𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐢𝐫

𝑀𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑒 𝑛𝑜 𝑢𝑝𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑑𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑡. 𝐼𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑠𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑚𝑒 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤!

Sky stepped into the upstairs office, the door closing softly behind him. The room smelled faintly of cologne and old leather; the low hum of the house felt miles away from the glittering ballroom below.

Red lounged on the couch, one leg over the other, casually inspecting the length of a single black nail as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. A handkerchief lay folded on the table. He looked up with an effortless, sugar-sweet smile.

“Red!” Sky called, taking the chair across from him and folding his hands into his lap.

Red’s smile widened. “Congratulations, Sky.” He gave a soft, approving clap, as though Sky had just performed nicely in a show.

“Thanks,” Sky said, unamused. “But I don’t think you summoned me just to congratulate me, did you?”

Red giggled, the sound light and teasing. “Always so serious, Sky. You’ll age if you stay like this.” He toyed with the handkerchief.

Sky’s mouth tightened. “Why are you wearing contacts? It’s not like anyone’s going to scan CCTV to identify you.”

“People aren’t exactly reliable,” Red said, completely unbothered. “Who knows.”

Sky leveled a look. “Come to the point.”

Red sat a little straighter, excitement vibrating under his composed surface. “Oh, Sky—you won’t believe what I found out.” He practically bubbled.

“I’ll believe you. Now spill.” Sky’s tone was flat; his patience was a blade.

Red huffed theatrically. “You’re no fun. Fine. Someone found our shipment first—some old fool, by mistake because the Turtles are idiots. He’s retired now, I decided to make him retire from life too.” He shrugged, voice casual. “He handed everything to his trusted pet.”

Sky’s expression lost what little warmth it had. “Who.”

Red’s grin split his face. He slid a photo across the table like a present. Sky’s fingers closed over it; his eyes skimmed the image and went hollow.

“Ohm Pawat,” he murmured.

“Yesss—what a plot twist, huh?” Red’s excitement made him almost childlike. He practically bounced in his seat. “I saw how he was looking at your fiancé. Wouldn’t it be satisfying to see his blood on your hands? To make him beg? To inflict pain, over and over?” Red said the last bit dreamy, like some grotesque romantic fantasy rather than a plan for violence.

Sky let out a slow breath that might have been a sigh. “I’m not a psychopath,” he said, voice level, “but get our shipment back. After that, I might consider letting you try your little…torture scenario.”

“Deal then, Sky.” Red beamed, delighted.

He stood, picked up his handkerchief, and tied it over his face so that only his eyes showed—an affectation, a mask. He gave Sky a mocking salute and moved to leave, but paused at the doorway when Sky called after him.

“Why cover your face? No one knows who you are.”

Red turned, visible smile even with the cloth. He paused, then dropped a final, almost-playful barb before he left the room: “Afraid people might fall in love with the killer.”

Red walked into the corridor handkerchief like it was some grand prop in a Broadway play, when a muffled noise caught his ears. He froze mid-step. “Oho? Suspicious background noise? My specialty,” he whispered to himself, then tiptoed behind a wall like some second-rate spy in a cheesy drama.

Peeking around the corner, he spotted William—Sky’s oh-so-cool cousin—standing stiff as a statue. But what caught Red’s eyes was the man clinging onto William like his life depended on it. Red squinted. Nope, didn’t recognize the guy.

The stranger was crying, messy and loud, practically dripping tears all over William’s perfectly pressed suit.

Red tilted his head, frowning. What kind of K-drama nonsense is this? He strained his ears, leaning forward dramatically. Nothing. Useless. “Tch, can’t these people talk louder? Some of us are trying to eavesdrop here,” Red muttered under his breath, stomping his foot like a sulky child who’d been denied candy.

He almost turned away, telling himself it wasn’t his business… but then again, curiosity was practically his middle name. He leaned in even more, plotting scenarios in his head like he was auditioning for the role of detective-slash-gossip queen. Maybe it was blackmail? Maybe an affair? Maybe…

And then—bam!

William suddenly yanked the guy forward and kissed him.

Red gasped so loudly he had to slap a hand over his mouth. His eyes went wide as saucers, his entire body vibrating with glee. “Oh. My. God. Not in front of my salad!” he whispered-shouted, grinning ear to ear. “Guys, think of my poor single ass. I wasn’t ready for this drama upgrade.”

The pair calmed down after the kiss, whispering something softer this time. Then, hand in hand, they headed downstairs like nothing earth-shattering had happened.

Red straightened up, brushing invisible dust off his outfit as if he hadn’t just been crouching like a stalker. He gave them one last glance, smirk tugging at his lips. “Well, whatever. Not my circus, not my clowns.” And with that, he spun on his heel and sashayed down the hall, already filing the moment under “Top Ten Unexpected Soap Opera Scenes of the Year.”

Red stopped at the corner, finding the perfect spot where the entire ballroom lay beneath him like a stage. His eyes searched the glittering crowd until they landed on his bestie—Nani, glowing like the center of the universe, laughter lighting up his face. Red’s lips softened into a smile. He was happy for him. Truly.

But then his gaze shifted… and found him.

His prince charming.

There he was, sitting in the corner of the bar, posture straight, an iPad in hand, eyes locked on the screen with that same focused calm Red had memorized down to the smallest detail. Red inhaled sharply, his chest tightening with a nervous energy that didn’t belong to him. The man he had loved for years, the one he had stalked and followed like a shadow since the first time he laid eyes on him…

And yet he had never stepped forward.

He wasn’t meant to. He was a killer, a shadow, someone who stained his hands with things better left unspoken.

And the man he loved? He was a prince—pure, untouchable, living in a world so far from Red’s that it might as well have been on another planet.

Still, knowing he was watching him . Thinking about him with someone else—someone normal, someone worthy of him—made something ugly and sharp crawl up Red’s chest, like thorns piercing the inside of his ribs.

Jealousy. Rage. Fear.

As if sensing the weight of a stare, Pooh’s head lifted. His eyes flicked toward the darkness, sharp and searching.

But no. Pooh’s gaze found nothing.

Because Red had already melted back into the shadows, where he belonged. Silent. Invisible. Watching.

The orchestra swelled, the golden lights dimming just enough to cast a dreamlike glow over the grand ballroom. The floor cleared as the MC announced the engagement dance, and soon Sky and Nani were at the very center, hands clasped.

Nani blinked at the sight of everyone stepping back, his grin faltering. “Wait… all of them are watching?” he whispered, eyes darting to the sea of guests.

Sky leaned down, lips brushing against his ear as the first note played. “Of course they are. Tonight, you’re mine, and the whole world will see it.”

Nani’s grin returned, wide and mischievous. “Mhm, then don’t step on my toes, Mister Serious.”

Sky rolled his eyes fondly and drew him closer by the waist. The crowd melted away as the two of them moved in perfect sync, their rings catching the chandeliers’ light with every step. Nani’s cheeks flushed at how Sky’s hand rested possessively against the small of his back, holding him steady, as if telling the world: untouchable.

Their parents joined in next—Theerapanyakuns and Hirunkits stepping onto the floor, matching the rhythm gracefully, laughter bubbling between them. Even Cornal managed a surprisingly elegant spin with Clara, who was smiling ear to ear, proud.

But what made Nani’s brows shoot up was the next sight—William, hand-in-hand with Est, sliding smoothly onto the dance floor.

“You have got to be kidding me,” Nani muttered under his breath as Sky twirled him. “Them?”

“Reconciliation looks good on them,” Sky murmured, lips twitching with the faintest smile.

Across the floor, William leaned close to Est and whispered something, making Est swat at his shoulder with a flushed face. “Don’t you dare bring that up here—people are looking!”

“Relax,” William chuckled, spinning him around just to annoy him further. “What? They should see how lucky I am.”

“Lucky?” Est scoffed, rolling his eyes. “More like shameless.”

“You love it,” William smirked.

Est mumbled something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like “idiot,” but he was smiling too brightly to hide it.

Nani nearly laughed mid-step, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Look at them! I thought william  is gonna ignore him, but no—here they are, waltzing like some cheesy drama.”

“Don’t distract yourself,” Sky warned, tightening his hold as he dipped Nani low, pulling a squeak from him.

“Show-off!” Nani hissed, though his giggle gave him away. His arms looped around Sky’s neck as their faces lingered close. “You really can’t resist making me melt in front of everyone, huh?”

“That’s the idea,” Sky whispered back, brushing their noses together before straightening him.

The crowd applauded lightly at the display, mistaking their banter for flawless romance. To everyone else, they were untouchable perfection—two men hopelessly in love. And for a fleeting moment, even Nani believed it wholeheartedly.

At the edge of the ballroom, Pooh had abandoned his iPad for once. He sat at the bar, one hand propping up his chin, watching quietly as his brothers danced with their rightful partners. Sky and Nani in the center, glowing; William and Est circling each other like fire and air; their parents swaying with timeless grace.

A genuine smile tugged at Pooh’s lips. He rarely let his emotions show, but seeing them like this—happy, matched, complete—it felt right. For once, he wasn’t calculating, wasn’t buried in his research, wasn’t hiding behind sharp words or icy stares. He just sat there, content.

The music rose higher, couples twirled, laughter floated across the ballroom. And in the midst of it all, Pooh’s chest filled with a quiet warmth. Maybe he wasn’t there yet—maybe his world was still filled with lab reports and football—but watching them, he knew someday, he’d find that same glow.

For now, it was enough to sit back and watch the people he loved shine.

As the orchestra eased into the final swell, applause erupted around the ballroom. Guests clapped politely, some with genuine joy, others with the polite envy that came with watching two powerful families join together.

Sky leaned down, lips brushing Nani’s ear as he guided him toward the edge of the dance floor. “Smile a little longer. Then I’m stealing you away.”

Nani bit back a grin, squeezing his hand tighter. “About time.”

They slipped through the side doors, unnoticed in the chaos of chatter and champagne. The cool night air welcomed them as they stepped onto the balcony, the golden lights of the estate sprawling beneath them. From here, the sounds of the ballroom were nothing but a muffled hum.

Nani leaned against the railing, his grin softening into something vulnerable. “I thought I’d be nervous tonight. All these people, all those eyes. But then… you held my hand.” He turned to Sky, eyes glittering like the diamonds on his finger. “And suddenly, it didn’t matter anymore.”

Sky’s gaze softened, though his lips curved in that small, knowing smile. “That’s because it doesn’t matter. They can stare all they want. You’re mine.”

Nani’s breath hitched as Sky closed the distance, cupping his face with both hands. Their lips met, slow at first, then hungrier, the kind of kiss that tasted like possession and promise all at once.

Sky’s hand slid under the hem of Nani’s suit jacket, fingertips brushing against the warm skin at his waist, grounding him. “You looked beautiful tonight,” he murmured against his lips.

Nani smirked, whispering back, “I always do.”

Sky chuckled, forehead resting against his. “Cocky.”

“Yours,” Nani corrected, eyes fluttering shut.

For a moment, the world stilled—no guests, no obligations, no whispers of politics or danger. Just them, in the quiet glow of their stolen moment, rings catching the moonlight like they were bound by more than words.

Inside, the music swelled again as another dance began, laughter and chatter resuming. But outside, on that balcony, the night belonged to them alone.