Unfinished Feelings

Morning at a Luxury Resort

In an extravagant resort room, on a spacious and lavish bed, the young singer Jay was still deep in slumber. He turned over, pulling the blanket over his head in an attempt to escape the morning light. However, a few mischievous rays of sunlight managed to sneak through the curtains, shining straight into his eyes, causing him to frown in discomfort.

-"Ugh… my head hurts. Who opened the curtains so early in the morning…?" – Jay mumbled groggily, his voice thick with sleep and irritation.

-"That would be me, you little drunkard." – A deep yet amused voice responded. Ryan stood with his arms crossed in front of the bed, trying to appear stern.

Jay blinked a few times, trying to make sense of the situation. But the moment he registered the words "little drunkard," he immediately sat up to protest.

- "Who's a drunkard?! That's you, Ryan!" – Jay retorted indignantly. However, before he could say another word, a firm flick on his forehead landed without mercy.

-"Who's the drunkard, huh? Who was the one completely wasted by the pool last night? If you're not a drunkard, then you must be an alcohol worm." – Ryan scolded while barely holding back his laughter.

Jay clutched his forehead, scrambling for a reasonable excuse to clear his name.

-"Ow… that hurts. I'm not a drunkard! I was just… just drinking with Ying last night because he seemed sad, so I wanted to comfort him…" – Jay hurriedly explained.

Hearing this, Ryan let out a chuckle, his tone dripping with sarcasm:

- "Ha! You were comforting him? And how exactly did that work out, considering you got drunk first and left him with the burden of carrying you back? If that's what you call comforting, I'm pretty sure Ying would rather not have it at all."

-"Really?" – Jay's eyes widened in confusion.

-"You're kidding, right?"

-"Wait… Are you saying Ying was the one who brought me back here last night?" – Jay asked, needing confirmation.

Ryan smirked mischievously and nodded with an air of seriousness.

- "No. Ying only dragged you to the lobby but decided you were too heavy, so he just dumped you there. I felt bad and saved you. I personally carried you all the way back."

Jay froze. His lips twitched as if refusing to believe his own ears.

- "…"

- "Wow… the great idol Felix, reduced to this kind of disgrace… How embarrassing." – Ryan clicked his tongue, shaking his head in mock disappointment.

Jay clenched his teeth, glaring at Ryan.

- "You're making this up! I'm not that heavy! And no matter how drunk I was, idol Felix is always handsome!"

Ryan burst into laughter, patting Jay's shoulder.

-"Looks like you're still drunk. Here, drink this. It'll bring you back to reality." – He handed Jay a bowl of hangover soup from the table.

Jay took it, grimaced at the bitter taste, but reluctantly continued drinking. Midway, a thought suddenly struck him. He paused, furrowing his brows.

-"Wait… I remember… I kissed someone last night… or was that just a dream?" – Jay muttered.

Before he could dwell on it, Ryan casually threw in an explosive remark:

- "Not a dream. It really happened."

Thunderstruck, Jay instantly spat out the soup, coughing violently.

- "What?! No way… don't tell me I kissed Ying—"

Ryan clicked his tongue and sighed dramatically.

- "Nope. You kissed me. You forced yourself on me. Do you know how much I suffered carrying you back last night? You thrashed around, grabbed my hair, punched and kicked me, and then God knows how many times you kissed me…"

Jay went completely still.

- "…"

But just moments later, a relieved smile spread across his face.

- "Oh, thank God it wasn't Ying…" – Jay let out a long sigh before flashing Ryan an innocent grin. – "Anyway, thanks, Daddy Ryan!"

- "I refuse to be your Daddy, you drunken mess!" – Ryan shook his head with a chuckle, but not without throwing in another jab.

Jay laughed awkwardly, though deep down, he still felt a bit uneasy…

—————————————————

In Bangkok, Inside a Grand Office

In a large, exquisitely decorated office, it was clear at a glance that the owner was an artist. Chirawan was sketching a design when Faisal walked in—so naturally that he didn't even bother knocking. She merely glanced at him before continuing her work, as if she was already too used to this behavior.

- "What is it? I don't have time to entertain you today." She remained focused on her drawing.

-"If you don't have time to play, do you at least have time to listen to a song I composed?" Faisal casually sat down on the sofa.

- "No need. I trust Jay's skills. He's an amazing composer, so if the song has been edited by him, I don't need to give any input."

- "But Jay didn't help me edit it. He's off vacationing in Phuket."

- "Oh? Then I definitely don't need to listen. I'd rather not risk damaging my eardrums." Chirawan's voice was calm, as if teasing Faisal was a daily routine.

- "You little troublemaker!" Faisal didn't hesitate to flick her lightly on the forehead. Chirawan winced and put down her pen.

-"Ouch… Was that really necessary?"

- "Serves you right. But anyway… I haven't finished composing the song yet. I'll probably wait for Jay to return and have him help with the editing." Faisal spoke as he absentmindedly toyed with the decorative flowers on the table.

-"Well, if that's the case, make good use of your time. Jay won't be here for long—he's heading back to France soon." Chirawan's tone remained indifferent.

- "I thought he was planning to stay here for good?" Faisal looked up at her, slightly surprised.

-"Maybe you haven't spent enough time with him to notice? I get the feeling that Jay doesn't really like staying here." Chirawan stood up, leaving her desk to sit across from Faisal.

- "Why do you think that?" Faisal's expression grew a little more serious.

- "I don't know. Just a feeling. I'm pretty intuitive." She crossed her legs and responded nonchalantly.

Faisal nodded thoughtfully.

- "But if that's Jay's choice, it's not a bad one. He's more well-known in France, and his singing career will thrive better there."

Chirawan found the reasoning sound and nodded in agreement.

-"Makes sense. So… why did you come here again?"

- "I have an upcoming project related to fashion, and I want to collaborate with you…"

Faisal gave her a knowing smile, as if he was certain she wouldn't refuse…

————————————————

At the Resort Lobby in Phuket

The midday sunlight streamed through the large glass panels, reflecting off the polished marble floor. In the distance, the sound of waves crashing against the shore blended with the leisurely atmosphere of the resort.

Descending from the upper floor, Jay clung to the stair railing, his face scrunched up as if he had just been tossed around in a washing machine.

- "Ayya… So dizzy… Aa…" He rubbed his temples, his eyes still half-squinted.

Walking beside him, Ryan could only sigh before reaching out to steady Jay's arm, preventing him from losing his balance.

-"Hey… Take it slow. If you're still drunk, you should just rest."

-"It's fine. You're going back to France tomorrow anyway, so I have to hang out with you today." Jay smiled, trying to act as if he was perfectly fine.

Ryan eyed him skeptically.

- "You sure you can handle it?"

-"Of course, I'm fine. Totally fine." Jay patted his chest as if to prove his strength, but the next moment, he stumbled and nearly fell onto Ryan.

Ryan could only chuckle helplessly and resigned himself to supporting Jay as they continued walking.

As they chatted while heading out, they ran into Ying, who was just coming from inside. Upon spotting the familiar figure, Ryan casually slung an arm around Jay's shoulder and called out.

- "Brother Ying, where are you heading?"

Ying stopped in his tracks, his gaze sweeping gently over the two before replying.

- "I'm meeting a business partner. Are you two going somewhere?"

- "I'm heading back to France tomorrow, so we're taking a little tour around Phuket today," Ryan responded with a relaxed tone.

Jay stood beside him, but his mind was drifting elsewhere. The consequences of last night's overdrinking made him want nothing more than to curl up and sleep again. Ying quickly noticed the oddity, and though there was a faint hint of amusement in his eyes, his voice carried genuine concern.

- "And Jay, are you feeling better?"

Hearing his name, Jay instinctively looked at Ying. But as if suddenly remembering something, a slight nervousness flickered across his face. He subtly leaned closer to Ryan before mumbling a response.

-"I-I'm fine. Totally fine."

After a brief pause, Jay hesitated before speaking again.

-"Um… thanks for not leaving me at the pool last night."

Though his words expressed gratitude, Jay's face held a trace of awkwardness. Normally, he was full of confidence, yet now, standing before Ying, he seemed somewhat… uneasy.

Ying observed Jay's reaction, and a strange feeling stirred inside him. The memory of last night resurfaced vividly—the unexpected moment when their lips had brushed against each other.

Jay had been far too intoxicated to register what happened, but Ying had been completely sober. That fleeting softness had lasted only a second, yet it had frozen him in place. Even now, just thinking about it, he could feel an inexplicable heat creeping up his face.

Unaware of the shift in Ying's expression, Jay continued chatting.

-"Oh, and do you remember what I said last night? I told you that you don't always have to be perfect." Jay blinked at him. "So… if anything is weighing on you, just take it easy."

Snapping back to reality, Ying steadied himself and gave a small nod.

- "Mm. You two have fun. And be careful."

-"Got it. We'll be going now." Ryan replied before tugging Jay along. "Come on, drunkard."

Jay immediately pouted, protesting as they walked.

- "Who's a drunkard?! You are!"

Ying watched their figures disappear into the distance, yet his mind lingered on last night's moment.

Almost unconsciously, he raised a hand to his lips and slowly lowered his head.

- "…Is my face… turning red?"

———————————————

Phuket's Sky at Dusk

The sky over Phuket gradually turned into a brilliant shade of orange as the sun slowly dipped below the towering palm trees. The last rays of sunlight reflected off the shimmering ocean surface, painting a scene that was both peaceful and tinged with nostalgia.

Jay and Ryan had explored nearly all the famous spots— from stunning beaches to the old town, from quaint little cafés to bustling markets. Laughter and conversations had filled their day, yet deep down, Jay couldn't shake off a lingering feeling.

He knew exactly where this feeling came from.

Ying.

And the past.

As they strolled along the coastal road, Ryan suddenly slowed down, his expression turning serious as he looked at Jay.

-"Jay, can I ask you something?"

Jay tilted his head slightly, his lips still curled into a smile.

- "Hmm?"

- "Is there something going on between you and Brother Ying?"

Jay's steps halted for a split second.

He hadn't expected Ryan to be so direct.

Ryan wasn't the type to pry or meddle in others' affairs, but he was observant. He was incredibly perceptive, and most importantly, he knew Jay too well.

Jay quickly regained his composure, flashing a carefree smile.

- "Something wrong? You're overthinking it."

But Jay forgot one crucial thing—he could never truly hide his emotions from Ryan.

Ryan crossed his arms, his gaze carrying a hint of reproach.

- "Jay, you're lying." He let out a soft sigh. "I've known you long enough to see right through you. What's going on?"

This time, Jay knew he couldn't dodge the question anymore.

He exhaled quietly, shifting his gaze toward the distant sea, where the sunset had painted the horizon a deep red. A brief silence settled before his voice finally broke through the moment.

- "I… it's just some things from before. That's why I want to avoid him…"

Ryan continued watching him, waiting.

- "But you can't, can you?"

Jay pressed his lips together, hesitation flickering in his eyes.

-"I don't know, Ryan… There were things in the past that made me so angry with Ying. Even when I returned to Thailand, I still didn't want to forgive him. But then…"

He paused, taking a deep breath before forcing a faint smile.

- "Every time I see him, I just… can't stay mad. But I don't want to forgive him either."

The ocean breeze ruffled Jay's hair as he spoke.

- "Like last night… Seeing him upset, I just couldn't ignore it… even though I knew I should have."

Ryan nodded, his voice turning gentle, as if he could feel the turmoil inside Jay.

-"Brother Ying is someone very important to you, isn't he?"

Jay let out a small chuckle, but there was a hint of sadness behind it.

-"He took care of me since I was little. I used to see him as family. Like an older brother."

Ryan raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk forming on his lips.

- "Oh… So if you can't stay mad at him, why not just forgive him?"

Jay immediately turned to glare at Ryan, frowning.

-"Some things aren't that easy to forgive, Ryan."

Ryan simply shrugged, his tone calm and unhurried.

-"I don't know what happened between you two. But from what I see, Brother Ying cares about you a lot. If one day you realize you were wrong or regret your decision, you might not get another chance."

Jay fell silent.

Ryan's words echoed in his mind.

If you can't stay mad, then forgive him?

But Jay couldn't.

Not because he didn't want to, but because the past had left too many scars.

He refused to let himself be weak in front of Ying again.

Yet… why was it that every time he saw him, he couldn't walk away?

Why did he always let his emotions be swayed by Ying?

The ocean breeze continued to blow, but Jay's thoughts were tangled like an endless web.

He had thought he was certain about his feelings.

But when it came to Ying, nothing was ever that simple.

Should he continue keeping his distance?

Or should he try, just once, to let go and forgive?

End of Chapter 12.