Me and Thee: English translation.

Wake up call #21

Theerakit Kian Arseny, the half-Russian mafia heir turned luxury mogul, had built an empire in the perfume and jewellery world. His fame wasn't just about his striking good looks or unfathomable wealth; it was the enigmatic allure he carried - an irresistible magnetism that drew people in wherever he went. But tonight's gala was different. The usual air of untouchable arrogance around him had turned into something far more chilling — a cold, cutting aura that made the room feel ten degrees colder. The tension rolled off him in waves so intense that no one dared approach within a hundred-meter radius.

Speculations ran wild, desperately trying to figure out what had gone wrong — what could have caused the young mafia boss to radiate such simmering displeasure. His barely-contained irritation created an oppressive atmosphere that made even the boldest reporters think twice. Sure, they were hungry for a headline, but no story was worth risking their lives. Who would've guessed that his seething irritation stemmed from something as ridiculous as... a missing bag of spicy crispy squid?

Thee let out a long, frustrated sigh, the lingering annoyance still churning in his chest. He was rarely one to get worked up over anything. In fact, emotions had always felt distant and irrelevant — neither warmth nor bitterness could touch him.

He wasn't cold-hearted, just... empty. Detached. The only softness he ever felt was reserved for his family, the only ones who could stir something tender in him. The outside world had never managed to provoke a single tremor in his carefully guarded heart. Yet now... one missing bag of squid was enough to put him in

a foul mood.

Accepting a glass of wine from a passing server, Thee swirled the crimson liquid gently, letting its aroma unfurl before taking a slow sip. His gaze drifted toward the stage, where models showcased the latest Falk collection of perfumes and jewellery. He felt utterly bored.

Wivit stood on stage as team leader, presenting the project after delivering the opening speech. Behind him, the screen showcased the Fall Collection's captivating image of Aran in a flowing outfit, his wrist adorned with a striking rose-gold bangle. His expression was perfectly composed, his gaze steady and unreadable. But then, his eyes landed on a familiar, elegant signature etched discreetly in the corner of the image. His gaze softened. Strangely enough, the model's alluring beauty, something that had once fascinated him, paled in comparison to the pull of that small, familiar signature.

The young mafia boss lowered his eyes slightly. This wasn't the first time his otherwise still and guarded heart had stirred. Aside from his family, he'd never cared deeply for anyone else. But Peach... Peach made him feel at peace, a calming presence that eased his restless mind. With Peach, he felt safe, free to be his true self without fear of betrayal or harm. That unexpected warmth bloomed within his chest, sweet and comforting. It was something he now found himself unwilling to let go of—a feeling that grew stronger with each passing day. He wanted Peach to see only him, care only about him, and stay close enough to reach.

The intensity of that need swelled, pushing dangerously close to the surface.

A sudden burst of applause snapped Thee out of his thoughts. He looked up to see Wivit standing proudly on stage, chest puffed out, flashing a triumphant smile. Thee's expression darkened, the cold edge returning to his gaze. The brief softness in his features vanished like a passing breeze. Peach might play coy, might push and pull just enough to tease. But not with him. Never with him. The swirling darkness in Theerakit's eyes dimmed only when his secretary approached, breaking the tense atmosphere, though his scowl deepened even further.

"Boss, why don't you eat something?" The secretary offered a plate of food and deftly plucked the wine glass from Thee's hand.

"Drinking wine on an empty stomach will make you drunk."

"Bring me the spicy squid."

"You don't eat squid, Boss," Mok insisted firmly, his voice unwavering, though he lied through his teeth without the slightest hint of guilt.

"Whether I eat it or not is my business, but I want it."

"Maybe you should just tell Peach straight up that you're mad he didn't bring you a souvenir." Mok sighed, genuinely mourning the crispy squid still stashed in his own bag. Theerakit crossed his arms, tilting his chin up ever so slightly, his pride practically tangible.

"Why should I beg for some cheap snack?"

Even as he said it, he questioned himself. He didn't like squid. He hated spicy food. And that was just a common snack, easy to find anywhere. Why was he so annoyed over something so trivial? His lips pressed into a thin line as he dismissed the irritation simmering inside him. He wasn't about to waste time analysing his emotions-not now.

While the young mafia wrestled with his thoughts, he failed to notice the sly, mischievous gleam lighting up Mok's eyes as his assistant offered a deceptively sweet smile.

"If it were a gift from Mr Aran, would you still be this upset, Boss?"

Theerakit stiffened. He'd nearly forgotten that name, but hearing it now triggered an image of Aran's impossibly perfect face from a past promotional shoot. Strangely, he felt nothing. Just a faint, distant memory, like an old photograph he'd stopped looking at long ago. He realised that his interest had faded so completely that even thinking about Aran seemed pointless. But then...Another face surfaced on Peach's. That easygoing smile, his cheeks puffing up just a bit from biting into an overstuffed sandwich. The sparkle of tears sliding down his face like falling gems.

Peach wasn't conventionally beautiful—not in the way Arseny was. But something about him made Theerakit's heart twist in a way he couldn't quite explain. Mok, noticing his boss lost in thought, grinned even wider, unable to resist turning the knife just a little more. 

"That's called being possessive, Boss."

In that instant, Mok noticed his boss's ears flush a deep red. The sharp, intimidating eyes widened ever so slightly in startled surprise.

"Ridiculous!" Theerakit muttered under his breath, his voice low and rough like a growl, but the lingering blush robbed the words of any menace. Silently smirking, Mok mentally upgraded the photographer's importance in his boss's life. Satisfied with his little jab, he dropped the teasing for now. His gaze swept the surroundings, ensuring no one was within earshot. Most of the crowd seemed fixated on the stage, leaving them undisturbed.

Lowering his voice, Mok shifted into business mode and delivered the day's updates. As Theerakit's assistant, he handled all non-critical communications. Everyone in their circles knew that if they wanted something from the Arseny family, they had to go through him—not just for security but because of the family's many hidden agendas. Every matter had to be routed through the right channels.

After a brief pause, Mok glanced down before delivering the final report. "Mr Krich informed me that he's flying to Thailand next week."

Theerakit's brow shot up at the mention of his younger brother. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he turned to Mok, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. 

"How long's Rome staying?"

"A month."

"Great. I'll take the whole month off and leave him in your hands."

"That's not happening. There's still too much work to be done." Mok shot back firmly, lips twitching a little bit downward. "You should get ready to leave, Boss," he continued, tone turning businesslike again. "You've got an online meeting first thing in the morning."

"Push the meeting back a couple of hours." Thee stopped teasing and shifted into command mode with his secretary. His mind wandered to someone likely working late into the night. "And prep two sets of sandwiches and iced Americanos for me."

Exhausted beyond measure, Peach slumped into his office chair, barely keeping his eyes open. The computer screen confirmed his last email had been sent, allowing him to collapse with a sense of relief. It wasn't like he'd never pulled an all-nighter before, but that didn't mean he enjoyed it, especially after a full day on set, only to come home and dive straight into more work. The grind had drained him dry.

He removed his computer glasses and rubbed his temples, trying to ease the ache radiating from his tired eyes. His stomach growled loudly, reminding him that instant noodles from earlier had long since been digested. He was too worn out to bother fixing a proper meal, so he chose to ignore the hunger and curl up in his chair for a quick nap. Just as he was slipping into much-needed rest, the shrill sound of his doorbell cut through the silence like a blade.

Peach groaned, burrowing deeper into his chair in stubborn denial. But the relentless ringing wouldn't stop. After a moment of internal whining, he forced his weary body upright and trudged to the door. Stretching up on tiptoes, he peeked through the peephole and froze. Standing on the other side was none other than Thee, looking seconds away from pressing the doorbell again. Peach yanked the door open.

"What brings you here this early, Mr Thee?" he mumbled, stifling a yawn so forcefully that tears pricked the corners of his eyes. The mafia boss faltered for a split second, his stormy grey eyes narrowing as they swept over Peach from head to toes, messy hair, sleepy, tear-filled eyes, an oversized, stretched-out T-shirt exposing his collarbones, and shorts barely visible under the shirt's hem, leaving long, toned legs on display. To Peach, this was perfectly normal home attire. He was just about to crash, after all. But for some reason, Thee's expression darkened omınously.

Without a word, Thee gripped his shoulders firmly and pushed him back into the apartment. His sharp gaze darted toward the condo's hallway, scanning for any potential witnesses. Once he was sure no one had seen Peach in such a state, he slammed the door shut and locked it securely. Turning back, he fixed Peach with a hard, disapproving glare.

"Your outfit looks awkward. Are you planning to show off to someone?" Thee's voice came out low and gruff, his expression stern. Too tired to figure out what he meant, Peach just frowned in confusion and answered flatly, unfazed by the intimidating tone.

"I'm about to sleep, so of course I'm wearing pyjamas. What do you expect, a suit?" He paused to yawn, squeezing his eyes shut as he massaged his temples. 

"And it's six in the morning. Who else would be coming by besides you?" Thee's face softened instantly, as if someone had flipped a switch. For a moment, Peach could've sworn sparkles were glittering in the air behind him. Apparently, sarcasm didn't register in Thee's selective hearing.

"Only me, right?" Thee asked, his voice suddenly light and cheerful. Peach, still groggy with half-lidded eyes, could only nod lazily. Normal people didn't show up at someone's place at six in the morning.

Ignoring Peach's halfhearted glare, Thee strode further into the apartment, long legs moving with purpose. He grabbed Peach's arm and guided him toward the dining table, gently pressing him down into a chair. It was only then that Peach noticed the two plastic bags Thee was carrying, releasing a mouthwatering aroma of porridge.

"I was going to grab that sandwich you like, but Mok said porridge would be better." Thee explained, frowning slightly as if second-guessing himself. Peach nodded eagerly, instantly on board. Something light and easy on the stomach was exactly what he needed after such a long night. 

The savoury scent of food snapped him out of his daze a little more. Casting Thee a glance, he got up and fetched two bowls from the cupboard without a second thought. Returning to the table, he carefully opened the bags and poured the hot porridge into the bowls, white steam curling lazily into the air. He added crispy mini dough sticks, thinly sliced ginger, and a splash of soy sauce for extra flavour. Pushing one bowl toward Thee, Peach smiled warmly.

"Thank you. Eat with me," Peach said with a wide smile. Peach's stomach was growling, and having food appear at his door without lifting a finger instantly put him in a better mood. The young mafia paused briefly, his eyes softening in an almost noticeable way.

"Want me to buy you a porridge shop?"

"No, thanks." Peach declined flatly, already used to Thee's over-the-top offers. He didn't take the suggestion seriously, not one bit.

After finishing the bowl of porridge, his stomach felt comfortably full, and the warmth spread through him, making his eyelids even heavier, as if weighted down with lead. Peach lazily stacked the empty bowls in the sink, deciding to deal with them after he woke up around noon.

"I got you some coffee, it's in the fridge. Get some sleep and just have it at noon when you wake up. The mafia said as he followed him into the kitchen, holding up a cup from a popular café. A faint smile tugged at his lips when he noticed Peach looking drowsy again. "I'll come back at noon to pick you up."

Peach nodded absently, barely processing the words. As Thee headed toward the door, a sudden thought struck him. He called out to Thee to wait, rushing into his workspace. When he returned, he was holding a wind chime. The glass wind chime faded from deep blue at the edges to pure white at the centre, decorated with elegant, swirling wave patterns that looked almost alive. A delicate seashell with a soft pink hue dangled at the end, producing a clear, soothing sound with the slightest movement.

"This is for you. Sorry, it's a bit late. I painted the waves myself, and they just finished drying." Peach said with a proud smile. "They say the sound of wind chimes helps calm the mind. Maybe you can hang it up and see if it works for you."