NUNEW'S POV

When I woke up, I didn't want to open my eyes. I hoped to find myself in my own room, lying in my own bed. Even with my eyes closed, I was aware of how wrong I was. The scent of Zee filled the air, filling every cubic inch of free space.

I was wrapped in bedding soaked with P' scent. I felt great. So far, I had only imagined in my dreams the possibility of sleeping next to Zee. This dream finally came true. I smiled to myself, touching the pillow with my hand. When I felt the emptiness, I opened my eyes wide, remembering how it happened... Images of yesterday's day appeared in my head one by one, like the worst nightmare...

...and yes, it wasn't a dream.

It was a horror!

I reached for my phone and checked the time. The clock showed exactly 4:45 am. Reluctantly, I got out of bed. My head ached from a sleepless night. I had been watching over my friend all night, occasionally checking his breath and forehead in the hope that the fever would not return. The gentle rays of the morning sun were trying timidly to enter the room, illuminating the space.

The pounding in my head increased with each drop hitting the window. Well, even the weather decided to play with me today. I approached the window and drew back the curtain.

I opened the window wide, allowing the crisp, rainy air to ventilate the room. I shuddered at the first gust, because despite the sun, the downpour was quite strong, and the temperature relatively cold. Definitely too cold for Thailand at this time of year.

I reached to close the window, but something caught my attention.

On the bench across from our house sat a huddled boy. He was dressed in short shorts, flip-flops, and a lightweight t-shirt. I squinted to see better and froze, recognizing the person.

My body temperature rose, I grabbed my jacket and, without looking at Nat's questioning gaze, I ran out of the room like a torpedo... A few seconds later, I found myself outside on the other side of the street.

At that moment, I didn't care about the cold penetrating my body. The raindrops landing on my thin pajama shirt didn't matter. Now, only he mattered to me.

- Aren't you cold? - I asked, standing behind the boy and draping my jacket over his shoulders... He accepted my gesture and put it on.

- Ummm, thanks. And why aren't you sleeping?

- I can't... Once I've woken up, there's no way I'll fall asleep again... Too many thoughts... Besides, I can't let you catch a cold, because how will you sing with a hoarse voice? P'Zee, go back inside. This jacket isn't very thick, and this morning isn't particularly warm.

- Thank you for your concern, Nong, but I need to stay here for a while and contemplate my own existence.

- But I want you to go back home! - Zee looked at me the way he used to... I can't remember when was the last time he looked at me that way. I know... He did it on purpose. He knew perfectly well that feeling his dreamy gaze on me would soften me and make me do whatever he wants. Nothing had changed on this matter so far... But this time, I managed to resist. My personal weakness for the boy's eyes lost against the sense of responsibility for his well-being. I was convinced that Zee, seeing my resistance, would eventually stand up from the bench, throw me over his shoulder, carry me to home by force so I could leave him in peace and go back to sit alone in the rain... Well, we are both stubborn. One of us will have to give in someday. I sat on the wet bench next to him, waiting for him to kindly get up and go back home with me.

- Sweetheart... please leave me alone and go to sleep. - I didn't know how to react when I heard those words. Zee is not the type of person who asks someone for something, and... Zee has never called me sweetheart before. I figured the guy might have a moral hangover now. I suspect he doesn't remember much from last night.

I clenched my lips tightly and shook my head in refusal. There's no way I would leave him alone now.

- Nhu... Did I... did... did I hurt you?

- Huh?!

- Are you in pain?

- P' I don't understand. Please say it directly.

- Well... I... yesterday... thank you for helping me and getting me out of that place, but... at some point, I blanked out. I woke up with you in the same bed, my whole body covered in love bites... Did I make you do something you didn't want to do?

- Wait... uhmm... Zee, you silly! I think I got it... It was a long and tough night for us, you know? Don't worry, you didn't even touch me... And those hickeys, well... you got them as part of the VIP room main attraction package. One could say that you were the special dessert at Kilen's party. - I blushed at the thought that Hia might think that there was such closeness between us, and at the same time, I got angry considering the fact that someone else laid hands on my P'.

- I'm glad you say that. I wouldn't forgive myself if I had done something bad to you.

- Hia... Look! - I shouted happily, pointing my finger at the sky. I wanted to lighten the mood a bit, and I think I succeeded. Zee looked up and smiled gently.

- Nhu... You are the eighth color of the rainbow to me... - P' said suddenly.

- The eighth colour, what does that mean?

- It means... just mine... - Zee added quietly, allowing the blush to invade his cheeks.

- They say that a rainbow is a good sign. - I tried to change the subject, so as not to dissolve into the words I had just heard.

- "The light looks so beautiful in the phase of dispersion..."

- What?

- Ah... Valeriu Butulescu described the rainbow phenomenon that way. I believe his words have a hidden meaning.

- What do you mean by that? Sorry, Nhu, but you're the last person I know who would want to analyze some poet's profound thoughts.

- Yeah, that's true, poetry isn't really my thing... - I laughed and playfully hit his shoulder. It's true, because... I'm not really into it.

- NuNew, to be honest... I have flashes when it comes to yesterday. From hour to hour, I am remembering more and more details. I am aware of the state you saw me in and I feel embarrassed by what I did... I-

-No, it wasn't your fault P'. If we forget about the whole incident, will it make you feel better? - I interrupted the guy, not allowing him to finish his statement. I knew where this was going and if Hia is as stressed about it as I am, it's actually better to pretend that nothing happened.

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TO BE CONTINUED ♡