For several seconds, she simply stood there holding the phone tightly.

Silent.

Frozen.

Ananya slowly walked toward her.

“What did he say?”

Ploy tried to smile.

Failed immediately.

“He wants to discuss my future.”

The word future suddenly sounded like a threat.

Ananya’s chest tightened painfully.

Because both of them already understood what this meant.

Marriage.

Family expectations.

Control.

Separation.

Fear quietly entered the room again.

—

Ploy sat down slowly near the window while rubbing her forehead weakly.

Ananya knelt beside her carefully.

“You don’t have to go immediately.”

Ploy laughed softly without happiness.

“If I ignore him now, things will become worse.”

Ananya hated how true that sounded.

For a moment, neither spoke.

The café that felt warm and magical only minutes ago now felt painfully fragile again.

Like happiness had an expiration time.

Ploy suddenly whispered,

“I don’t want to leave this place today.”

Ananya’s heart cracked quietly.

She gently held Ploy’s hand.

Warm.

Familiar.

Comforting.

“I know.”

Ploy looked at their intertwined fingers silently.

Then softly—

“When I’m with you, I forget how exhausting life feels.”

Ananya looked away immediately because tears threatened again.

God.

Why did love become more painful the deeper it grew?

—

A little later, Ploy stood near the café entrance preparing to leave.

Neither girl moved properly.

Neither knew how to say goodbye anymore.

Because every goodbye now carried fear underneath it.

Ploy adjusted the sleeves of Ananya’s oversized hoodie she still wore.

“I’m stealing this.”

Ananya smiled weakly.

“You already emotionally stole everything else.”

For the first time since the phone call—Ploy laughed softly.

Small.

Beautiful.

Necessary.

She stepped closer slowly.

Very close.

Close enough that Ananya could hear her breathing.

Then quietly—

“If things become difficult…”

Ploy’s voice trembled slightly.

“…promise me you won’t push me away to protect me.”

Ananya’s expression broke immediately.

Because deep inside—that was exactly what she had already been thinking.

Sacrifice.

Distance.

Protecting Ploy from pain.

Ploy noticed the silence instantly.

“You were thinking about it.”

Ananya looked down.

“I just don’t want your life destroyed because of me.”

Ploy gently lifted Ananya’s chin carefully.

“No.”

Tears filled her eyes again.

“Don’t turn our love into something guilty.”

That sentence hit deeply.

Painfully deeply.

Because everything about them had always been respectful.

Gentle.

Careful.

Pure.

So why did the world make it feel forbidden?

Ananya finally whispered weakly,

“I’m scared.”

Ploy’s expression softened immediately.

“So am I.”

Then after a pause—

“But I still love you.”

Simple words.

Yet they carried the weight of entire storms.

Ananya closed her eyes briefly as tears escaped again.

Ploy smiled sadly.

“You really cry a lot around me.”

“You ruined my emotional stability.”

“I’m honored.”

Despite everything, Ananya laughed softly through tears.

Ploy memorized that sound quietly.

As if her heart already feared losing it someday.

—

Outside, Bangkok skies remained grey after the storm.

Ploy finally stepped toward her car reluctantly.

Before opening the door, she turned back one last time.

Ananya still stood beneath the café lights watching her.

The sight hurt Ploy emotionally.

Because suddenly—she realized this place had become home too.

Not the café.

Ananya.

Always Ananya.

Ploy walked back toward her impulsively.

Before fear could stop her.

Before reality interrupted again.

And gently—carefully—she wrapped her arms around Ananya one more time.

Tightly.

Like someone trying to memorize warmth.

Ananya immediately held her back just as tightly.

Neither spoke.

Words suddenly felt too small for emotions this heavy.

Then softly against her shoulder, Ploy whispered:

“I don’t know what’s waiting for us.”

Ananya closed her eyes painfully.

“Me neither.”

“But whatever happens…”

Ploy’s voice cracked slightly.

“…meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

That sentence shattered Ananya completely.

Tears rolled silently down her cheeks while holding her closer.

Because deep inside—she already feared the next chapter of their lives would ask them to choose between love and family.

And some choices break hearts no matter what answer you give.

—

That evening, Ploy drove toward her family mansion alone.

Bangkok lights blurred through tears she could no longer hide.

Meanwhile, back inside the quiet café—Ananya stood near the window clutching the tiny stuffed rabbit from the night market tightly against her chest.

As if holding onto it could somehow hold onto happiness too.

And somewhere between love, fear, family, and fate—both girls silently realized:

The hardest part of their story was only beginning.