Me and Thee: English translation.

Wake up call #40

 

Peach took the young mafia to a high-end mall in the heart of the city. It wasn't far from Thee's condo, and thanks to it being a Saturday, the drive was smooth with surprisingly little traffic for such a busy area. However, because it was Saturday, the mall was packed.

 

Mr Thee had insisted that a date meant spending time together just the two of them, firmly refusing to let his bodyguards follow them closely. In the end, Peach still noticed them trailing discreetly in the distance but was relieved they weren't drawing attention or interfering. In the bustling crowd, no one was parting ways for Mr Thee like they normally would. 

 

Peach worried the mafia boss might get irritated, either from the lack of personal space or worse, accidentally start a fight with someone. To avoid any potential drama, he instinctively grabbed Thee's hand and held it tightly.

 

When he sneaked a glance back, he found Mr Thee in an unusually good mood. Sure, Thee wasn't exactly the kind of guy to smile often, but Peach had spent enough time around him to pick up on the subtle changes in his expressions. The relaxed, easygoing vibe he was giving off now couldn't be clearer. But what was he so happy about?

 

Peach didn't ask. It didn't matter anyway, as long as Mr Thee wasn't annoyed. Instead, he tugged Thee along through the crowd, and to his surprise, Mr Thee tightened his grip on his hand, following him without a single complaint.

 

Peach had already suggested going to a less crowded theatre or even booking a VIP screening room, worried that being surrounded by so many people might set Mr Thee off. But Thee had flatly refused and told him he wanted to see what his life was like. Mr Thee wanted to be part of it without making things harder for Peach.

 

Peach accompanied Mr Thee to the escalator up to the cinema floor. When they reached the ticket counter, Thee, who had been quietly cooperative the whole way, finally spoke up.

 

"Do we really have to pick our seats?"

 

Thee frowned at the screen, looking genuinely puzzled. A small smirk tugged at Peach's lips. He remembered Thee casually mentioning earlier that morning that he hadn't been to the movies in ages. Judging by his confusion, it really must've been ages.

 

"Yeah, after you pick the showtime, you have to choose your seats," Peach explained, crossing his arms as he hesitated over which ones to select. 

 

"I like sitting higher up, but, well... those seats are usually way more expensive."

 

"What's so great about them?" Mr Thee asked, arms crossed, brow furrowed in what looked like serious analysis. His tone and expression were so earnest that Peach couldn't help but smile a little.

 

"They're just higher up, so you get a better view. But if the theatre isn't that big, it doesn't make much of a difference. These here are fine, too," Peach said, pointing to a row a couple of tiers lower.

 

"Oh, and the top row has these couch-style couple seats. Down here, it's just single seats. Normally, I'm fine with the single ones since I usually go to the movies alone."

 

Thee reached past him, selecting the honeymoon seats with zero hesitation. The move caught him off guard, not just because Thee picked those seats, but because the taller man had leaned in so close, his broad frame practically encircling him while he tapped the screen. Even though it only lasted a few seconds, the proximity was enough for Peach to feel the faint warmth radiating from Thee, leaving him momentarily breathless. Too close. Way too close.

 

Peach instinctively pressed a hand to his chest, trying to calm his racing heart. He pretended to focus on the screen, tapping it as if double-checking their selections. Still, his flushed cheeks and ears gave him away. Thee didn't say anything, but his gaze dropped to Peach's blushing face, lingering for a moment before a subtle smile crept onto his lips.

 

When the transaction screen popped up, Thee handed over his sleek black credit card without a second thought. Peach shot the card a sideways glance and couldn't resist the urge to roll his eyes, just a little, but took it without arguing. Once he swiped the card and handed it back, Thee didn't take it. Instead, he caught Peach's hand in his, the other casually tucked into his pocket as he glanced down at the card with an almost dismissive expression.

 

"You can take this back now."

 

"You're still going to be paying for things all day. Just keep it with you."

 

Peach almost protested, but Thee simply pulled him by the hand and guided him forward. He had no choice but to follow along, silently accepting it.

 

They headed to the counter to grab a soda, but didn't bother with popcorn. Thee wasn't a fan of snacking during movies, and as for Peach, he usually got so caught up in the film that he barely remembered to eat. A single drink was enough to keep his throat from drying out.

 

The photographer led them to their seats in the theatre—a pair of plush, velvet gold sofas. Peach sat down first but paused for a second when Thee settled next to him. Thee, with his foreign heritage, was naturally bigger and broader than the average person, and as he sat, his body brushed against Peach's just a little.

 

Peach tensed up, feeling embarrassed, as though this was his first time having a boyfriend. He didn't quite understand why he was feeling this way. In contrast, Thee seemed completely at ease. He stretched his arm wide, pulling Peach gently to lean against his solid chest without a trace of awkwardness.

 

"The chair's not bad," Thee mumbled, but as he did, Peach's hand accidentally brushed against Thee's leg. He heard a low, throaty laugh from Thee, the sound vibrating through the chest that Peach was leaning against. Thee didn't stop there, he gently rubbed Peach's shoulder as if comforting him.

 

Peach bit his lip, embarrassed to the point that his cheeks felt hot. But the warmth from Thee's chest was comforting, and the sense of being embraced protectively made him feel safe. So, he relaxed, letting his head rest more comfortably against Thee's tall frame.

 

They are together now. The person beside him was his, and at that moment, Peach couldn't feel more at ease. There was no reason to reject this. But he joked to himself that if anyone found out, they might tease him, saying, "You've gone soft!"

 

Peach focused on the movie, not allowing himself to be distracted by Thee beside him. He was fully engaged with the plot, aware only of the warm hand gently rubbing his shoulder. The movie stretched on for just over two hours, but the storyline was so engaging that Peach didn't feel the time pass at all.

 

As the end credits rolled, he waited until the very last one flashed across the screen, giving respect to the filmmakers. At the same time, he stretched his arms, loosening the muscles that had tensed up throughout the movie. Then he turned to Thee, who had been his support for the past two hours, and asked with a worried expression,

 

"Are you sore, Mr Thee? Sorry, I got so caught up in the movie, I didn't realise."

 

"No, are you?" Thee shook his head slowly, then reached up to gently massage the back of Peach's neck, pressing lightly as if to help him relax.

 

"No, I'm fine. Actually, it's really comfortable, and warm too," Peach smiled softly, letting Thee continue massaging him with a relaxed demeanour. Thee paused for a moment, seemingly lost in thought, and Peach thought he heard him mumble something quietly, but he didn't press it.

 

"Did you enjoy the movie?"

 

"It was great. I really like this director. The plot was so much fun, but toward the end, I was a bit confused," Peach said seriously, analysing the movie for Thee with a focused expression, showing just how much he'd paid attention. Thee nodded, then began to share his thoughts on the movie as well. 

 

They ended up discussing the film from different perspectives, and it felt unexpectedly enjoyable to exchange their thoughts. When did watching a movie with someone else feel this good?

 

"So, where are we going next?" Thee stood up and then reached out his hand for Peach to take, gently pulling him to his feet.

 

"Are you hungry? It's already noon. You have to eat on time since you have gastritis, right?"

 

Peach blinked, feeling a warmth spread in his chest that he couldn't quite explain. He was sure he had never told Thee about his gastritis. Thee must have found out some other way, but the fact that he was asking, that he cared, made Peach feel so good that his heart warmed.

 

It wasn't just a nice feeling; Peach was certain now—he really liked this mafia boss in front of him.

 

"Yeah, let's grab some food," Peach said, tightening his grip on Thee's hand before stepping beside him. "This time, you pick the restaurant. You usually take me to places I like, so I want to try something you enjoy for a change."

Thee turned to look at him, his thick eyebrows raised in surprise, but the smile and the gleam in his eyes showed how happy he was. Peach couldn't help but return the smile with a wide grin. This time, it was Thee leading the way. The one thing that hadn't changed, though, was the hand still firmly intertwined between them, not letting go since they left the theatre.

 

The tall, mixed-race guy slowed his pace to match Peach's, and it didn't take long before they stopped in front of a famous Italian restaurant. Peach had never eaten there, though he had heard the name before. It was an upscale place, the kind of restaurant he never thought about stepping into, even with its Michelin star.

 

Peach's jaw dropped. He almost wanted to ask if a place like this would even let someone in wearing a T-shirt and jeans, but Thee pushed open the door with an easy, confident air and motioned for Peach to follow him inside.

 

"It's a franchise, no dress code required," Thee said, glancing at Peach with a mischievous glint in his smoky eyes, as if he were holding back a laugh.

 

Peach pulled a face, feeling a little annoyed, but Thee just smiled faintly and continued to pull him inside. The mafia boss led him into a VIP room with large windows that overlooked a fountain outside the mall. 

 

Peach looked around, intrigued for a moment, before turning his attention back to the menu on the table. Peach liked Italian food but didn't eat it often. And at a fancy restaurant where the menu was filled with foreign-sounding dishes, he was completely lost, not even sure how the items differed from one another.  After a moment of indecision, he glanced at Thee, who was flipping through the menu with ease, looking completely relaxed. Unable to resist, Peach asked.

 

"Do you come here often?"

 

"Quite a bit. I like European food, and this place does it well. The flavours are really balanced."

 

"Then, can you pick for me?" Peach smiled sheepishly, quickly closing his menu and admitting without hesitation, "I don't eat Italian food much, so I'm pretty confused by all this. I don't even know what's what. Can you recommend something for me?"

 

"How about we go somewhere else?" Thee frowned, immediately closing his menu with a snap, but Peach quickly grabbed his arm.

"No, it's fine. You've already been too nice to me, Mr Thee. This time, I want to try something you like." Peach shook his head and gave a dry smile. "But the menu is so complicated. I've never ordered here before. I'm too embarrassed to ask the staff. Can you just pick for me?"

 

Thee smiled softly, his eyes sparkling with fondness. He didn't seem bothered at all that Peach didn't understand the complicated menu and was happy to help. "What do you want to eat? I can suggest something"

 

"I’ll have whatever you like," Peach grinned widely. "I want to be a part of your life too, Mr Thee."

 

The tall man bit his lip, his eyes lighting up, and Peach found himself staring at him without realising it. It wasn't until Thee reached out to gently pinch his ear that he snapped back to reality, his face flustered. 

 

"Can you not be so cute, Peach? I'm holding myself back here." Peach's eyes went wide. He bit his lip to hold back a smile, but his cheeks were already burning. He quickly hid behind his menu, pretending to read it again, though he still had no clue what any of it said.

 

Why does admitting I like him make me feel even more embarrassed?!

 

Thee just chuckled softly, not pushing it further. He then turned to call the waiter over to take their order. The man ordered a few dishes with long, difficult-to-pronounce names before closing the menu and handing it back.

 

Peach glanced at Thee across the table. The man was tall, his hair usually neatly styled but a little more relaxed today, making him look younger. His smoky eyes, the ones Peach loved to look into, glimmered as they stared straight back at him.

 

"I have a question," Peach decided to break the silence. The atmosphere between them was too quiet, making him feel oddly nervous, his heart racing in a strange way. It wasn't easy sitting here, just staring at each other like this.

 

"Ok, just ask anything you want"

 

"What kind of coffee do you like?" Peach started with an easy question. Thee raised an eyebrow, looking confused, so Peach quickly added, "You know so much about me. That time when Plub came over, I'm sure you heard a lot about me to make us seem like siblings. It doesn't feel fair."

He frowned seriously, his brow furrowed, but Thee chuckled softly, amused. Peach couldn't help but protest.

 

"I'm serious, Thee," he whined, feeling the urge to hit the guy in front of him. He didn't have the resources to send someone to investigate like you did. "I want to get to know you better. I want to hear about you. I want to know more about you."

 

Thee's eyes sparkled, clearly pleased, and a wide grin spread across his face.

 

"Espresso," he answered bluntly, without missing a beat. Peach, paying attention, remembered his original question.

 

"You're good. I think it's way too bitter, though. I can only handle it if it's toned down to Americano," Peach said, grimacing as he remembered the bitterness of a tiny espresso shot. "What about your favourite food?"

 

"Italian food," Thee answered quickly, staring back at him instead of asking the next question. Peach grinned widely, confident in his response.

 

"Japanese food."

 

The two of them kept asking and answering questions like that for a while until the meal ended. Peach couldn't help but smile as he learned that Thee liked everything from cheese to almost every kind of dairy product. 

 

Mr Thee had chosen a dish loaded with cheese, but only one dish on the menu; the rest were things Peach would probably enjoy. When they dug in, Peach realised he liked everything a lot more than he expected. Mr Thee always seemed to pay attention to him in the smallest ways.

 

"So, where are we going next?" Thee asked after handing over his sleek, gold-edged credit card to the waiter. Peach wanted to ask how many cards like that Thee had, but then thought better of it. He was afraid that if he found out, he'd pass out from shock before he could even respond.

 

"I want to show you more about me," Peach said with a smile, deciding without hesitation to invite Thee to his personal space.

 

"Would you like to come with me?"

"If it's with you, I'll go anywhere."

Peach, pleased with the answer, smiled broadly, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush. He then invited Thee to join him for some shopping. Thee easily agreed and followed without any resistance.

 

Peach picked up various items: snacks, textbooks, some reading books, and general supplies. However, the amount was quite a lot, and Thee raised an eyebrow in curiosity. Without a word, he handed over his credit card as if to say if that's something Peach wanted, he's happy to pay for it.

 

They loaded everything into the car, and Thee drove as directed by the photographer. After taking a winding route out to the outskirts, just on the edge of the suburbs, the luxury car finally stopped in front of a rectangular building.

 

Peach opened the car door, stepped out, and greeted a woman standing in front of the building with ease. After a quick hug and a few words exchanged, Thee followed him inside.

 

"Mr Thee, this is Miss Nualphong. She's the caretaker of the orphanage," Peach said.

 

Thee paused for a moment, his eyebrows raised in Silent question. Peach nodded with a smile, explaining further, "This is the orphanage where Plub and I grew up."