Me and Thee & Calm down Mr Rome Special.

Wake Up Call Special #10

"How the hell did this happen?"

 

The low, clipped voice carried a weight of restrained anger that made both Mok and Rome instinctively swallow hard. An angry Thee was not someone you wanted to be on the receiving end of.

 

"This is my fault," Mok admitted, bowing his head slightly. "I assumed that Malee had already left the country, so I didn't bother following up on her movements. I never thought they'd run into each other like this."

 

Rome, seated beside him, immediately scowled. "Come on, Kian. That old hag is the one at fault here. Don't blame Mok."

 

Theerakit pressed his lips into a thin line before letting out a quiet sigh, rubbing his temples. 

 

"I'm not blaming anyone."

 

"I told you we should've taken care of her from the start. Keeping her around is just asking for trouble." Rome muttered, clicking his tongue in irritation.

 

"Rome, cool it. She's still Peach's mother, and you know how he feels about violence." Mok hesitated, then stole a quick glance at his former boss. "Besides, just hearing what she said might be enough to set Peach off."

 

Thee's brows furrowed at that, memories surfacing from years ago of secrets kept, fights fought, and the consequences that followed. He exhaled slowly, waving them off. 

 

"Forget it. Get some rest. We'll deal with it later."

 

Rome blinked at him before jabbing a finger toward the door. "This is my room."

 

Thee shot him a glare but ultimately clicked his tongue in annoyance and pushed himself up from the couch. He didn't even try to hide his irritation as he walked toward the door. However, the second he pulled it open, he came face-to-face with Peach, standing right outside with his arms crossed.

 

The room fell into a dead silence. Even the all-powerful mafia boss straightened up on instinct, practically shrinking under Peach's piercing gaze. If he had ears and a tail, they'd be flattened and tucked between his legs right about now.

 

Rome immediately shot up from the couch, striding over with quick, purposeful steps. Without hesitation, he clapped a hand on his brother's back and all but shoved him out of the room, past Peach, with a perfectly straight face.

 

"Alright, everyone gets some rest. We'll talk tomorrow," he said cheerfully, slamming the door shut before Thee could even react. Rome smirked to himself as he turned back inside, leaving Thee standing there in stunned silence, blinking at the closed door. Just take care of your own spouse!

 

Thee stood frozen, his eyes vacant for a moment. A whirlwind of thoughts spun wildly in his mind, but the one thing that stood out the most was the worry that had been gnawing at him long before he flew here after his lover. Was he really about to face the dreaded seven-year itch everyone always talked about?

 

"Maybe we should go back inside first," Peach said, his voice calm and unreadable. The young mafia boss simply nodded, offering no resistance as he followed Peach back into the room. The moment the door shut behind them, Thee dropped to his knees without hesitation. Peach flinched, instinctively taking two big steps back. 

 

"What the hell are you doing?"

 

"I'm giving you a chance to slap me first," 

 

Theerakit said seriously, his face grim, as if he were about to offer himself up for sacrifice. But then, as if realising something, he frowned deeper. "No, wait. I should go get Rome first. If you slap me, your hand might hurt."

 

Peach pressed his fingers against his temple, shutting his eyes for a moment to keep himself from losing it.

 

"I'm not going to hit you"

 

"Oh, right," Thee muttered as if he'd only just remembered. "You hate violence."

 

He sprang back to his feet. "Then I'll go to Rome's room and have him do it instead. Once he's done, I'll come back-"

 

"You're not going anywhere!"

 

Peach's sharp tone cut him off instantly. Thee, who had just gotten back up, immediately plopped himself down again, blinking at his lover with puppy-dog eyes. He'd do anything, absolutely anything, just spare him from the seven-year itch!

 

Peach let out a long sigh, then reached down and grabbed Thee's arm, pulling him up from his kneeling position and onto the couch beside him. The two of them sat there in silence, side by side on the large sofa. No words were exchanged, yet a quiet warmth filled the space between them. Peach knew. He knew better than anyone how much Thee cared.

 

"Let's not let Plub find out about this, okay?" he murmured, his voice soft as he mentioned his younger sister, who was currently in Japan visiting her husband's family. Don't worry. She's my sister too," Thee replied firmly, his expression serious. A small smile tugged at Peach's lips.

 

His Kian was still the same-gentle, thoughtful, always putting him first. Just like that very first day, when he promised to be his family. How could he ever be angry at him?

 

"I'm not mad," Peach said, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Just a little... sad, maybe."

 

"I'm sorry."

 

"You don't have to be. This isn't your fault," Peach replied with a shake of his head. I know you only had my best interests at heart."

 

Thee-spoiled, possessive, dramatic, and undeniably powerful-shared not a single drop of blood with him. And yet, he had always been more of a family to him than the one who had given birth to him ever was.

 

"I know you did it to protect me, Kian. And honestly, I never want to see that woman again." Peach let out a deep sigh, his beautiful eyes clouded with sorrow. Thee frowned, wrapping a strong arm around him, pulling him into a warm embrace. 

 

"Don't be upset. She's not worth your pain."

 

"I'm not upset about that. I'm just... sad that you had to go through all that trouble for me. And sadder that she never saw me as her son to begin with."

 

For the longest time, he had told himself that when she chose to ignore him and Plum, it was out of fear-fear that her new husband would hurt her. He had tried to justify it as survival instinct, that she was simply a woman who loved herself more than her children. But now, he knew the truth. She had never seen him as her son at all. What kind of mother would go out of her way to badmouth her own child to strangers?

 

"Enough. You never have to see her again if you don't want to. Thee said firmly, but his embrace was as gentle as ever, warm and steady. "Let's focus on something else. How about we go shopping for gifts for Marn and Mhok?"

 

"I'm free tomorrow," Peach said, his smile widening a little at the thought of their two kids. "But the day after, I'll probably have a meeting. The art team needs to check everything first before we can finalise what still needs fixing."

 

"Good, let's go shopping tomorrow." Thee nodded, visibly relaxing. "I've already asked the kids what they want." Peach chuckled, the warmth in Thee's voice easing the last remnants of his distress. "Is this a bribe?"

 

"More like hush money," Thee sighed, shaking his head. "I came here without them, and they won't let me hear the end of it."

 

A bright, genuine laugh bubbled out of Peach, filling the room with warmth. The weight in his chest lifted completely. His family was right here. And that was all he needed.

 

The tall young woman pushed open the front door, stepping inside with a slightly dazed look. Her feet carried her toward the kitchen out of habit, even though her mind was still tangled in unanswered questions. Neera opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water, just as a familiar voice called out from behind her.

 

"Oh! You're back, Neera."

 

She turned around in silence. Normally, she would have returned the greeting with a smile, but today, her lips barely managed a forced curve. Malee, now in her fifties, had begun to show signs of ageing, but she was still a woman with delicate features. She was soft-spoken, kind, and unassuming-never one to chase after more than she was given. In all the years they had lived under the same roof, Neera had never once seen her lose her temper.

 

"Aunt Malee, is Uncle still not home?" she asked, making a conscious effort to push the earlier conversation from her mind.

 

"Not yet. He might be home late at night," Malee replied, pressing her lips together tightly. Her eyes darted downward, hands clasped in front of her, fingers fidgeting in a nervous rhythm.

 

"Neera... Did you run into my son?"

 

Neera froze for a split second. A flicker of something unreadable passed through her eyes before she masked it with indifference. ...Just a mother worried about her son, that's all.

 

"I did," she said after a brief pause, her tone unsure. "But he seemed really angry with you."

 

Malee flinched, her shoulders jerking involuntarily. She tried to hide it, but the reaction was painfully obvious.

 

"Did he.. say anything to you?" Her voice wavered-hesitant, uneasy. But it wasn't the concern of a mother longing for a child she had been separated from. It was something else. Neera's expression turned unreadable, her mind replaying the words she had heard earlier, echoing like a warning she hadn't fully processed yet. Maybe it was time she reevaluated the woman standing in front of her.

 

A smirk curled at the corner of her lips-not quite amused, not quite bitter, and she wasn't sure if she was mocking Malee or herself. "He didn't say much," she answered smoothly. 

 

"Why? Is there something I shouldn't know?"

 

"No, no! Nothing like that," Malee rushed to say, her discomfort evident. "I just thought... maybe he mentioned me." She shifted awkwardly before quickly gesturing toward the kitchen. "Are you hungry? I made dinner."

 

Neera held her gaze for a second longer. Malee barely lasted a heartbeat before looking away, nervous and uneasy. Letting out a quiet sigh, Neera finally relented.

 

"I'm good. Not really hungry right now." Her voice was calm, composed. Without another word, she excused herself and headed upstairs, leaving Malee standing there in silence, watching her retreating figure.

 

Malee watched until the figure disappeared from sight before forcing herself to look away. Her hands, clenched tightly together, trembled slightly, and she bit down hard on her lip. Panic swelled inside her, growing stronger with every passing second. 

 

All her life, she had never stood on her own two feet. After losing her first husband not long after giving birth to her youngest daughter, she had latched onto the most powerful thug in the neighbourhood. She had known he was a drunk and had a violent temper, but she hadn't been brave enough to refuse. Then, when he got hooked on drugs and was thrown in prison, she moved on-man after man, job after job, taking whatever was handed to her as long as it meant she wouldn't have to fend for herself. 

 

In the end, luck had come knocking when a foreign businessman, well into his fifties, took a liking to her. He whisked her away across the ocean, promising her a new life. But after years together, that so-called affection, nothing more than lust and possession, had started to wear thin. Now, he had his eye on younger women, his wandering gaze exposing the nature he had never truly tamed. And she was about to be discarded

 

Malee paced restlessly, unable to calm the storm inside her. She was getting older. Her beauty had faded, leaving wrinkles in its place. If he left her for someone younger, what rights did she have? She was just the mistress, the kept woman. When he was done, she would be cast aside without a second thought. Then what? How was she supposed to survive? For years, she had lived in comfort. She had money whenever she wanted it, dined on the finest food, dressed in designer brands, and had a driver at her beck and call. If she lost all that, how would she live?

 

And just as she was drowning in desperation, she saw her son's photograph in the glossy pages of a high-end magazine. Her son. Her English was terrible, and at first, she hadn't even recognised his face. She had started reading the article simply because the name caught her attention. But when she studied the picture more closely, comparing it to the Thai name beneath, it hit her-her ungrateful son, the one who had run away with his sister all those years ago. This was it! This was her way out!

 

Malee folded her arms, biting at her thumbnail as she fought to suppress her growing frustration. She had thought everything was falling into place. Miss Neera clearly wanted to step in and bring her son back, to make him take responsibility for the mother who had given birth to him. If that happened, then even if her foreign lover abandoned her for another woman, she would still have somewhere to go. She would simply move in with her son. He could take care of her instead! Who would have thought getting in touch with her own son would be this damn difficult?

 

"There has to be a way," she muttered under her breath, eyes gleaming with determination. She just needed to see him again. That was all. Her son had always been softhearted and had always cared about family. There was no way he could turn his back on her once they met. And she would do whatever it took to make sure of that. Because this was the only chance she had left.