WHILE THE WORLD ISN’T WATCHING

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CHAPTER 5 — A NIGHT IN HUA HIN

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The fifth day started later than usual.
The night before, they had stayed up late reviewing the photographs they had taken during the trip.
Some had turned out perfect. Others were blurry.
One had even captured Boom making such a strange expression that Smart had spent several minutes laughing every time he looked at it.
—That one can't stay —Boom protested. —That's precisely why it has to stay. —Smart. —It's historical.
Boom ended up laughing too.
After carefully putting the photographs away, they stayed up talking until sleep finally got the better of them.
The next morning, Boom slowly opened his eyes.
Smart was still sleeping next to him.
Boom watched him for a few seconds before speaking.
—Smart. —Mmm... —Wake up.
Smart barely moved.
—Five minutes.
Boom smiled.
—You always say that. —Because it works. —Not today.
Boom opened the curtains and let the light in.
Smart covered his face with the pillow.
—You're cruel. —And you're lazy.
Smart finally sat up.
—What do you want to do?
Boom thought about it for a moment.
—I want to go out. —Where to? —To the beach.
Smart immediately lifted his head.
—To the beach? —Yes.
A smile appeared on his face.
—Then I have a condition.
Boom looked at him.
—What is it?
Smart pointed at the camera sitting on the table.
—She comes with us.
Boom let out a small chuckle. —Obviously.
A couple of hours later, they were already in Smart's car.
Both of them were wearing comfortable clothes, caps, and everything they needed to spend the day out.
The camera was with them, ready to capture any spontaneous moment along the way.
During one of the stops, while Boom was buying some things, Smart stepped away for a few minutes.
Boom returned to the car with the drinks and realized Smart wasn't there.
He waited.
A few minutes later, he saw him walking back.
—Where were you? —Making a call. —With who? —Someone.
Boom slightly frowned.
—With who, Smart? —It's private. —Private? —Yes. —And why can't you tell me?
Smart smiled.
—Because I can't.
Boom watched him for a few seconds.
—That's suspicious. —Don't be nosy. —I'm not being nosy. —Of course you are.
Smart took the drink Boom had bought him.
—Let's go.
Boom got back into the car, but the question kept spinning in his head.
When they arrived in Hua Hin, the sun was high.
They looked for a quiet beach area, far from the most crowded spots.
For a while, they walked along the shore, letting the water wet their feet, with the camera ready to capture any spontaneous moment.
Later, they decided to step a bit into the sea. The water was warm, and the gentle sway of the waves wrapped them in a comfortable silence, almost as if the rest of the world didn't exist.
Smart stopped at just the right depth, stretching out his arms to wrap them around Boom's waist and pull him against his chest. Boom let out a soft sigh, resting his hands on Smart's shoulders while the water gently rocked their bodies.
—I like this —Smart murmured against his hair. —The sea? —Boom asked in a whisper, a slight smile on his lips.
Smart slowly shook his head, leaning in to kiss the corner of his lips with infinite patience.
—This. Being with you like this, without anyone looking for us.
Boom looked into his eyes, feeling the peace of that moment erase any tiredness. He leaned in a little closer to fuse their lips in a slow, deep kiss—a silent reminder of why they had decided to disappear from the map for those eight days.
As evening fell, with the sky dyed in shades of orange and violet, they sat together on the sand to watch the sun sink below the horizon. Boom checked the time on his phone and sighed with a playful smile.
—We should head back to change.
Smart shook his head, wrapping an arm around his shoulders to shield him from the cool breeze starting to pick up.
—No.
Boom looked at him, confused.
—No? —Not today... —Why?
Smart pulled out his phone and showed him a booking confirmation.
It took Boom a few seconds to understand.
—What is that? —Our room.
Boom widened his eyes.
—What? —We're staying tonight. —When did you do that?
Smart smiled.
—During that call.
Boom looked at him in disbelief.
—That was the call! —Yes. —And you kept me thinking about it all day? —A little bit. —You're terrible. —But it worked.
Boom shook his head, laughing.
—I can't believe you did all this. —There's still more.
Once at the hotel.
The room had a wide balcony with a direct view of the beach and the sea.
When Boom walked in, he stood still.
Warm lights softly illuminated the room.
There were some petals on the bed, simple flowers, and small details that Smart had specially requested for them.
In the bathroom, a prepared bathtub awaited them, filled with soft aromas and a few decorative candles safely placed.
Boom looked at everything and then looked at Smart.
—Did you do this? —I asked for it. —When? —While you were busy stressing over my call.
Boom let out a laugh.
—You're impossible.
Smart stepped closer.
—Do you like it?
Boom hugged him.
—Very much.
Dinner was specially prepared for them, enjoyed in a private area right by the sea.
There was a comfortable blanket, cushions, warm lights, and a low table with dinner served.
The sound of the waves accompanied every word.
For a few minutes, they talked about anything and everything.
Until Boom stopped and looked at Smart.
—I still can't believe you did all this. —I wanted to give you something nice.
Boom lowered his gaze.
—You already give me nice things. —Yeah? —Your time. Your company. The way you always find a way to make me laugh.
He paused.
—You.
Smart took his hand.
—I love you.
Boom smiled.
—Say it again. —I love you. —Again.
Smart let out a small chuckle.
—I love you, Boom.
Boom squeezed his fingers.
—I love you too. So much.
They fell silent.
—Sometimes —Boom said, watching the moon's reflection on the water—, I feel like we have to hide so many things that we forget how nice it is just to be together like this, without watching the clock.
Smart looked into his eyes, with a soft, protective seriousness.
—I never forget. —Never? —Never.
Boom lowered his gaze, lightly biting his lower lip as a faint shadow crossed his face.
—Sometimes I'm afraid... that one day you'll get tired of waiting. Of all this.
Smart slowly shook his head, reaching out to take his hand and interlock their fingers firmly.
—For me, it has never been waiting —Smart replied in a low, confident, and heart-reaching tone—. This has never been a burden or wasted time. Every second by your side, even in secrecy or with restrictions, has been living in the present with the right person. Which is you.
Boom felt his chest tighten with emotion, his eyes shining under the starlight. A soft, sincere smile curved his lips.
—I choose you too —Boom whispered, squeezing his hand back—. Today, tomorrow, and every time it's needed.
Smart gently stroked his hand.
—Even when you get jealous.
Boom burst out laughing.
—Don't ruin the moment! —I'm just telling the truth. —I wasn't jealous. —You spent the whole day asking who I was talking to. —Because you disappeared. —Five minutes. —It was longer.
Both of them ended up laughing.
Then Boom looked out toward the sea.
—I want to remember tonight. —We're going to remember it.
Smart picked up the camera to capture the exact moment in one more photograph for the memories they were building.
Later, they returned to the room.
When they stepped out of the tub, wrapped in clean towels and with warm skin, the large bed facing the sea awaited them. They lay down without rush, the sheets brushing against their skin. Smart pulled him close, settling him against his chest in a way that seemed to want to fuse him with himself.
The dimness of the room was barely lit by the moon's glow over the water. Smart began tracing lazy circles on Boom's back, while using his other hand to brush the damp hair away from his forehead.
—I love you —Smart whispered against his lips, in a tone so intimate and soft it felt like a secret meant only for the ocean.
Boom smiled in the darkness and leaned in toward him. Their lips met in a slow, deep kiss, brimming with a contained urgency that could finally be set free. Their caresses soon became a language of their own; a map of hands slowly tracing every space, of shared sighs getting lost between the sheets, and of a total surrender where time seemed to stand completely still. In the quiet of the night, loving each other without rush was the most natural way to seal those days of refuge, blending their breaths to the rhythm of the waves crashing outside.
Until, little by little, exhaustion and absolute peace overcame them. Embraced, with the rhythm of the sea rocking their dreams and the certainty that distances no longer existed between them, they fell fast asleep right in front of the immensity of the sea.