24

A fresh flower replaces the withered one in the vase as Sky takes a seat at the edge of the bed.

He gives a quiet nod of thanks to the nurse checking Nani's vitals and IV drip, then gently reaches for the mafia's hand.

"It's been fifteen days since you fell into the coma," Sky whispers, bringing Nani's hand to his cheek. "When are you going to wake up?"

Nani's head is still wrapped in bandages. His face is peaceful, eyes closed, as if only asleep.

After the emergency treatment, the doctors pronounce him comatose due to the severe head trauma sustained in the crash.

They recommend moving him home into a familiar environment, hoping the comfort of known surroundings will give him the strength to fight his way back.

Sky traces small circles on Nani's knuckles with his thumb, eyes fixed on the man lying unconscious before him.

"You told me we'd grow stronger together," he murmurs, voice cracking. "So don't you dare back out now."

The room is quiet, save for the steady beep of the heart monitor and the soft hum of the IV machine.

Sky leans forward and presses a tender kiss to Nani's hand.

"Everyone's waiting for you. Sunny's doing better. He wants to see you again. Joong and Dunk stop by every hour. Kay brought those cookies you pretend not to like, saying they mess with your diet. First and Tew, they're not as loud without you around," he adds, his laugh brittle and broken.

His gaze drops to their joined hands.

"I miss you, you know?" he whispers. "Your voice. Your constant nagging. The way you act all cold and tough, but fall apart when I hold you."

He pauses, swallowing hard.

"So wake up, Nani. Please. I don't care how long it takes...just don't leave me hanging."

A tear slips down his cheek, landing on Nani's hand. But everything remains still.

Sky doesn't let go.

"I'll wait," he whispers. "For as long as it takes."

The sun dips low outside the window, casting a soft golden glow across the room. The stillness feels sacred.

Sky dozes off in the chair beside the bed, Nani's hand still cradled loosely in his own.

Joong and Dunk enter carrying a tray of food.

Dunk is the first to approach, quietly adjusting the blanket covering Nani. He pauses when he sees Sky still gripping Nani's hand.

"Sky, wake up," Joong says gently, nudging his shoulder.

Sky stirs, blinking as he immediately checks on Nani.

"You skipped lunch again," Joong says, placing the tray on the small table near the bed. "We brought you dinner."

"I'm not hungry," Sky mutters, his eyes never leaving Nani's still face.

Joong and Dunk exchange a look. Concern tightening in both their expressions.

Sky has barely left the room in days. He hasn't been eating, hasn't been sleeping properly. All his focus is on Nani.

"He'll wake up. The doctor confirmed it," Joong says softly, reassuringly.

"But they can't say when, can they?" Sky replies, voice hollow with frustration. "They don't know."

He looks like hell. Hair messy, stubble growing unevenly, eyes heavy from nights spent staring at someone who won't open his eyes.

Joong tries to lighten the mood. "What if he wakes up and sees you looking like a wreck?"

Sky doesn't even smile. He keeps staring at Nani.

Joong steps closer, voice lowering. "Sky, you can't fall apart now. Nani wouldn't want to wake up and find you like this."

Sky finally looks up, his eyes red but dry. "He promised me. Said we'd grow stronger. No more nightmares." His voice breaks. "But now I'm the one living in it."

Dunk places a firm, comforting hand on Sky's shoulder. "Then hold onto that promise. Be strong for him."

Sky says nothing, just runs his thumb gently across Nani's knuckles again.

Joong moves to the tray. "Just eat a little. Please. If he could see you right now, he'd scold you for starving yourself."

Sky exhales. Half sigh, half shaky laugh. "Yeah, he'd curse me out and drag me to the kitchen himself."

The room falls into a quiet pace, filled with memory and waiting.

After a few bites of food, Sky pauses. "Where are we heading next week?" he asks, finally acknowledging Joong's earlier mention of a meeting.

"To Chao Gang. I'm returning the territories that were stolen by the Chakrit Gang," Joong answers.

Sky nods faintly.

"Dunk will stay with Nani, so don't worry," Joong adds.

"I know. You tightened security after the incident," Sky says flatly. He finishes his water and leans back in the chair.

Since Fai's death, the Chakrit Gang collapses. Their supporters scatter. The business world wipes them clean from its records.

No one speaks of them now.

No one dares rebuild on human trafficking again. Not at that scale. Some operations still exist in the shadows but nothing as monstrous as Chakrit.

The Ghost Gang keeps to the background, as promised.

The Aydin Gang holds influence over drugs and weapons, but operations have slowed. The wealth from the gold gives them breathing room.

Threats still come, always will but nothing like the terror the Chakrit Gang once cast over them.

Just like Nani said, no more nightmares.

And finally, for the first time in years, the Aydin Gang moves without threat in the air.

***

Joong closes the door behind him as he shrugs off his suit jacket.

The meeting with Chao Gang goes well, they agree to resume business with the Aydin Gang and maintain their alliance, bringing a rare sense of relief to the mafia boss.

He's about to return to his desk when the door creaks open. Dunk peeks inside, wearing his usual warm smile.

Their relationship is still strained, heavy with unresolved emotions.

Dunk has been doing everything he can to get close to Joong again after everything that happened.

"What do you want? I still have work to do," Joong says, his voice cold as he opens one of the files Kay left on his desk.

It's a detailed report. An upcoming transaction, aimed at expanding their territory to northern Thailand.

"Are you still not going to open up to me?" Dunk asks hesitantly, now standing in front of the desk.

Joong doesn't look up. His eyes remain fixed on the document, though his hands stay still.

"I don't have the energy for this conversation right now," he says flatly.

Dunk sighs, stepping closer. His voice is soft, but firm. "You keep pushing me away..."

Joong's jaw tightens. He finally looks up, eyes sharp. "You think this is just about pushing you away?"

"Then explain it to me," Dunk pleads. "I've waited. I gave you space. But I can't pretend none of this matters to me anymore."

Joong leans back in his chair, his gaze dropping. "You disappeared. When everything was falling apart, you left. I was received a fucking recovery treatment and once I returned, you're no longer here."

"I swear, I didn't mean to leave you," Dunk says quickly, voice cracking. "I thought it would keep you safer."

"Then you should've fought back!" Joong snaps, slamming the folder shut. "You don't get to say you care and then walk away when I needed you most."

Dunk flinches. His face falls under the weight of guilt.

"I know," he whispers. "And I regret it every damn day."

The silence that follows is thick. But slowly, Joong's expression softens, the tension in his shoulders easing.

"I don't hate you, Dunk," he murmurs, voice low. "But I don't know if you're still worthy of the love you once promised to fight for."

Dunk steps forward, cautiously turning Joong's chair to face him.

"I'm truly sorry," he says, voice full of emotion. "Be mad at me as long as you need. But this time, I won't run. No matter how hard you push me away, I'll keep stepping closer."

Without waiting for permission, he lowers himself into Joong's lap, arms wrapping around his shoulders.

Joong stays still, eyes shut. But his breathing shifts as Dunk leans into him.

"I was so scared when I left the villa," Dunk whispers, his voice muffled against Joong's chest. "Going back to Chakrit triggered my worst nightmares. But the whole time, all I could think about was coming back to you."

Joong's hands hover for a moment before finally settling on Dunk's waist. The touch is hesitant but it's there.

"You hurt me," Joong says, voice cracking. "You left when I needed you most."

"I know," Dunk breathes. "And I'll regret it for the rest of my life. But I swear Joong, I won't run again."

Joong opens his eyes, locking his gaze with Dunk's. Silence hangs between them heavy with everything unsaid.

He studies Dunk's face. For lies, for doubt. He finds none.

"I don't trust easily," Joong says quietly. "And you broke something in me."

"Then let me fix it," Dunk whispers. "Piece by piece. Even if it takes forever."

The silence now feels different. Softer. Hopeful.

Joong exhales, forehead resting against Dunk's. "One mistake," he warns.

"One chance," Dunk agrees instantly.

Joong pulls him closer, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead.

"How did you manage to escape on your own after you ran from the mansion?" Joong asks, voice low. "I was going crazy looking for you. I never stopped. Neither did Nani."

Dunk hums quietly. "It was rough. I always felt like someone was watching me but it turned out to be nothing."

He chuckles dryly. "I even got into a bar fight. And I don't even know how to fight."

Joong offers the faintest smile.

"No one forced you to leave. You chose it," he says, making Dunk pout.

"You didn't see how bad things got when you were gone. Everyone in the gang was fighting. Nani and I didn't know what to do," Dunk sighs.

"I was surprised when Nani was accepted as the temporary boss," Joong admits. "But when he told me he wanted to take Fai down, I agreed. He looked determined."

He looks down at Dunk. "Don't ever do that again. You have no idea how many auction events Nani went to, hoping you were one of the victims. That you'd been taken by the Chakrit Gang."

Dunk lowers his eyes, guilt shadowing his face. "I'll thank him properly once he wakes up," he says, voice soft but resolute.

Joong nods, his gaze lingering on Dunk with quiet affection.

As Dunk turns, their lips draw closer about to meet in a long overdue kiss when a sound interrupts them.

They turn.

Stumbling into the room, clutching an IV pole and holding his head with one hand, is Nani.

Pain flashes across his face, but it's not enough to stop him.

"W-Where is Sky?" he rasps, voice hoarse but filled with urgency.

Joong and Dunk rush to him in stunned silence.

"Oh God, Nani," Dunk breathes, eyes welling with tears.

"You're awake," Joong says, barely believing it.

"Where is Sky?" Nani repeats, ignoring their shock. "I checked his room. He's not there."

"He's nearby," Joong says quickly, wrapping an arm around Nani's waist. "We'll take you to him."

"I can walk," Nani insists stubbornly, swaying but determined.

"Of course you can," Dunk says gently, grabbing the IV stand to help as they guide him to the elevator.

The house is quiet, save for the occasional footsteps of a guard.

As they near the lounge that faces the garden, Nani halts.

Through the glass doors, he spots a familiar figure on the bench. Head down, hands clasped tightly together.

Sky.

His Sky.

Nani doesn't wait.

He lets go of Joong and Dunk, staggering forward on trembling legs. As the glass door slides open, Sky looks up and his eyes widen.

"Nani?" he breathes, standing so fast the bench nearly topples behind him. "Nani!"

"Where the hell have you been?" Nani gasps, stumbling into Sky's arms.

Sky catches him, pulling him close as tears spill down his cheeks. "I—I just stepped out for air," he chokes out. "You're awake..."

"I'm sorry it took me so long," Nani whispers into his chest, voice breaking. "But I'm here now."

Sky lets out a soft, shaky laugh, burying his face in Nani's hair. "You scared the hell out of me."

"I'm sorry," Nani croaks. "I fucking love you, Sky."

The words spill out without hesitation.

"I don't want to be separated from you," he says, fists clenching the fabric of Sky's shirt.

Behind them, Joong and Dunk stand quietly in the doorway, watching with soft, overwhelmed smiles.

"I love you too, Nani," Sky says, his voice strong and full. "I always have. Every second, every breath."

"I promise you," Nani whispers, "no more nightmares."

And in that moment, as they hold each other like nothing else matters.

Nothing else does.