𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬

The garden stretched endlessly before him, trimmed hedges glowing under the faint blush of sunset, but Nani's eyes weren't really seeing any of it. He sat on the wrought-iron bench, posture elegant as always, though the stillness in him gave away the weight pressing on his chest. His parents' mansion had always been a place of safety, of warmth-but tonight, even here, his thoughts dragged him back to Sky.

He had moved into Sky's world after the engagement, tangled his life into his fiancé's-into the empire of the Theerapanyakuns. Days now blurred with late nights at the law firm, mornings filled with unread documents, and evenings waiting in a house that often felt too empty without Sky beside him.

"Nani."

His father's voice broke the silence. Papa Book walked across the path, his steps quiet but grounding, before settling on the bench next to him. He studied his son for a moment-his still face, the faint strain behind his eyes.

"Everything alright?"

Nani blinked as though waking from a dream. He turned, forcing a small smile, the kind meant to reassure when words might crack. "I'm fine, Papa. It's just... being an intern isn't easy. Sometimes I think-if I'm already struggling now, how will I survive once I'm a full attorney?"

Papa Book chuckled softly and reached over, patting his son's head the way he always had, even though Nani was far from a child now. "You'll be just fine. I know my son-he's a fighter. You've always been."

The touch softened Nani's expression, and he leaned into it, just for a moment, drawing comfort he didn't even realize he had been craving.

"Sky isn't coming with you tonight?" Papa asked gently.

The name struck something sharp and tender in Nani's chest. He swallowed, willing his voice to stay even. "He's busy these days. He won't come."

Papa Book tilted his head, eyes narrowing with that keen fatherly intuition. "Is everything alright between you two?"

"Yes," Nani answered quickly, nodding. He added, softer, "Everything's fine. I just... worry about him. He works too hard, you know?"

Papa Book studied him for a long moment before nodding. He didn't press further, though the weight in his gaze lingered. "Dinner is ready. Will you stay the night? It's already getting dark."

Nani let out a quiet sigh and nodded. "Yes. Sky is out of the city, so... I'll stay here tonight."

Papa Book smiled, satisfied enough with the answer, and stood, waiting for his son to follow. But as Nani rose, his eyes drifted once more toward the garden, the ache in his chest refusing to ease. Even in the comfort of home, the absence of the man he loved hollowed him out in ways he couldn't admit-not even to himself.

Dinner had left everyone with full stomachs and lighter hearts. Now, the three of them-Nani, Est, and Papa Book-were gathered in Nani's room, sprawled comfortably in the soft glow of a bedside lamp. The air was quiet, filled with the warmth of family, until Papa leaned back against the headboard with a nostalgic sigh.

"You know," he began, eyes twinkling with mischief, "Nani, you were such a moody child."

Nani groaned, already anticipating where this was going, and laughed. "Oh, Papa..."

Est perked up immediately, curious. " Tell me What did he do? I spended all time in that boarding school I must have missed all the fun"

Papa smirked. "Do you remember what happened when you were eleven, Nani?"

Nani covered his face with his hands. "Papa, no-"

But Papa Book was already lost in the memory, and his voice softened as the past came alive.

𝙁𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠

Back then, Nani was just eleven-small, bright-eyed, yet with that same spark of stubbornness he carried now. Almost every day, he found himself at the Theerapanyakun estate, trailing after Sky like a shadow. And when he wasn't there, he was waiting.

That evening, he had sat at home, perched on the living room sofa, clutching a blanket as he waited for Sky to arrive. They had a plan: to watch his favorite reality show together, the one he refused to watch with anyone else. But as the minutes dragged on, his eyelids grew heavy, and eventually, he drifted off to sleep right there on the couch.

When Sky finally arrived-late from lessons and other obligations-he found Nani curled up, fast asleep. Sky quietly told Papa Book he would leave so as not to wake him. "Let him rest," Sky had said with the maturity of someone far older than his years.

But at midnight, Nani stirred. His small hand patted the couch, searching, only to find empty space. When he realized Sky wasn't there, his little face crumpled.

The crying began, sharp and heartbroken.

"No, I want Phi Sky! Where is Sky?!"He kicked, he screamed, he broke anything within reach-scattering pillows, knocking over a vase.

Papa Book tried to soothe him, Est's father tried, even Est toddled after him in panic-but nothing worked. Their voices couldn't reach him, because the only name he cried for was Sky.

At last, worried and helpless, they called Vegas. And Vegas, recognizing the urgency of the situation, didn't hesitate. He sent Jimmy to drive Sky to the Hirunkit mansion in the middle of the night.

The moment Sky stepped out of the car and into the room, Nani stopped mid-scream. His eyes welled up again, but this time with relief.He scrambled into Sky's lap, clutching at his shirt, burying his small face into Sky's chest, and sniffled hard. "You didn't come..." he mumbled.

Sky didn't scold, didn't tease-he just held him, one arm wrapped around Nani as if nothing else mattered.

That night, the reality show went unwatched, because Nani fell asleep again-safe, this time, in Sky's arms. And Sky stayed there with him until morning, never letting go.

𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩

Papa chuckled at the memory. "You were impossible, Nani. But also... you always knew who you belonged to."

Nani flushed slightly, torn between embarrassment and the warmth of being reminded just how long Sky had been woven into his life.

Papa Book was clearly enjoying himself now, leaning back with a nostalgic grin as Est urged him on.

"You two were inseparable," he said, shaking his head at Nani. "Sky practically lived here. If I lost you in the house, I knew exactly where to look-because Sky would be sitting right there beside you."

Nani laughed softly, though his ears burned. He wanted to protest, but it was the truth.

Papa's eyes softened as more memories surfaced. "You didn't even bother making friends your age. Always waiting for Sky, always clinging to him. Even when other children tried to play with you, you'd just... hide behind him."

Est snorted. "Really? You didn't have any friends until university?"

Nani rolled his eyes. "Papa is exaggerating-"

But Papa cut in. "Exaggerating? Do you remember when that one boy tried to sit next to you at the estate? What happened?"

The memory flickered in Nani's head, vivid as if it had been yesterday.

𝙁𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠

He was twelve, sulking at the Theerapanyakun estate garden table while Sky chatted with one of the older cousins. Then a boy-bold, smiling-sat beside Nani and offered him a piece of candy.

Nani didn't smile back. He looked over his shoulder instead, searching for Sky.

And Sky-always watchful-had narrowed his eyes immediately. His expression turned cold, voice sharp for someone still so young.

"He doesn't want it," Sky told the boy, tugging Nani's chair closer to his own. "Go bother someone else."

The boy blinked in confusion. "But I was just-"

"Did you not hear me?" Sky cut in, already slipping his arm around Nani's shoulders like a silent claim.

Nani had only puffed up his cheeks and leaned into Sky, satisfied. He didn't even glance at the boy again.

Later that night, Papa Pete had scolded Sky lightly for being too harsh. But Sky had simply shrugged, unbothered. "He doesn't need anyone else. He has me."

𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩

Nani blinked, snapping back into the present as Papa chuckled at the old story. Est, of course, was laughing way too hard.

But in his own mind, Nani drifted further-into moments Papa never saw.

𝙁𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠

How, when he was fourteen and sulky, he'd demanded Sky skip his own lessons to stay with him. "If you love me, don't go," Nani had said shamelessly, sprawled on Sky's bed like a spoiled prince.

And Sky... Sky had gone anyway, but only after promising: "I'll come back right after. You'll be the first person I see." True to his word, he had returned before even changing out of his uniform, breathless from rushing.

Or that summer evening when Nani had been stubbornly ignoring him out of petty jealousy-because Sky had spent too long playing football with his cousins. Sky had cornered him in the Hirunkit living room, frowning. "Why are you sulking?"

"You didn't even look at me," Nani had accused, cheeks hot.

Sky had stared at him for a moment, then sighed with that quiet patience only he had. "I always look at you."

And with those words, Nani's anger had melted like ice left out in the sun.

𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩

Papa's voice pulled him back again, still weaving tales, still painting their childhood in golden strokes. Est was delighted, hanging onto every word.

Nani only smiled faintly, his gaze distant. Because what Papa didn't know-what only he and Sky knew-was that those moments had never really ended. Even now, Nani still felt like that same spoiled boy, and Sky still treated him like his entire world.

Papa Book leaned back against Nani's headboard, a chuckle rumbling in his chest. "Ah, there are too many stories to tell. You were a little handful, Nani."

"Papa-" Nani groaned, though a small smile tugged at his lips.

Est perked up immediately. "No, no, tell more! I want to hear everything."

"Alright, alright," Papa said, eyes crinkling with amusement. "Do you remember that time you refused to eat unless Sky fed you?"

𝙁𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠

Nani was only ten, sulking at the dining table, his arms crossed. A plate of food sat untouched in front of him.

"Eat," Papa Book had said, exasperated.

"No," little Nani had muttered.

"Why not?"

"Because Sky's not here."

Everyone at the table had sighed-until moments later, Sky entered the room, hair damp from training. Before anyone could scold Nani again, he had already hopped up from his chair, tugged Sky's sleeve, and dragged him to sit beside him.

And then, shamelessly, Nani had opened his mouth like a baby bird.

Sky, despite the confused stares from all the adults, had quietly picked up a spoon and fed him without hesitation.

𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩

Papa Book laughed at the memory. "And you ate everything on your plate the moment Sky held the spoon. Every. Single. Bite."

Est burst out laughing, clapping his hands. "You were such a spoiled brat, Nani!"

Nani groaned and covered his face with his hands. "Papa, stop!"

Papa Book's smile softened now. "But it wasn't always just you being spoiled. Sometimes, it was Sky being too protective for his own good."

Nani blinked, his heart tightening as Papa's voice grew gentler.

"You remember when you were thirteen and cried because that tutor raised his voice at you? You locked yourself in your room, refusing to come out. None of us could coax you." Papa shook his head. "But Sky-he stormed into the tutor's office, told him never to raise his voice at you again. He was so fierce that the poor man resigned the very next day."

Est gasped dramatically. "What? Sky made someone quit their job for you?"

Nani looked down at his lap, cheeks warm. "He... he didn't have to do that."

Papa chuckled knowingly. "That boy never let anyone make you cry. Not then, not now. He always carried your storms like they were his own."

Nani's throat tightened at the words, his mind swimming with private memories Papa didn't know-the late-night whispers, the jealousy, the endless patience Sky gave him.

Est leaned back, still laughing. "I swear, it sounds less like childhood friends and more like childhood lovers. You two were basically married already!"

Nani hid his face in his hands, but deep down, his heart ached with a tender warmth only Sky could stir.

Papa Book tapped his chin as if searching through a chest of old memories. "When you both grew older, it didn't get any easier. You two were still inseparable... though Sky had his moments of jealousy too."

Nani's head shot up. "Papa!"

Est leaned forward, eyes shining. "Wait-jealous? Tell me!"

They were around sixteen. Nani had been invited to a classmate's birthday party-one of the few times he actually wanted to go somewhere without Sky.

"But the moment Sky saw you dressed up, he refused to let you leave," Papa Book said with a chuckle. "He sat in the car, arms crossed, glaring at the house like it was enemy territory. You ended up leaving the party after only twenty minutes because Sky wouldn't stop calling your phone."

Est burst into uncontrollable laughter. "Oh my god, he was that jealous? Over a birthday party?"

Nani bit his lip, embarrassed, though his heart ached with the memory of Sky's possessive scowl.

As Papa spoke, Nani's own mind wandered to a night he had never told anyone about.

𝙁𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠

He was fifteen, restless after a fight with his father. He had sneaked out to the Theerapanyakun estate, climbing into Sky's room through the balcony. Sky had been awake, waiting for him.

Nani remembered how he had curled into Sky's bed, his tears soaking Sky's shirt. Sky hadn't asked questions. He had only held him tightly, whispering, "You don't need anyone else. You have me."

Even now, the memory squeezed Nani's chest, leaving him almost breathless.