Love's Gentle Caress

Than and Achara sat by the shore, the tranquil sounds of waves embracing their conversation.Glancing at her, Than inquired, "What's on your mind?"Achara, her gaze lost in the horizon, pondered for a moment. "When my brother and P.Nil reunite, we'll finally return home. Once there, the first thing I want to savor is my mother's Tom Yum Goong, the perfect blend of spice and flavor, and her exquisite Som Tam, the Spicy Green Papaya Salad." Than, gazing at Achara, questioned their future, "Now, what?" he inquired, a subtle roll of his eyes.Achara, her eyelashes lowered, responded, "Um, Thann, what about us?"As Than contemplated his reply, Kim's insistent calls interrupted the moment. Attempting to evade, Than feigned a network issue, bringing a wry smile to Achara's face. However, Kim persisted, compelling Than to disconnect the call abruptly.Achara, slightly annoyed, prepared to leave, but Than halted her with a gentle grip on her hand. Without hesitation, he tossed his phone into the ocean. Achara, startled, exclaimed, "Ahhh, Than, you threw your phone!""I can't let anyone meddle with us, not even my phone," Than asserted.As the minutes passed, the sky transformed, transitioning from orange-yellow to flamboyant pink. The sun, a golden disc, touched the ocean's surface, racing to vanish behind the horizon.Kneeling in the sand, Than held Achara's hand gently and asked, "Would you like to be the mother of my would-be child?"Achara, astounded, questioned, "What?"With a trembling voice, Than confessed, "I love you..."Their hearts echoed loudly, and with a myriad of lights in her eyes, Achara joyfully replied, "Yes." Than pulled her close, and amid the million last rays of the sun and the melody of the ocean, they shared a tender kiss.Lava, seething with anger, discovered that Nil and Stranger were together in a beachside hotel, recalling Nil's earlier challenge that she could never succeed in separating them. In a hoarse and furious tone, she muttered to herself,"You were right, Nil. I can't tear you and Kao apart. However, I won't let you stay together. I didn't want to resort to this, but you've left me no choice. You have to die, Nil. You have to die!''Driven by an obsessive desire to claim Stranger, she saw him more as a trophy than a love interest, a prize she intended to wrest from Nil at any cost. Determined to eliminate the perceived obstacle, she hired Bangkok's top contract killer. Providing a substantial sum of 50,000 baht up front, with a promise of more upon completion, Lava handed over Nil's photo and instructed the assassin to carry out the task. The contract killer, armed with a sharp weapon, proceeded to the specified address. Lava, concealed behind the cover of a deep forest, patiently awaited the opportune moment, planning to strike when Nil emerged onto the balcony.Nil and Stranger embraced one another, reclining on the bed in an intimate tableau. Nil rested his head on Stranger's bare chest, his finger trailing down from Stranger's forehead to his lips. In a playful moment, Stranger bit Nil's finger, prompting an exclamation."Ouchhh, Strangerr."With a chuckle, Stranger queried, "What?"Nil, lifting his head lightly from Stranger's chest, looked at him. "Stranger, you said if I'm in pain, you feel it."Stranger smiled, replying, "So you should feel the same way when you treat me like that, how I feel then."Hearing him, Nil gently placed his head back on Stranger's chest and hugged him. "Strangerrr."With a hand on Nil's head, Stranger responded, "Hmmm.""Sorry," Nil apologized. "I shouldn't behave like this.""Sorry too," Stranger reciprocated. "Even I shouldn't treat you like this."Abruptly, Nil glanced at Stranger's chest. "What are you looking at?""You don't have a single hair on your chest," Nil observed.Stranger responded, "Umm, so what?""In our country, everyone believes that someone with chest hair loves their partner very much.""Then I will grow it for you and make you believe I am the only one who can love you most," declared Stranger.Laughing, Nil reassured him, "You don't need to do this."Stranger questioned, "Why?""You look so handsome when you smile, but you looked even more handsome when you were angry at me, like a Greek god."Smiling again, Stranger inquired, "What?""Then promise me that next time, if you have any misunderstanding, talk to me. This time, somehow I managed to live, but next time I..."Nil interrupted with a finger on his lips, "I promise, and don't talk about life or death. We'll live together.""Umm.""Strangerrr, you hugged me so tightly. Please make it loose.""No, I will not. I don't know why, but I am feeling the next day I am going to lose something," admitted Stranger, his eyes filled with tears.Nil wiped away his tears. "Don't worry this time. Even if you let me go, I won't let you go.""Promise?""A million times over."After a while, Nil kept his head on Stranger's chest, and with a hand on his head, Stranger suggested, "Nilll, it's too late. Let's eat something first.""Stranger, I want to be with you for a while longer.""So, we'll stay like this, Nil, but eat something at least," insisted Stranger.As Stranger prepared to leave the bed, Nil tightened his embrace. Stranger tried to speak, but Nil interjected, "Strangerrrr, if you get out of bed, don't talk to me anymore."Initially, Stranger made a face, but he smiled again. Kissing Nil on the head, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.Now, they were in a deep slumber, wrapped in the serenity of their love.Amidst the quietude, Achara and Than found a tranquil respite on the bench. Than cradled Achara's head gently against his shoulder, his gaze fixed upon her with unwavering tenderness. The moonlight painted a soft glow on their peaceful tableau, encapsulating a moment suspended in the delicate dance of dreams.