Chapter 15

Jes exhaled, shaking his head. "Alright, since you're actually serious about this, I'll teach you a little more."

Ngern's eyes lit up. "Really?"

Jes gave him a pointed look. "Don't get ahead of yourself."

Ngern grinned but sat up straighter, ready to listen.

Jes reached for Ngern's camera again, adjusting the settings back to neutral before handing it over. "You've got the basics of exposure—shutter speed, aperture, and ISO—but if you want your photos to stand out, you need to start thinking abit more about composition too. I know I have explained this but let's go through it again 1 more time."

Ngern frowned. "Like... framing?"

Jes nodded. "Exactly. A good photo isn't just about the subject—it's about how you place them in the frame. How the background adds to the story. The way the light falls."

Jes scooted closer, tapping on the camera screen. "The easiest thing to start with is the Rule of Thirds. Instead of putting your subject dead center, imagine the frame is divided into a grid with two vertical and two horizontal lines. Placing the subject along these lines or where they intersect makes the photo more natural and interesting."

Ngern hummed, eyes flicking to Jes's hand as he dragged his finger across the screen, demonstrating. "Okay... I think I get that. What else?"

Jes leaned back slightly. "Leading lines. Anything in the background that naturally draws the eye toward your subject. Like a pathway, a railing, or even the way light falls."

Ngern nodded, jotting a quick note in his little notebook.

Jes watched him, amused. "You're really taking this seriously, huh?"

Ngern smirked. "Of course. Can't disappoint my teacher."

Jes rolled his eyes but kept going. "Another thing is depth. You don't want everything in the frame to be on the same level. If you layer your subject with something in the foreground and background, it creates a sense of depth and makes the photo feel more immersive."

Ngern tapped his pen against his chin. "Like... if I took a picture of Mali, and I placed her behind a few toys instead of just in front of a plain wall?"

Jes nodded approvingly. "Exactly. It adds more dimension and context to the shot."

Ngern looked thoughtful. Then he picked up the camera, adjusting the settings himself. "Okay, let me try. Pretend you're my subject."

Jes blinked. "What?"

Ngern grinned. "C'mon, teacher. Sit still."

Jes groaned but didn't move as Ngern lifted the camera, his brows furrowing in concentration as he lined up the shot. Jes could see his focus—the way he was really trying—and it made something stir in his chest.

Click.

The camera shutter went off.

Ngern lowered it, examining the photo. Then he turned the screen toward Jes. "How's that?"

Jes looked.

It wasn't perfect—the lighting could be tweaked, and the framing needed a little work—but...

The shot had something.

Jes, sitting there, lit by the warm glow of the lamp, the edge of his mug in the foreground, adding depth just like they'd talked about.

Jes looked up at Ngern, something unreadable in his expression.

Ngern, for once, wasn't grinning or teasing. He just looked... pleased.

Jes huffed. "Not bad."

Ngern beamed. "I'll take that as a win."

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Jes clicked his tongue, trying to hide the small tug at the corner of his lips. "Don't get cocky. You still need practice."

Ngern chuckled, setting the camera down. "I know, I know. But this is fun. More fun than I expected, actually."

Jes quirked a brow. "You didn't think photography was fun before?"

"Not really. I thought it was just about pressing a button at the right time," Ngern admitted with a sheepish grin. "But it's more than that. The way you explain it, it's like... telling a story without words."

Jes stared at him for a beat longer than necessary.

Telling a story without words.

He never thought Ngern would see it that way. Most people thought photography was just about taking pretty pictures, not the meaning behind them.

Jes looked away, reaching for his mug. "That's... not a bad way to put it."

Ngern grinned at his half-hearted praise but didn't push.

A small sound crackled from the baby monitor on the table. A soft sigh, a rustle. Both their heads turned toward it, but Mali didn't wake.

Ngern exhaled in relief. "She's a light sleeper sometimes. Thought she'd be up again."

Jes glanced toward the hallway leading to the bedroom. "You take care of her a lot, huh?"

"Yeah." Ngern leaned back, rubbing his neck. "My sister's been busy travelling overseas with my brother-in-law for work, and I told her I'd help whenever I could. It's tiring, but I don't mind."

Jes studied him. The man in front of him was a celebrity, someone people saw on screens and billboards—larger than life. But here he was, fussing over his niece, taking photography lessons just to make sure he could capture her first birthday properly.

It was... unexpected.

And maybe, just maybe, Jes found himself wanting to know more.

"You're better at this than I thought," Jes murmured, staring at his reflection in the tea.

"Hmm?"

Jes cleared his throat. "Taking care of her, I mean. Most people in your industry wouldn't have time for something like this."

Ngern smiled, soft and genuine. "She's family. I make time."

Jes felt something shift in the air, something quiet but significant.

He coughed, breaking the moment. "Anyway. You still need more practice. Next time, I'll take you outside for some natural lighting practice."

Ngern brightened. "Yeah?"

Jes sighed, pretending to be reluctant. "Yeah. You need it."

Ngern laughed, nudging him lightly with his elbow. "You're strict, you know that?"

Jes smirked. "And you need someone to keep you in check."

"Fair point," Ngern conceded.

They sat there in comfortable silence, the only sound the soft hum of the baby monitor and the distant noises of the city outside.

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Ngern watched Jes quietly, something thoughtful lingering in his eyes.

Jes, on the other hand, busied himself with his camera, pretending to check the settings even though there was nothing to adjust. He could feel Ngern's gaze, but he wasn't sure what to do with it.

"So... when's our next lesson?" Ngern asked, breaking the silence.

Jes hummed, still focused on the camera. "Depends. When's your next free day?"

"Day or night?"

Jes finally looked at him. "Huh?"

"I mean, I don't always have full days off, but I could make time in the evenings," Ngern explained. "Unless you don't do night shoots."

Jes considered it. "Night photography is different from daytime shots. But it's good practice. We can try it."

Ngern grinned. "Sounds like a plan."

Jes sighed. "You're a handful, you know that?"

"People say that a lot," Ngern said with a cheeky smile.

Jes rolled his eyes but didn't refute it.

He stood up, stretching his arms. "I should get going. It's late."

Ngern glanced at the time and frowned. "You want me to call you a ride?"

Jes shook his head. "I'll be fine. The train's still running."

Ngern didn't look convinced. "Are you sure?"

Jes smirked. "What, worried about me?"

"Maybe a little," Ngern admitted, a playful lilt in his voice, but there was something genuine in his expression.

Jes blinked, caught off guard for a second.

Then he scoffed, shaking his head. "I'll be fine. I don't live far."

Ngern didn't push, but as Jes walked toward the door, he followed.

"Let me know when you get home," Ngern said casually, leaning against the doorframe.

Jes raised a brow. "Since when do we do that?"

"Since now," Ngern said, grinning.

Jes huffed but didn't argue. "Fine."

He turned to leave, but before he stepped out, Ngern called after him.

"Hey, Jes."

Jes looked over his shoulder. "What?"

Ngern rubbed the back of his neck. "Thanks for today."

Jes tilted his head. "For the lesson?"

"That too." Ngern's smile softened. "For everything."

Jes stood there for a second, the warmth of those words settling somewhere deep inside him.

Then, with a small nod, he stepped out into the night.

Jes walked toward the train station, his steps unhurried. He could still feel the lingering weight of Ngern's words, the way they settled in his chest like something warm and unfamiliar.

"For everything."

Jes had no idea what that meant. He wasn't sure if he wanted to figure it out.

His phone buzzed in his pocket just as he was about to reach the platform.

Ngern: Don't forget to text when you're home.

Jes stared at the message for a moment before scoffing under his breath.

Jes: I literally just left your place.

A reply came almost instantly.

Ngern: Yeah, and? I just reminded you.

Jes rolled his eyes but didn't fight it. He pocketed his phone and boarded the train, settling into a corner seat. The city lights blurred past the window, and for once, Jes wasn't thinking about his next shoot or his next shift at the café.

He was thinking about Ngern.

Jes wasn't blind—he knew Ngern had a way of drawing people in. He was charming, disarmingly warm, the kind of person who could make anyone feel at ease. But this thing between them—whatever it was—felt different from what he expected.

It wasn't forced. It wasn't complicated.

It just... was.

By the time he reached his stop, he had already typed out a message.

Jes: Home.

The reply came before he even made it up the stairs to his apartment.

Ngern: Good. Sleep well, Mr. Photographer.

Jes stared at the message, his fingers hovering over the keyboard.

Jes: You too, Mr. Actor.

He hit send before he could think too much about it, then tossed his phone onto his bed with a sigh.

He wasn't sure when things started shifting between them, but something told him this was only the beginning.