The Taste of Care

At night, by the pool of a resort, everyone was gathered for a farewell party for Jay. The entire group was present—Ying, Faisal, Chirawan, and even Isra. Staying true to her playful nature, Chirawan blindfolded Jay before leading him toward the pool area.

-"Chirawan, do we really need to be this mysterious? It's just a small party." Jay chuckled as he carefully followed her lead.

-"Jay, even if it's a small party, you're my little brother. It has to be special." Chirawan giggled, pulling him forward. "Now, hush, we're almost there."

She stopped and gently removed the blindfold before excitedly exclaiming—

-"Open your eyes!"

Jay slowly opened his eyes and was immediately taken aback by the scene before him. Though they had called it a small party, everything was so grand it could rival an actual concert stage. However, more than anything, it felt incredibly warm and heartfelt.

-"OMG… Is this really for me?"

-"Surprise! So, what do you think? Does our young master Felix approve?" Faisal teased with a grin.

-"It's Jay! Felix is for the audience, but for my family, it's just Jay." He playfully corrected.

-"Alright then, young master Jay, are you satisfied?" Faisal continued to joke.

-"Absolutely! Thank you so much, everyone!" Jay beamed, bowing in gratitude.

Faisal then stepped forward, handing Jay a carefully chosen bouquet.

-"Here, a little gift for you. Even when you're in France, don't forget about me, alright? And if I ever need help tweaking a song, you better not refuse!" Faisal smirked.

-"Of course!" Jay accepted the bouquet, his eyes gleaming.

When he glanced at the food table filled with all his favorite dishes, he couldn't help but be surprised.

-"Whoa… How did you all know I love these dishes?"

-"It was all thanks to Ying. He personally told the chefs what to prepare. It's all to your liking, right?" Chirawan grinned, nodding toward Ying.

-"Really? Thank you so much, Ying!" Jay said cheerfully.

-"As long as you like it, that's all that matters." Ying replied softly, his gaze gentle.

Isra chuckled before adding—

-"That's not all. The entire decoration setup? Chirawan personally took care of it."

-"Really? I'm so grateful to all of you!"

-"Oh, come on, no need to thank us! We're family!" Chirawan waved it off before turning to Ying. "But seriously, Ying, I'm impressed! I've been close to Jay for so long and even I couldn't remember all his favorite dishes, yet you knew every single one, down to the seasoning!"

Ying simply smiled before playfully flicking Chirawan on the forehead.

-"That's called being attentive, Chirawan."

-"Ying, you really understand me the best! Thank you again!" Jay looked at him with sincere appreciation.

-"Mhm…" Ying nodded slightly, a hint of shyness in his expression.

Suddenly, Faisal raised his glass and called out—

-"Alright, tonight, we drink until we drop! Who's in?"

Everyone cheered in unison: "Cheers!" The atmosphere instantly grew more lively.

But just as Jay was about to take his first sip, Ying leaned in close and whispered—

-"But Jay… don't get drunk like last time. If I get wasted too, no one will carry you home tonight."

Jay's face immediately turned bright red, even though he hadn't had a single sip of alcohol yet.

-"Ya… Ying, don't tease me!" He pouted and lightly smacked Ying's shoulder.

Under the shimmering lights reflecting off the pool, their laughter and chatter filled the night air, marking a farewell party filled with joy and unforgettable memories.

As the night grew later, the party only became more lively. Though everyone was already a bit tipsy, their energy remained high.

-"Little Jay, remember to call me after you get to France, okay?" Chirawan mumbled, her voice slightly slurred.

-"Yes, yes, I know. I won't forget my dear sister." Jay chuckled, his voice also carrying the effects of alcohol.

Chirawan squinted at him and waggled a finger in front of his face like a warning. "You better! Don't disappear like you did ten years ago and leave me missing you to death!"

-"That was then, this is now. Let's just enjoy the night!" Faisal cheered, trying to keep the party going.

-"Cheers!" Chirawan instantly responded.

Isra, still sober, frowned slightly. "Miss Chirawan, you shouldn't drink so much. You're about to get really drunk."

Chirawan waved her off. "Oh, let me be, Isra! This is my little Jay's farewell party—how can I not drink? Right, Ying?" She turned to seek an ally, but to her surprise, Ying was just as worried about Jay as Isra was about her.

-"Just don't overdo it. No one's going to carry you back to your room later." Ying reminded calmly.

Jay laughed and playfully chimed in. "No worries, Ying! With Isra here, she won't let Chirawan sleep outside."

Ying shot him a sharp look, his voice dropping slightly. "That goes for you too. If you get too drunk, the night breeze will make you sick."

That gentle remark sent a subtle flutter through Jay's heart. He looked up at Ying, his smile unconsciously softening. "Why worry? I have you, don't I?"

He tilted his head, his eyes glistening from the alcohol. That small, unintentional action made Ying's heartbeat falter for a moment. Feeling a bit flustered, he cleared his throat and looked away without replying.

Faisal chuckled and patted Ying's shoulder. -"Come on, Ying! We're all having fun here—don't kill the mood! Just drink! If anyone gets too wasted, Faisal will personally escort them back!"

-"Alright! Cheers!" Jay eagerly raised his glass.

Ying crossed his arms and raised a skeptical brow at Faisal. "I bet you'll be the first one to pass out."

Faisal puffed his chest proudly. "No way! I'm the Immortal Drinker, Ying!"

——————————————————

The next morning, the poolside was still littered with remnants of last night's party—empty bottles scattered around, a few fallen glasses, and lounge chairs left askew. The quiet atmosphere was only broken by the harsh sunlight shining directly onto someone lying by the pool—Faisal.

A sharp headache made Faisal wince. He groaned, pressing his hand against his forehead.

-"Ugh… my head hurts so bad…"

Blinking a few times, he looked around—then froze.

-"What the hell? Why am I the only one here?"

A mix of exhaustion and mild betrayal washed over him. Faisal sluggishly stretched and stood up, trying to shake off the grogginess. But before he could fully regain his senses—

'SPLASH!'

A sudden, forceful push sent him tumbling straight into the pool. Cold water slapped against his face, shocking him awake as he flailed in the water.

Up on the pool deck, Ying stood with his arms crossed, looking as indifferent as ever.

Faisal resurfaced, coughing and sputtering. -"Aaa—YING, YOU BASTARD! ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?!" He glared murderously at his so-called friend.

Ying remained unbothered, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. "Just waking you up. What happened? You were talking big last night—'I'm the Immortal Drinker!'… Look at you now."

Faisal was momentarily speechless, then pouted. "I-I was just a little tired, that's all! And I wasn't the only one who got drunk! Where is everyone else?"

Ying lazily responded, "Jay was drunk, so I took him to his room. Isra took Chirawan back."

Faisal frowned. "And what about me?"

Ying simply gestured around. "Can't you tell? You slept here."

Faisal smacked the water in frustration. "

-"Unbelievable! I'm your friend too, damn it!"

Just then, he noticed something in Ying's hands—a bowl, emitting a warm, fragrant aroma. His annoyance instantly vanished, replaced by curiosity. "Hey, what's that?"

-"Hangover soup."

Faisal's eyes lit up. "So you do have a conscience! Alright, give it here!" He eagerly reached out, ready to receive his lifesaving soup.

But Ying smirked, his eyes full of mischief. -"You want some?"

-"Of course!" Faisal nodded enthusiastically.

Ying raised an eyebrow and said nonchalantly, "Make your own. This is for Jay."

With that, he turned on his heel and walked off, still holding the bowl securely in his hands.

Faisal stood frozen for a moment before shouting in pure outrage, "YING—DO YOU EVEN CONSIDER ME A FRIEND?!"

His frustrated yell echoed across the pool area, but Ying paid him no mind, casually making his way to Jay's room while Faisal flailed angrily in the water.

—————————————————

In Chirawan's Room

On the bed, Chirawan and Isra were lying together. Chirawan was the first to wake up, her mind still hazy from the night before.

-"How did I end up here…?" she muttered, confused. But when she turned to see Isra sleeping beside her, the memories started to make sense.

Isra was sleeping in an awkward position, probably because she had stayed up taking care of her. Watching Isra's peaceful sleeping face, Chirawan couldn't help but smile softly, feeling a warm sensation in her heart. Gently, she pulled the blanket up to cover Isra properly—a small, unconscious act of tenderness.

In Jay's Room

As expected, Jay was still fast asleep, completely unaware of the world around him. Ying stepped into the room, gazing at the younger boy curled up in the blanket, sleeping soundly. He could only shake his head in resignation.

-"I told you to drink less, but you wouldn't listen. You're definitely going to have a headache when you wake up."

Placing the bowl of hangover soup on the table, Ying walked over to the bed. At this moment, his gentle demeanor almost made one forget how he had casually kicked Faisal into the pool just a while ago.

-"Jay… Jay… Wake up." Ying called out, his deep voice soft with warmth as he gently shook Jay.

Jay groaned slightly, slowly opening his eyes, still groggy.

-"Mmm… Ying… Is it morning already?"

-"Yeah, it's morning. Get up and have breakfast."

Jay stretched, feeling the exhaustion still lingering in his body. Ying noticed and couldn't help but feel a little sympathetic.

-"Still tired? I brought you some hangover soup."

Jay blinked at the bowl, then smiled.

-"Thanks, Ying. Wait… Last night, you brought me back to my room, didn't you?"

Ying replied casually, "Who else? Faisal talked the biggest game but was the first to pass out."

Jay chuckled, not surprised at all. "What about Chirawan?"

-"Same as Faisal. But Isra took her back to her room."

-"Ah… Well, thank you, Ying. You helped me twice last night." Jay smiled, warmth in his gaze.

Ying frowned slightly, his voice carrying a gentle reprimand. "I told you to drink less, but you didn't listen."

Jay pouted. "I was going to drink less, but Faisal kept pushing me. And besides, I was the main character of the party! If I didn't drink, it would've been disappointing for everyone."

Ying stared at him for a moment, his expression gradually darkening.

-"Jay, you're still the same, huh?"

Jay blinked, confused. "Huh? What do you mean…?"

-"You still always put others before yourself, just like when we were kids."

Jay smiled faintly. "Yeah… But I only do that for people I trust and care about."

Ying nodded, his voice turning deep as if reminding him, "That's good. Because if you care for everyone like this, you might end up being the one who gets hurt."

Jay was silent for a moment before nodding slightly, seeming to acknowledge Ying's words. But just a few seconds later, he started whining.

-"Yeah, yeah… But I'm hungry now. Is there anything to eat?"

Ying let out a small chuckle. "Drink the hangover soup first to wake up, then come downstairs. I'll make breakfast."

Jay's eyes widened. "You're cooking?"

Ying smiled. "Yeah. Your taste hasn't changed, right? I still remember, so I'll make something for you."

Jay felt his heart skip a beat.

-"Okay… Thanks, Ying." He answered cheerfully, but a strange feeling lingered inside him.

-"Go freshen up and then come eat. I'll be downstairs."

Saying that, Ying reached out and ruffled Jay's hair—a seemingly casual gesture, yet it left Jay momentarily stunned. His face heated up as he unconsciously placed a hand over his chest.

-"Why is my heart beating so fast…?"

—————————————————

Resort's Kitchen

Ying was standing by the stove, cooking breakfast with meticulous care. His serious yet composed demeanor while preparing the meal made it impossible not to admire him. The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air as Jay approached, taking a deep breath and exclaiming in delight.

-"Wow… It smells amazing! I never thought you could cook, Ying."

Ying didn't respond with words, only giving a small smile as he placed the dishes on the table and gestured for Jay to sit down.

At that moment, Faisal walked in, overhearing Jay's compliment. Still irritated about last night's incident, he scoffed.

-"As if there's anything he doesn't know. Except maybe how to care for his friends."

Faisal took a seat at the table, his gaze sharp like daggers toward Ying. Not one to back down, Ying met his stare with an equally intense look, his tone laced with sarcasm yet carrying a touch of irritation.

-"What's that supposed to mean? Do you want to eat or not?"

-"Oh, really? Did you poison the food?" Faisal smirked, tilting his chin up in provocation.

-"Yeah, I did. So you can shut up and stop being annoying." Ying shot back with a smirk of his own.

Jay blinked in surprise. Normally, Ying was always gentle with him, but with Faisal, it was like they were sworn enemies. It was oddly entertaining. Seeing how the tension was escalating, Jay quickly stepped in.

-"Ohhh… Chill, guys! It's too early for a fight."

-"Just eat, Jay. Don't mind him. He'll ruin your appetite." Ying pushed the plate toward Jay while casually pouring him a glass of milk.

Faisal, still unwilling to let it go, continued taunting.

-"I bet your cooking isn't even that good."

Before they could argue further, Jay had already taken a bite. His eyes lit up instantly.

-"Oh… It's delicious! Ying, you're an amazing cook! Ten out of ten!"

-"You heard that?" Ying raised an eyebrow smugly at Faisal.

-"Jay, are you siding with him?" Faisal pouted at Jay.

-"No, I'm not taking sides. But it really is good. Try it." Jay grinned and held up a bite of food toward Faisal.

Faisal hesitated but eventually opened his mouth. At first, he wanted to retort, but the moment he tasted it, all his thoughts disappeared. He had to admit—it was really good. He clenched his jaw, swallowing his pride along with the food.

-"So? Is it good? Want more?" Ying smirked.

-"Yeah… Happy now?" Faisal grumbled.

Ying chuckled and placed a plate in front of Faisal.

-"Eat."

-"Look at that. You serve Jay gently, but for me, you practically slam the plate down. How unfair." Faisal complained but still continued eating.

Jay chuckled at the scene.

Just then, Chirawan entered the kitchen, arms crossed as she observed them with amusement. She smirked.

-"That's the difference between being an 'exception' and being 'expendable.' Get it, Faisal?"

-"Good morning, sis! Join us for breakfast. Ying's cooking is amazing!" Jay invited cheerfully.

-"Really? Maybe next time. I don't have much appetite this morning." Chirawan said as she poured herself a glass of water.

-"Where's Isra?" Ying asked.

-"Still sleeping upstairs. By the way, who brought me back to my room last night?" Chirawan asked casually.

Faisal immediately objected.

-"Definitely not me."

-"Obviously. Look at the state you were in. A complete mess." Chirawan shook her head.

-"Isra took you back to your room. You should thank her later." Ying informed her.

-"Got it." Chirawan nodded.

Faisal clicked his tongue.

-"I'm kind of jealous. I wish I could get drunk and have someone take care of me too."

-"Go find someone then." Ying quipped.

-"If it were that easy, I'd already have someone." Faisal sighed.

Jay tilted his head, suddenly asking,

-"Hasn't anyone ever treated you well? Or made you feel comfortable just by being around them? There must be someone. Think about it."

Faisal was silent for a few seconds. A certain face popped into his mind—Yod, the calm and polite flower vendor who, for some reason, seemed to match him perfectly. But Faisal quickly shook his head, refusing to acknowledge the thought.

-"Maybe… But we've only met a few times. It's not like we're close."

Jay chuckled knowingly, his gaze perceptive.

-"Ever heard of love at first sight? Maybe it's happening to you."

Faisal's eyes widened slightly before he scoffed.

-"Oh… I guess I'll have to find out then."

End of Chapter 17.