Lately, It's Winter Season.

Chapter 26 - Natthakorn Sleeps Little.

"Park here"

"But..."

"Park here," I repeated, before the car stopped. I got out of the car and took off my outerwear. Amid the dim darkness of the roadside lights and moonlight, I reached into my pocket for cigarettes. After resting, I started to smoke again and also smoked very heavily. By secretly smoking in the Winter months, I don't know why, because I don't like cigarettes in the Winter months.

I almost didn't go home in the past month to the Cold. It's part of work, but it isn't comforting. No, it's not just disturbing, but it makes me feel a lot of pain. The story of best, dead, and true friends has become a small matter. When it's Cold, people are talking about it.

On the last day of school, a junior boy confessed his love to Nao. I can't remember that person's name or face because I don't want to. Nao said that he liked him and wanted to try to open up. The second I heard it, my ears were dead. I prayed that it was just a joke, but it wasn't. It's Cold opening up and talking to that person.

I want to shout out, 'What about me? Tiger, who has loved you for years, right?' But I can't do it. I don't have enough courage to confess my love like that boy. Or even if I have enough courage, it won't end as beautifully as I thought.

I'm not sure if Nao likes him. Nao replied to the chat only during the day. Some nights, he would call downstairs and say he didn't want to disturb the north, so I often saw the image of Nao sitting on the sofa, talking to that person. I hate that image. The image of Nao smiling at the screen, smiling alone when talking on the phone and talking to him. I can avoid Winter. I work more. Work that is not my own. The work that I don't need to do, I do it all so that I don't have to think about it. The body is exhausted. But no matter how tired I am, I still can't sleep.

One heart misses the Cold month, but the other can't take it… Or it will be a punishment for people who lack courage, like me. That would be right.

Although I have a little more courage than I did two years ago, at least in terms of action, there will still be friends who do this much. But Cold, I don't think about making a fuss about anything. Increase the level from a close friend to a dead friend. The person in more trouble seems to be from the north, but the north doesn't say anything when I take the time to think about what I can do.

A few things come to mind. The first thing that pops into my mind is to kill that person. Just pull the trigger once, and everything is over. And the next question can stop this idea. That question is 'What about the Cold? How do you feel about Cold?' Or even if there are ten other ways to stop talking. If it's Cold, I want to talk to him. We'll talk anyway. 

I told the car to land near the market, which used to be where he and Cold used to come. I stood, reminiscing about times when I leaned on the motorcycle to smoke, and found the Cold appearing, shocking. We shared snacks and went for a bike ride to play. I walked straight home, thinking that this was how the Cold always used to walk back and forth between the market and the house.

The whole house is completely off, indicating that the child, addicted to games, is sleeping. Now it's four o'clock in the morning. On a typical day, everyone will wake up to prepare the shop. I use the spare key that Aunt Mao gave me to lock the front door, sweeping the surroundings downstairs and seeing the body of someone lying on my bed.

.. Cold

I didn't have time to move. The other party sat up.

"Are you back?"

"Why did you sleep in my bed?"

"Suea, where have you been for days? No, it's been almost a month."

It's Cold, and he walks straight to me.

"Phu just came back the other day."

"It's only an hour to go back. Plus, you don't talk to me anymore when you return."

"Phu, hurry up," I said.

I just came back to see the Winter. I'm going back to work. I intended to avoid him, but I can't bear to miss him.

"Why? And why did you come to sleep in my bed? And you don't sleep anymore," I asked in surprise. It's already four o'clock. If he hasn't slept, it's because he is playing games.

"Are you mad at me?"  Nao’s tone softened in the light.

It's dark. I saw the Cold moon making a sad face. "What did I do wrong? You can tell me. What am I not doing well, and how can I improve? Or I'm so bad that you don't want to be for"

I accidentally raised my hand to hold the Cold shoulder. I realised that the other person was shaking a little.

"Calm down, what's wrong with you? You didn't do anything wrong."

"Well, you avoid me."

"I didn't dodge." I used big words without realising it. "I didn't dodge. I'm working."

"It's not true." Nao shook his head, shook my hand, and grabbed my arm instead. "You avoid me. You don't have to refuse. I know. You tell me what you're angry about."

"I'm not angry. You're thinking for yourself."

"I didn't think of myself!" The other party started shouting. I frowned and looked at him incomprehensibly. Usually, if I say I'm working, Nao will understand. Why this time, I wonder. 

"Okay, you may work hard. However, you don't pay much attention to me when we're together. You avoid my face. Accidentally, you will also work to avoid me. Why? And what's wrong with you? Tell me. What do we have to keep it for? Aren't we friends anymore? "

"Calm down," I said comfortingly. It may not be my idea. I feel like I'm on the verge of tears, which only makes me feel even more heartbroken.

"Okay, let's sit down first." I dragged Nao onto the bed. I turn on the light.   It's Bright, and I can see him. The Cold month is a bit shabby, so don't criticise it. Why do you make such an unhappy face?

... Isn't it better to see Nao smiling when talking to that person?

"What makes you think I'm avoiding you?"

"I know," Nao said. I confidently walked to open the refrigerator and bring Cold water in case it would relieve the other person's mood. "I may be stupid, but I know you're avoiding me this time. I've been stressed and can't sleep for days."

"Ah, why do you have to sleep on my bed?" I passed Nao a glass of water. Lift his legs and sit on my knees on the bed.

"I miss you"

"I don't know, it looks like you're going to disappear from me."

"I'm just working." I walked to the chair beside me and raised my arm over the other person's shoulder to comfort him. I can't tell him how I feel now, but my heart beats so fast. Looking at the Cold, I raised a glass of cold water to drink and put it on the head of the bed.

"You miss me so much that you think about me."

"No, Tiger", Cold, making a stiff sound, moving a little farther to turn to meet my eyes. "What are you angry with me about? Tell me. Otherwise, I won't know for sure."

I didn't answer anything; I just sighed. I'm not angry, but I'm sorry about you talking to someone else. How should I respond? "I'm not angry."

"Lie"

"I'm not lying, I'm just low-minded."

"What's the little heart?"

"Do you remember why I don't like being with Mickfield?"

"Hmm," Cold frowned, "Why?”

"They're addicted to girls," I said, "And now you're like them... Ah", the other party gasped for a while as if he understood everything.

"Ta, but I rarely talk to him. It's not often. He's far away. The word is a lot of addiction."

"No," I said confidently, "often, otherwise why would you belittle me?"

"Oh, this is it... Ah, then I’ll talk to him less. I have a lot of time for you, okay?" I was silent again, thinking that if I said I would, I would stop talking. Better than this, "Really?"

"Really," I nodded. "Are you okay? Will you stop avoiding me?"

"I didn't dodge that much, did I? I'm just low-minded. As for the work. There is a lot of work these days."

"Okay," Nao nodded, so he followed. "Are you sure? This story?"

"Well, like me, there will be something to make you less."

"It's true." Nao smiled broadly, gently touching my shoulder. "Do you have any more work? Perhaps by mid-next month, we'll travel to Chiang Mai before Dan heads to Boston. Are you free?"

"I'm not sure." I tried to think of my work. I worked so hard that Sing was surprised. I should be looking for a break. "I'll try to find a time. I'm free. Let's ask for a clear date and time first."

"Yes, I'll talk to them for you."

"K"

"So..." Nao held out his little finger to me. "We're good."

"Eh", I remember reaching out my little finger to get involved. It's good. It's better to stop talking. But when I realised that it was Cold, I missed him. I was afraid that he would disappear; it wasn't perfect. My heart beats very hard.

"So I'm going to bed."

"Didn't you wake up?"

"Huh, no, I didn't sleep at all."

"Oh, okay, good night."

"Good night"

Then Cold walked upstairs. I leaned back on the bed that Cold had been lying on before. The other person's words and expressions still repeated in my head, and I accidentally smiled like a crazy person. But when the story of people talking to Cold appeared, I immediately stopped smiling. I'm both happy and sad at the same time.

Three days later, I came home in the afternoon. The house was quiet, with no sound of the Cold month playing games. Only the North side was gardening behind the house.

"Mom and Moon should be back around four or five o'clock. It's far away."

"Ah, okay."

"Tiger", I was about to return to the house to hear Nuea calling. Nuea stopped. Nuea got up, wiping his dirty hands, and walked over. "Let me talk about something... Can you do it? It won't be long."

"Yes," I answered almost immediately. There is no problem. I walk over to sit on the marble bench next to the North. "What's wrong?"

"Well, actually, we found the rhythm to talk to Tiger for a long time, but it's challenging to find the rhythm because Tiger is always with the moon." Dan Nuea began to introduce "Tiger".

"Ah ha"

"Do you like the month?"

I didn't say anything right away. The truth is that Dan-Nuea knows. I don't think I'll say it. I'll pretend I don't know anything. "I don't like him."

 I said, "Why?"

"Huh," Nuea smiled happily. "That's right. Probably not just like him. Well, right? So... So how much do you love him?"

"North will find out that we are too much. You won't believe it."

"Believe me, just tell me." The other party held his arm behind his back to lean on himself, looking at today's beautiful blue sky.

"We can die instead of Cold"

"Aha, it has to be that much, right? Tiger himself has proven it."

"What does it mean?"

"I'm just guessing," he turned to smile at me. Thank you. Thank you very much, our brother. Even the Month is not a child to worry about, but we, as brothers, are always worried about you. The Month is an honest child. Well, no, he's a bit naive about some things... Right"

"Ah, it's true," I couldn't help but admit. "So what are you guessing?"

"Don't be suspicious. We don't know anything more than the month knows." The voice is serious, but it sounds light and comfortable at the same time. "We're just guessing."

"What do you guess?"

"Don't make a scary face like that. "Okay, we just think it was too coincidental about two years ago." I was silent, waiting to listen to the other party.

"We were kidnapped at the same time as Tiger went to Hong Kong."

"Is it weird?"

"Will Tiger disappear without telling the month? Must tell in advance. If you don't tell, there will be no way to disappear for days." Above what you think is true, "The only case of disappearing like that should be…. I can't contact you more."

"Ah"

"Duen told me that Tiger was the son of a person who was quite influential and promised Duen to help us with Chat. Tiger would not break his promise, but why did he miss the news that we were kidnapped? But if you miss the news, then why don't you ask the month about Chat? Don't you worry about the month?"

"How do you know that I never asked?"

"Duen didn't tell you about being kidnapped, did he?"

"Yes"

"Duen doesn't want Tiger to overthink that he's breaking the contract. Besides, the story is over. When we asked Duen if Tiger had asked about Chat, Duen said he hadn't asked at all. Duen thought that Tiger would have forgotten, but it's not true. Tiger didn't ask about Chat at all because Tiger had already handled it."

"Eem", I nodded. The north guessed that there were all the reasons. Just from the information that can be patched together like this, it is considered usable. "Maybe the police can deal with them. That's why we don't ask."

"No," Nuea shook his head gently. "If someone else can't handle it. It can make Tiger feel comfortable."

"So what does it have to do with us saying death instead of Cold? You can order someone else to handle it for you."

"I told you at the beginning that Tiger disappeared for a few days. At first, he refused to open a video call with the month. Tiger returned to the month without showing that he had been forced to go to Hong Kong. Anyway, he would like to see the month. But at first, he refused to open the camera at all. Why?"

"Refused to turn on the camera for months. The treatment was for that long. The injury wasn't nice to see.

"Well, you're good. Just the information you have can guess everything."

"Huh", Nuea smiled, "But we're just guessing. It's true or not. No need to tell us, Tiger doesn't want anyone to know."

"But the north already believes?"

"Well, I think I guessed accurately."

"Ah, um," I nodded.

"Ask me something."

"That"

"Why don't you tell this to the month? I got a lot of points."

"I don't want Nao to know," I said honestly. "Both it's Cold, both in the north and in Aunt Cat. I think the story is a bit too heavy. It's not something that should be told."

"Okay," Nuea nodded. "What about Tiger?"

"Hmm?"

"Is there anything you want to ask me?"

"... Ah", I was silent because of Nuea's words. Yes, Nuea is Nao's brother. He must know everything. "Nua, what does Nao think of me? Really?"

The question with my direct name made Nuea laugh in a good mood. "Huh, I said I had to ask, but I didn't think it would be the first question. It's still this straight."

"What is the answer?"

"Well, let's do what we think."

"Tiger Loves the  Month"

"...!!" My eyes widened without realising it. My whole body froze for a moment. "Ask again."

"Duen loves Tiger", Nuea repeats the words, "but I don't know in which status"

"He's a friend," I said before my shoulders were wrapped. "I repeat the word friend, dear friend, true friend, dead friend, friend forever. Invite you to make fun of alcohol and swear. Again, I wouldn't think of being a husband in this life."

"Haha, we said we don't know what status."

"Isn't it clear yet?"

"No, no, where is it clear?" Nuea asked back. "Is everything that we make each other really friends? Since Tiger kept avoiding his face because he was jealous of that boy, the month was clearly stressful."

"How is it?"

"At first, I guess I didn't know. But later, he started asking me if Tiger was avoiding the moon or not. I replied that I didn't know. This time I  didn't advise anything. But Duan was very confident that Tiger was angry and avoiding him. Before coming back to sit and review for me, what did he do wrong? Why is Tiger angry?"

"Ah"

"I don't even want to play the game."

"Huh?" This time, it shocked me. During the Cold months, children become so addicted to games that they refuse to sleep, often for several days, to play them. Play games until they don't have time to rest, until they are nicknamed' Nattakorn Sleep Less'.

"Yes, if you don't play with Tiger, you won't play at all. I've never seen such a stressful month before. When I didn't pass the exam, I wasn't nearly as stressed as I am now. Just a friend?"

"My best friend is dead."

"Well, it may be yes or no", Nuea said, "Love is not limited to just a friend or a boyfriend."

"So what can I do?"

"He's an indispensable person."

"Tiger is a person who can't be without the month. That's all we can say." Dan Nuea smiled until my eyes were crushed. My heart trembled. Warmth in my chest because of the other person's words. Am I a person who can't be missing in the Cold month?

Fuck....Shit.

"What if I confess my love? What will happen?"

"That's right." Nuea made a thoughtful gesture. "Try it. I also want to know how it will be"

"Oh, don't you know?"

"How do you know?"

"Try to guess"

"I won't tell you if I can guess." Nuea said, "It's better to let Tiger know when he confesses. But when will you confess? I secretly loved you until I entered university."

"... Uh," Nuea made me speechless. "I don't know, I don't know. I'm afraid of the Cold. I don't think about it either. If Nuea says that the moon will not cut us off from life, then stay together. Continue to be Cold, know, but Cold, don't love, won't it be bad?"

"Well... It's so bad."

"Do you want to use it? Plus, there is that person who is talking now."

"Ah, that's it." Nuea gestured as if he had just realised something. "No need. I'm worried. I'll stop talking in the month."

"Why?"

"Because Duan has never confessed his love before, I want to try it. Just talk to him. Does Duan usually seem to be a person who cares about love?" I shook my head instead of answering. 

"Tiger would be so jealous that he didn't notice, but Duan paid very little attention to that person. If you had to choose between playing games with Tiger or talking to that person, Moon chose to play games. Especially after staying at Tiger, he said that Duan didn't have time to tell Duan to stop calling that person. Now we're so far away that we've almost stopped talking." 

Above, he said, I nodded a lot of faith. "Duan may not realise it. No, not just maybe, but Duan doesn't realise that he doesn't like that person. The kid's name is a bit stubborn."

"But cute," I interjected.

"The name is stubborn but cute. Yes, that's right. So don't worry. If you can gather enough courage, you can try flirting. Ah... I forgot to tell you that we are cheering."

"Really!" I started to get excited when Nuea cheered for me with his brother. 

"No one can love Duan as much as Tiger. Those who love my brother so much, why would I  interfere? But I won't interfere. I will cheer Far away, if I get involved, the month will believe me. Do you understand? The month is the one who believes our words one hundred per cent. We are afraid that it will not be the feeling or thought of the month itself."

"I understand. We don't want to bother the north that much. Just consulting now, I'm very happy." I'm honest. Just hearing the word moon, love tiger, and the word moon can't be without tiger. I'm so happy that I can't fly. I can't even smile anymore.

"Okay, we have nothing. Before I go to Boston, I have something to say. That's all."

"Well, we'll be able to travel together in Chiang Mai anyway."

"Tiger is going with you, right?"

"Yes, you can find a free day."

"Good"

"Well, so let's go. Ah, no, let's help you with anything. There is nothing to do."

"If it's convenient, it's great to help us dig the soil."

"Yes"

A few days before travelling to Chiang Mai, the Cold month came to talk to me about tattoos. After visiting Hong Kong, I started getting quite a few tattoos, but all of them were hidden under my clothes. I didn't get any tattoos, but the clothes turned out well. I asked and asked Cold. He said he was interested in getting some tattoos. A pattern is already forming in my mind. It only took half an hour to talk. I rode a motorcycle and took Nao out to get a tattoo.

"Will it hurt me?"

"Not for me"

"Do you compare it to being cut by a knife? That doesn't hurt. I've read about it. But people say it hurts."

"Huh, my level has never been shot by a knife and a gun."

"Because you are good?"

"Because I'm hiding behind my subordinates."

"Animal waste" Coldly laughed loudly, "Take it well, does it hurt a lot?"

"When I was at home, I insisted on doing it. When I got to the middle of the road, why hesitate?" I said, "The tattoo you designed is good. If you're afraid, you can tattoo a little bit at a time."

"Well, if it hurts, I'll take it little by little. And the shop that will take you here, have you ever been there?"

"Never, but he asked me, and he said it was very good. I can't get any more tattoos when I come back to Thailand." I told the truth. "Well, you, everyone has all their tattoos. I'm good."

"A picture of your face"

"No, you animal. Tattoo a picture of a tiger. It's okay."

"Is it evidence of a dear friend? Then you must have a picture of the month of the monk-Monday"

"Well, I got it. Do you want a full moon or a half moon?"

"Half crescent, full back"

"So you're a picture of a tiger with a full back."

"Oh, will I be a Yakuza? Okay, you take a tiger face. Tiger is not you. Where is it good?"

"Nipples"

"Is it the right chest? Because the left side is already this one" Cold To laugh

"Obey, so I'll take the right side too. No, the left side is better, the right side is better. I have plans to get something else."

"Get it"

I smiled widely without anyone seeing, just joking. I can't believe that Nao did it. When I arrived at the tattoo parlour, I showed the technician a picture I had designed. It's a crescent moon with a mother cat and two kittens sitting in a straight line in the middle. On the line, there are stars and tendons.

The crescent moon is the month. Mother cat and kittens are two other representatives: the cat, the aunt and two sons. The straight line symbolises the north. That is the north. Tattoo on the left chest. I like this tattoo, which is very Cold. It is very self-designed. I said I would get a surprise tattoo before heading north to Boston. As for Tiger image, the Cold told that it will be tattooed on the right.

As for me, I will spend a month and a half on my left chest, in case we have time. When we hug, our couple's tattoos will complement each other. It's true, as the north says, right? Where did my friend go this far? Come on, friends, what's Cold? You don't realise that.

I love you, my twin brother, tell me yourself.

The Cold month loves Tiger, and you can't live without Tiger.