𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐮𝐩?

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑠ℎ𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑡 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟.

Hirunkit mansion was quiet when Est came home, his parents watching him closely but giving him space. He moved through the familiar halls as though in a haze, clutching the discharge papers in one hand. His body felt heavier than ever, but nothing compared to the heaviness in his chest.

When he opened his bedroom door, something small and metallic glinted under the soft light. A box sat neatly on his desk.

Est's heart clenched as he walked over, fingers trembling when he lifted the lid.

Inside lay the gold medal.

The very same one he had worked years for.

The same one William had placed in his hand with that broken voice "𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵?"

His breath hitched. He picked it up, staring at the engraved ribbon. For a moment he thought he could still hear the roar of the crowd, the cheers, the victory he had once thought was the pinnacle of his life.

But now... it was nothing but ash.

With a strangled cry, Est hurled the medal across the room. It slammed into the mirror, shattering glass into a thousand pieces. His reflection broke apart with it, scattered on the floor like his own heart.

He sank to his knees, tears burning his cheeks. "Damn it," he choked out, fists curling. "I thought my career was everything... but I was wrong. I can never love it more than I love him. Never."

The sobs came again, harsh and raw. But beneath them was something stronger, a fire that refused to go out. He wiped his tears roughly with the back of his hand, staring at the broken glass and the medal lying amidst the shards.

William was his. His first love, his everything. He had taken him for granted, and now he was paying the price. But he wouldn't surrender.

He pressed his hand against his chest, right over his aching heart. "I'll fight for you, Will. I'll prove it. Because what we have-it's real. It's true. And I won't lose you."

The vow left his lips quietly but with the weight of steel, echoing in the silence of the broken room.

The city seemed to hum with anticipation. The name Theerapanyakun alone was enough to make people whisper, but now, with an engagement to the Hirunkits on the horizon, it was as though Bangkok itself was holding its breath.

At the Theerapanyakun estate, preparations were in full swing. The vast ballroom was being transformed into a vision of elegance-crystal chandeliers polished until they gleamed, ivory drapes cascading from the ceiling, flowers imported from Italy arriving in crates. Staff hurried in and out, taking instructions from Papa Pete, who had appointed himself unofficial commander of the entire operation.

"Sky, do you want gold or white orchids for the centerpiece?" Pete asked, thrusting a catalogue in his son's face.

Sky leaned lazily against the back of the leather chair, half-listening, half-scrolling through messages on his phone. "Whatever Nani wants," he replied simply.

Pete rolled his eyes. "Of course, whatever Nani wants. You really are whipped, aren't you?"

Sky only smirked. "At least I'm honest about it."

Meanwhile, at the Hirunkit residence, the energy was no less chaotic. Papa Book had taken charge of the guest list, calling relatives from every corner of Thailand and abroad, while Dad Force handled the finances with his usual sharp precision. Est, despite his own emotional storm, tried to contribute, though Nani often caught him zoning out.

And Nani? He was everywhere at once.

Choosing fabrics for his engagement outfit, sending Sky endless photos of cakes, nagging the decorator about lighting, even sitting on the living room floor surrounded by swatches and ribbons as though he were the wedding planner himself.

"I swear,Nani, you're acting like it's a royal wedding," Santa teased as he dropped by to help.

"It is," Nani replied without missing a beat, eyes glittering as he held up two samples of silk. "Now tell me, does champagne look better under warm lighting or cool lighting? Be useful!"

Despite the frenzy, there was happiness buzzing in the air. Everyone-on both sides-knew this wasn't just an engagement. It was history, two powerful families binding together, but more than that, it was love.

And at the center of it all, Nani, twirling through the preparations with stars in his eyes.

The day before the engagement, Nani decided to drop by the Theerapanyakun estate to meet Papa Pete.

The house was alive with its usual grandeur-staff moving briskly, decorators checking details-but Nani's steps were unhurried, his designer shoes clicking lightly against the marble floor. Just as he turned the corner near the office wing, a familiar figure appeared.

Prim.

She clutched a file so tightly to her chest it looked like she feared it might be stolen. The moment her eyes landed on Nani, all color drained from her face. Her steps faltered, growing smaller, slow as though approaching inevitable doom.

Nani's lips curved into a smile too sweet, the kind of smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hey, Prim. How are you doing?" he asked lightly, as if the question carried genuine warmth.

Prim swallowed hard, throat dry. "I-I'm good, sir Nani."

"I see."

Nani closed the distance with elegant ease, his presence pressing down on her. His gaze flickered up and down, pausing at the faint scar etched across her forehead.

Slowly, deliberately, he lifted a finger and poked the mark."Why don't you get plastic surgery to get rid of this scar, Prim?" His tone was calm, almost kind, but the sharpness cut through every syllable.

Prim froze. The blood drained from her hands, her knuckles white against the folder. Her breathing stuttered as she forced a reply. "I'll... think about it, sir Nani. Thank you for recommending."

"Good."

He leaned back just slightly, straightening, the picture of casual politeness. "Alright, let's not disturb you anymore. You're going to the office, right?"

Prim nodded quickly, eager to escape.

"Then tell Sky I miss him... and tell him to send me some chocolates." Nani tilted his head, lashes low, as if his request was nothing more than a spoiled lover's whim.

"Yes, sir." She nearly stumbled in her haste to leave, brushing past him without daring another glance.

As soon as she disappeared down the hall, Nani's sweet smile slipped away. His eyes darkened, and he muttered under his breath with disdain-

"Pathetic."

𝙁𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠𝘚𝘬𝘺 - 18𝘕𝘢𝘯𝘪 - 15

Nani's room was a chaos of scattered books, clothes tossed across the bed, and the faint scent of his favorite vanilla diffuser burning in the corner. But none of it hid the storm brewing between the two boys standing in the middle of the room.

"Sky, you don't have to drop me off every damn day," Nani burst out, pacing. His tone carried the spoiled sharpness that came with being indulged too long, but beneath it there was exhaustion. "I'm not a child. I can walk myself or-God forbid-take a cab. Do you understand how suffocating you are?"

Sky leaned casually against the doorframe, hands in his pockets, a smirk tugging at his lips. He looked completely unfazed, as if Nani's anger were nothing, but background noise. "You call it suffocating. I call it caring."

"Caring?!" Nani snapped, his eyes flashing."Caring is asking me what I want, not parading me around like some trophy. You don't even let me shop alone unless P'Pooh babysits me.You drag me to your stupid parties when I don't want to go. I hate it!"

For the first time, Sky's smirk faltered. His gaze sharpened, his voice low and cutting. "You hate it? Or do you hate that without me, you're nothing but a bored little prince with no one to worship you?"

Nani's breath caught in his throat, fury boiling over. "I'd rather be nothing than your possession! I want to break up, Sky!"

Silence. A sharp, heavy silence that filled the room like smoke.

And then-Sky laughed. Not kindly, not nervously, but with a low, dangerous amusement that made Nani's skin prickle. He pushed off the wall and stepped closer, eyes locked on Nani's stubborn glare.

"Break up?" Sky repeated softly, like he was tasting the word. His smirk returned, sharper this time. "Tell me, Nani-will you be able to bear it? Huh?" He leaned in, his breath brushing against Nani's ear. "You go crazy if I don't give you attention for more than twenty minutes. And you're asking for this? Are you even sure yourself?"

Nani clenched his fists, refusing to back down. His chin lifted defiantly. "You're toxic, Sky. And I hate you."

The words stung even as he spoke them.

Sky's laughter cut through the room again, low and mocking. "Alright, let's see how long you survive this." His hand lingered at the doorknob, his eyes glinting with a promise that wasn't mercy but cruelty. "You want to break up? Okay."

The door slammed behind him.

For a moment, the silence in the room was deafening. Nani's chest rose and fell, rage tangled with a sudden, hollow ache he refused to name. He told himself he'd be fine-better even-without Sky. He told himself freedom was worth the sting.

But as the emptiness crept in, wrapping around him like icy fingers, he realized Sky was toxic. What he didn't realize-was just how toxic he could become when it came to Sky.