Love in the little things

Chapter 24

The next morning, Nani blinked awake, his lashes fluttering against the early sunlight streaming through the window. Warmth wrapped around him, and it didn't take long to realize that it was Sky's arms holding him close.

A faint smile tugged at Nani's lips, but when he tried to shift, a sharp ache in his back made him wince.

"Ugh..." he groaned softly, biting back a complaint. Memories of the night before flooded his mind, and his cheeks turned a bright shade of pink. Sky hadn't held back, pushing Nani to his limits until he had no choice but to beg for stop.

Sky shifted beside him, his arms tightening around Nani as if he didn't want to let go, even in his sleep. Nani thought about waking him but stopped when he saw how peaceful Sky looked. With a soft sigh, he sank back into the hug and mumbled "You're lucky I can't stay mad at you..."

Around noon, Nani woke up again to the sound of his phone ringing. He carefully pushing himself up despite the soreness, and grabbed his phone from the bedside table before it could disturb Sky.

"Speak" Nani answered, his tone sharp as he recognised the call was from one of his men.

His brow furrowed deeply as he listened, each word tightening the knot in his stomach. The truth about who was behind all this left him gripping the phone a little harder.

"Spread the news that I'm the one in the picture with Sky." Nani ordered firmly "I don't care how you do it, make it happen. And make sure my father hears about it, too."

The man, on the other hand, hesitated for a moment. Since Nani graduated, he now holds the same power as his father. If they get into conflict, a nightmare could happen for sure. "Understood. I'll handle it."

Nani ended the call and set his phone back on the table, exhaling a long, frustrated breath. He ran a hand through his messy hair, trying to calm the storm brewing in his mind.

When his father took Cherry away, Nani didn't say a word. He understood the reasoning-it was all about connections, goals, and aligning ambitions. Cherry had always been focused on her dreams, and if reaching those dreams meant leaving Nani behind, she still didn't hesitate.

Nani accepted it quietly, telling himself it was for the best. But deep down, the sting of being left behind lingered, cutting deeper than he ever let on.

But this time was different.

Sky wasn't the same as Cherry or anyone else. He had his own dreams, his own goals, but if achieving them meant hurting Nani, Sky wouldn't do it.

Sky's world wasn't built on calculated moves or bold ambition, it was built on warmth, care, and love. And that was what made him different, what made him irreplaceable. And that was why Nani couldn't just stay silent this time.

----

The F4 gang was sprawled out on the rooftop of Dew's house, enjoying the cool evening breeze. Dew was only half paying attention to his friends. He kept glancing at Tee, wishing they could have some alone time. But, as usual, his friends didn't get the hint or maybe they just chose to ignore it.

As the group joked and talked, it was Win who first noticed someone approaching. He straightened up, a smirk playing on his lips. "Our bad boy is back," he announced, drawing everyone's attention.

Nani walked onto the rooftop, his presence commanding as always. Earlier, Nani had called Dew to let him know he'd landed back in Thailand, and Dew had immediately asked him to come.

Nani shot Win a sharp glare, his expression a mix of annoyance and amusement. They hadn't seen each other in so long, but Win was still the same.

Before Nani could respond to Win, Groya and Prim appeared, their faces lighting up the moment they saw him. Without hesitation, they pulled Nani into a quick hug, their warmth momentarily easing the tension in his shoulders.

"So, how is Sky?" Groya asked as they pulled back, her tone laced with genuine worry. "Everyone's talking about it."

Prim nodded, her brows furrowing slightly. "Yeah, we've been hearing all kinds of things. Is he okay? Are you okay?"

"He is okay, nothing to worry about." he said simply, avoiding their eager eyes.

Before Groya could press further, Win's phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen. His eyebrows shot up, and a slow grin spread across his face. "Well, well." he drawled, holding up his phone. "Looks like the mystery's out."

Everyone's attention shifted as Win turned the screen toward them. A fresh news article had popped up, and the headline was bold: "The Mystery Man with Sky: Is It Nani Hirunkit Changkham, the Heir to One of Thailand's Wealthiest Families?"

The tension was palpable, but Nani didn't flinch. Instead, he leaned back in his seat. His sharp eyes scanned the article, his lips curving into a faint, calculating smirk.

Win raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by Nani's unbothered reaction. "You're taking this surprisingly well." he said, his tone half-joking. "Not worried about what people will say?"

Before Nani could respond, Dew interjected, his voice calm but cutting as he reached for Tee's glass and took a sip. "Win, get there faster. Judging by his calm reaction, he's probably the one who spread this news in the first place."

Win's eyes widened slightly, then narrowed as he studied Nani's face. "You didn't..." he started, his voice trailing off in disbelief.

Nani smirked with an air of effortless control. "And if I did?" he said smoothly, his tone cool and unrepentant.

Win let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "You really are something else."

Nani's gaze sharpened "If they want to talk," he said, his voice steady and deliberate, "then I'll give them something real to talk about."

"But this isn't just about the name, Nani. What about your father? He won't ignore this." Prim asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Nani's eyes darkened, but his posture remained unshaken "My father can think whatever he wants." Nani said, his voice low. "This is the storm he created and I'll handle this myself."

Dew and Win exchange look. "So the new about Sky start form your father?" Dew asked.

Nani didn't respond with words, instead, he gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Groya's expression shifted to one of concern, her hand instinctively reaching for Prim's as she spoke. "Uncle really went that far this time," she said softly, the weight of the situation clear in her tone.

Nani's gaze hardened, his resolve unwavering. "I don't care," he said, his voice low but laced with undeniable authority. "If he tries to harm Sky, I will be the one to stop it. no matter what. Even if that means I have to go against him."

The room fell silent for a beat as the weight of his words settled over the group. Dew arched an eyebrow, clearly impressed.

"You're not just stirring the pot, you're flipping the whole table." Win said. Nani didn't flinch, his expression still calm.

Dew's phone rang, and he quickly answered it, his eyes meeting Nani's for a brief moment. Nani didn't need to hear the voice on the other end to know it was Sky.

Nani had let Sky sleep alone in his place, he knew it wasn't the best move, but he needed some space to process the unsettling information about his father.

"Nani, Sky is downstairs." Dew said, his voice cutting through the silence.

Nani nodded without a word, standing up and walking toward the stairs. But before he could make it down, Win's voice rang out, stopping him in his tracks.

"Nani, make sure to cover the hickey on your neck next time. I don't want to see that." Win called out.

Nani clenched his jaw, trying to keep his cool as he felt his patience slip. But instead of snapping, he took a deep breath, then walked over and smacked Win lightly on the head.

The room erupted in laughter at the playful scene, the tension easing just a little bit as Nani rolled his eyes, his annoyance fading. He gave Win a quick glare before continuing toward the stairs, knowing he had more pressing matters to attend to than Win's teasing.

As Nani came downstairs, he spotted Sky's car parked in front of Dew's house. He approached the car, opening the door. What he saw inside made him stop in his tracks.

There, scattered in Sky's usually neat car, were My Melody plushies and dolls-lots of them. Nani blinked in surprise, stepping back before slowly getting into the car, trying to process what he was seeing.

Sky was always the type to keep things organized, especially his car. It was always spotless, with never a speck of dust or clutter. He hated unnecessary things crowding his space. But now, there they were, Nani's favorite dolls, filling Sky's car.

Nani reached out and gently touched one of the dolls, his fingers brushing over its soft fabric. Something inside him shifted.

Nani stared at Sky, waiting for an explanation, his gaze intense. But instead of answering, Sky pouted slightly, making Nani even more confused.

"What's wrong?" Nani asked, his voice soft.

Sky's pout deepened as he looked at Nani. "You don't miss me at all. You didn't wake me up, you just left me alone."

Nani raised an eyebrow, slightly frustrated. "Why would I sleep with you if I didn't miss you?"

Sky stayed silent, his face turning into a sad, puppy-like expression that made Nani's heart twist.

Nani let out a sigh, feeling the weight of his emotions. "Then do you want me to write 'I miss you' on a rock and throw it into your face so you can understand how much it hurts to miss you?"

Sky blinked at Nani's words, his pout disappearing as a small laugh escaped him.

"I'm serious," Nani said as he look at Sky shaking his head at him. "Do you want me to spell it out any clearer?"

Sky didn't say a word. Instead, he slid his hand into Nani's, letting his touch speak for him. Then, without hesitation, he leaned in and pressed a tender kiss on Nani's forehand.

Nani rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the warmth in his tone as he leaned a little closer. "I miss you, okay? I always do. Happy now?"

Sky's grin widened, his eyes sparkling with quiet joy. "Very."

"So, what's going on with your perfectly clean car?" Nani asked, glancing at the My Melody dolls scattered around with an amused expression.

Sky smiled, a touch of shyness in his voice. "Nothing. I just wanted to fill it with something you love."

Nani let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. He raised a hand, gestured for Sky to come closer. Sky tilted his head curiously but leaned in without hesitation.

Nani leaned forward, pressing a tender kiss to Sky's cheek. His voice softened further, carrying a warmth that only Sky could bring out in him. "Take that as a thank you."

Sky's cheeks tinted slightly pink, but he smiled, the corners of his lips curling in quiet delight. "I guess I'll need to stock up on more dolls, then."