On Turkey’s busy streets stood a small café, always buzzing with customers. Every day was a rush of orders, takeaways, and long queues.

In the middle of this chaos, there are two cashiers who kept everything running smoothly.

One of them was Nanthini, a South Indian girl, who lives in Turkey with her 2 bestfriends, handling the billing with calm efficiency. The other was Jade, a half-Thai & half-russian girl who managed customer orders and took care of their needs with a warm smile.

But there was one more important person working behind the counter—the mastermind behind the café’s delicious drinks and treats. His name was Kael. Yes, Kael Thakan—the former Thai actor and T-Pop singer—now works as a barista in this little café.

The café settled into a rare moment of calm after the rush hours ended. Nanthini and Jade finally had time to rest, wiping down tables and rearranging chairs while exchanging tired smiles.

Kael appeared from the back, sleeves rolled up, ready to help like he always did.

“Phi, we need to go grocery shopping—for both the café and home. We’re running out of things in the kitchen,” he said, checking the nearly empty shelves.

"Ok, then let's go grocery shopping on our way home," said Jade.

"I'm fine with that," Nanthini replied easily, smiling at both of them.

To the customers, the three of them were a puzzle no one could solve. Some people came just for the coffee. Others came for the drama they imagined.

There were customers curious about their relationship, whispering over lattes. Some wanted to ask the girls out but hesitated - unsure if one of them was dating Kael. And a few were convinced the three of them were in some strange, unspoken triad.

The truth was much simpler... And far more complicated at the same time.

What the customers didn't know was that laughter in the cafe often hid exhaustion, jokes covered old wounds, and Kael's quiet smiles carried a past no one dared to ask about.

For now, the cafe stayed warm and lively, full of misunderstandings, accidental moments, and laughter that echoed a little too loudly, as if trying to drown out something painful waiting in the shadows.

Just as they were about to close the cafe, a customer walked in and ordered an iced Americano.

Kael was at the cashier at the time. He gave a polite smile and said "Sorry, sir, but we're already closing, so..."

He stopped mid-sentence.

Kael froze in his place.

Because the person standing in front of him wasn't just a customer.

It was Warith Thepnakorn.

The man who had been courting Kael for the past four months.

The man he had known for almost 3 years.

Without realizing it, Kael's lips curved upward, breaking into a soft, beautiful smile.. "Warith...."

"Hey, Guzel," Warith said gently before handing him a bouquet of white peonies and planted a soft kiss to Kael's right hand.

Kael accepted the bouquet with a shy smile, his fingers brushing lightly against the white peonies.

"You're later than usual" he said softly.

"Sorry, I had an important meeting - it took more time than I expected. That's why I'm late. And I'm sorry I didn't inform you beforehand," Warith replied, his voice sincere.

"You don't need to apologize," Kael said gently. "I already prepared dinner for you. Let me inform the Phi's and reheat the food , okay?"

Warith smiled at that - warm, almost relieved.

"After dinner, can I take you home? Yours, not mine," he added quickly.

Kael raised an eyebrow, hesitation flickering across his face. He had already planned to go grocery shopping with his Phi's.

Not missing it, Warith chuckled softly and lifted his hands in surrender and said "It's okay. Another day then if not today."

Kael smiles again, softly with a sorry look this time, holding the bouquet a little closer.

Some things didn't need to be rushed.

Some beginnings were worth waiting for.

"No need to wait for another day. We can handle the grocery shopping ourselves, Kael. Go and enjoy your little date, okay," Jade said playfully as she walked in from the kitchen with Nanthini.

"P'Jade, it's not a date," Kael protested, his cheeks turning rosy. "We were just talking about taking a little walk."

"Okay, okay, we'll accept that excuse," Nanthini said with a laugh. "Come on, Jade, let's go before our nong Kael turns into a beetroot. And Kael, i've already put the food in the microwave to reheat it, alright?"

"Thank you, Phi. P'Wa, let's go and eat, okay" Kael said, heading towards the kitchen while subtly signalling Warith to follow him.

As Kael disappeared inside the kitchen, Jade and Nanthini turned to Warith. The playful nature they had with Kael faded, replaced by something calm but serious and dangerous too.

"We're letting him go with you for tonight because we know he wants to give you a chance and thinking about this for a while" Nanthini said evenly.

"So don't try any funny business, Mr.Warith, I'll break your fingers one by one if you touch him without permission" Jade added, nodding firmly in agreement.

"We know Kael can take care of himself," Nanthini continued, "but as his Phi's, this is our warning to you"

Warith met their gaze, understanding clearly in his eyes.

Kael wasn't just someone they cared about... He was someone they protected.

Warith with a little panic in voice but his genuine words and steady but slightly shuttered voice said "I'm not trying to do anything funny with Kael, I genuinely love him.... And.. I want him in my life until our hair turns grey and our skin wrinkles."

Jade and Nanthini exchanged a look, cheesy lines but okay, they slowly nodded at him and turned to leave.

From inside the kitchen, Kael had heard everything from the door. His eyes welled up, and his chest felt tight, and he thought 'At last, maybe I can have a family of my own'.

Someone who loves me-- unlike what happened in the past.

He quickly wiped his eyes and called out to Warith, asking him to come for dinner.

They ate together in a comfortable silence, stealing shy glances at each other now and then. No rushed words, no pressure—just warmth.

After dinner, Warith helped Kael close the café for the night. Chairs were stacked, lights dimmed, and the familiar space slowly fell quiet.

As they stepped outside, Kael turned to him and asked,

“If you walk me home, what about your car?”

“Don’t worry,” Warith replied easily. “I’ll ask my driver to pick me up from your place once I drop your home.”

Kael smiled at that—soft, hopeful, and just a little afraid of how good this all felt. Too good to trust all this things are real.

As Kael and Warith started walking home, Warith turned to Kael and said,

“Do you know why this street feels safer tonight?"

Kael shook his head.

"Because I'm here," Warith said confidently, then added, "Try not to fall for me too fast, okay?"

Kael burst out laughing.

“I didn’t know the most ruthless CEO knew how to flirt.”

Warith laughed awkwardly and scratched the back of his head. Not giving up, he tried again.

“Okay… look over there for a second.”

Kael turned his head but saw nothing.

“What am I supposed to see—”

Before he could finish, Warith gently lifted Kael's chin and turned his face towards him. Their eyes met.

And suddenly—nothing.

Warith’s mind went completely blank. There is reason why Warith look into Kael's eyes, Kael’s eyes were soft soft hazel brown with gold dust, always too intense, too warm, too distracting. He stepped back in frustration, kicked the air lightly, then turned to Kael again and blurted out,

“That’s exactly why I don’t look into your eyes. Every time I do, I get completely mesmerized and forget what I want to say. It’s all your fault, Kael.”

He pouted dramatically.

Kael, who had listened to everything, laughed softly, shaking his head.

“Get a grip, Khun.” 🤭

But Warith wasn’t ready to give up that easily. He tried again, clearing his throat seriously.

“Do you know what color the sky is?”

Kael glanced at him.

“Obviously black as it's night time,” he replied, while giving Warith an are-you-an-dumb? look.

“No. Wrong answer,” Warith said confidently. Kael looked at him with a confused look.

“It’s hazel brown… with a thunder gaze.”

Kael stopped walking.

For a second, he genuinely thought Warith had finally lost his mind. Then it hit him—

his eyes.

Hazel brown.

Realization sank in, and Joong didn’t know whether he wanted to punch Warith or grab his cheeks and squeeze them until he behaved.

Because this man—this so-called dominant, ruthless CEO—was seriously trying to flirt using high-school-level pickup lines.

And the worst part?

Kael could feel his heart betraying him.

Somewhere between the bad flirting and the earnest effort, he realized he was already starting to fall for this overgrown idiot.

His idiot. 🤭

“Warith, I really like spending time with you—but if you say one more pickup line, you’ll meet my favorite frying pan, okay?” Kael threatened, struggling to hide his smile.

Warith immediately raised both hands in surrender.

“Okay, boss.”

Their playful exchange stirred something deep inside Kael. A memory surfaced—of a time long ago, when he used to take quiet walks just like this with someone, he believed he would be with forever. Someone who made him smile; someone he had fallen for far too deeply.

Kael shook his head, forcing the past away, and pulled himself back into the present.

That was when he noticed Warith carefully trying to hold his hand without making it obvious.

Kael smiled softly. Without hesitation, he slipped his arm through Warith’s and continued walking beside him.

Warith’s heart soared. In the three years they had known each other—and the four months he had spent courting Kael—this was the first time Kael had initiated physical contact on his own.

Kael told himself firmly:

What happened in the past belongs in the past.

He had struggled too hard to survive, to heal, to stand where he was now.

He wouldn’t let old wounds ruin the happiness he was finally allowing himself to have.

While Kael and Warith enjoyed their quiet walk, thousands of miles away, Bangkok—the city that never slept—was rushing as usual.