My Moon, Chapter 16 pg 5
My Moon, Chapter 16 pg 5
Klai chuckled softly before saying, “Nothing’s too hard. Panli, my clever guy, can definitely answer.”
Panli kept his face on the table, acting just like he did the first time they ate together. He gently rubbed the back of Klai’s hand with his thumb, then spoke in a quiet voice.
“Right now, I like you especially,” Moon said.
At that moment, Klai’s heart swelled so much it felt like it might burst. Though he wasn’t entirely sure what “like” meant in Panli’s terms, just knowing that Moon “liked you especially” sent his heart soaring to the moon.
Even if, in the end, Moon only liked him as a close friend and their feelings didn’t grow beyond that, Klai wouldn’t feel regret. Because he believed the feelings they shared right now…
Were already the best.
This was enough for Klai.
😊
Knowing how hard it is to shake off shyness, Klai, an expert in being shy, wanted to help Moon, who was just learning to be shy.
“So, does you like the sea or the mountains more?”
He changed the topic to give Panli a moment to breathe. Just knowing that his daily teasing made Panli “like” him was enough. Klai didn’t need any more answers beyond that…
For now, he’d let time help their relationship grow naturally.
Klai didn’t know how far time would take them.
But for now, he only knew that… both of them felt comfortable and happy being together in this moment.
Panli looked up, meeting his eyes, still holding his hand. “I like both,” Panli said.
“If you really had to choose, what would you pick?”
“I can’t choose. I have fond memories of both.”
Klai smiled. He’d never met someone who refused to pick one and gave an answer that forced him to let them have both.
“I like the sea,” Klai said.
“Then I’ll take you to a place with mountains sometime. You’ll see that mountains are just as great as the sea.”
Keep going, Klai. Time to step up and make Panli feel more than just “like.” “Nothing could be as great as my Panli,” Klai said.
“You little rascal,” Panli said with a wide smile, gently pinching his nose.
Panli always made him feel the meaning of “thank you.”
Thank you for making him unafraid of the long road ahead.
Because he knew Panli was walking by his side.
Thank you for making him unworried about the winding path.
Because he knows Panli is there to guide the way,
Thank you for giving him hope to reach the moon, Klai.
Because he knows Panli helps shorten the distance,
Thank you, my Moon:)
After finishing dinner, he and Panli stopped by a bookstore to stroll around for a bit. They talked and shared so much about their likes that they learned almost everything about each other in just a few hours. Klai had never talked this much with anyone before.
Panli was the first.
And probably the only one Klai wanted to talk to this much.
Even though they’d already discussed so much about their personal preferences, they continued the conversation after getting in the car. The traffic jam on the road was no longer boring because, even after being stuck for an hour, they kept talking endlessly.
“Panli, you probably like singing more than playing music, right?”
“Actually, I like them equally,” Panli said. “But lately, my seniors have been asking me to sing at the bar instead of the regular singer.”
“Like that day when you sang that sappy song?”
The person asked smiled faintly and nodded. “Yeah, that’s right.”
“You sang so beautifully that day, you know.”
“I can sing beautifully today too,” Panli said. “Want to hear, KhunKlai?”
Klai smiled and said, “Of course, puppy.”
“Then let me pick a song first,” Panli said, pulling out his phone to scroll. “This one’s good. I like it.”
The moment Moon looked up and met his eyes, a melody with piano accompaniment started playing. Klai had heard this song before. Back then, he thought he’d never have the chance to experience something like the song described, because someone who could make his life feel like that… had never come along.
“This man has only empty hands to reach for the stars for you, to go find them, as long as you’re by my side.”
Until Panli came into his life.
The hope that was like a flickering candle began to shine brighter…
“Can you give me your hand? I’ll take you across water and sand, to a faraway place we’ve never seen. You don’t need to worry or fear anything. Trust me, even if I have nothing to prove it, I… just need…”
“No matter how high the sky may be, hold my hand as tightly as you can. As long as Theerak keeps walking without stopping, we’ll walk together. Even if the storms come crashing in, even if we face a steep cliff… no matter what unexpected challenges we encounter, don’t let go of my hand.”
“…”
Klaijai smiled at his dear Moon, who was singing to him with such earnestness. He reached out to pat the other’s head encouragingly, and Moon grinned widely, still singing.
“Alright, let me pick a song first,” Panli said, pulling out his phone and tapping on it. “This one’s good. I like it.”
The next moment, as Moon looked up and met his eyes, a melody with piano accompaniment began to play. Klaijai had heard this song before. Back then, he thought he’d never have the chance to experience something like the song described, because someone who could make his life feel like this song… had never come along.
“This man has nothing but empty hands to reach for the stars for you. I’ll go find them, as long as you’re by my side.”
Until Panli entered his life.
The faint hope, like a flickering candle, began to shine brighter…
“Can you give me your hand? I’ll take you across the waters and sands, to a faraway place we’ve never seen. You don’t need to worry or fear anything. Trust that you’re with me. There may be nothing to prove it, but I… just ask…”
“...”
“No matter how high the sky is, hold my hand as tightly as you can. As long as Theerak keeps walking without stopping, we’ll keep walking together. Even if waves crash or we face steep cliffs… even if something unexpected happens, hold my hand and don’t let go.”
“…”
Klai smiled at Moon, who was earnestly singing to him, and reached out to pat his head encouragingly. Moon grinned widely, still singing.
Klai wasn’t sure if Panli chose this song to convey meaning through the lyrics or simply liked its melody. But whatever the reason, it made Klai feel warm and smile with all his heart.
“Even if something unexpected happens, hold my hand and don’t let go.”
As Panli finished the final verse, the smaller man pulled his hand from the soft hair and clapped. Moon flashed a bright smile before saying in a playful, pleading tone, “Can you reward this puppy with another head pat?”
The one being teased laughed softly, then rewarded the “puppy” by gently patting his head. “The puppy sings so beautifully.”
“Does you like this song?”
“I love it… I really love it.”
Panli gave a small smile and nodded lightly, seemingly satisfied with the answer. “I’ll sing it for you often, okay?”
“Mhm,” Klai replied, making an OK gesture. Moon laughed and grabbed his hand to hold it.
In that moment, as Panli held his hand, Klai thought of the song’s line…
“Even if something unexpected happens, hold my hand and don’t let go.”
And because of Moon’s smile and the firm grip of his large hand, Klai recalled another line…
“As long as Theerak keeps walking without stopping, we’ll keep walking together.”
Let’s keep walking together forever, Moon.
A pearl-white Benz sports car pulled into the condo’s parking lot. Once the car stopped, Klai unbuckled his seatbelt to get out. Panli handed him a yellow cloth bag that was resting on the armrest. Klai took it with a smile and said, “Thanks, puppy.”
“LINE me when you get to your room, okay? So I won’t worry.”
“Okay.”
“Klaijai…”
“…”
“Good night,” Panli said.
Even though Klai had heard Panli’s “good night” countless times, he never built immunity to it. He still felt shy every time.
“Good night to you too,” Klai replied.
“You’re welcome,” Panli said.
The smaller figure got out of the car, and as always, Moon turned on the car’s interior light, rolled down the window, and waved goodbye. Klai flashed a sweet smile at Moon one last time before the window slid shut. He watched as Moon’s car drove away from the condo.
And, as always…
Even after Moon was gone,
He left behind a lingering smile for Klai.
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