"Who is it? Wait for me a moment." - Hearing the doorbell, James slowly made his way to the door on his crutches. To his surprise, standing there was Sanun, holding a large basket of fruit. The smile on Faris's face quickly vanished as he glanced down at James' leg.

"Oh, what happened to your leg?" - He asked, feigning surprise.

"P'Sanun, why are you here? Ah, it's nothing serious, just a small accident."

'Fifteen stitches and you're saying it's nothing? You're just being stubborn again!' - Faris thought to himself.

"My company was sending gifts to new customers, so I thought I'd drop this off for you!" - Faris said, handing over the fruit basket, which was filled with James' favorite fruits and ones that wounds heal—like blueberries, kiwis, strawberries, avocados... and notably, no dragon fruits or durians.

James smiled as usual and invited him in. He moved slowly, each step causing him a little pain, while Faris followed behind, looking worried.

"I'm a bit inconvenient to move around, sorry P'Sanun, please make yourself at home!" - James said, quickly sitting down on the couch, probably because he was quite tired.

After some small talk about how James was settling into his new place and whether he needed any help, Faris pulled out a small box from his bag.

"Coincidentally, I was just given this scar-healing ointment. I have no use for it, so you can have it if you like!" - Faris offered. The truth was, he had asked Mali to track down the best scar ointment she could find and had it shipped express from Singapore.

"What a coincidence..." - James murmured, a little puzzled, but it was exactly what he needed - "Then, thank you, P'Sanun."

"You're welcome. If you run out, just let me know, my friend has more." - Faris smiled.

After staying a while, Faris said goodbye to James and left. On his way out, he couldn't shake the image of James' eyes—there was something heavy in them, something far removed from the vibrant spirit he'd seen when they first met. Faris knew it wasn't just physical pain he was sensing but something deeper, an inner turmoil that remained unspoken. With thousands of silent preparations, it had finally stepped into the spotlight, even if it was just a small figure. Was he ready for something big?

What were you hiding inside? What inner battles are you fighting, James? And what would happen to that little flower next? A bad feeling arose in Faris' heart.

The same afternoon, Faris's premonition came true. James posted a lengthy announcement on X, announcing a decision that shocked his fans: he was withdrawing from the LUAT project. His role would be given to another actor, while his partner would remain.

The main reason for this decision was that James wanted to pursue a career as an artist, so his time for acting would be limited in the future. He didn't want his personal plans to affect the crew and the project's progress. Therefore, when he made an announcement that almost no fans would struggle to accept this, James knew he had made a huge sacrifice.

Over three years of working together with his partner had left a deep impression on fans of both. So when the announcement was made, the online community erupted with mixed reactions, and almost no one wanted to believe what was happening.

In the end, some people accepted it, others left, and some chose sides between the two actors. But obviously, many people turned their backs on James, pouring out their anger and criticism towards him – the one who chose to take the first step in pursuing his own passion.

Faris stared at his phone screen. He read the comments over and over again, feeling a heavy heart.

'Why are you so foolish? Why choose this time to hurt yourself both physically and mentally now?' – In the dark room, without turning on the lights, Faris was looking out at the bustling world outside, but he knew there was a place that could be darker than he was at that moment.

'You must have gone through a lot to make that decision, right? You gave up a leading role after all, didn't you? The James Su I know is very strong, but to make that choice, how much pain did you have to go through? It's not just me who feels your determination and passion on stage. You took every opportunity to shine as an artist in front of everyone. It meant so much to you.

I'm not in your position, and I blame myself for that. If I could help you, what could I do now?'

_

[The next morning]

Mali entered Faris's office to report on her work as usual, but today she looked distracted and unfocused. She noticed that her boss also seemed to have something on his mind, and then she heard him instruct:

"Find a Media Agency specializing in handling social media crises. I'll meet them this afternoon."

Faris had noticed that the harsh criticisms directed at James lately were overwhelming, and it would certainly be very difficult for him. He wanted to find a reputable agency that could quickly manage the negative posts and comments about James.

Mali was taken aback - "Yes, sir, but our company hasn't faced any negative press, has it?"

"No, this is a personal matter. Have them contact me directly."

"Understood, sir!" - Mali responded. Her thoughts drifted back to the news that had left her feeling down yesterday. She knew Faris cared deeply for James. It was likely that the backlash about James' decision had made her boss uneasy.

When she brought water into Faris's office, where he was meeting with the media team, her curiosity slowed her movements.

"Don't worry, this just happened recently, so it hasn't spread too widely yet. Our team will handle the negative comments and posts, minimizing their visibility to him, at least for now," - The representative from the media company explained.

"Alright, keep it this way for the next two months," Faris replied seriously.

Leaving the room, Mali felt an indescribable mix of emotions and could only mutter to herself - "The things wealthy people pursue are truly peculiar!"

.

Since James' announcement of withdrawing from the project, Faris had been watching him more closely, especially during his live streams. Watching James trying hard to stay cheerful and chat with fans pained Faris deeply. The harsh comments kept pouring in, and Faris knew James saw them all, but he was bravely facing it, learning to cope with the reality of people slowly turning away.

Faris tried every way to meet James. He could only visit him as a friend, but only a few times because he knew James also needed his own space. During these visits, Faris closely observed him. James always seemed to recover, but the drawings he posted afterward told a different story. The sadness, loneliness, and pressure were evident in the artwork he shared. Now, Faris could understand even more clearly than the previous paintings, all of them are like— like a spring stretched beyond its limits.

_

Another night passed in a haze of dreams. It was the same familiar scene, but this time it came with a violent storm that threatened to topple James' small figure. Dust blew into his eyes, stinging them, and the strong wind lashed at his skin. Even the grass beneath his feet couldn't hold firm anymore, uprooted after clinging desperately for so long. The raindrops carried by the storm soaked through his "outer shell," making everything bitterly cold.

Suddenly, voices swirled chaotically in his mind, mocking and sneering, pushing him that almost made him collapse. He couldn't move forward, yet turning back would mean facing a cliff of regrets... Startled awake, drenched in sweat, he could only stare at the ceiling at 3 a.m., unable to fall back asleep.

_

"I'll be right there, wait a minute." – James's leg had improved a lot, and he could now walk around the house without his crutches. Nearly a month had passed, and his mood had stabilized somewhat thanks to the encouragement and support of JSY.

**JSY: the fandom name that James himself created, holding a special meaning as it combines "James & Daisy" — his favorite flower- and also the name representing the people who loved him the most.

"James, please sign this for me. Your fans are amazing! They send flowers to you every two days!" - P'Dao said cheerfully as she delivered flowers to the same familiar place for the nth time.

"Thank you, P'Dao!" - He replied happily but also a little embarrassed, as a young man like him was constantly receiving bouquets of beautiful white daisies.

Looking at the beautiful bouquets in James's hands, Faris had only one thought: "Yes... even if it only makes him happy 1% more each day, it's completely worth it."

The delicate white petals, and layers of blooms surrounding the lovely yellow center — every bouquet always came with a note of encouragement and a simple signature: "JSY."

James often shared his joy from receiving these flowers with fans during live streams or posted photos of himself with the bouquets on his IG stories. Although the fans had searched everywhere, they still couldn't find out who the owner of these mysterious bouquets was. Nevertheless, they were always grateful to this "JSY" friend who had silently encouraged him during such a difficult time.

Looking at the beautiful bouquets in James's hands, Faris had only one thought: "Yes... even if it only makes you happy 1% more each day, it's completely worth it."

.

As usual, Faris spent time watching James' livestream while driving home. Through his phone screen, he saw James enthusiastically sharing about the upcoming boy band project.

"What if I cry then? What should I do? Okay, I won't cry; I'll save it for later!" — then James went silent for a moment. Faris could see in his eyes the great ambitions that were about to burst out of those beautiful eyes. He knew these would be James's happiest tears.

That night, Faris kept thinking about those clear eyes and couldn't sleep. Everyone noticed that James was getting better, but he couldn't. The pressure of public opinion had brought too much criticism to James. Chasing after his dreams was not wrong, Faris understood that he couldn't fully comprehend the situation, but he chose to believe, and he believed that his fans would too.

Explaining it all would take too long, but summarizing it in a few lines would diminish James' resilience. The little one chose not to vent his frustrations publicly, unwilling to be seen as seeking sympathy. When words were restrained, the eyes often spoke volumes.

For over two years, Faris had chosen to silently follow him, and recently, he had found excuses to visit James as a friend, but Faris was so tired of the name "Sanun". He still remembered the captivating gaze in James's eyes the first time they met. To this day, those eyes have absorbed too much pain. Faris didn't want to see them become lost and aimless anymore, and finally, he made his own decision.

"James, don't rush... because I care so much, I'll find a way."

_

"P'Aof, I have something important to discuss with you."

"Alright, let's meet at the usual spot. Don't scare me, okay?" - P'Aof smiled, but he could sense the seriousness in Faris' voice.

He recalled the last time Faris had called him with that tone — it was when Faris' mother had been in an accident. Back then, Faris was on a business trip abroad when he got the news that his mother had been in a severe accident. Unable to return immediately, he had urgently asked P'Aof to handle the hospital admission procedures before he could fly back.

Since childhood, Faris had grown accustomed to a life with just his mother after his father had tragically passed away in an accident when Faris was only 10 years old. Therefore, it was understandable that the most important person in his life was none other than his mother.

Today, P'Aof was hearing that same tone again. Could it really be as serious as he was thinking?

.

At THE HUMMINGBIRD, a hidden bar deep in a quiet alley in Bangkok, which was also a familiar place for the two of them. The bar's vintage atmosphere provided a cozy and private setting. Faris chose a secluded corner since today's conversation required focus, so he opted for an Old Fashioned, not too strong. Meanwhile, P'Aof went for Tom Collins because he needed to stay sober.

Halfway through their cocktails, the air between them suddenly fell silent for a moment. Finally, Faris brought up the main point.

"Seeing him like that... I really can't stand it anymore, P'Aof!" - Faris' gaze, once distant, now turned directly to P'Aof, who was listening intently.

"Hmmm... So, you've finally decided to open up to me?" - P'Aof understood what Faris was hinting at.

"You know?"

"Well, after all these years of knowing you..." - P'Aof replied, a hint of pride in his voice.

"But I still don't know if this decision is the right one?" - Faris said, almost as if he was questioning himself. He knew that this time, he was stepping out of the shadows. He had chosen to confront the situation head-on, seeking a chance to take care of him.

"Tell me what you're thinking."

"First of all, I want to collaborate with DMD Music as an investor for his boyband project!" Faris stated firmly.

"Isn't that rather unreasonable? The entertainment sector has never been part of Illuminate's investment portfolio?" - P'Aof said, clearly surprised. This wasn't a short-term decision, it was more like 'throwing money out the window' from Illuminate's perspective, as it had nothing to do with the entertainment industry.

"But, under these circumstances, this is the only way I can protect him!" - Faris was even more determined. He continued - "I just need you to do one thing, and I will have the substantial investment needed for this project and DMD."

"What is it? "

"Negotiate with all the members of the boy band to make DMD Music their managing agency during their debut!" - Faris paused for a moment - "...and secured a collaboration contract for the next four years."

"With a fixed capital investment of 15 million USD per year. Of course, DMD won't be at a disadvantage, as 20% of the funds will go to DMD Music — that's up to you to decide. The remaining 80% will be for the boyband that James is part of, I have the right to decide on their activities!" - The annual capital was equivalent to more than 3 of the apartments he was currently living in.

"Are you really going this far?" - P'Aof still couldn't hide his shock after hearing Faris' decision - "But it seems like he still doesn't know who you are, right?" 

"Probably not. But, P'Aof, time flies so quickly. I think some things need to be said, no matter the outcome."

_

'For almost two years, I've been searching for a sense of connection with you — someone who probably doesn't even know I exist. The water, which should silently stay beneath the lake, reflects the moon's beauty in its fullest glory. Even though constant ripples were stirring underneath, the lake's surface remained ever still, unwavering. It had been like that for a long time. That very light had silently kept me from feeling lonely in the cold isolation I had endured for so long.

But now, the only light in my heart is being overshadowed, like clouds drifting in to block its light, making it dimmer. Whether it's possible or not, I will reach out to protect it!'

_