Chapter 28

After spending a whole week with Sky, Nani still hadn't returned. He stayed in Italy, wrapped up in the comfort of Sky's presence.

Meanwhile, Win and Dew were running on empty. They had been managing the workload in Nani's absence, but the exhaustion was starting to show. Their energy was practically gone, leaving them looking like zombies in the office. Prim, ever the caretaker, had stepped in to help with the meals and any light tasks she could manage, but everyone could see the strain on them.

Win leaned back in his chair, staring at the mountain of paperwork with glazed eyes. "I don't get it," he muttered, his voice thick with fatigue. "Here we are, barely hanging on, and somehow Nani handles all this pressure year after year without breaking a sweat."

Dew gave a low, tired chuckle, rubbing his face with both hands. "Right? I thought we were used to stress by now, but this is something else."

Win sighed, tapping his fingers on the desk. "Damn, I should've helped him more when he was around.

Dew snorted, his tone dry despite the exhaustion. "If Nani heard you say that, he'd probably be on cloud nine. The so-called 'useless' one in the group suddenly wants to help? He'd think the world was ending."

Win threw his hands up. "Hey, I can be responsible when I want to! I'm just... waiting for the right moment."

Dew gave him a side-eye. "Uh-huh. And I'm waiting for a unicorn to show up and solve all our problems."

Win smirked. "Wouldn't be the weirdest thing that's happened in this office."

Prim, who had been quietly organizing some snacks on the side, overheard and rolled her eyes. "You two are impossible. You talk about helping, but I swear, the moment P' Nani gets back, you'll be back to 'lounging around' like nothing happened."

Win shrugged, still grinning. "Well, yeah. Nani's just got that 'I-can-do-it-all' vibe that makes us lazy guys look bad."

Lisa walked into the room. "It's time for your next meeting, Khun Win, Khun Dew." she announced.

Win groaned dramatically, flopping against his chair. "Nooo, Lisa, have mercy. We're already dying here."

Dew sighed "Can't we just...skip it? Say we got abducted by aliens or something?"

"If aliens actually abducted you, I'd personally send them a thank-you gift."

Prim burst into laughter while Win clutched his chest like he'd been mortally wounded. "Wow. Betrayed by my own secretary."

Lisa simply raised an eyebrow. "I'm Khun Nani's secretary, not yours. Now move it before I drag you both there myself."

Dew nudged Win with his elbow. "Come on, man. We survived this long. What's one more meeting?"

Win groaned again but finally stood up. "Fine, but if I pass out in there, tell Nani I fought bravely."

Lisa rolled her eyes. "I'll make sure to put it on your tombstone. Now, get going."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked off, leaving Win and Dew with no choice but to follow.

--

Nani sat at one of the quieter corners of the university library, idly flipping through a book he had no real interest in. He glanced at his phone, checking the time. Sky's class should be over soon, but knowing him, he might get held up talking to a professor or a classmate.

With nothing better to do, Nani dialed Win's number. It rang twice before Win picked up, his voice immediately full of unnecessary drama.

"Oh, look who finally remembers us poor souls!" Win groaned. "I was starting to think you ran away forever and left us to die under this mountain of work."

Nani smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Didn't realize you were so dependent on me. Should I be flattered?"

"Dependent?!" Win scoffed. "More like suffering in your absence! Dew and I are practically crawling to our desks at this point. Lisa's turned into a ruthless taskmaster, and Prim, sweet, angelic Prim, has been giving us pity snacks like we're wounded soldiers!"

Dew's voice suddenly chimed in from the background. "He's being dramatic. We're fine."

"Lies! We are NOT fine!" Win shot back. "Do you know how many meetings Lisa has forced us into? I swear she's enjoying our misery. I had to sit through a three-hour budget meeting, Nani. THREE HOURS."

Nani chuckled. "Sounds rough. Should I send flowers to your funeral?"

"Forget flowers! Send help!" Win wailed. "Or better yet, come back! We'll even throw you a welcome-back party, complete with a golden throne for our dear, overworked leader."

Nani rolled his eyes, still amused. "Not happening. I'm staying with Sky a little longer."

"Ugh, of course. Love over friendship. Betrayal at its finest." Win muttered. "Fine, fine. Go be a good boyfriend. Just know that when you come back, we might not be the same people you left behind."

Dew's voice cut in again, deadpan. "Translation: He wants an excuse to be lazy when you return."

Nani laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, I figured. Hang in there, you two."

Before Win could launch into another dramatic speech, Nani ended the call, still grinning as he pocketed his phone. Just as he did, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

"You look way too entertained for someone who was just in a library."

Nani looked up to see Sky standing there, bag slung over his shoulder, eyeing him curiously.

"Win being Win." Nani said simply.

Sky sighed, shaking his head with a knowing smile. "Do I even want to know?"

"Probably not." Nani stood up, stretching. "Ready to go?"

Sky nodded, linking his arm with Nani's as they walked out together. "I don't want you to go but You should visit your office soon before they all collapse without you."

Nani smirked. "Or I could let them suffer a little longer."

Sky laughed. "Evil."

"Efficient." Nani corrected, pulling him a little closer as they walked off into the evening.

--

Another week had passed and tonight Sky had just returned from running some errands. The apartment was quiet when Sky returned. Too quiet.

"Nani?" he called, kicking off his shoes. Normally, Nani would be sprawled on the couch, complaining about how long Sky's classes were or stealing snacks from the kitchen. But tonight, there was only silence.

Frowning, Sky wandered toward the bedroom. The door was slightly open, and when he peeked inside, he found Nani standing there, bathed in the warm glow of the bedside lamp. He wasn't doing anything just standing, waiting, watching. And when Sky met his gaze, Nani smiled.

Sky didn't hesitate, he walked straight to Nani and wrapped his arms around him, hugging him tightly, burying his face into his shoulder.

Nani let out a soft chuckle, his hand coming up to stroke Sky's hair. "What's this? Did something happen?"

Sky shook his head, gripping Nani's shirt tighter. "You're leaving soon." he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Nani exhaled slowly, resting his chin against Sky's head. "Yeah..."

For a long moment, they just stood there, holding onto each other. Then, Nani gently pulled back.

"I have something for you." he said, reaching behind him.

Sky blinked in surprise as Nani handed him a bouquet of orange roses, a warm, rich color that reminded Sky of sunsets and comfort. Sky stared at them, heart pounding, but before he could ask, Nani held out something else.

A small velvet box.

Sky swallowed hard as he took it with trembling fingers. Slowly, he opened it, revealing two simple, elegant rings nestled inside. His breath hitched. His eyes darted up to Nani, searching his face for an explanation.

"It's a promise ring." Nani said casually, though there was something firm and certain in his tone. "Don't make that face."

Sky swallowed, still struggling to find words, but Nani continued before he could even try.

"You're not ready to get married yet." Nani admitted, his voice softer now. "But when you are, just remember, I'm the groom. No one else."

Sky's chest tightened. He could feel tears pricking at the corners of his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. Instead, he just nodded, his throat too tight to speak.

Nani took Sky's hand gently, slipping the ring onto his finger with a care that made Sky want to cry even more. With shaky hands, Sky did the same, sliding the matching ring onto Nani's finger.

Nani smiled as he intertwined their fingers, squeezing softly. Then, his voice dropped to a whisper, warm and possessive.

"Don't forget... you're mine."

Sky let out a choked laugh, blinking rapidly, trying to keep his emotions in check. But before he could say anything, Nani grabbed him by the collar and pulled him in, capturing his lips in a deep, desperate kiss.

Sky gasped softly against Nani's mouth, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he melted into it, his hands instinctively clutching at Nani's shirt as if afraid he might disappear.

The kiss was nothing like their usual playful ones, it was raw, intense, and filled with everything they couldn't put into words. A silent promise. A reassurance. A claim.

Nani's fingers curled around the fabric of Sky's shirt, pulling him impossibly closer. Sky could feel the pounding of his own heart, the warmth of Nani's body pressing against his, and the way Nani kissed him like he never wanted to let go.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathless.

Sky's eyes fluttered open, meeting Nani's gaze. He didn't need to say anything everything he felt was already there, reflected in the way Nani looked at him.

Nani smirked, but his voice was softer than usual, his thumb brushing lightly against Sky's flushed cheek.

"Now you really won't forget... you're mine."

Sky swallowed hard, his fingers still gripping Nani's shirt. Then, with a small, shy smile, he whispered back.

"Never."