INTRO
Hello, my ex.
The night sky at three o'clock was completely swallowed by darkness. Yet instead of silence, the scene before me was filled with vendors setting up their stalls, a clear sign that the dawn of a new day was only a few hours away.
I walked past the market and entered a narrow alley. On both sides were local houses mixed with small and large apartments. Among them stood an old, worn-down four-story building. It wasn't in the best shape, but for a rent of just over a thousand baht a month, it was a rare find in this area. This had been my shelter for many months since the end of my freshman year, as the university dorms only allowed first-year students.
There was no parking, no keycard, no security guards like elsewhere. The only "guard" was Aunt Toom, half-asleep at her post downstairs. It wasn't the safest place, but it was affordable. I passed by the dozing aunt and climbed the narrow stairway to the top floor. The corridor was so tight that two people had to turn sideways to pass each other. Luckily, my room was the very first one, so I rarely had to face that.
I pulled out my key to unlock the door.
But the door wasn't locked.
I slipped the key back into my bag, turned the knob gently, and stepped inside. The room was small enough to see everything at a glance. I placed my bag on the table that served as my desk, vanity, and sometimes even a dining table. Sitting down on the chair, I rested my chin on my clasped hands on the backrest and turned toward the bed—where someone was lying.
"Nile," I called to the broad back before me.
Nile was my boyfriend, who had once been just a fellow chemistry student in the Faculty of Engineering. We started talking during freshman orientation and officially began dating openly at the end of the first semester after finals. Counting now, it's been almost a year and a half since we became a couple.
Unbelievable.
"You're back?" Nile's low voice murmured as he turned toward me. I nodded in the dim light, stood, and moved from the chair to the bed.
His hand reached to switch on the lamp.
"Tired, Nubtam?"
No question of why I was late. Just those deep black eyes filled with concern, as always.
My name always sounded so sweet when spoken from his lips. I shook my head with a faint smile, placed my hand against his cheek, and studied him. From the exhaustion in his onyx eyes, I could tell—he had waited for me and fallen asleep again.
"And you, Nile?"
"Hm?"
"...Are you tired?" I whispered, stroking his cheek gently. The words stuck in my throat, forcing me to press my lips tightly together.
A mix of relief at having asked—and fear of the answer.
"No, I'm n—"
"Liar."
Before another lie could escape his lips, I pressed mine to his, stealing it away. His answer never changed: reassuring, yet heavy. He tried to pull away, but I clung to that sweet deception.
In the end, he yielded. His hands, which had tried to push me away, slid instead to my waist, pulling me closer. The room filled once more with muffled gasps, each breath stolen and returned between us, until our lips met again—deeper than before.
My tongue searched greedily for his lies, determined to swallow them whole. His oversized T-shirt slipped away, revealing the black camisole beneath.
Nile froze. Just for a second, his eyes brimmed with questions, but he said nothing. Instead, he shed his own shirt. His pale skin glowed in the lamp's orange light, making me stare without blinking. His proud smile widened at my gaze.
"Nubtam, I love you."
Those words of love...
"Nubtam."
That call of my name...
"Nubtam!!"
I would never hear it again.
"Nubtam, the boss is calling you!"
Dragged into a black hole, I was ripped back into another world—reality. I jolted upright, glancing around. No tiny room, no warm lamp, no familiar desk, no him in my arms.
"Daydreaming, are we?"
I looked up at the speaker, apologetic. It was Pin, my supervisor and the head of marketing at this renowned cosmetics and skincare company. And me? Just a small intern, reporting in for the very first day at this giant corporation.
"Sorry, P'Pin."
"Follow me."
"What is it about?"
"I don't know. Did you cause some trouble already?"
Pin's stern gaze made me shake my head quickly. I had barely been here half a day—please, no surprises already. It was hard enough not to bolt the moment I saw him this morning.
Resigned, I followed Pin into the executive elevator. What bad luck—excited to intern at such a big company, only to run into the one person I wasn't ready to face.
"The intern is here, Mr. President," Pin announced after knocking on the CEO's door.
"What did I tell you to call me?"
That voice... No. Don't tell me—
"Sorry, Boss."
Nile!!!