Me and Thee: English translation.

Wake up call #12

 

Peach was too restless to sleep that night—not from excitement, but from sheer anxiety that made his head throb. After the party, he stayed by Plub's side, making sure his little sister didn't get too tipsy, without mentioning a single word about his conversation with Nuch. By around 11 p.m., he gently nudged her and suggested they head home. Plub, ever the easygoing one, waved her goodbyes and left without a fuss.

 

Though they lived in separate condos, Plub chose one closer to her office to avoid the city's infamous traffic, while Peach preferred one near the BTS station for flexibility in his freelance work. Despite living apart, they had each other's spare keys and keycards—just in case.

 

After parking his car beneath her building, he walked Plub up to her unit, made sure she got inside safely, and handed her keys back. With a final wave, he headed back downstairs, ready to hail a cab home. But the moment his foot touched the last step outside the condo's entrance, a sleek black car rolled to a smooth stop right in front of him. Peach blinked, frozen for a split second, before instinctively taking three or four large steps back, heart pounding with suspicion. Was this some mafia hit squad sent to finish him off after what happened earlier? Just then, the driver's side window rolled down, revealing a familiar face wearing a broad, friendly grin.

 

"Mr Mok?" Peach greeted the secretary he'd met earlier that evening, still bewildered. Then it hit him, Mok worked for that mafia boss, Arseny. Peach took another two giant steps backwards without thinking, making Mok chuckle in amusement despite himself. He couldn't decide whether to commend Peach for his impressive reflexes or be exasperated that his boss had scared the poor photographer enough to make him consider bolting on the spot.

 

"Good evening, Mr Peach. Heading back to your condo?" The young secretary decided to flash a small, disarming smile, hoping to ease the tension radiating from the photographer. Peach's shoulders relaxed just a bit, though suspicion still clouded his eyes.

 

"Yes... Are you just passing by?" He asked cautiously, silently praying that Mok would say it was a coincidence, just a friendly greeting. Too bad the secretary's smile widened, and his next words landed like a punch to the gut.

 

"No, sir. My boss sent me to pick you up." Peach went pale in an instant, feeling lightheaded. He could already picture himself getting hauled into that sleek black car if he fainted now. The thought sent a new wave of panic surging through him. He inhaled sharply, forcing himself to stay conscious. Fainting was not an option.

 

"Why is he sending for me? Is he still mad about what happened earlier?" Peach fired off the questions, voice growing more frantic by the second. "Mr Mok, please let me go. I swear I won't go near him ever again!"

 

Mok watched Peach's mounting panic and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He quickly raised both hands in a non-threatening gesture. Thank goodness he'd come in person instead of sending someone else—no overtime pay be damned. If things got any messier, he'd be the one in deep trouble.

 

"Please calm down, Mr Peach. I'm not here to hurt you," Mok said hurriedly, his voice soothing but firm. Seeing Peach practically ready to bolt, he did his best to shrink his broad frame, trying to appear as harmless as possible. "Please don't run. If you do, I'm dead. I'm begging you—don't make this harder for me."

 

Peach stared at the towering bodyguard, now looking half-desperate, half-pleading. He couldn't help but let out a small, weary sigh. Back at work, Mok was always so stiff and businesslike around Mr Thee. Peach never imagined the guy could be... well, like this. However, the over-the-top pleading actually calmed him down, even if only a little.

 

Peach's smile softened ever so slightly. He cautiously stepped closer to the car but didn't let his guard down entirely.

 

"So... why exactly did your boss send you to pick me up?"

 

"He was worried about you heading home alone so late," Mok answered smoothly, straight-faced as he worked to rack up points for his boss. Every word out of his mouth was thoroughly "revised" from the original message he'd received. "He asked me to drive you home and also sent this bruise cream as an apology."

 

Peach raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a slightly wider smile. Of course, he didn't believe a single word. Worried? That's unbelievable. Apologize? Not in this lifetime. No way!

 

He didn't call out Mok's obvious lies, though. Instead, he simply smiled faintly, already calculating how much money he'd save on cab fare. Since The Boss wasn't in the car, it seemed safe enough... for now. With that, he opened the passenger door and slid into the seat without further fuss.

 

The silence inside the car was deafening, broken only by the steady hum of the air conditioner. Peach sat stiffly, pressed against the door as if ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble. Meanwhile, the young secretary debated locking the doors but worried it might freak Peach out even more. The last thing he needed was the photographer panicking and thinking he was being kidnapped. So he settled for driving as carefully as possible, keeping a moderate speed the entire way.

 

When the car finally rolled to a stop at the curb outside Peach's condo, he practically leapt out, eager to escape. But just as he was about to close the door, something tugged at his conscience. He hesitated, then turned back to bow his head politely to thank him.

 

Before Peach could leave, Mok reached into the console and pulled out a pricey tube of bruise cream, handing it over with a sheepish smile. Peach hesitated, tempted to decline, but Mok's expression was so genuinely apologetic that he sighed inwardly and took it.

 

"I know I overhyped my boss a bit," Mok admitted with a rueful smile, clearly aware that his earlier story was way over the top.  He wanted to help him score some points. But guessing that the one listening to this was too smart to fall for any of that." Honesty like that was hard to come by.

 

"But it's true that Mr Thee told me to make sure you got home safely," Mok added earnestly. "And the part about getting the bruise cream... that was his order too."

 

Peach lowered his gaze, his thoughts spiralling into a chaotic whirl. He had always figured that an intimidating mafia boss couldn't possibly care about someone like him, someone small and insignificant. Thee seemed like the kind of man you'd be wise to avoid at all costs. But that worried look Thee thought he'd hidden on the drive over... Peach had noticed. He wasn't blind to it.

 

"Mr Thee might seem scary, but he's not a bad person."

 

Peach slowly lifted his head, his lips curving into a faint smile. It wasn't as bright as before, but the heaviness in his eyes had eased a little. He had an answer now—one just for himself.

 

"I don't hate him." Peach shrugged, his shoulders relaxing at last. "But if you ask me whether I'm scared of him... yeah, I am. We only got tangled up because of Aran's situation. From what I can tell, things seem to be settled now. There's no reason for us to meet again."

 

He gave Mok a polite nod, a silent farewell, before turning and heading back up to his apartment. Though he'd slept most of the day, the moment he shut his front door, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion crashed over him. Maybe it was the sheer number of stressful surprises he'd faced today—or how tense he'd been the whole time. His body was finally demanding rest.

 

He sat down heavily on the edge of his bed, letting out a long, weary sigh. Mok's words still echoed faintly in his mind. And every so often, he couldn't help but picture that tall, stern-faced man with his piercing eyes—so intense, so intimidating.

 

No matter how many times they met, Thee would always be frightening—too much, too intense, too everything. But... at the same time, Peach couldn't deny that Thee had softened toward him more than he ever expected and softened just enough for Peach to momentarily let down his guard... just enough to wonder if they could ever be friends. Don't be ridiculous. A dangerous beast could never be friends with a timid, defenceless rabbit.

 

Deciding to shake off the tangled mess of thoughts, Peach got up and headed for the shower. After changing into an old, oversized T-shirt and a pair of comfy shorts, he finally flopped down onto his bed. His eyes drifted to the small tube of bruise cream sitting on the bedside table... and lingered there longer than he intended. The bruise cream was a premium brand, not outrageously expensive, but definitely pricier than your average drugstore find.

 

Peach rolled the tube between his fingers, then finally squeezed some onto his wrist. He gently massaged the cool, soothing cream into his skin until it disappeared. Satisfied, he gave the tube a mock snarl.  Fine, I'll use it... But that doesn't mean I've forgiven him!

 

The thought made him chuckle. He knew perfectly well that Thee wouldn't care whether he was still mad or not. And really, his decision to keep some distance wasn't about holding a grudge. With that settled in his mind, Peach snuggled into his blanket, hoping for a decent night's sleep. But his former boss's stern and full of warning echoed relentlessly in his head.

 

He spent the night tossing and turning, slipping in and out of restless sleep. By morning, he finally dragged himself out of bed, groggy and dishevelled, his hair a hopeless mess. His head throbbed, forcing him to rub his temples with a grimace.

Grabbing his phone, he placed a quick order for coffee from the café downstairs, then stumbled into the bathroom to freshen up. After one last check of his things, he locked up his apartment and went down to pick up his drink before heading straight for the Arseny Group's office.

 

Once he parked and made his way inside, he took the elevator to a familiar floor. He'd worked on several projects with his former team leader, Nuch, and they always used the same meeting room. Nuch managed four sub-teams and often juggled two major projects at once, which meant Peach had spent countless hours there. By now, most of the staff recognised him on sight.

 

Peach pushed open the meeting room door and saw only a few people inside. Relieved, he quickly found a seat next to his younger sister, Plub. Seeing him walk in with nothing but a cup of coffee, she sighed dramatically and rummaged through her bag. Nearly an hour passed before the door finally swung open, revealing Nuch looking decidedly unhappy. Peach wasn't surprised. Nuch was never late. Something must've happened to throw her off schedule, and knowing her, she was probably still annoyed about it.

 

The meeting kicked off with a quick project update. The fall collection was nearly done; only the final editing of the promotional materials remained. Nuch nodded with satisfaction, pleased that everything was progressing on schedule. Then, she straightened up, her expression shifting to something more serious, even a bit uneasy. Finally, she spoke about the day's last agenda item.

 

"Today will be my last day working here." Her voice was steady, though there was a faint, bittersweet smile on her lips. "I want to say how proud I am of every single one of you. I've managed four sub-teams, and this team has always delivered the best results. Every. Single. Time. I'm beyond proud of us."

 

Some team members discreetly dabbed their eyes with tissues. Even Plub squeezed Peach's hand tightly, though he simply smiled a warm, genuine smile he rarely showed.

 

"But all good things must come to an end. After the board's selection process, they've appointed a new team leader. I introduced them to the other three sub-teams this morning. Now, it's time for you all to meet them."

 

As if perfectly timed, the meeting room door opened. It almost felt like the person outside had been waiting for just the right cue. In walked a tall, lean man with strikingly fair skin. His honey-blond hair, tied back at shoulder length, shimmered under the fluorescent lights. His sharp, fox-like eyes curved subtly at the corners, giving him an air of mystery. His finely sculpted face was framed by a soft, perpetual smile that didn't waver.

 

Peach's smile faded slowly, his heart pounding with unease. I knew it... I had a feeling, but I didn't think it'd actually be him.

 

"This is Wivit. He's currently the deputy leader for Sub-team Two, so most of you probably know him already." Nuch paused, taking a deep breath before delivering the final blow. "Starting today, he will be your team leader. Listen to him and follow his lead."

 

A few of the younger team members murmured polite acknowledgements, but the more senior staff stayed silent, their faces openly hostile.

 

"Hello, everyone. My name's Wivit, but feel free to call me Vit. I'm really excited about this opportunity to be your new team leader. I look forward to working with all of you," he said with a warm, practised smile.

 

"If you want to say anything to the team, please go ahead. I have to go for a meeting."

 

Nuch gave him a small nod before gathering her belongings. Just as she was about to leave the room, she glanced back at Peach, concern evident in her eyes. He quickly forced a reassuring smile in return, though his stomach churned with unease.

 

"Alright, everyone. I know your time is valuable, so I'll keep this brief."

 

Peach snapped out of his thoughts and redirected his gaze toward the head of the table, where Wivit stood, radiating an air of casual authority. Their eyes met, intense and deliberate. Wivit quickly looked away, pretending it was just a passing glance.

 

"I want to have a quick meeting before we dive back into work," Wivit continued smoothly. "Changing team leaders can be an adjustment, so let's set some clear expectations to avoid any... confusion." He checked his watch, feigning mild surprise, an overly rehearsed gesture that rang hollow.

 

"We'll have a joint meeting with all four teams in the main conference room in an hour." Wivit paused a bit. His lips curled into a slightly wider smile. "Only full-time team members need to attend. Part-timers and freelancers, you're off the hook. It doesn't affect you... anyway."

 

Peach folded his arms across his chest, his eyes narrowing as simmering frustration began to boil beneath his calm exterior. Starting a war right out of the gate, huh?