Me and Thee: English translation.

Wake up call #22

The morning meeting was a joint conference involving the entire Arseny conglomerate. With several branches operating abroad, most meetings were conducted online via video calls, allowing representatives to report from different corners of the world. Even through the cold lens of a camera, the intimidating atmosphere generated by the Arseny heirs remained as palpable as ever.

Company executives prepared not only detailed reports but also fortified their nerves in anticipation of the usual intensity, but today, something unexpected happened. Thee the young mafia seemed... cheerful. Not just mildly pleasant-his demeanour bordered on downright pleasant. His lips even quirked upward on occasion, almost as if a field of blooming flowers stretched out behind him.

The image clashed absurdly with the stern, ruthless figure everyone was used to.

No one dared comment on the strange shift, though. After delivering their reports, the executives quickly turned off their cameras and logged out, vanishing with near-military precision. Only two brothers remained on the call, locked in an intense stare-down.

Krichdanai Rome Arseny, Thee's only younger brother, studied him with narrowed, piercing grey eyes gleaming with curiosity. A mischievous grin tugged at his lips as though he'd just uncovered a well-kept secret.

"Alright, spill it, Kian. What happened?"

"Nothing." Thee's reply was as deadpan as ever. However, Rome immediately straightened, pointing an accusatory finger at the camera as if trying to jab right through the screen.

"No way! You? In this good a mood? Don't even try to pass that off as 'normal.' I'm not buying it."

Leaning back into his chair, Rome's grin widened ever so slightly. His gaze softened, tinged with genuine warmth. "Seeing me happy for a change isn't such a bad thing, right?"

"Creepy!" Rome shot back instantly, though his jab didn't seem to faze Thee at all.

The Arseny brothers couldn't have been more different in personality, yet their bond was unshakable. They'd grown up together, moulded by harsh lessons: never trust anyone, for a true friend didn't exist in a mafia world. But one rule stood above all: trust your brother more than anyone else. No matter how brutal the outside world might be, family was the only constant. That's why Thee's unusually mellow mood stood out like a beacon to Rome, impossible to ignore.

Thee's smile widened just a touch as he relaxed into his chair, his shoulders visibly loosening. He reached out to pick up a glass wind chime resting nearby, gently rolling it between his fingers. "How's everything on your end? Mom and Dad doing okay?"

"They're great. Not acting like retirees at all." Rome shrugged, though his gaze lingered on his brother's hand, still absentmindedly fiddling with the delicate wind chime. "What's that in your hand?"

"A wind chime." Thee lifted it with quiet pride, turning it for Rome to see. "Pretty, right? The wave patterns are adorable, and the seashell at the bottom is just the right size. Plus, it sounds beautiful."

Krich rolled his eyes, looking exasperated. "You're talking about that cheap trinket like it's worth ten thousand."

"It's worth more than those overpriced designer pieces. You just don't have an eye for quality," Thee snapped, his voice sharp as he carefully set the wind chime back in its spot, guarding it like a precious heirloom. He didn't spare even a glance at his brother's stunned, ghost-struck expression.

"Hey! Kian. Is there something wrong? Since when do you like decorative knick-knacks like that?" Rome leaned in closer, still baffled, as though trying to decode some hidden meaning behind the wind chime. "Is it the brand one? It doesn't look expensive."

"I like this one," Thee snapped, his face hardening slightly. "Is that a problem, Rome? Because if it is, I can send Mok on an overseas assignment for a month next week."

"Whoa, no need for that, Kian!" Rome threw up both hands in surrender, his face falling into a perfect mask of mock despair, like a scolded puppy. "No problem at all! That wind chime is a masterpiece, a true work of art. I've never seen one so exquisite, absolutely priceless, big bro."

Thee's expression softened just enough to show approval. Rome grinned, eyes sparkling mischievously again.

"So... who gave it to you?"

Thee narrowed his eyes coldly and ended the call without another word. He turned his attention back to the wind chime in his hand. He knew it wasn't worth much. The painted waves were uneven, the strokes clumsy, and there were even stray spots where the paint had dripped. Normally, he couldn't care less about useless decorations. Yet, holding this one filled him with warmth. He cradled it gently, a faint smile tugging at his lips. The frustrating meeting still lingered in his mind, but just seeing the wind chime seemed to ease the tension.

"Boss, here are the additional documents from the online meeting earlier."

His secretary, Mok, stepped into the room after knocking three times with no response. He glanced at the wind chime in Thee's hand and sighed inwardly, feeling a surge of pity for the poor thing. If it were alive, it would've probably withered away from overhandling by now.

"Boss... wind chimes are supposed to be hung up," Mok reminded cautiously, hoping Thee hadn't forgotten its actual purpose, not as a makeshift stress ball.

"I'm dealing with a serious problem here," the mafia muttered coolly, his expression dead serious. "Where should I hang it? If I put it in my condo, I won't see it while I'm at work. But if I hang it at work, I won't see it when I'm back at the condo."

Mok closed his eyes, silently counting to ten in an effort to stay calm. He stepped forward and handed over the documents, deliberately ignoring the earlier remark.

"These are additional reports from the last meeting," he explained. "And this set is for the afternoon meeting."

Thee's focus sharpened at the mention of the afternoon meeting. He had a scheduled session with Peachayarat. He planned to pick him up at noon—there was no way he'd let the other drive himself after pulling an all-nighter. It'd be a good excuse to grab lunch together, too.

As he flipped through the documents, his fingertips drummed lightly on the desk.

His mind drifted; he'd received a gift, but he'd never given Peach anything in return. He hadn't even attended the celebration for the successful launch of the fall collection.

"Book me a full omakase course—reserve the entire session. I want a private room," Thee ordered, looking up from the documents in his hands, completely unrelated to the conversation. "Get the most expensive course. I expect top-tier quality worth every penny."

Mok blinked a few times before releasing a long sigh. Still, he nodded in agreement. If it made his boss happy, maybe-just maybe he'd finally get that year-end bonus.

The ear-piercing sound of an alarm jolted Peach awake. He blindly reached out to silence it, groaning as he forced himself up. His pounding headache was a harsh reminder of his sleep-deprived state, but with the afternoon meeting hanging over his head, staying in bed wasn't an option. Dragging his weary body to the bathroom, he hoped a cold shower might help clear the fog in his mind. Lately, he'd felt more off than usual.

Ever since returning from the beach trip, he figured it was just heat exhaustion, since he wasn't exactly used to being outside, having spent most of his time cooped up indoors. After spending several days under the blazing sun, Peach figured he might be feeling a bit under the weather—nothing a day of rest couldn't fix. But he'd clearly miscalculated. Since coming back, he'd been burning the midnight oil with no proper rest, and now his body was making its protests known.

Once dressed, he headed straight for the medicine cabinet, popped a painkiller, and moved on to rummage through the fridge. The morning porridge was long gone, leaving his stomach growling in protest. Thinking about the porridge made him pause. Even through the haze of exhaustion and near-blinding fatigue, he could still vividly recall Thee's reaction.

When Peach handed Thee the wind chime, the usually stoic man's expression softened, unmistakably so. The corner of Thee's mouth tugged upward into a genuine smile, his eyes gleaming with quiet delight, like a kid getting the toy he'd always wanted. Peach doubted he even registered what he'd said afterwards.

Strangely, that smile lingered in his mind, etched so deeply it made his cheeks flush involuntarily.

Peach cupped his warm cheeks, dismissing it as a lingering fever, though he couldn't help but smile at the memory. Thee was rather charming when he wasn't in his usual grumpy, bossy mode.

Lost in thought, Peach was snapped back to reality by his phone ringing. He stretched over, shut the fridge door, and checked the caller ID. Seeing the name displayed, he blinked in mild surprise before answering without hesitation.

"Hello?"

[Peach, why so formal?] The familiar, sweet voice on the other end made him smile faintly. Phone balanced between his ear and shoulder; he reached back into the fridge for the coffee, which Mr Thee had thoughtfully stashed there.

"It's nothing, just a bit surprised," Peach replied casually, tearing open the coffee pouch and pouring it over ice. "So, what's up, Mim? What made you call me out of the blue?'

[What if I said, I missed you? Would you believe me?]

"I'll consider it the day the sun rises in the west." His tone was calm, but a small smile tugged at his lips. Hearing Mim's laughter echo through the phone made his smile widen.

Mim was his most recent ex. Their breakup hadn't been particularly painful for him. She'd asked him out shortly after her previous relationship ended, clearly stating she was looking for emotional support and a rebound. Peach hadn't minded; they were already somewhat close, so he'd agreed to give it a shot. But when it became clear their feelings wouldn't deepen, they'd mutually decided to call it quits.

Her reason for ending things had been mildly irritating, but not enough for him to harbour any resentment. After all, he hadn't been able to grow fonder of her either.

I need a little favour from you, Mim said after her laughter subsided, her voice taking on a playful, coaxing edge. [My boss loves your work, but no matter how we tried, we couldn't reach you. So...I took the liberty of calling you myself.

Peach nodded to himself, understanding. He'd been on a much-needed vacation, completely offline, lounging by the beach without a care. He hadn't listed his phone number on his work website either— he liked keeping business and personal life separate.

"So you're cashing in your ex privileges to hire me, huh? No discounts, though."

[Please! I was more worried you'd raise the price because of that.] Mim grumbled, clearly aware her breakup reason had been less than graceful. The project's super urgent, Peach. I'm really sorry for taking a shortcut like this.]

Peach sighed, lifting his Americano for another sip. The bitter taste sharpened his senses, easing some of his lingering fatigue. "It's fine. I understand," he said evenly. "But I'm tied up with a project right now. If the job's urgent, I might not be able to take it."

[At least meet with my boss first], Mim pleaded gently. [We can go over the details then. Think of it as a chance to catch up over dinner. Are you free tonight? I'll book your favourite restaurant.]

Peach frowned thoughtfully, glancing at his calendar. He only had a meeting scheduled for the afternoon, with nothing planned for the evening. He'd even marked tomorrow as a rest day, hoping to catch up on sleep after several late nights. A quick meeting wouldn't hurt.

"Alright, but no promises. We'll talk about the details tonight."

[Deal! I'll make the reservation. See you tonight!] Her voice sparkled with excitement before the line disconnected. Peach exhaled slowly, raising a hand to massage his temples as weariness settled in once more. Just then, his phone vibrated again. This time, the caller ID displayed the name of a certain mafia boss. For some reason, a strange sense of foreboding crept up his spine. 

Something told him things were about to get complicated.