Me and Thee: English translation.

Special Last Wake up call #5

Theerakit Kian Arseny was the eldest son of the infamous Arseny family, a notorious Russian mafia clan surrounded by countless rumours. Most of these stories, unsurprisingly, leaned toward the darker and scarier side. But for the young mafia heir himself, those whispers were more of a blessing than a curse. The fear born from people's wild imaginations made it all the easier for him to keep trouble at bay.

 

When it came to Thee and Peach's relationship, they weren't exactly shouting it from the rooftops, but neither were they hiding it. If someone asked, they'd answer without hesitation—they were together. The problem? Lately, rumours had started swirling that the mafia heir had a child. It didn't make much sense, though, given how public it was that the man was dating a soft-hearted Thai guy with a kind face. So where on earth did this so-called child come from?

 

It didn't take long for the rumours to spread like wildfire. Whispers claimed it was a secret love child, product of a fleeting fling Thee had with another woman. Some went as far as to suggest that Peach was just a decoy, a stand-in to shield Thee's "true" lover, the mother of this mysterious child.

 

Peach, however, never felt the least bit shaken. If anything, he found the rumours downright hilarious. The stories grew increasingly absurd, like an over-the-top soap opera full of heartbreak and betrayal. One day, he'd supposedly been abandoned as the pitiful, tragic protagonist. Next, he was suddenly the villain, cruelly standing in the way of true love between Thee and the mother of the child.

 

The only one who wasn't amused was Thee. He'd practically shouted himself hoarse trying to make it clear that Peach was his one and only, but the gossip showed no sign of dying down. Instead, it thrived, spreading far and wide, completely ignoring Thee's protests.

 

Peach now sat cross-legged on the floor, his little daughter perched on his lap. In front of them was a low Japanese table, its surface covered by an open handwriting book. With quiet patience, Peach guided her tiny hand, helping her trace the letters one by one. Both kids were learning three languages-Thai, English, and Russian—at the same time, which required careful planning and structure.

 

They never pressured or forced the kids to learn, but languages were best taught early and practised often so they'd stick naturally. Sure, progress might seem slow at first compared to other kids their age, but once they got the hang of it, everything would fall into place.

 

"Dad!" The sound of running footsteps and his eldest son's excited voice made Peach look up in surprise. Normally, Mhok liked to act mature for his age, rarely showing his playful side unless they were home together as a family.

 

"What's up, buddy?" Peach replied, tilting his head curiously when he noticed not just Mhok running toward him but also Thee walking in his direction. Mhok's face was flushed from running, a huge grin stretching across his cheeks. Clutched in his hand was a piece of paper, which he proudly held up with an almost triumphant air.

 

"Dad's taking us on a trip!" Mhok announced, practically bouncing with excitement. Peach took the paper and unfolded it, quickly realising that it was a round-trip plane ticket. A private jet, if his eyes weren't deceiving him.

 

"A trip?" Peach echoed, the curiosity in his voice growing. He glanced up to see the two "culprits" exchange a glance, both wearing identical, barely-there smirks. The resemblance in their expressions was uncanny, deepening his suspicion.

 

When Mhok had first come into their lives, Peach had worried about how Thee and the boy would get along. After all, Thee didn't strike anyone as patient or particularly gentle with kids. Mhok, on the other hand, had been so quiet and reserved, acting far older than his years. He rarely played or sought attention like other kids his age, which had only added to Peach's concern. But to his surprise, not only had the two clicked far better than he ever expected, but Mhok had also picked up a handful of Thee's quirks along the way—so much so that they sometimes seemed like a real father and son. They say kids are shaped, at least in part, by how they're raised. Looking at Mhok now, grinning from ear to ear with that mischievous glint in his eyes, it was hard to argue otherwise.

 

"I've got a bit of work to do, and it happens to be on an island down south. So, I thought I'd bring everyone along-make a vacation out of it," Thee said, the corners of his mouth curving into a gentle smile. For some reason, though, Peach couldn't help but feel that smile carried some kind of hidden agenda. He squinted slightly, suspicion flickering in his eyes.

 

"Trip!" Marn echoed, her eyes lighting up with excitement. She spun around and threw her arms around him, gazing up with big, pleading eyes that could melt even the coldest heart. "We're all going together, right, Daddy?" Seeing his little sister turn on the charm, Mhok quickly followed suit. Though clearly unsure how to pull off the same kind of sweetness, he shuffled over to his father awkwardly, grabbing onto the hem of Peach's sleeve with hesitant hands. His voice came out soft and uncertain.

 

"Can we go together?"

 

Peach let out a soft sigh, defeated. He couldn't hold back a smile as he pulled the two kids into a hug. Though he still had questions about Thee's real intentions, it was hard to say no when hit by a double dose of cuteness. Besides, he trusted Thee. Deep down, he knew the man would keep them safe. Whatever Thee had up his sleeve might be a little suspect, but in the end, Peach was willing to go along with it.

 

"Alright, we'll go. But the tickets say we leave tomorrow, so you two need to finish all your homework tonight. That way, we can enjoy the trip without worrying about it, okay?'

 

The two kids nodded enthusiastically before racing off, scrambling to grab their unfinished holiday assignments. Peach turned the ticket over in his hands, his confusion only deepening as he studied the destination.

 

"Where exactly are we going, Kian?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at the unfamiliar name printed on the ticket.

 

"My private island," Thee replied, puffing out his chest with pride. The tone in his voice carried just a hint of smugness, as if he couldn't help but brag a little. "Once we're there, you won't have to worry about prying eyes, and we won't need to bring a whole army of bodyguards. I know you hate having too many people around."

 

"I don't mind if they keep their distance," Peach replied, his expression somewhere between resigned and amused. "They're just doing their jobs, after all." Being followed by a squad of men in black suits wasn't exactly something he'd gotten used to. For someone who'd lived a normal, unremarkable life, it was more than a little overwhelming. "Anyway, keep an eye on the kids for me, Kian. We're leaving early tomorrow, so I'll go pack our bags."

 

"No need—I'll take care of it. You focus on the kids," Thee said with a satisfied smile, stepping closer before pressing a firm kiss to Peach's lips. The gesture made him look even more suspicious. Peach narrowed his eyes, watching Thee's back as he headed upstairs to the bedroom, clearly in a good mood.

 

Thee was an early riser, the complete opposite of Peach, who was naturally a night owl and never much of a morning person. He'd only started waking up earlier since Mhok and Marn had come into their lives, just to make breakfast for them, but even then, Thee still managed to beat him to it.

 

This morning, though, when Peach instinctively reached across the bed and found the space beside him empty, he finally opened his eyes. The soft light streaming through the curtains told him it was still early, which only made him more confused Thee must've already gotten up, showered, and gone about his day, so Peach dragged himself out of bed to look for him. The moment the smell of food drifted through the air, he knew exactly where to go.

 

Sure enough, when he reached the kitchen, he found Peach busily packing food into containers of fried rice, by the looks of it. Without a word, Thee walked up behind him, wrapping his strong arms around Peach's waist and pulling him close until their bodies pressed together. He dipped his head down, burying his face in the curve of Peach's neck and breathing in the familiar scent that always seemed to calm him.

 

"I'm sweaty, Kian. Back off," Peach squirmed in his hold, twisting around just enough to glare at him with mock annoyance. Thee, of course, wasn't the least bit intimidated. If anything, he found the younger man even more adorable and couldn't resist tilting Peach's face up for another deep, heated kiss. The kiss was possessively hungry. He kissed him like he hadn't just had his fill the night before, and the faint marks still trailing down Peach's skin were proof of that. But Thee didn't care. He wanted more. He always wanted more.

 

"Enough, that's enough! The rice is gonna burn," Peach protested breathlessly, shoving against Thee's chest with all the strength he could muster. Thee glanced briefly at the sizzling pan, then leaned down to press one last firm bite to Peach's lower lip before finally letting go, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips as he stepped back. If the food got ruined, Peach would hold it against him for days.

 

"Are the kids awake yet? We've got to catch the plane early this morning," Peach asked as he turned his attention back to the pan, brows knitting slightly in worry. 

 

"It'll take a while to get to the airport, and we haven't even loaded the car yet."

Thee glanced at the clock and saw they still had almost three full hours before takeoff. Since it was his private jet, time wasn't really an issue. A faint smile tugged at his lips as his gaze softened. He could tell Peach was excited, maybe even a little anxious, about the trip. Thee still remembered how much Peach loved to travel, but he'd rarely had the chance to because of work. Not anymore, Thee thought. From now on, whatever Peach wanted to do, he would make it happen.

 

"I'll handle it. You just focus on finishing up," Thee said, pressing another firm kiss to Peach's temple before heading back upstairs. He stopped in front of the door on the left side of the hallway— the kids' room. After knocking softly and hearing nothing but silence, he gently pushed the door open. The dim morning light filtered through the curtains, revealing two single beds on either side of the room, a small desk, a wardrobe, and neatly organised toy boxes.

 

Thee had wanted to spoil the kids more; he'd planned to expand their room, add more toys, and maybe build a play area. But when Peach shot him one of his sharp, disapproving looks, he'd had no choice but to put those plans on hold for now.

 

He walked over to Mhok's bed first. Reaching out, Thee ran a gentle hand over the boy's head before pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. "Time to get up, buddy. We don't want to miss the plane, do we?"

 

Mhok groaned out a sleepy response, mumbling something incoherent before the words registered. His eyes flew open, and he scrambled to sit up, even though he was still half-asleep. Thee watched as the boy instinctively grabbed his blanket to fold it neatly before shuffling off the bed. Next, Thee moved to Marn's bed and leaned down to kiss her forehead, just as he'd done with her brother. His little girl was even groggier than Mhok, but she didn't fuss or whine. She clung stubbornly to her blanket for a moment, clearly reluctant to leave her warm cocoon. It took Thee softly saying, 

 

"Your dad's already making breakfast," to get her moving. Marn perked up at the mention of food and slid out of bed without further argument, heading straight for the bathroom to freshen up.

 

Thee watched over the kids until he was sure they were up and managing on their own. Then, he slipped out to load the luggage into the car. Several large bags were hauled into the trunk, and soon enough, Peach and the kids joined him. It wasn't long before they arrived at the airport. Peach, who had gone to open the trunk so the bodyguards could stow the bags, froze when he noticed a very familiar large camera gear case that he hadn't expected to see.

 

"Why'd you bring the whole camera set?" Peach asked, brows furrowing in confusion. Normally, when they travelled, he'd only take one camera and maybe a small tripod-never the whole gear set like this.

 

Thee just smiled faintly, lips quirking at the corner, before nudging his lover and the two kids up onto the jet. Once the plane took off, the two little ones, exhausted from waking up so early, had already curled up and fallen fast asleep. Thee took the chance to shift closer, wrapping an arm around Peach and pulling him down to rest against his chest.

 

"Are you gonna tell me yet why you suddenly decided to take us on this trip?"

 

"You love travelling, but you never have the time for it," Thee replied, a soft smile playing on his lips. The arm around Peach's waist pressed down a little, his large hand kneading and squeezing along his hip. "Lately, even though work's calmed down, you've still been busy with the kids. And I've been swamped with work, too. I haven't really helped out as much as I should."

 

"Don't say that. You've been helping me plenty," Peach laughed quietly, tucking his face against Thee's shoulder. He reached down to grab Thee's wandering hand before it could travel anywhere too inappropriate. "Behave, will you? The kids are right here."

 

"They're asleep, though," Thee murmured, his voice dropping Low as he leaned in, lips brushing faintly against Peach's cheek.

 

"Then maybe we should sleep, too," Peach teased, pulling Thee's hand away and flashing a mischievous smile. He leaned up just far enough to plant a firm kiss on Thee's chin before burrowing back into the man's chest with a contented grin. "If you're not going to tell me what you're up to, we might as well get some rest, right?" 

 

Thee narrowed his eyes, both frustrated and amused, but in the end, there wasn't much he could do. He just tightened his hold around Peach, tugging him closer into his arms until he earned a soft, breathy laugh in return. With a quiet sigh, he finally closed his eyes as well.

 

It didn't take long for the plane to land. After a car ride followed by a short boat trip, they finally arrived at the private island Thee had purchased. It wasn't massive, just the right size to explore on foot. The soft white sand beneath their feet felt like silk, while the rhythmic waves lapped gently against the shore. The turquoise sea sparkled under the sunlight, blending seamlessly with the clear, endless sky. A lush forest surrounded the area, well-maintained and pristine, while a stone pathway lined with low wooden fences wound through it. At the end of the path stood a large white villa, surrounded by neatly landscaped gardens.

 

A few days earlier, Thee had hired people to clean the place and stock up on all the essentials. The vacation house was move-in ready, spotless, not a speck of dust to be found. The bodyguards and staff busied themselves unloading luggage and supplies while the two kids, fully rested after their long nap, gaped wide-eyed at the vast ocean they'd never seen before.

 

After shooting an inquisitive glance at their father and receiving a warm smile and nod from Peach, the two bolted for the water without hesitation.

 

"Not too far, okay?" Peach called after them, his voice tinged with concern. Thee had reassured him that safety nets had been set up to prevent the kids from wandering into deep waters, but still, he couldn't help worrying.

 

He signalled discreetly to one of the nearby bodyguards to keep a close eye on the children. Any risk that could be minimised, Peach made sure to minimise it. As he turned back, he caught Thee's calm, amused gaze. Peach smiled softly and moved closer, and without a second thought, Thee's arm found its way around his waist, a natural gesture born of familiarity and habit.

 

"Thank you for bringing us here," Peach said, his smile warm and genuine. "I'm so happy to see Mhok acting like a kid his age again. I've been worried about him for so long."

 

"You should take this time to relax, too," Thee replied, his hand moving up to gently massage Peach's temple. "You've been pushing yourself too hard lately."

 

"I will, I promise," Peach answered, pausing slightly before tilting his gaze up at Thee with a teasing glint in his eyes. "But you still haven't told me why you brought the entire camera set."

 

"I have an interview with a magazine," Thee said, his tone casual, almost as though he were leading Peach into a trap. "It's an online interview since I've been too busy, and I agreed to send them three photos as requested." Peach turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow in silent inquiry, though he was already starting to piece the story together.

 

"I didn't want their photographer poking around and making a fuss, so I told them l'd handle the photos myself," Thee continued, resting his chin on Peach's shoulder. The closeness brought them so near that Peach could feel his warm breath. "I want you to take the photos. Only you."

 

Peach nearly held his breath. Despite the years they'd spent together through every level of closeness imaginable, moments like this still managed to make his heart race. The way Thee's smoke-grey eyes softened when looking at him always left Peach flustered and unguarded.

 

"So this whole trip... It's just an excuse for you to get me to take your photos, huh?" Peach teased, turning his face slightly to hide the blush creeping up his cheeks, though the small, wry smile gave him away.

 

"The timing worked out perfectly. The kids are on school break, and you could use some rest, too," Thee said with a nonchalant shrug, like he hadn't done anything remotely sneaky. "Besides, we hardly have any family photos together. I want some to show off to Rome-he keeps posting those nauseating couple shots with Mok all over the place." 

 

Of course, someone like Mr Thee would never utter the word "jealousy" out loud. Peach gave him a small nod, feigning innocence, before turning his attention to the camera bag. "How many shots does the magazine need?"

 

"Three," Thee answered, visibly pleased. "Take a few and help me pick. I want to use the ones you like best."

 

"Three shots-all solo portraits, right? I'll start with just you for now. Later in the afternoon, once the kids are washed up and dressed properly, we'll take some family shots together."

 

Thee nodded, completely satisfied, and immediately transformed into the most cooperative model imaginable. Wherever Peach pointed or directed him to stand, he followed without question. Through the camera lens, Peach focused on Thee, whose smoke-grey eyes stared back at him-soft yet intense. It was as though the lens wasn't even there, as though Thee's gaze reached through it, cutting straight to him.

 

It was steady yet tender, ablaze with a warm fire that burned quietly but fiercely. It made those smoke-grey eyes even more captivating than Peach had ever seen, soft and beautiful in a way that felt impossible—especially knowing that those gorgeous eyes were focused solely on him.

 

After taking three or four shots, Thee extended his hand, palm open, waiting with a smile that made Peach's heart skip. Peach chuckled softly and set the camera to timer mode before rushing over to grab Thee's hand. The silver rings on their left ring fingers glinted under the light, catching the moment's radiance. Then, the shutter clicked, sealing that fleeting, beautiful moment into something eternal.

 

That night, the room was quiet and still, save for the faint hum of the ocean outside. On the wide bed, two bodies lay entwined, so close there wasn't even space for air between them. Just minutes ago, the room had been a battlefield of passion—fiery, overwhelming, and messy in all the best ways.

 

Now, Thee sat propped against the headboard, halfway between sitting and lying down, while Peach lay sprawled on his chest, fast asleep. The blanket had slipped down, barely covering his waist, leaving the smooth expanse of his bare back on display. The delicate skin was dotted with faint rose-colored marks, kisses left in the heat of the moment. Thee's gaze softened as he admired him, satisfaction written plainly across his face. Slowly, he tugged the blanket up, covering Peach's back with gentle care to keep him warm.

 

Reaching over, Thee grabbed the iPad resting on the nightstand. He opened the photo gallery, his lips curling upward as he scrolled through the pictures Peach had taken earlier that day. To him, Peach would always be the best photographer in the world.

 

Satisfied, he picked out a family photo to set as his phone's wallpaper, one that captured all four of them, happy, relaxed, and together. Next, he sorted through the remaining shots to select three for the magazine. The editor had asked for three photos: one solo portrait and two others, which could be individual or family shots. He wasn't particularly fond of interviews. But as the owner of a major company, he knew that he himself was a form of marketing, another tool to promote the business. Every once in a while, for a credible magazine, he'd agree to sit down for an interview.

 

The solo shot the editor requested? He picked it without hesitation. It was the one Peach liked best. But choosing the other two photos? That took far longer. He hadn't told Peach he'd include only individual images. Then again, he hadn't said he wouldn't choose a couple shot either. Peach wasn't one for the spotlight. He never actively hid anything, but still, there were plenty of people who had no idea they were together. And that annoyed Thee to no end. 

 

It irritated him even more when someone tried to wedge themselves into his family. Especially when they targeted Peach, the photographer might look more approachable than the intimidating mafia figure Thee was, but Peach's reputation as a famous photographer only made things worse. Young models and wannabe influencers were constantly scheming to get closer. If Peach hadn't always handled it so well, Thee might've lost his temper and done something... regrettable.

 

Thee carefully selected a couple's photo of him and Peach, then chose another one for the family. He deliberately chose a picture where his children weren't clearly visible, using a side angle to maintain their privacy. In contrast, for the couple's photo, he chose one where they were both clearly in view-the clearer, the better.

And he made sure the rings were visible, too!

 

Thee studied the three photos with a pleased smile before sending them off to the magazine's editor. Task done, he set the tablet aside and lay down properly, tugging the smaller figure beside him into his arms. Peach's head rested on his chest, their bodies fitting together perfectly, sharing warmth. With slow, gentle strokes, Thee ran his fingers through Peach's hair, the faint scent of him calming his mind and easing the last of his tension. Before long, a soft smile tugged at the corner of his lips as sleep began to claim him.

 

It felt exactly like what he'd told the magazine during the interview. For him, Peach was more than just a partner. Peach was his lover, his family, his soulmate.

He realised what love really looked like when they truly met each other....

 

The End of the Special Chapters.

 

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