Mhok's pov
Rome is sprawled on the sofa like he owns the room. He owns the room, literally speaking.
He looks relaxed in a way that amuses me slightly.
He is too comfortable and looking funny for a mafia.
Peach walks in from the hallway, hesitating when he spots Rome.
Rome straightens immediately, his charm switching on like a reflex.
"Peach," he says brightly. "Perfect timing."
Peach blinks. "Uh… hi."
"You're staying with us tonight right?," Rome continues, already decisive.
Peach looks at me, confused. "why are you asking? "
"its party tonight" Rome says. Then his phone buzzes. He glances at the screen, grimaces. "Duty calls."
he's already walking out, voice fading as he answers the call.
Peach turns to me slowly. "What party?"
I adjust my glasses, more out of habit than necessity. "its khun Rome's birthday today."
Peach's eyes widen. "Birthday?"
"Yes."
"And there's a birthday party?"
"No."
He stares at me. "That makes no sense." and chuckles.
"They are not allowed celebrate," I explain. "its a Family rule."
Peach processes this for exactly three seconds before his mouth curves into a grin.
"Well," he says cheerfully, "we will."
I blink. "What?"
"We'll make them celebrate," Peach repeats, like it's the most obvious thing in the world.
"They're not allowed to do those, peach"
Peach shrugs. "Rules are suggestions.we can always bend them accordingly! People are meant to celebrate birthdays mr. Mhok. They a"
I sigh. "This is a bad idea."
He grins wider. "You're smiling."
I am not.
I absolutely am.
By evening, the beach house smells smoke, spices.
I'm at the grill, flipping the chicken.
Peach stands beside me, holding a plate and providing commentary.
"That one's burning," he says.
"It's not."
"It's definitely black."
"Charred," I correct.
Inside, peach set the table along with khun thee. Rome comes near me.
He pauses when he sees the grill. "Why does it smell…so tasty?"
"its supposed to be! " I reply flatly.
Peach waves. "Hi!"
Rome eyes both of us suspiciously.
"You're both acting strange."
"You're imagining things," I say.
He shrugs.
Dinner is… surprisingly good.
We sit around the table, Rome animated as always, telling a story about a disastrous meeting , P'Kian listens with fond resignation. Peach chimes in at moments on purpose. I mostly watch, occasionally stepping in when the food needs saving.
As we are about to finish, everything goes dark.
"What the
—" Rome starts.
Then the lights flick back on.
Surprise!!
Peach is standing at the end of the room, holding two cakes, candles flickering close to his fingers.
He clears his throat.
"Happy birthday to you—"
Rome freezes.
I joins in, off-key, uncoordinated.
Rome looks stunned. Actually stunned.
Peach steps forward, smiling. "Happy birthday."
For a second, no one speaks.
Then he laughs. Khun thee seems like he can't take off his eyes from peach.
I blush at that.
He grins, eyes bright, then looks at me.
"You," he says softly. "You knew."
I don't deny it.
They blow out the candles together, arguing over who gets which cake. Somehow, frosting ends up on Rome's nose.
He retaliates it and it escalates. Khun thee pretends to be offended while stealing a slice.
We finish dinner like that. Messily.
Rome leans back in his chair afterward, content.
"Best illegal birthday ever," he declares.
I look at the table, the crumbs, the empty plates.
And I think, quietly, that maybe some rules are meant to be broken.
Just once.
What am I even thinking? I shook my head. The thought barely settles before I shake my head, like I can physically dislodge it. This is not working. Letting myself feel comfortable like this never ends well. I know that. I've always known that.
I headed towards my room that's when I head rome's laugh. He was laughing along with khun thee. I stop without realizing it.
It's the first time I've heard him laugh like that since he came back from Hong Kong. Something loosens in my chest. He sounds lighter. Like himself. Like the version of him that existed before responsibilities tightened around his throat.
A moment later, Khun Thee excuses himself, his footsteps fading in the opposite direction. Rome turns, still smiling, and his eyes land on me.
I'm already halfway turned away, ready to disappear.
"Mhok."
I stop. " Thank you for today" he said smiling.
I smiled lightly.
" it's nothing. Peach did the most of arrangements. I just helped him."
" still. It counts. " he said putting his hands into his pockets.
" im going for a walk outside. Will you come with me?"
I hesitate. Of course I do. Every sensible part of me lines up with reasons to say no. It's late. He's tired. This is unnecessary.
I nod anyway.
His smile widens, quick and pleased, and before I can change my mind, he reaches out and takes my hand.
Just like that.
He pulls me gently toward the garden, like this is the most natural thing in the world. Like my hand belongs in there.
The night air wraps around us as we step outside. The garden lights glow low and warm, casting long shadows across the path.
Crickets hum somewhere in the distance. The sea is close enough.
Rome finally lets go of my hand once we reach the center of the garden, but the warmth of his hand lingers, phantom-like.
He walks a few steps ahead, then slows to match my pace.
"It was a good night," he says.
"mm," I agree.
" you don't talk too much."He smiles at that. "I like it."
That catches me off guard.
"You like… me being quiet?"
"I like you," he says easily, like it doesn't need to be dissected.
I don't respond. My throat feels tight, and I don't trust my voice to behave.
We walk in silence after that. I...
Rome tilts his head back, looking up. "I forgot how clear the sky is here."
"You don't look up enough in the city," I say.
He laughs softly. Not the loud one from earlier. This one is quieter, just for us.
"I'm glad I came back," he says after a moment.
I look at him then.
"are you glad that I came back?" rome asks me.
He meets my gaze, something unreadable passing between us. The night seems to hold its breath.
For a second, I think he might say something else.
He doesn't.
And somehow, that's worse.
He steps closer. My heart beats faster and i suddenly lost my ability to do.. anything.
His hand lifts slightly, hovering near my arm, not quite touching.
Rome tilts his head. His gaze drops to my mouth for half a second, then lifts back to my eyes, checking again.
That alone almost undoes me.
I can feel the warmth of his breath now. The space between us is so narrow that until there's barely any air left to breathe.
My heart is loud, pounding against my ribs like it wants out.
Just before our lips meet, before the line is crossed, something sharp and clear cuts through the haze.
This is how it starts.
And I know exactly how it ends.
I place my hand against his chest. Not pushing hard but just enough to stop him.
Rome freezes instantly.
"I should go," I say quietly.
"Mhok—"
I shake my head, just once.
"Goodnight, Khun Rome."
And somewhere in the garden behind me, I know Rome is standing still, staring at the place where I stopped him, wondering what he did wrong.
That thought hurts more than the almost-kiss ever could.
I breathe in.
Breathe out.
Tomorrow, we'll act normal. We always do.
Tonight, I let the ache sit with me, unanswered, pressing softly against the dark.
Just enough to remind me why I pushed him away.