For the first time since Nani moved into the Thamnithit mansion, he was going to school in Sky's car.
When he woke up that morning, his uniform and school bag were already placed neatly in Sky's room, like someone had prepped a doll to be dressed. Sky didn't even ask if he wanted to go together-he insisted. Nani tried to object, suggesting he'd go alone. But Sky just said, "No." And that was the end of the conversation.
The drive to school was quiet. The only sound between them was the loud music pouring from Sky's Bluetooth speaker-aggressive beats that rattled the silence but didn't fill it. Nani stared out the window, arms crossed, his thoughts louder than the music.
He felt better-physically. His head was clearer. His body no longer ached as much. But mentally? He was spiraling.
All he could think about was that night. And before it-the party. The cruel things Sky had said. The names he had called him. The way he was humiliated in front of people.
And now?
Now, Sky was acting as if nothing had happened. As if their bodies tangling under sheets had erased all of it. As if sex were a balm for what he did. And the worst part? Nani had let it happen.
"I hate myself," he thought bitterly, clenching his fists in his lap. Because deep down, he knew what Sky was thinking: that Nani's body had forgiven him, so maybe his heart had too.
But it hadn't.
Sky pulled into the school parking lot and parked with ease. Before Nani could reach for the door, Sky spoke.
"Let's meet at lunch."
Nani didn't look at him as he unbuckled his seatbelt. "I'll be busy. I don't think I can meet you."
There was a pause. Then, an edge in Sky's voice. "Busy with what?"
"Stuff. I missed class yesterday-I need to catch up." Nani grabbed his bag. "See you later. Don't wait for me after school. I'll go home on my own."
And with that, he got out and walked off toward the building without another word.
Sky remained in the car, watching him walk away. His jaw clenched. There was something off in the way Nani talked to him-too composed. Too cold. It was as if he was putting a distance between them.
And Sky had no idea what he'd done this time to cause it.
[LATER, IN CLASS]
The classroom was loud with the rustle of papers and murmured gossip, but Nani felt like he was in a bubble-tuned out and withdrawn. He did his best to focus on the board, scribbling notes, pretending his thoughts weren't chewing holes through his skull.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed Dew looking back at him. Once. Then again. And again.
Nani clenched his jaw.
He didn't want to know why. He already knew it had something to do with Win. Everything always came back to that. Sky, Dew they were both always watching him when it came to Win, like hawks circling something fragile.
He ignored the stares.
He forced himself to focus on the teacher's voice. On formulas and chalk. On anything that wasn't thought of Dew or Sky's lips, Sky's hands, Sky's voice begging to put it in-just the tip, he'd said-and Nani had let him.
Now here he was, pretending to be okay, pretending that remembering last night didn't shatter something quietly inside him.
He swallowed the guilt. The confusion, but something in his chest felt heavier than before.
...
When the lunch bell rang, students poured out of the room in noisy waves-but Nani didn't move.
He stayed seated, hunched over his desk, quietly copying the notes from the previous day. His pen scratched softly against the page, steady, even though his thoughts weren't. He had expected Dew to confront him again, maybe hover or throw another daggered stare.
But Dew didn't.
And somehow, that unsettled him more.
Nani didn't realize someone was standing beside him until a familiar voice pulled him out of his trance.
"Where's your phone? I've been texting you."
Nani looked up. Win.
He straightened, fumbling for his phone before realizing it was still in his bag, on silent.
"I'm sorry, Phi. I didn't hear it."
Win gave a small smile. He nodded a silent hello and glanced at Nani's open notebook.
"You're not eating?"
"I was trying to catch up on yesterday's notes," Nani said truthfully. "I missed a lot."
He didn't mention the real reason-that he was also avoiding Sky.
Avoiding the way Sky looked at him now like everything was fixed. Like sex had stitched up the damage he'd caused. Nani didn't even know what they were anymore. Lovers? Sex buddies? Something worse?
"Here, take this," Win said, holding out a pack of chips. "Eat something."
Nani accepted it with a small thank you.
Win sat beside him and asked gently, "Are you feeling better now? What really happened?"
Nani stared at his notebook, avoiding eye contact.
"It was just a fever. I guess... the party stressed me out."
But even to him, the excuse sounded hollow.
Win didn't press, but something in his gaze sharpened. His voice lowered slightly.
"Did you have sex with Sky?"
Nani froze.
He wanted to lie, to brush it off. But there was no point pretending-not with Win.
After a few seconds, he nodded.
"Yes."
Shame crawled up his spine like cold water. Win was aware of all the shit Sky did to him and instead of letting him go, he went ahead and had sex with him twice.
Win blinked slowly. He didn't react with shock, just a quiet, strained sadness.
"Even after everything he did to you just last week here?" Win asked, carefully. "Isn't it too early to forgive him?"
Nani shook his head. "I haven't forgiven him. Not even close. I just... I don't know why I let it happen. I can't explain it."
His voice cracked slightly, and the frustration in his tone was directed at himself more than anyone else.
Win stared at him for a beat too long.
Then he said, gently, "It's okay. Don't beat yourself up. What can you do? You already love him."
Nani blinked.
Love?
Maybe it was. Or maybe it was something more toxic-dependence, obsession, guilt masquerading as affection. Whatever it was, it was swallowing him whole.
---
From just outside the classroom window, Sky stood still, a plate of food in his hand.
His gaze was fixed on Nani and Win through the glass-two heads bent close together, talking intensely. It wasn't loud, but he could hear them. It wasn't even flirty.
But to Sky, it looked intimate.
Too intimate.
Win's hand casually brushed Nani's when he handed him the snack. Nani didn't flinch. They looked like a perfect little scene Sky didn't belong in.
His fingers clenched tighter around the plate.
He had brought lunch for Nani himself. He hadn't eaten either. He wanted to sit with him. Feed him. Make up for the night before-without words, because Sky wasn't good at apologies.
But seeing them like that?
His jaw clenched.
His mind twisted it into something darker.
"Have I been too nice to him?" Sky thought, "He never learns."
He didn't move. He just stood there-watching. Burning.