Me and Thee: English translation.

Wake up call #32

Thee sat back, skimming through documents on his iPad. After signing the last one of the day, he set the pen down and stretched his arms, easing the stiffness from sitting too long. The sofa he was on was top-notch, soft and comfortable, but hours of reading and working still left his muscles tense.

 

He grabbed the now-cold cup of tea nearby and took a long sip, his gaze drifting toward the clock. It was early evening. By now, he should've been attending a dinner party or meeting a business partner for a meal. Instead, he had cleared his entire schedule the moment he heard someone was in the hospital—even though the situation wasn't serious enough to cause real worry.

 

Rising from the sofa, Thee took long strides past the room divider and into the patient area. Peach was fast asleep on the hospital bed, wrapped snugly in a white blanket that almost swallowed his slender frame. His thin arm, its delicate bones faintly visible, rested across his stomach. Though his complexion was still pale, and faint shadows lingered under his eyes, he looked peaceful.

 

Thee approached the bedside, hesitating briefly before brushing the back of his hand gently across Peach's soft cheek. He held his breath, careful not to wake him. His hand lingered, tracing lightly up to the corner of Peach's eye, brushing softly against the faint dark circles there. He'd never realised just how worn out Peach looked until now.

 

His fingers drifted to the space between Peach's brows, pressing and massaging gently in slow, soothing circles. Almost immediately, Peach's lips curled into a faint, sleepy smile, his expression relaxing into something far more serene. Thee couldn't help but smile too, his eyes locked on Peach's face, unable to look away. 

 

The longer he stared, the more entranced he became, caught in a feeling he couldn't quite explain. Even like this, asleep and unaware, Peach looked endearing and utterly captivating. There was no way he'd let the bodyguards in here—not when they might see Peach sleeping so vulnerably. No chance in hell!

 

He reluctantly withdrew his hand when he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. He'd set it to silent to avoid disturbing the patient. As soon as the buzz registered, he stepped back, quietly making his way to the room's door before slipping out with practised stealth.

 

"What is it?" The moment the door clicked shut behind him, the warmth in his expression vanished like a light switched off. His personal bodyguard, temporarily doubling as his secretary while Mok was on leave, stood waiting, used to this sharp, no-nonsense tone. With a curt nod of acknowledgement, he began his report.

 

"The issue with that celebrity has been taken care of, sir. Their legal team requested a settlement meeting before proceeding with the lawsuit. They've offered to terminate the contract on their end and pay the agreed compensation, including damages for both physical and emotional harm. They want to negotiate the final amount during the meeting."

 

"Let our legal team handle it. I want every last cent they owe, no compromises." His voice was cold and commanding, leaving no room for negotiation.

 

"Understood." The temporary secretary answered firmly, though inwardly he shivered. The frost in Thee's tone seemed to seep into the air, making him silently plead for Mok's speedy return. Any longer in this role, and he might freeze to death from the sheer intensity.

 

"Anything else?" Thee snapped, growing more irritable by the second. This was eating into the time he could be spending inside the room, even if Peach was asleep and didn't need anything.

 

The new model the team contacted has confirmed availability. They'll be coming in for a casting session tomorrow. Will you be attending?"

 

"No. Hire whoever you see fit. Let the team handle it." His reply was clipped, irritation beginning to simmer. "What else? Spit it out."

 

Swallowing hard, the reluctant stand-in secretary braced himself, determined to get the final report out as quickly as possible. All he wanted now was to return to his usual bodyguard duties— preferably somewhere far from Thee's icy command.

 

"The postponed meetings from yesterday and today have been rescheduled as per Mr Mok's instructions," the temporary secretary reported. "However, Mr Aran requested an urgent appointment. Should I confirm it, Mr Thee?"

 

Under normal circumstances, this wouldn't have been something worthy of Thee's attention. A mere model shouldn't have the audacity to request a sudden personal meeting. But given Thee's earlier interest in the strikingly beautiful model, and the fact that the whole mess involved the disgraced celebrity, his bodyguard-turned-secretary decided it was safer not to decline the request without consulting him.

 

Thee's eyes narrowed sharply, ready to lash out, but something made him pause. The truth was, part of the reason Peach got hurt was the model's overly familiar attitude toward his photographer and his inability to control the situation. It was time to deal with that issue directly, ensuring things stayed in line moving forward. This was the perfect chance to clear two annoying people out of Peach's orbit for good.

 

With a small, satisfied nod, Thee dismissed any hint of jealousy from his mind. His decision was purely logical-or so he told himself. "Book the appointment," he ordered curtly. Turning back, he re-entered the hospital room. "Unless it's something urgent, don't call me again," he instructed firmly before shutting the door behind him. His only regret was that the room didn't have a lock.

 

Peach was still sound asleep, his gentle breathing occasionally interrupted by soft, almost endearing snores. Thee checked the blanket, making sure it was snug and warm, then settled into the chair beside the bed.

 

The VIP hospital suite had a small single bed meant for family members, located behind a room divider. Though not as luxurious as the king-sized bed in Thee's city-centre penthouse, it was still far more comfortable than sitting in a chair all night. But from that distant corner, the patient's bed would be out of sight—and that wasn't acceptable. Without a second thought, Thee decided he'd rather stay right there, keeping watch.

 

Everyone in Thee's family was strong and healthy, with no history of hospital stays. As for others, he never cared enough to pay attention. But when it came to Peach, he found himself willing to sit there all night, wanting to be the first face Peach saw when he woke up. If anything bad happened, Thee would be ready to step in without a second thought.

 

He leaned closer, gently taking Peach's pale, cold hand in his. The room was chilly, and Peach's skin felt icy. Thee rubbed his hand slowly, letting warmth seep through his touch. The moment he heard that Peach had been rushed to the hospital, his heart plummeted in a way he'd never experienced before.

 

Even though Mok quickly assured him it wasn't serious, his chest still felt tight, weighed down by fear. His hands had gone numb from the shock, haunted by the thought of losing Peach.

 

Lowering his head, Thee pressed a soft kiss to Peach's delicate hand before resting his forehead against it. The warmth from Peach's palm against his face calmed the storm inside him. Never again. Feeling this way even once was already too much.

 

Peach stirred, slowly opening his eyes. His head pounded, leaving his vision blurry and unfocused. His mind was foggy, unable to piece things together right away. He blinked at the pristine white ceiling, trying to get his bearings. It took him a moment to remember that he was in a hospital bed. He must've fallen asleep early the night before and slept through till morning. Maybe that's why he felt so groggy.

 

He tried shifting to stretch out his stiff muscles, but something heavy and warm pressed against his wrist. Turning his head slowly, he saw a familiar head of dark hair with soft brown-grey highlights, catching the light, both familiar and oddly comforting.

 

Peach lifted his free hand and gently ran his fingers through the soft dark hair, trying to figure out where he'd seen it before. Just then, the person stirred and slowly raised his head. Smoky grey eyes locked onto his, the initial calm in them shifting into a quiet alarm. Wait... was the Russian mafia boss really sitting by his bedside all night? And he'd just been playing with the guy's hair like it was nothing?!

 

Peach froze, stiff as a robot with a dead battery. His hand snapped back like he'd touched something scalding. He held his breath, bracing for some kind of explosion. But instead of an outburst, Thee greeted him with a faint, surprisingly warm smile. He even seemed... in a good mood?

 

"How are you feeling? Better now?"

"Yes... I'm feeling better." Peach stammered a bit, still rattled.

 

"Did you... Stay here all night? You must be sore."

 

"Just a little." Thee's tone was calm, almost casual, though his smoky eyes sparkled with something that resembled a rare, startling sight. Peach couldn't believe he could read the meaning behind Thee's otherwise unreadable expression.

 

Peach, who had crossed paths with the mafia boss far too often, had apparently developed a knack for deciphering his subtle shifts. Still, the current reaction was unexpected. At first, Peach thought Thee hadn't noticed his little slip-up the way he'd been messing with his hair like it was no big deal. But when those smoky grey eyes flicked to his still-raised hand, it was clear that Thee knew. And not only did he not seem bothered, but he also looked happy.

 

The young photographer was completely baffled. He stayed frozen as Thee leaned closer. A large, warm hand brushed against his cheek and then his forehead, checking his temperature with an almost surprising gentleness. Satisfied that Peach was fine, Thee leaned forward, setting himself to help Peach sit up. His movements were careful, deliberate, but undeniably awkward, like he wasn't used to this kind of closeness.

 

Peach pressed his lips together, feeling the heat rushing to his cheeks despite his best efforts to stay composed. He gently pushed Thee back, putting a bit of distance between them so he could breathe.

 

With a deep breath, he managed to sit up properly. Thankfully, the dizziness was gone, leaving only lingering fatigue from oversleeping, though he felt much more refreshed overall.

 

"How are you feeling? Still dizzy?" Thee's deep voice asked, his cool hand chilled from the air conditioning, lightly brushing Peach's cheek with surprising care. "Tell me if anything feels off."

 

"I'm fine now. Really." Peach offered a small smile. Satisfied, Thee nodded, bending down to pick up a pair of slippers and setting them neatly at Peach's feet. Before Peach could react, Thee actually moved to put them on for him. Startled, Peach jerked his leg back so fast he nearly toppled over the side of the bed.

 

"W-What are you doing?" Peach asked, but Thee glanced up, expression blank as if he truly didn't see what the big deal was.

 

"The floor's cold. You were going to the bathroom, right? Put these on first."

 

"I can do it myself, thanks! Just... leave them there." Peach practically pleaded, heart pounding in his chest. Thee frowned slightly, mumbling something like, 

 

"Doesn't look like it does on TV." Peach's jaw dropped. TV dramas? Which one did he watch? Did he think mafia bosses doing this stuff wasn't weird or downright creepy?

 

Mortified beyond reason, Peach lowered his gaze, avoiding Thee's eyes as he slipped his feet into the waiting slippers. He lightly pushed Thee's shoulder, urging him back to create some much-needed personal space.

 

He'd never been cared for like this in his life. It was overwhelming. Strange. The tender gestures felt too intimate, leaving him flushed with embarrassment and a gnawing awkwardness he couldn't shake. It was too much that it scared him.

 

"I'm gonna freshen up!" he blurted, words tumbling over themselves in his rush to escape. Without waiting for a response, he bolted toward the bathroom, "fleeing the bewildering scene like his life depended on it. Peach wasn't quite sure what expression Thee had when he left earlier. He worried that he might've accidentally offended him. Seeing his clothes neatly prepared in the bathroom only made him feel guiltier.

 

After freshening up and getting himself together, he cautiously peeked out of the bathroom. The room was empty. Thee was nowhere to be seen. Peach glanced around but didn't think much of it. He quietly walked over to the side of the bed where his few belongings were placed. Since he'd been rushed to the hospital unexpectedly, his cousin Plub had to bring him a change of clothes. Otherwise, he'd have had nothing to wear home.

 

He had just finished zipping up his small bag when the door opened. Thee strolled in, his face as unreadable as ever. But when their eyes met, Peach noticed the faintest softening in Thee's usually sharp gaze, as if there was almost a hint of a smile lurking there. Subtle, but unmistakable.

 

Mr Thee wasn't one to smile often. Seeing even the slightest trace of warmth on his face felt like spotting a shooting star, rare and fleeting. Peach smiled back, pretending the earlier awkwardness never happened. 

 

"Shall we head back now?" he asked casually.

 

The mafia gave a small nod, stepping closer to press Peach back down onto the bed gently and told him to wait while he handled the bills. Before leaving, he handed Peach a bag containing freshly fried dough sticks and a warm soymilk drink.

"Have a snack while you wait. I've never tried these before, but Mok said most people like them."

 

Peach's stomach grumbled at the sight of the crispy dough sticks. Just as he was about to take a bite, he paused, reconsidering. Holding up the bag, he offered it back.

 

"Why don't you try one first? These are seriously good! They go great with black coffee, milk, or even soy milk. Dip them in condensed milk if you want something extra sweet."

 

Thee kept silent for a bit, eyeing the fried treats with mild curiosity. After a brief pause, he leaned down, taking a bite from the dough stick still held in Peach's hand. The crispy outer layer gave a satisfying crunch, contrasting with the soft, airy inside.

 

"Pretty good."

 

Peach froze, mouth hanging open, staring at the half-eaten dough stick in his hand. Before he could overthink it, he stuffed the remaining piece into Thee's mouth, spun around, and bolted toward the hospital's water station. Grabbing the plastic cup nearby, he busied himself pouring soy milk, hoping the cool drink would calm his racing heart. Thee stepped back, chuckling softly, then wandered over to the sofa, settling in with a laid-back ease.

 

Meanwhile, Peach stood by the counter, forehead gently resting against the cabinet, ears burning hot. What the hell was that?! He wanted to scream, but couldn't muster the courage. Instead, he chugged his soy milk, silently begging himself to get it together. It's just Mr Mafia being weird... Don't overthink it!

 

It didn't take long for the hospital staff to handle the bill. Apparently, they'd brought a card machine up to the room for convenience. Peach caught a brief glimpse of a sleek black credit card. Peach blurted out, asking whether that was a famous Black Card. Without missing a beat, Thee casually handed it over for inspection as a backup, just in case his other one maxed out. Peach scowled, shaking his head in disbelief, then grabbed his bag and marched toward the exit.

 

By the time they reached the hospital's front entrance, Peach stopped dead in his tracks, staring wide-eyed at a luxurious sports car parked out front. Even though he wasn't into cars, he could tell its price tag probably surpassed his lifetime earnings. Thee walked right up to it like it was no big deal, opening the passenger door before gesturing for Peach to hop in.

 

"Where are you meeting your sister for shabu?"

 

Peach blinked, utterly speechless. He'd assumed Thee's earlier offer to join them was just teasing. But now, sitting in the car with the engine purring, it was clear Thee wasn't kidding. When they finally arrived at the famous shabu restaurant, Thee stepped out of the car and fell into step right beside Peach, their shoulders almost brushing as they walked.

 

He stuck close, not giving even an inch of space, until they stopped right in front of the famous shabu restaurant. Peach snuck a glance at Thee, half-expecting him to turn around and leave, but the man showed no signs of backing off.

 

How could he explain this to Plub?