Me and Thee: English translation.

Wake up call #38

 

At the slightly ajar office door, two pairs of eyes were peeking in, intently observing the scene inside. Although they were too far away to catch the conversation, every gesture, glance, and movement was etched clearly in their minds. 

 

The first pair belonged to Mok, Thee's secretary, who was discreetly keeping an eye on things out of concern. Even though he trusted that Thee wouldn't hurt Peach, the unpredictable shifts in his boss's mood lately had made him uneasy. 

 

The second pair belonged to the mafia's younger brother. Tall and broad like his elder sibling, he had pulled the smaller secretary into a tight embrace, resting his chin on the top of Mok's head while curiously watching the scene unfold.

 

"Never thought I'd see the day my big bro fell head over heels like this," Rome murmured, a low chuckle rumbling in his chest. "This trip turned out way more entertaining than I expected. Guess I'll have to call Mum and spill the tea."

 

"Mr Krich, don't tease Mr Thee," Mok said as he straightened up and gently pulled Rome back. He quickly shut the door, giving those inside their privacy once more.

 

"Mum's not a tyrant; you know that," Rome replied with a sly grin, already fishing out his phone to scroll through his contacts. 

 

"If anything, she'll probably be so thrilled she'll hop on the next flight to Thailand."

 

Their mum and dad were a modern, open-minded couple. Mum, a former supermodel and actress with a wide circle of diverse friends, had always been supportive of all kinds of love. As for Dad, his primary concern wasn't about gender at all. He was far more worried about his workaholic eldest son shutting himself off from love entirely. A hopeless romantic himself, having doted on his wife for nearly forty years, Dad simply wanted his kids to find someone to share their lives with, just as he had.

 

"But I’m pretty sure Madam would be even happier if Mr Thee told her himself."

 

Rome paused, his expression turning thoughtful for a moment before a mischievous glint sparkled in his silver-grey eyes. He leaned in close, a teasing smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

 

"In that case, do you have anything to shut me up, Mok?" The secretary's brows furrowed, his face remaining composed despite the faint blush creeping up his ears. With a sharp inhale, Mok pursed his lips and stepped forward, cupping Rome's face with both hands before planting a firm kiss on his lips.

 

However, just as he meant to pull away, Rome moved faster. The younger mafia's strong hands grabbed Mok by the waist, yanking him closer, while one hand slid up to cradle the back of his neck. The playful kiss turned into something deeper, heavier, as Rome's lips pressed more insistently against his. A soft flick of his tongue grazed Mok's lips before slipping past, transforming the kiss into a heated exchange that left the smaller man breathless.

 

Mok thumped his fists weakly against Rome's chest in protest, finally managing to pull back enough to catch his breath. But Rome wasn't done. He leaned in to press a few more lingering kisses, ignoring the red flush spreading across Mok's face.

 

"That's way too expensive for hush money," Mok muttered, covering his mouth with both hands while glaring at Rome, cheeks flaming bright red. Rome just laughed, thoroughly pleased with himself, as he watched Mok huff and storm back to his desk.

 

Rome said he's off to grab some coffee, but the moment Mok was out of sight, though, he whipped out his phone and started typing furiously, a smug grin on his face. He shot a quick text to the family group chat. Casually, he just wanted to invite Mum to visit Thailand soon, adding a tantalising teaser about a surprise waiting for her that she'd have to ask her son herself.

 

Meanwhile, inside the office, Thee's confident gaze and persuasive tone lure Peach in deeper. The walls of resistance, already fragile, crumbled completely. Flustered but unable to resist, Peach gave a small nod, his heart thudding loudly enough that he swore he could hear explosions going off in his head.

 

The moment he said yes, Thee broke into the widest smile Peach had ever seen. His eyes sparkled, like someone had set off fireworks in them, radiating warmth and sweetness. That smoky grey hue Peach always found so captivating now seemed to pull him deeper, making him fall even harder for it.

 

Thee leaned in, pressing a firm kiss to Peach's shoulder. The faint warmth seeped through the fabric of his shirt. They were so close that Peach could catch the subtle scent of Thee's cologne, soft and masculine. It was strange how he'd never realised just how intoxicating it was before now.

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself. But I promise, I won't take it any further." 

 

Thee murmured; his deep voice laced with restraint. He pulled back slowly, almost reluctantly, as though savouring the fleeting intimacy. Because if he pushed his luck anymore, Thee wasn't sure he'd be able to stop.

 

"Hungry? My treat. Let's celebrate our first day together," Thee said, standing up and extending a hand toward Peach. 

 

Peach glanced at the outstretched hand, a small smile tugging at his lips. Even though he wasn't completely sure of everything yet, he reached out willingly, feeling a strange sense of happiness in doing so.

 

"Already celebrating on the first day?" 

 

Peach asked, chuckling softly to hide the embarrassment that was clearly painted on his face. He tried to pull his hand free, but no matter how much he tugged, Thee wouldn't let go. Instead, Thee tightened his grip and gave him a serious look, though the corner of his lips curled up slightly.

 

"This is the zero-year anniversary, Peach. Of course, it's important." With that, Thee turned and pushed the door open, dragging Peach along as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Pausing just outside, he gave a few instructions to his secretary, all while still holding Peach's hand firmly.

 

"Everything's set at the restaurant, right?" Thee asked.

 

"All arranged, boss. Here's the car key," Mok replied, handing it over with practised efficiency. His lips curled into a small smile, a rare hint of emotion showing through. 

 

"Congratulations, boss. And congratulations to you, too, Mr Peach."

 

"Thanks. Make sure to note this as an important date in my schedule, okay? Block it off every year from now on."

 

Peach, who had been on the verge of smiling, whipped his head around to stare at the man next to him. Thee raised an eyebrow, as if silently asking what was so odd about what he'd just said. Without waiting for an answer, he strode forward, his strong hand tugging Peach along.

 

"What on earth are you saying, Mr Thee?"

 

"What's wrong with it? Mok's my secretary. He handles all my scheduling." Thee's tone was casual as he headed toward the elevator, his grip on Peach's hand unwavering. He even pulled Peach closer to walk side by side. 

 

"I've already got him blocking off important dates for me, birthdays, family reunions. I'm just adding today to the list."

 

Peach opened his mouth to argue, but quickly shut it, realising it would take too much effort to explain why this was outrageous.

 

Instead, he ducked his head, his cheeks burning hotter with every step. Not that it mattered. The day was about to throw even more embarrassment his way. The CEO's office was in the middle of the building, and since the elevator wasn't private, it was shared with staff. Which meant that from the moment they left Thee's office until they reached the underground parking lot, Thee didn't let go of his hand, not for a second. 

 

Naturally, this caught the attention of every employee they passed. Some stole sneaky glances, their expressions ranging from curious to amused. Those closer to Peach's team shot him wide-eyed looks of disbelief or teasing grins. A few even let out exaggerated gasps or stifled giggles behind their hands.

 

The crowning moment of Peach's humiliation came when the elevator stopped on the art department floor. Waiting right there was Plub, who immediately bounced on her toes like she'd just won the lottery. Her mischievous grin stretched ear to ear as her eyes darted between Thee and Peach.

 

"So, it finally happened, huh, Brother Thee?!" Plub teased smoothly, the way one might chat with an old friend, showing no hesitation despite the obvious power dynamic. Thee smirked, his eyes glinting with satisfaction, clearly unfazed by her forwardness.

 

"Of course. And thanks for your help."

"I’ll have the salmon, please!"

 

"Order the whole thing, I'll cover it," Thee responded without missing a beat, his voice smooth and confident. He then turned to Peach, his eyes glinting expectantly, as if waiting for a compliment.

 

"Seriously, stop spoiling Plub like that." 

 

Peach muttered, pursing his lips before deliberately looking away from the eager look in Thee's eyes. These two were starting to get along a bit too well, and he couldn't quite put his finger on why it bothered him. "And about the Korean food last time, thanks for that, but you don't have to buy it next time."

 

"Why? Wasn't it good?" Thee raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled, before he turned to Plub, who had already settled in as Thee's new little sister. 

 

"I told you that place was way too cheap. Next time, let's try somewhere more upscale, or if you're really craving authentic Korean food, I'll take you there myself. We can fly out together next time."

 

As soon as Peach overheard Thee mumbling about bringing in a Korean chef for the next meal, he quickly raised his hand to stop the conversation, trying to bring everyone back to reality.

 

"Enough," Peach sighed, then turned to his sister. "Plub, stop mooching food off other people so easily."

 

Plub stuck her tongue out at him with a mischievous smile, before suddenly pretending to remember something. 

 

"Hey, Peach, you're picking up your stuff to go back to the condo today, right?

Because I've got dinner plans, and I'll be out pretty late. Do you think you'll be okay carrying your stuff on your own?"

 

"I don't have that much stuff, don't worry about it," he replied, narrowing his eyes slightly, a subtle hint of suspicion in his tone. "But wait, who are you having dinner with? You've never mentioned anyone like this before."

 

Peach knew most of his sister's friends, and every time she went out, she always made a point of saying exactly who she was with. But this time, when he asked, Plub just gave him a sly smile and said she'd tell him later when she got the chance.

 

The young photographer let out a long sigh and warned her to be careful before letting her go back to work, still feeling a little uneasy about the whole thing.

 

The two of them walked to the car, but this time, it wasn't the familiar black car—it was a flashy lime-green sports car that stood out. Peach's eyes widened as he stared in awe.

 

"Wow, this car is amazing," he said, carefully touching the body of the car. 

 

"Must've cost a fortune."

 

"Do you want it? I'll give it to you," Thee said immediately, his expression serious. 

 

Then he furrowed his brow, looking like he was deep in thought. "But, maybe you shouldn't settle for a second-hand one. I'll just buy you a brand-new one."

 

"No thanks," Peach replied flatly, already used to the constant boastful remarks about wealth. Seeing Thee getting ready to offer more, Peach quickly changed the subject. 

 

"By the way, who picked the car colour? It really stands out."

 

"I chose it. I usually like lighter colours, but for a car like this, it has to be dark to make a statement. When I'm meeting clients, I need to look intimidating."

 

Peach raised an eyebrow at Thee's answer. He didn't fully understand, but figured it made sense coming from a business executive, not someone like him who worked to make ends meet. Deciding not to dwell on it, he let it go.

 

Thee drove them on, mentioning that they should first stop by his sister's place to finish gathering Peach's things. He offered to help move everything with a cheerful attitude. Peach couldn't help but wonder if he was just eager for him to move out faster, but seeing Thee so upbeat, he just smiled faintly and didn't resist.

 

There wasn't much to pack-just a few personal items he'd left at his sister's. His clothes, laptop, and some work were all he had to bring. The rest had already been left at his sister's place, just like the small things she had left at his.

 

Mr Thee waited downstairs, insisting that he shouldn't go up to his sister's room—after all, she was single. Peach smiled, relieved that Thee was looking out for his sister, though the casual closeness between them now was a bit suspicious. His brow twitched at the thought of what they might have been talking about.

 

The tall young man took the suitcase, leaving Peach to carry the laptop out of the car. Thee walked ahead, his movements so casual that the condo staff didn't even think to ask for a name card. Peach let out a quiet sigh. Just as he was about to follow inside, one of the staff members hurried over to greet him.

 

"Mr Peach, why are you back so early? You still haven't sorted everything out."

 

"Sorted what?" Peach raised an eyebrow, completely confused by the remark.

 

"Huh? Didn't you check the condo group chat?" The middle-aged man said, pulling out his phone to scroll through, then showing Peach the message. 

 

"There's construction on the main road out front. They accidentally damaged a major water pipe, so they're cutting off water for a week to fix it. It's still not done yet."

 

Peach quickly pulled out his phone to check, realising he'd been so wrapped up in his own thoughts and work at his sister's place that he hadn't kept up with the condo news. He'd also turned off notifications, so if he didn't check manually, he wouldn't know.

 

He thanked the staff before heading back to the car with Thee. He suddenly felt a bit upset for not checking the updates sooner.

 

"What's the plan now?" Thee asked as he got back in the car, his tone concerned.

 

"Guess I'll have to crash at Plub's place tonight," Peach said, leaning his head against the window with a tired sigh. 

 

"I feel bad for her. She insists on not letting me pay for utilities, but if I go to a hotel, I'll probably get an earful."

 

The mafia went quiet for a moment, his eyes narrowing in thought, before offering a suggestion. "Why don't you stay at my place instead?

 

"Huh?" Peach replied, his voice trailing off in surprise. He turned to look at Thee, completely puzzled by how his condo had become an option.

 

"My condo is pretty spacious. It has a nice work desk for you to get some work done, and there's a guest bedroom that's always clean because I have the maid take care of it. There's also a big TV in the room so that you can watch movies comfortably. Don't worry about the bills-I'm rich, not struggling." Thee explained, listing off the perks of his place as if trying to tempt a child with candy.

 

"I appreciate the offer, but I really don't want to impose," Peach protested softly, though his mind was already leaning toward accepting. "I could just rent a hotel or a short-term room. It wouldn't be that much of a hassle."

 

"What's there to feel guilty about? We're together, aren't we? What's wrong with me taking care of my partner?"  Thee said seriously, his tone like he was negotiating a deal with an important client. 

 

"Plus, in my condo, you'll have me around. I'll be there to keep you company while you eat, help you with work questions, stay up late with you-basically, I'm not just your partner, I'm family and a friend all rolled into one."

 

Peach raised a hand to cover his face, his cheeks burning hot with embarrassment, so much so that he was sure they were turning bright red. He couldn't believe someone was literally trying to sell themselves to him like this. This was too much. He was so embarrassed he could hardly take it.

 

"Or if you don't like that, I'll just buy you a new condo. Honestly, your place isn't safe. How can they allow outsiders to just wander around like that?" Mr Thee finished his sentence, then pulled out his phone, ready to make a call.

 

"What are you doing?!"

 

"I'm calling Mok. I'm going to have him send me a list of condos he's bought and moved into today. We'll go pick one out right now. I won't let you stay in a rental or a hotel."

 

"No need for that!" Peach quickly reached out to grab the phone from Thee's hand, realising that he was serious. 

 

"Alright, alright, I get it! I'll stay at your condo this week. Sorry for the trouble."

 

Thee turned to look at him, his large hand gently folding around the smaller one. His fingertips traced lightly over it with a relaxed, content smile.

 

"My pleasure."