Thame's family rushed into the hospital room where he was lying. Dylan hesitated at the doorway, unsure whether he should go in. Maybe he didn't know how to face Thame after everything. A single tear rolled down his right cheek, and Jun noticed it.
Without a word, Jun grabbed Dylan's hand and led him into the room.
Inside, Thame lay motionless, eyes open, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Thame, my child… you're awake," his mother sobbed, rushing to his side. His father gently held her, trying to calm her trembling body.
"We missed you so much, Thame. Don't leave us like this," his father said, his voice breaking.
"Of course, he's not allowed to do that to us ever again," Nano added, smiling brightly—always trying to bring light in the darkest moments.
"Mae… did I miss dinner?" Thame tried to grin, his voice barely above a whisper. His mother shook her head through her tears and kissed his forehead.
"We saved everything for you."
"I even brought your favorite car model, but… You didn't come home to unbox it," his father said, voice cracking.
"Thank you, Pho. You're always the best," Thame whispered.
Then his gaze slowly shifted to Jun, who stood frozen, speechless.
"You scared me, idiot."
"You missed me?" Thame teased.
"I missed hitting you," Jun replied, trying to sound playful, but his voice cracked.
Thame tried to laugh, but the pain made him wince. Jun immediately leaned in, panic on his face.
"Don't laugh," Jun said, clearly worried.
Thame looked at Pepper and Nano. "Ohhh, you guys are here instead of studying, huh?" he smiled.
"Don't nag us, Thame," Pepper huffed playfully, "But seriously, how do you still look so handsome even while lying in a hospital bed?"
Thame chuckled softly.
"We missed you, Phi Thame," Nano said quietly.
"Me too, na," Thame replied with a faint smile.
Then his gaze stopped at Dylan. His expression softened.
"Dylan," Thame said, and just that one word made Dylan break down in tears.
"Why are you crying?" Thame asked, trying to keep his voice steady. "You're the coolest, toughest person I've ever known."
Dylan wanted to speak. He wanted to say so much—apologize for everything, beg him not to leave, confess how much he needed him—but nothing came out. His chest ached. All he could do was cry at the sound of Thame's voice, calling his name again.
"I love you, Dylan," Thame said, his voice cracking. "Don't ever think I stopped loving you. Not after the fights, not after anything. My love never changed. It never will."
"I…" Dylan wiped his tears. "I'm sorry, Thame, I—"
"You're the best partner I've ever had," Thame interrupted, gently. "I know you love me. And what relationship doesn't have fights?" His voice began to shake, and a tear slid down his cheek. "I don't know how much time I have left… but I needed you to hear this. I love you. And none of this is your fault. It's not because of you. It was just an accident."
"Thame, don't say that," Dylan begged, trying to steady his voice. "You're not leaving me again. You can't. I don't care how—just don't. I can't live without you. Please, Thame, I'll do anything. Just… stay. Stay with me. Please."
"I wish I could stay."
"Thame—"
"I love you."
And with that, the room fell into silence.
The only sound was the steady, high-pitched whine of the monitor, its screen now showing a single, flat line.
Thame was gone.
The steady beep of the machine was replaced by silence.
Jun's shoulders shook as silent tears fell. He didn't know how to comfort Dylan; he barely knew how to comfort himself.
Dylan sank to his knees beside the bed, staring at the empty ceiling where Thame's eyes had once shone.
"I-I'm sorry," Dylan whispered brokenly, his voice cracking. "I should've been better. I should've been there."
Thame's mom clutched her husband's hand, their breaths uneven, the weight of the loss crashing over them.
Nano wiped his eyes and looked away, trying to hold the pieces together, but the pain was too much.
The doctor came into the room to perform defibrillation, but everyone knew it was the end.
"I am sorry," the doctor said quietly before stepping out to give the family some private space.
"It can't be true. My child can't die like this. He hadn't even unboxed the gift you got for him. He didn't even compliment me on the dish I made. He can't leave us like this." Thame's mother slipped into shock, crying uncontrollably in her husband's arms. Though he tried to stay strong for her, tears streamed down his face — someone had to be the pillar now.
Dylan didn't glance at Thame's body. He quietly got up and left the room.
Jun sat down beside Thame, gently covering his body with a shroud, crying silently.
Nano and Pepper helped Thame's mother drink water and try to calm her trembling.
Dylan went up to the rooftop, looked at the sky, and screamed in anguish.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Thame, you bastard! How could you leave us like this? You had a family who loved you so much, and you still left us. You're so selfish. How could you do this to them?"
Dylan sat on his knees, crying and screaming his heart out.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't reasonable. I know I'm a scumbag, but please don't punish me like this, Thame. I love you. I'm sorry I never told you enough. You always put in so much effort, and I always disappointed you. But don't do this to me, to your family, your friends, to Jun — he loves you so much. You're lucky to have Jun as a brother."
Jun climbed the stairs to the rooftop, drawn by the sound of Dylan's desperate screams. He found Dylan on his knees, head tilted back, pouring all his pain into the daylight.
Jun's throat tightened. For a long moment, he just watched, feeling helpless and broken.
Then, his own emotions broke free.
With a raw, guttural scream, Jun threw his head back and let the frustration, guilt, and heartbreak pour out loud and fierce.
"Why, Thame?! Why did you have to go?!"
His voice echoed into the sky, a fierce release of everything he'd been holding inside.
Tears streamed down Jun's face as he sank to the ground beside Dylan, who was still trembling with grief.
Jun's voice cracked as he whispered, "I'm so sorry, Thame. I should've done more. I should've saved you…"
He looked over at Dylan, who met his eyes, and for the first time in days, they let themselves feel the weight, not alone, but together.
One year after Thame's passing, a quiet memorial event was held in the park near Thame's home. People gather to honor him. Dylan stands alone near a tree, watching the small crowd from afar. Jun arrives with a few family members but spots Dylan and hesitates.
The way he stood apart from everyone, shoulders tight, eyes distant. It was like looking at a ghost.
Jun's heart hammered, but he didn't move forward. Not yet.
Dylan's eyes flicked over the crowd, then caught Jun's from across the clearing. For a long moment, neither moved.
Jun swallowed hard, gave a small nod — a quiet greeting, no words.
Dylan hesitated. Then nodded back, his voice rough and low, "Jun."
Jun's throat tightened. "Hey."
Neither said more.
They both knew there was a mountain of things left unsaid. But neither was ready to climb it.
Jun glanced at the small altar set up with photos and flowers, then back at Dylan.
"Are you okay?" Jun asked quietly.
Dylan's lips pressed together. "I don't think I'll ever be 'okay.' I just… live around it now."
Jun nodded slowly.
"I didn't mean to disappear," Dylan admitted, voice barely a whisper.
Jun shook his head. "You didn't owe me anything. You needed space. I got that."
"And how can you still care about me?" Dylan let out a low, almost fake, chuckle.
" And why shouldn't I care?"
"I disappear on you when you did so much for me. You lost your brother, but still, at the rooftop you came to me to calm me, When thame was in coma you were there for me, always when I should be there for you, I should be the one to care of you, you lost your brother but still you managed to handle yourself, me and your family, you-"
"Maybe because I do care about you and we both were suffering from the same thing, I won't blame you, I undrstand."
A brief, fragile silence.
"I… I guess this is the first time we've talked since—"
"Since everything," Dylan finished for him, eyes not leaving the ground.
Jun looked up, taking in the heaviness in Dylan's posture.
"I'm glad you're here," Jun said softly.
Dylan looked at him, eyes filled with tears, "Thanks for everything."
The crowd around them started to stir, moving toward the ceremony.
Jun gave Dylan one last uncertain glance before stepping back into the crowd.
Dylan watched him go, feeling something he hadn't felt in a long time: a small flicker of connection.
Dylan stood there for a few moments, then walked back to his car. He was about to open the door when a familiar voice broke through the silence.
"You're leaving early," Jun said, standing behind him.
Dylan didn't turn around.
"I think I should get back to my apartment before I start crying my eyes out. Otherwise, it'll be hard to drive."
"You still haven't moved on."
"Neither have you," Dylan said, his voice cracking.
"I'll drive you home."
"No need, I am not crying right now, I can still drive also, how will you come back?"
"You have tears in your eyes, don't lie" Jun continued, "Dylan... please."
Dylan nodded and slipped into the passenger seat. Jun slid into the driver's seat beside him.
The drive was quiet but comforting. Jun wanted to say so many things, but just being beside Dylan felt like enough for now. He had liked Dylan for a long time — even before Dylan and Thame got together. When he found out they were dating, he quietly removed himself from Dylan's life. He knew Thame loved Dylan deeply, and Jun loved Thame enough to let go.
Jun pulled up in front of an ice cream parlour.
"Why are we here?" Dylan asked, confused.
"You love ice cream, don't you?" Jun replied, grabbing his wallet and stepping out of the car. Dylan followed him.
"You still remember?"
"One strawberry and one Belgian chocolate, please," Jun told the server, then turned to Dylan, who stood there, stunned. "Do you want anything else?" he asked gently.
"You even remember the flavor I like?" Dylan said, raising an eyebrow.
Jun smiled and handed him the strawberry cone.
"Of course. We used to be besties, remember?"
"Umm... yeah," Dylan said softly, taking a small bite of his ice cream.
After a week, Jun invited Dylan to his house. He wasn't sure whether to go there or not. he still thought Thame's death was his fault, and facing Thame's parents like this, it's not good. He didn't dare to face them after all this, but Jun, he's a real stubborn one, Thame's big brother indeed. He picked Dylan up and made him come to the house.
Jun wanted Dylan to feel good for once. His family doesn't live here, his boyfriend, Thame, is gone...forever, and he rarely makes friends or hangs out with anyone. He just locked himself in the room and stayed like that for god knows how many days. Jun was worried, so making him have dinner with Thame and his parents was a good option, not like their parents had a problem with it. It was all just in Dylan's crazy head.
So here he was, in front of the main gate of Jun's home, with Jun beside him.
"Let's go," Jun said with a warm smile.
"Do you really think I should go-" Before Dylan could complete, Jun's large hands grabbed his hands and dragged him through the gate.
"Yes, of course, Mae misses you so much, you know, you used to come here a lot."
"With Thame, but now it's different, I don't even know if they want to see my face again after what I have done."
"You have done nothing, Dylan, Nothing, and Mae and Pho don't blame you for anything."
Dylan wanted to argue, but he couldn't form any sentence on time, and by the time he was standing in the living room.
"Dylan, child." Mae came to hug Dylan tightly, "I have missed you so much. why didn't you visit me?"
"Mae.." Dylan's eyes got teary again. "Mae, aren't you upset with me?"
"I can never be upset with you, Dylan. You are like my third child, but the most mature and strongest one." Mae kisses Dylan's forehead and gives him a warm smile
"Hooo Mae, what about me? Aren't I the mature and stronger one?" Jun pouted playfully.
"You are too, but Dylan is more," Mae said
"Mae, I am sorry," Dylan cried.
"If you are sorry about Thame...don't be, I am not mad at you. But if you are sorry about not visiting me at all this year, I am really mad." Mae hugged him tightly, hiding her tears. Jun just watches them, it's like a family, but... He didn't wanna think further.
"I am sorry for everything, Mae," Dylan continued to cry, "I am sorry."
"Don't cry Dylan, Just remember I am your Mae, you can come with me anytime you want, You are my child and I love you so much" Mae said wiping away the tears on Dylan's face, "Come on, dinner is ready, I have made your favourite Tom yum goong"
"Thank you, Mae," Dylan said finally as he stopped his cry and followed Jun and Mae to the dining table
"Jun's father isn't home; he has some work to do, so he won't have dinner with us."
"Pho always comes late. He doesn't have time now," Jun complains as he serves Dylan the dish without anyone noticing
"Let him be. He just wanted to busy himself. That will keep him distracted," Mae smiled.
They all had a nice, cheerful dinner, which made Dylan smile at least. The laughter of the home was gone, but they still had to smile for Thame. Who always likes to make everyone smile.
After the dinner, they sat on the sofas in the living room, talking about everything.
"Dylan, you can crash here. It's late and dangerous." Mae said
"Mae, I don't wanna trouble you," Dylan said
"You are not troubling anyone, also you have stayed here for like a million times, it's not a big deal," Jun said, wrapping his arms around Dylan's shoulder, telling him it's okay.
"I... will stay then," Dylan said with an awkward but comfortable smile.
They were sitting on the floor of Jun's living room, sorting through a dusty old box of Thame's things, mostly his favourite band posters, an old helmet, broken earbuds, and a ridiculous collection of keychains that made no sense.
Dylan picked up one keychain, a glittery avocado wearing sunglasses, and blinked at it.
"Why... why did he even keep this?" he asked, completely serious.
Jun glanced at it, then burst out laughing.
It was sudden, raw, and completely unexpected. His shoulders shook, and his hand flew to his mouth like he was trying to stop it, but he couldn't.
Dylan blinked at him. "What? What's so funny?"
Jun tried to talk through his laughter. "He used to pretend it was his 'lucky charm' before big performances. Once, he kissed it before a race and dropped it down in the mud. He cried for hours."
That image, Thame, dramatically crying over a glittery avocado, hit Dylan so hard, he couldn't help it.
He laughed.
A real one after so many months.
And for a second, it felt okay.
But then, silence.
Jun's laughter died down, and Dylan's smile faded too. The quiet between them turned heavy again.
"Is it… wrong?" Dylan asked softly, eyes lowered. "To laugh?"
Jun shook his head slowly, voice quiet. "No. I think… I think Thame would've wanted us to. He was annoying like that."
Dylan chuckled again, just once, his chest aching in a new way, less like loss, more like warmth.
They sat in the quiet for a while, both still processing the strange peace that laughter brought.
Then Jun whispered, "I've missed hearing that sound from you."
Dylan didn't answer.
But he reached out, not for anything dramatic, to lightly touch Jun's hand.
And Jun didn't pull away.