Chapter 20

Jes ended up staying for dinner. It was nothing fancy—just a simple home-cooked meal that Ngern had somehow managed to throw together despite the chaos of the day. Mali had woken up halfway through, still groggy, clinging to Ngern's shirt with a tiny fist as he moved around the kitchen. Jes had been given the task of keeping her entertained while Ngern finished cooking.

He wasn't sure how he ended up sitting on the floor, letting a half-asleep six-month-old curl against his chest while he swayed her gently.

Ngern had walked in on the sight, lips quirking upward as he leaned against the counter.

"You look good like that," he commented.

Jes glanced up, confused. "Like what?"

"Like someone who's staying."

Jes blinked. His heart did something weird in his chest, but before he could respond, Ngern was already moving, setting down bowls of food on the table.

"Come eat," Ngern said, as if he hadn't just said something that made Jes's stomach flip.

Jes carefully set Mali down on the couch before making his way over, trying to ignore the warmth lingering in his chest.

Dinner was easy. Comfortable.

It wasn't something Jes was used to, but with Ngern, it felt natural.

"So," Ngern said as he leaned back in his seat, nudging his empty bowl aside. "You never told me what you thought of the photos."

Jes hummed, setting down his chopsticks. "They were good."

Ngern scoffed. "That's it?"

Jes smirked slightly. "What? Do you want me to write you a review?"

"Maybe."

Jes rolled his eyes but softened slightly. "They were really good, Ngern. You caught the right moments. And more importantly, you caught the feeling in them. That's not something people can always learn."

Ngern stared at him, something unreadable in his gaze. Then he exhaled a small laugh, shaking his head.

"You know, you never actually told me why you like photography so much," he mused. "You always dodge the question."

Jes stiffened slightly.

Ngern leaned forward, propping his chin on his palm. "What is it?"

Jes hesitated.

For the longest time, photography had been his thing. His safe space. The one thing he could control, where he could capture the world the way he saw it. And yet, for some reason, sitting here in Ngern's warm home, sharing a meal like this... it felt like maybe, just maybe, he didn't have to keep it to himself anymore.

"It's how I remember things," Jes admitted quietly.

Ngern's brows lifted slightly.

Jes exhaled, fingers grazing the rim of his bowl. "Some people write. Some people record. For me, it's pictures. I like catching moments that people don't think about, things that might be forgotten otherwise."

He didn't know why he was telling Ngern this.

But when he finally glanced up, Ngern wasn't teasing or prying. He was just watching him, eyes warm and understanding.

"I get it," Ngern said after a beat. "That's how I feel about people."

Jes tilted his head slightly. "People?"

Ngern gave a wry smile. "People come and go in this industry, Jes. One second they're here, the next... they're not. It's hard to know what's real sometimes."

Jes stayed quiet.

Ngern's gaze flickered to Mali, fast asleep in her bouncer. His smile softened.

"But she's real," he murmured. "And so are you."

Jes's breath caught.

Ngern turned back to him, lips quirking into something small but sincere.

"That's why I'm glad I met you."

Jes swallowed. He wasn't sure what to say to that.

So instead, he did what he always did—he reached for his camera.

"Stay still," Jes murmured, raising it to his eye.

Ngern blinked but obeyed.

The shutter clicked.

Jes lowered the camera, heart pounding for reasons he couldn't explain.

Ngern smiled. "Did I pass?"

Jes exhaled a laugh, shaking his head. "You're impossible."

And for the first time in a long while, he didn't mind that someone else had made it into his world.

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

Jes froze.

He had been about to politely decline Ngern's offer to send him home when the warmth of Ngern's grandmother's words settled in.

The first one to meet the family.

Jes glanced at Ngern instinctively, but the actor was busy pretending to fuss with his car keys, avoiding his gaze.

His sister smiled knowingly. "You really made an impression," she teased, nudging Ngern lightly. "I haven't seen him try so hard to impress someone before."

Ngern let out an exasperated sigh. "P'Nan..."

His grandmother just chuckled, patting Jes's arm once more. "Come by whenever you're free, dear. You're always welcome."

Jes swallowed. He wasn't sure what to say to that.

Somehow, he ended up standing outside by Ngern's car, his bag slung over his shoulder as Ngern opened the passenger door for him.

Jes hesitated.

He hadn't planned on accepting the ride. He wasn't sure if he liked how easily Ngern was making his way into his life.

But the thought of Ngern's grandmother, her gentle words, and the genuine warmth in her eyes made him step forward.

"Alright," Jes murmured, slipping inside.

Ngern grinned, shutting the door behind him before rounding the car.

The drive was quiet at first, the hum of the engine filling the space between them.

Jes stared out the window, fingers tapping idly against his knee.

"Sorry about that," Ngern finally said, breaking the silence.

Jes glanced at him. "Sorry about what?"

Ngern huffed a small laugh, eyes still on the road. "My family. They can be a little... intense."

Jes tilted his head. "They were nice."

Ngern seemed surprised. "You think so?"

Jes nodded. "Your grandmother, especially. She's really sweet."

Ngern smiled at that. A real, soft smile. "Yeah. She's the best."

Jes exhaled, watching as the streetlights flickered past.

He didn't realize he had been staring until Ngern glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.

"What?" Ngern asked, amused.

Jes shook his head. "Nothing."

Ngern hummed. "You're a terrible liar."

Jes rolled his eyes. "And you talk too much."

Ngern just laughed.

Jes found himself smiling despite himself.

When they finally pulled up in front of his place, Jes hesitated before getting out.

He turned back to Ngern, gripping his bag strap.

"Drive safe," Jes murmured. "Be careful."

Ngern blinked.

Jes cleared his throat. "And... have a good night."

Ngern stared at him for a moment before his lips curled into something small but genuine.

"You too, Jes."

Jes lingered for a beat longer before stepping out, shutting the door behind him.

As he walked up to his building, he had the strange feeling that, somehow, something had shifted between them tonight.