Chapter 38

As they stepped off the Ferris wheel, Jes still hadn't let go of Ngern's hand. He probably should have—should have pretended he wasn't completely soft over what had just happened, should have played it cool—but for once, he didn't feel like doing that.

Ngern, of course, noticed. His grip tightened, warm and steady, and when Jes finally glanced up at him, he was grinning.

Jes rolled his eyes. "Stop looking so smug."

"I can't help it," Ngern said, swinging their hands slightly as they walked. "You love me."

Jes groaned. "I'm actually regretting saying it now."

"No, you're not."

Jes clicked his tongue but didn't argue. Because Ngern was right.

They ended the night at a quiet ramen place nearby—Jes' pick.

Jes leaned on the table, watching Ngern struggle with his chopsticks as he tried to grab a piece of egg.

"Want a spoon?" Jes teased.

"No," Ngern muttered stubbornly, still trying.

Jes snorted and, before he could stop himself, reached over with his own chopsticks, grabbing the egg and placing it in Ngern's bowl.

Ngern blinked.

Jes froze, suddenly realizing what he had just done.

It was... so casual. So natural. He had done it without even thinking.

Jes swallowed, looking anywhere but at Ngern as he picked at his own food.

Then—

"Jes."

Jes braced himself and looked up.

Ngern was smiling again. Not the teasing kind. Not the smug kind.

The kind that was just genuinely happy.

Jes cleared his throat. "Shut up."

"I didn't even say anything," Ngern laughed.

Jes shoved more noodles into his mouth. "Shut up anyway."

Ngern just kept smiling.

By the time they got back to Jes' apartment, Jes was full, warm, and dangerously at ease.

Ngern parked outside, drumming his fingers on the wheel. "You have work early tomorrow?"

Jes nodded.

Ngern hummed, then turned to him. "Should I pick you up?"

Jes blinked, thrown off by the question.

"You don't have to—"

"I want to," Ngern said easily.

Jes stared at him, then sighed, defeated. "Fine."

Ngern grinned. "Cool. I'll text you."

Jes nodded, then hesitated.

There was this... moment.

A space where he felt like he should do something.

Say something.

Jes shifted, fingers curling on his lap. Then—impulsively—he reached out, giving Ngern's wrist a quick squeeze before opening the door.

"Goodnight."

Ngern watched him, eyes soft, before smiling. "Goodnight, Jes."

Jes got out, shutting the door behind him.

His chest was warm the entire way up to his apartment.

..................................................

The next morning, Jes found himself checking his phone more than usual.

Ngern had sent him a good morning text—bright and early, with a dumb little emoji beside it. Jes had replied, trying to sound as normal as possible, but the truth was...

He felt different.

It wasn't a big thing. Just a small shift, like something had settled between them.

And when Ngern showed up outside his building, leaning casually against his car with that same easy grin, Jes realized that maybe, just maybe—

This was becoming something.

The drive to work was comfortable, easy.

Jes played his usual morning playlist, and Ngern didn't complain once about his taste in music. Instead, he tapped along to the beat on the steering wheel, humming under his breath.

"You sure you can survive the whole day without me?" Jes teased, smirking.

Ngern shot him a look. "I'll try my best."

Jes chuckled, then blinked when Ngern reached over to adjust his collar—just casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Jes froze.

Ngern noticed, grinning. "What?"

Jes cleared his throat, looking out the window. "Nothing."

He could still feel the warmth of Ngern's fingers on his collar.

Damn it.

When Ngern texted him later that day, Jes had just finished a long meeting.

Ngern: Do you want to get dinner later?

Jes: Again?

Ngern: Why, you sick of me already?

Jes: ...No.

Ngern: Then let's eat.

Jes shook his head, biting back a smile.

.........................................................

By the time they met up that night, Jes was more than ready to relax.

"Busy day?" Ngern asked as they slid into their seats at a small, cozy restaurant.

Jes sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah. But it's fine now."

Ngern nodded, then—without a word—reached over to refill Jes' water glass.

Jes paused.

Again, it was such a simple thing.

So casual.

So natural.

And Jes had no idea when they had gotten to this point.

Maybe they had always been like this.

Maybe he was just starting to notice it more now.

Jes swallowed, fingers tapping against the table. "You're—"

Ngern tilted his head. "I'm what?"

Jes hesitated.

Then, he shook his head. "Nothing."

Ngern eyed him for a second before shrugging, turning his attention to the menu.

Jes, meanwhile, was fighting the stupid warmth creeping up his neck.

Dinner went by in the usual way—comfortable, easy, like they'd done this a hundred times before.

Jes had stopped trying to act cool by the time their food arrived. He just let himself settle into the conversation, letting Ngern's warmth fill the spaces between their words.

And then, as they were finishing up, Ngern said something that threw Jes off completely.

"I like this."

Jes blinked. "Like what?"

Ngern glanced at him before focusing on his plate again. "This. Us. Just... hanging out. Eating together. You."

Jes froze.

It wasn't the words themselves—it was the way Ngern said them. So effortlessly. So sure.

Jes' heart stumbled in his chest.

He swallowed. "You—" He exhaled, forcing himself to look unaffected. "You're weird."

Ngern just laughed.

Jes wanted to punch him.

On the way back, Ngern drove slower than usual.

Jes didn't comment on it.

He just sat there, watching the city lights blur past, feeling oddly reluctant for the night to end.

And then, before he could talk himself out of it, he asked—

"Wanna come up for a bit?"

Ngern glanced at him. "You sure?"

Jes shrugged, playing it off. "Yeah. Got some of that tea you like."

Ngern grinned. "Then let's go."

Jes hated how his stomach flipped.

........................................................

Back at Jes' apartment, Ngern made himself at home instantly.

Jes handed him a mug of tea before dropping onto the couch beside him.

They sat in silence for a moment, the TV playing some random show neither of them was watching.

And then—

Ngern spoke, voice softer this time.

"That thing you said earlier."

Jes looked over. "What thing?"

Ngern smiled, but it was slightly different now. Less teasing. "When I told you I liked this."

Jes' breath hitched.

Ngern's eyes were steady. "You never answered."

Jes gripped his mug tighter. "You didn't ask a question."

Ngern hummed. Then, after a beat—"Do you like this too?"

Jes should've lied.

Should've laughed it off.

Should've said something casual.

But instead, he found himself nodding.

"Yeah," he admitted quietly.

Ngern's smile softened.

Jes swallowed. Shit.