With Win's car, which is also equipped with a touch screen like the police car, they project the route to Tonkla's brother's house on the navigator, a route that Win realizes he knows well, and so he modifies a little so as to arrive towards the back of the building.

"Aren't you afraid that this could compromise your position as a policeman?" Tonkla asks him during the journey.

"Risk is part of my job." Win replies.

"But aren't you breaking the rules?" Tonkla asks again.

"Let's put it this way. Someone is stuck in a house and needs help. What would you do if you had to help that person?" the policeman asks him.

"I'll do anything to try to get into that house to save that person." Tonkla replies firmly.

"Exactly, correct answer. Now we're doing the same thing, only we're doing it for the justice of someone who is no longer here." Win adds.

At that point Tonkla sniffs, and actually manages to understand Win's point of view.

"Why do you want to find out the truth about this case so much?" at that point Tonkla couldn't help but ask him that question.

"I want your brother to have justice, and if finding out who is behind all this will make you feel more at peace then I'm willing to take the risk." the policeman answers.

"Are you doing this because you feel sorry for me?" Tonkla asks with a rather sad tone.

"What? Okay, maybe at first I felt sorry for you, but now it's different. I don't do it because I feel sorry for you." Win answers.

"How is it different? Why are you doing it then?" the young boy continues.

"Can we talk about this later? Maybe over a nice coffee and some cookies?" Win asks.

Tonkla nods and lets out a half laugh at the part about the coffee and cookies.

When they arrive at Tonkla's brother's house, they park the car a little further away so as not to arouse suspicion. Behind the building was a door, which Win had unlocked with a simple hairpin. Tonkla was impressed.

"Here, put these on." Win hands him some latex gloves.

Tonkla was surprised at how Win was so attentive to detail and how he did things with extreme precision. It would never have occurred to him to wear gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints.

When they fully enter the house, what they find leaves them speechless.

"Why is the furniture empty and all of my brother's personal belongings gone? What did they do with them?" Tonkla asks speechlessly.

Win continues to shine a light around with the flashlight that he had on his belt along with the gun.

"Lean your back against mine and let's walk slowly. That way we can look everywhere," Win tells him.

"Do you think anyone other than us could break in?" Tonkla asks.

"It could happen but it also could not happen, we have to take into account every possibility." the policeman answers.

"A lot of things haven't been taken yet, let's check before someone makes them disappear." Tonkla suggests.

Win nods and they start rummaging through the drawers, which however turn out to be completely empty.

"Didn't your brother have a secret place where he hid important things?" the policeman always asks.

"You've seen too many detective movies." Tonkla says.

Suddenly they hear a noise coming from outside. They both look towards the door, then Win grabs Tonkla by the hand and leads him to hide with him behind one of the many pieces of furniture covered with sheets, in the part of the living room.

They hear the door open and people enter. As Win had predicted, there was something very big behind that case, and the condition in which they found that house proves it.

"Have you finished clearing out this place?"

As soon as he hears that voice, Tonkla freezes and his eyes widen in shock. Win seems to notice him but is quite confused by his reaction.

He sticks his face out slightly and sees three men. The one who had just spoken had a familiar face and it is in that moment that he remembers: it was the same as the person Tonkla's brother had searched on the web.

"By the end of the week you have to make everything disappear, understood? No one must find out that he was involved in our business." That time too it was Korn who spoke.

Tonkla's eyes became glossy and at that moment he was so confused that he felt like he was going crazy. Had Korn killed his brother? Was he an accomplice? What kind of person had he been facing until that moment? These were the questions swirling in Tonkla's head, to which he would probably never have an answer.

The two men, who came with Korn, once they took some of the furniture near the entrance, leave, followed by Korn himself. When the door slams, Win breathes a sigh of relief. On the contrary, Tonkla ends up falling on the floor.

"What's wrong with you? What happens?" Win lowers himself worriedly.

Tonkla raises his face and a tear runs down his face. "He was my boyfriend."

"What? What do you mean?" Win is also quite shocked at that moment.

"The man you heard talking just now was my boyfriend." Tonkla sniffs to keep from crying.

At that point Win feels that the only thing he can do to console him is to hug him. So he does. He hugs him and holds him tight. At that moment all he wants to do is smash that idiot of a boyfriend in the face.

"Why did he do that?" Tonkla asks as he lets himself go in his arms.

"I'm here with you, please don't cry." Win strokes his hair and invites him to get up.

"How about you stay at my house tonight? It's better if you're not alone, at least tonight." Win suggests.

Tonkla nods and together they leave that house without having found any clues useful for the investigation. Once in the car, they spend the journey in silence. Win does not dare to ask questions, if Tonkla feels like talking about it he will be happy to listen to him. He still could not believe that the man he was investigating was the same one Tonkla was having an affair with.

Once they arrive at his apartment, Win suggests that Tonkla take a shower. The latter, with red eyes, nods and heads towards the bathroom. In the shower he continues to think about what had happened and still cannot really believe it. When he comes out he borrows the pajamas that Win had lent him and which were very big on him. This makes him let out a half smile.

He finds him sitting in the living room, intent on reading some documents, which he puts away immediately as soon as he sees Tonkla. He observes him carefully and smiles as soon as he realizes how big the pajama is on him.

"It's a little big but it's fine." Tonkla tells him.

"It suits you well." Win replies.

Tonkla smiles at him.

"Well, then I'll sleep on the couch, and you'll have the bed." Win tells him.

"What? The couch will be really uncomfortable to sleep on. Take a part of the bed, two of us can fit in." Tonkla replies.

"Doesn't it make you feel uncomfortable?" Win asks.

"I would feel uncomfortable if I were in a complete stranger's bed, but since you're not, I don't see why I should feel uncomfortable." Tonkla replies.

"Okay then." Win then heads to his room and goes to get his pajamas and go to the bathroom, to take a shower too.

Tonkla decides to get into bed and try to fall asleep, even if it's difficult, given all the thoughts tormenting him at that moment. He tosses and turns in bed several times, and then ends up looking at the ceiling. He does this for quite some time since Win had returned from the shower and was also getting into bed, without him, at first, noticing.

"Can't you sleep?" Win asks.

"I have too many thoughts on my mind." Tonkla answers sincerely.

"Tell me if I can help you in any way." Win tells him.

"It will pass, I'll turn over, maybe I can sleep on this side." Tonkla answers.

"Good night Tonkla."

The boy turns over for a moment and looks at the other. "I think this is the first time you've called me by my name."

"Should I do this more often?" asks the policeman.

Tonkla nods and immediately turns away, a little embarrassed.

"Good night Win." he says, then closes his eyes, hoping to fall asleep.

The day after...

When Tonkla, sleepy, opens his eyes, he feels something, or rather, someone underneath him.

He raises his head and sees Win still asleep. Seeing their legs intertwined and the policeman's arm around his waist, he jumps. That jump wakes Win up too, and when he focuses on the situation, he jumps too.

"Good morning." Tonkla says, getting up to stretch and get off him.

"Good morning, did you manage to sleep in the end?" Win asks him.

"I slept well." he smiles at him. He seems to be feeling better than yesterday.

"What would you like for breakfast?" the policeman asks him.

"Anything will do, I don't want to bother you too much. Plus, I plan to talk to Korn and end our relationship." Tonkla replies.

Win almost feels relieved when he hears those words, even if he avoids saying it openly.

"Listen, I know you're probably still reeling from yesterday, but I need to ask you some questions about Korn. If you don't feel like it today, that's fine, but I'd like some answers by the weekend." Win offers.

"No problem, we can talk about it over breakfast," Tonkla replies.

They then take turns going to the bathroom and getting dressed, then heading to the kitchen.

"Okay, sit down while I make breakfast." Win tells him.

"I'll help you. I'm good at cooking," Tonkla boasts ironically.

"Then let's make it together." Win replies with a smile.

They then prepare a typical Thai breakfast of eggs, sausages, rice, and some cherry tomatoes.

"Do you live in this house completely alone?" Tonkla asks the policeman.

"Yeah, I live alone." Win replies.

"I live alone too, and I have to say it's pretty boring," the boy adds.

"Doesn't your boyfriend live with you?" Win ventures.

"Korn lives with his family, they are rich and have a huge house. Plus he has a woman." Win almost chokes on his food at that answer.

"What do you mean?" he asks at that point.

"His family never knew about our relationship, even though we have been together for a long time, no one knows except us two. His father wanted to set him up with a woman, who is also very rich, so even if he is with me, everyone thinks he is that woman's boyfriend." Tonkla replies.

"And are you okay with that?" Win asks.

"I've gotten used to it now, Korn has only ever loved me up until now, and yet, after what I saw yesterday, I wonder if he ever really loved me or if he lied to me about that too." Tonkla shrugs as if he were resigned.

"And you love him?" he dares to ask.

"I have in the past, I loved Korn so much. He always made me feel good, he was always kind to me and he never let me go without anything. But things have changed for a few months now. I started seeing him less and less because of the new assignment his father gave him, he stood me up I don't know how many times, and also the fact that I have to continue to hide our relationship doesn't make me feel so good. After what I saw and heard yesterday I can only leave him, I want to leave him. Yesterday I had confirmation that I no longer have feelings for him. If that were the case I would have started to defend him tooth and nail from every accusation, but I didn't because he showed me what kind of person he is."

"Do you have any idea what assignment his father may have given him?" Win asks him after hearing his long answer.

"He told me that he had given him possession of the new properties, but he never told me what it is." Tonkla replies.

"Maybe he never did it because it is something illegal and strictly secret." Win adds.

"I'm sure of it." Tonkla agrees.

"I promise I'll find out more about him and if he was involved in your brother's death." Win promises him.

"Tell me if I can do anything to help you." Tonkla offers.

"I don't want you to get involved, leave this job to me." Win replies immediately.

"But I can find out something if you need it, I'm still close to Korn." Tonkla reiterates, referring to the fact that he still hasn't broken up with Korn.

"You have to leave him and not have anything to do with him anymore, I'll find the information I need on my own, like I've always done so far for so many other cases. Also, when you talk to him, don't mention yesterday or your brother. You probably just want to yell at him and have an explanation but don't do that, stay calm and let's continue to observe him together from afar." Win points out.

"Okay, but if you have any news, keep me updated, okay?" the young boy asks, and then receives an assent from Win.

"Now I think I'll go home, I've already bothered you enough." Tonkla gets up from his chair after finishing his breakfast and starts to walk towards the door.

"I'll walk you home." Win also gets up.

"I'll call a taxi, I don't want anyone to see us. I mean, someone might target you if they see you with me." Tonkla points out.

"Are you worried about me?" Win smiles at him.

"You worry about me, so who am I not to do the same?" he reiterates.

They say goodbye, and Win stays to look out the window of his apartment until Tonkla takes the taxi back to his house.

Tonkla arrives home after about twenty minutes. During the journey he had written a message to Korn in which he asked him that he had to speak to him urgently. Strangely enough, the latter had made himself available at that time and would arrive at his apartment in a few minutes.

He simply waits while sitting on the couch. He already has in mind what to say to him and is curious to know what Korn will come up with this time. Even though he had loved him very much during all these years, discovering the mask present in front of his face had completely changed his perception of himself. The thought of having to leave someone he has been with for so long will hurt, this is inevitable. But he must do it for his own good and for the justice of his brother. Furthermore, to tell the truth, he was starting to understand that perhaps, he was already in love with someone else.

When he hears the doorbell he gets up to go and open the door. Korn is about to hug him and leave a kiss on his lips but Tonkla remains still to any of his actions without reacting.

"What happened? What did you have to talk to me about so urgently?" Korn asks, seeing his strange behavior.

Tonkla makes him sit on the couch, takes a deep breath and says what Korn would never have expected to hear: "I want us to break up"

Korn frowns and replies: "What? What are you saying? Why do you want to leave me?"

"You even have the nerve to ask me that, Korn? In these months you have done nothing but avoid me, we have seen each other very little, you have stood me up so many times that I have lost count, you are more absent than present, what is the point of continuing the relationship if I am the only one who keeps it going?" Tonkla specifies.

"I promise I will be more present but please don't leave me. I love you, Tonkla." Korn takes his hands while he speaks to him.

Tonkla's eyes get shiny: "you said that three months ago, you tried to change your behavior for a few days, then you took many steps back. Nothing has changed, Korn. Now you only care about your business and what your father says. And okay, if that's what you want I can't blame you. But don't give me these sentences, don't ask me why we should break up because you know better than me. A relationship like ours was destined to end from the beginning."

"Is this really what you want, Tonkla? Do you really not care about me anymore?" Korn asks.

"I will always care about you, you were a fundamental part of my life, you were my first boyfriend, you were my first in everything. But I think it's time to move on, for the good of both of us." Tonkla concludes.

"So you don't love me anymore." he doesn't ask it as a question but as an affirmation.

"I loved you so much Korn, but right now I don't love you like before." he answers him sincerely.

"Okay. If that's what you want, that's fine. It'll be hard but maybe one day my heart will let you go forever." Korn's eyes also get teary, and after that sentence he leaves the house and goes away from Tonkla's life forever. It was really over now.

A week later...

It had been a week since Korn and Tonkla had broken up. His routine continued as usual, the same way.

However, there had been a change, something different had broken through his routine.
Since he had left Korn he had started having very strange dreams about him and the policeman Win.
They weren't very nice dreams, in fact, they could almost be called nightmares. Tonkla continuously dreamed of being stabbed in the chest by Win in a house in the middle of the forest. Every time he woke up sweating from this dream he had a strange feeling on him, everything seemed extremely real, as if it had really happened. He and Win were very different, they seemed younger, and they seemed to be friends in that dream, if not something more. They seemed to have known each other for a long time and had a very close relationship.

For this reason, he had decided to invite the policeman to dinner at his house, to be able to talk to him about it and to see if something similar had happened to him too.

They had spoken often during that week, Win had been worried about him after his breakup and had been very present. This had only amplified the feelings that Tonkla had realized he had for him.

He had prepared several dishes, the ones he was best at, hoping to surprise him and show him that he was really good at cooking as he had told him some time before.

When he hears the doorbell ring, he immediately heads towards the door to open it.

He finds him there in front with his hair done and dressed completely in black, black t-shirt, black pants and a black jacket. He had realized that black was his favorite color.

"Welcome, come in." Tonkla invites him.

"I brought you these." Win tells him, showing a bouquet of flowers from behind his back.

Tonkla was really softened by his gesture, so he thanks him.

"Thank you, they are beautiful." he replies, smelling them.

"Wow, you prepared so much good stuff." Win is quite surprised to see the food on the table.

"You did all this for me?" he asks him then.

"Well, I had to prove to you that I was good at cooking just like I told you." Tonkla replies, urging him to sit down and start eating.

"Anyway, I'm happy to see you again. This week we've only spoken on the phone and because of work I haven't been able to stop by even once." Win almost seemed to be apologizing.

"Don't worry, texting you was enough, and anyway, I'm happy to see you again." Tonkla notices that Win is embarrassed after saying that sentence.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Win asks him while he swallows a bite of his food.

"Actually, there are two things I wanted to talk to you about, we'll talk about the second one calmly after dinner."

That week, Tonkla had also thought about sharing his feelings with the policeman, he wanted to tell him how he felt about him and understand if he felt the same way about him. Because after all, from the signals she sent him, Tonkla could guess that he was trying to get him. Or at least he hopes so.

"I don't know where to start, I'm a little confused." Tonkla fiddles with his hands and looks down in embarrassment.

"Start from the beginning, I'm listening. Take it easy and don't rush it." Win reassures him.

"We've known each other for three months now, right? Well...we had the chance to meet in a somewhat sad circumstance, it's true, yet I feel like saying that this circumstance was also positive for me. Since you met me, you've done nothing but worry about me and you've always tried to help me when something was wrong. At first I thought you did it out of compassion, but then I realized that you really cared about me and you really did it with pleasure. Just remember when you brought me breakfast, when you trusted me to give me the location of your house, when you reassured me in the dark or when you let me sleep in your bed. Spending time with you made me realize that you are the kind of person I've always looked for. The more time passed, the more I spent it with you, and the more I realized that I want to continue having you in my life." he pauses briefly and then continues under Win's attentive gaze.

"What I'm trying to tell you is that I'm in love with you." he concludes, lowering his gaze.

Win had his eyes wide open and seemed quite shocked by that confession, he certainly didn't expect to hear those words.

"Could you say something?" Tonkla asks him, raising her head and looking into his eyes.

At that point Win gets up from his chair to go towards him from the other side of the table. Tonkla also gets up as soon as he sees him coming towards him.

"Can I kiss you?" Win asks him.

And Tonkla without hesitating even for a moment nods him head and gives him a smile.

Their mouths join and their tongues begin to intertwine. Win had his hands on his cheeks while he kissed him, while Tonkla was holding his hips. Their height difference meant that Tonkla had to stand on tiptoe to be able to kiss him.

Win breaks away for a moment to catch his breath and to be able to look into the eyes of the boy whose feelings he fully reciprocated.

Suddenly he moves his hands from Tonkla's cheeks and is about to pick him up and carry him towards the sofa. As soon as he arrives, he sits down with Tonkla on top of him, and they start kissing again in a frantic but at the same time sweet way. This time Tonkla had his hands on his neck and Win on his hips. Their mouths didn't want to part, their tongues continued a dance that seemed to be endless. However, when they started to run out of breath they broke away and looked into each other's eyes, both with smiles on their faces.

Then they hugged and held each other tightly.

"I'm in love with you too, Tonkla." Win whispers in his ear. And Tonkla smiles like never before. He gives him a kiss on the mouth and then says: "How about we watch a nice movie after dinner?" Win nods, and they both go back to the table to finish eating.

They are both very smiling and above all happy to have found each other.

"You know Tonkla, the first time I saw you I thought there was some sort of red thread that united us." Win confesses to him while they are watching the movie on the couch, hugging each other.

"Really? Oh shit, I forgot to tell you about it, it completely slipped my mind." At that point Tonkla, after Win's words, remembers that she never told him about her dreams again.

"Did my kisses brainwash you and have you lost your memory?" Win jokes, raising an eyebrow.

Tonkla rolls her eyes jokingly and replies: "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Beautiful and impossible?" the policeman jokes again.

"Stop it! I have to talk to you about something important." Tonkla replies, laughing.

"Ok ok, I'm listening." Win becomes more serious.

"This week I happened to have the same dream over and over again, where you were present too. In the dream you stabbed me right here." he points to his chest.

"What does that mean?" Win asks confused.

"I don't know if it has a specific meaning, but I only know that every time I have this dream and wake up, I feel like I've already lived that moment, as if I've known you for much longer and as if all of this had really happened." Tonkla answers.

"Do you believe in reincarnation?" Win asks him.

"Why do you ask?" Tonkla asks confused.

"You know, even if I haven't had dreams about you, the first time I saw you I had the same feeling. When I said before that we seemed to be connected by a red thread, I meant exactly that. It feels like I've known you before too." Win continues.

"I don't know if I believe in reincarnation, but I'm sure of one thing: if it's true that there is another life in which we've already met, I'm grateful to have met you in this one too." Tonkla looks him in the eyes.

"Maybe someone up there, assuming it's true, is giving me a second chance to be a better version of the one in your dream. If that's the case, I won't let anything bad happen to you in this life." Win replies.

"If you're the one who protects me, I won't have anything to fear anymore." Tonkla smiles at him.

And so the two boys go back to watching the movie, knowing that they're in love with each other, knowing that they'll have to face many obstacles to get to the truth, knowing that together, in that life, they would have made it.

-END OF THE FIRST ONE SHOT