"Niran," Chak called out.
When I turned to him, he suddenly splashed water straight into my face. A mischievous smile tugged at his lips.
"Chak!" I shouted, laughing, and splashed him back.
We kept splashing each other, laughing like little kids. In those moments, all my worries, all the stress, all the doubts just disappeared. The whole world faded away. Only he existed.
When I tried to run from him, he caught me by the waist, spun me around, and lifted me into the air. I burst out laughing, breathless and surprised.
"Put me down!" I giggled, playfully hitting his shoulder.
"Never," he whispered, lowering me just enough so our eyes could meet. His hands remained on my hips, and my arms instinctively wrapped around his neck. For a moment, time stopped. We were in our own bubble—silent, still, safe.
His gaze softened. Water droplets slid down his face. His lips were wet, parted slightly. Slowly, he leaned in. And when our lips met, it felt like the whole world held its breath.
The kiss was gentle, honest, filled with the taste of laughter and something deeper we both feared to name.
When we pulled apart, his hands were still on me, grounding me. I looked into his eyes and whispered, "I waited for this all day."
His smile was quiet, almost shy. "Me too."
I reached up and ran my fingers through his wet hair, playing with it softly. Then he said, his voice low and calm, "Let's go to sleep."
We swam to the edge of the pool and sat down, our legs dangling in the water. I leaned my head on his shoulder and quietly said, "Promise me something."
"What is it?" Chak asked, turning slightly to look at me.
"Whatever happens tomorrow… stay with me. You don't have to be by my side all the time. I just need to know you're with me."
"Niran," he said gently, "I'll be by your side. Tomorrow, after Orasa leaves, we'll go home. I want to spend the whole day with you."
The night air was warm, but the water on our skin made us shiver slightly. I didn't move from his shoulder, and he didn't seem to mind. His presence was calm, steady like a silent promise I didn't need to hear out loud.
After a while, Chak spoke again, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You know… water always calms me. Ever since I was a kid. When I couldn't sleep, I'd sneak out and sit by the river behind the house. Just listening. Like the world couldn't touch me there."
I looked up at him. "Is that why you bought this house with a pool?"
He nodded slowly. "Maybe I needed a place where I could breathe."
"You found one," I said softly, placing my hand on his chest, right where I could feel his heartbeat. "And you brought me into it."
Chak turned to me, and for a moment he looked like he wanted to say something more, but he didn't. Instead, he stood up and offered me his hand.
"Come on. You'll catch a cold."
I took his hand, and he helped me up. We grabbed towels on the way inside, water dripping from our clothes, leaving a trail behind us like tiny footprints of memory.
Downstairs, I went into the bathroom to take a quick shower. After drying off, I opened the drawer and pulled out one of Chak's black T-shirts and a pair of lounge pants. They were a bit too big on me, which only made them more comforting.
I looked at myself in the mirror and brought the collar of the shirt to my nose, inhaling deeply. It smelled like him—familiar, warm, safe.
"Clothes from my boyfriend smell so nice," I whispered, then paused.
My boyfriend.
The words felt new. Soft. Wonderful.
I giggled quietly and shook my head.
When I walked into Chak's bedroom, he was already lying on the right side of the bed, reading a book. He looked up when he saw me.
"I borrowed your pajamas," I said, "and I'm not sure I'll ever give them back. They smell like you."
Chak smiled. "You can keep them."
I slid into bed beside him, the cotton of his shirt soft against my skin, and the scent of him all around me.
Chak pulled me closer until my head rested on his chest. His fingers gently traced along my arm, up and down, in rhythm with his breathing.
"You're not scared?" he asked after a while.
"Of what?" I murmured, already feeling sleep tugging at me.
"Of tomorrow. Of Orasa. Of everything that comes after."
I was quiet for a second before replying. "I am. But I'm more scared of losing this. Losing you."
Chak's arm tightened around me. "You won't. Not now. Not ever."
I didn't answer. I didn't need to. His heartbeat was steady beneath my cheek, and for the first time in a long time, I let it lull me to sleep.
While I was asleep, he said, in a soft voice, hesitant—almost like a prayer:
"Niran... I'm falling in love with you."
But I didn't hear him.
Chak didn't know that.
He held me for a long moment, as if afraid the world might shift if he let go. Then he slowly pressed a kiss to the crown of my head.
Outside, the night was still. Inside, something had quietly changed—something delicate and true, blooming in silence where only the heart could feel it.
------
I woke to the sound of something softly clattering in the distance.
Instinctively, my hand reached out—but the bed beside me was empty. The covers were still warm. The door stood slightly ajar, morning light spilling through.
I pushed the blanket aside and got up, still wrapped in Chak's soft T-shirt. Quietly, I made my way toward the kitchen.
There he was.
Standing at the stove, calm and focused. His hair was slightly damp, his back relaxed. The smell of toast and warm butter filled the room.
Without a word, I padded across the floor and wrapped my arms around him from behind, resting my cheek against his back.
He paused, then turned around with a small smile and placed his hands on my hips. Without saying anything, he lifted me effortlessly onto the kitchen counter.
His right hand brushed a few strands of hair from my face, his palm warm against my cheek.
"Good morning, my artist," he said softly.
"Good morning, my Chaky," I replied with a sleepy smile.
He leaned in and pressed a kiss to my forehead.
"What are you making?" I asked, swinging my legs slightly.
"Something healthy… and something sweet," he replied with a wink, turning back to the stove.
I watched him in silence. Every now and then, he glanced over his shoulder and smiled—soft, unguarded.
A few minutes later, he returned with a plate. On it was a slice of whole grain bread with avocado spread and a bowl of freshly cut fruit.
Chak held up the toast to my mouth. I bit into it, then he took a bite from the same slice. Then he offered me a glass of juice with a single straw.
We shared the breakfast like it was our little ritual.
No rush.
Just soft glances, the occasional brush of fingertips, and something warm growing quietly between us.
When we finished, Chak wiped his hands and looked at me.
Before he could speak, I leaned forward and kissed him—slowly, gratefully, full of the warmth his breakfast had left behind.
"Thank you," I whispered.
Chak smiled. "We should get ready."
We cleared the dishes, then headed to our rooms to change. I slipped out of his shirt and into clean work clothes, but his scent lingered on my skin like a memory I didn't want to let go.
As we drove to work, a heavy silence stretched between us.
I stared out the window, trying not to count the minutes until she arrived.
Then I felt it Chak's hand reaching over, gently squeezing mine.
I looked at him. He didn't say anything. He didn't have to.
The warmth of his hand was enough.
The moment I stepped into the office, everything shifted.
I forced myself into work mode set down my bag, powered on my computer, flipped through the files Pim had left on my desk.
But I couldn't focus.
My chest was tight. My fingers restless. My eyes kept drifting to the clock.
In two hours, she'd walk through those doors.
She'd look at me and she'd know. I lied.
My heart started racing. I imagined a dozen versions of how it would happen:
Orasa standing in the doorway, arms crossed, voice cold.
Orasa with that sickly-sweet smile, pretending not to know.
Orasa storming into Chak's office and slamming the door.
I swallowed hard.
Why did I lie?
Why didn't I just tell her the truth from the beginning?
A hundred regrets danced in my mind while I sat still, pretending to work.
But inside, I was bracing for the storm.
And it was already on its way.