"Pajama set. P'Lom and Blue have an unexpectedly cute side too, huh?"

"Atjima, that's rude. Stop messing with other people's things."

Atitaya took the pajamas straight out of Atjima's hands and put them back into the closet, her tone firm as she warned her not to touch other people's belongings without permission, because if the owner found out, things definitely wouldn't end well.

"It's not rude, it's necessary. We're stuck on an island without anything prepared, so where exactly do you expect me to get a change of clothes?"

"Just wear what you have for now. If we leave by boat tomorrow, we'll be back on the mainland anyway."

"Then you can go stink by yourself, little pig. I'm taking a shower and changing, these clothes already smell like sweat... if you change your mind, pick something and follow me, I'll show you the bathroom."

Atjima didn't wait for an answer and walked off toward the separate bathroom, but only a moment later, footsteps followed behind her along with the faint rustle of fabric, making it obvious that the same person who had just scolded her... still brought the clothes along anyway.

"Idiot, why are you walking in the rain? Get under the cover."

"It doesn't matter. I have to wash my hair again anyway."

"At this rate you'll get sick and die, then haunt the island with that thin forehead of yours."

"Don't mess with me."

"You think I want to? You're the one walking like a problem."

If she really didn't want to get involved, then instead of walking ahead with the only umbrella in the house, why did Atjima turn back and hold it over both of them anyway, the small space under it just enough to keep Atitaya from getting wet despite the distance that still existed between them.

"We're here. Go on, shower first. I'll go after."

"You go first, then you won't have to rush me."

"I'll wait here. Don't take too long, ghost girl."

Atitaya didn't respond, simply closing the umbrella and sitting under the awning with her arms crossed while watching Atjima in silence, until her gaze suddenly paused at the sight of one side of Atjima's shoulder completely soaked, even though she had been the one holding the umbrella the whole time, while the person beside her remained almost entirely dry.

...Because she was unbelievably stupid!

⋆。𖦹 ̊。⋆

"Miss Atitaya, you came back just in time."

"Thank you so much, Bua, for helping clean the house."

"My mother prepared dinner. She said she did a great job, so I hope you and your friend like it."

"I'm simple, I'm not demanding... but as for some people here, I'm not so sure."

"Thank you very much, Bua. I'll eat everything."

Atitaya thanked Bua sincerely for helping take care of the house and preparing the food; even though no one was staying there permanently, everything was spotless, even cleaner than before, with fresh cushions replacing the old ones.

"Make yourselves comfortable. When you're done, just leave the dishes outside. I'll come back tomorrow morning to collect and wash them."

"Please thank Phaka and Lord Boonsong for me."

After seeing Bua off, Atjima closed the door and went to find a lamp, the sky already dimming as the electricity would soon be cut until morning.

"Let's eat quickly, the power's going out soon."

"And then what are you going to do?"

"We'll use the lamp so it doesn't get too dark inside."

Atitaya quietly watched as Atjima lit the lamp and placed it on the table before opening the food containers, revealing hot rice along with two dishes—fried pork with shrimp paste and yellow squid curry with pickled bamboo shoots—both fragrant and surprisingly appealing, easily comparable to Auntie Num's cooking.

"Eat everything, as promised."

"I know."

"Is it good?"

"Yes."

Atjima kept an eye on her reaction and was a little surprised to see how naturally Atitaya ate, clearly enjoying the food without complaint, not the slightest hint of pickiness despite the simple conditions on the island, which made Atjima reconsider her earlier impression that this girl was spoiled and only used to comfort.

"Aren't you going to eat? If I finish everything, don't complain later."

"Go ahead, eat more so you'll have energy to keep causing trouble."

"You don't need to serve me."

"I put the bamboo shoots on your plate so I can keep the bigger squid for myself."

...

The audacity of it—saying something so shameless while even smiling like she was proud of it—made Atitaya immediately reach for her spoon and take the largest squid onto her plate before Atjima could act, because if she lost it now, there was no way she'd be satisfied.

There were only three pieces of squid in total; Atitaya had already taken the biggest one, Atjima ended up with the smallest, and one piece remained in the container, leaving both of them hesitating for a brief moment as it clearly wasn't enough to share.

Surprisingly, Atjima—who never liked losing—was the one who withdrew first, casually putting her spoon down and saying she was full.

And just like that, the last piece of squid ended up on Atitaya's plate.

⋆。𖦹 ̊。⋆

"Isn't there another house here?"

"Ghost girl, when are you going to stop causing trouble?"

Atjima replied with visible exhaustion as she looked at Atitaya, because after finally getting a proper meal, all she wanted was to rest and leave the island tomorrow if the storm calmed down, yet somehow a new problem had appeared—the younger girl stubbornly refusing to sleep in the same bed with her, while Atjima had no intention of giving up her own comfort, sleeping sitting up, or offering her bed like some kind of sacrifice, especially not after everything she had already put up with today.

"I don't want to sleep in the same bed as you."

"As if that hasn't happened before."

The response came so casually that it made Atitaya pause.

"When we were kids, back when Dad brought you home, I almost threw you out of the room every single day."

The words dragged old memories back to the surface, pulling Atitaya fifteen years into the past, to the time when she had just lost her father and had nowhere to go, until Mr. Akanee took her in under the Watinwanich family's roof.

"Mr. Akanee must be worried."

"He probably already knows we're here. I left the car at the port."

Atjima answered indifferently, clearly aware that Atitaya was trying to steer the conversation away, but there was nothing left to discuss; resting was the only sensible choice now if they wanted the strength to leave as soon as possible.

"I'm going to sleep. If you don't want to, then stay up and keep watch until morning."

Without waiting for a reply, she lay down on one side of the bed, pulled the blanket over herself, and turned her back, completely ignoring the other girl who was still sitting there, because she was too tired to care about anything else after such a long day.

Time passed quietly until Atitaya noticed that Atjima had already fallen asleep, her breathing slow and steady, her usual sharpness gone as if someone had simply flipped a switch and turned it off.

"How selfish... taking the blanket all for yourself."

In the end, she didn't really have a choice; if she had to share the bed again like in the past, then so be it, because this whole situation was partly her fault for being stubborn and refusing to listen when Atjima told her to go back earlier, which was exactly why they were now stuck on this island instead of sleeping comfortably at home.

That night, with heavy rain pouring outside and cold wind slipping in through the half-open window, Atitaya eventually lay down under the same mosquito net, keeping as much distance as possible, yet still shivering slightly because the other girl had taken the entire blanket without leaving her anything.

If she woke up sick the next morning, it wouldn't be surprising at all.

⋆。𖦹 ̊。⋆

"Miss, you woke up early today."

"I thought I was early, but you're even earlier than me, Bua."

"People here always wake up at dawn. There's a lot to take care of in the morning."

"Then why did you come so early?"

Atjima asked as she slowed down from her jog, recognizing Bua—Mr. Boonsong's daughter—who had likely gone to the lodge to find her but ended up running into her on the way instead, while she was out warming up like she always did before work, a routine she kept to maintain the strength needed for her responsibilities.

"My father asked me to tell you that around late morning today, he'll take you and Atitaya back to the mainland."

"So the storm's over?"

"Yes. He said it probably passed through last night. It rained heavily and only stopped not long ago."

"Alright then, Bua, help me pass along a message to him."

"What is it? Or did you change your mind and want to leave now?"

"No... just tell him exactly what I said."

⋆。𖦹 ̊。⋆

The new morning began with soft sunlight slipping through the open window, carrying in a light breeze that gently stirred the room. Atitaya slowly opened her eyes, taking a moment to adjust to the unfamiliar surroundings, so different from the comfort she was used to waking up in every day, before suddenly remembering where she was—and more importantly, who she had spent the night with.

Her expression tightened slightly as she sat up and looked around, but there was no sign of Atjima anywhere in the house. It was strange, considering she had intended to stay alert in case the other woman tried anything, yet she had ended up sleeping so deeply that she didn't even realize when she drifted off, probably because of how exhausted she had been the day before.

"You slept pretty soundly, didn't you?"

The voice came out of nowhere, making Atitaya turn immediately, only then noticing the blanket covering her body—the same one Atjima had stubbornly kept all to herself the night before. If she had to guess, the other woman had probably tossed it over her before leaving, or maybe just didn't bother taking it along out of pure laziness.

"You're finally awake. I thought you were going to sleep until tomorrow."

"Atjima."

"Then get up already. Stop wasting time, go shower and come eat."

"The rain has stopped... we can go back to the mainland today, right?"

"Not yet."

Atjima shook her head with a perfectly straight face, even though she was clearly amused on the inside, watching how easily Atitaya walked straight into whatever she said, and since the younger one had been stubborn enough to ignore her warnings before, she figured it wouldn't hurt to let her struggle a little longer on this island.

"Hey, the rain's gone and the sky's clear. Why can't we go back?"

"Just to be safe. If you don't believe me, go ask Mr. Boonsong yourself."

"But I don't want to stay here. One day was already more than enough."

"Whether you want to or not, you're staying. You didn't listen when I warned you."

"But—"

"Arguing won't change anything. This is your fault, so deal with it. If you really can't stand it, then go ahead and swim back to the mainland."

Atitaya fell silent, knowing full well that if swimming back had been an option, she would have done it the night before, because staying here with someone like Atjima—who seemed determined to make her life harder—was already giving her a headache, yet no matter how much she disliked it, nothing was in her favor right now, leaving her with no choice but to endure it a little longer.

⋆。𖦹 ̊。⋆

"Stop looking so miserable, or people here will think we didn't treat you well."

"I want to go home."

"Tomorrow morning, Mr. Boonsong will take us back to the mainland."

"...You're serious?"

"Why would I lie? You're so naive."

Atjima watched as the dullness in Atitaya's eyes slowly lifted, replaced by a flicker of hope, because ever since she thought they couldn't leave, she had been quiet all day, completely uninterested in anything around her, not even reacting much when Mr. Boonsong invited them over for dinner, so different from her usual self that it was almost uncomfortable to watch.

"One more day is enough. Stay any longer and someone might start crying from missing home."

"Let's go inside. It's not good to keep elders waiting."

"I know."

Atjima took a step ahead, then paused just slightly.

"Hey, ghost girl."

"What?"

"Tell me honestly... do you really not want to stay here with me?"

"That's right. And you don't want to be stuck here with me either, do you?"

"Of course not. It hasn't even been a full day and I'm already tired of looking at your face."

"Haha, same here."

They managed to hold a normal conversation for only a few lines before slipping right back into their usual rhythm of bickering, as if distance from home or the absence of others made no difference at all, because wherever they were, the two of them would still clash the same way.

If one was fire, the other was oil.

They simply didn't mix.

And yet...

Like the lamp Atjima carried in her hand, the light only existed when both were there.

⋆。𖦹 ̊。⋆

"Heed my warning. Unless you want to end up sleeping in your own vomit and looking pathetic."

"I know, stop bringing it up."

Atitaya had no intention of touching the strong homemade liquor that Mr. Boonsong and his wife brought out to entertain their guests, especially after both Phaka and Bua had already warned her about it, and she clearly remembered how even Blue had once taken just a sip and passed out until morning, which made the sight of Atjima calmly drinking alongside Mr. Boonsong even more unbelievable, as if the two of them shared the same absurd tolerance for alcohol.

"You're stubborn, that's why I have to keep repeating it."

"Look at yourself first. At this rate, you're the one who's going to pass out."

"Don't underestimate me, ghost girl."

The more she was told to stop, the more Atjima got carried away, encouraged by Mr. Boonsong's family as she kept raising her glass and drinking along with them, leaving Atitaya no choice but to give up interfering, because it was obvious no one here intended to stop her anyway.

It didn't take long before Atitaya suddenly felt a heavy weight leaning against her shoulder, making her instinctively step aside in surprise.

"Miss!"

Luckily, Mr. Boonsong managed to catch Atjima just before she collapsed to the ground, her body swaying uncontrollably from the alcohol, while Atitaya quickly moved away, staring at her with a mix of disbelief and irritation as the earlier warning finally became reality.

"Atitaya, take her back. She's too drunk."

"I can't carry her alone. Can she stay here tonight?"

"No. If she wakes up in a strange place, she'll make a scene. I'll have Bua help you take her home."

Of course, it ended up like this. Even when she tried to stay out of trouble, it still found its way to her, and now she was the one stuck dealing with a completely drunk Atjima, whose strong smell of alcohol alone was enough to make her frown, to the point that for a brief second, she genuinely considered dumping a bucket of water—or even the rest of the liquor—over her just to sober her up, or better yet, throwing her straight into the sea and being done with it.

⋆。𖦹 ̊。⋆

"Bua, just lay her here."

"Phew... that was harder than I thought. She's heavier than she looks."

"Thank you so much for helping me bring her back. If it were just me, I'd be exhausted by now."

"It's nothing. We should clean her up a bit so she'll feel better."

"Clean...?"

"I'll prepare some warm water and a towel. Wait here for a moment."

Atitaya nodded, letting Bua take the lead since she clearly had more experience with this kind of situation, while she stayed by the bed, looking down at Atjima who was completely out of it, her face faintly flushed and her breathing uneven, clearly uncomfortable in her current state. For a moment, Atitaya considered helping remove her outer shirt, leaving only the undershirt so she could breathe easier, but in the end decided to wait for Bua to come back instead.

"Serves you right... you shouldn't have drunk that much."

"Atitaya, I've prepared everything."

"Then... Bua, could you help clean her up? I'll go get a clean set of pajamas."

"No, I don't dare."

"Why?"

"She gets irritated easily and doesn't like people getting close. If she finds out I touched her, she might cause trouble later. It's better if you do it. I've already prepared everything, I'll go help my mother now."

"Wait—Bua—"

But Bua had already slipped away, leaving her alone with the problem she had tried to avoid from the beginning.

Atitaya let out a quiet breath before turning back toward the bed, realizing there was no one else she could rely on now, so she picked up the basin of warm water and the towel, placed them beside the bed, and carefully wrung the towel before starting to wipe Atjima's skin, hoping to ease the heat from the alcohol.

"Stay still... I can't even get your shirt off."

Atjima shifted faintly, her body resisting even in her unconscious state, making it impossible to remove the shirt properly, so Atitaya gave up on that idea and instead slid the damp towel under the fabric, turning her face slightly away as she worked, trying not to focus too much on the closeness.

"Hey—"

Before she could react, Atjima suddenly moved, her arm looping around Atitaya and pulling her down without warning, throwing her off balance as she fell forward onto the bed, trapped in an awkwardly close distance, the heat from the other girl's body seeping through and making her freeze for a second longer than she should have.

⋆。𖦹 ̊。⋆

"P'Fai, let me sleep with you... please."

"Get out. I'm sleeping alone."

"But I'm scared. I've never slept alone before..."

"Then don't come crying. I said no."

Seven-year-old Atitaya stood outside the room, wiping her tears after being pushed out, still clutching her favorite pillow as she had done every night since coming to the Watinwanich house, because even after two weeks, nothing about this place felt like home, especially not the nights when she had to sleep alone without the comfort she used to have when her father was still there.

"Stubborn girl... are you going to stand there all night?"

"Hic..."

"Stop crying and come in."

Atjima's voice came out sharp and impatient, yet the door was already open, and Atitaya, who had been standing there hugging her pillow, quickly wiped her face and held back her sobs before stepping inside like she had been given a rare permission she didn't dare waste.

"Sleep over there. If you touch me, I'll throw you out. Got it?"

"Got it..."

"Then sleep. Stop crying, it's annoying."

Atitaya lay down where she was told, quietly watching as Atjima turned off the main light, leaving only the bedside lamp on, even though she had once said she couldn't stand sleeping with the light because it bothered her, but tonight, she didn't say anything, probably because the crying had gone on long enough.

Slowly, the tight, empty feeling in Atitaya's chest began to ease, even without any comforting words or gentle gestures, and even though there was a line of dolls placed between them like a boundary, something Atjima had set clearly to keep her from getting too close.

But what Atjima didn't know was that every night, once she had fallen asleep, Atitaya would quietly move those dolls away one by one, making just enough space beside her, before carefully inching closer and wrapping her arms around Atjima's waist, holding on to the warmth as if it was the only thing keeping her from feeling alone.

Even if Atjima never hugged her back...

She was never pushed out again.

⋆。𖦹 ̊。⋆

"Atjima..."

"Hm..."

A soft murmur was the only response, the other girl still half-asleep, her voice low and unfocused as if she hadn't fully woken up, yet her arms didn't loosen, still holding on just enough for Atitaya to feel it clearly.

For a brief moment, Atitaya froze, caught between the present and the past, because the warmth felt too familiar, too close to the memories she had just recalled, except this time, something about it was different in a way she couldn't ignore.

She tried to pull away slowly, carefully slipping out of the hold as if afraid that any sudden movement would break something she didn't fully understand yet, her heart no longer as steady as it used to be around this person.

In the end, she chose to leave.

Not because she wanted to... but because staying any longer would only make things harder to sort out, especially when that simple, unconscious hug had already stirred up feelings she wasn't ready to face.

Because for the first time in her life—

it was no longer a one-sided embrace...

⋆。𖦹 ̊。⋆