Me and Thee: English translation.

Special Last Wake up call #2

The tall mafia boss lounged against the headboard, his toned muscles on full display, commanding attention without even trying. Yet, instead of basking in his own allure, his sharp eyes were fixed on the smaller figure pacing back and forth for nearly an hour now.

 

It was Peach's day off, and since Thee only had work scheduled for the afternoon, the morning was supposed to be their time together—a lazy, indulgent morning where he could savour holding his lover close for hours. In fact, Thee had planned to spend the better part of the day tangled up with Peach, content to keep him within arm's reach. But as the late morning rolled around, Peach slipped out of his arms to head to the bathroom. After that, he'd been darting between the wardrobe and the mirror ever since, circling like a restless bird.

 

Thee squinted slightly, his annoyance simmering just under the surface. Normally, Peach wasn't one to fuss over clothes. Unless it were a formal event requiring a suit, he'd stick to his go-to casuals: T-shirts and jeans, with the occasional oversized hoodie or quirky piece thrown in, thanks to Peaches' relentless habit of stocking his wardrobe.

 

Lately, a few nice shirts Thee had picked out for him had made their way into the mix, but they rarely saw the light of day. Yet here Peach was, trying on one of those very shirts, standing in front of the mirror, twisting this way and that with a furrowed brow. After a moment, he ditched the shirt and headed back to the closet, rummaging around for something else. Thee felt a flicker of pride seeing Peach choose the shirt he'd bought, but a creeping frustration quickly overshadowed that pride. 

 

Peach, who normally couldn't care less about his outfits, was now hyper-focused on his appearance. Thee, a man who could get jealous of the wind if it blew the wrong way, couldn't help but stew in his own possessiveness. And to top it off, here he was, shirtless and sitting on the bed, yet Peach didn't even spare him a glance!

 

"Kian," Finally, Peach marched over to the bed, his expression serious, his neatly arched brows drawn together in concentration. He began, his voice solemn as he tried to look stern, "Do I look intimidating yet?"

 

Thee blinked twice, his earlier jealousy vanishing in an instant. His smoky grey eyes swept slowly over Peach, taking in every detail. The smaller man was dressed in an unfamiliar combination: a grey dress shirt paired with black slacks. His shoulder-length hair had been swept back, revealing his forehead, and on his wrist was the luxury watch Thee had given him. 

 

Finally, his gaze landed on Peach's adorable face, where he was trying—very hard to look stern and serious. A soft smile tugged at the corner of Thee's lips as his eyes softened. He opened his arms and pulled Peach into a loose embrace, leaning down to press a kiss onto his lover's lips.

 

"You're cute."

 

Peach's cheeks immediately flushed a rosy pink. Even after months of dating, he still hadn't gotten used to Thee's touchy affection. Every time the mafia boss touched him, even the smallest gesture, Peach couldn't help but feel shy. Yet, after months of growing closer, with countless shared moments like this, Peach leaned in and kissed him back, even cheekily nipping at Thee's lower lip for good measure.

 

Thee let out a low growl from the back of his throat, his eyes darkening as he started to pull Peach closer, clearly intending to deepen the kiss. But Peach broke into a fit of laughter and quickly wriggled out of his strong arms before things could escalate.

 

"Not happening," Peach teased, still grinning. "You've got work later, and I have plans too."

 

"Why are you trying so hard to look intimidating anyway?"

 

Thee exhaled a long breath, reluctantly letting him go, though the hint of a pout lingered on his face. "No matter what you do, you're not gonna look scary, Peach."

His words weren't meant to tease; they were simply the truth.

 

Peach had a naturally kind-looking face, with big, round eyes that curved down slightly at the edges and lips that always seemed to hold a soft, faint smile. He practically radiated warmth, drawing people in like a comforting light that made Thee protective to no end. And in Thee's mind, even if Peach were to bare his teeth and growl, he'd still be nothing but endearing. Peach let out a long sigh, clearly aware of his own lack of intimidating presence.

 

"But I want to look intimidating today."

 

In one swift motion, Thee pulled him onto his lap, wrapping his arms securely around Peach and leaning him back against his chest. He caught a glimpse of Peach's flushed cheeks as he shifted nervously, clearly flustered by the sudden closeness. Thee's smile widened, satisfied.

All that gym time sculpting his muscles wasn't going to waste, after all. Thee played along, pretending not to notice what Peach was getting at, and instead continued their conversation from earlier. "So, why do you want to look intimidating? Weren't you meeting Plub today?"

 

"I am meeting Plub, but someone unexpected is tagging along," Peach muttered with a scowl, his earlier shyness completely forgotten.

 

"Hmm? The person she mentioned yesterday?" Thee asked, recalling Plub's phone call to Peach the previous day. Ever since finishing a major project with Arseny, Peach had been caught in a whirlwind of other assignments. As a sought-after photographer, he barely had time to catch his breath, let alone meet up with his sister as often as before. Thankfully, Thee had already convinced him to move in permanently; otherwise, finding time together would have been nearly impossible.

 

Even so, their shared moments had grown fewer and farther between—a fact that frustrated Thee more than he cared to admit. But he understood Peach's passion for his work. After Peach promised to cut back on assignments once his current workload eased, Thee could do nothing but wait, supporting his hardworking lover from the sidelines.

 

Of course, that also meant Peach would have to "make it up" to him in his own way later.

 

Yesterday, Plub had called her brother, chatting casually as a sister should do when she hasn't met her brother for a while. Upon learning that Peach would have some free time the following day, Plub, who had managed to wrap up her own work earlier than expected, wasted no time planning dinner with him. She also mentioned bringing along someone she'd been talking to lately, someone she wanted Peach to meet.

 

"This isn't the first time Plub's introduced someone she's seeing, though, is it?" Thee asked, his lips curving into a teasing smile as he buried his face against Peach's neck, inhaling the faint, comforting scent of his soap. Somehow, the same soap smelled far more alluring on Peach than it ever did on anyone else.

 

Peach flinched and hunched his shoulders, pulling away from Thee's playful advances, before turning to glare at him. Of course, the attempt at looking stern had zero effect on Thee; it only made Peach look cuter in his eyes.

 

"Yeah, but this time it's different," Peach grumbled, his tone hesitant, which only made Thee raise an eyebrow in curiosity.

 

Typically, once things got serious with someone, Plub would introduce them to Peach as a matter of course. Not because he ever insisted on it, Peach made a point of never interfering with his sister's choices or pressuring her. It was Plub's own decision, a sign of her trust in her older brother.

 

She had once joked that Peach should meet everyone she dated so that if something ever happened to her, he'd have a complete list of suspects. The joke, though lighthearted, always made Peach overthink. He'd get so worked up that every time he met one of her dates, his demeanour turned stern and formal, like a father intimidating his daughter's boyfriend. It was one of the rare occasions where Peach fully leveraged his status as a renowned photographer. 

 

Now, after two years of being single, Plub had found someone she was serious about and wanted to introduce him to her brother once again.

 

"Who is it? Let me run a background check for you," Thee said, his brow furrowing slightly as he reached for his phone, already planning to have his secretary look into it. He had a soft spot for Plub, admiring her sharp wit, sociable nature, and her positive outlook on life, traits she shared with her brother. Compared to her mischievous younger brother, Rome, Plub was much easier to like. 

 

"Or if you really want to intimidate the guy, I can lend you a few bodyguards. I'll have Mok pick out the ones with the meanest faces. How about that?" Thee suggested, half-teasing but entirely willing.

 

"No, thanks," Peach shot him down immediately. "I've already looked into him myself. From what I've found, he doesn't seem like a bad guy. I've even met him before."

 

Peach grabbed his phone, quickly swiping through his search history from the night before. After Plub had shared the name of her date, Peach had wasted no time pulling up whatever information he could find online. While it wasn't as in-depth as what a mafia network could dig up, the general details were enough to get the gist. Peach handed the phone to Thee, the screen showing a basic profile. 

 

"Tatsuya Shohei, owner of the Shohei Agency, with whom I worked on my last project."

 

Thee's brows immediately knit together, and the relaxed expression he'd been wearing disappeared in an instant: touch or Tatsuya Shohei. The name carried weight. He wasn't just some random agency owner; he was the son of one of Japan's most powerful yakuza clans, who had shifted focus to legitimate business ventures in an effort to expand and solidify their influence.

 

Though their fields didn't overlap directly, the Shohei family was close enough to Thee's own operations to be considered competition. The tension between Arseny's syndicate and Shohei's group was subtle but palpable, like two apex predators circling each other, vying for territory.

 

Peach had once done a photo shoot for the launch of Shohei's modelling agency. The images were so striking and memorable that they instantly elevated the agency's profile. In just five or six months, with the boost from Peach's photography and a hefty investment from Shohei, the small agency with only three models had transformed into a rising entertainment powerhouse.

 

Naturally, the agency's CEO, Touch, drew attention. Aspiring actors and models flocked to him, hoping for a chance. But who would've thought that this yakuza heir-turned-businessman would be chasing after an art department employee at Arseny's company?

 

Thee normally couldn't care less about who the son of a yakuza boss chose to pursue. But Plub was like a little sister to him, and Peach, who seemed determined to intimidate Tatsuya, was his partner. As a mafia boss himself, always ready to back his lover no matter the situation, Thee couldn't help but worry. How on earth was his small-framed, sweet-natured photographer boyfriend planning to intimidate anyone?

 

"Take some bodyguards with you. A lot of them. Actually... that might not even be enough," Thee muttered, his brows furrowing as he started to treat the situation like it was a matter of national security. "Where are you meeting him? What time?"

 

"Four o'clock," Peach replied, a little puzzled but obliging. He then mentioned a popular Korean barbecue restaurant, clearly chosen with Plub's preferences in mind.

 

"I’ll wrap up everything by four. Wait for me," Thee said with a serious tone, already typing instructions to his secretary to rearrange his schedule. Anything that could be moved, he was shifting to make sure he was free.

 

"Wait for what?!" Peach turned to him, startled. "You don't need to worry! I don't want you to miss work because of this."

 

"I won't miss anything. Plub's my sister too," Thee said firmly before leaning in to press a kiss to Peach's forehead. Then, with one swift motion, he lifted Peach and set him back down properly on the couch. 

 

"Sorry, but I won't be able to join you for lunch today. I'll head straight to the office."

 

"Kian!"

 

Peach gasped in surprise, but Thee simply responded by pressing a firm kiss to his lips before disappearing into the bathroom. He wasn't particularly looking to pick a fight with Shohei, but if Peach wanted to intimidate the young yakuza heir, Thee was more than happy to lend a hand.

 

The relationship between the Arseny mafia family heir and the talented photographer wasn't exactly a secret. In fact, Thee had practically broadcast it to anyone who would listen, wearing his pride on his sleeve. Still, their story wasn't public knowledge outside of certain circles. But in an industry where everyone was more or less a competitor, this kind of information had a way of getting around.

 

Touch, having been warned by Plub about her brother's personality, already had an idea of what to expect. He even remembered Peach vividly from their earlier collaboration. Back then, the man had been approachable, warm, and easygoing, with a personality that left a lasting impression. Despite everything the siblings had been through, Tatsuya couldn't help but admire how those struggles had shaped them into admirable people, with not a single scar to make them seem any less.

 

Today, the young Shohei president had come with every intention of meeting Peach, the adorable photographer with a sweet smile. He wanted to prove his sincerity-that he genuinely liked Plub-and was looking forward to a relaxed family meal. He'd gone out of his way to book a private dining room, pre-ordered mild dishes based on what he knew of Peach's preferences, and set everything up for a smooth, pleasant meeting.

 

What wasn't in the plan, however, was the towering figure of a half-Thai, half-Russian man shadowing Peach as he entered the room. Touch recognised him immediately: Theekit Kian Arseny, the head of the Arseny conglomerate, Peach's boyfriend, and most importantly, Plubs' very protective older brother. Tatsuya had not anticipated his presence today.

 

"How did you get here, Thee?" Plub asked as she hurried over, tilting her head slightly in confusion.

 

"I had some free time, so I thought I'd join you for lunch," Thee replied casually, casting a glance at her. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, though Plub, in typical sibling fashion, pretended not to notice. She crossed her arms and hugged her brother tightly, like she was shielding him.

 

"Don't make excuses! Just admit you came to steal Peach's attention," Plub teased, hands on her hips. "But today's my day! I'm taking him back!"

 

"I’ll lét you borrow him for four hours. After that, he's mine again."

 

"Four hours? That means he has to be home by eight!" Plub pouted dramatically, clearly missing the point. Peach's hand itched to flick her on the forehead, while Thee only chuckled, a faint smile tugging at his lips. His large hand came to rest gently on her head, ruffling her hair in a gesture both teasing and soothing.

 

"Don't stay up too late, or you'll get sick. Your brother here's already worried sick about you."

 

The siblings exchanged a look-Plub flashing a mischievous grin, while Peach arched an eyebrow in warning but said nothing.

 

"Come on, let's eat," Peach finally said, leading the way to the table. Tatsuya stood as they approached, flashing a polite smile.

 

"Good evening, Peach. It's nice to see you again."

 

"Good evening, Mr Touch." Peach's lips curled into a soft smile, though it never reached his eyes. "Small world, huh? Didn't expect to see you here."

 

Thee watched the exchange silently, brow lifting ever so slightly. The calm, icy demeanour rolling off Peach was something entirely unfamiliar. It was a side Thee had rarely—if ever- seen, and it sent an oddly tense chill through the room. For someone with Peach's gentle, friendly face, it was surprising how effectively he could exude an air that was cold and unyielding, even intimidating. Thee suddenly understood how his soft-spoken boyfriend could terrify anyone trying to get close to Plub.

 

"Let's eat, Peach! This place is amazing." 

 

Plub chirped, quickly breaking the heavy tension. She busied herself piling food onto her brother's plate. "Stop glaring at him like that—it's just dinner. Eat up, okay?"

 

"Alright, alright." Peach's smile softened into something more genuine as he picked up his chopsticks, humouring her. Across the table, Touch let out a small breath, only half audible, and couldn't help but think: So this is what I'm up against.

 

"How did you two meet?" The half-Russian mafia boss clasped his hands in front of him, looking relaxed as he asked the question in an unreadable tone. Tatsuya could only straighten his back and flash a practised, polite smile, while the siblings beside him continued their little huddle, eating, teasing, and passing food to each other like no one else existed.

 

"Plub's helped me out with work a couple of times, so we got to talking," Tatsuya replied smoothly, keeping his voice even. But when Peach turned his gaze on him, sharp and assessing, Tatsuya couldn't help but feel the weight of it.

 

Facing off against Russian mobsters seemed easier than winning over this older brother. Especially knowing just how close these two siblings were—if Peach disapproved, Plub would definitely waver. And after how hard it had been to get this far, Tatsuya couldn't risk being pushed back to square one.

 

"I didn't think someone as busy as you, Tatsuya, would have time to pay this much attention to my sister," Peach said softly, a gentle smile on his lips that never quite reached his eyes. "From what I hear, you've got plenty of models under your care. Seems like they'd already keep you busy enough."

 

"Not at all," Tatsuya answered quickly, his tone firm but respectful. "I never mix business with my personal life, and I've never once been interested in any of the models in my agency. I can swear on that, no hesitation." His brows furrowed slightly as he spoke, as if to emphasise his sincerity. He'd done everything he could to shut down rumours before they got out of hand, but it wasn't always possible to control every whisper.

 

He meant it, though. He cared deeply for Plub, and he didn't want misunderstandings to stand in the way of that.

 

"I've heard some things here and there," Peach replied ambiguously, the words hanging in the air before he turned toward his sister. "And what about you, Plub? How do you feel about all this?" Plub blinked at her brother, lips pressing into a slight pout before she turned away with an exaggerated nonchalance.

 

"If I didn't care about him, I wouldn't have brought him here to meet you, would I?" the only woman at the table replied in a low voice before focusing intently on scooping food into her mouth as a way to avoid the situation. The more she felt the young yakuza sitting beside her watching with a wide smile, the more she avoided meeting his gaze. That's utterly annoying.

 

Peach furrowed his brows in irritation, a faint sense of disgust creeping up on him. No matter what, his little sister had been under his care since she was a child. Even though they had grown up and gone their separate ways, living and working in different places, Plub would always be his little sister.

 

After they finished eating, Plub, her eyes sparkling with excitement, begged to go to a party. She complained about how tired she was from work and how she just wanted to unwind, sip on some cocktails, and soak in the atmosphere. She even threw in the fact that she was the only sister in a group of three guys, so she was perfectly safe, even if she didn't know how safe that actually was. Peach, who had long since lost count of how many times her puppy dog eyes had worn him down, simply sighed and nodded in agreement. He gave in without much resistance.

 

Touch stood up to pay the bill, then moved on to the next venue. Just moments before, he had been locked in a silent standoff with the mafia boss next to him over who would pay. Of course, he, as the one who came to greet his future brother-in-law, was supposed to be the one to pay. But the mafia boss stubbornly insisted that he would not owe anything to the Shohei family, especially since Peach was his partner. No matter what, Thee wasn't going to let him pick up the tab for Peach.

 

The issue was more about who would pay for Peach's meal than about pride. After a silent agreement, they decided to split the bill evenly, with Thee reluctantly accepting.

 

Touch stood at the counter waiting to settle up, letting Plub, who was about to be his girlfriend, sit in the car first. Beside him, the mafia boss stood with a rather unwelcoming expression. After a brief moment, Thee stepped back, making way for Peach to take his place. Once Peach stepped forward, Thee immediately straightened up, his expression turning serious.

 

A man who had never feared anything, never had to worry or care about anyone's opinion, now found himself feeling a strange sense of restraint. Because Peach was Plub's brother, the person she valued most in the world, and her only family, Thee felt like he had to show a bit of respect. What mattered to Plub mattered to him, too.

 

"Are you serious about my sister? Mr Touch," Peach asked, his voice calm but direct, leaving no room for doubt. The straightforwardness of the question made Tatsuya uneasy. He straightened up, trying his best to look serious and composed.

 

"I've never been this serious about anyone in my life," Touch said, his smile faint but his eyes full of resolve. The photographer paused for a moment, lowering his gaze, his lips pressing together slightly.

 

"I'm not trying to stop you or tell you to break up," Peach replied, offering a small smile, his tone becoming a bit more friendly, though still guarded. "If Plub loves someone, I'll support it. I respect my sister's choices." Touch continued to smile faintly, letting out a deep breath as the tension in his brow softened.

 

"Thank you, I swear I'll take care of her the best I can. You won't be disappointed." He said, his voice more serious now. Peach lifted his gaze to meet his, his lips curling into a slight smile as his eyes softened:

 

"I'm not expecting you to love my sister forever," he said, his voice even, though a trace of sadness flickered in his eyes. "Love changes, it fades over time, I understand that." He paused for a moment, the weight of the words hanging in the air. "But there's one thing I ask of you: Please don't hurt her, either physically or emotionally. We only have each other. It's been just the two of us all our lives. I protect and take care of her until my last breath. So, if that day comes, please return her to me. Don't hurt her."

 

Touch froze, a lump forming in his throat. He had learned about the past between the siblings and understood the struggles they had faced. His hands clenched tightly, a rush of pain hitting his chest. If he who had met her a little sooner...

 

"You don't have to expect anything from me," Tatsuya said, his expression softening into a warm, gentle smile, his eyes lowering slightly in relaxation. "This is just something I promised myself. I love Plub. I've never loved anyone the way I love her. What I fear the most is causing her pain or heartbreak-and that will never change, not for the rest of my life."

 

Peach locked eyes with the yakuza, his gaze unwavering, as if trying to search for sincerity in the other's eyes. After a moment, the young man looked away, his lips curling into a smile as his hand gently squeezed Thee's arm.

 

"Thank you," the photographer said, his voice tinged with a light chuckle. "From now on, you're probably going to have your hands full with Plub. She's a bit stubborn, spoiled even, but I'm sure you can handle it. Just watch out for her pranks."

 

"It's too late for that. I've already fallen victim to them plenty of times." Tatsuya responded with a grin. Peach couldn't help but laugh softly at that. They walked side by side out of the restaurant, but before Peach could get too far, a taller figure pulled him close, wrapping an arm around his waist.

 

"All done talking?" Thee's voice was calm, but his tone suggested there was more to it. His arm around Peach's waist was tight, almost to the point where his muscles visibly tensed.

 

Peach nodded without commenting on the tight hold. He had gotten used to it and no longer cared. Thee caught the look on his face, and a small, knowing smile appeared on his lips before he glanced back at the yakuza who was following behind.

 

"Plub is Arseny's youngest daughter... my little sister," he said, his tone hardening slightly as the weight of his words settled in. It was clear that the message wasn't just casual information. Tatsuya paused for a split second, feeling the full force of those words. He understood immediately that this wasn't just a statement; it was a warning. He gave a thin smile, his face serious, fully aware of what the other man meant.

 

The road ahead in his relationship with Plub had just gotten a lot more complicated.