#taylee

They had started their escape at Supot’s family cabin but they had quickly been found. They had made it out by the skin of their teeth and taken only what they could hold in their rucksacks. Under the guise of night, they took two horses and vanished under the company’s nose.

And now all that was left was a sunset, the clothes on their back and each other’s company.

When Yuth had deemed it safe, they set up their evening camp and made a fire, letting their horses graze and rest from their long journey. Their destination was unclear but the only goal they had was to keep moving and keep safe. As much as they were exhausted, Yuth and Supot wanted to survive.

“You know, I never thought a scientist like me would be living off the land.” Yuth remarked, as the fish they had caught crackled over the fire.

“Good thing you have such a good survival guide.” Supot boasted and added a wink for good measure.

Of course, this sent Yuth’s senses into a tizzy. Ever since he had first met Supot, Yuth had felt an attraction toward the bolder man but now that they spent every waking hour together with no other company, Yuth was falling hard.

“I’m sure growing up on a farm gave you all that humbleness too.” Yuth responded, hoping to knock Supot down a few notches.

Instead, this only garnered a hearty laugh from Supot. “You should be so lucky to have a genuine cowboy at your side. How far do you think you would have got without me, huh?”

Yuth’s shoulders slumped forward. Despite the plaid and worn jeans he was wearing, there still wasn’t even a shred of him that knew what he was doing out here in the middle of nowhere. Without Supot, he would be long discovered by the company. His fate really was in Supot’s hands.

“I get it.” Yuth grumbled, leaning forward so his head rested in his hands. “You’re better at this than me. I owe you my life. You don’t have to throw salt on an already very sore wound.”

The reality is that it was Yuth’s fault that they were being followed in the first place. Yuth had stayed behind. If he had only gone with Supot the first time or stayed behind, Supot would still be safe in his cabin, not on the run, like they were.

“I’m sorry.” Yuth expressed, focusing on the fire rather than Supot.

Yuth watched the flickering of the flames and saw out of his periphery that Supot had moved closer. Yuth tried to make himself as small as possible to keep distance between them but Supot was having none of that and even slung an arm around Yuth’s shoulders, obviously not knowing what the proximity did to Yuth.

“You have to stop saying that.” Supot shared. “I chose this. When I opened the door to my cabin, I knew it was you and I knew that they would be following close behind. I chose to let you in because…”

Yuth’s eyes widened at the confession. He slowly sat up and Supot’s hand slipped from his shoulder. He was now the one looking at the flames and avoiding eye contact. He looked as if he had regretted his words and felt like he had said too much.

But what had he not said?

There was an unanswered question that hung in the air between them. The hum of cicadas and the crackle and pop of the fire were the only sounds besides Yuth’s nervous breath. But there something that was telling him to be bold.

What else did they have to lose?

“Why did you open the door, Supot?” Yuth questioned, his nerves surging through every part of him.

“Because the only thing that was missing from my life during those weeks we were apart was… you.” Supot explained slowly, the reflection of the fire dancing in his eyes. “If you hadn’t come to find me, I would have come back for you the next day.”

“W-what?” Yuth’s head was spinning. He couldn’t seem to process what was being shared with him.

“Living without you, Yuth, isn’t really living.” Supot continued, his tone and gaze intense. “I’d rather be on the run for the rest of my life than lose you again.”

Yuth wasn’t used to Supot being so serious. He was used to a charismatic and care-free Supot. This was something else and Yuth loved that he was seeing another side of Supot. Yuth felt an urge to collect Supot’s hands up in his own so he followed that instinct.

“I don’t want to lose you either.” Yuth answered, a shy smile on his lips.

Supot bowed his head forward so that their foreheads gently touched. It was the most intimate moment they had ever shared between them and it felt like a promise of something else. But, right now, this was exactly what they needed, nothing less and nothing more.

Yuth and Supot stayed like that for a stretch of time that felt infinite and all too short at the same time. It was the smell of burnt fish that made them spring apart and grounding them back in reality. Supot scrambled forward and collected their charred dinner, handing a stick to Yuth who accepted it graciously. Supot sat back next to him and a nervous grin appeared on his lips.

“Well, look at us.” Yuth remarked, a feeling of warmth spread through him that he was sure wasn’t just from the fire. “Two cowboys making our way in the world.”

“A cowboy… and a cowboy in training.” Supot corrected, mussing Yuth’s hair fondly.