Close to You

The following weekend, William had planned something special for Est a date at the park by the lake, one of the quieter places in the city where the sounds of the hustle and bustle of Bangkok could be drowned out by nature.

It wasn't like William to plan something overly extravagant. Instead, he had opted for something simple, intimate, just the two of them no distractions, just time to be together.

Est hadn't been expecting anything extravagant either. He wasn't one to enjoy big crowds or attention, so the idea of spending a peaceful day away from everything sounded perfect.

As William pulled up to the park and parked the car, he glanced over at Est, who had been unusually quiet during the drive. "You okay?" William asked, his voice gentle.

Est nodded, but there was a faint blush on his cheeks. "Yeah... just not used to things being so... calm, I guess. I'm usually busy with swimming or school."

"I get that," William said, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "But sometimes, it's nice to slow down, even just for a little while."

Est returned the smile, his gaze flickering to the park outside. The green fields and the shimmering lake in the distance made him feel a sense of peace he hadn't realized he needed. "This place looks beautiful," he murmured, as if to himself.

William nodded in agreement. "It is. And it's quiet just us and the lake."

They both stepped out of the car, and William gently took Est's hand, leading him toward the lakeside. The path was lined with trees, their leaves rustling gently in the wind. The air felt crisp, the sunlight casting soft shadows on the ground.

They found a secluded spot near the water's edge, where a bench sat under the shade of a large willow tree. The view was perfect a calm lake surrounded by lush greenery, with a few birds fluttering above.

William sat down first, patting the space next to him. "Come on, Est. Let's sit."

Est hesitated for a moment, his eyes scanning the peaceful scene before he sat beside William, just a little too close for his usual comfort but close enough that he could feel William's presence beside him. There was something about being here with William that made him feel both grounded and elated at the same time.

They sat in silence for a few moments, listening to the soft lapping of the water against the shore. Then, without thinking too much, William reached for Est's hand, intertwining their fingers gently. His thumb brushed over Est's knuckles, a comforting, steady motion. Est felt his heart rate pick up slightly, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he leaned a little closer, their shoulders brushing.

Est's voice was low, almost as if he were speaking to himself. "I didn't think I'd be able to relax like this. I guess I've been so caught up in everything, I forgot how nice it is just to be... here. With you."

William's heart warmed at Est's words. He had always known Est was a quiet, reserved person, but hearing him speak so openly meant a lot more than he let on. "I'm glad you're here. I wanted to do something for you," William said softly, looking out at the lake.

Est turned his head slightly, meeting William's gaze. "You didn't have to. I'm already happy."

A smile tugged at William's lips as he squeezed Est's hand. "Yeah, well, it's nice to be able to do something for you, too."

Est's heart fluttered at the way William spoke to him, so gently, so genuinely. He hadn't been used to someone caring this much, not without strings attached, not expecting anything in return. And yet, with William, it was different. It was simple. It was enough.

They sat there for a while, enjoying the peace of the moment, watching as a few boats drifted across the lake. The world felt so far away, and it was easy to forget about everything that had happened before about the doubts, the worries, the unspoken tension between them.

After a while, William stood up and offered Est his hand. "Come on. Let's take a walk by the water."

Est took William's hand, standing up slowly. As they walked along the shoreline, the conversation flowed easily between them, more natural than it had been in a while. They talked about everything and nothing about the weather, about their favorite books, about their childhoods, about silly things that made them laugh.

And yet, in the middle of their light conversation, there was an underlying sense of something deeper a connection that both of them had been slowly coming to understand.

William stopped walking suddenly, pulling Est to a halt with him. "I know this is a bit sudden," William said, his voice quieter now, "but... I want you to know that I really like you. A lot. More than I thought I'd let myself."

Est's breath caught in his throat. His heart was pounding now, and the air between them suddenly felt electric. He hadn't expected William to say something like that, not in such a straightforward way. But the sincerity in his eyes made it impossible to doubt.

"I like you a lot too," Est admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked down at their intertwined hands, suddenly shy. "I just... wasn't sure if you meant it. You know, with everything going on."

William cupped Est's cheek gently, lifting his face so that their eyes met. "I mean it," he said, his voice steady, his gaze unwavering. "I've never been more certain of anything. I want to be with you, Est. I don't care about the rest of the world or what anyone else thinks. Just you and me."

Est's breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say. His mind raced, but his heart... his heart was steady. He didn't need any more words. He didn't need anything more than this moment.

With a soft, tentative smile, Est stepped closer, his lips brushing against William's in a gentle kiss. It wasn't rushed or forced; it was slow, almost hesitant, as if both of them were savoring every second.

When they pulled apart, their foreheads rested against each other, and Est smiled softly. "I want this too. I want us."

And for the first time, Est felt like he had found exactly where he was meant to be.