19. Zombie

"I became a zombie and there's nothing that can cure me. So, tomorrow I know I'll be just the same. You'll see me wishing to stop and close my eyes."- Zombie (english version) by Day6

•••

Something was missing from the large bedroom. This morning, when Bright woke up, he rolled his body on the bed to find his partner but the other side of the bed was empty. He forgot that Win came back to his parents' house.

Last night, Win sent Bright a voice note. He opened LINE only to replay it.

"I'm gonna sleep now, Phi. Good night."

Bright sighed. "Damn you, Ai Win. I'm lonely." He protested the voice note.

Bright planned to visit his office today and attend classes, whatever it was. He knew Win did not have schedule, so that young man would not go anywhere. He might be just sleep and eat at his bedroom, in his family house.

Each time Win went home, Bright did not know when the next time Win would stay overnight at his condo. That guy would visit surely, but rarely stay overnight. Even now, when they were in a relationship.

Bright reached GTV building at 10 AM. A group of his fellow actors was there, making a fuss about Tay who reconciled with New. They both was famous for behaving like a cat and dog as partners.

"You should not start a war anymore, Tay." Arm reminded him. "This is the longest cold war you have encountered."

"5 months." Off laughed at the fact. "Are you crazy? I thought you would not ever come back to him."

Tay did not defend himself because he knew it was true. Both his partner and him were stubborn.

"I also thought you were single." Bright rejoined the conversation and got a hit on his arm by Tay.

"Shut up and take care of your Nong Win." Tay said.

Bright clicked his tongue. "He is not with me right now." Bright got annoyed. It made people looked at him in surprise. "Why are you looking at me like that, Phi?"

"Break up?" Off was curious.

"There's no way, right, Ai Bright?" Arm ensured himself. "Are you guys fighting?"

"Huh? No way." Bright denied it immediately. "He is with his parents. He is going home."

"Ooooohhh..."

"Are you..." Tay suddenly said something that led Off, Arm, and Bright turned to him who was staring in shocked at the big television screen which was set on the wall. Every floor in that building had it. "...sure you are not breaking up?"

Bright followed where Tay was staring. The television aired entertainment news and showed a candid video and picture of Win with his ex girlfriend in a restaurant and department store. Another video was shooted when Win was opening the car door for her.

"The news is not true. She is Ai Win's ex girlfriend. I also met her yesterday." Bright mumbled as he read the headline: Win Metawin was spotted with his ex girlfriend shopping together yesterday afternoon. The news anchor statement led to the rumor of getting back together after few years.

"We know." Arm replied.

"It's all over twitter, too." Off informed as he scrolling down his phone, checking his social media.

Tay shook Bright's shoulder to divert his attention from the television. "Have you tried calling Nong?"

"I have not called him yet today."

"Call him now."

Bright took out his phone and called Win. He was not sure if it was the right thing. Primarily, he doubted Win had seen the news. That young man was not the type to check on social media every second. Besides, Win probably had not woken up yet.

"Halo."

Bright was startled for a second. His thoughts were all inaccurate. He was always so quick to collect himself, therefore he had no problem to talk to Win after startling. "Ai Win, where are you now?"

"In my bedroom khrab."

"Have you had breakfast?"

"Umm. Not long ago."

"I see. P'Ming cooked for you? She usually cooks for you when you are home, doesn't she?"

"Khrab, Phi..."

"If you are still tired, you can back to sleep after this na. I did not rep-"

"P'Bright," Win called his partner who was talking non stop. "You have seen the news, haven't you?"

Bright was stunned, thinking what to answer. Win had seen the news. "Yeah, I've seen it."

"Aren't you disappointed in me, Phi?"

Bright almost lost his words when he heard Win's voice quavering. Still, he answered Win smoothly. "No. Ai Win, you think too much."

"P'Day have called me and told me not to show up in public space for a week. They would call me later."

Bright wanted to punch the wall near him. That person moved faster than him. Now, Win felt that the situation out here was riotous. "That's the only solution they always give. Ai Win, liste-"

Too late. Win already hung up the phone. Bright confusedly glancing at Tay. His eyes became larger. "He cut me off, Phi."

Tay grinned. He could imagine what happened with Win. "Just go and meet him now."

"Can I meet with P'Day to start with?" Bright clenched his jaw. He was furious. "She told Win not to show up for a week. It surely gets my boy more insecure."

Off almost teased Bright but Arm immediately poked his stomach, so Off held back.

"You can't meet P'Day. She won't help you." Tay suggested. "Go to Nong Win now. He needs you."

"No." Bright rejected. "He doesn't want to talk to me. He even hung up my call."

Arm agreed. "He needs time."

Bright said yes with a nod. "I have music session to attend. I'll try to reach him again later." Bright walked away, leaving 3 seniors by themselves.

•

In the beginning of Win's career, Win received many criticism. He was told that he  did not fit for the role he was assigned to play. He went extra miles to meet everyone's expectation and the feedbacks were great. He built his career with his whole life, being guided by many people who were expert in the entertainment industry, including Bright who had been through many ups and downs in life. If this rumors destroyed it, Win did not only upset himself. He would let everyone who contributed in his success down.

What was Bright thinking about this? Win had this question in his head. Bright was relaxed earlier on the phone. He probably got used to this kind of rumors because he had been attacked multiple times by fans-turn-haters back then when he was still with his ex girlfriend. Before Win was in relationship with Bright, too, there were rumors that caused backlash. And the topic is quite similar, ex girlfriend.

Regardless of all that, Win was not ready to face Bright. Win thought, he himself was troublesome. Even without people out there knew Win was in a relationship with Bright, mass media would surely asked Bright about his opinion. After all, GTV still paired them in various events up till now, while they were hiding the relationship from public.

The night after the rumors blew up, Win was unable to sleep. He opened the bottom drawer of his bedside table and took out a bottle of sleeping pills. When he checked the expired date, it had been expired. Panic, Win got out of his bedroom.

Ming, who was still watching television in the living room with Mick, the youngest in the family, turned her head because of the noise caused by Win's rushing steps on the stairs. She got up from sofa immediately. "Nong Win, don't run on the stairs."

"P'Ming, it's expired khrab." Win showed the bottle to her. "It's expired."

Ming took the bottle and checked. "Yes, it is. What happened?"

"I need it."

Ming held her breath. She had ever seen Win miserable few years ago. She did not believe Win was down again this time. "We will see the doctor tomorrow, ok? You need new prescription, too. It's late, so I will make you a glass of warm milk na." Ming hugged her brother on his waist, took him upstairs, came back to his bedroom.

The theory said that warm milk would help people sleep better. Not because of the substances it had but because the warm milk might have psychological consequence. It might elicit the memories of home and childhood that help people to feel calm.

Whose theory was that? Win questioned himself as the warm milk did not work on him at all. His bedroom was all dark. Win hoped it would make his sleepy. Nothing worked. It was another hour of him wide awake inside the darkness.

Win tried shutting his eyes but the sound of bedroom door screeching successfully alarmed Win. When he turned his head to the door, he saw a shadow of a man. It was Mick checking on him.

Win closed his eyes again and let Mick climbed up the bed after the door was closed. As his younger brother moved smoothly to be closer to Win, Win noticed something.

The perfume.

The arms that reached him and gently caressed his hair.

Win tried to break loose when he realized the person was not Mick, but the man hushed him with a kiss on his forehead. Win's body tensed up. He did not want it.

"Ssssttt... It's time to sleep, Ai Win. Good night."

Win wanted to cry because those arms he wanted to reject were the arms which were giving him the warmth and comfort he needed the most now. In the embrace of an uninvited guest, Win fell asleep easily.

His P'Bright was here.

•••

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