Chapter Text
Mok really needed a drink. But he doesn't drink. After a failed attempt at staying in Peach's house, Thee had gone to his own house. Mok had finally gotten off work. But all he did was go to a fancy restaurant. He can name a few places he'd rather be at right that instant.
Like the secret hallway of the main Lee mansion when he was young where he and Rome used to hide.
Or the cafe where Mok used to spend his day off with Rome. The younger boy loved their Lattes a lot while Mok used to experiment with the drinks each time.
Or the island hotel where Rome and Mok spend his birthdays at.
No matter the place there was one constant.
Rome.
He misses the boy, his boss's brother, his Rome. No, not his. Because they aren't supposed to fall in love.
His chest feels heavy every time he thinks back to the night before Rome went to Hong Kong over a year ago. Rome didn't want this life. He didn't like this life that forced him to stay away from Khun Thee and him.
His thought process got interrupted as someone sat on the chair across from him.
Mok looked up and gasped. He was surprised to see a familiar face.
"Mr. Aran?" Mok called.
The boy looked a little off, tipsy even. But he wasn't surprised. Like he knew where he was sitting.
"Hi Mok." Aran gave a small smile.
"You know me."
"I would never forget the face of someone who gives away property for no reason." Aran taunted.
"That wasn't me. It was Khun Thee."
"And you're his bodyguard. The less weird one." Aran giggled at the end.
Mok held back a chuckle. Because he was the normal one in the whole Lee family.
"Are you alone?" Mok asked.
"Yes. All alone. No one has time for me."
Mok felt bad. The bubbly Aran was a sight to see, the model Aran was a whole different person. Different but no less attractive. But this sad version of him, Mok doesn't like that on him and hopes he never sees it again. Mok will make efforts if he has to.
"Do you want me to order something for you?" Mok asked. "Have you eaten?"
"I'm watching my weight." Aran replied.
Mok's eyebrows furrowed. 'You are thin. What weight are you talking about?' He held back.
"Would eating make you happy?" Mok asked instead.
Aran looked at him in confusion. Mok called the waiter over and ordered a pasta dish for his company. He remembered Peach said Aran likes Pasta.
Mok looked back at Aran when he didn't receive an answer. "Hm?"
"Oh. Uh- maybe? I like Pasta."
"Then if it makes you happy it won't make you gain weight." Mok knew he was making no sense.
"Hm?" Aran asked.
"Yeah. Trust me."
It was enough to convince the innocent drunk that Aran is and he accepts it. Mok gives him a smile.
"If you still worry about gaining weight then I'll take you to walk around tomorrow." Mok suggested, taking a chance to spend more time with the model.
"Can we go to the riverside?" Aran asked with a smile.
Mok replied, "We can go wherever." Aran got happy at that response.
"Is everything okay?" Mok asked.
"Ah- it's nothing. Just Tawan. Moving on isn't as easy as they show in movies."
Mok sighed. "Tell me about it."
___
Mok had a drunk Aran in his arms. He had access to Aran's car.
"Allow me to use your car khun Aran." Mok mumbled to the drunk guy in the passenger seat.
Aran kept saying he didn't want to go to his house. So Mok decided to take him to a hotel nearby.
Aran dropped on the bed while Mok looked at him. He didn't know how... beautiful his body was. Mok shook his head.
"Aran? I can leave right? Will you be fine?" Mok asked.
Aran only grumbled. Mok hesitated. He sighed and settled himself on a single couch.
"I wonder if it's the company telling him to lose weight. He doesn't weigh anything." Mok mumbled.
He leaned back and checked the time. He looked at Aran who was asleep in a cat-like position. Mok chuckled unintentionally. He paused.
"No." Mok mumbled. "No no." He placed a hand on his chest. "But..." He closed his eyes. "Rome..."
Mok closed his eyes as guilt came over, again. Because of the same person, again. Mok took a big sigh. He remembers the first time clearly.
__
It was a day off for him. One of the many days where Thee forced him to rest. He had visited a florist, feeling like getting flowers. So without a thought he had gone to the store and had asked to look around first. He did not expect to bump into a beautiful human being when he did.
"Oh, sorry." The voice was a little panicked.
"It's okay." Mok had answered while his heart had started thumping loudly.
The beautiful human had a bunch of flowers wrapped in a messy looking way. He went to the counter with a smile. And Mok had forgotten about his own flowers.
"Does it look fine miss?" The boy asked. "I don't wanna upset my date."
"It's perfect, sweetie. It's the effort that counts. And you've poured your whole heart into it, your date's gonna love it." The woman at the counter assured him.
Mok had two thoughts.
1. The date is so lucky to have him.
2. It's a shame he isn't available.
Mok had panicked at the second thought. The face, the voice and his thought never left him.
__
Mok's thought process was interrupted when his phone rang. Expecting Thee, he didn't bother to check and just picked up the call.
- You picked up.
Mok froze on his place. It wasn't Thee. He checked the id and saw the letter R as the id.
- Mok?
Mok attached the phone back to his ear and stayed. He hummed, letting the other know he's there.
- Thank you for not hanging up on me.
"Did you have any work Mr. Krit?" Mok asked. He was happy to hear from him. So happy that it calmed his guilt a bit.
- Mok~
Mok understood the tone and understood the reason.
"I shouldn't." Mok mumbled.
- Then pretend I'm a stranger. Please. I'll die if I don't hear from you, see you.
"Do not say that khun Krit."
- Talk to me.
Mok sighed. His eyes went to Aran who was still asleep. His phone beeped. Rome was asking to switch to face time. Mok hesitated, bit his lower lip and then decided to be selfish. He was facing a pretty shocked Rome.
- You picked up.
"Don't make it big." Mok said.
Rome was just happy to see him.
- Where are you?
"A hotel. Helping a drunk person out."
- What drunk person? Who? Why? Why you? Is it a client? Business or mafia? Did P'Kian order you to?
Rome had misunderstood the situation.
"Calm down khun Rome. It's not like that."
- You don't look happy to me. Maybe sad. Did something happen?
Mok hesitated. He looked over at the bed.
"Rome." Mok called. "What would happen if I said my heart is beating for someone else?"
He watched Rome freeze and the smile on his face faded.
- Oh.
Mok closed his eyes for a second. "No! I don't mean that."
- What?
"Uh- it's complicated."
- Tell me. I'm all ears. I'll listen.
Mok sighed. "It's you and someone."
- And. Not or?
"No. I mean... Uh- I... I feel something for this other person too. At the same time. No less or more than what I feel for you. I think."
Rome was quiet for a few seconds.
- Is it the drunk person in that room?
Mok nodded. "I found him at the restaurant I was having dinner at. He was tipsy when he sat in front of me. And maybe the alcohol got to his head after eating. He didn't want to go home. And I couldn't find myself leaving him alone in this state."
- Was he flirting? Seducing?
"No. No. He... He is trying to get out of a toxic situation-ship."
- What do you want Mok?
"I... I don't know. I'm... I feel guilty, like a criminal when I think about him. I feel like I'm betraying."
- Do you want both of us?
Mok couldn't reply but Rome got an answer.
- You know about poly relationships?
"Hm?"
- You can date two or more people. Like, all together. Say A and B, B and C like each other then A B and C can be in one relationship. It's normal. You don't have to feel guilty about it.
"What if A doesn't like C?"
- Well you'll know that once A and C meet, right?
"Does A have no problem if this is what B wants?" Mok quietly asked.
- No. What if C does?
Mok looked down. "Then we can't do anything about it."
- Can I be happy that you've accepted that you like me?
Mok looked at Rome with furrowed brows. "Did you not know?"
- It's different when I assume it and when you say it.
"We shouldn't right?"
- Are you worried dad would say something?
"He keeps asking Khun Thee whether he has fallen in love or not."
- Has he?
Mok blinked, not having an answer. Rome's eyes widened with amusement.
- He has? Who's it?
"You never heard this from me."
- Mok~ c'mon... Tell me.
"I can't."
- Mok!
"I should sleep. You should sleep too. It's late." Mok said.
- Fine. You will pick up if I call again right?
"I'll think about it."
- Mok! We had a nice chat. We found out that we'd both like a relationship and that you've found one more person to love.
"Don't say it out loud." Mok mumbled. "I haven't stopped feeling guilty about it yet."
- But, Mok, how come you brought it out today?
"Because of my guilt. It was eating me alive. My heart kept telling me to come clean about it. And your call, your concern became the push I needed."
- Mok, my birthday is coming.
"I know."
- I'll see you soon.
"Yes."
- Bye.
"Mm. Bye."
The call ended. Mok sighed. He didn't know he could love more than one person. He didn't know that was an option. He looked over at Aran who was sound asleep.
"Would you ever like me?" Mok asked.
He did tell Rome all about it and was introduced to a new concept. But if Aran never liked him or Rome, it would be heartbreaking.
"I wish you had met me before Tawan." Mok mumbled.
He wonders if he would've ever found courage to ask Aran out on a date. He wonders what would've happened if he had today's conversation two years ago in person on Rome's birthday.
___
Aran wakes up alone in the hotel room. He was confused as he sat on the bed. It all came back to him after a few minutes. Aran rubbed his hand on his face, a little embarrassed.
'Allow me to stay here through the night.'
Aran remembers Mok's voice.
"God- embarrassing." Aran groaned. He saw a few plates on the coffee table by the couch. He walked to the couch and looked down.
A light breakfast was placed on the table and juice. He also found a note. He picked it up.
'I wanted to stay till you wake up but I was getting late to report to Khun Thee so I had to go. I apologise for that. And I really hope you text me once you're safely home.'
- Mok
Aran's heart felt a little something as he reads the note. He turns the note and finds a number.
"What a gentleman!" Aran mumbled and smiled.