Chapter 3

NUNEW'S POV

I arrive at 8 in the morning in my university carrying my canvas painting.

I was a bit happy today thinking that even if Max forgot that he had promised me on a date yesterday he had called me last night that he wanted to spend some time with me today after my class would end.

I was sceptical at first if his really gonna take me out or his making another promise and would break it after. But he said he would come and pick me up after school.

I could understand how Max so busy with his family business but sometimes I could think that he doesn't really care for me cuz sometimes he would really forget things that are related to me.

Now I think at this time that he really cares for me. He is trying to make up his mistakes and try to mend things for us.

Max was bestowed by his family to me. It's an arranged marriage that we both agreed to. I had known about it since I was young so when I turned 10 I decided that I would want to marry him not because I was forced but because I know I love him and want him to be my husband.

I don't know at first what came into their mind why they agreed to marry me off with their son when they knew I was born as a boy. Maybe because they know time will come that I would have a change of heart and so I did.

Now I'm really gonna marry Max because I want him to be with me for the rest of my life.

"Nunew." I looked back and saw Keng, Max's younger brother walking towards me.

"Good morning" he greeted as he was In front of me.

"Hi Keng good morning" I replied and smiled as I walked back again and he followed after me.

Me and Keng are on the same class. We took up the same course in language and communication. I was happy that he's always been a great support in my academics since he is great at it.

Keng is like a brother and a best friend to me. He is a very warm person and never failed to be a great friend to me.

"Let me help you with that" without anything he grab the canvas in my hand and carries it and I smile at what he did thanking him as we walk together.

"You never run out of beautiful ideas in your head Nunew. Now you have another painting." as he look at my new painting his carrying.

" Will I guess not" and giggle at the conversation.

"I've wondered why didn't you take up art's when you're this talented on it." he said

"Painting is just my hobby Keng." I said as wai at someone who greeted me along the way.

"That's why arts teachers are always anticipating your painting. Why not sell this then than put it in the school museum. You could make money out of this." as he suggested. Will he always make this kind of playful comment.

"Why not take up BA Keng. Your mind is in business" I joke around and he laugh.

Then he stop laughing and look at me seriously.

"I heard Phi Max forgot about your date" as he opened another conversation looking at me apologetically.

I don't want to talk about it anymore but I could make an exception as Keng is his brother and he knows about our situation.

"I could understand him Keng he's a busy man." as I smile at him assuring him that it's okay.

"You're too patient with him Nunew" he said as he sighs sadly.

"I'm going to get married with him so I need to be patient with him Keng" I respond by tapping his arm

" You're too good for my brother." He says as he opens the door of the school art room.

"Did he even take you home" Keng said.

"No, he got another meeting to attend." I said as Keng sighed in disappointment.

"He let's you go home on your own." Keng tries to hold back his anger. He really is now angry with his brother and I don't want them to fight because of me.

"But Hia take me back home. So don't worry cuz I'm fine." I explained. He look at me in relief.

"Thank God Phi Zee is always there for you." He sighs again and smiles a little.

"Yeah. He's always been there for me. There never failed a day that he wasn't there for. Well except when he was out for trips" I smile thinking about Zee has done for me.

"He was the best of the best best friends I had. I would never wish for anything in the world than him to be there for me always, and that would always be enough."

"I just hope when he finds someone he loves he will not forget about me." Now this makes my heart ache. Only thinking that Zee would not be here with me makes me sad. I think about last night when he took me out on dinner and after that I convinced him to walk with me. We both talk and walk along the night life in Bangkok. Being with him makes my life at peace and at ease. Zee is like a sunshine that lightens my whole life, and thinking that without this sunshine in me, my life would surely be dim.

"That would never happen Nunew. He loves you too much for him to forget you." Keng said making me feel at ease with my fears.

"I know. His been my best friend for many years so I know he loves me and would always be there and take care of me." I said with a smile

Keng looks at me with assurance as I look back at him.

We ended the conversation with him putting my canvas on the table.

We both walked out and went towards our classroom,

We arrive at the room and sit on our chairs. A minute after our professor went in and started his lectures for the day.

My day went on as usual. Class started then ended then lunchtime came.

I went out together with Keng as we would always eat together along with our other circle of friends.

Keng and I both got our food and walked to the table where our friends were waiting for us.

"Hi Nunew did you make another painting today? I see you both walking to the art room. I was in a hurry so I didn't say hello" Firestone says as we were sitting on our spot.

"That's okay First." I said and smile at him.

"Bet you're busy the whole week painting huh." he says before he drink his juice.

"Will some ideas come in my head so I had to make it out." I said.

"Why not make your own art gallery when you graduate huh?" Tle suggested.

"I have to think about that first. You know I'm the only son of the Keerati family so I need to take care of our business when I graduate." I said as I started to dig in with my food.

"But you're going to get married with Phi Max when you graduate right?" Firstone look at me curiously.

Everyone of my friends knows about me getting married to Max. Who wouldn't be, since the day that we've become friends. They already know cuz I tell him immediately It's the time of our junior year that we all became friends. We all have the same class that we are taking up at that time. We have different courses but still we stay friends until now and they know about Max being my fiance cuz I always brag about it.

"If you're going to get married to him he could take over your family's business. Well since you don't really like paper work. " As he continued. I smile thinking about life with Max after we get married.

"I don't know First. We will talk about that after we get married." I said scooping another food and eat it.

"Then after you get married you can tell him to build you an art gallery." Latte said teasingly. I gulp what I eat and drink my juice and look at them in silence.

Everyone of them nodded except Keng who just ate his food in silence while listening to our friends talking without a care.

" You just have to wait for five months and your dream to marry the man you love will come true." Firstone said.

"But three months from now is your birthday Nunew right?" Tle said who's drinking his lime juice.

I nodded.

"You're all invited as usual of course" I said.

"Will Phi Zee be there too Nunew? " Firstone asks curious. He doesn't hide the fact that he likes Zee even if I would tell him to stop his wishful thinking by saying Zee is straight, but he never gives up.

"Stop asking about my Hia, Firstone." I said then he pouted.

"Why are you even gatekeeping your Hia from me. Am I not good enough for him. I'm cute and pretty he might like me right?" Firstone look at me trying to get my approval.

I ignored his questions and started to eat again but I stopped when Firstone said again.

"You know what Nunew. If I just didn't know you have a fiance I might think you're jealous of me liking Zee. The way you always refer to him as YOUR Hia is too possessive. I might think he's the one you love and not Phi Max " I was speechless. I frown thinking if I really sound possessive.

"Finish your food Nunew our class would start in a minute" Keng suddenly interrupted us. Firstone who wanted to say something again stopped by Tle.

We all stopped talking and went back eating our lunch forgetting the conversation that hangs in the air.

*******

Our class ended early as our professor only gave us some projects.

I and Keng walk out together. We w6alk through the campus ground and went to the parking lot. Keng said Max texted him that he's already inside the campus parking lot so we went there together.

We both saw Max immediately who was on his back.

I frown to see Max who's talking to someone. I never saw the guy before but from the looks of it he's a student in this school to cuz his wearing a uniform the same as us. The guy was shorter than me, and quite good looking too.

Max was holding the guy's arm. Seems like they're arguing with something. We couldn't hear them cuz they're far away from us.

Both of us Keng gasp when the guy slaps Max. I immediately ran towards them and went in between them.

"What's wrong with you.!?" I furiously ask the guy who looks up to me frowning.

"And who are you?" instead he asked. The nerve of him to ask who am I

I think he doesn't know me well enough.

"His fiance.." as I pointed back at Max who was dumbfounded to see me. "And You. Who are you? What did my fiance do to you that you got the nerve to slap him?" I seriously wanted to know his answers. He looks shocked and his eyes moist with unshed tears as he looks at me and Max back and forth confused was evident in his eyes.

Before I say something more he turns around and runs away. Max who's on my back tries to run after the guy but I immediately hold his hands looking at him confused with his actions.

When he realized he did something questionable he looked away from me.

"Wh- who is that Max? " I asked him confused, as he was looking at his feet frowning on something I didn't know.

"That was nothing Nunew. He's just someone I randomly know." He said and looked at me with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Does your class end early? " I nodded at him.

"We just got here Phi. " Keng said who had followed and watched the whole thing happen with a frown.

"Did you bring your car Nong?" Max asks Keng.

"Yeah I did.. You have a date today right?" Keng holding his bag in his right shoulder.

"We did. I made a reservation for us Nunew" as Max looked at me with a smile.

"Then take care. Send him home carefully Phi" Keng said again then he looked at me.

"Enjoy your date Nunew. Bye see you" as Keng lastly said and walked away from us.

"Let's go? " Max said as we walked towards his car. He opened the passenger seat then I went in and thank him then closed the door. He walked to the driver's seat and went in. We put on our seatbelt before he drove away from the place.

The whole thing happened a while ago really confused me but right now I need to focus on this time. I shrug off any confusing things running in my head cuz this day would rarely happen so I must not think of anything else other than Max and me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4 months and 1 week before the wedding

ZEE'S POV

It's been weeks since I last saw Nunew and I missed him so badly.

I'm trying to tell myself to start getting away from him and move on, and that's what I'm doing for those weeks but I guess it doesn't really work for me.

Because here I am in front of their living area sitting on the couch and waiting for him.

I am getting worse day by day. Now that his wedding is coming in four months time I'm getting even crazier like right now. Whose friend was on his right mind would visit, 11 in the evening just to see them. Tell me?

Will that's none other than me.

But I'm thankful that aunt Ja was still up. I am disturbing everyone with my craziness and foolishness.

I was startled when I heard loud footsteps running down the stairs. I stood when I saw him getting down the stairs.

"HIA.."as he shouted happily and ran towards me.

Shit he's gonna wake everyone in the house.

I walk towards him and meet him halfway. He immediately wrapped his arms around my neck and my arm around his back and waist.

"You're here!?" As he giggles in happiness. Shit this boy is really driving me crazy.

"How's my Nunu." I ask as I pull back from him still  his arms wrapping around my waist.

" I miss you Hia..." He said as he sadly looked at me and pouted his lips. God how I wish I could kiss those lips.

"Why didn't I see you for weeks. Max said you didn't go on some business trips. Where are you these whole three weeks huh? " And he looked at me angrily.

I wanted to laugh at his sulking face. He looks so cute.

He was startled when I suddenly touched his face as he looked at me in wonder.

"Are you painting when I came?" as I wipe the smudge of paint in his face.

He nodded and looks at me in the eyes.

I don't know what he's doing but I got shy with the way he looks at me so I look away immediately.

"Where were you? Huh.. Hia?" He ask again as he tilted his face to look at me with an interrogating look.

"I.. I'm busy with work." and smile at him forcefully.

"You're lying to me" he said as he crossarms.

Shit he's angry. How would I dare to tell him that I really intended to not see him cuz I'm avoiding him.

I can't compromise that, cuz I know I could be telling my feelings for him and that would be the end of me.

" I'm really busy with these past few weeks Nu. I'm opening up my brand at Siam center." as I explained to him. That wasn't a lie though I'm really busy opening my brand in big malls, but not really busy to not see him.

He sighs and looks away.

" You're too busy to not even see me." he mumbled that makes me smile. Guess he misses me so much that he was sulking at me like this.

"You're busy dating too.. right? " He said and looked up to me. I couldn't help but laugh.

But then I realized I might wake someone up so I stopped laughing as he looked at me frowning and confused.

"What's funny.?" he ask looking pissed off

" You Nunew baby. When did I even have someone that I could take on a date.. hah?" I ask raising my brows trying to know how he got that ridiculous idea in his head.

"M- maybe you found someone pretty and dated them." He said looking at his feet.

"If that someone is prettier than you. Then maybe I had dated them already." he looks up to me sadly thinking that maybe I really dated someone.

"But no one is prettier than you Nu.. You're still the prettiest in my eyes" I said that made him red like a tomato.

" Hia.." he said and looked away shyly.

"That's true. So whatever idea of dating is in that beautiful brain of yours, erase that right away." I said as I ruffled his hair that made him look at me surprised.

"I'm sorry Hia." He said that made me surprised.

"For what?" I was confused.

"For getting angry and assuming something." He looks down and gets embarrassed.

"That's okay Nu. I should have told you where I am and what I'm doing. I guess I made you worried ha.." as I held his hand to tell him that it's okay.

"Still I burst out nonsense things." He said and pouted. I pull him gently and hug him. God what am I going to do with him. He's making it hard for me to move on with his actions that I know it's nothing to him but always leave something in my.

"One thing to. That's your life and you can do anything about it, even dating anyone you like. I don't have a say on that. I'm only your friend"

" Best friends do have a say on their friends life cuz that means they care. You care" He suddenly pulled from me but my hands remained holding my waist.

"Just like you always do. Care for me and taking care of me." He said and hugged me back.

We stayed hugging for a minute filling up the missing feeling that we have.

"Wait you came here soo late.. will you go home now?" As he pulled back again to ask. I nodded and he look dejected.

"Can you stay here for the night." He said with a pleading look on his face looking so hopeful. "It's going to be 30 minutes of driving for you to get home." he continue.

Will 30 minutes is not long for a drive for me. But getting to stay for the night is better..

"Please Hia.." as he begged so cutely. I smile and look at him. Do I need to say yes immediately or I have to play a little hard to get to see more of his cute boba eyes.

"Hia.. please.. I wanted to be with you tonight" wow  that words sounds great in my ears.

"Bu.t..I don't have any clothes with me today Nu." giving him an excuse.

"You still have your clothes in my closet." He said instantly talking about my clothes that had been left in here when I stayed for sleep over last time. He's looking so proud and happy that he still got my clothes.

He's really making me question my life decisions every time.

"Fine.. I'll stay." I said. He smiled at me so brightly.

"Great.. Come on let's go to my art room first" as he grabbed my hand to walk upstairs.

We both startled with Auntie Ja standing on the stairs looking at both of us smiling so widely.

"Aunt ja, I thought you were already asleep."Nunew ask.

"How would I sleep when we still have our very handsome visitor. Visiting late at night" aunty ja said as I look away embarrassed that I interrupted her.

"Are you a vampire Zee?" She looked at me shocked and confused. I wanted to hide on the corner. I know she's just joking but I can't bring myself to laugh at her right now. It's making me awkward.

"Aunty Ja. Stop that. He's not a vampire."Nunew said.

"Next time Zee call this aunty that your gonna visit late at night so I could prepare foods with garlic for you." Aunt ja said. I smile at her awkwardly.

This is really crazy.

"Stop teasing Zee aunty Ja. Come on Hia." Nunew said as he pulled me up the stairs.

"You're staying for the night?" She said after the fact.

"The other room was not clean. Do I have to clean it Nunew?" She ask.

"No need for that aunty Ja he's going to stay in my room." He said that made me look at him and aunt ja in disbelief. What the heck sleeps with him? He really would always be the death of me and he wouldn't know. Ohh shit I shouldn't have agreed to this. Driving long would be better than sleeping together with him.

Aunty ja only smiled at me knowingly before she went down saying she's going to lock all the doors.

Nunew continues to drag me to his art room.

"Let me show you my work Hia" he open the door and take me in immediately.

We stop in front of the painting that was halfway finished. Some artist would never wanted anyone to see their unfinished work but I don't know why when it comes to me he would eagerly take me here in his art room and show me his beautiful painting.

Right now he is showing me this unfinished paint and it hasn't been polished but it looks so beautiful.

The painting is a woman closing her eyes was holding a brush and a heart on his both hand that was put on her chest.

"Wow. That looks beautiful. What's the name of this painting Nu?" I ask mesmerized of how his painting was made.

"Paint you with love" as he was looking at his drawing dreamily.

"A love that's always in her heart that paints her whole life in a new different way. "

"Wow.." I said as I heard his words. Just how Nunew paints my life with love.

"I want to give this to you Hia, but it's not yet finish" he said as he look at me while I look at him dumbfounded.

"I'll finish this slowly then I'll give it to you in time." He continue smiling.

"Why.?" I ask as couldn't believe that he would give this painting to me.

He had given me a painting before cuz he wanted it as a decoration in my office. He said my office looks dark and lifeless. He also gave me another that I put in my room because he also think that my room is too dark and no color. Those paintings may seem just a simple gift to him but it means everything to me.

But giving this painting here to me is something. It has its depth meaning on it and the way it describes everything about my feelings for him makes so beautiful.

"Do I need a reason to give this to you?" He ask looking so confused of me.

"No that's not what I mean. This looks precious Nu and you're giving this to me." I said.

"And you're precious to me Hia." He said and I went speechless. I'm precious to him shit i'm going to be emotional right now. How could he say those words without faze but it's making my heart beat wild. Lol

"Also this is gonna be my thank you gift for you for doing everything to me and for taking care of me. " He said as I feel his hand interlocked with mine.

" This is not as grand and expensive as what you always give for me but I hope you like it." As he continued and looked at me with a smile that had been one of the reasons why I fell in love with him.

" I like it soo much Nunu. Thank you" I said and hugged him tight. He's always doing something that makes me love him even more. How can I ever forget my feelings for him when he is like this to me.

"You're welcome Hia." As he hugged me back.

Minutes pass before we let go.

"I'm going to finish this the other time. Let's go and sleep. I know you're tired of working." He said and dragged me out of the room. This sounds like we're a married couple who gets to bed together. My mind would always play a foolish dream about us. I'm really crazy.

He turns off the lights as I look back at the paint before he closes the door still holding my hand.

We walked hand in hand to his room and in just a minute we arrived at his doorstep.

Now I felt nervous that I'll be sleeping with him. He is too relaxed while I feel my heart would be out of my chest at any minute.

I hope I'm still gonna survive cuz right now I'm regretting my actions that lead me here.

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I know it has been long since this story was updated. Thank you all for always waiting.

The waiting is over. Now I'm here and we're going to continue with this now..

Your like and support is always appreciated ❤️