Chapter 23

Jes sat frozen on the mattress, brain buffering as his morning haze fought to catch up with reality. His eyes tracked the water droplets sliding down Ngern's collarbone, following the path they traced across his bare skin before disappearing beneath the waistband of his track pants.

Ngern was standing in the doorway, his damp hair sticking up slightly, his towel lazily slung around his neck. He seemed completely oblivious to the effect he was causing.

"Oh, you're up." Ngern's voice was casual, a little rough from sleep. He rubbed the towel over his hair and then motioned toward the door. "I'll grab you some clothes and a towel. You can shower before breakfast."

Jes blinked once. Then twice. His mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. His brain had, quite frankly, left the chat.

"Jes?"

Jes tore his gaze away and finally found his voice. "Huh?"

Ngern huffed a quiet laugh. "You good?"

Jes coughed, looking anywhere but at Ngern's still very bare torso. "Yeah. Fine." He ran a hand through his hair, trying to snap himself out of it. "Didn't expect to wake up to—"

He cut himself off before saying something stupid.

Ngern raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "To what?"

Jes exhaled. "Never mind."

Ngern grinned, but thankfully, he didn't push. Instead, he grabbed a fresh towel from his closet and tossed it onto the mattress next to Jes. "Bathroom's down the hall. I'll leave some clothes for you outside the door."

Jes nodded, still a little dazed. He wasn't sure if it was the sight of Ngern or just the lingering sleep messing with his head, but either way, he needed a cold shower.

And fast.

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Jes took his time in the shower, letting the cold water shock his senses back into place. It was ridiculous how flustered he had been. Ngern was just—Ngern. A guy. A friend. Someone who had an unfair advantage of looking way too good fresh out of the shower, but still. Jes needed to get a grip.

After he dried off and changed into the clothes Ngern had left him—an oversized T-shirt and a pair of comfortable sweatpants—he ran a hand through his damp hair, took a deep breath, and finally made his way to the dining area.

The smell of breakfast greeted him first—warm rice, eggs, and something frying in the kitchen. Ngern's grandmother was already seated, sipping tea, while his mother was arranging dishes on the table. Ngern himself was standing by the stove, flipping something in a pan with the confidence of someone who had done it a thousand times before.

Jes watched for a second, surprised. He didn't take Ngern for the type to cook often.

Jes stepped forward and pulled out a chair, nodding politely to Ngern's grandmother and mother. "Good morning."

"Morning, dear," Ngern's grandmother greeted warmly, giving him a kind smile. "Did you sleep well?"

Jes hesitated, images of Ngern standing half-naked in the doorway flashing in his mind. He pushed them away. "Yes. Thank you for having me."

Ngern's mother smiled at that. "You're welcome anytime. Come, eat before it gets cold."

Jes sat down, eyeing the food as Ngern finally turned off the stove and brought over a plate.

"Didn't know you could cook that well," Jes commented as Ngern slid into the seat beside him.

Ngern scoffed. "I live alone. What do you think I eat? Air?"

Jes smirked. "Would explain why you look like you work out way too much."

Ngern shot him a look but didn't argue. Instead, he picked up his spoon and nudged Jes's arm. "Just eat."

Jes rolled his eyes but complied, hiding a small smile as they settled into breakfast, the atmosphere feeling far too natural, far too easy.

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After breakfast, Ngern grabbed his camera while Jes followed him out to the garden, where his grandmother was already settled on a wooden bench, holding little Mali in her arms. The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting a warm glow over them. It was the perfect lighting—soft, natural, and golden.

Jes took a moment to appreciate the sight before him. Ngern's grandmother, with her gentle eyes and warm smile, cradling Mali, who was babbling happily in her arms. It was a moment worth capturing.

Ngern lifted the camera to his eye, adjusting the settings as Jes had taught him. But Jes, watching from the side, noticed the way his fingers hesitated over the dials.

"Here," Jes said, stepping closer. "You need to adjust the aperture a little. The background is too sharp—you want them to be the focus, right?"

Ngern exhaled and lowered the camera. "I thought I got the hang of this."

Jes smirked, reaching over to adjust the settings himself. His fingers brushed against Ngern's, but neither of them pulled away immediately.

"Relax," Jes murmured. "Photography isn't just about technique—it's about capturing emotion."

Ngern nodded, glancing at his grandmother and Mali. He brought the camera back up, now more confident. With a soft click, he took the first photo. Then another. And another.

Jes stepped back, watching him work. There was something different about Ngern when he was behind the camera—he looked more focused, more at ease. It was as if he wasn't Ngern, the actor everyone knew, but just a guy trying to preserve a memory.

"Good," Jes said, nodding in approval. "Now try a few candid shots."

Ngern lowered the camera slightly, raising a brow. "Candid?"

Jes rolled his eyes. "Don't ask, just do it. Talk to them, make them laugh. Capture the real moment."

Ngern hesitated but then turned to his grandmother. "Grandma, tell Mali to smile for the camera."

His grandmother chuckled, bouncing Mali lightly. "Oh, she doesn't need to be told—she loves the camera already."

True to her words, Mali squealed, reaching toward the lens with tiny hands. Ngern laughed as he quickly snapped the shot. Jes peeked at the screen, nodding in satisfaction.

"See? That's the one."

Ngern looked down at the photo and smiled. The way his grandmother's eyes crinkled, the way Mali's chubby fingers stretched out toward the camera—it was perfect.

"Guess I have a good teacher," Ngern said, turning his head slightly to look at Jes.

Jes felt the warmth of his gaze but chose to ignore it, instead focusing on adjusting another setting on the camera. "Guess so."

They continued taking pictures, capturing small moments—Mali gripping her grandmother's fingers, Ngern's grandmother laughing as Mali tried to grab at a flower, the two of them just basking in each other's presence.

It was peaceful. Natural.

And for Jes, it felt like a world apart from everything he had ever known.