Lately, It's Winter Season.

Chapter 54 -Epilogue: Special chapter 2

At 2:30 in the morning, I leaned against the balcony railing of my room, staring blankly at the large, full moon hanging in the sky. Suddenly, thinking that dawn was only a few hours away, tears welled up in my eyes. I quickly wiped them away before they fell, but the tears flowed uncontrollably again. I sobbed unconsciously.

"Sob... sob..."

My eyes glanced at the white card in my hand; the front bore my name and Duen Nao's. Our wedding will begin in just a few hours.

"Hic..."

“…Ger.” A sweet voice rang out from behind. Nao frowned worriedly when she saw me crying, so she came over and hugged me to comfort me.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Nao has always been so gentle and caring towards me…

"No... nothing at all. I'm just... so happy. We're getting married soon."

"Hmm." Nao nodded slightly and patted my back gently, "Nervous?"

"Yeah, I'm really nervous."

"Stop crying, a groom with swollen eyes doesn't look good," Nao said. "And go to sleep now. It's so cold; what if you wake up sick tomorrow? It's an important day."

"I can't sleep..." I said honestly. I haven't been able to get any sleep since this evening. Nao took my hand: "Come here, let me hug you, and you'll surely sleep well." That gentle smile made my heart melt.  Nao is still as cute as the first day we met…

"Mm." I gazed at him with adoration, smiled in response, and obediently followed Nao into the room. Usually, I'm the one who hugs Nao when we sleep, but today it was Nao who was hugging me. I snuggled into his small chest, feeling the warmth and the gentle, distinctive scent, and drifted off to sleep without realising it.

I woke up very early. The wedding was being held at my house, in the spacious yard in front of the fountain. There was also a garden nearby, which was very convenient for setting up and designing. Of course, it would be a big wedding because my family had many people, on a scale comparable to weddings held in Singapore abroad.

Nao’s mother didn't ask for a dowry; she said it wasn't necessary and that it was enough if I took good care of Duen Nao. But Sing wouldn't give up; he prepared a lavish dowry: diamond jewellery, gold and silver of all kinds, and even cash—if I remember correctly, it was almost 100 million baht. Actually, he wanted even more, but Nao’s mother wouldn't agree.

Nao and I had to change in a private room, so unfortunately I couldn't stay to watch Nao get his makeup and hair done, but I had no choice as it was the custom. I admired myself in my navy blue suit, with a white flower pinned to my chest, a white shirt underneath. I was pleased with myself in the mirror and sat down to rest. When the makeup artist left, Mick and Fuse came in to change. Mick and Fuse were my groomsmen, so their outfits were also in shades of blue, but I wore a long-sleeved suit while they wore waistcoats.

"You look incredibly handsome today, really," Mick complimented, his eyes sparkling. 

"Congratulations again! We've been supporting you since 10th grade, and seeing you so happy makes us so proud."

"Exactly! After teasing you all these years, from high school until now, this is the day I've finally gotten what I deserve." Fuse patted me on the shoulder.

"Yeah, you guys tease me more than you do laundry." I laughed, "Thanks for coming."

"Oh my god, how could we miss it?" Mick said. "We’ve been here since kindergarten, and we can't possibly not go. And who's going to be your best man without us?"

"Yes, besides us, there's no one else."

"Yeah, yeah, after congratulating me, you're now teasing me again? What's wrong with you guys?"

We sat and chatted while waiting for the wedding procession to begin. Soon after, someone called us to get ready, and I couldn't help but feel nervous. 

I saw Sing in his grey suit waiting, his hands full of red envelopes for the various "checkpoints" of the wedding ceremony. I accepted the bouquet of flowers, and looking behind me, I saw everyone carrying trays of offerings and various wedding gifts. The wedding procession started from the main gate.

The distance from the gate to the front door of the house is just right, and Nao is probably waiting behind that door. Just thinking about it makes my heart race, and I'm sure Nao will look very beautiful today.

The sound of drums and gongs began to emanate from the rear of the procession, accompanied by cheers, and then we started to move. I pursed my lips slightly, trying to hold back the untimely tears.

My dear… We’re getting married soon…

*Sob*... me...

"Hey, Tiger, don't cry at the wedding," Sing whispered, leaning in.

"Um." I nodded, widening my eyes to keep the tears from welling up. It was exactly the same at Sing's wedding; I had to constantly comfort him and tell him not to cry. But this time, I didn't know how much longer I could hold back my tears. I had to try to endure it because I couldn't possibly cry at my wedding in front of so many guests and juniors.

"Sing."

"What?"

"I... I'm so happy."

"Don't cry."

"Um... b-but his tears..." I wiped away my tears. "How did you manage to hold them in at your wedding?"

"You have to be strong. Think of yourself as someone of importance in society," Sing said seriously. "How many influential people from other gangs are there that you're going to let them see you cry?"

"No, no... but I'm about to marry Duen Nao!"

"I understand, just try to bear with it." Sing reached out and took my hand.

"Hmm..."

We walked to the first gate, where North and another classmate were standing guard. North smiled brightly and happily, but paused when he saw me, and quietly asked: 

"Your eyes are all red. Are you okay?"

"I-I'm trying to hold back..."

"Uh... don't cry."

"I know." I took a deep breath. "What should we do?"

“Well, I initially intended to tease you a little, but seeing you like this, I couldn’t bring myself to do it anymore,” North said, then took the microphone. “As the first Silver and Gold Gate winner, and someone who’s been close to Duen Nao for a long time, I wanted to ask a few questions to test Tiger’s interest in Duen Nao. What does Duen Nao like to eat the most?”

"He likes everything I give him," I replied.

Cheers and teasing rang out, and North laughed gleefully.

"Next question, what colour does Duen Nao like?"

"Orange."

Then there were about five more questions, and I answered them all correctly. But I'm not sure whether the questioner actually knew the answers or was just letting me through the gate.

Next came Sing's part in presenting the offerings. He counted about ten items and handed them to me. We passed through the first gate, then the second, and so on until we reached the last gate. Sing gave me all the envelopes containing the offerings.

I carefully arranged the offerings and then walked to the door, my heart pounding with anticipation. My heart was pounding as usual whenever I was with Duen Nao, but this time it was pounding even harder, and in my hands was a large bouquet of flowers. The door slowly opened, revealing Duen Nao in a beige suit with a veil on his head. I was slightly surprised to see him wearing a veil.

Pretty…

Stunningly beautiful…I froze for a few seconds before tears welled up again. Duen Nao's smiling face turned worried, and he whispered:

"Ger, are you okay?"

“Yes.” I nodded, blinking repeatedly to hold back tears, then slowly knelt down and offered the bouquet to Duen Nao. He smiled again as he accepted it. I stood up, gently bowed my head and kissed his lips, then took Duen Nao’s hand and walked out amidst the cheers and blessings of the crowd.

We sat down together around the altar. Behind us sat Sing and Maeo's mother, and in front were all the guests, with cameras capturing every moment. The MC announced it was time for the ring exchange.

I glanced at the person beside me and saw Duen Nao's face beaming with happiness. Just looking into his eyes, I could feel the overflowing love within them. I looked down at his hand, gently took it, and realised my own hand was trembling slightly. Tears welled up again, but this time they weren't just a little wet; they welled up around my eyes. I bit my lip to hold them back. Don't cry, no matter how happy you are.

I slowly and tenderly placed the ring on Duen Nao's ring finger. Once it was done, he clasped his hands together and bowed his head close to my chest. I leaned in and gently embraced him. Then it was Duen Nao's turn to put a ring on my finger. The silver ring was placed on my ring finger. I clasped my hands together and bowed my head close to Duen Nao's chest.

I had already decided to bow to Duen Nao, even though it might not have been necessary. But so what? If Duen Nao bows to me, then I have to bow too. He's showing me love and respect, so why shouldn't I reciprocate? I love and respect my future wife with all my heart, too.

Whispers of surprise erupted everywhere, leaving Duen Nao bewildered and unsure what to do. He could only hug me tighter and whisper: "Thank you."

I let go of his hand, and next it was time to offer wreaths to our elders. We only had two older relatives. I had no other relatives besides Sing, who was like an older brother to me. And Nao only had his mother, Maeo. Sing received the wreath from me.

“Tiger, you’re my only brother. I love and am so proud of you, not just now but in the past too. Congratulations, you’ve finally settled down, been with someone you love, trust, and most importantly, someone who loves and cherishes you in return. I hope you two will always love and care for each other like this forever.”

"Thank you so much," Nao and I replied almost simultaneously.

Then, we approached Maeo's mother. Unable to hold back her tears, she took out a small handkerchief and gently wiped them away.

“I’ve watched you two since you were very young, around fifteen or sixteen years old. I feel like I’ve been there, watching you grow up. I’m so happy to know you’re going to get married and build a family together. I love and am so proud of you both. Growing up isn’t easy, but I believe you’ll overcome any challenges together. Don’t let go of each other’s hands, my dears. I will always be watching over you from now on. I love you, Nao and Tiger.”

Hearing Maoe's mother's words, I saw Naw raise her hand to wipe away her tears. I immediately reached out and gently patted her back to comfort her.

"Thank you so much, Mom."

When the wreath offering ceremony was over, it was time for the sprinkling of holy water. We sat next to each other, holding out our hands. One by one, our friends came to sprinkle water and offer blessings with heartfelt wishes.

“Congratulations, boss.” It was Jabb. “I can’t believe you two are getting married. Oh my God, I’m so touched. Remember when you first met? You were even planning to fight! And now you’re married. I hope you two will have a long and happy life together. What was that thing? The one holding… something…”

"Hold a golden-tipped staff, a pearl-tipped staff." Nao corrected, "Why would you hold a wooden staff? Are you planning to go to cadet instructor training?"

“Haha, sorry, I memorised it all but forgot it completely.” Jabb laughed brightly and made way for the next person. It was safe to say that all of Nao’s close friends had arrived, including those from his department. And then it was Dan Nuea’s turn.

I looked up at him, my eyes filled with emotion and joy.

“Congratulations to you both,” Nuea said while pouring holy water. “I’ve been following Tiger since 10th grade, and finally, you two are getting married. You two are truly a perfect match, so cherish this love forever, until you grow old. I wish all the best in the world to you, Tiger and Nao.”

"Thank you so much," Nao replied with a smile. When the holy water ceremony was over, we returned to our rooms to rest. As soon as I closed the door, I burst into tears.

"Sob... sob... huhu... My love... we... we're married now... sob..."

Nao sat beside me, comforting me and wiping away my tears.

"Yes, we're married."

"I... I'm so happy... I can't hold back my happiness anymore... *sobs*..."

"You've been holding back your tears for a long time, haven't you, my friend?" North teased. "I saw Tiger's eyes were red and swollen when I was holding the door; it startled me so much I almost fainted."

"Yeah, that's right," Sket agreed. "You'd think he was angry about something, but it turns out he was just trying to hold back tears."

"Sob... sob..."

"Why are you crying so much? Your eyes will swell up," Fuse warned. I nodded in agreement, but I still couldn't stop crying.

I looked at my groom and found him adorable. He's done so well to hold back his tears this long, Tiger. I initially thought he'd burst into tears right at the gate. Our wedding had far more guests than expected, probably because Sing and Tiger are both prominent figures in society, so the guests were all adults with high social standing.

I comforted Tiger until he stopped crying. The other friends said they would go out first, so it was just the two of us in the room. Because it wouldn't be good for Tiger to go out looking like this, with his eyes and nose all red. I took a wet towel and wiped his handsome face.

"Whose groom is this? He's so handsome!"

"You're beautiful, really beautiful. I was completely captivated when I saw you."

"Yeah, I see."

"You're wearing a veil too," Tiger said, gently touching the veil on my head. "It suits you perfectly."

"It was Mom's idea," I replied. "Actually, it's Mom's wedding scarf. She kept it, hoping to give it to a daughter if she had one. It's a shame she had two sons, but that's okay, I'm content just using this scarf."

"It really suits you," Tiger said, his voice still slightly hoarse.

"Yes, thank you."

"You're alright now."

"So, shall we go outside now?"

"YES."

We walked out to the fountain area together. As mentioned, in front of the house was a large courtyard with a fountain in the middle, surrounded by neatly trimmed gardens, perfect for decoration. The tables were neatly arranged, covered with white tablecloths, creating a clean and elegant atmosphere.

The food court is divided into separate sections for savory and sweet dishes, and there's also wine. Seeing the wine reminds me of North and Johan's wedding. They had their wedding by the sea, and they had this same wine, and of course, it was delicious. I was also a groomsman at North's wedding.

Just like at Sing and Ben's wedding, because the wine was so good, I drank from the beginning of the ceremony until I was completely drunk. When I woke up, I was hugging…the toilet. What I said about cutting down on alcohol was true; I really have cut down and only drink heavily on special occasions.

I held Tiger's hand as we walked through the party. In front of us hung some beautiful pre-wedding photos of us. These photos were taken by Typhoon, a friend of North's. We agreed to have him take them because North recommended him, and the results were very satisfying.

As dusk fell, a professional band arrived to play music. North sang at his wedding, but that certainly wouldn't have been acceptable at mine. If I sang, the guests might cry throughout the reception, not from emotion, but from earaches. Soon after, the MC's voice boomed from the stage, inviting us to come up.

Tiger and I walked onto the stage together. The thunderous applause made me a little nervous. I held Tiger's hand tightly. The groomsmen from both sides followed, petals of flowers scattered along our path amid cheers and congratulations.

"Hello everyone, today I would like to take on the role of MC for the wedding celebration of Mr Kanthatee Thanyadeewat and Mr Natkorn Pathawathin. Please welcome our groom and his wife tonight!"

When we arrived on stage, the MC gave each of us a microphone.

"Excuse me, but are you two nervous?"

"Yes," I replied.

"What about Tiger?"

"I'm very nervous."

"Yes, so could you share a little bit about your love story before you got married today?"

Tiger and I looked at each other, hesitating about who would speak first. But I saw Tiger's eyes starting to redden again, probably because he was remembering our first meeting and wanted to cry, so I picked up the microphone and began to tell my story:

“We met at the soccer club in high school. I was a new member. I remember that day, the coach said we should draw lots for a practice match. Someone asked, 'Who is number four?' I went over and replied, 'That’s me.'"

At that time, Tiger called me 'Duen Nuea', probably mixing my name with my brother's name since we have similar names and it's easy to confuse us. Then, he said my name was hard to remember, so he just called me 'Maeo', which is my mother's name. I got so angry that I accidentally punched him. Tiger was about to punch me back, but luckily, our friends stopped him in time.

From then on, we gradually got to know each other and became close friends. Then, in our third year of university, Tiger confessed his feelings to me. Because I always thought we were just friends, I was very surprised when it happened and didn't realise that Tiger had liked me from the beginning. It took me about 4 days to think it over before I agreed. We've been together ever since.”

"That's a lovely story," the MC smiled. "I'd like to ask Tiger, why did you quietly fall in love with your best friend?"

“…”

"Tiger?"

"Because Duen Nao is just so incredibly cute!!" Tiger yelled into the microphone, startling everyone at the party, including me.

"Duen Nao is kind, warm-hearted, and always caring towards those around him. He’s always there to comfort and hug me when I'm sad. Duen Nao is someone who has changed so much about me, helping me become a better person."

“From the moment I realised I loved him, I never thought about changing my feelings. Never changed, and never will change. Even if he doesn't love me back, I will still love him for the rest of my life. I… Tiger! Love! Duen Nao! The most! In the world!!!”

“…”

“…Uh, yes. That’s so sweet. We can clearly feel how much Tiger loves Duen Nao, can’t we? And Duen Nao, can you share why you agreed to date Tiger?”

“Yes, um… When he confessed his feelings, he told me to see him as a boy who loved me very much. Thinking back, having someone who loves you so much, and for so many years… it wasn’t too difficult to try opening my heart to that person. And when he was courting me, well… Tiger was very sweet. He took very good care of me; honestly, from that day until today, Tiger hasn’t changed at all.”

"Yes," the MC smiled, "It's very touching and romantic, isn't it? Now, do you two have anything you'd like to say to each other? Please go ahead."

I was the one who spoke first:

"There's not much more to say because I've already said everything. I always tell him that I love and am so grateful to him. I love him so much and thank him for always taking care of me and cherishing me. Thank him for everything he's done for me. Thank him for coming into my life and filling every void."

"I'll tell you I love you every day, morning, noon, and night, and you might get bored or annoyed," Tiger said, raising the microphone.

"I don't find it boring or annoying at all; on the contrary, I actually like it," I chimed in.

"Yes, that's because he truly feels that way. He loves you so much he can't keep it to himself. He also thanks you for coming into his life and filling it. He will take care of you for the rest of his life." Tiger smiled brightly.

We smiled at each other, our eyes meeting. My heart pounded with an indescribable feeling of happiness. Then, without realising it, tears began to fall. Tiger gently wiped them away…He wiped away my tears while he himself was desperately trying to hold them back.

Really cute…

"Do you both have anything else to add?" the MC asked.

“Yes, we both want to thank everyone for attending today,” Tiger began his thank-you speech. Applause erupted when he finished. Then Sing and my mother took turns speaking, offering their blessings and thanking the guests. And then came the toss of the bouquet.

I turned my back before throwing the bouquet behind me. When I turned around, I saw… Fuse standing there, grinning from ear to ear, holding the bouquet. I was a little surprised it was him. The other girls looked bewildered, like, "Why are you taking it?" while Fuse held the bouquet high with joy. Tiger leaned in and whispered in my ear:

"Let him go because Fuse is always dreaming of succeeding in love."

"Well... I don't object to anything."

After the speeches came the after-party, with a band playing, making the atmosphere even more lively. Tiger and I sat in the front row, and finally we got to relax and have a proper meal.

"Would you like some wine?"

"No thanks. Once you start drinking, you can't stop. You'll probably end up hugging the toilet again." I laughed, "Save it for next time, get drunk at Mick Tul's wedding, that'll be more fun."

"Yes, that's right," Tiger replied with a smile.

A little later, there was a small surprise from the groomsmen: North came up on stage to sing. He sang a love song for us with genuine sincerity. After listening, we couldn't help but applaud because he sang it so beautifully.

When the wedding was over, the guests gradually left. Tiger and I returned to our room, completely exhausted. We initially intended to rest for a while, but we both unexpectedly fell asleep. When I groggily woke up, I found Tiger carrying me to soak in warm water.

"Thank you for taking care of me."

"It's nothing," Tiger said, giving me a light kiss on the cheek. "Happy wedding anniversary! You're officially my wife now."

"Um... Yes, husband."