Me and Thee: English translation.

Wake up call #30

Thirakit arranged for Peach to be moved to a VIP room, a luxurious hospital suite where even the companion's area seemed designed for royalty. There was a small bar counter, a privacy partition for the patient, a guest lounge with plush sofas, a compact bed for overnight stays, and entertainment equipment that seemed excessive for a single-night stay. Was all this really necessary? He was only staying one more night. Still, Peach kept his mouth shut and let the mafia boss have his way. 

 

Thirakit inspected the room until he was satisfied that everything was in order. After they shared lunch, he finally left, but not before giving Kin strict instructions to return with him. Kin grumbled but eventually complied, dragging his feet like

A kid forced to leave his favourite playground.

 

Once peace settled over the room, Peach figured he might as well catch up on the sleep he'd been missing. But no matter how much he willed himself to relax, sleep wouldn't come. He could only lie on his back, staring blankly at the ceiling.

 

In the stillness, Mr Thee's voice echoed in his mind, steady and serious, without a hint of flirtation. Yet those simple words made his heart pound like a jackhammer, heat rushing to his face until he was sure it must be glowing red.

 

What the hell? He was as straight as they came, dating women his whole life. How could some hulking mafia boss like that throw him off balance?

 

Groaning in frustration, he yanked the blanket over his head, nearly shouting into it just to vent the pressure building in his chest. Even now, he couldn't figure out what was happening. Why did the fierce, intimidating mafia leader—who'd been head over heels for a pretty-faced model-suddenly seem like he'd shifted his focus to him?

 

Peach wasn't stupid. Even if his heart had tried to dodge reality now and then, he couldn't ignore the shift that happened after Thee declared he was done with Aran. No matter how much he tried to convince himself he was overthinking it, the signs were undeniable. Especially lately—it had become so obvious he couldn't run from it anymore.

 

He shut his eyes, determined to push aside the swirling thoughts and get some much-needed rest. But just as he started to relax, there was a knock at the door. He opened his eyes to see his younger sister stepping in, looking like she was about to cry, so he called softly, spreading his arms wide.

 

Her eyes filled with tears, lips trembling as she dashed toward him, throwing herself into his embrace. Her thin arms wrapped tightly around him while warm tears soaked through his hospital gown, searing his skin like guilt made tangible.

 

"It's okay now, sweetie. Don't cry. I'm fine. I'm strong, see?"

 

Peach kissed her temple and gently rubbed her slender shoulders. He murmured soothing words over and over until her sobs quieted, and she slowly loosened her grip. Plub pulled back with a pout, her eyes and nose red from crying, still looking fiercely upset. He cupped her cheek, stroking it lightly, offering a small, apologetic smile.

 

"I'm so sorry for worrying you. I promise I'll be more careful next time." His fingers brushed under her eyes. 

 

"No more tears, okay? You'll get puffy eyes. It's all my fault, I swear I'll be more cautious. No more pushing myself too hard."

 

"You better mean it!" she huffed, narrowing her eyes like she was ready to hold him accountable. He nodded earnestly, his expression solemn enough to ease her concern.

 

With a reluctant sigh, she dropped the angry look but moved closer, her fingers gently grazing the faint bruise still lingering on his cheek. Fresh anger flashed in her eyes.

 

"Why did they punch you in the first place?" she grumbled, cheeks puffing slightly in frustration. "And what kind of useless boss do you have now? How could they let some lunatic storm into the studio and hit you like that?" "

 

"The CEO's not a security guard, Plub. He can't babysit me all day." He chuckled, ruffling her hair playfully. 

 

"Come on, quit sulking already. What goodies did you bring me?"

 

It only took a couple more teasing remarks before Plub's annoyance melted away. She eagerly dug into her bag and pulled out a stash of snacks. Peach could've fallen to his knees in reverence. Just one meal of bland hospital food had nearly done him in. He wasn't on any strict diet, but "healthy" seemed to be the hospital's default setting, a nightmare for someone who'd choose meat over veggies any day. 

 

He wasted no time tearing into a cheese-flavoured snack. The savoury, MSG-laden flavour exploded in his mouth, giving him a moment of bliss—until his earlier thoughts came creeping back, along with a flicker of unease he couldn't quite shake.

 

"What would you say... if I told you I might be... into someone?"

 

His voice trailed off, the question slipping out before he could stop it. He flinched, mortified, just as Plub's eyes widened in excitement. She practically bounced to the edge of the bed, her expression lighting up like she'd hit the gossip jackpot.

 

"Who? Where? When? Spill it! Is someone into you right now?" she fired off questions rapid-fire, gripping his arm and shaking him with surprising strength for someone so petite. 

 

"Wait, is it Mim? Is the old flame sparking back up? But I don't like her! She broke my big brother's heart—you can't take her back!"

 

"It's not Mim," he mumbled, feeling his face heat up. Plub wasn't about to let it go. 

 

"Not Mimi. Is it that new model from your last shoot? She looked kinda scary, though."

 

"...It's not her."

 

"Hmm..." She frowned, her brow furrowing in serious contemplation. 

 

"Are there any other girls on your team I don't know about? Or... did Shohei's agency hire some new staff besides Mim?"

 

Peach opened his mouth like he was about to say something, but clamped it shut again, clearly at a loss for words. He sat there, fidgeting, trying to figure out how to string together a coherent sentence. It took him several long moments before he finally mumbled,  "No... not a girl."

 

His hands flew up to cover his face as if that could shield him from the whirlwind of emotions surging through him. His cheeks burned hot, and for a moment, he thought he might actually tear up—not from sadness, but from sheer embarrassment.

 

He'd never hidden anything about his love life from his sister before. Every girl he'd ever dated, Plub had known about, no secrets, no shame. But this time... this time felt different, more intense, more uncertain. Maybe because he was a guy.

 

Plub froze like a statue, her mouth hanging open, eyes bulging wide as if they might pop out of her head. She snapped her mouth shut a second later, slapping both hands over it like she was trying to stifle a scream of secondhand embarrassment. After a few beats of frantic mental regrouping, she cleared her throat dramatically, leaned in with an almost conspiratorial gleam in her eyes, and whispered,

 

"Peach... do you like guys?"

 

"No!" He practically shouted, face burning red from his ears to his neck. "I just... thought maybe someone was... hitting on me. That's all. I don't like him or anything."

 

"If it's just flirting, you can ignore it, right?" she teased, flashing a sly grin, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

 

"I am ignoring it," he muttered, voice barely audible now, shifting awkwardly in place. 

 

"It's just... maybe... I felt something... a little bit."

 

Plub's eyes went even wider, practically glowing with curiosity. She grabbed his arm, shaking it excitedly like a kid begging for candy.

 

"Who?! Who's making my brother feel things? Spit it out!" The more she pressed, the hotter Peach's face burned. Before he could dig himself deeper into this mortifying conversation, he yanked the blanket over his head and burrowed into it like a human-sized cocoon. And just like that, the conversation was done.

 

"Who?! Spill it right now!" Plub demanded, still buzzing with excitement. Her eyes sparkled, matching her wide grin, as if she were caught in the middle of her favourite novel's most intense scene.

 

"Who's the one making you all flustered? I'm dying to know!"

"Watch your mouth." Peach popped his head out from under the blanket and gave her forehead a light flick. His chest still felt tight with unease. 

 

"You... Don't hate me, right?"

 

Plub blinked, confusion flickering across her face. But Peach couldn't meet her gaze. His eyes dropped, and he noticed his fingers trembling slightly: He'd never judged anyone for who they loved. But still, he'd never liked a guy before. The thought alone felt like stepping into uncharted waters, away from the safety of the familiar. Safe, but lonely. The space he'd always thought was secure now felt empty.

 

"Why would I ever hate you, Peach?" Plub said softly, reaching over to hold his hand and give it a reassuring squeeze. 

 

"You're amazing. You've always been the best brother anyone could ask for-you've done everything for me. You're the most talented photographer I know, and you've always been my hero." 

 

Her gaze was steady, warm, and honest, shining with unconditional love. Peach's chest tightened again, but this time from something lighter-relief, gratitude. A smile tugged at his lips as he pulled her into a tight hug, holding on like he never wanted to let go.

 

"Thank you," he said with a wide smile. Plub hugged him back just as fiercely, beaming.

 

"You don't have to thank me, dummy. I'm so glad I got to be your sister." 

 

After a moment, she leaned back, her mischievous grin snapping back into place as her eyes narrowed playfully. 

 

"But, since we're feeling all sentimental and honest... It's time to fess up. Who's got you so worked up? Do I know him?"

 

Peach's eyes darted away, his cheeks heating up all over again."Yeah. You... probably do."

 

"Do I know him?!" Plub squealed, practically bouncing with excitement. "Who is he? Come on, tell me!"

 

Peach scooted to the far edge of the bed, desperate to escape her relentless enthusiasm. When she looked ready to climb onto the bed after him, he quickly raised his hands in surrender.

 

"I’ll tell you when I'm sure, okay?" He ruffled her hair playfully, gently pushing her away. Plub pouted but reluctantly backed off.

 

"Fine... I'll wait," she grumbled, clearly displeased but willing to give him space. Then, her expression shifted into something more serious, her voice steady and sincere. 

 

"But, just tell me. Is he good to you?"

 

Peach paused, his mind drifting back through every memory— the brief, charged encounters, the tension that had once gripped him so tightly, and the strange, unexpected comfort that had slowly taken its place.

 

After that situation happened, he felt tension in his head. He remembered the apology, the genuine way it was offered, even when his heart was still pounding from nerves. He had smiled through it all, pretending everything was fine, as he always did. But then... that moment when the door to the hospital room opened, and the mafia walked in. For the first time, Peach felt his guard truly drop. In that instant, "It's going to be okay" didn't seem like an empty reassurance anymore. And the way he looked at him steady, attentive, like Peach was someone worth caring for...

 

...Yeah," Peach admitted softly, a gentle smile curving his lips, his eyes crinkling with warmth. "He's really good to me. A little weird sometimes, but... he's been nothing but kind."

 

Plub smiled faintly, finally easing up on her interrogation. "I don't know who he is, but if he can make you smile like that, I'm okay with it." Peach exhaled a long, shaky breath as if releasing a heavy weight from his chest. 

 

"I've never liked a guy before," he admitted quietly. "But... being with him feels... right. For the first time, it feels like everything will be okay... like I can finally breathe."

 

"Then isn't that a good thing?" Plub tilted her head, her brow furrowed in thought. 

 

"Maybe it's just because you've never felt this way before. But if he's a good guy, if being with him makes everything feel right, and if he can make you smile like that... I think it's worth taking the risk."

 

Peach pressed his lips together, uncertainty still clouding his face. Plub leaned in and wrapped her arms around him loosely, resting her chin on his shoulder.

 

"Why don't you just give him a chance?" she suggested gently.

 

"If he really is as good as you think, and if what you feel grows into something more. That's a beautiful thing. But even if it doesn't work out, at least you'll know you tried. It might hurt for a while, but it's better than wondering 'what if,' right?" She paused, straightening up with newfound determination. "And don't worry—if he ever treats you badly or makes you cry, I'll deal with him myself."

 

Peach blinked, momentarily stunned, before a flicker of amusement lit his eyes. "You're gonna handle it? How about you stop running from cockroaches first, and maybe I'll believe you."

 

Plub puffed out her cheeks in mock outrage, then burst into laughter, her brother joining in. Their shared laughter filled the room, pushing aside the lingering tension. The conversation soon drifted into lighter topics, things of no real consequence. But even as they talked, the uncertainty in Peach's heart slowly settled, his tangled emotions beginning to take clearer shape. All he could hope for now was that this time, he wouldn't end up regretting it.