"You sure you ate enough?"

"Yeah."

"I looked at your plate. It doesn't look that way to me."

"Don't want to eat a lot. I might end up throwing up in the plane anyway."

Ruan is finally going back, and no matter how much Sasin tries to keep his mind at bay...

Three knocks on the bathroom door. "Sir?" Aries, Sasin's ex-Personal Assistant, called out after reading the time on his wristwatch. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I think we have to go."

The college student speed-brushed his teeth while Sasin plainly watched him drown in his gargling water.

The raven-haired continued to follow Ruan from behind as the latter checked every room to see if he's forgetting any of his belongings.

"This is making me dizzy, Ruan."

"Who told you to keep following me?"

Aries was waiting by the car when they went outside the lodge.

"Don't forget to wear your seatbelts, Sirs."

By the time they arrived at the airport, the flight number Ruan's a part of is already being paged. Ruan started to walk in big steps, overshining the two who have slightly shorter legs.

Hey, wait up...

He sees Ruan's back move away from him. Farther... Farther... His breathing hitched.

"Well," Ruan stops walking and faces them with a tiny smile, "I have to go."

He is finally going back, and no matter how much Sasin tries to keep his tears at bay...

"It was fun being with you," Ruan reveals, and Sasin's dam isn't holding well. "Take care, Sas."

He couldn't.

"Take care, Ruancompoop," he reciprocates, eyes turning glassy.

When Sasin thought that was that, he is proved wrong when Ruan pulls him in for a longing embrace. Little did Sasin know, so much was going on inside Ruan's head in that ephemeral cradle.

Should I go?

Should I leave?

What if I don't see him again?

They lasted for a minute before Sasin pulls away, saying "Go. Leave."

Ruan chuckled, ignoring his heavy legs. "Alright," he spares Aries an entrusting grin then back to Sasin. "I'll get going, then," he bade then walked forward.

One step, two steps, three steps - It wasn't even four steps yet when he turned around and threw something at his direction. Thankfully, he was able to catch it.

When he opened his hand, his felt his chest tighten.

A ring.

When he looked back up, he saw Ruan flicked the same kind of ring which he is wearing in his necklace before mouthing the words, "I'll see you again."

💬

Message from: Sasin Young

My flight's today.

Ruan chokes on his food. His mother noticed this and scolded him for using his phone while eating before giving him a bottle of water. He drinks it then says his thanks before going back to looking at his phone. "Took you long enough."'

Two weeks have passed, and Sasin still hasn't returned due to unprecedented, continuous flight postponements and health checkups. The college student, still waiting for summer classes to begin, decided to visit his mother in his hometown and finally tell her the truth. True to form, his mother expressed her disappointment. Nonetheless, she was relieved to know that her son is brave enough to tell her about it after hiding it for three years.

Like a big thorn plucked from his chest, he started breathing a little better.

Message to: Sasin Young

Alright. Have a safe flight.

And of course, because Sasin's coming back, he's going back to the city despite not knowing if he can meet the businessman within the day.

Picking up his car key from the table, he finds his mother watching the television. Ruan averts his gaze from her direction to the front door.

"Mum, I'm leaving. I'll be back this weekend."

"Alright. Be careful on the road."

He snorted upon recalling his reply to Sasin. Must be genetic.

As he started the engine of the car he bought just recently, his free hand felt the ring on his necklace. Heart thumping hard and loud, he couldn't bring himself to break a smile.

"Flight number NH7501* If I'm wrong..." Buzz. His thoughts were discarded when he felt his phone vibrate. He quickly fumbled and drew the device from the pocket of his letterman jacket and saw an unregistered number calling. He answers the call with a grain of salt.

[Ruan Sanchez, right?]

"Yes."

[This is President Lee.]

His grip on the steering wheel slackened, and as if his other arm suddenly lost strength, it sagged like a doll's on his side. Phone falling from his grasp, he doesn't heart the person on the other line say...