Arthit stretched and yawned as the early morning light filtered softly through the curtains, painting the room in a warm, golden glow. He rubbed his eyes, blinking at the clock on the wall. It was time to wake Anurak for his early classes. Slowly, he rose from the sofa, careful not to disturb the quiet tranquility of the house, and padded upstairs to the room shared by Anurak and Kongpob.

As he reached their door, he paused, feeling a strange mix of contentment and apprehension. Pushing it open gently, he found the room bathed in the soft light of dawn. The sound of steady breathing filled the space, along with the faint rustle of sheets. Anurak was sprawled out on the bed, his blankets half-kicked off, while Kong slept peacefully on his side, his body curled slightly toward the middle of the bed.

It wasn't the first time Arthit had watched Kongpob sleep. But this was different. This was the first time he stood at Kong's bedside, the awareness that they were no longer just friends settling over him like a warm, weighty blanket. Kong's face was serene, his chest rising and falling steadily. As Arthit watched, a quiet peace filled him, but it was tinged with the faintest edge of fear. Fear of the unknown.

For so long, he had held back. But yesterday, after years of inner turmoil, he had finally allowed himself to admit the truth: his feelings for Kongpob had never been platonic. Kong had always been his mate in his mind—he just hadn't allowed himself to fully accept it. Now, with that truth out in the open, Arthit felt both relieved and vulnerable. What lay ahead for them? How would their relationship change now that they had crossed this line? The thought made his stomach flutter with a mix of excitement and anxiety. He feared making mistakes—there was no room for error this time. He was determined to do right by Kongpob.

Arthit turned his attention to Anurak, who was still snoring lightly. Walking over, he shook him gently. "Anu, time to get up. You've got early classes today."

Anurak groaned, rolling over to face him with a sleepy frown. "Already? Can I bunk... just today, please?" he mumbled, eyes still half-closed.

"Not at all," Arthit chuckled. "Come on, get moving. Don't you want to be a good student?"

Anurak let out a dramatic sigh, slowly sitting up and rubbing his face. "You're no fun," he grumbled, stretching lazily.

Arthit gave him a light pat on the back. "Guardians aren't supposed to be fun."

"Not true... look at Phi Kong," Anurak countered, glancing toward the other side of the room.

"Mmnh," came a soft mumble from Kongpob's side of the bed, his voice thick with sleep. "Let him sleep, Anu come here..."

"Phi Arthit isn't letting me!" Anurak complained, trying to burrow back under his blankets, but Arthit grabbed the corner and dragged them off, laughing.

"Anu has early classes...."

"Then you need to get ready bub" Kong mumbled "don't be lazy bum..."

Arthit smirked at Anurak who looked at Kong, shocked. "no messing with grades bub..."Arthit said in same tone "Kong never liked slackers..."

"Fine, fine," Anurak muttered, yawning as he trudged off toward the attached bathroom.Kong stirred, his sleepy eyes blinking open, a soft smile forming on his lips as he spotted Arthit.

 "Good morning, Phi," he murmured, voice still hoarse from sleep. "Do you want me to drive Anu to class?"

Arthit shook his head, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to Kong's hair. His scent—a mixture of fresh linen and something distinctly Kong—flooded Arthit's senses, grounding him. "No, I'll drive him. You sleep a little longer," he whispered.

Kong's eyes fluttered closed again, his smile lingering as he snuggled deeper into the pillow. Arthit stood there for a moment, watching him, feeling warmth spread through his chest like the morning sun spilling into the room.

 He gently brushed a stray lock of hair from Kong's forehead. How had he gone so long without allowing himself this? How had he ever resisted the pull of this man, who had quietly stolen his heart long before he was ready to admit it?

"Sleep well, Kong," he murmured softly, turning to leave the room. As he did, a quiet joy bubbled inside him. Their first day as boyfriends. His heart fluttered with a mixture of nerves and excitement, but mostly, it was contentment. Kong was here, and he was his.---By the time Arthit returned from dropping Anurak off at college, the house had settled into the stillness of a weekday morning. The soft hum of distant traffic mixed with the occasional chirp of birds outside. Kongpob, now awake, stretched leisurely in bed before heading downstairs to the kitchen, craving his usual morning coffee.

As he shuffled around the kitchen, Kong reached for his favorite mug, the one he always used. He was about to pour his coffee when he noticed something stuck to the side—a bright post-it note with Arthit's familiar handwriting: "Start your day with a sip of curiosity."

Kong smiled, the warmth in his chest spreading as he read the message. It was such a small thing, but it made the morning feel extra special, more so than usual. He poured his coffee, savoring the rich aroma, and then, as the steam from the hot liquid rose, he noticed something strange. The heat had revealed a hidden message on the mug's surface, written in invisible ink. "Good morning, ti-rak (beloved)," it read.

Kong's eyes widened in surprise, his heart skipping a beat as the hidden message came to life. He covered his face with his hands, grinning like an idiot as a wave of affection rushed through him. Arthit could be so thoughtful, so quietly romantic in ways that made Kong's heart race. He sipped his coffee, his smile lingering as he thought about how good it felt to be loved like this.Just as he was finishing his coffee, he heard the front door open and the soft thud of familiar footsteps. He quickly schooled his expression back to normal, pretending not to notice the note or the message.

"Here, Phi! I'm in the kitchen," he called out.Arthit appeared in the doorway a moment later, his hair slightly tousled from the breeze outside. "Good morning, sleepyhead," he teased, a playful grin on his face. "Did you get the message?"

Kong blinked innocently. "Which message?"

Arthit's playful frown deepened. His eyes flicked to the mug in Kong's hand where the word "ti-rak" was still visible, faint but unmistakable.

"You didn't get it?" Arthit asked, feigning disappointment.

Staring directly into Arthit's eyes, Kong slowly covered the mug with his hands. "You left me a message?" he asked, trying to keep his tone innocent.

Arthit's frown dissolved into a look of amused wonder at Kong's antics. "Of course I did."

"And what did it say?" Kong leaned into the game, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"It said..." Arthit took two steps closer, closing the distance between them. "It said I can't quite remember what it said."

Kong chuckled, leaning back into the counter. "Was it something about the morning?"

"Was it?" Arthit pretended to think hard. "Maybe something about work...? Meeting with Sunrise Constructions?"

Kong narrowed his eyes, lips twitching in frustration. "No... it wasn't about work."

"Oh? Maybe I'll remember if you give me a kiss," Arthit suggested with a grin, leaning in closer.

Kong rolled his eyes, exasperated. "If I punch you in the head, that'll definitely make you remember," he muttered, trying to escape Arthit's playful hold.

But Arthit was faster, pulling him into a tight embrace, arms winding around him like a boa constrictor. "So violent," he murmured into Kong's ear. "Ti-rak."Kong's body instantly relaxed in Arthit's arms as the word slipped softly from his lips. "Good morning, ti-rak," Arthit whispered, pressing a kiss to Kong's hair.

"It is indeed a good morning," Kong replied sassily, turning to face his boyfriend. He felt the warmth radiating from Arthit's chest as they stood pressed together.

"Not for me," Arthit frowned, leaning in even closer. "My faen (boyfriend) hasn't greeted me properly."

Kong smirked, crossing his arms. "Good morning, Sir," he chirped.

"Try again."

"Good morning, Khun Arthit," Kong replied in a playful, professional tone.

Arthit narrowed his eyes, pretending to scold. "Are you forgetting something, mee noi (little bear)?"

"Oh... your schedule for the day?"

Arthit huffed dramatically. "Give your brain a run, Khun Suthiluck. If you don't remember in the next thirty seconds, it will not bode well for you..."

Kong batted his lashes, playing up his innocence. "But, I can't remember, *ti-rak,*" he whispered, emphasizing the word.

Arthit chuckled, resting his head on Kongpob's shoulder, feeling the tension in his chest finally ease. "Good morning, Kongy, "

"Good morning, ti-rak," Kong whispered, hugging Arthit back.

"Thank you for this." Artihit inhaled Kongpob's scent, calming his anxious heart. " I was dreading facing you this morning. I did not know how you will react to our changed reality. If you have changed your mind or not..."

Kongpob looked at Arthit "If we are doing it, we are doing it all the way phi. Dating properly like a couple does. I have waited for you to acknowledge me, my entire life. Now that I have you looking at me, I don't want to botch it by half-assery."

Arthit stared into Kongob's eyes, letting him know that he means his words "I have always seen you Kong. Infact, you were the only one I have ever saw. You might not believe me now, but I have eyes only for you, you have always been my special person. "

"And you are mine" Kong mumbled. "We should get ready now phi. Or my boss will have my head if I turn out late to office. "

Arthit smirked "He sounds like a terrible person."

Kong grinned "Devil incarnate.. I tell you "

"I think I should help you get ready, shouldn't I ?" Arthit teased " Saves time and water "

"Shut up" Kong playfully punched Arthit's chest, hiding his rosy cheeks. " Do wear your tie straight or I am still charging you by hour..."

"Heartless..." Arthit pouted .

"Well, you stole mine so..." Kong shrugged. 

"Here...keep mine.." Arthit pretended to take out his heart and preessed it against Kongpob's chest.

"Rib cage is coming in the way..." Kong commented.

Arthit pretended to look at his heart and sang " Sorry , you've got an anti romantic..."
He suddenly held Kongpob's head in armlock , Kongpob's mouth fell agape in surprise at sudden maneuvering " Here" Arthit put his invisible heart in Kongpob's mouth and shut his mouth with his thumb . "Swallow it...rib cage won't come in the way now..."

Kong rolled his eyes " and you say I am anti-romantic... "

Arthit fluttered his eyelids, looking absolutely ridiculous " flowers, cake, poems... peck. Just tell me how romantic you want it Bae? " he asked landing a big smooch on Kong's cheek .

" Just don't pull this in office or Pim won't let me hear the end of it...."

"Okay...no one at office will no. Although I want to shout from rooftops that I'm so glad you're mine."

"Always yours," Kong whispered back, feeling the truth of that word settle into his bones.

He smiled as Arthit pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, grounding him, reminding him of the safe, steady rhythm of their love.---

As they embraced, Arthit's thoughts shifted back to that flicker of doubt he had earlier. His fear about whether they could make this relationship work lingered like a quiet shadow at the back of his mind. There was no denying that things had changed between them. And change could be unpredictable. But as Kong tightened his hold around him, burying his face in Arthit's neck, he knew—deep down—that whatever challenges awaited them, they would face them together.And that was enough. For now, it was more than enough.

.................