show.

However, Nichapat began to lose focus halfway through the performance.

She shifted slightly, feeling a bit cold from the air conditioning in the hall.

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Leaning her arm on the armrest, her elbow lightly brushed against
Thanatcha’s. For a brief moment, they glanced at each other.

Thanatcha looked away first, and Nichapat turned her attention back to the
stage. Yet she couldn’t help sneaking glances at her face. She made a small
frown as she recalled her words before the performance started.

"There’s only one way to make you like her less—and that’s to make you like
me more."

She remembered those words. That words revealed a deep side of

Thanatcha’s feelings. She understood well what it was like to secretly like
someone—it was painful to hope for something that might never happen.

For her, it had been simpler, because the person she liked wasn’t interested
in anyone else; she only had to pretend to ignore her own freedom.

But for Thanatcha, it was different. She secretly liked her while she already
had someone else in her heart. The difficulty lay in trying to open her heart,
which was already occupied. Just getting her to open up was hard enough—
making her stop liking someone else would be even harder.

But what Thanatcha had done so far might already be more than halfway
toward her goal, and the one who could define the situation best was
Nichapat herself.

“But right now… I think I might be hoping for too much.”

Nichapat realized that because she was still dealing with matters involving
Wiphawa, it could make Thanatcha feel that way. Her words sounded like a
quiet lament, as if she had already half resigned herself to the outcome.

But now… the person who knew best was Nichapat herself. She had been
questioning her own feelings, trying to figure out who she truly cared for. It

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was still hard to tell whether she liked Wiphawa any less, the way
Thanatcha wished.

Yet there was one thing she could answer for herself.

Her slender hand slowly moved to where she wanted it to go. When it
lightly touched Thanatcha’s hand, she glanced down briefly. Then she
gently pressed her hand against hers, holding it loosely, as if unsure.

When she moved her hand slightly and interlaced her fingers with her,
Thanatcha tightened her grip, holding her hand firmly.

The cold seemed to ease a little, replaced by the warmth of their joined
hands. Their eyes remained on the stage, pretending nothing had happened,
yet inside, their hearts were quietly racing together.

Satitha happened to glance over and notice them while shifting her hips to
sit more comfortably. She quickly nudged Ansaya and gestured for her to
look at their friend, who was holding someone else’s hand.

The two of them exchanged sly, knowing smiles, tinged with a hint of
playful jealousy.

Nichapat had no idea how her two friends were reacting to something she
didn’t even know they had seen. She was focused on the performance on
stage, warmed by the touch of Thanatcha’s hand intertwined with hers.

Though her eyes were on one thing and her feelings on another, her mind
was busy with an inner conversation—one that had just led her to a clear
answer for herself and for Thanatcha.

“I don’t like her any more… I don’t like her any less. But right now… I
think I like you more than her.”

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The chatter of people filled the area in front of the music hall. After the
performance ended, guests gradually stepped outside to talk in small
groups. Some stopped by the restroom, but most were heading home.

Nichapat peeked around, looking for Thanatcha, who had said she would
meet a friend at a certain spot. After waiting for about five minutes, she saw
her walking over with a friend she had invited to tonight’s after-party.

She froze for a moment when she noticed the two of them linking arms.
Their closeness made her wonder about their relationship.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. It was crowded, and we just found each other,”

Thanatcha said to everyone, not addressing anyone in particular.

“Oh, I haven’t introduced you yet. This is Fer. Fer came to watch the
performance today with another acquaintance, but they’ve already split up.”

“Nice to meet you,”

Pusavee, the woman Thanatcha had introduced, said with a smile.

Everyone returned the smile.

“I’m Tense’s ex. I haven’t seen her for a long time, and now we run into
each other at this event. I hope we can get along for tonight.”

The newcomer’s comment made everyone who heard it pause for a

moment. Though no one showed it on their faces, inside they felt a slight
hesitation at hearing about that past relationship—especially Nichapat.

“An ex...?”

Nichapat asked, keeping her expression neutral and forcing a smile to seem
casual.

“That’s nice. I get to meet Tense’s ex. Nice to meet you, I’m June,”

Nichapat said warmly, while her two close friends watched her with
surprise at her reaction.

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“Yes, Hi June,” Pusavee replied with a smile.

“So why did the other person split off?”

Nichapat asked, curious. Her friends suspected that she might be concerned
that Pusavee had separated to be alone with Thanatcha, or perhaps she
wanted someone else to accompany Pusavee so she wouldn’t be too close to
Thanatcha.

“Oh, she just wanted to watch the performance, but she didn’t have anyone
to go with, so he invited me. I thought it sounded interesting, so I went
along as her companion. She arrived just a little before the event started, but
she had called me beforehand to say that she’d need to leave right after the
show to take care of some errands. So we separated after the performance,”
Pusavee explained.

“Oh...Well, make yourself comfortable,”

Nichapat smiled said casually before turning to look at her two close
friends, barely glancing at Thanatcha for even a fraction of a second.

“Let’s hurry to the bar. P’Wa sent a message saying the table is ready, so we
can go wait there.”

The medium-sized bar had been reserved entirely by the music team. Small
tables throughout were occupied by the musicians, who were considered
special guests for the night.

Nichapat and her friends were led by the staff to a table against the
innermost wall. The table was surrounded on three sides by high-backed
sofas, with a long armless sofa on the fourth side.

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Nearby, a small open space next to the wall allowed people to stand and
chat—or even dance.

Nichapat sat down on the sofa with a high back along the same side as her
two friends. Thanatcha chose the shorter, armless sofa and pulled her ex-
girlfriend to sit beside her, while someone cast a sideways glance of
disapproval.

At the same moment, Wiphawa walked over to join the group. Nichapat,
shifting from her earlier irritation, looked up at the host of the table, who
was standing on the opposite side of the sofa with a humble expression,
unsure how to act around the person she had run away from that day.

The memory made Nichapat feel embarrassed, and it was slightly awkward
for her to meet her gaze.

“Hi,”

Wiphawa said, smiling at Nichapat before turning to the others.

“Hello, everyone. Make yourselves comfortable. Feel free to order food and
drinks. We’ll take care of the bill.”

“Oh, hello. I’ve known you for a long time, but this is the first time we’ve
met in person.”

Ansaya greeted Wiphawa and glanced at June.

“June invited us to the party as her companions. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too. Make yourselves at home. If you want, you can go
dance on the floor over there. There’s a group of foreign musicians at the
tables on that side,”

Wiphawa said, gesturing behind her.

“Thank you so much for inviting us with June,”

Satitha said, greeting the host of the table.

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“Yes. Don’t rush off yet. I’ll probably be mingling with others at the event,
but I’ll come have a drink with you later.”

Wipawa smiled and her gaze shifted to June, who was watching her.

“June, don’t go anywhere yet. I reserved this table especially for you
tonight.”

She gave a special smile before walking away, leaving Nichapat awkwardly
sitting with her friends.

“What’s up with her?” Satitha asked her close friend after Wiphawa walked
away. “What does he want to do?”

“I don’t know… maybe she just wants to make something clear in front of
people who know me. But…”

Nichapat bit her lip, sighed softly, and turned her gaze toward Thanatcha,
who was standing up from the sofa, leaning over to whisper to Pusavee
before walking off.

Seeing their closeness made her feel uneasy. She looked away and waited
until Thanatcha moved out of sight. Then, remembering something, she
turned to Pusavee, who was sitting alone, and started a conversation.

“What do you like to drink, Fer?”

“Oh, I can drink anything. You can just order first and see what’s available.
Whatever everyone likes is fine.”

“Really? Then I’ll choose first, and if you want something else, you can tell
me.”

“Thank you, that’s very kind. I’m not picky. Just being invited by Tense like
this already feels a bit formal,” Pusavee said with a small shrug.

“Ah…”

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Nichapat frowned thoughtfully. She placed the drink menu on her lap and
asked a question.

“Fer, you’re Tense’s ex, right? When were you together? Ten seems to have
been single for quite a while.”

Nichapat asked with curiosity, thinking Pusavee seemed easy to talk to, but
still wanting to be polite.

“Ah, sorry… is it okay to ask?”

“Oh, sure, it’s fine. I was Ten’s first girlfriend. We dated in our final year of
high school, and it only lasted about a year. My older brother didn’t like it
much, so he forbade it. Ever since he knew I was dating a girl, he would
pick me up and drop me off at school every day, and even on weekends he
kept checking all the time whether I was going out with friends or with
someone else. It felt really suffocating. In the end, we broke up,” Pusavee
said casually.

“It wasn’t because we had any big problems. We can still talk normally
now. We haven’t seen each other for a long time, so meeting again feels a
bit strange but nice.”

“Oh, so your brother was being protective?” Nichapat asked with a smile.

“Yes, he was protective. If I had a boyfriend who was a guy, he probably

would have stopped me too. But when he found out I was seeing girls, he
didn’t approve even more. Still… when I went to university, I kept dating
girls anyway—both tomboys and other girls. Once I grew up and had the
courage to stand up to him a little, he couldn’t stop me anymore,” Pusavee
laughed.

“So are you still dating girls now?”

“No, I’m not seeing anyone at the moment. I’ve been single for a while.
Meeting Tense again while I’m single feels kind of strange but nice too. I
don’t even know if Tense is single now; I haven’t asked yet.” Pusavee
replied.

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“Why? Are you planning to ask Tense out again?”

Ansaya, who had been listening for a while, suddenly asked.

“Oh, what kind of question is that?” Pusavee laughed. “I’ll have to wait for
Tense to make the first move. I don’t even know if she’s talking to anyone
else. Do you guys know if Tense is seeing anyone?”

“Seeing someone…?”

Ansaya glanced at Satitha and Nichapat just as Nichapat stood up from the
sofa.

“I’m going to the bathroom for a bit. You guys can pick your drinks and
order some food for me too,”

Nichapat said, handing the menu to her friends.

“Fer, you can order whatever you want,” Nichapat added with a smile
before walking away.

The previous moment made Nichapat feel a bit uncomfortable, even though
Thanatcha wasn’t sitting there. At first, she hadn’t felt awkward at all, but
her own curiosity had led her to ask that question in the group.

Now she had to face the feelings stirred by what she heard. She had only
wanted to know about Thanatcha’s relationship with her ex and to
understand the other woman’s thoughts.

Listening to it, however, left her slightly irritated—especially imagining

Thanatcha taking care of her ex so attentively, which annoyed her even
more.

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She didn’t know where Thanatcha had gone, but guessed she was probably
heading to the bathroom. At the very least, she thought they might pass each
other.

When she reached the hallway leading to the bathroom, she ran into
Thanatcha just as she was walking out. She slowed down when she saw her
and greeted her as she came closer.

“Going to the bathroom?” Thanatcha asked.

“She’s your ex… why didn’t you say so from the start? Why wait for her to
say it herself?”

Nichapat stopped walking just as Thanatcha was about to pass by, causing
her to pause and look at her.

“Why? If I say she’s an ex, are you going to forbid her from joining? I’m
just saying what we’re talking about right now.”

“Her current status is your ex-girlfriend,”

Nichapat said, looking at her with a displeased expression.

“I don’t need to tell you she’s my ex-girlfriend, because she could become
my new girlfriend.”

Her attempt to hide her feelings failed the moment she questioned her, and
she couldn’t keep it in anymore.

Nichapat froze at that, feeling stunned and unable to speak.

“Don’t worry about who she is to me. You already have her, and she wants
to give you a special night,”

Thanatcha said calmly before walking away, not wanting to argue further.
She had run out of patience with holding in her feelings any longer.

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“Where did June go for so long?”

Satitha craned over the sofa, trying to see across it, but still didn’t spot her
close friend returning from the bathroom.

After Nichapat had been gone a while, Thanatcha returned to sit next to
Pusavee. By the time the drinks they had ordered were served and poured
into everyone’s glasses, Nichapat still hadn’t come back to the table.

“She’ll be here soon, don’t worry. Come on, let’s drink!”

Ansaya raised her glass high and took two sips just as Wiphawa returned to
the table, so she quickly set her glass down.

“Where’s June?” Wiphawa asked.

“She went to the bathroom. She should be back soon. Do you want
something to drink? I can pour some for you; we even have a glass ready.”
Satitha replied.

“Go ahead, pour me some,”

Wiphawa said casually as she sat on the sofa across from them. Her gaze
drifted toward Thanatcha, who was talking with Pusavee, and she gave her
a small smile.

Thanatcha returned the smile in a way that felt oddly awkward. Wiphawa
didn’t really want to sit there, but the only reason she stayed was because of
Nichapat.

She had felt a little unsettled when Nichapat disappeared earlier on her way
to the bathroom, but then her eyes caught the beautiful figure walking back
into the group.

“Where have you been so long, June?”

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Satitha asked her friend. Noticing the strange expression on her face, she
became even more curious and looked closely.

“I went to the bathroom,”

Nichapat replied dismissively, shrugging her shoulders. She scanned for a

seat to slip back into but was stopped when Wiphawa grabbed her arm and
pulled her to sit next to her.

“Sit here,”

Wiphawa said, drawing the beautiful girl close and wrapping an arm around
her waist.

Thanatcha saw the scene. The bar wasn’t dark; a few special guests were
using it to eat, drink, and chat before it got late. The warm, golden lighting
was slightly dim but still clear enough to see everything.

Nichapat tensed slightly as Wiphawa put her arm around her in front of
their friends sitting across from them and someone else nearby. She didn’t
know what Wiphawa intended—until she began to bring up the important
topic for the night.

“It might seem a bit sudden, inviting you all to drink together. Actually, I
wanted to invite June just the two of us, but since everyone’s here, it’s nice
to have friends join too. I might be busy with colleagues and the team, and
June will have friends with her as well. But still, tonight, I want it to be a
little special for June.”

“What makes it special?”

Ansaya asked with a smile, though she couldn’t help sneaking a glance at
Thanatcha with worry. She saw Thanatcha sitting very close to Pusavee,
talking with her, completely ignoring Wiphawa.

Seeing them so close made Ansaya worry for her friend. She then looked at
Nichapat, who had been secretly watching the scene for a moment before
quickly turning away to smile at Wiphawa.

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“Well… take it easy. Let’s have a drink first,” Wiphawa said, laughing
shyly. “Shall we toast?”

She raised her glass, glanced at Nichapat’s close friends, and then noticed
Pusavee looking over. She raised her glass higher and invited her,

“Let’s toast!”

“Yes,”

Pusavee smiled, reaching for her drink on the table. Thanatcha, noticing
this, politely picked up her own glass.

“Did you get to watch the performance today?”

Wiphawa asked Pusavee, while glancing toward Thanatcha.

“Yes, I did watch it,” Pusavee smiled.

“That’s great! The foreign musicians were excellent. I hope you enjoyed it,”
Wiphawa said.

“It was wonderful. The Thai musicians were amazing too. I saw you play
the piano,” Pusavee replied.

“Oh..Yes, thank you,”

Wiphawa smiling again before raising her glass in the center of the group.
Everyone else lifted their glasses to toast together.

Thanatcha raised her glass out of courtesy, though she wasn’t feeling very
enthusiastic. As she clinked glasses with the others, her glass accidentally
touched Pusavee’s and Ansaya’s glasses but missed Wiphawa’s.

After taking a sip, she set her glass down and turned her attention back to
chatting with Pusavee.

“Where and when will you be performing next?”

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Ansaya asked, trying to make conversation. Sitting in the middle of the

group where she had been politely invited to drink, she wanted to chat out
of courtesy.

“There’s still a performance in Chonburi, and next week I’ll have to fly
abroad.”

The atmosphere was relaxed, with casual conversation. During this time,
Wiphawa ordered food so everyone could eat along with their drinks.

But the mood felt forced and boring. Seeing some couples getting too close
to each other made her uncomfortable, and she wanted to get up and leave
this place.

As the night went on, the music shifted to a gentle, swaying rhythm. Guests
who had eaten well and were nicely tipsy began inviting each other to
dance.

The livelier music eased the earlier boredom, and Thanatcha lightly grabbed
Pusavee’s arm, swaying along while sitting close together.

Nichapat noticed all of this, sneaking occasional glances at their

movements.

Even though she was sitting next to Wiphawa, her mind wasn’t focused on
her. She was thinking about how she could find a moment to speak with her
privately. Seeing everyone gathered like this, it seemed there wasn’t a
single opportunity to ask her aside for a private conversation.

“It’s getting late. And I still haven’t really talked to June.”

Wiphawa said suddenly and turned to smile at Nichapat.

“But I think the one who knows best is you, June—about how our
relationship hasn’t been very clear until now.”

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She looked down at Nichapat’s hands and held them, then glanced at the
two close friends of the woman beside her, who would probably be the best
witnesses.

“Well… before, there were many reasons why I didn’t open my heart to
you, June, or make you my girlfriend. And whenever I tried to do more, I
seemed to make the wrong decisions in many ways, which you probably
didn’t like,”

Wiphawa continued, looking at Nichapat, then at Satitha and Ansaya, with a

shy, slightly awkward expression—but still speaking smoothly.

“So today, I want to do the right thing. With your friends here, it’s a bit
embarrassing, but…”

Nichapat looked at Wiphawa. What she was doing demanded her full
attention, even though part of her wanted to glance at someone else who
was focused on another woman.

“Well… I guess I should say it,”

Wiphawa said, laughing shyly. She shifted slightly to face her clearly and
finally spoke the words she had been holding back:

“Be my girlfriend, June.”

Wiphawa gently squeezed her hand, then reached into her pocket, pulled out
a delicate bracelet, and fastened it around Nichapat's small wrist. She
looked up at her, tears welling in her eyes.

When she saw her gaze, she looked away. At that moment, a thin veil of
tears began to form at the corners of her eyes.

Thanatcha caught a brief glimpse of that special moment. She heard

everything but pretended not to notice. Right now, her attention was entirely
on Pusavee, who she was leaning close to, whispering near her ear, ready to
get even more affectionate.

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If it weren’t for the other people around, whom they still had to show some
consideration for, she might have lingered longer.

But thinking it wasn’t necessary to stay there any longer, what she
whispered to Pusavee was an invitation to leave together. She took her hand
to help her stand, held her by the waist, and then excused herself from the
others.

“Tonight, We’ll take my leave,”

Thanatcha said, looking at Wiphawa and Nichapat’s two friends. When her
eyes finally met Nichapat’s, she saw the tears welling up—tears that
seemed moved by the deepening connection she was sharing with someone
else.

A sweet request, a beautiful bracelet on her wrist, and the unspoken

message:

“The two of us will continue elsewhere.”

Thanatcha smiled at Wiphawa as she finally said goodbye, then glanced

past the people watching her, ignoring the tears that reflected someone
else’s special moment. She turned away and quickly walked off,
accompanied by the other woman, linking arms as they left together.

Nichapat watched the two figures walk out of sight before she turned back,
focusing on what was in front of her. Her eyes fell on the bracelet on her
wrist just as a tear slid down her cheek.

Feeling a little awkward, she lifted her hand to wipe it away and quickly
looked up at Wiphawa, who was staring at her with a surprised expression.
She forced a small smile at her, easing the tension after the special moment
he had just shared with her.

💖💖💖💖
sunyan

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🎀 27. The Unwatered Plant 🎀

Book : Toss - Up (Take A Chance To Win Her Love)
Writer : Serenista
Released : 13 September 2020
Translator : Sun Yan (daphne.shn@gmail.com)

Her white sneakers shuffled lazily across the ground. After walking away
from the bustle of people for a while, she followed the empty corridor of a
building—a side that wasn’t used at night. Seeing a metal staircase ahead,
she walked over, grabbed the railing, and sat down, as someone quietly
followed her.

“Stop walking for a bit,”

Pusavee sighed softly, then stepped to sit on the stairs beside Thanatcha.
She watched Thanatcha’s distant gaze fixed ahead. Since leaving the bar
together, Thanatcha had let her walk freely, not pretending to be close like
she had inside the bar. Then she spoke quietly,

“Sorry… I just wanted to get away from there. You can come with me if
you want.”

A faint smile touched her otherwise somber face. She wandered slowly
along the path, with Pusavee following, until they stopped here.

At the bar, Thanatcha had whispered to her,

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“Act a little closer, like we’re intimate.”

Pusavee didn’t really understand the purpose, but she followed along. As an
ex-girlfriend who knew Thanatcha well and understood that she was always
reasonable in her actions, she had no objections.

The two of them weren’t exes who had broken up over misunderstandings
or fights. They had ended things because her brother disapproved. That
small obstacle led them to part ways, but they had remained good friends.

Over time, the feelings faded, and neither of them longed to rekindle the old
relationship. After becoming good friends again, this seemed like a more
fitting relationship for them.

Like now, when Pusavee saw the sadness on Thanatcha’s face, she chose to
stay close, to ask and offer comfort.

“That woman… do you like her?”

Thanatcha listened to the question, her gaze drifting absentmindedly to the

steps four or five stairs ahead, before she slowly nodded.

“Mm.”

“And just now… that piano player—what’s going on with her?” Pusavee
shook her head in confusion.

“It’s a complicated relationship,”

Thanatcha said, biting her lip tightly. She lowered her head, remembering
the painful moment when she had to watch the woman she loved being
asked to be someone else’s girlfriend.

That meant… the two of them had mutual feelings, and Nichapat’s long-
held love was finally coming true.

A surge of emotions welled up in her heart, letting out a vulnerability she

rarely showed, impossible to hold back.

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Pusavee watched her face bent toward the ground, shoulders trembling
slightly, with growing concern. Then she saw Thanatcha lift her head and
look at her, voice trembling as she spoke:

“Could you… listen to my story?”

The moment Thanatcha finished speaking, it was the first time Pusavee saw
tears streaming from her eyes.

Inside the university food court, around eleven o’clock, a few students were
scattered about, while others gradually arrived for the noon lunch rush.

Today, Thanatcha had classes in the afternoon, but she had come to the
university before noon to have lunch. Her close friend arrived at the same
time so they could eat together.

“I left my bag at that corner table,” Papada told Thanatcha.

“Oh, what drink do you want? I’ll get it for you,”

Thanatcha asked her close friend as they looked around for which food stall
to eat at today.

“An iced tea, please.”

“Okay,”

Thanatcha replied. She pulled her wallet from her bag, and once she
decided on a stall, she walked straight to a noodle stall that served stir-fried
chicken noodles. Luckily, there were no other customers, so she could order
without waiting.

“One plate of stir-fried chicken noodles, please.”

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The female vendor nodded and began cooking the order. Soon, she placed
the plate in front of Thanatcha. Thanatcha handed over the money she had
ready, grabbed a fork to place beside the plate, poured a little sauce on the
noodles for flavor, and turned to walk toward the table her friend had
reserved.

But she had to stop mid-step when someone was standing there, looking at
the menu.

The beautiful figure froze, realizing she was blocking the person who had
just turned around. She gave a small nod and smile, then stepped aside to let
Thanatcha pass.

For a brief moment, Thanatcha almost froze in place, unsure if she could
step away. She hadn’t expected to see Nichapat so close like this. But in the
end, she quickly told herself not to act suspicious, smiled, and walked past.

After putting a little distance between them, she sneaked a glance at the
woman she liked, who was standing at the counter talking with the vendor.

She felt a quiet thrill at seeing her up close. Ever since their first encounter
last semester, she had only been able to watch Nichapat from afar. Being in
the same area on campus gave her the chance to notice the little gestures
and movements of Nichapat, and each time, she found herself falling for her
all over again, even though they had never talked or been close again.

From that earlier moment, she had secretly hoped that Nichapat would
remember their one previous conversation. But it seemed that wasn’t the
case. Nichapat had probably forgotten, meeting so many people every day
at the university.

She was just someone people often looked past, nothing more. But even
that brief encounter just now was already a precious chance for her.

At least… she had managed to catch Nichapat’s eyes for a fleeting moment
and received a sweet smile she gave especially to her.

“Are you going straight home?”

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Papada asked her close friend walking beside her, right after their last class
ended. They were passing by the small basketball court next to their faculty
when a junior accidentally lost grip of the ball, and it bounced toward them.
Thanatcha quickly caught it.

“Yeah, I think I’ll head home,”

Thanatcha replied while raising the ball high for the junior she knew, who
was already walking over to get it.

“Do I really have to hand it to you?” she teased.

“Do you want to play against me, P’Ten?” the junior girl, a faculty
basketball player, joked back with a grin.

“I don’t really have time to play. But one minute won’t hurt,”

Thanatcha said before shifting her body, dribbling the ball across the court,
and stopping to shoot it into the only hoop there.

“Wow, P’Ten! You’re really good. Why aren’t you on the university
basketball team?”

Another junior, a friend of the first, said while clapping loudly.

“I’m not that good. I just play for fun,”

Thanatcha replied with a smile. She caught the ball as it bounced back to
her and tossed it to the junior before walking out of the court. By chance,
when she lifted her head toward the building nearby, she noticed a group of
people watching her.

Among them was the girl she liked. The unexpected sight made her freeze
for a brief moment. Their gazes left her flustered, and she quickly looked
away.

“She was looking at you,”

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Sun Yan

Papada teased, placing a hand on Thanatcha’s shoulder and leaning in

playfully.

“And why would she look at me?”

“Maybe she’s figured out you like her,” Papada guessed.

“She knows I like her?”

Thanatcha turned to her friend as they hurried away together.

“Why wouldn’t she know? You’ve been pretty open about liking her.
Someone must have told her.”

“It wasn’t you, right?”

“Of course not! I don’t even know her. I bet it was someone from our class.
One of them is friends with June’s friends.”

“Really?”

Thanatcha frowned in thought. She knew well enough that she had brought
this on herself. Her classmates had seen her single for quite a while, so
when they asked if she had a boyfriend, she answered honestly that she
didn’t—but that she did have a crush on someone.

As time went by and the questions kept coming, she ended up telling them
who that girl was. Thanatcha didn’t really mind if the rumor reached
Nichapat’s ears, because she had her reasons.

“See? You’re the one who admitted it yourself.”

“I don’t mind if she finds out,”

Thanatcha said with a smile before explaining her reason.

“Because I probably won’t ever get the chance to tell her myself. So I’d
rather let others know—at least that way, it won’t be completely unspoken.”

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Thanatcha lay sprawled on her bed, one arm draped across her forehead.
One knee was bent loosely, while her other leg dangled off the edge of the
mattress.

It had already been a week of living like this—lying down, sitting up,
occasionally watering the plants, eating simple meals, and drifting through
her days alone inside the house.

There had been no word from that certain someone. And she didn’t want to
hear anything, not if it would only make the ache inside her worse. What
she should do was let time heal her, let herself walk away from these
feelings someday soon.

But it was proving harder than she thought, because the feelings had grown
roots, sinking deeper than they had in the beginning.

She had let herself grow close to Nichapat—body and soul. Day by day, her
feelings deepened. The closer they became, the more she expected; the
stronger the bond, the stronger her desire to hold on. On the days when
Nichapat seemed to care, when every moment they shared felt real,
Thanatcha found it harder and harder to let go.

She had once prepared herself for the possibility that it was only a dream,
but she couldn’t help hoping it might be real. She kept reminding herself,
questioning over and over, how she would ever be able to pull away from
these feelings.

And now she understood the truth—the pain of knowing that even if she
could let go of Nichapat’s hand, she could never let go of what she felt for
her.

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For the first time, love had brought her to tears. Tears not from rejection,
but from yearning. She had never felt this fragile before. Thanatcha, usually
strong and quick to let go of most things in life, was now crying because of
one woman. Even her ex, Pusavee, once told her…

“It seems like you really love her. I’ve never seen you this vulnerable
before,”

Pusavee said, resting a hand on Thanatcha’s shoulder and giving it a gentle

squeeze.

“Even when we broke up, you didn’t shed a single tear.”

She spoke with a small smile, not as if to make the words heavy, but rather
to show she wanted to be a good friend—someone who understood what
Thanatcha was going through, since she already knew everything.

“I don’t want to give you false hope,” Pusavee continued, “but from what
you’ve told me… maybe that girl does have some feelings for you too, even
if she already has someone else in her heart.”

.
.

Thinking about those words, she realized they were a comforting thought—
something she could hold on to, something that might give her enough
strength to keep moving until she finally learned the outcome of her efforts.

Thanatcha didn’t even know what Nichapat was like now. But whenever
she pictured Nichapat being asked out by Wiphawa—seeing someone
finally receive what they’d been waiting for so long—it made her let go.

It stopped her from forcing herself into something foolish, from looking
like a clown struggling to take what wasn’t hers.

Maybe it was only a piece of comfort, nothing more, something that just
helped her feel a little better.

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And as she kept telling herself not to create any more fresh wounds than she
already had…

She lay face-down on the sofa in her living room, her body stretched out,
cheek resting against a throw pillow, arms wrapped around it as if to anchor
her emotions. She was still awake, even though her eyes were shut, her
mind restless, something always stirring in it whenever she woke.

“June, are you not going out again today? Why are you just lying around
like this?”

Naphitta’s voice came from the stairs after finishing up cleaning her
daughter’s room.

“No,”

Nichapat mumbled into her pillow without opening her eyes.

“Is Tense still busy? It’s been a week already.”

Her mother wasn’t really trying to pry, but after seeing her daughter staying
home for days like someone newly single, she felt the need to ask.

“No one’s free,”

Nichapat replied, opening her eyes and letting them rest on the tiled floor in
front of her.

“Neither your friends nor your girlfriend? They must all be really busy,”

Naphitta said as she put away the vacuum cleaner in the storage room
beside the kitchen before heading off to wash her hands.

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Left alone again, Nichapat thought over her own words and her mother’s.
What she really meant was that Wiphawa had just gone abroad again.

As for the other person her mother referred to—she honestly had no idea
what that person was doing now. If she were to describe their relationship,
once “a fake girlfriend,” now… it could only be called broken off.

There had been no contact from that side, and she had no intention of
reaching out either. Not because she had decided against choosing
Thanatcha—but because it was Thanatcha who likely would no longer
choose her.

“The two bouquets you got are all wilted now. If you leave them any longer,
the stems will start sprouting roots. Should we keep them or throw them
away?” Naphitta’s voice called from the kitchen.

“Bouquets?” Nichapat rolled over onto her back. “I’ll go get them.”

“Mm, better to throw them away. It’s not good to keep them too long.
You’ve already gotten two anyway. With such a romantic girlfriend, I’m
sure you’ll be getting more,”

Her mother teased with a smile as she busied herself walking back and
forth, tending to her chores around the house.

Nichapat lay listening, knowing exactly who her mother was referring to.
She had always assumed those flowers came from Thanatcha. But they
hadn’t. They were from Wiphawa. That didn’t mean Thanatcha wasn’t
romantic, though—just because she had never given flowers.

“Oh, and don’t forget the plant Tense gave you. Take care of it properly—
it’s starting to wilt. If you don’t, it’ll die,” her mother called out.

Nichapat’s eyes widened slightly. She had completely forgotten about the
plant sitting out on the balcony—
the watermelon paper, Thanatcha had bought for her.

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There may never have been flowers, but Thanatcha had once given her an
entire living plant. And it was Nichapat herself who had neglected it.

Her mother’s voice drifted from a distance as Nichapat lay staring up at the
ceiling, listening closely to every word—until one sentence stirred
something deeper in her.

“Take good care of it. After all, your girlfriend gave it to you. Plants are a
lot like people—if you don’t take care of them, they can wither away.”

💖💖💖💖
sunyan

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🎀 28. A Late Morning 🎀

For two whole weeks, Thanatcha had hardly done any work. She hadn’t
taken on any new projects, keeping only the tasks she still had to finish for
Ansaya.

Luckily, Ansaya seemed to understand her situation well; she had left her
alone for more than a week before finally reaching out again—just to check
in and schedule their next meeting.

The following week, the two of them met at Ansaya’s house to go over the
details of having painters come in to repair and repaint the rooms according
to the design plans.

No matter how much she tried to escape from Nichapat, Thanatcha still had
to face Nichapat’s close friend—this time in the role of client and
contractor. But it didn’t trouble her.

Their circles were naturally intertwined; encounters like this were

inevitable, and in a way, it felt reassuring to have someone who stood in the
middle of those connections.

If she didn’t lie to herself, deep down she still wanted to know how
Nichapat was doing. But she didn’t dare ask, not when the answer might
hurt.

“It’s been half a month since we met. Are you doing well?”

Ansaya asked after inviting Thanatcha inside to sit down.

“Yeah… I guess I’m fine. Today’s the first time I’ve gone out to see anyone
I know.” Thanatcha admitted honestly.

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“The first time? After two weeks?” Ansaya looked surprised.

“Mm,” Thanatcha nodded. “I’m comfortable enough just staying in my

room.”

She smiled faintly, as if it really was a comforting thought. But her eyes
carried a trace of sadness that couldn’t be hidden—something Ansaya could
sense, though she chose to take it as just a simple reply from someone who
didn’t want to dwell too much.

“I don’t really believe you feel that comfortable,”

Ansaya said with a soft shake of her head.

“When you went silent for more than a week, I had a feeling I knew what
was happening with your heart. That’s why I didn’t dare disturb you.”

“You could have. Don’t worry about me. I still have to finish your project
anyway. I’m sorry for delaying it,” Thanatcha replied, guilt in her voice.

“It’s not that urgent. I still have my old room and furniture to use,” Ansaya
said with a smile. “Besides, I wouldn’t be cruel to someone who’s
heartbroken.”

Thanatcha looked at Ansaya, who sat beside her on the sofa with just a little
distance between them. It wasn’t surprising that Ansaya understood her
situation and her feelings so well. If anything, it only confirmed what she
already knew—she really was someone with a broken heart.

“I know June is my close friend, but that doesn’t mean I’ll automatically
take her side. If I only hear from one of you, I have no idea what the other
is thinking or feeling. I don’t mean to rub salt in the wound, but I just want
you to know—if you ever need to vent, you can talk to me. Even though
I’m June’s friend, I’ve met you many times too. To me, you’re also a
friend.”

Ansaya’s words left Thanatcha quiet. She had tried to leave those thoughts
behind before coming to work today, but now that the subject had come up,

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Sun Yan

she knew it was still there—circling in her mind almost all the time.

Hearing that small gesture of kindness made her feel warm, knowing
Ansaya saw her as a friend. But at the same time, she was afraid she might
slip and let her own feelings spill out.

“Thanks. But it’s fine. I’m just trying to move on from your friend right
now. It’ll probably take a while… but I’ll manage someday.”

“Move on from my friend?” Ansaya raised an eyebrow. “That’s strange.

Why should anyone have to move on from someone who’s waiting for them
too?”

Thanatcha looked at her in surprise, eyebrows knitting together as she

repeated the words.

“Move on from someone who’s waiting for you…”

“Mm. I don’t think I said anything wrong. You fell for someone who clearly
has feelings for you too, but instead of facing it, you’re trying to move on—
even though she doesn’t have anyone else.”

“What?” Thanatcha looked utterly confused. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about June,”

Ansaya replied plainly. She furrowed her brows, then let out a sigh of
frustration.

“Honestly… this is exactly it. You two have only ever seen things from
your own sides. Neither of you ever tried to clear things up, so now you’ve
each misunderstood the other.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“You’re upset because June said yes when P’Wa asked her out, and you
think she’s dating her, right?”

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The question made Thanatcha fall silent. Her doubts twisted together with
the ache she didn’t want to acknowledge, yet she still listened.

“On the other hand, that same day you went off with your ex—arm in arm,
going who knows where. And that’s the picture stuck in June’s mind,”

Ansaya said, rolling her eyes at being caught in the middle of all this
misunderstanding. Still, she didn’t see it as a burden—if anything, she
wanted to help untangle it.

“I don’t know if you were just trying to provoke her or what, or whether
you really went that far with your ex. But whatever the reason, what you
did worked. It worked well enough to leave June in tears for days and
nights.”

Thanatcha’s curious expression changed to one of surprise at what she had

just heard.

When she thought back to the time she convinced herself that Nichapat
might have feelings for her, she believed that what she did that day must
have made Nichapat feel something—enough to explain her sarcastic
reaction.

But considering how Nichapat had finally found happiness with the person
she had secretly liked for so long, it was possible she had been so overjoyed
that she didn’t even notice or care about Thanatcha’s sarcasm that night.

Still, after hearing what Ansaya just said, Thanatcha couldn’t help but want
to know more…

“I saw June’s tears. I thought they were tears of joy, that she was truly
happy…”

“You think June was happy because P’Wa asked her out?” Ansaya quickly
cut in, rolling her eyes again. “You people really do like to imagine things.
Sure, June might have been moved to tears if she still liked P’Wa. But that’s
not the case at all.”

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“You mean…”

“June never agreed to date P’Wa,” Ansaya told Thanatcha plainly, revealing
the truth about that night. “She turned her down.”

“What?” Thanatcha exclaimed in shock.

“June. Did. Not. Date. P’Wa.”

Ansaya repeated each word slowly and clearly.

“Do you hear me now?”

“Why…”

Thanatcha’s face twisted in confusion. Her lips moved as if the words were
hard to form.

“June didn’t… date her?”

“Do I really need to spell it out?”

Ansaya sighed heavily before finally revealing the reason.

The reason that had always kept Thanatcha from daring to hope she could
ever hold a place in Nichapat’s heart—beyond anyone else. And yet, here it
was, spoken aloud by Ansaya herself.

“The reason… is you.”

Nichapat’s curiosity slipped out in the form of a question—she asked

Pusavee about her relationship with Thanatcha, since they used to be
together.

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Sun Yan

The more Nichapat listened, the more uneasy she felt. Thanatcha had
invited her ex-girlfriend to join their table and was treating her with such
warmth and care.

She didn’t know where Thanatcha had gone, but guessed it was the
restroom. At the very least, they would probably cross paths.

Sure enough, when Nichapat reached the narrow hallway leading to the
restroom, she ran right into Thanatcha, who had just stepped out. Thanatcha
slowed her pace when she saw Nichapat and greeted her as they came
closer.

“Going to the restroom?”

“She’s your ex. Why didn’t you just tell me from the start? Why wait for
her to say it herself?”

Nichapat stopped walking, forcing Thanatcha to pause mid-step and turn to

look at her.

“Why? If I had told you she was my ex, would you not have allowed her to
join us? I only spoke according to her status right now.”

“The status right now is that she’s your ex,”

Nichapat said, glaring with clear displeasure.

“I didn’t need to say she’s my ex-girlfriend —because she could become

my new girlfriend.”

She had tried to hide her feelings, but once the question was thrown at her,
she could no longer keep them in.

Nichapat froze at those words. Her face went numb, and she was left
speechless.

“It doesn’t matter who she is to me. You already have someone you want to
spend a special night with,”

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha said evenly, her voice calm but firm. Then she walked away,
unwilling to argue any further, her patience with holding back her feelings
finally worn thin.

Nichapat stood frozen, not expecting to hear those words from Thanatcha.
Maybe Thanatcha was upset that she had gone to see Wiphawa after the
performance. But even so, she had wanted Thanatcha to come along—so
she could see for herself that the “special” feelings with Wiphawa were no
longer there.

Aside from wanting to fix the mistakes left unresolved between them, it was
natural that someone who had been anxiously waiting all this time would
feel that way.

Yet she also wanted Thanatcha to notice that, ever since they came to watch
Wiphawa’s show tonight, she hadn’t been particularly close to Wiphawa,
nor had she felt the slightest thrill about seeing Wiphawa again.

All of it was because of Thanatcha.

She was the reason the love Nichapat had carried for Wiphawa over so
many years had slowly begun to fade.

Tonight, Nichapat had only wanted to make things right with Wiphawa, to
resolve what had been left unsettled—without ever letting herself be alone
with her.

Thanatcha, however, had brought along her ex-girlfriend. That wasn’t

wrong in itself, and Nichapat had been willing to welcome the woman out
of courtesy… if only Thanatcha hadn’t just said those words to her.

“I didn’t need to say she’s my ex—because she could become my new

girlfriend.”

Tears welled up and slipped down her cheeks as she stood there, frozen.
When she came to her senses, she realized this was not the place to break
down and cry—and afraid someone might see her, she quickly hurried
away.

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She stayed in the restroom for a long while, afraid her friends might start to
wonder where she had gone. But all she wanted was to stop crying, to dry
her tears completely, and to hide every trace of them so no one would
notice.

In the small shoulder bag she had brought along, she found a compact
powder. She took it out and gently dabbed around her eyes, under them, and
at the tip of her nose where a faint redness lingered.

Only when she felt sure the makeup had covered the signs of her distress
did she walk back to the table.

It was only natural that her friends were surprised she had been gone so
long in the restroom. When she caught them staring at her face, as if they
had noticed something, she felt a flicker of panic—but forced herself to
remain composed. Luckily, Wiphawa pulled her to sit beside her before her
friends could say anything further.

Yet sitting next to Wiphawa, with her arm wrapped around her waist, made
her feel uncomfortably trapped. She wanted to get up and return to sit with
her friends, but she couldn’t bring herself to hurt Wiphawa's feelings so
directly—especially when all she wanted was to show her even more care
and affection.

Even though those were no longer the things she wanted…

She wished she could find a chance to pull Wiphawa aside and tell her
something.

She wanted to tell her that she no longer wished to force herself into a
relationship with her—a relationship that seemed harder and harder to
sustain.

But that chance never came.

In the end, she might still need to meet her alone.

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Wiphawa told everyone that she wanted tonight to be special for her. She
invited everyone to raise their glasses, though it felt awkward to do so.

She noticed that Thanatcha seemed reluctant to join in. Even though she
was still upset about what she had said to her in the bathroom, she worried
that this atmosphere might hurt her feelings even more.

Or maybe she was just overthinking it… because when she glanced at her,
she looked cheerful, chatting closely with her ex, whispering and holding
hands.

She lifted the arm of the woman beside her, making her sway and dance to
the rhythm, which only made Nichapat feel even more displeased — her
frustration turning into anger.

But that anger was cut short when Wiphawa suddenly brought up the topic
between the two of them in front of everyone, reaching out to hold
Nichapat’s hand tightly.

Wiphawa said a few words to her before the group, but Nichapat couldn’t
fully concentrate. Something else kept nagging at her. She wanted to glance
at someone else, yet she had to focus on the woman who was trying to
make this moment special for her.

“Be my girlfriend, June,” Wiphawa said.

The words came just as Nichapat remembered what Thanatcha had told her
earlier:

“I don’t need to say she’s my girlfriend… because she might became being
my new girlfriend.”

Those words, together with the sight of Thanatcha and Pusavee being so
close, filled her with suspicion and unease. Watching the two of them sit
pressed against each other, almost cuddling right in front of her, made her
all the more upset.

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The hurt she had felt — the same that had driven her to tears in the
bathroom — began to well up inside her again, and she could no longer
hold back her tears.

At that very moment, Wiphawa spoke the words she had always longed to
hear — but now, she no longer wanted to hear them.

Wiphawa bent down to fasten a bracelet onto her wrist, then lifted her gaze
to look at her. At that moment, Nichapat turned her eyes away — she didn’t
want Wiphawa to see her tears. But as she averted her gaze, she ended up
seeing something she wished she hadn’t.

She saw Thanatcha whispering with her ex. While she worried about how
she might feel watching Wiphawa treat her so tenderly, it seemed that
Thanatcha didn’t care at all.

In fact, not only was she unconcerned, she looked perfectly happy to be so
close with her ex. That sight pushed harder against the tears she had been
trying so desperately to hold back.

Thanatcha then stood up, pulling Pusavee to her feet and wrapping an arm
around her waist with easy intimacy. Before leaving, she addressed the
group:

“I’ll excuse myself for tonight.”

She looked at Wiphawa and her two friends first, then turned her eyes to
June at the very end — and the words that followed pierced Nichapat’s
heart so deeply that she strength to hold back her tears finally broke.

“We’re going somewhere else,”

Thanatcha said, glancing at her before walking away.

Her eyes followed them, and tears spilled as she watched their closeness
until they disappeared from sight.

She imagined Thanatcha taking another woman somewhere private,

touching and clinging to her — with no thought at all for the woman still

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Sun Yan

standing there, left behind.

The “special” moment she had just been given now felt like it belonged to
someone else. And that someone was a woman Thanatcha had once loved.

It seemed so easy for those old ties to be rekindled.

And she… she would become nothing more than a former “special
someone” she had already forgotten.

Realizing she had let herself cry and lose focus for far too long — rude in
such a moment — she quickly forced herself back to the present.

She looked at the bracelet on her wrist, meaning to say something kind in
return so Wipawa wouldn’t feel hurt. But before she could, fresh tears
welled up.

She hurriedly wiped them away, then lifted her head to see Wiphawa
watching her with a shocked expression.

She forced a smile at her.

“Thank you, P’Wa.”

The words felt heavy, each one making her feel worse. She wanted to
accept Wiphawa’s kindness with grace, but she couldn’t lie to herself.

Her tears spilled, unable to hide or hold back the storm inside her any
longer. She felt suffocated by everything that had happened — trapped
between two people: the one she had loved and waited for all along, but
who now left her heart in pieces, and the one she had once pushed away, but
who now made her heart grow fonder each day.

And the truth was undeniable. Right now… the one she loved was
Thanatcha, not the person in front of her who had just opened her heart to
her.

But she didn’t know what to do. The image of Thanatcha walking away
with someone else haunted her, tormenting her mind.

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Sun Yan

And because of it, she could no longer control herself — her tears kept
falling down her face, dragging the pain in her heart with them until a sob
escaped her lips.

She bent forward, burying her face in her hands. By now she was crying
loudly enough that her two closest friends hurried over.

“June, what’s wrong?” Satitha quickly wrapped her arms around her.

“June.…”

Ansaya began, as though she could already guess what had happened. She
had noticed Nichapat’s mood ever since she came back from the bathroom
—or maybe even since Nichapat had started talking with Pusavee. But she
didn’t know exactly what had gone on when she wasn’t looking.

“P’Wa…”

Nichapat lowered her head, sobbing out the words she’d been holding back.
She didn’t want to lie to herself anymore. She didn’t want to trap anyone
else in a relationship built on pretense.

“I…”

She tried to speak, even as tears and snot defied her effort to hold them
back. She fought to steady her voice, to finally say what she needed to say
—what Wiphawa deserved to know about how she truly felt.

“I…”

Nichapat bit her lip, lifted her face toward Wiphawa, swallowed her sobs,
and spoke the words from her heart:

“I can’t be with you anymore.”

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The chair from the bedroom was dragged out to the balcony as if she didn’t
even have the strength to lift it. She let it go and set it down a short distance
from the railing, then stopped, sighing deeply — weary and hopeless about
everything.

Nichapat stood gripping the back of the chair, her eyes drifting out over the
balcony. Slowly, she stepped past the chair and let herself sink into it like
someone drained of all energy.

For two weeks something had been weighing on her mind. She tried to act
normal so her parents wouldn’t notice, but it was hard when her heart
simply wouldn’t cooperate. In the end, they had begun to question her,
pressing her for the truth.

With nothing else she could do, she had to let things unfold however others
decided. Even just trying to live her own life normally was already too
hard; how could she possibly plan to fix anything herself?

Right now, she was just a single woman.

A single woman who had no one.

There had once been someone who was ready to give her all her love — yet
she rejected her. Later, when another person she used to like finally opened
her heart and wanted to love her, she rejected her as well.

And so, today, she was left with no one. Even though she had been ready to
accept love from one of them, in the end she had turned them both away.

After the night she refused to continue her relationship with Wiphawa, she
got through it with great difficulty. Ansaya had to take her home, let her
sleep there, and even call her mother to explain — because her tears just
wouldn’t stop.

The next morning, she looked like someone without a soul, her eyes
swollen from crying. Only by evening was she able to return to her own

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Sun Yan

home.

The following day, she went to see Wiphawa briefly, to apologize and
explain her reasons clearly.

“After that night, you asked me how much it hurt. Honestly… it did hurt,”
Wiphawa said with a faint smile.

“But I can still understand you, June. We often hear warnings from others
— that if we meet someone who’s good to us, we shouldn’t hesitate. If we
take too long to decide, we might lose them. Today, I finally understand
what that means. But because of that same warning, I also know something
else — that someone who waits may eventually change their heart. That’s
why I can’t be angry with you, June. You had the freedom to choose… and I
was simply too slow.”

“If we take too long to decide, we might lose them,”

Nichapat repeated Wiphawa’s words.

“You’re not the only one who feels that way.” She gave a faint, sorrowful
smile and spoke softly, almost to herself. “Because I hesitated too… I was
slow to decide as well.”

That meeting ended peacefully. She and Wiphawa spoke with

understanding, agreeing to give each other freedom — no longer holding on
to someone who didn’t belong to them.

What had happened between the three of them seemed to fit together in an
almost ironic way.

One person loved another, but that person’s heart was already with someone
else. Meanwhile, the last one struggled to open her heart at all.

And now, it had all turned around. The arrow that once shot straight to the
right had suddenly curved back to the left.

The one who had once struggled to open her heart finally opened it to the
person who loved her. But she turned her away, choosing instead to love the

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Sun Yan

one who had loved her from the beginning. And now… that person was no
longer there, waiting for her love.

Thanatcha had walked away, leaving her alone, and she didn’t know if she
would ever turn back to her again.

Her tears fell once more. She lifted her fingers to wipe them away and let
her gaze drift to the small plant swaying gently on the little wooden table
against the left wall of the balcony.

It was a watermelon paper, drooping and lifeless.

She paused her tears to look at it. Seeing it reminded her of the one who had
given it to her.

And with it came the memory of her mother’s words from the other day:

“Take good care of it… plants are like people. If you don’t care for them,
they’ll wither away.”

She rose from the chair and stepped closer, lightly brushing one of its leaves
with her fingertip. Then she turned to look for the spray bottle of water,
picked it up, and returned to stand before the little peperomia. Holding the
bottle, she whispered:

“If I water you now, will you bloom beautifully again… just like
before?”

💖💖💖💖
sunyan

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Sun Yan

🎀 29. The Hand I Want to Hold

🎀
Around eleven in the morning, the university’s food court was still not too
crowded, though more students were slowly arriving as lunchtime
approached.

Nichapat had just finished her morning classes and walked down from the
lecture building with her two close friends. Together, they headed to the
food court for lunch.

“Good thing the professor let us out early. I haven’t eaten since morning—
I’m starving,” Ansaya grumbled.

“I still don’t know what I want to eat. I’m not that hungry yet, but I should
eat something since we’ve got class this afternoon,” Nichapat replied.

“If you don’t eat, you’ll just end up whining in class about being hungry,”
Ansaya teased.

“Yeah, you’re probably right,”

Nichapat said with a little pout, glancing at the rows of food stalls lined up
for students to choose from. But then, her eyes fell on someone walking
along the row, browsing the stalls, and she suddenly exclaimed,

“Oh!”

“What is it?” Satitha turned to look at Nichapat.

“Nothing. I just figured out what I want to eat.”

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Sun Yan

Nichapat’s eyes were fixed on the noodle stall where that person had just
stepped up to order.

“What are you getting?” Satitha asked.

“Hmm… maybe noodles with gravy,” Nichapat replied. “Come on, let’s
grab a table first.”

She took the hands of her two friends walking beside her and led them to a
table. After setting down her bag, she left it with Satitha, asking her to hold
the spot while she and Ansaya went to buy food.

Nichapat then headed straight for the noodle stall—just in time to see that
person receiving their food from the vendor.

“Someone who likes you is here.”

“Who?”

Nichapat raised an eyebrow. She glanced at the group of guys sitting not far
away.

“Which one?”

“Not over there. Look—that one. Do you see the girl with her arms crossed,
talking to the one in the sports jersey?” her friend pointed.

“I only see girls.”

Nichapat squinted in that direction. There wasn’t a single guy standing

there. Looking more carefully, she thought she recognized someone she had
met before.

“Yes, a girl. That girl confessed to her friend that she likes you. Someone
else had a crush on her, but she turned them down, saying she already likes
someone. Then her friends asked who it was, and she said it was you.”

“That one? The girl laughing over there?”

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Sun Yan

Nichapat asked in surprise when she realized it was the same person she
had once spoken with before—and was now seeing again here at the food
court. She felt a little startled, never having imagined that this person would
actually like her.

“Yes, that’s the one. She likes girls. Aren’t you interested?” her friend
teased.

“Whoa, really? She’s actually pretty cute,”

Ansaya said, leaning on Nichapat’s shoulder and nudging her playfully.

“Yeah, and you two seem like you’d have good chemistry. Want to talk to
her? We can figure out a way to help,” Satitha added with a big grin.

“Why would I?”

Nichapat bumped Ansaya’s shoulder back. “Are you two crazy? I already
like someone else. Why would I start talking to another person?”

“Oh, come on. That senior you like—you hardly ever even see her. Maybe
you should keep your options open a little,”

Ansaya said. She wasn’t trying to force Nichapat, just looking out for her in
case things didn’t work out with the person she was waiting for.

“I’m just suggesting it. Take it seriously or not—it’s up to you.”

She pouted playfully, then pulled Satitha by the hand and dragged her over
to sit at a nearby table.

The friend who had first shared the news smiled quietly, then turned away
when another friend called out to her. She walked off, leaving Nichapat
standing there alone. Her eyes were still fixed in that direction…

Nichapat glanced toward Thanatcha. She wasn’t swayed by her friends’

teasing, but she couldn’t deny that she seemed like an interesting person.

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Thanatcha was good-looking. The way she talked and laughed with her
friends looked easy and natural, as if she could get along with anyone. From
the way she carried herself, she seemed polite and considerate—just like
when they had spoken briefly outside the restroom that time. She really did
seem like a nice person.

Maybe she could have caught her interest—if only she didn’t already like
someone else so deeply.

“Let’s try this place. The reviews say their tarts are really good,”

Satitha suggested as the three friends sat together under their faculty
building. After finishing their last class of the day, they had gone for some
dessert while making plans for the upcoming holiday.

“Sure, you guys pick. I can eat anything—as long as it’s tasty,” Ansaya
replied.

“Anywhere’s fine, but I’m still waiting to eat at your hotel’s rooftop
restaurant, Sa,”

Nichapat said as she scooped a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.

“Oh yeah, I’m going too. When’s your family’s hotel supposed to be
finished again?” Ansaya asked.

“Next year—just about when we graduate. Don’t worry, I’ll let you both try
the food for free,”

Satitha replied, lightly tapping her friends’ chins with her hand. Then her
eyes shifted, catching sight of someone walking past nearby.

“Oh!” she exclaimed.

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Sun Yan

Satitha’s gaze and sudden reaction made Nichapat and Ansaya turn to look
as well. That was when they saw Thanatcha walking by with one of her
close friends.

As the two of them chatted, a group of juniors were playing basketball on a

small court nearby. The ball slipped from one of the players’ hands and
rolled right toward Thanatcha. She quickly caught it, said something brief
to her friend, then held the ball up high as the younger student came
running over to retrieve it.

From a distance, it looked as if she already knew the junior, because she
joked around with her in a friendly way. Then, instead of handing the ball
back immediately, Thanatcha dribbled it across the middle of the court and
shot it cleanly through the lone basketball hoop.

“Wow, impressive,” Ansaya exclaimed. “She’s a pretty cool girl.”

She shot a glance at her friend, who was resting her chin on her hand,
watching Thanatcha with a faint smile—like someone quietly admiring
what she saw.

“Looking at her like that… are you starting to like her?”

“You’re ridiculous.”

Nichapat turned to her friend with a laugh. “Sure, she’s interesting. But
come on—I can’t like two people at once.”

“Oh-ho, so you admit she’s interesting now! What do you say, ready to let
go of that faraway crush yet?” Ansaya teased.

“Stop it already.” Nichapat laughed again. “Are you two going to keep
pestering me every single time you see her?”

“Well, we just don’t want to see you sulking while waiting around for
someone else. What’s wrong with us pushing you a little?” Ansaya pouted.

“Go ahead and tease me, but you’ll just keep hearing the same answer from
me,”

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Sun Yan

Nichapat said as she watched Thanatcha toss the basketball back to the
junior. Thanatcha then walked out of the court, and when she lifted her
head, her eyes met hers for a brief moment.

Realizing she was being watched, she froze for just a second before quickly
looking away and continuing on with her friend, who leaned in close as if
whispering something to her.

“Hmph, so loyal to your piano-playing senior. Fine, I’ll be rooting for you
two. The day you actually start dating her, I’ll throw a party to celebrate,”

Ansaya teased, laughing with Satitha, who was happily enjoying her
dessert.

Nichapat barely paid attention to the teasing words that drifted past her ears.
Her gaze was still following Thanatcha, her thoughts quietly wandering.

If P'Wa weren’t in my heart… would I have started to really like you

instead?

Nichapat always thought of herself as someone steadfast in her feelings for

Wiphawa. She had quietly loved her for years, turning down anyone else
who tried to come between them.

Yet, on the day she had to solve a problem in a moment of impulsiveness,

she allowed someone else to enter her life as an option—without giving
herself much time to think.

She simply didn’t have the time to think… and so she made that choice.

Or maybe…

Perhaps it was because she had thought about it so much already. She had
carefully considered that if she were to have a good option, she would
choose Thanatcha.

She had chosen to approach her that night with courage, even though it
should have been awkward and difficult to say. And yet, in the end, she
found herself standing in front of her—and she spoke the words out loud.

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Sun Yan

“Hey…”

“Please be my bed partner tonight.”

A graceful figure stood on the rooftop of a hotel.

At this hour, the sun was dipping low, so the sunlight was soft and
unobtrusive. A gentle breeze blew by, bringing a refreshing coolness.

She wore a white jumpsuit patterned with deep blue, the fabric fluttering
lightly in the wind. Her hair, recently changed from light brown-blonde
back to its natural black, swayed in the same direction.

She stood with her arms crossed, glancing at her watch, silently wondering
when her friend would arrive.

They had planned to have a meal at Satitha’s hotel, but since Satitha was
still tied up with work, she had opened a small rooftop area, normally
reserved for special guests.

Arriving early, Nichapat found herself waiting here in private. She had no
idea when Ansaya would arrive either; the last message she received about
ten minutes ago simply said she was on her way and hurrying.

For the first time in several days, she allowed herself to leave the house to
meet a friend. She had spent most of her time cooped up at home. There had
been only one day when she went out to a nearby hair salon, and then
returned to her solitary routine.

Her friends were probably worried that she was sinking too deeply into her
sadness, so they kept trying to convince her to come out.

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Sun Yan

Eventually, Nichapat herself grew tired of being surrounded by the gloomy

atmosphere. As she began to let go of her sorrow little by little, she agreed
to meet her friends.

She had been standing there, lost in thought, for so long that when she
finally came back to herself, there was still no sign of her friends.

Sighing softly, she turned toward the door, hoping to see if anyone had
arrived—but froze when she noticed someone standing just a few steps
away.

Nichapat stood stunned. She hadn’t expected to see her here and felt
completely unprepared. The image that immediately flashed through her
mind was the last memory of her that had hurt her, and without thinking,
she turned and began to walk away.

“Running away again the moment we meet?”

Thanatcha called out, staying where she was and not following.

Nichapat hesitated, glancing at her briefly before looking away.

“I just don’t want to get involved with someone who belongs to someone
else,”

Nichapat said, turning her back to her.

“Who belongs to someone else?” Thanatcha asked. “I’ve liked only one girl
for years. I don't even have anyone yet, so how can you say I belong to
someone else?”

Those words made Nichapat turn to look at her, but she still kept up her
posture, looking away. She didn’t want to hear anything that might force her
to deceive herself.

“You’re upset with me about that night, aren’t you?”

Even though she knew she didn’t want to listen, Nichapat realized she
would hear her anyway. She wanted to take this chance to explain—because

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Sun Yan

only she knew the truth about her situation: she hadn’t agreed to be with
Wiphawa.

Nichapat still didn’t know that she had no relationship with Pusavee, since
Ansaya wanted her to explain it herself and had arranged this meeting.

“My ex is still just my ex. We didn’t do anything. That night, I just wanted
to spite you, because I thought… you're about to agree to be with her.”

Nichapat looked back at Thanatcha. Hearing her recount that night brought
those memories rushing back.

What she said should have lifted her spirits—she should have felt happy—
but instead, Nichapat was afraid she was simply choosing to believe what
she wanted to be true. She feared Thanatcha might be lying.

It was a fragile, delicate feeling, filled with anxiety, and before she could
stop it, tears began to fall.

“Are you lying?” Nichapat asked, her voice trembling.

“Me, lying to you?”

Thanatcha repeated the words.

“Why would I lie to the woman I like?”

Seeing her tears, Thanatcha felt a pang in her chest, wanting to step forward
and comfort her. But the moment she took even a small step forward,
Nichapat stepped back.

“Not even let me come closer to wipe your tears?” Thanatcha asked gently.

Hearing that, Nichapat’s tears flowed even more. If she were asked who
could comfort her best, she would have to answer that it was her standing
right in front of her.

Even though she had never wiped her tears before, Nichapat believed she
would do it well—she just wasn’t sure yet.

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Sun Yan

“The woman I like is standing right here. I’ve liked her all along… but will
I ever have a chance to be loved by her?”

Thanatcha said, her voice tinged with sadness. She had come today
determined to resolve the lingering issues with Nichapat and to make up for
the mistake she had made that day—but Nichapat had walked away from
her instead.

“I missed you. Knowing I would see you again, I couldn’t stop waiting for
this day. I just wanted to be close to you… close like I used to be.”

Nichapat’s tears kept falling, unbidden. They came on their own, stirred by
every word she spoke.

“I’ve always liked you, but I never tried to get close in a way that would
make you feel uncomfortable. Until the day you came to me yourself, I was
overjoyed. It felt like a dream that you approached me like that. Even
though I’ve never had any claim to you, I still accepted that chance. Until
the day I started to hope… because of our closeness. I didn’t have to
approach you—you came to me on your own. That meant so much to me.”

Thanatcha’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she spoke. It was a feeling
she had carried in her heart all along, as a secret crush she had never dared
to confess directly.

“But now… I want to be close to you, and I can’t. Why can’t I do that?”

She took a step forward—but the movement made her instinctively step
back one step in response.

“Okay.” Thanatcha paused. She offered a faint, sad smile. “Then I’ll just act
as I always have. If it makes you uncomfortable, I won’t be the one to
intrude on you like I used to.”

With that, she turned her back and walked away, putting as much distance
between herself and Nichapat as she could.

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Sun Yan

Nichapat stood frozen for a moment, her fear of deceiving herself shifting
into the fear of losing her again. She stepped forward, then suddenly ran
toward her and wrapped her arms around her back from behind.

“I missed you,”

Nichapat said, her voice trembling. She pressed her cheek against her back,
hiccupping softly through her sobs.

“I missed you so much.”

She tightened her arms around her slim waist, holding her close, letting
herself feel the depth of longing she had harbored for her.

She missed this warmth.

She missed the person who had opened her heart to let her know the
preciousness of her love.

Thanatcha froze, slightly surprised by the sudden embrace, but seeing her
cling to her brought a smile to her face that stretched nearly from ear to ear.

It was the same joy she had just confessed to Nichapat about a moment ago
—the joy of having her come to her, both then and now…

And it continued.

That joy… it was her happiness.

For the first time, she had heard Nichapat say she missed her. Her heart
raced slightly at the sound. Letting her hold her quietly for a while, she felt
the urge to seek clarity—to hear their feelings spoken clearly to one
another.

“The person you miss… it’s only me, right?”

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha looked down at the hands clutching her waist, gently prying
them apart before turning to face her.

“You… you don’t like anyone else anymore, do you?”

Nichapat met Thanatcha’s gaze. Her hands were held in hers, and traces of
tears still lingered on her cheeks.

Thanatcha looked at her tear-streaked face and couldn’t stay still. She let go
of her hands and gently traced both of her cheeks with her thumbs, wiping
away the moisture with tender care.

She felt a surge of happiness seeing her face up close again. She offered a
faint smile as she met her eyes, feeling her touch sweep away the remaining
traces of tears.

“You cried because of me, didn’t you?”

Thanatcha whispered softly, a trace of guilt in her voice. It wasn’t exactly

an apology, but it carried the weight of one.

“That night… was it the same? Did you cry because of me then, too?”

Nichapat didn’t answer. Her words brought her tears spilling down once
more—perhaps the lingering hurt from that day when she hadn’t had the
chance to show her how sad she was.

Thanatcha's words back then had made her feel misunderstood. The
closeness they had shared that night had hurt her, but she had no chance to
explain, only to let her tears fall in front of her while she remained unaware
of their cause.

Now, with Thanatcha finally understanding, she could release it. Her tears
were a quiet plea, a gentle demand for recognition—and she felt a rush of
relief that she finally understood.

“I understand… that you cried because you were moved by her…”

“Stop talking about someone else. Do you like hearing me talk about her?”

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Sun Yan

Nichapat said, pouting through her tears.

“I didn’t want to talk about her at all. I just wanted to make up for that day.”

“I didn’t cry because of her. And I’m not dating her either.”

Nichapat spoke while turning her face away, a little sulky at being
misunderstood—and secretly annoyed that she had been teased in a way
that had made her sad for days.

If she were honest, part of it was to make her realize the feelings she had
kept hidden, the same way she had once let Thanatcha feel hurt because she
wanted to protect her own heart from loving two people at once. Still, that
didn’t mean she couldn’t be angry at her.

“I heard it from others, but I’m glad to hear it from you—that it’s true,”
Thanatcha said with a hopeful smile. “Then… if your heart isn’t with
anyone else, can I… ask you to be with me?”

Those words made Nichapat turn to look at her. Seeing the hopeful smile, a
wave of anxiety swept over her. Her expression fell, and she lowered her
gaze.

“It’s too late,” she thought, feeling her tears threatening to spill again. “My
parents already know that we’ve had problems… so I told them that I’ve
broken up with you.”

Thanatcha’s smile faltered, replaced first by shock, then by a serious, tense

expression.

“Did you tell them that?”

“Because I don’t even know if you'll come back. You might not feel
anything for me anymore, and you might never return.”

In the end, she couldn’t help letting her tears flow again. These thoughts
had been running through her mind during the many days she stayed at
home.

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Sun Yan

“Because they noticed, and I had no way to explain myself, I had to tell
them that. My mom said that if this proves our kind of love is fragile, she
won’t let me date a woman again.”

“I can’t let them misunderstand like that,”

Thanatcha said with a sigh, showing her emotions. She looked at Nichapat
with furrowed brows before deciding to grab her hand and make her follow
her.

“Wait… where are you going?”

Nichapat tried to hold back her hand.

“I’m going to tell your parents,”

Thanatcha said firmly, her face full of determination. “I’ll handle this
myself.”

Saying that, she quickly pulled Nichapat along.

She might have seemed a little impatient, which made her feel worried, but
Thanatcha’s calm and steady demeanor made Nichapat reflect on the
importance of the matter.

Her anxiety slowly turned into a sense of reassurance. Knowing that the one
who would resolve the problem was Thanatcha, she felt confident that she
would handle it well.

The hand she had offered her was gently held and guided, pulling her along
slowly, and she gradually tightened her grip in response before quickening
her pace to catch up with her.

💖💖💖💖
sunyan

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Sun Yan

🎀 30. Bed Partner Every Night

🎀
Book : Toss - Up (Take A Chance To Win Her Love)
Writer : Serenista
Released : 13 September 2020
Translator : Sun Yan (daphne.shn@gmail.com)

Napittha sat and watched her daughter and her girlfriend, who had been
having problems, come to tell her that they had made up.

They explained that their argument the other day was just a
misunderstanding. They had spoken sharply, almost as if they were
breaking up, but in reality, neither of them wanted that.

"Are you saying it was just a misunderstanding?"

She looked at the two of them sitting with hunched shoulders, pressed close
together on the sofa, their bodies tense. She let out a sigh. It was hard to
stay stern, but that didn't mean she approved of what had happened between
them.

"Yes, it was a misunderstanding,"

Thanatcha quickly replied.

"That day I happened to meet my ex, so I invited her to have dinner. When
June found out, she thought I was still involved with my ex and got angry,

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Sun Yan

so we..."

"We ended up arguing,"

Nichapat added, after Thanatcha had briefly explained how she planned to
tell her parents before getting out of the car.

"I couldn't help thinking that Tense still had feelings for her ex, so I got
upset and ended up telling her to go back to her ex and not bother me
anymore," Nichapat said softly at the end.

"The truth is, it was my fault," Thanatcha continued. "I told June that if we
don't trust each other, it would be hard to be together. And when June spoke
to me like that, I snapped and said I'd go back to my ex-but I didn't actually
mean it. We were just letting our emotions get the better of us and hurt each
other with words. In reality, there's nothing going on-I don't have feelings
for my ex anymore, and she doesn't either. But because we misunderstood
each other and didn't talk properly, it turned into a problem. And... actually,
it was the first real fight between us."

"This is your first argument, and you're already thinking of breaking up?"
Napittha sighed heavily. "I wonder how your relationship is going."

"We know it was a mistake,"

Thanatcha quickly replied. She tried to answer these questions herself to

take responsibility for the situation and to make sure Nichapat didn't have to
answer too much.

"But this was our first mistake. Even though we got angry, we've learned
that we shouldn't act impulsively and how to fix our mistakes."

"Impulsive-very impulsive. You can't let it happen again," Napittha scolded.

"If that's the case, may Mom and Dad give us a chance to make it right?
You probably know that in any relationship, it's normal to argue sometimes.
Maybe we were a bit hasty, but we'll be more careful from now on."

"Arguing is normal, I know that, but if you can avoid the risk-do it."

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Sun Yan

Jiraphon said and looked at his wife, signaling her to share her opinion on
the matter.

"I'll be careful, Dad. When you and Mom were young, you must have had
arguments too, right?" Nichapat said with a sweet smile.

"If I said we didn't, it would be strange. But we never treated love and
breakups like a game, unlike some couples," Jiraphon admitted.

"We've never said we wanted to break up, Dad. But sometimes things we
said accidentally made the other person feel that way. That caused
misunderstandings. After taking some time to think, we started to
understand things better and now want to clear up this issue. That's why we
came to talk to you and Mom today," Nichapat said softly.

"It's good that you came to tell us. That way, we can scold you both
together. Since you understand each other and are brave enough to talk to
us, how could I refuse? Couples who have problems aren't undeserving of a
chance to make things right."

Napittha sighed again.

"So we still have a chance to make things right, right?" Nichapat smiled
widely upon hearing her mother say that.

"That's something you two have to work on yourselves and figure out how
to prevent the same problem from happening again," her mother said.

"This kind of situation won't happen often, and I'm not the flirtatious type. I
like only one person at a time, and right now, I only care about your
daughter,"

Thanatcha said with a sweet smile at Napittha. She might have seemed a bit
shy, but her sincerity was clear.

"Love my daughter a lot. Just liking her isn't enough," Napittha said.

"I'm not just liking her. I...,"

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha hesitated slightly since she had never said this directly to
Nichapat before. Feeling a little embarrassed to say it in front of everyone,
he continued,

"I love her."

"Show your love through your actions. I've seen that you're trustworthy. So
just keep making me feel that way all the time."

"Understood," Thanat nodded.

"Arguing will happen-the first time will be followed by a second. The key is
to make it just a small issue and get through it easily,"

Napittha added, finishing the conversation. "Alright, you two can continue
talking by yourselves. You're both women, so it might be easy to get
emotional. This is exactly what I want to know-how you'll handle living
together."

Those words made Thanatcha and Nichapat look at each other. It seemed
serious, but neither of them thought it would be a real problem-especially
Thanatcha, who had the courage to follow her heart and win what she
wanted.

She wasn't going to let small issues get in the way of her relationship with
the woman she cared for so deeply.

So Thanatcha answered confidently, saying it without hesitation:

"I may not have a clear plan for that, but I'll make sure you can see it,
Mom."

"I've put another pillow on the bed. You can go in and sleep now,"

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Sun Yan

Napittha said to her daughter and Thanatcha as they stood in front of the
bedroom.

After their conversation, she invited her daughter's girlfriend to stay for
dinner and suggested she sleep over since it was getting late. The casual,
welcoming atmosphere reflected the closeness in their family.

For close family members, it wasn't unusual to invite a daughter's girlfriend

to stay over. From now on, it would probably become normal for the two
girls to take turns sleeping over at each other's place, or for Napittha's
daughter to stay at Thanatcha's home whenever convenient.

Seeing that her daughter hadn't used the extra pillow, Napittha set it aside
with another set of bed sheets. When she invited Thanatcha to stay over, she
brought the extra pillow and put on the pillowcase.

"Thank you, Mom," Thanatcha said, bowing her head slightly.

"Mm, go to bed quickly. Don't stay up too late."

"Yes,"

Thanatcha nodded politely. She didn't think much of it at first,

understanding that her mother just wanted her to rest. But when she heard
the reminder repeated:

"Go to bed, go to bed. Sleep early," Napittha said firmly.

That made Thanatcha and Nichapat pause, starting to understand the deeper
meaning behind her mother's words.

"Tomorrow, let me know what time you'll go downstairs for meals. Just
message me,"

Napittha added. Not wanting to say more, she turned her back on the two
girls and walked down the stairs to the lower floor.

Nichapat and Thanat looked at each other, then both stifled a laugh.
Nichapat covered her mouth with one hand while taking Thanatcha's hand

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with the other, guiding her into the room. They closed the door and locked
it for privacy, stopping in the middle of the room to face each other.

Thanatcha smiled, stepping closer to the beautiful person she longed for.
One hand gently held her delicate arm, while the other lightly touched the
ends of her softly curled hair.

She gazed at the beautiful face she wanted to admire for as long as possible,
knowing that from now on, she could look at it for as long as she wished.

"Mom said to go to bed early,"

Thanatcha whispered, letting go of the hair and lightly touching the tip of
Nichapat's chin. "So... are you going to sleep?"

Her words sounded casual, but her eyes carried a deeper meaning. She
thought the other would hesitate a little, since she had been sulking before
arriving. But to her surprise, Nichapat showed no hesitation at all-instead,
she launched herself at her immediately.

Nichapat wrapped her arm around Thanat's neck, pulling her closer, and
replied firmly,

"I'm not going to sleep."

She held her neck locked as she stepped backward, guiding Thanatcha
along.

Thanatcha smiled, understanding perfectly. She didn't let Nichapat hold her
alone-when invited, she quickly stepped forward, gently pushing Nichapat
as they reached the foot of the bed.

Nichapat sat on the edge of the bed, but Thanatcha pressed close
immediately, pinning her down to lie flat.

Their eyes met. Thanatcha's gaze swept over the face she adored, seeing it
up close again. She had once only hoped to love this woman and to be
loved in return-but now, she might no longer have to wait and hope.

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"This time, I'm serious. If I get to kiss you again, I won't let you go to
anyone else-ever," Thanatcha whispered.

"Who else would I go to? There's only you,"

Nichapat replied, relaxed, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

"Oh, really?"

Being challenged like that, Thanatcha responded with a playful stance.

Even though she used to be the one chasing Nichapat, she didn't feel the
need to always take the follower's role.

She had always been balanced and natural with Nichapat, which made
things work smoothly. Before she knew it, she had stepped forward to stand
exactly where she wanted.

"If it's just me left... then we-"

She didn't get to finish; the person lying beneath her quickly covered her
mouth with a hand.

Nichapat lay there, smiling subtly. She didn't want Thanatcha to speak this
time-she wanted to say it herself.

"Shall we stop being pretend lovers and be real lovers instead?"

The unexpected question made Thanatcha pause for a moment, the words
echoing in her mind before she slowly smiled.

"You can answer that yourself," Nichapat leaned forward, pressing her
forehead lightly against Thanatcha's. "You already know what I want from
you."

"I know... but I want to answer too."

"....."

"Mm... I want you. I want your heart,"

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Thanatcha whispered, tilting her face and bringing her lips close. Before
their lips met, she added her answer:

"I want to be your girlfriend."

Their lips met softly, gently. The one being kissed closed her eyes and
smiled faintly, savoring the sweet words along with the kiss.

In that moment, Nichapat no longer felt the need to chase after love,
because now someone was following her-and she was the best person for
her. She wanted to walk with her, hand in hand, moving forward together.

They shared a tender kiss, then pulled back slightly, ready to explore the
deeper intimacy they both longed for that night. Their time apart had made
them ache for each other, and their longing only strengthened the desire
between them.

Their lips met again, pressing together with a growing urgency. In one
moment, the slender hand cupped the face above her, gently pushing away
as their eyes locked-hers looking at him like he was a priceless treasure.

Nichapat smiled, then spoke words that were precious to her, wanting her to
truly hear them:

"Tense."

"What?"

"I love you."

Even though Thanatcha thought she had grown used to being close to the
woman she had secretly adored, hearing those words made her heart race as
if it might burst from her chest. It was a confirmation: the body in her arms
truly belonged to her-both body and heart.

She gave a soft smile, returning her gaze with gentle eyes. Until now, she
had only felt, never spoken her feelings aloud. This was her chance.

She lightly traced her cheek with her thumb and said the words:

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"I love you too."

She looked at the person smiling back at her sweet words before their lips
met again. It was a brief moment, a sweet kiss that quickly turned into a
more passionate one.

The body under the blanket woke up early in the morning, feeling slightly
unfamiliar, but the warmth of the bed and the person sleeping beside them
made it comfortable enough to sleep until morning.

Looking at the beautiful figure lying on her side, facing her, Thanatcha
couldn't help but smile. Thinking about how their relationship had changed
last night made her smile happily, finally feeling free from the discomfort of
unrequited love.

Now that the other person's feelings had caught up to hers, it was a feeling
of mutual happiness.

Once, Thanatcha could only possess a body that wasn't truly hers. But now,
Nichapat is her woman-someone who allows her to freely express her
feelings with complete trust.

Thanatcha wanted to move closer and hug her, but didn't want to wake her
up since it still seemed early in the morning, probably before their usual
wake-up time. She turned over to look for her phone, which had fallen
somewhere on the bed, and finally found it lying next to a pair of long pants
draped over the edge of the bed.

She picked it up and saw that the time was almost seven o'clock. It might
have been fine to wake up at that time on a day with no rush, but since she
was at Nichapat's house, where her parents were also around, she felt a little

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tense at the thought of waking up late and being in bed, not properly
dressed, with their daughter.

Even though they were alone in a bedroom with the door securely locked.

She got up from the bed, grabbed her clothes, and got dressed. Then she
walked to the bathroom she had used once last night.

Nichapat's bedroom bathroom was small, designed for one woman, and
filled with cosmetics for washing her face and skincare, as well as toiletries
for bathing, hair care, and brushing her teeth. It seemed to have everything
needed, showing a particular attention to basic cleanliness.

She came out of the bathroom after washing her face, then took a
handkerchief from her blouse pocket to dry her face. When she walked back
to the bed, she saw the person who had just rolled over squinting, not fully
awake. But when she noticed her, she opened her eyes and furrowed her
brows.

"Mm, you're awake?" Nichapat asked in a groggy voice.

"Mm, just woke up a little while ago,"

Thanatcha smiled. She stepped up to the edge of the bed, resting one knee
on it to lean closer to the beautiful person.

"You're cheating! Why are you already dressed? Are you leaving?"

Nichapat whined, pouting as if afraid she would go.

"No, not at all,"

Thanatcha laughed. She sat on the edge of the bed, crossing one leg over
the other. "It's fine. I'm at your house. What if your mom comes in while I'm
still half-naked?"

"She won't come in. The door is locked. Usually she always knocks and
asks before coming up."

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"I don't know... it's kind of embarrassing,"

Thanatcha said, biting her lip as she looked at the person she had left naked
under the blanket, smiling to herself.

"Mm, don't get up yet,"

Nichapat protested, whining like a spoiled child upon waking up to a new

day-and a new girlfriend-without having had the chance to cuddle.

"Come to me," Nichapat said, spreading her arms wide.

The one being spoiled laughed softly in her throat at her gesture. She
immediately moved closer, because she also wanted to wake up and hug her
newly declared girlfriend. As soon as Thanatcha slid under the blanket and
snuggled close, the clingy one hugged her tightly.

"Ahh,"

Nichapat murmured, eyes closed, making a satisfied sound that made the
one being hugged smile happily as well.

Thanatcha had always thought the girl she secretly liked for so long was
cute, and she had seen her sweetness whenever they were close-but she
never expected her to be so clingy and adorable.

As a couple so close now, she didn't regret all the time she had patiently
liked her from afar. Only now, when her feelings were finally returned, did
she realize just how lovely a girlfriend she was.

"Do you want to go on a date today?" the clingy one asked, still holding her
tightly.

"A date?"

Thanatcha raised an eyebrow-this would be their first date since becoming a

couple. "Where should we go?"

"Just somewhere to eat, watch a movie, or take a walk-anywhere."

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Sun Yan

"Really?"

Thanatcha smiled, thinking of places she had seen in reviews and imagined
taking Nichapat.

"I know a pretty café I want to take you to for lunch."

"A pretty café?"

Nichapat loosened her hug and looked at her as she made the suggestion.

"Mmm."

Thanatcha nodded, glancing at the bare shoulder peeking out from under
the blanket.

"Go shower and get dressed so we can go on our date."

"Let's shower together,"

Nichapat said, raising her arms to loop them around her neck, narrowing
her eyes in a playful tease.

"Shower together?" Thanatcha chuckled softly. "That might take us a little

longer."

"So what? We've got plenty of time,"

Nichapat grinned. She had never been shy about things like this. Otherwise,
she wouldn't have been brave enough to invite this woman into her bed that
night.

And she was the only one Nichapat had ever dared do that with. Maybe it
was because Thanatcha's pull on her had been too strong, even before they
were close.

Thanatcha smiled back. She looked at Nichapat with meaning in her eyes,
remembering that night she'd been invited into bed. It had made her
nervous, yes, but she was grateful she said yes.

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Sun Yan

She hadn't lost anything by giving in-if anything, she had gained
everything. Nichapat was hers completely now, so how could she refuse
when invited like this?

Nichapat glanced down at the handkerchief lying on her body as the other
woman moved closer to embrace her. Picking it up, Nichapat followed her
gaze. When she saw the handkerchief in her hand, she spoke up.

"You've kept this all this time? Or is it just a new one with the same
pattern?"

The question made Thanatcha's eyes widen in surprise. She hadn't expected
Nichapat to remember. At the mention of it, only one memory came to her
mind-the very reason she had held onto it all these years. She only carried it
with her on days she knew she would meet this woman again.

"Why would you..."

Thanatcha began in confusion, the thought trailing off as she looked at

Nichapat's knowing smile. Before she could finish, Nichapat spoke the
words she hadn't managed to say.

"It's the same handkerchief you once lent me, isn't it?"

Thanatcha ran her fingers lightly through the ends of her hair after blow-
drying it. While Nichapat sat at the vanity table putting on her makeup,
Thanatcha stepped out onto the balcony of the bedroom-one she was truly
experiencing for the first time.

As she opened the door, her thoughts drifted back to the secret she had just
learned today: that Nichapat had remembered her from the very first time
they spoke.

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"I've remembered you every time we met. I just didn't know your name.
Back then, I told myself I shouldn't pay attention to anyone else since I
already liked someone. But every time I saw you, I couldn't forget you. And
once a friend told me you liked me... every time we met after that, I couldn't
help but steal glances at you."

"I noticed you looking," Thanatcha admitted quietly. "But I thought maybe
you were just recognizing me in passing-like anyone else would. I never
imagined you actually remembered the very first time we met."

"I never forgot you-I just didn't show it. If I had let myself be interested in
you back then, wouldn't that have made me unfaithful?"

"But it doesn't have to mean you were unfaithful,"

Thanatcha recalled Ansaya telling her the last time they had met in private.
That day, Ansaya had been the one to let her know that Nichapat wasn't
seeing anyone else-and to finally share the thoughts she had kept to herself
all along.

"Your friend once said to me... maybe the reason you didn't seem interested
in me was because you already liked someone else. But if you hadn't, then
maybe you might have noticed me from the very beginning."

Nichapat didn't argue. She wasn't so sure of herself either. But if those
words had come from her closest friend-the one always by her side-then
perhaps they were true...

Maybe she had been drawn to Thanatcha without realizing it.

And maybe that was why, on that night, she chose Thanatcha as her first
choice.

Thanatcha smiled to herself at the thought. It was something special,

knowing this truth.

But in the end, the reason didn't matter. If any of those little things had
pushed Nichapat to come to her that night-leading them into this rare bond

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Sun Yan

they now shared-then that alone was the greatest joy of her life.

Her gaze shifted, landing on a potted plant sitting alone on the wooden table
by the balcony wall. Thanatcha smiled, stepping closer. Seeing its round
green leaves spreading out into a small, full cluster, she couldn't help but
feel quietly proud to see it thriving once again.

"What are you doing?"

A voice called out, followed by quick movement from behind, before arms
slipped around her waist in a sudden hug.

"Ah-you're looking at your plant, aren't you?"

"Mhm. It's the same one, right?" Thanatcha asked, just to be sure.

"I only have one plant that was given to me by someone special."

Nichapat loosened her embrace, stepping forward to gently brush the

leaves.

"Watermelon Peperomia," she said with a smile. "I only started watering it
again three or four days ago. Luckily, it's come back to life, looking so fresh
again."

"You just started watering it three or four days ago?"

Thanatcha raised an eyebrow. She was already surprised when she heard the
plant's full name. She never thought the person she had given it to-someone
who hadn't known a thing about it back then-would remember the exact
name.

"Mhm. Before this, I neglected it for a while... just like I neglected the
person who gave it to me. But once I started watering it again, giving it a
little sunlight and care, it became fresh and lively again."

Nichapat turned to the woman beside her with a smile.

"Kind of like you, don't you think?"

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha looked at that beautiful, smiling face. She returned the smile
before turning her gaze back to the plant. She was relieved to see it so full
of life again. Even if it had been neglected, by the time she saw it once
more, it had already regained its strength.

Maybe Nichapat was right. Maybe it was just like her-coming back to life,
bright and full of warmth again.

"Is that so?" Thanatcha asked softly.

"Maybe it is."

"Do you like it?"

"Of course," Nichapat said with a warm laugh. "I love it very much. And I
love the person who gave it to me even more."

"Really?" Thanatcha smiled. "Then if you had to choose-between a bouquet

of flowers... or a plant like this one-what would you pick?"

"Pick?"

Nichapat tilted her head in thought, her eyes drifting upward as if

considering it seriously. Then, with a sly smile, she leaned in close and
whispered into Thanatcha's ear.

"I'd choose anything, as long as it's something you chose for me."

The words made Thanatcha's face bloom with a smile, her cheeks lifting
with warmth she couldn't hide.

The small house door was pushed open. After their first date as a couple,
the two of them went to a cozy café in a beautiful garden in the middle of

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Sun Yan

the city, chosen by Thanatcha.

They took turns snapping pictures of each other, and also took some
together. After that, they watched a movie, browsed clothes, and picked up
some fresh groceries at the supermarket. Finally, they decided to go back to
Thanatcha's home.

"Just leave it on the table. I'll put it in the fridge later."

The host said, while setting her own things on the shelf.

"I'll help put things away in a bit,"

Nichapat replied. She walked over, grabbed a bottle of water, poured it into
a glass, and took a sip. Just as she was about to set the glass down, someone
suddenly came up from behind, wrapped their arms around her, and rested
their chin on her shoulder to whisper softly:

"I've got something to show you."

"What is it?" she asked, turning to see the face leaning on her shoulder with
a smile. "A new plant?"

"Nope," came the reply with a shake of the head. The hug loosened, and
then her hand was gently taken as she was led away.

Nichapat set down her glass and quickly followed her girlfriend toward the
corner with the sofa. That space next to the sofa had always been empty, but
now there was a brand-new piece of furniture there. Seeing it made her
raise her eyebrows in surprise.

"What's this?"

Nichapat asked in a surprised tone, walking toward the white piano placed
there.

"In case someone wants to listen,"

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha smiled. She sat down in front of the piano, resting her hands
lightly on the keys before pressing them softly to let out a sound.

"I'm not very good at playing. Back when I wanted you to feel something
for me, I kept wondering what she had that I didn't. One thing I knew was
that I couldn't play the piano for you the way she could. But maybe, in the
end, that doesn't really matter-if I have something she doesn't, something
that could make you love me instead. Still, during the time we weren't
together, I just wanted to try learning... so that if we ever met again, I could
play for you whenever you wanted to hear it."

Hearing that reason, Nichapat's eyes welled up, tears nearly spilling over.
She knew all too well how painful it was to secretly like someone-to
constantly wonder how to win their heart.

She had felt that before, from her own side, when she longed for someone
else.

But thinking now from Thanatcha's perspective-having cared for her deeply
for so long without the chance to get close, and then finally, when she did
get close, being pushed away-it weighed heavily on her heart.

A quiet guilt rose inside her, and with it came the wish to make things right,
to return those feelings with something true and good.

She walked up and hugged Thanatcha from behind, wrapping her arms
around her neck and resting her chin on her shoulder.

"You don't have to play the piano for me. I like you for other reasons. I just
needed to realize that deep down, I should care about you and like you more
than anyone else."

At this moment, she thought maybe what her friend said to Thanatcha was
true. If she hadn't liked someone else so strongly before, she might have
noticed Thanatcha more.

"If there was nothing about you that caught my interest, I wouldn't have
chosen to walk up to you that night."

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Sun Yan

It wasn't like she liked two people at the same time. She only started liking
Thanatcha after they became close. Getting to know each other gave her the
chance to discover who Thanatcha really was.

"If I met someone who wasn't right for me, I wouldn't force myself to like
them. But you're different from others. You interested me. And interest
doesn't mean I already liked you-it just gave me a reason to get closer and
learn about you. That's how it turned into liking you. When I got closer, I
could've ended up liking you or not. But spending time with you made me
realize that I truly do like you."

Nichapat smiled softly on her shoulder, then leaned in and brushed her
cheek against her, kissing her lightly.

"I really, really like you."

Thanatcha smiled. Hearing the reasons behind these feelings-from someone

who had once only admired her from afar, but was now her lover-made her
heart beat a little faster than usual. It felt like the beginning of a relationship
where special words could bring her happiness again and again.

"I'm glad you like me. But I also want to do little things that are special for
you."

Thanatcha shifted slightly, sitting up straighter. "We can play together when
we have free time." She glanced at the one still resting her cheek against
hers and smiled. "I'm not very good at playing, but after practicing a little, I
found it fun. Right now I can only play one song-but I'll play it for you."

.
.

Then she began pressing the short notes, taking in a small breath before
playing the song she had secretly practiced for many days-just for the one
sitting beside her to hear.

Nichapat loosened her embrace and lifted her chin, worried she might make
it hard for Thanatcha to play the piano. She listened to the melody with

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Sun Yan

familiarity. It was Close to You, an old English song she had heard many
times before.

The rhythm was still a little uneven from inexperience, but it surprised her
that Thanatcha could turn it into a recognizable tune. Soon, Nichapat softly
began to hum the lyrics along.

Thanatcha's singing while playing the piano took her by surprise. She had
never known Thanatcha's voice could sound so beautiful. The gentle,
captivating sound drew her closer until she sat right beside her.

When Thanatcha glanced at her, shifting slightly, the music faltered for a
brief moment. Both of them laughed softly, before letting her singing drift
in the air together with the melody.

It wasn't perfect, but it was something special-so special it made her heart
race with delight.

She never needed Thanatcha to be good at playing the piano for her. Just
hearing her sing with such a beautiful voice was already more than enough
to leave her impressed.

And even without these things, Thanatcha had plenty of other qualities that
made her love her deeply. But if she wanted to offer something special like
this, she was more than happy to accept it.

Nichapat slipped her arms around the slender waist, resting her cheek
against her shoulder, letting the singing and piano lull her into a dreamlike
calm. When the music and voice finally came to an end, she spoke lightly
into the quiet:

"If you bought such an expensive piano, what will you do if playing it still
isn't enough to win me back?"

"What if trying to win you back doesn't work?"

It wasn't a sad question, but instead it made the person being asked chuckle
softly before replying:

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Sun Yan

"This electric piano cost a little over ten thousand baht. I don't regret
spending the money at all. My room needed another piece of furniture here
anyway. And when I bought it, I never once thought about the possibility of
failing to win you back. "

"......"

"Sometimes people humble themselves too much, thinking the other person
probably doesn't feel the same. I don't like to fool myself either, because I'm
afraid of disappointment. But once you reach a point where you're sure the
other person feels the same way, and there are signs that prove you're not
mistaken-then you have to trust that feeling with all your heart."

"You're that confident?" Nichapat scrunched her nose at her.

"We're not just relying on feelings. We've shown it through actions too,
haven't we?" Thanatcha raised an eyebrow.

Nichapat didn't argue with that. She knew how she had expressed herself.
Even when she still had lingering feelings for someone else, the way she
acted toward Thanatcha was different.

Deep down, she liked her. She was the one she wanted to lean on, the one
she wanted to spoil her-and now, she wanted to give those same feelings
back to her.

"I was just thinking..."

Nichapat glanced upward with a sly look and a teasing smile. "If back then
I hadn't already had feelings for someone else, after that night when I first
approached you and we went our separate ways, I might have ended up
chasing after you."

"What?" Thanatcha burst out laughing. "I can actually picture you trying to
court me-that would've been fun."

"Haven't I done that before?" Nichapat shook her head lightly. "You weren't
the only one chasing me. Think about the times I kept seeking you out,

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Sun Yan

asking to go places with you, always being around you. Back then, I didn't
even realize I was the one trying to get closer to you-or why. And just
imagine if I had known, and I'd seriously tried to win you over. What would
that have been like?"

It might have been a slightly unexpected image at first, but once she was
asked to picture it-thinking back on everything the two of them had been
through-it became much clearer how Nichapat might have pursued her.

It would probably have been just like that night, when she boldly asked her
to come to bed. With that memory, she hardly needed any imagination at all.

"I get it now."

"Good that you do," Nichapat replied, gently pressing both hands against
Thanatcha's cheeks. "Now that you're with me, you must never leave me.
And we have to be together for a long, long time."

The words came out a little possessive, but deep down, it was only her true
wish-that Thanatcha would stay by her side for a long time. And if their
bond remained strong and kind forever, that would be even better.

"Winning your heart wasn't easy. Who would throw that away so easily?"
She raised an eyebrow and let out a soft chuckle.

"Good."

Nichapat grinned widely, her mood lifting at those words, so much that she
wanted to make sure the one before her heard something worth hearing
again. She loosened her hands from her cheeks, leaving just the faintest
touch, keeping her gaze close enough to see her clearly. Then she spoke the
words aloud-

"I love you."

Those words were meant to remind the other woman that her feelings had
completely turned around. From the past, when she used to push her away,
everything had now shifted to the opposite.

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Sun Yan

From here on, she would be the one to treasure Thanatcha. But she also
wanted to live with this love sensibly-so the two of them could make it last
for a long time.

The one who was loved looked into her eyes. She wanted to say the same
words back, but she knew that Nichapat already understood how she had
always felt-through all the time that had passed, and how those feelings had
only grown stronger.

She could say it again and again, whenever she wished. It didn't have to be
now. Because in this moment, she wanted to answer Nichapat's love not
with words, but with the things she was free to do from here on.

Her head tilted slightly, just as Nichapat leaned closer. A gentle touch
blossomed on their lips. From the very first time they had shared a kiss, it
had lingered in their hearts, unforgettable ever since that day.

And who would have thought...

That a kiss meant only to exist in a fleeting relationship-would turn into a

kiss that would stay with the two of them forever.

"Tense."

"Hm?"

"Will you be my partner in bed every night?"

"Mm, sure."

.
---------THE END-------
🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

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💖 LOVE TALK 💖

“Tense.”

“Hm?”

“What do you like about me?”

“What do I like about you?” Thanatcha repeated.

“The first time I heard you speak in front of the lecturer, I liked your
attitude and the way you expressed yourself. You’re beautiful, and your
mindset is interesting. Then, after we talked for the first time, I liked you
even more. You were friendly with me and really sweet.”

“Really? And after that?”

“After that, I liked your playful side,” Thanatcha laughed. “You can be a
little bossy, but it’s kind of cute. And the more time we spent together, the
more I loved how affectionate you are. I love that a lot.”

“Really?”

The listener smiled, thanking her softly while twisting around a little, then
clung to her arm and leaned her head on her shoulder.

“Then I’ll be clingy all day.”

“Are you trying to drive me crazy?” she laughed.

“Oh, you…”

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Sun Yan

“You won’t go crazy. You’re too good at hiding your feelings,” Nichapat
teased her girlfriend knowingly.

“I just don’t express myself as well as you do,” Thanatcha defended herself
quickly, then turned the question around. “You’ve only asked me—what
about you? What do you like about me?”

“Well..” The one being asked smiled, happy to finally be asked back. “I like
that you’re… cute.”

“Hm?” Thanatcha laughed at the short answer. “What’s that supposed to

mean?”

“Well, you’re just cute. That says it all.”

“And how exactly am I cute?”

“Your personality. You’re kind, reasonable, warm, caring, and you always
spoil me. That’s what ‘cute’ means to me.”

“Oh, I see.”

“It’s not just that I like you.”

Nichapat smiled before speaking with a sweet smile.

“Right now, I feel so lucky to be your partner.”

💖💖💖💖💖

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Sun Yan

🌈 01.The Gift on Our Love Day

🌈
Book : Toss - Up (Take A Chance To Win Her Love)
Writer : Serenista
Released : 13 September 2020
Translator : Sun Yan (daphne.shn@gmail.com)

The phone was lifted to snap a quick selfie while sitting on a marble bench
in the small garden of her faculty—a place she hadn’t visited in quite a
while.

After finishing her first day of graduation rehearsal, Nichapat called

Thanatcha, who was still with her group of friends and heading up to meet a
professor in the faculty building. Nichapat decided to leave her own friends
for a bit and came here to wait for her girlfriend.

Before leaving, of course, she couldn’t escape being teased by her friends,
who had noticed how inseparable she and Thanatcha had become during the
month they’d been dating.

“Well, I guess I forgot my friend’s got a girlfriend in the same faculty now,”

Ansaya said, smirking as their newly un-single friend excused herself to go

see Thanatcha and told them to head home first.

“True! I totally forgot you were single for two whole years back in school,”
added Satitha immediately. “And now, look at you—back at university

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again and suddenly dating someone from the same faculty.”

“Yeah, and back then you pretended you weren’t even interested in her.
Now look—waiting for her right outside the building,” another friend
teased.

“You guys…” Nichapat playfully tapped one of their shoulders, laughing.

“Can you stop teasing me already? You started when we weren’t even
together, and now that we are, you still won’t stop.”

“Well, how can we not tease you? Our friend ended up dating the very
person we’ve all been secretly rooting for all this time. That’s a complete
win, isn’t it?”

Ansaya smirked at Satitha, who pulled a face in mock annoyance.

“Yeah, I’d say it’s pretty complete,” Satitha laughed. “I was shocked the
night you went over to talk to her at that party. You acted like you didn’t
care at first, but then you kept running into her ‘by accident’ again and
again. And in the end, you were crying your heart out because you’d fallen
for her.”

“She broke your heart,”

Satitha added dramatically, covering her mouth with her hand and glancing
at Ansaya with a knowing look as she delivered the punchline.

“Oh, enough!”

Nichapat, her cheeks flushed red, shoved both her friends’ shoulders at once
while smiling shyly.

“Stop teasing me. I really have to go now. Get home safe, okay? See you at
the big rehearsal.”

“Yeah, see you. And hey—since you’re in the honeymoon phase, don’t
forget to get some rest too,”

Ansaya waved, still sneaking in another tease.

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“I told you to stop teasing! You never listen.”

Thinking back on her friends’ teasing, Nichapat couldn’t help but laugh to
herself. That was just how they were. But behind the jokes, they had a
sweet side—always caring about her feelings.

They’d gone from pushing and teasing her at first, to comforting her when
things were rough, and finally celebrating with her when she found
happiness with someone everyone agreed was right for her.

Her friends had their cute sides, and also their mischievous ones—
especially Ansaya.

She remembered when Ansaya used to tease her by saying she’d flirt with
Thanatcha herself if Nichapat wouldn’t. Back then, it made her secretly
annoyed. But when she later asked her about it, Ansaya just answered
innocently, as if it was nothing.

“Oh…”

“I was just messing with you,” Ansaya admitted. “You were taking too long.
Luckily, you only stayed upset for a little while before she came back to
make it up to you.”

Even though she confessed it was just a joke, the small smile that came with
her words made Nichapat feel a comforting warmth.

“I’m really glad you ended up with Tense,” Ansaya continued. “She’s such
a good person. I would never seriously try to steal her from you. Honestly, I
think she’s perfect for you, and I’m happy you’re together.”

They were just a few simple words from a friend, but they filled her with
happiness. It made her realize even more how precious her relationship with
Thanatcha truly was.

Though they hadn’t been together very long, Nichapat secretly hoped their
love would last forever—that they would always be good to each other. She
couldn’t imagine wanting anyone else in the future.

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What she wanted was for Thanatcha to be her true life partner—the kind of
person her parents had always hoped would come along to take care of her.
And in her heart, she wanted that person to be Thanatcha.

She sat scrolling through her phone, picking a photo to upload on

Instagram. Usually, it took her days to post a new picture.

But ever since she started dating Thanatcha, going places together so often,
she had begun uploading much more—solo shots, scenery, and of course,
couple photos.

It got to the point where some of her friends started leaving comments,
confused and curious about when and how she had suddenly gotten so close
to Thanatcha and decided to be with her.

Back in school, she had never shown the slightest hint of dating her. Some
had even heard rumors that it was actually Thanatcha who had quietly liked
her first.

So when everyone finally discovered the unexpected relationship between

the two of them, questions started pouring in—both in the comments and
through private messages.

“We started talking at Sa’s hotel party, and we’ve only just begun dating.”

That was the proud answer she gave whenever someone messaged her with
questions. She never felt uncomfortable explaining it—if anything, she was
proud that Thanatcha was her girlfriend.

She was happy to tell anyone that this was the person who truly belonged to
her.

And more than that, she wanted people to forget about the old crushes she
once had. Those days were behind her now.

“Waiting for my girlfriend in front of the faculty building. #CollegeLove

:P”

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That was the caption she wrote under her freshly snapped selfie. She
wanted it to be a small keepsake—a reminder that her love with Thanatcha
had bloomed here, within the university walls.

Even though their relationship had officially begun outside, as they got to
know each other more deeply, this campus was still the place where it had
all quietly started—back when they had once stolen glances at each other
from afar.

“Excuse me, do you have an appointment today?”

The familiar voice close by made her look up. She instantly recognized it,
lifting her eyes with a playful smile.

“I’m free today. Why do you ask?”

Nichapat replied, gazing at the girl standing before her in a student uniform
—a sight she knew so well, yet hadn’t seen in quite a while.

They had come to campus together earlier, but as soon as they reached the
faculty, they had to part ways—each rushing off to join their own group of
classmates in the auditorium. That left them with only a little time together.

“Mm, I was thinking of asking you out on a date. I wonder if anyone would
want to come with me.”

The girl teased, glancing off to the side with an innocent look. In the past,
she would never have dared say something so bold, too afraid of being
rejected. But now, with their relationship changed, she knew there was no
way she’d be turned down.

“A date with you, Tense?” the one being asked smirked, her shoulders
shaking lightly as she let out a laugh. “I was just about to say I wanted to go
on a date with you too.”

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With that, she jumped up and hooked her arm around her girlfriend’s.

“Look at you, acting like you’re trying to flirt. You never used to have the
guts to come up to me like this.”

Nichapat nudged her shoulder playfully against the girl whose arm she was
clinging to.

“Who would’ve had the guts back then? I didn’t want to be disappointed,”

Thanatcha said softly, resting her hand on her girlfriend’s head and stroking
it gently. Their eyes met up close, and for a moment she couldn’t help but
feel a flutter in her chest.

Here was the beautiful girl in a student uniform she’d secretly liked for so
long—now holding onto her arm so tightly. It made her think back to their
school days, and though the memory felt strange, it also thrilled her.

“Oh, but now you’ve already got what you wanted,”

Nichapat teased, tightening her hold on her girlfriend’s arm and leaning
closer. “I’ll let you take me on a date all night long.”

“A date… in my room, you mean?”

Thanatcha laughed, looking at her playful girlfriend with tender affection.

“So, how was practice today? Tired?”

“Not too tired. I’m just worried about the big rehearsal—it’ll probably be
exhausting.”

“Mm, well, you’ve got a day to rest before then. Make sure you take it
easy,”

Thanatcha said as they continued walking arm in arm.

“I’ll just stay in the room all day, not going anywhere,” Nichapat said
seriously.

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“Really?” Thanatcha smiled. “What about when I asked you out on a date
just now?”

“Hm, where would we even go?”

“Nowhere special. You’ve been practicing all day—I don’t want you to get
tired. But I was thinking… how about we have our date right here at the
university?”

“A date at the university?” the one being asked looked puzzled.

“Yeah.” The one with the idea nodded with a smile. “We could walk around
campus together, take some photos… make good memories we never had
the chance to when we were still studying here.”

“Oh!” Nichapat’s eyes lit up. “That’s a great idea.”

As the beautiful body moved closer, Thanatcha clearly understood what the
one being touched desired. Though there was a little weariness, the
movement did not stop easily—continuing until the beautiful body was
satisfied.

"Mm,"

The sound of the exhausted woman suggested she needed a rest. But before
the fatigue could fully subside, the beautiful figure climbed to straddle
Thanatcha's body.

Nichapat pressed kisses and touches all over the smooth, fair skin, which
she seemed utterly enamored with. Then, moving up higher, she looked up
and offered a cunning smile as she adjusted her legs into the perfect
position.

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She knew exactly what would satisfy them both. In the one month they had
been together, they had had sex countless times—only stopping when the
other had her period. You could say they were in the honeymoon phase, but
because they were so compatible in this regard, they simply wanted to touch
each other all the time.

Otherwise, Nichapat wouldn’t have been so captivated by their very first

encounter.

Even before they were together, she had already admitted that she loved the
moments she shared in bed with Thanatcha.

And now that they were in a relationship, spending plenty of time together
in bed, there was no way she would let such moments slip by.

Thanatcha felt the same way. She was finally dating the woman she had
secretly loved for a long time, so whenever she was invited to do "this sort
of thing," she never even thought of refusing.

The two bodies rushed towards each other with fluid rhythm. The beautiful
figure led the way on top, occasionally switching positions, guiding their
mutual excitement to the peak of their desires.

Heavy breathing punctuated the silence of the bedroom when the two
bodies collapsed next to each other. The beautiful figure moved closer to
cuddle Thanatcha, waiting until her strength returned before looking up at
the woman she wanted to hug and dote on every single day.

"Hmm?"

Thanatcha turned to look at the woman staring at her face. The sweet,
pleading expression made her smile.

"What is it?"

"We've been dating for over a month now, you know. Are you happy?"

The question suddenly came to mind as she thought about the wonderful
relationship they shared.

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“Of course I’m happy,” Thanatcha laughed at the question. “I get to be with
the person I like—why wouldn’t I be happy?”

“And do you still love me the same?” the other asked in a soft, sweet voice,
like a child being playful.

“Not the same—more than before,” Thanatcha immediate reply. “Why are
you even asking that?”

“Well… it’s like, when there’s something we once longed for, but once we
get used to it, it starts to feel ordinary, right? And then maybe one day we
might get bored.”

“If you keep being this sweet every day, who could ever get bored?”
Thanatcha chuckled. “As long as no one changes for the worse, I don’t
think it’s easy to grow tired of each other. When I love someone, I’m
serious about it—I don’t just like them or flirt for fun. And if, after being
together, I find that person makes me feel even better in a way that truly
connects with me, it only makes me want to cherish that relationship and
keep it for a long time.”

“Really?”

Nichapat smiled happily. She loved hearing Thanatcha open up about her
feelings. To have someone who cared for her, valued her, and shared their
heart—it meant everything.

Stepping into this love, she realized it was the kind of happiness she truly
wanted. It made her cherish it deeply and never want to let go.

“Why ask? Are you afraid I’ll get bored of you and love you less?”

Thanatcha placed her hand on the head of the one leaning against her,
chuckling softly.

“I just don’t want your love to fade,” Nichapat pouted. “Because I love you
more and more every day. I want our love to be equal.”

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“Equal? So you’ve caught up with me already?” Thanatcha teased, gently

pushing her forehead.

“What? Do you really think you’re the only one who loves more?”

Nichapat wrinkled her nose playfully, then nipped her partner’s arm in
mock protest.

“What’s that for?” Thanatcha laughed, pulling her arm away. “Well, you did
start loving me later, didn’t you?”

“Maybe I was late, but I’ve caught up now,” Nichapat lifted her chin
proudly. “And I’ll love you even more.”

“Love me more? No,” she shook her head. “It can only ever be equal. Do
you really think I’d love you less than you love me?”

Nichapat stopped arguing at those words. It wasn’t that she had surrendered
in this love where she’d been the one to come second. She already knew her
feelings for Thanatcha had started later, but once she fell in love, her heart
raced forward quickly. Her love was no less important than Thanatcha’s.

What touched her most was realizing how much Thanatcha had cared for
her—back when she hadn’t loved her yet, after she finally did, and even
now.

Hearing her say she’d never love her any less than she was loved in return
made Nichapat feel deeply grateful. Thanatcha always honored the love
they shared.

“Hey,” Nichapat asked with a mischievous smile.

“Hm?”

“What does it feel like, when the person you’ve secretly loved for so long
finally loves you back?” Nichapat blinked her eyes playfully.

“How does it feel?”

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Thanatcha looked up thoughtfully, a happy smile spreading across her face.

With a little shrug, she stretched her arms wide as if to show the answer.

“It feels like—wow. The happiness I’ve been reaching for… it’s really here
with me.”

“Is that so?” Nichapat chuckled softly. “I’m glad I get to be your
happiness.”

She leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her lover’s cheek, then pulled
back with a bright smile.

Thanatcha gazed at her sweet girlfriend. Every display of affection from

Nichapat still made her heart race. She didn’t know how long it would take
before she ever got used to it—if she ever did. But she wanted to keep
feeling this way forever, thrilled and alive with love.

“Mhm. Honestly, even though I tried to stay humble, I was always hoping
for it.”

“Hoping?” Nichapat frowned in curiosity.

“Yeah.” Thanatcha nodded with a soft smile. “The reason I agreed to your
terms that night was because I thought it would make it easier to get closer
to you through that relationship.”

“And somehow, things always turned in your favor.” Nichapat scrunched

her nose at being caught in her own trap.

“It was fate,” Thanatcha replied with a sly grin. “I purposely went to Sa’s
hotel opening just so I could see you. Even though I pretended to keep my
distance, we still ended up meeting. And in the end, you came to me
yourself. See? Things worked out for me again, didn’t they?”

“Mischievous.”

Nichapat playfully punched the sly woman’s shoulder. She had only found
out about this about a week into their relationship, when Thanatcha

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confessed that she had been the one to ask Satitha to take her to the hotel
opening—just so she could have the chance to meet her.

From then on, it seemed like fate kept giving them reasons to cross paths,
especially after Nichapat had already introduced her to her parents.

But no matter how much fate played its part, she had to admit that, before
long, she herself was the one who wanted to see Thanatcha.

At some point—she didn’t even know exactly when—she had started to

enjoy being with her, being near her, spending those simple, comfortable
moments together that quietly filled her with happiness.

Until the day something finally stirred her heart, and she realized the truth:
she liked her. She had fallen in love.

Little by little, Nichapat had grown confused, because she already had
someone she liked before. But it didn’t take long for her to sort out her
feelings and realize what she truly wanted was Thanatcha.

In the end, she chose to love only her, which was why today they were
together as girlfriends.

“If someone invites us to play a game, and we just keep losing on purpose,
would that really be fun? Sometimes you have to pretend to be clumsy, play
along like it doesn’t matter, but secretly have a plan to win. Otherwise,
you’ll seem too weak,”

Thanatcha said with a sly smile tugging at her lips.

“You’ve been thinking like this all along, haven’t you?”

Nichapat rolled onto her stomach and gave her a playful side–eye.

“Why not? When you have a crush on someone, don’t you ever hope that
one day they’ll lose their heart to you?”

Thanatcha chuckled, gently tapping her lover’s forehead with her finger
before brushing the hair from her face.

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“When I was sad, I was really sad. When I suffered, it wasn’t an act. But
every time I chose to show my feelings in a certain way—and if things
happened to go in my favor—I couldn’t help but think maybe… maybe I
had a chance.”

The listener lay on their stomach, listening to the thoughts and feelings that
had once been in Thanatcha’s heart. Nichapat understood well what it was
like to secretly like someone. She had always quietly hoped for it.

And even though, in the end, her wishes came true, she didn’t choose what
she had long hoped for. She never felt regret, because now she was happy
receiving love from someone who truly loved her.

Her thoughtfulness and care made her cherish her, wanting her to be hers
alone and to protect this special bond for a long time.

“I’m glad you agreed to my proposal that night. Ah… but saying it again
makes me so shy,”

Nichapat said, lightly rubbing the tip of her nose with her index finger.

“Anyone can make the first move in something like this,” Thanatcha
laughed. “But the one who starts first has to be a little stronger.”

She couldn’t resist teasing her adorable girlfriend again. Lifting her chin
gently, she stared into her eyes.

“If you dare to flirt with me, you have to be strong. Otherwise, you’ll just
end up falling in love with me like this.”

“Hey!” The teased girlfriend immediately pouted and shouted. “Are you
mocking me?” Nichapat pushed herself up and rolled on top of the playful
one, while the other tried to shield herself, worried about getting her
revenge. “Then we don’t need to sleep at all tonight.”

“What? I’m supposed to be the one saying that!” Thanatcha shouted.

“No need. You already said it yourself—anyone can make the first move in
something like this. No sleeping tonight.”

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“Are you joking?” The one being teased tried to roll away, giggling.

“I’m not joking!”

She stared at her beautiful, makeup-enhanced face reflected in the large

mirror in front of her. Another pair of eyes appeared behind her, looking in
with a face that was also especially beautiful today.

They exchanged smiles through the mirror, then turned to look at each
other.

“Do I look good with this makeup?”

Nichapat asked Thanatcha, who was already done with her student uniform
and makeup before her.

“You look beautiful,”

Thanatcha said with a smile, then turned to the makeup artists they had
hired to do their makeup at home that evening.

“All done, right?”

“Yes, all done,”

One of the makeup artists replied, walking over to check both girls’ faces
while the hairstylist adjusted Thanatcha’s hair to make it more secure.

“Girls, are you finished with your makeup?”

A voice called from the bedroom doorway. Napittha peeked in, smiling.

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“Oh! You both look beautiful.” She stepped closer to admire them.
“Goodness, it looks like you’re getting married, not just going to
graduation,”

Napittha teased softly, laughing in her throat, making the two girls blush
and giggle.

“If it were a real wedding, we’d look even more beautiful,” Nichapat said
with a smile.

“Oh, really? So you’ve thought about this a little, huh? Well… we’ve only
been together a short time. Let’s think about that later.”

"Oh, I just said that, silly. I know we just started dating, but that doesn't
mean I'm not interested in the future."

Nichapat turned to look at her supposed future spouse, wondering if they'd

actually ever get married, but a small hope sparked after she said it.

Thanatcha looked back, pretending to be nonchalant but hiding a smile. She

was always open to talking about serious matters concerning their
relationship.

But, as both Napittha and Nichapat had said, their love story was still long.
They would think about the future again when the time was right.

"Alright, let's go downstairs and have breakfast. We need to leave the house
soon. By the way, where are Tense's parents now?"

Napittha casually asked her daughter's girlfriend. Today would be the first
time the two families met officially.

After today's event, they'd probably share a meal together. That was
something Nichapat and Thanatcha were secretly thrilled about, hoping
their two families would get along well.

"They left at six this morning and said they're already entering Bangkok.
They should arrive at the university around the same time as us."

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"Oh, good. I was worried the traffic would make the trip difficult."

"Yes, they should be there soon."

"Hmm, okay. I'll go wait downstairs then. Hurry up and follow me."

"Okay, Mom."

The daughter replied to her mother before turning to talk to the makeup and
hair artists to settle the payment for both of them.

It was a morning that might have been a bit hectic, but they were well-
rested. After they decided to stay the night here yesterday evening, the
adults made sure they went to bed early, so they were asleep by almost 11
PM.

They woke up at 5:30 AM to shower and get ready, and the hair and
makeup artists were scheduled to arrive at 6:00 AM.

Their faculty's graduation ceremony was in the afternoon today, so the

morning was for taking memorial photos, meeting friends, and seeing
relatives.

They planned to arrive at the university no later than 9:00 AM. After getting
dressed, having their hair and makeup done, and eating breakfast, they still
had a little time before leaving the house.

Thanatcha walked out to the front of the house after the delivery motorbike
she was expecting contacted her; it was right on time.

After getting the package, she turned to see Nichapat, who had walked out
looking for her.

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"What was delivered?"

"A gift,"

Thanatcha answered directly. She placed the large, wrapped item on a

garden chair by the front lawn before unwrapping it.

Inside was a Verbena plant with small, clustered stems and tiny, light pink
and white flowers scattered in little bunches at the top.

"I bought you a new plant. It's a graduation gift."

"A plant as a gift?" Nichapat smiled.

"Yes. You once told me that you'd be happy with either flowers or a plant—
anything I chose for you."

"Well, yes, anything, but you gave me both a plant and flowers."

"That's because I thought about it carefully and decided I wanted to give

you both. You deserve the beauty of the flowers, but the plant is me,
growing beside you."

Nichapat looked at the person who was always so thoughtful toward her.
She reached out and accepted the plant, which had been nicely arranged in a
new pot.

"Thank you. These flowers are so cute."

Nichapat examined the small flowers with a grateful smile, gently touching
them with her fingertips.

"Mmm," Thanatcha smiled. "I don't know how many bouquets you’ve
received before, but I’m giving you the whole plant."

"Yeah, I know."

Nichapat laughed, pouting slightly at her girlfriend, who was overly

emphasizing the special nature of the gift. It was probably just like her, who

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always showed how much she cherished their love.

She also had a gift for Thanatcha, but now wasn't the time. There was still
plenty of time after today's event for her to give a gift to the person in front
of her.

"We’ve graduated. Even though we didn't get a chance to spend time

together at the university, I’m happy we'll have a couple's photo today."

"At least we made it in time to take pictures together on graduation day,"

Nichapat laughed. "Can I take this little plant with me for the photos?"

"Are you really going to carry it?"

"I'm kidding! Just taking a picture with it now is enough. Come here."

Nichapat said, pulling out her phone and handing it to Thanatcha to take the
photos, as she needed to hold the plant that had become her gift. The two
bodies moved closer, leaning their heads together before taking several
pictures.

Not only that, but Nichapat also took the new potted plant to take pictures
with her parents and even asked her father to take a picture of the two of
them together.

It was another special day spent sharing good times together. They had
overcome all the hurdles when their two families spoke and got along well.

That was another step toward building a life together. However, there may
still be things that will test their relationship for a long time to come, but
they both believe they can get through it smoothly.

Until the day the two of them were ready to get married.

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Even though it was still impossible to guess if it would truly happen, those
hopes were not far-fetched.

Because even on the day that Thanatcha could only secretly watch Nichapat
from afar within the university walls, in the status of someone who could
never reach Nichapat's heart, she still managed to change that status into
being her partner today.

So, when it comes to the marriage of two people who love each other—
Why couldn't that come true?

"June."

"Yes..."

"Do you want to get married?"

"Married?"

Nichapat repeated the question.

"Before, when my parents expected me to marry someone, once I realized I

loved women, I never really thought about getting married. I just thought
having a good girlfriend was enough. But..."

She smiled sweetly as she shared her thought, "Now that I'm with you, I do
want to get married."

"Really?"

The word came out with a smile. Hearing the person she loved say they
wanted to marry her was a small phrase that brought great happiness,
whether it actually came true or not.

"Mhm."

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"Then... when we're ready, let's get married."

"Yes!"

💖💖💖💖
sunyan

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🌈 02. Special Memory 🌈

Book : Toss - Up (Take A Chance To Win Her Love)
Writer : Serenista
Released : 13 September 2020
Translator : Sun Yan (daphne.shn@gmail.com)

"Here is your list of items."

Nichapat confirmed the furniture order with the customer who had visited
her small office.

"There are three items in total. One is ready to ship, but the other two
require us to select the wood based on the model you specified. We'll need
about seven to ten days to prepare those items. We will contact you once
they are ready for delivery."

"That's fine."

Said the girl in the student uniform. She had come with her mother, who
traveled from upcountry to help her move into an apartment they rented
near the university in Bangkok.

"It shouldn't take more than two weeks, right? I'd like to finish decorating
the room before the end of the month."

"It won't take longer than that. We have a few orders right now, but at the
absolute most, it won't be more than ten days. We'll let you know."

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Nichapat said to the girl with a smile.

"You can make the payment over here. We'll prepare the receipt and
delivery details for you."

"Yes, thank you very much."

The girl's mother smiled at Nichapat before touching her daughter's

shoulder and walking toward the small counter where an employee
managed the product payments.

Nichapat watched the two customers walk away, then glanced at the clock.
It was almost six in the evening, close to her office's closing time.

This small office was owned and designed by Thanatcha herself. It

occupied two shop units. One side held a small display of furniture; the
adjacent side was the office, featuring a glossy walnut counter and neat,
beige desks.

Although the space was small, the office was warm and had an attractive,
eye-catching design.

The office is located on a small city street, not far from Thanatcha's house,
and is right next to the furniture shop belonging to an older man she knows.

Their relationship began when Thanatcha offered to sell the older man's
furniture through an online channel, which led to orders grew steadily.

About two months after she started dating Nichapat, she planned to
establish this small business with her. Thanatcha managed the overall
operation, including the ideas, design, and working with the older man.

Nichapat was the key assistant, primarily focused on customer care, as well
as managing the finances and overseeing the four employees they hired.

These employees handle taking orders and answering customer questions

that come through the three sales channels they use: Facebook and two
popular shopping applications.

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Sun Yan

The furniture sold was originally the older man's unique style, but
Thanatcha brought new ideas to him to produce items that followed popular
designs and met customer demand. These pieces fit perfectly with the
minimalist style, which remains highly popular.

As they produced items that matched market needs and built a growing
customer base, the increasing number of furniture orders became too much
for the older man and her single assistant to handle.

So, Thanatcha hired two more people skilled in carpentry who were willing
to learn the craft from him. She also kept detailed records of the methods
and types of materials-something she had to study extensively herself.

Now that the older man is getting older and often complains of aches and
pains, having these new people ensures that someone can continue her trade
when he can no longer work, as he has no children or grandchildren to take
over.

Since Thanatcha showed him this successful path, the older man's income
has increased, and he feels cared for by both Thanatcha and Nichapat,
almost as if they were his own grandchildren.

It has been four years since the business officially began, which is about the
same amount of time Thanatcha and Nichapat have been a couple.

Although they have occasional work frustrations, they are a couple who
have never let outside problems cause chaos in their relationship.

There might be a little jealousy when someone hires Thanatcha for interior
design ideas, but it's never a problem because Nichapat handles those
clients and goes with her girlfriend every time such a job comes up.

Since they focused on selling furniture, interior design has become a side
job for Thanatcha, relying mainly on word-of-mouth or clients who stop by

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Sun Yan

the shop after seeing a brief description on a sign.

Meanwhile, Nichapat decided not to pursue further studies in the United

States.

Because she wanted to help her girlfriend manage her small business until it
was stable, once everything was settled, she didn't think about returning to
school or applying for work anywhere else.

After managing the small business herself, she felt this type of work suited
her well.

"Are you going home now, P'June? We'll stay and clear the orders and sales
figures, then we'll lock up the office later."

The youngest staff member, who had been working there for about six
months, asked.

"I was planning on leaving now, but I don't know where Tense is. She said
she went out to see a client and hasn't come back yet. I need to call her. If
she doesn't come back soon, I'll wait here for her."

Nichapat turned to answer her employee.

"Okay! You can come sit and have some snacks with me."

The twenty-two-year-old girl said to her boss in a familiar, friendly way.

"Alright, I'll eat..."

.
.

"You eat a lot! Do we really have enough snacks to last until evening?"
Nichapat teased.

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Sun Yan

The girl laughed, "I could eat until tomorrow!"

"I believe you,"

Nichapat said, shaking her head slightly before peering toward the front of
the shop. She saw a familiar shadow walk past the outer window and stop
right at the door. Then, the door was pushed open.

"Oh, there you are! Where have you been? I was just about to call you!"

Nichapat called out to her girlfriend, who had been gone on business for
almost half a day.

"I told you I had business to take care of," Thanatcha smiled. "Come on,
let's go home. I'll take you out to eat."

"Where are you taking P'June for dinner tonight, P'Tense?"

The employee who was a year younger than them asked.

"I haven't thought of it yet. I'll let June choose," Thanat replied, turning to
her staff. "Are you still working? It's quitting time in five minutes. For
those of you staying late, please look after the office."

"We will," all four employees replied in unison.

"Alright, bye,"

Nichapat said to everyone before walking over and nudging her girlfriend,
who had just picked up her satchel.

When Nichapat walked to the sidewalk in front of the shop, Thanatcha

remained where she was. The two of them pushed the door open and
stopped together.

"Hey, why aren't you walking?"

"Walking where?"

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha stood still, pretending to be clueless.

"Home, of course,"

Nichapat frowned, seeing that her girlfriend wouldn't walk with her.
Normally, the two of them would walk from here to the bus stop-about ten
stops away-to go home, and they had done this for four years out of habit.

Even though they now had a small business with a decent income, they
were still used to their simple way of life.

"Why go that way when this way works too?"

Thanatcha gave a meaningful smile before turning away, walking near the
curb, and spreading her arms wide. She pulled a car key out of her pant
pocket, pressed the remote, and leaned confidently against the car door.

"Your beautiful chauffeur is here to pick you up."

"What is this?"

The woman, who was a step behind her girlfriend, stared at the white car in
front of her, confused, before a smile broke out.

"Don't tell me..."

"Does it not look like the one you picked out?" Thanatcha stood there,
grinning.

"It looks exactly like it-that's why I'm asking!"

"It's our first car," Thanatcha finally revealed honestly. "The one we looked
at together at the event, and the one you liked."

"You chose the one I liked? Did you like it?"

She recalled agreeing that it was nice and that she said she liked it too, but
she wasn't sure if it was the car she truly wanted, which is why she might
have chosen it to please her.

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Sun Yan

"Of course I like it. If you like it, I like it, because it's the one we both
agreed on. So, I chose it."

"I thought you said you were just going to look around first."

"If I told you I was going to buy it right away, it wouldn't be a surprise!"

"Oh, so it had to be a surprise, did it?"

Nichapat said, folding her arms and tipping her chin up at her.

"You like surprises too, don't you?" Thanatcha laughed playfully. "Come
on! I'm going to take you to dinner."

Thanatcha turned to open the car door and offered her hand to her
girlfriend.

Nichapat smiled. She put her hand in her sensitive girlfriend's, letting
herself be led right to the car door. Once Nichapat was seated, Thanatcha
closed the door for her before running around to the driver's side and getting
in.

.
.

Remembering Thanatcha's goal of owning a car and driving them around

comfortably made Nichapat want to hug her for finally achieving it.
Thanatcha had originally planned to buy a car sooner, about two years ago,
but other plans intervened.

For instance, she had to invest in decorating her own office. After using the
old man's shop and her own home as a small workspace for a while, the
business grew and sales increased, making it necessary to have a formal
office and hire more staff.

She had to use her money for that investment first. After expanding the
business and saving up for a bit longer, Thanatcha was finally ready to buy
her own car.

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Sun Yan

She also has plans to buy the house they currently live in, as she's
discussing a potential sale with a relative.

The time they had been together until now was a period of building a stable
life for Thanatcha, with Nichapat offering support nearby. It was this hard
work and dedication that finally made Nichapat's parents stop doubting
whether Thanatcha could take care of her in the future.

Now, they seemed to have completely entrusted their daughter to

Thanatcha, believing no one else would be a better partner for her.

"Where should we go to eat?"

The owner of the new car asked the woman who would now be her regular
passenger every day.

Nichapat didn't take long to think. She always had new reviewed places she
wanted to visit, so it was easy for her to spontaneously suggest a nice
restaurant.

"Just start driving, darling. I'll tell you which way to go."

The two of them lay nestled together on the sofa, mindlessly flipping
through TV programs on their day off.

Thanatcha lay on her back along the outer edge, while Nichaphat was
tucked against the back of the sofa, resting her head on the shoulder of the
person she was used to leaning on.

Thanatcha's arm was wrapped around Nichapat's slender frame, which was
slightly softer than when they first started dating, yet still looked trim and
fit.

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha picked up the remote and pressed a button when the current
program ended. She changed the channel and landed on an entertainment
variety show that was reaching its conclusion.

After wrapping up discussions on key entertainment topics, it shifted to

promoting various upcoming events. The first piece of news was about a
big concert for a Thai artist, followed by a story about Wiphawa's upcoming
piano recital.

This would be the first time she performed solo for an entire event, a
significant milestone after years of gaining experience and building her
outstanding reputation in piano.

Nichapat had occasionally heard news about Wiphawa and was simply
happy for her in private. They hadn't been in touch, not because of any bad
feelings, but simply because there was no reason to contact each other.

Nichapat sometimes thought about reaching out to see how Wiphawa was
doing, but worried about bothering her and overthinking that it might be
misinterpreted since she used to have a crush on her.

More importantly, she didn't want it to affect Thanatcha's feelings, even

though Thanatcha was always ready to understand and trust her.

She believed Thanatcha no longer felt worried, as she had made it perfectly
clear how much she loved her. Lying there watching the news together
made this the first time in years they had talked about the subject.

"She has her own solo recital now, huh?" Thanatcha commented.

"Mhm. She was really committed to it. She must be happy to finally have
her own solo show," Nichaphat replied with a smile.

"Did you hear that she has a girlfriend?"

Thanatcha asked casually, unsure if her own girlfriend knew about this.

"Wiphawa has a girlfriend? I didn't know anything about that,"

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Sun Yan

Nichaphat answered with a chuckle, showing more surprise than any other
emotion.

"Yes, she has. I think I saw the news on social media about three or four
months ago. I thought you would have seen it," Thanatcha replied.

"I had no idea. You never mentioned it."

"Well..." Thanatcha furrowed her brows. "I wasn't sure if talking about her
was a good idea. I don't know if it was my own insecurity or if I was afraid
to mention her to you."

"Oh, come on!" Nichaphat burst out laughing.

"Why? Did you think I'd still have feelings? I don't feel anything for her
anymore. Her story vanished from my feelings a long time ago. All that's
left is the memory that we knew each other."

"....."

"If she has a girlfriend, I'm really happy for her. After she was the one
disappointed by me, I hadn't heard that she'd seriously dated anyone. Maybe
without me, she could go back to living the life she wanted and waited until
she really liked someone. So, when I hear that her day has finally come, it's
wonderful news."

"Oh really?"

Thanatcha smiled faintly after listening to her girlfriend's long explanation.

"Why? Are you jealous? You are actually jealous, that's why you didn't say
anything, right?"

"What? Who's jealous?"

The accused woman played innocent.

"Don't pretend! Just admit it if you're jealous. What is it, can a woman like
Nichapat not even make Thanatcha jealous?"

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Sun Yan

"What?" Thanatcha burst out laughing. "When you put it like that, how can
I deny it?"

"So, just admit it."

"Fine. I guess I get a little jealous sometimes. But since there's no serious
reason to be jealous, I don't really feel strongly about it. It's just a little bit
of feeling possessive. Besides, I trust you completely that since we started
dating, you've only had good feelings for me."

"Hmm, well said." Nichapat nodded, delighted by those words. "You're

always so logical. My girlfriend is the cutest."

"A perfect girlfriend, aren't I?"

The one being praised spread one arm out over the back of the sofa, lifting
her chin proudly.

"You deserve a prize. I give you my heart for life."

"Wow," Thanatcha said, looking surprised.

"Do you like your prize?"

Nichapat giggled. She leaned in and gave her model girlfriend a soft kiss on
the cheek. "I love you," she whispered sweetly.

"Mhm.."

The recipient of the declaration of love smiled faintly, placing a hand on the
head of her girlfriend, whose cuteness she adored every day.

"That's perfect timing,"

Nichapat said in a soft, suddenly serious tone. "I have something I want to
talk to you about."

"What is it?"

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Sun Yan

"It's a question."

Nichapat flashed a cute smile before pushing herself up to rest on her elbow
on the sofa to speak more clearly.

"Tense, should we get married?"

Even though Thanatcha had guessed the topic would be serious, she hadn't
anticipated this. The question left her momentarily stunned.

"Huh?"

The corner of Thanatcha's mouth twitched into a small smile despite her
dazed expression.

"Are you proposing to me?"

"You could say that, but I'm asking for your opinion too."

The one who raised the big question smiled sheepishly.

"Aw... I was too slow, huh?"

The one who was proposed to looked thoughtful.

"Were you planning to propose?" Nichapat laughed. "It's fine. It doesn't

matter who asks first."

"I was planning to propose after I bought the car and sorted out buying the
house," Thanatcha confessed. "But it's okay. I would have ended up
discussing it with you like this anyway. And it's actually pretty
heartwarming to have the woman I used to secretly like propose to me like
this."

"Ah... I understand. You just wanted to be fully ready, right?" Nichapat

smiled. "But I think by the time we talk about it, speak to both our parents,
and then find a date and plan the wedding, it'll likely be next year before we
actually get married. That way, we'll have time to prepare without rushing."

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Sun Yan

"That's so thoughtful of you."

Once again, Thanatcha placed a hand on Nichapat's head and affectionately

patted it.

"What kind of wedding do you want? Is it okay if we keep it small and

simple, without too much fuss?"

"Yes Tense, I think so too. We'll probably just invite our closest friends and
immediate family. And it can be in the light, airy white style that you love."

"I want it to be like that, but I want you to love it too."

"If you like it, I already like it. It's the same way I love this house of yours."

"Mhm. So, we'll start planning then."

"Is that a final 'yes'?"

Nichapat asked, then had a sudden thought. She quickly slipped the small
hair tie she was using to keep half her hair up off her wrist and took
Thanatcha's hand.

She slid the tiny elastic band, which fit perfectly on Thanatcha's left ring
finger, onto it.

"Tense, will you marry me?"

Nichapat asked with a playful, teasing smile.

"What is this?"

The one being proposed to laughed, lifting her finger to look at the
makeshift ring. Then, she looked at Nichapat, who seemed to be half-joking
but was also clearly serious.

Thanatcha embraced the special moment, which, while unconventional, was

deeply important. She wanted to accept the unique proposal with joy.

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Sun Yan

"Yes, of course, I'll marry you. I was always going to marry you."

"Ah... I'm embarrassed now."

Nichapat hadn't felt shy when proposing, but after getting the 'yes', she
suddenly felt shy.

"Okay, now it's your turn to do it."

She said this while moving to sit up, pulling the person who was lying
down to sit up with her.

"Do what?"

"Didn't you want to be the one to propose?"

"Oh, really? I didn't get a chance to prepare. What am I supposed to propose

with right now?"

"The thing you gave me before,"

Nichapat said with a knowing look, biting her lip. She slipped the ring she
was wearing off her finger and offered it to Thanatcha.

"The ring you bought me as a gift! We don't need a new expensive ring yet.
We'll have to buy a new one for the wedding anyway."

Thanatcha looked at her girlfriend with admiration. Although Nichapat was

possessive about their relationship and sometimes seemed a little spoiled,
she never caused Thanatcha any real trouble.

Her behavior was just a way of asking for attention, a way of being
endearing and wanting to be indulged. Thanatcha never felt uncomfortable;
instead, she found it cute and actually liked it.

Now, at this important moment, Nichaphat had chosen to do something

simple and sensible, and for the two of them, that was romantic enough.

"Do you want me to do it this way?"

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha laughed, taking the ring. It was the one she had given Nichapat
for their three-month anniversary-a symbol of her love and a thank you for
accepting it.

Now, four years later, they were still happily in love.

"Yes, this way is fine."

The woman waiting to be proposed to beamed, clearly not overthinking

things.

"Okay."

Thanatcha adjusted her position on the sofa, turning slightly to face

Nichapat properly. She took Nichapat's hand, and with the other, slipped the
ring onto her ring finger.

Thanatcha had put this same ring on her finger once before when she first
bought it. Putting it on again brought back the feeling of that first moment,
the first time she gave a ring to the woman right in front of her, the woman
she had loved for so long.

Holding the ring suspended at the tip of Nichapat's finger, Thanatcha looked
up into her eyes, then spoke the important sentence in her soft, warm voice:

"June, marry me."

Even though Nichapat knew what was coming, the words made her heart
pound quickly.

Nichapat gave a sweet smile, filled with joy and happiness, before nodding
in reply.

"Yes, I will marry you."

It was the answer Thanatcha expected, yet it still made the person who had
just proposed feel a nervous flutter.

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha let out a shy smile. A pleasant warmth surged through her body,
as if a wonderful current was running through her. She pulled Nichapat into
a hug and gently kissed her soft cheek.

They held each other for a moment, sharing their loving feelings, before
Thanatcha loosened her embrace and they looked at each other again.

Their lips curled into smiles before moving closer and pressing together.
They lingered in the soft contact for a moment, then briefly pulled apart
only to reconnect, exchanging a repeated, gentle, sweet kiss.

When they had kissed to their satisfaction, their lips separated. Nichapat
moved her beautiful face close to Thanatcha's ear and whispered softly,

"I love you."

It was an affectionate phrase Thanatcha was used to hearing. It wasn't

spoken every day or every month, but often enough for her to remember
those small, happy moments.

She wanted to give Nichapat the same feeling. She might not say it as often,
but she believed her consistent actions were more than enough for her
partner to know how she felt.

But there was no reason not to say it now, and in that moment, she wanted
her future bride to hear it.

"I love you, too."

Thin white fabric billowed in the wind on a wide beach decorated with a
white floral arch. Small posts draped with sheer white cloth marked off a
modest area for the casual beach wedding.

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Sun Yan

A photo corner was set up, adorned with pure white flowers and touches of
green foliage for color. Hand-sized Polaroid photos were clipped to a long
white string with tiny wooden pegs.

This string led to a green vine-covered arbor where pictures of the happy
couple were displayed for guests to look at.

Every picture displayed brought a smile to those who looked at them.

The collection included photos of the couple in matching white t-shirts and
casual jeans: standing hand-in-hand, laughing joyfully while hugging from
behind, sitting on laps and gazing into each other's eyes, and playful,
adorable poses.

There were also photos from their wedding shoot. The couple wore
Bohemian-style short wedding dresses, photographed in a studio set up like
a lush green forest with a small waterfall, climbing vines, and patches of
grass.

These were individual and couple shots, showing the diverse expressions of
love the pair shared.

Exciting Wedding Entrance

The atmosphere was electric as the two brides, dressed in long, pure white
Bohemian-style wedding gowns, walked out hand-in-hand to welcome their
guests.

Today, both brides wore matching gown styles. Nichapat's dress featured a
wide, off-the-shoulder neckline and puffy doll sleeves. Her light brown hair
was styled in long, loose curls.

She wore a beautiful lace headband mixed with embroidered flowers,

making her look both graceful and adorable, like a princess in a natural
setting.

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Sun Yan

Thanatcha's gown was also a long dress, but it had a V-neck and long,
voluminous sleeves. While the dress itself was sweetly beautiful, her look
gained a slightly cool edge from a thick, braided bracelet.

Her hair was styled in loose twists gathered at the back of her neck, and a
thick rope cord was worn across her forehead. This fashion perfectly suited
Thanatcha's cool and collected personality.

.
.

The Ceremony Setting

The photographs were taken around five in the evening, in the beautiful
daylight just before sunset-a perfect time for pictures.

Meanwhile, the other guests were starting to arrive for the small, intimate
wedding.

The event was kept cozy, with invitations extended only to close family and
relatives who were supportive and open to celebrating the love between two
women. Friends from both sides also seemed delighted to be there.

Everyone embraced the idea of diverse love in the modern era and were
happy to have the chance to express their congratulations and witness the
sweet and lovely commitment between the two women.

.
.

A Perfect Day

The two brides were completely satisfied with the beautiful atmosphere,
which they had planned together. They were especially grateful to Satitha
for securing the lovely beach location at a resort owned by an acquaintance
in the hotel business-a perfect setting for this special day.

The sky also cooperated, offering pleasant weather with pure white clouds
floating against a bright, beautiful blue background.

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Sun Yan

The golden light shone down, bearing witness to a love that had
surprisingly made it this far, hand-in-hand. What once seemed like an
impossible love between two people had started and been nurtured carefully
for five years until this moment.

.
.

A Clear Commitment

The life of a couple, strengthened by this small ceremony, was about to

begin. Although nothing would drastically change in the relationship they
had already nurtured so well, this event provided clarity and finality to their
bond.

During the central part of the ceremony, their lips touched gently. This
sweet moment, far from being awkward, filled the guests with warmth and
caused a collective, joyful blush.

It created a beautiful, new memory that the two brides would cherish as one
of their most special.

Photographs from their special day were hung in their bedroom and living
room.

Looking at the pictures over and over never felt tiring; they consistently
brought both women a wonderful feeling, reminding them of the day they
shared.

Looking to the Future

Five years passed.

Ten years.

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Sun Yan

Or even twenty years...

Their love, consistently nurtured with care, ensured they stayed together.

"Tense, five years, ten years from now, or whenever the law allows us to
marry legally, let's get officially registered."

"Mmm."

Tanatcha took Nichapat's hand, smiling with true joy.

---------THE END-------
🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
Translator : Sun Yan

30 September 2025

💖💖💖💖💖
.

💚 Please Share this book for FREE 💚

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