All the Ways I Undid Us

Dinner had been loud and full of laughter. Everyone was glowing from the firelight and warm friendship, for the most part. Klao had barely touched his food, and his hand never stopped nervously brushing his pocket.

Warich had noticed but said nothing. He'd been sulking for most of the day, but didn't want to ruin the fun for his friends, so he went along with everyone else.

After the dishes were cleared, Klao came to stand by Warich, his cheeks pink and eyes soft as he reached for his boyfriend's hand. "Come here for a second."

Warich wasn't sure what was going on and didn't protest. He let himself be led toward the center of the circle where their friends sat, tipsy and curious. The air shifted when Klao dropped down to one knee.

Half-drunken gasps and squeals erupted. Someone whispered, "Oh my god!"

Klao smiled, feeling nervous. "I know we don't talk about these things much," he began, his voice trembling just enough for Warich to catch. "But I love you. And I want this with you. A future. I think I'm mature enough to be ready for this." He pulled out a ring box and opened it. "Will you marry me?"

And for a couple of agonizing seconds, Warich said nothing.

The fire popped behind them. Someone giggled, filling the silence with their own discomfort.

Then Warich gave a tight smile and nodded. "Sure." It was the kind of yes that left an emotional bruise. Klao felt it deep inside but chose to ignore it.

Their friends cheered and applauded. Everyone hugged and blurry photos were taken. Klao looked dazed, almost like he couldn't believe his luck.

💔

Later that night, everyone headed off to their tents. Warich was already pulling off his sweater when Klao walked in behind him. He didn't bother turning around.

"So," Klao started softly, "you didn't like it."

Warich paused mid-movement and scoffed. "Is that what this is now? Reading my mind?"

Klao sat down on the sleeping mat, "You didn't smile..."

"I said yes, didn't I?"

"You said 'sure,' like it was a chore."

That made Warich turn. His eyes flashed in the dim light. "What did you expect me to do, Klao? Cry? Hug you in front of everyone like we're in some K-drama scene?"

"I expected you to be honest."

"Honest?" Warich laughed, sharp and bitter. "You put me on the spot in front of all our friends, who happened to be drunk. You didn't even talk to me about marriage first. What was I supposed to say? 'No, thank you'? Make you look like an idiot instead?"

Klao flinched.

Warich kept going. "You're not mature at all. You think that just because you work at Daddy's company that you're ready for real responsibilities? You couldn't even plan the proposal right. Everyone's drunk and probably won't remember a thing. Sitting around a campfire isn't even romantic. You didn't check. You assumed. And now I'm the bad guy because I didn't play along exactly the way you wanted me to?"

Klao stood up, slow and careful. His fists clenched in pain and anger. His face was unreadable. "I asked you because I love you. I thought that meant something."

"It does," Warich said, suddenly exhausted. "But love doesn't mean I'm ready to get married. Not like this."

"Then why did you say yes?"

"Because you cornered me, Klao," Warich said finally. "You embarrassed me."

There it was. The words settled heavily between them. Warich watched as Klao's face changed from angry, to sad, to... hollow.

"I didn't mean to do that," Klao said quietly. "I thought you'd be happy."

"Well, I wasn't."

Klao nodded once, the motion mechanical. He turned around and reached for the zipper of the tent.

"Now where are you going?"

"Just out," Klao mumbled. He fought back tears he didn't want Warich to see. "Need air."

"Klao -"

"Don't," Klao said. "You said all that you needed to say."

And then Klao was gone, the flap of the tent settling shut behind him. Warich sat on the floor of the tent, silence pressing from all sides. He took off the ring Klao had handed him, set it gently beside the pillow, and stared at it for a long, long time. He hadn't thrown it. He hadn't even said he didn't love him. But somehow, he knew that this was the moment he made Klao regret loving him.