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Today feels a little bit off for Mok. He woke up feeling so tired and exhausted despite not doing anything yet. That made him lay on his back and start a staring battle with the high ceiling of his room provided by the Arseni family.
Despite the feeling of not wanting to wake up and start his day, Mok still had to go to work today and tolerate his puppy like boss, Khun Thee. He proceeded with his everyday routine.
Mok sat up on his bed and reached for his sealed bottle of water on the bedside table and drank it as he stood up and walked straight to the bathroom to take a shower, hoping that a shower would wash off the weird feeling.
After shower, Mok did his skin care and stared at the mirror in front of him. He observed his body, his face, and even his hair through the mirror.
“Probably still tired” Mok muttered to himself as he let out a sigh.
He got dressed and went straight to the dining hall where he found Khun Thee already eating his breakfast.
Thee noticed his arrival and took a look on his watch as he raised an eyebrow.
“You’re 5 minutes late from your usual time” Thee said, looking at Mok.
“Sorry, boss. I woke up kind of late” said Mok as he lowered his head as a sign of apology.
“It’s fine. I understand. Yesterday was kind of tiring too.” the other said, clearly understanding what Mok is going through after all the meetings they attended yesterday.
Thee finished his breakfast and they immediately headed out and went straight to the Arseni company. While they were in the car, Mok reminded Khun Thee of his schedule today which is packed with multiple investor meetings from different parts of the world and they were acknowledge by Khun Thee with a low hum.
Then… Mok fell asleep unknowingly which is very weird and unusual for him.
“Mok.” Thee called out but received no response from the other
“Mok.” Thee called out again this time with a confusion that is evident in his voice.
“Khun Mok fell asleep, Khun Thee” The driver suddenly muttered after he took a very quick glance at Mok.
“Huh? Is he that tired?” Thee asked himself as Mok, his own secretary, never fell asleep especially on a ride.
“Is something wrong with him? Did Rome talked to him all night?” Those were the questions that wondered around Thee’s head, having a hard time shrugging off the unusual actions of Mok.
The driver gently tapped Mok’s shoulder after he parked the car on the private parking lot in Arseni’s basement.
“Khun Mok, we’ve arrived” The driver said, tapping Mok’s shoulder.
Mok slowly opened his eyes and stared at the wall in front of him, processing what just happened and when he realized he suddenly jolted and sat up properly in the passenger seat as he turned his body to face Khun Thee.
“Boss, I’m so sorry-“ his words were cut off after feeling a sudden sharp pang on his head making him halt his words to place a hand on his head and close his eyes shut.
“Mok, are you okay?” Thee voiced out, voice laced with worry and confusion.
“I’m fine, boss. It’s nothing” Mok replied, hand still on his head and eyes still shut tightly.
“You should take a break today, Mok. I can ask someone to go with me today, take a rest. Rome will kill me if something happens to you.” Thee said, looking at Mok with pure worry.
“I’m really fine, boss. It’s nothing. Please don’t tell Khun Krit” Mok said finally looking back at Thee.
“I’m definitely telling Rome if you won’t take a leave today. You look pale and about to faint, and Peach will scold me if he sees you like this, Mok” Thee scolded him gently.
Mok opened his mouth to reply to Thee when he felt another sharp pang on his head making him grunt and shut his eyes tightly, holding his head again.
“See, go back and rest.” Thee said. “Drive him back to the house. Tell the maids to look after him and feed him.” Thee ordered the driver as he exited the car, already walking towards the elevator.
“Khun Mok, please transfer to the back for more comfort.” The driver asked Mok, who only nodded his head and slowly went out of the passenger seat to go to the back where he reclined the seat and laid down, closing his eyes while massaging his temples.
Thee, the ever worried puppy mafia boss friend of Mok, called his brother, Rome. Mok’s boyfriend.
“Phi? Is there anything wrong?” were Rome’s first few words when the call connected knowing his brother won’t call unless anything dangerous and serious happened.
“Nothing wrong. Just wanted to report that I forced Mok to take a break today.” The replied, voice still worried but mischievous
“huh? why? what happened to Mok?” Rome said in panic his mind already thinking of possible reasons why his brother forced his boyfriend to take a break today.
“He seems so tired. He was 5 minutes late earlier and he fell asleep on the ride to the company which is very unusual and not him” Thee said, stating the reasons.
“Very unusual.” Rome’s mind is now spiraling still thinking of whatever it is that happened to Mok the day before. “He only told me that you guys were busy with meetings yesterday. Did anything else happened?” He added.
“We only attended meetings, that’s why I’m also confused on why he seems so tired today. Anyways, I sent him back home. The maids will take care of him there” Thee replied to his still panicking younger brother.
“I’ll fly back there. Don’t tell him. Tell the maids to feed him now and make him drink his medicine. I’ll take care of the rest when I get there.” Rome, now ordering his men to prepare the private jet as he walked in a hurry out of his office told his brother.
“Okay okay. Be safe.” Thee ended the call, smirking to himself knowing that Mok will probably give him death stares if he finds out.
Mok arrived back at the Arseni residence and was immediately told to take a sit at the dining for his lunch so he could drink his medicine. They gave him a porridge for easy and light meal.
After his meal, he took his medicine and thanked the staffs as he made his way back to his room. He stripped off his uniform and changed to a more comfortable clothes. He wore his gray sweatpants and a shirt.
Mok laid down his bed with a deep sigh. Feeling his muscles relax against the cold mattress. He closed his eyes, feeling the world around him still when he did. Just like that, Mok drifted back to sleep.
While Mok was in his dreamland, Rome was restless as his mind was thinking still. He’s got 20 minutes before the private jet he’s in lands in the port.
The private jet landed and Rome didn’t wait even for a second and immediately exited the jet, making the men who’s with him run towards the car to secure the place and open the car door for him. He sat inside the car as soon as he reached it and the next thing he knew is that the car is already moving.
Rome arrived in the Arseni residence in less than an hour. The car parked in front of the fancy porch, the car was still slightly moving when he exited in a hurry. He was half walking and half running to Mok’s room.
He approached Mok’s room. Rome looked at the door as he inhaled deeply and then exhaled. Calming down his nerves before entering with careful steps knowing Mok will be awake with the slightest noise he hears.
Rome eyes roamed Mok’s room. It has been months since he last went home to his Mok. The business in Hong Kong was keeping him very busy making him unable to fly back and forth, and he doesn’t want to risk getting scolded and ignored by Mok if he flies back. His eyes landed on Mok’s peaceful sleeping figure, a faint smile appeared on Rome’s face as Mok looked like a wrapped burito, wrapped by thick brown blanket that was familiar to Rome.. as that blanket was the one Rome left in his room years back then.
He slowly kneeled down beside the bed, intently staring at the features of Mok’s face. Tiredness can clearly be seen in the way Mok’s face even as he sleeps which made Rome sigh.
Gently, Rome placed a hand above Mok’s which caused for the other to flutter his eyes open at the sudden contact. Mok was still blinking his eyes, trying to clear his vision as he stared at the hand above his own. The hand and the warmth it gave was so familiar to him that he looked beside him.
“Khun-“ Mok blurted out but was stopped by Rome sitting on the small space beside him as Rome ran his fingers through his hair.
“You rest. I’m good” Rome assured.
“How did you got here, Khun? Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be in Hong Kong?” Mok questioned Rome , not giving the other a chance to answer one by one which caused for the other to giggle finding the action cute.
“Slowly, love. P’Kian called me. Told me a certain someone feels unwell and is stubborn that he was forced to take a break” Rome said, staring directly to Mok’s visibly tired eyes. “I’m worried. That’s why I’m here. I know you’re worried about my work but you’re more important than those shipments and trades.” he added leaving no time for any arguments and rebuts.
“Let me take care of you, please?” Rome pleaded as he held Mok’s hand tightly but surely not tight enough to hurt the other. Mok could only nod and squeeze Rome’s hand.
Mok sat up slowly, leaning his back onto the headboard and then looked at Rome.
“If Master finds out that you abandoned-“ Mok was cut off by Rome when he suddenly spoke
“and abandon you instead? You know I can-“
“Khun, your work is important”
Rome stood up and ran a his fingers through his hair, ruining his perfectly styled hair.
“Can’t I take care of you ? It’s always “work is important”. Mok, you’re more important than any of those.” Rome argued.
“Khun Krit, we both know you cant just fly somewhere and let your work be.”
“Is this you telling me to leave?” Rome replied
“Khun Kri-“
“Just tell me if you want me to leave, Mok” Rome’s words felt sharp in Mok’s heart. It’s as if he’s being stabbed by a knife by each word that comes out of Rome. Mok was so focused on the sharp pain that he feels in his heart that he didn’t notice his tears falling from his eyes.
And of course those tears, his precious tears, were immediately noticed by Rome who sat down in front of him, his thumb already wiping away the tears.
“Love-“
“I’m sorry-” Mok said wiping his tears with the back of his hand but the tears just seemed to keep on coming out on their own, giving up, Mok lets himself cry and be vulnerable in front of Rome.
Rome, waited patiently as he held Mok’s hand in his. He didn’t speak nor moved. He offered peace and his presence. It pains him to see Mok shed tears. It hurts more than getting shot by a bullet multiple times
Minutes passed by and Mok’s tears finally decided to stop, he sniffled and hiccuped while he wiped his own tears.
Rome, took one of the bottled water on the bedside table, opened it and handed it to Mok. Knowing he needs to hydrate after crying so much. Mok took it and drank slowly.
“I’m never leaving your side. Dad understands and he knows.”
“You know so well that I won’t be able to focus on anything when I know that you’re not feeing well and I’m not here to take care of you.”
“but-“
“No buts. I’m never leaving unless I’m 101% sure that you’re already better.”
Rome ended his words by placing a kiss on the crown of Mok’s head keeping it there for a second before tugging Mok closer.
“Have you ate?”
“no” Mok responded as he snuggled to Rome’s neck and wrapping his arms around the other’s shoulders, finally letting all his guard down and allowing himself to feel rested beside his beloved puppy.
Rome chuckled in response to Mok’s action as he rubbed Mok’s back gently with his right hand and the other carresing Mok’s hair.
“okay. Let’s stay for a while and then you can tell me whatever you want to eat.” Rome said as he held Mok tighter, letting the other rest in his warm embrace.