Chapter 13

Jes knocked on the door, adjusting his camera bag over his shoulder. He still wasn't sure why he'd agreed to this.

The door swung open almost immediately. Ngern stood there, grinning like an idiot—which meant Jes was definitely right to be suspicious.

Before Jes could say anything, a small wail echoed from inside the apartment.

Jes's eyes narrowed. "Don't tell me you haven't fed her yet."

Ngern blinked. "I was going to, but then I had to clean her up first, and then she wouldn't stop squirming, and then—"

Jes sighed. "Move."

He pushed past Ngern, dropping his bag near the couch. Sure enough, on a plush baby mat in the middle of the living room, Ngern's six-month-old niece was kicking her little legs in protest, her face scrunched up.

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

Jes let out a slow breath as he adjusted Mali in his arms. She was small, warm, and fussy—her tiny fingers clenching and unclenching against his shirt as she let out impatient little whines.

He wasn't exactly uncomfortable, but he was careful. Jes didn't have much experience with babies, and he wasn't about to be the reason Mali started screaming.

Ngern was in the kitchen, fumbling with the bottle. "Almost done!" he called, shaking it a little to check the temperature. "She gets impatient when she's hungry. Sorry."

Jes shifted Mali slightly. "Yeah, I can tell."

Mali let out another soft cry, squirming in his hold. Instinctively, Jes rocked her gently, patting her back in what he hoped was a soothing rhythm.

To his surprise, she calmed—just a little.

Not fully, though. She was still sniffling, her little brows furrowed like she was seconds away from making it Jes's problem again.

"Okay, okay," Jes murmured under his breath. "Milk's coming. Just hang in there."

It wasn't like she could understand him, but still.

Finally, Ngern was back. He stepped up to Jes's side, holding the bottle in his hands. "Here we go, Mali," he murmured, touching her cheek lightly before bringing the bottle to her lips.

Jes turned slightly to face him, unconsciously angling Mali closer.

Ngern was a little shorter than Jes, so he had to tilt his head to get the right angle, his focus entirely on Mali as she latched onto the bottle.

Jes felt something strange in his chest as he stood there, holding Mali while Ngern fed her.

He wasn't sure what it was.

Maybe it was just the quietness of the moment. The warmth of a tiny, trusting life in his arms. The way Ngern murmured softly to her, coaxing her to drink.

Or maybe—maybe it was the way Ngern looked so natural like this.

Jes watched as Ngern adjusted his hold on the bottle, his eyes gentle, his fingers brushing briefly against Jes's as he steadied it.

Jes swallowed. He looked away.

This was nothing.

Just feeding a baby. Just photography practice.

Right?

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

Mali's fussing had quieted down to soft, rhythmic sucking as she drank, her tiny fingers gripping the edge of Jes's sleeve.

Jes tried not to focus on how warm she felt in his arms—or on how close Ngern was.

It was hard, though.

Especially when Ngern tilted the bottle slightly, making sure Mali was drinking properly. His fingers brushed against Jes's again—just for a second. Just a small, barely-there touch.

Jes didn't move.

Neither did Ngern.

The apartment was quiet, save for the soft sounds of Mali drinking, the occasional shift of fabric as Jes adjusted his hold on her, and the faint hum of the city outside.

Jes wasn't sure why he was so aware of everything.

Maybe because this wasn't how he expected tonight to go.

He'd come here thinking it would be strictly photography—a simple lesson, a quick session, nothing more. Instead, he was standing in Ngern's apartment, holding a baby, while Ngern fed her like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Jes exhaled softly, glancing at Ngern from the corner of his eye.

He looked... different like this.

Not the polished actor from billboards or TV interviews. Not the confident, teasing guy who always seemed one step ahead in conversation.

Just Ngern—quiet, focused, his usual energy softened into something gentler.

"She likes you," Ngern murmured suddenly, breaking the silence.

Jes blinked. "Huh?"

Ngern nodded at Mali, whose tiny hand had now curled around Jes's sleeve as she continued drinking.

Jes cleared his throat, adjusting his grip. "I think she just likes the milk."

Ngern chuckled softly. "Maybe." Then, after a pause, "But I think she likes you too."

Jes looked down at Mali, at her soft little content expression, and something in his chest wavered.

He wasn't sure what to say to that.

So he said nothing.

Instead, he just held Mali a little closer, steadying her while Ngern continued feeding her—trying not to think too much about how natural it all felt.