Late afternoon on the beaches of Phuket, the debut showcase was held with grandeur amidst a stunning natural backdrop. Guests gathered in large numbers, laughter and chatter filling the air. Every detail of the party had been meticulously prepared—from the décor and lighting to the precise choreography on stage. A majestic outdoor stage stood by the shore, where gentle waves lapped under the glow of the setting sun, creating a scene that was both romantic and vibrant. The bold concept left many in awe at first glance.
Amidst the bustling crowd, Faisal and Jay huddled in a corner backstage, whispering conspiratorially like they were plotting something suspicious.
— "Hey… Are you ready?" Faisal leaned in, whispering into Jay's ear while darting his eyes around nervously.
— "I've been ready since forever! Don't worry, Faisal. Just trust me," Jay said, patting his chest confidently.
— "I do trust you. I'm just worried people might not find this interesting…" Faisal bit his lip, looking unusually anxious, a stark contrast to his usual confidence.
— "You mean… especially Yod, right?" Jay tilted his head, eyes sharp as if he could see straight through Faisal's thoughts.
— "Yeah…" Faisal didn't hide it and nodded, his gaze flickering with subtle tension.
Jay chuckled softly. Instead of teasing, he placed a reassuring hand on Faisal's shoulder and spoke firmly.
— "Don't worry. From my gut feeling, not only will people love it—it might even go viral online!"
— "You really think so?" Faisal raised an eyebrow.
— "Have I ever lied to you?" Jay grinned mischievously.
Faisal let out a small laugh and quickly pulled himself together, flipping his hair like he was psyching himself up. "Alright then, I'm counting on you."
Just then, from a distance, Yod approached. His presence lit up the space like a beacon in the fading light. Spotting Faisal and Jay, he headed over with a curious look.
— "What are you two plotting over here?" Yod squinted playfully, a half-smile on his lips.
— "Plotting? No way! Just some backstage talk, that's all," Faisal said a bit flustered, eyes slightly averting Yod's gaze.
Jay quickly jumped in to cover, giving a thumbs-up to Yod with a radiant smile:
— "By the way, props to you, Yod! Look at this event—every detail is flawless! It's a masterpiece!"
— "Oh stop it… You're exaggerating!" Yod blushed and scratched his head instinctively, caught off guard by the compliment.
— "Oh right, where's Chirawan and Isra?" Jay looked around.
— "They're inside checking on the models. There's a fashion show later tonight, and since Chirawan is the lead designer, she's super busy," Faisal nodded toward the backstage area.
— "And Ying? I haven't seen him at all…" Jay asked suddenly, realizing his absence.
— "I saw him over there, talking with some partners," Yod pointed toward the distance where Ying stood bathed in golden light.
— "Then I'll go find him. You two continue your 'national affairs discussion'!" Jay teased before skipping away, leaving the two standing there watching him go.
Suddenly, the space between Faisal and Yod felt quieter. The ocean breeze carried the scent of salt and perfume, creating a calm, comfortable stillness.
Faisal turned to Yod, his gaze slowly tracing the lines of the other's face. It was as if just standing there, looking, was enough to bring him peace.
— "Faisal… you said you had a surprise for me. What is it?" Yod tilted his head, eyes glimmering with barely concealed anticipation.
Faisal smiled—a soft curve at the corner of his lips, both gentle and mysterious. He said nothing, just reached up to brush a stray lock of hair from Yod's forehead.
— "You'll find out soon. If I tell you now, it'll ruin the moment." His voice was low and tender, carrying a strange, intimate warmth.
— "You're really making me curious…" Yod pouted slightly, though a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Inside, something warm bloomed quietly—like a gentle breeze brushing his heart.
Faisal didn't respond. He simply stood next to Yod in silence, his eyes drifting toward the stage where lights were about to blaze to life. In that moment, all the noise, lights, and laughter seemed to blur—leaving only Yod in sharp, vivid focus.
———————————————————
Ying stood exchanging words with a few business partners, his expression calm and professional. His tall figure, the light catching the sharp bridge of his nose and his polite smile, formed such a flawless image that it was hard for anyone facing him to look away.
From a distance, Jay came skipping over, his hair slightly tousled by the sea breeze, a wide grin on his face betraying his excitement.
— "Ying!" Jay called out, his voice light as the wind, yet full of charm.
Recognizing the familiar voice, Ying turned his head slightly. He closed the conversation with a courteous nod:
— "Let's continue this later."
Then he turned and walked toward Jay. His gaze softened, and his voice dropped to a gentler tone:
— "Is something wrong? Looking for me?"
Jay shook his head, a playful smile flickering on his lips:
— "Nothing's wrong. I just felt a little down… so I went to find the person who makes me feel at ease."
Ying paused for a second at the unexpected answer, but then let out a soft laugh, his eyes smiling along with his lips:
— "You'll be singing on stage soon. Are you all set?"
Jay stretched his arms behind his head, grinning confidently:
— "More than ready! Nothing to worry about."
— "So confident." Ying smiled, his gaze drifting gently across Jay's face as if trying to memorize every little expression.
— "The stage is my home. And if it's home, I should feel comfortable, right?" Jay looked toward the stage, glowing with light. In his eyes was a deep sense of familiarity and ease.
— "That's true… You've stood up there so many times. There's nothing to be nervous about anymore." Ying said, and almost by habit, he reached out to gently ruffle Jay's hair. As his hand touched those soft strands, even his eyes seemed to soften.
Jay closed his eyes and leaned into the touch, then nodded firmly:
— "Mhm!"
Seeing that childlike expression, Ying chuckled quietly, his hand still resting on Jay's head:
— "Then… shall we take a walk? There's still time."
Jay blinked, then quickly nodded again.
— "Wherever you go, I'll follow."
And with that, Jay walked beside Ying. Though smaller in stature than the man next to him, there was nothing small about the way he looked up — his eyes sparkled with pure joy, as if, for now, the rest of the world had faded away, leaving only the one walking by his side.
———————————————————
As night slowly descended, the radiant lights began to replace the fading sunlight. The Phuket beach had transformed into a dazzling, vibrant stage. After a heartfelt opening speech by Ying and Faisal, the fashion show featuring Chirawan's unique designs left the audience in awe. Then, as the opening notes of music played, the atmosphere quieted—Jay stepped onto the stage, exuding the aura of a true star, his eyes shining with irresistible confidence.
He sang with deep passion, his sweet voice blending with the gentle sea breeze, captivating everyone in the crowd.
Among them, Yod listened intently, a rare tenderness flickering in his eyes. He tilted his head and whispered to Faisal beside him:
— "Jay sings beautifully… and this song is something else. It's so lovely, so familiar it almost aches."
Faisal turned to look at Yod, his gaze seeming to wait for something deeper:
— "Do you… like this song?"
Yod smiled, his eyes never leaving the stage:
— "I do. The strange thing is… it feels familiar, like I've heard it somewhere before. So… close."
Faisal let out a soft chuckle, his hand reaching up to scratch the back of his neck a little awkwardly:
— "Actually… this is the surprise I told you about."
Yod turned toward him, frowning slightly:
— "Hm? What do you mean?"
Faisal took a light breath, his voice as gentle as the waves, but carrying something deeper:
— "That song… I wrote it."
Yod blinked in surprise, eyes wide:
— "Really?"
Faisal nodded, his tone quiet but sincere:
— "I wrote it quite a while ago, but it always felt like something was missing. Then I met you… and I realized what it was — sincerity. You helped me complete it.
I poured my feelings into that song… and I think you'll feel it."
Yod turned to look at him, a flicker of emotion in his gaze, before it softened — calm and clear:
— "Hey…"
Faisal looked at him, gently cutting in:
— "I know… maybe you think we haven't known each other long enough, not deeply enough… to talk about feelings like this. But—"
He didn't get to finish before Yod shook his head.
— "I understand. And I know how you feel.
I feel the same."
Faisal froze, his heart skipping a beat.
— "…What did you just say?"
Yod gave a small smile — calm voice as always, but his eyes sparkled with a sweet, teasing gleam:
— "Beautiful words don't need to be repeated.
Now let's focus on Jay's performance."
He turned his gaze back to the stage, where Jay shone brightly, leaving Faisal slightly stunned, as if unsure whether he had just imagined the moment. A while later, Faisal slowly reached out and held Yod's hand — gently, carefully, as though afraid to break something fragile.
Yod glanced down, then softly returned the grip — no words, no exchanged looks — but that simple action said everything.
Beneath the shimmering lights and Jay's heartfelt singing, the two men stood quietly, hand in hand… surrounded by silence, yet wrapped in a warmth that spoke louder than any words ever could.
Not far away, amidst the crowd silenced by the soul-stirring sound of Jay's voice, Ying stood still. His eyes were fixed on that figure on stage — unblinking, unwavering. The corner of his lips curved into a faint smile, unconsciously revealing the emotions quietly blooming across his face. That gaze — had anyone seen it, they would have known — it wasn't just admiration. It was devotion. Softness. A tenderness that came from the very depths of his heart.
Nearby, Chirawan and Isra also stood watching, their eyes following Jay as he gave his all to the music. Chirawan's sharp gaze seemed to analyze every note and every emotion in the song. Isra, standing beside her, let out a quiet "wow" every now and then, unable to hide her awe.
— "Jay still sings as beautifully as ever, doesn't he, Ms. Chirawan?" Isra tilted her head, speaking while glancing at the talented woman next to her.
Chirawan let out a soft chuckle, her expression glowing with pride like that of a big sister:
— "That's my Jay, through and through."
A brief silence passed, filled only by the lingering notes of Jay's song echoing across the beach. Isra furrowed her brows slightly, as if pondering something, then spoke:
— "But don't you think… this song feels different, Ms. Chirawan? It doesn't sound quite like Jay's usual style."
Chirawan cast her a sidelong glance before turning her eyes back to the stage. Her voice dropped slightly, as if confirming something she'd already sensed long ago:
— "You're right. This isn't his usual kind of song. It sounds like… a quiet whisper between two people falling in love. Not too obvious, but every word, every line is full of gentle, restrained emotion. And if I'm not wrong…"
She glanced toward the distance — where Faisal was grinning beside Yod.
— "This is Faisal's doing."
Isra laughed aloud:
— "Ms. Chirawan, you're not just great at designing — you've got a sharp eye for love stories too."
— "Not necessarily," Chirawan replied with a composed shrug, her trademark pride still in place. "I'm just… in a similar kind of relationship myself, so I can feel it."
Isra turned to look at her fully, surprise in her eyes:
— "You're in love?"
Chirawan slowly turned to face her, looking directly into Isra's eyes. She didn't dodge, didn't hesitate — only asked gently:
— "Mm-hmm. Why? Does that surprise you?"
Isra was stunned for a brief moment, but then she smiled — soft as the ocean breeze:
— "I just think… whoever you love must be someone amazing."
Chirawan tilted her head slightly, then turned her gaze back to the stage. Her voice grew lower, carrying something deeply sincere:
— "I don't know. To others, they might seem ordinary. But when I fall for someone, they become the most amazing person in my eyes."
She paused briefly, then looked back at Isra, her eyes warm and steady:
— "But… since you said that, then maybe they really are amazing after all."
Isra froze, her cheeks coloring pink as if someone had gently brushed her heart. At that moment, Chirawan unexpectedly reached up and gently ruffled Isra's hair — a gesture that was both natural and incredibly… tender.
— "You're amazing too, Isra."
Chirawan's eyes never left the stage, but her hand remained on Isra's head — as if to affirm her words. Isra stood still, speechless. Her cheeks flushed, her heart skipped a beat. Though the words weren't quite a confession, they filled her heart with something soft and stirring.
And amidst the vibrant night of music, the shimmering lights, and the sweet melodies… there were glances, gentle touches, and unspoken words — quietly blossoming into undeniable feelings.
EndofChapter30.