"The one who truly understands you is someone who knows the song in your heart and will sing it back to you when you've forgotten the words."

_

[At DMD]

Faris came to the company today and 'conveniently' bought a Matcha Honey Lemon for James, knowing he was also here. He was aware that James was trying to cut back on coffee for better sleep, and of course, every detail about the little one was something he paid close attention to—including the drink in his hand.

'Why is it that the things you like always have a slightly bitter taste?'

As soon as he arrived at DMD, he spotted a familiar figure. James was sitting on a long bench in the garden and seemed to be focusing on studying something on his phone. Quietly approaching, he placed the drink in front of James, interrupting his concentration. James's eyes lit up when he saw his favorite drink, and he could guess who it was:

"Is this to make up for that coffee the other day?" - The kid glanced over, and it seemed like he was in a good mood today.

"Whenever you want one, I'll make it up to you!" - Faris sat down beside him, his hand resting along the back of the bench, looking from behind as if he were embracing him.

Glancing at James's phone, Faris noticed he was learning a few Chinese phrases to prepare for an upcoming fan meeting in Xi An, China in two days. This kid really cared about everyone.

"Huh, what word do you need to learn? I don't know the difficult ones, but if it's a basic conversation, I can teach you." - Faris offered confidently.

"I didn't ask, though," James retorted while sipping his drink.

"But I want to. You won't find another boss as considerate as me!" - Faris teased, grabbing James's phone to skim through his notes and was startled. Was this what he wanted to say to others? Like, I like you, I miss you, and even I love you,..

"Wait... Is this what you say to your fans?"

"Of course! JieJies (older sisters) really love it."

"JieJie? Do you always call them so affectionately like that?"

"P'Faris, what's wrong? I also call them MeiMei (younger sister), GongZhu (princess), or GeGe (older brother)."

"What ...what was that last one?" - Faris asked, did he hear wrong? The way James said it sounded oddly... pleasing.

"Gege!"

"No, no. It's Ge~ge. Say it softly!" - Faris insisted, clearly enjoying himself.

"Gege~"

"Once more!"

"Gege~~" - James repeated, starting to sense something was off.

"Still not quite right. Say it again so I can..." - But this time, James didn't respond. Instead, he shot Faris a withering glare that silenced him, he smiled softly and said - "Continue, I'll correct you...."

"You read it yourself. I'm leaving." 

Realizing he had been teased, remembering that he had just called Faris so softly, he felt embarrassed. The kid immediately took his drink and ran away... 

After that afternoon, he felt more comfortable talking to Faris. Whether it was because they were emotionally connected or not, he didn't know, but what he felt was that Faris knew and understood him a lot. The little one now could express himself more openly with Faris than he ever expected, without the usual guardedness he reserved for others.

_

After the fan meeting in Xi An, James's mind was fully occupied with Noeul's concert. This time, he was a special guest for his close friend's performance—and also a member of his Boyband.

Over a month of relentless practice had brought him to this moment. Standing backstage, James could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Nervous, excited, but resolute - "Let's give it your all. Tonight, James will deliver something incredible!" - He encouraged himself, a determined smile spreading across his face.

In the dim light of the backstage, Faris was also present, quietly watching every moment of James shining on stage. From his bright smile, his shining eyes, to his slightly trembling fingers from excitement - Faris observed every detail as if capturing it all in a vivid mental reel.

From the moment James stepped onto the stage, the atmosphere exploded. Every move, every note was imbued with energy and emotion. From the audience, Faris noticed teary-eyed fans gazing at James—JSY, the ones who adored him. He could sense their purest affection, their collective love, gathering the best things and giving him all the support they had.

But Faris knew one thing: they couldn't take care of him personally - 'Then let me do that for them!' - He thought to himself, his eyes fixed on James, never wavering.

"You've got this, James. I believe in you!"

As the performance ended, loud applause filled the concert hall, carrying a warmth that enveloped James. Bowing to the crowd, he scanned the faces in the room, feeling the genuine encouragement they offered him and Noeul tonight. Now he felt it!

Among the countless gazes, James's eyes finally landed backstage, where Faris was smiling proudly. A bright smile the little one also gave to the person he cherished.

_

After that heartfelt performance, James felt he had garnered the audience's support. Bright eyes looking up at the stage and the enthusiastic applause seemed to confirm that at least a part of the audience had opened their hearts to him. Yet, that short-lived joy was quickly overshadowed by the negative clouds on social media a few days later.

James understood that his appearance at Noeul's concert—even as a guest performer—would draw significant attention. The reason might be that this was the first time he had performed as an artist after that announcement had been made. The spotlight carried both warm support and harsh criticism because somewhere there were still many people who didn't choose to put their faith in him.

Although he had prepared mentally to face it, James couldn't entirely shield his heart from the sting of those words. What they said really hurt, some comments hit harder than others—a careless remark, a thoughtless joke, or a cold judgment - bit by bit, they weaved a negative network that suffocated him. 

The little one always reminded himself: 'I may not be the best, but I'm trying my hardest every single day to become better.'

With a soft sigh, James wondered - 'If their loved ones had to endure these words, would they feel as heartbroken as I do? They don't understand and it's okay, they don't need to encourage, it's okay too, but why do they choose to leave such hurtful comments online? Just a few words can crush someone's dreams and invalidate their efforts?' 

Everyone indeed has the right to free speech, but they use that right to stab others with invisible knives—first, it stings, then it bleeds, and finally, it leaves scars that never truly fade.

'Actually, you don't need to bother criticizing me. I confront and evaluate myself every single day...'

_

In the days following the concert, James's packed schedule left him no time to pause. From filming and attending brand events to practicing for upcoming projects, he was so busy that there was no room left for idle thoughts or negative emotions. At least for now, temporarily, everything was put aside. 

On the way home from this morning's meeting with the boyband, James fell asleep from exhaustion. Faris, sitting behind the wheel, glanced at him from time to time. He could sense the turmoil going on inside James, noticing how unusually quiet he had been today, and sometimes didn't even hear what he was asking.

Knowing James' habit of falling asleep in the car, Faris had thoughtfully prepared a neck pillow placed beside his seat. Watching this kid rest his head on it and sleep peacefully, Faris smiled softly - 'This should be a bit more comfortable...'

Faris's phone rang—it was a call from the media agency regarding the handling of negative press about James. He answered in a low voice, careful not to disturb the sleeping kid beside him.

"Yes, continue as before. Remove similar posts as quickly as possible, including any negative hashtags."

Beside him, James rested his head against the car window, wrapped in Faris's blazer, his eyelids fluttered briefly. After a while, he slowly woke up as the car passed through a busy street. Faris was concentrating on driving, but his other hand quickly handed him a water bottle. 

"Drink some water; sleeping in the air-con will dry out your throat!" - Faris said, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. James took the bottle of water and took a small sip as he was still looking out the window.  

After a moment of silence, Faris's gentle voice broke through.

"It's still early, do you want to take a trip on the Skytrain with me?" - With an expectant look as if waiting for him to 'agree' to his idea, but he knew that Faris wanted to find a way to make him feel more comfortable.

"If you want to!" - James nodded softly.

.

To Faris, Skytrain rides were a therapeutic escape from the rush of daily life. There, he wouldn't know anyone, and vice versa, they wouldn't look at him as a CEO either, simply blend into the crowd. He often chose long routes with the goal of reaching the final station. He set his own rules: once he reached the last stop, he considered himself to have 'successfully compromised' with himself, having let go of all his troubles. 

If he wasn't ready, he would stop at any station along the way, resuming only when he felt more at peace. Some rides took just an hour; others stretched an entire day. No matter what, he had to reach the end... 

Faris parked the car at the nearest BTS station. The weekend afternoon in Bangkok was as bustling as usual, with crowds of people pushing and shoving each other up and down. The chatter and laughter here were completely in contrast to the atmosphere in the car just now, where there was only James and his wandering thoughts. 

Standing in the waiting line, there were people in front of him, and behind him too, it was so suffocating as if there was no escape. When the door opened, he had to go in. But looking to the side and saw Faris still there, his steady presence a silent assurance. Wasn't Faris still accompanying him? James looked up at Faris— today he was wearing a wide black blazer with a black t-shirt inside, his elegant and outstanding figure was still so different in such a public space. Looking at him made James smile involuntarily.

As the train arrived, Faris quickly grabbed his hand, pulling him through the narrow door where people were constantly coming in and out. Faris wasn't about to lose sight of the one who mattered to him. He hadn't expected the crowd to be this dense today—there wasn't even a single seat left. He had to pull James to a secluded corner next to a row of seats, gently pushing him inside and then turning around with his back to the outside. His stance was like a steadfast barrier, his eyes softening slightly as he looked down at James

If it were a normal day, James would have been embarrassed and blushed at such closeness, but today, many other emotions overshadowed it. Faris was like a solid wall, shielding him from the chaotic crowd and enclosing the little one in the safe space he had unintentionally created. Inside James now, an indescribable feeling began to rise—a sensation he was experiencing for the first time, the feeling of being protected, being taken care of. 

In front of him was Faris, but in his mind, he was drawn back to the criticisms and judgments—those voices hauntingly echoed in his head again. Like a ghost, they dragged him back to his own world, a place of only sorrow and unhealed wounds. At this moment, the train was now passing through a dark section, and the space seemed to shrink, leaving only the person in front of him. The little one didn't want to, he had tried so hard, yet, the tears betrayed him, falling despite his resolve... 

'I've done so well these past few days... Why now...'

Fortunately, no one was looking. On this crowded train, only Faris knew who he was, but even then, he couldn't summon the courage to face him. Today James wasn't wearing sunglasses, nor a cap, he thought his teary appearance was very embarrassing. Awkwardly, he turned toward the side of the train wall, hoping to hide.

And then, Faris pulled his collar up with one hand, covering James, and with the other hand gently pulled the little one inside his coat. That familiar scent—it was his undoing, he couldn't resist anymore. His shoulders trembled, each moment testing Faris' calm composure.

All James could see was a pitch-black color, no light to pierce through—but it was a comforting darkness, a space where he could become the most vulnerable and yet the most secure. At this moment, all he could feel was the safety and protection of someone's embrace.

Outside, the train rushed by, but inside this small corner, time seemed to stand still. Where the emotions that had been accumulating for so long finally overflowed. He sobbed in Faris's arms. A small figure nestled against a steady one. One of Faris' hands remained holding his collar up, while the other gently stroked his hair, an action he had been doing for what felt like an eternity. Only when those thin shoulders stopped shaking, only occasional sobs could be heard, and he felt more reassured.

He didn't know how long James had been crying, but Faris's shirt was already soaked with his silent wounds. Without saying a word, Faris knew they had all been told.

'Let it all out, don't let it weigh you down anymore!'

All the emotions that took place in that small corner of the train today were captured in a photo on a stranger's phone not far away. It wasn't out of curiosity or malice—she simply wanted to preserve the beautiful, touching moment that moved her.

By chance, she had seen the entire scene, from the moment he tried to stifle his tears, to when Faris raised his collar to shield him, and finally when his trembling shoulders found stillness. The stranger thought to herself that she would never forget the sequence of events she had witnessed. The story behind it didn't matter anymore. All she could feel was that in front of her was someone who needed a place to be vulnerable, and someone else with arms wide enough to offer it at just the right moment. A deep memory of her, an unintentional passenger on the same train as two people deeply in love.

The station's arrival light flashed. The stranger walked up behind Faris, gently tapped his shoulder, and handed him a packet of tissues. Faris nodded and whispered a thank you. She exited the train, leaving behind the two strangers she would likely never see again.

Strong people are often peculiar; they can endure grievances without saying a word, but the moment they're comforted, they break into silent sobs.

"You know, if I weren't in a safe place, I wouldn't allow myself to cry!" 

...

After a while, he slowly left Faris' chest, still sobbing, with swollen eyes, and a slightly red nose. It had likely been a long time since he last cried so "freely" like that. He didn't dare look at Faris, just whispered: 

"I'm embarrassed..."

"Even when crying, you're handsome! Don't worry; no one saw it! Except me."

"Hic..."

The train continued to speed, and in a moment, they had traveled halfway. Faris decided to stop at Asok station so James could change the atmosphere and relax. Stepping off the station, Faris realized that Benchakitti Park was just a short distance away. Without hesitation, they both walked to the park. They rented two bicycles and leisurely cycled around the lake. After a while, they stopped and sat to rest on the lush green grass.

"Thank you, P'Faris, for being with me earlier!" - After sitting for a while, breathing in the fresh autumn air, James said to him.

"It's my pleasure~" - 'You've cried enough, you must feel better now, right?'

On the green grass, Faris spread out his large coat and gestured for James to lie down beside him. James was also tired, so he just lay down. The sky today was cloudless, unusually clear almost as if urging him to completely relax. As you closed his eyes, James remembered his bright smile recently, all thanks to him. While he was lost in thought, Faris spoke.

"You know, James..." - Faris began, breaking the silence - "My mother almost had to sell the family house to pay off my debts."

He turned to look at him, their eyes met, and he was slightly surprised. Faris continued, his voice steady but filled with emotion:

"That's right. When I first started my business, my team failed miserably. Two partners left, and I thought about giving up. Seeing me struggling with debt, my mother was about to sell the house to help me get through it." 

"So... what did you do?" - He asked, his eyes fixed on him. 

"My remaining teammates and I decided to bet everything on one last project. It was either to lose it all or succeed. And as you can see, everything I have today came from that risk. But it all started with a single reason. Do you know what that was?"

"What is it?" - He asked curiously, his hand under his head.

"No one believes, so I believe in myself." - Faris said each word clearly as if sending a message to him: Without risk, there is no glory. If you are afraid of failure, then no story will ever be written.

That afternoon, he talked a lot, about starting a business, about how he relieved stress with BTS trips like this, and about his mother—the one who had always silently supported him. Piece by piece, the mosaic of Faris's life became clearer, intentionally or unintentionally, he understood a lot more about this person. 

Under the vast sky above, with the expansive, deep lake in front and the soft green grass beneath him—everything was endless. In the midst of that vast landscape, all his seemingly enormous troubles suddenly felt so small. But in contrast, his inner fire refused to stop burning. He resolved not to utter words of defeat now; he would give himself one more chance and then many more after that.

Without saying it aloud, they both knew they were giving them a chance to understand each other better. James, in the past, he had always found it difficult to open up to others, he had never thought he would find such a connection from someone. Now, the feeling arose in his heart that Faris came to him like the warmth from a charcoal fire on a snowy day - quietly soothing the hidden corners of his heart.

Somehow, he realized Faris' presence during his tough times these days had become a source of comfort for him.

And then, James still chose to go with him to the last stop of the BTS route that day. 

-

By the time Faris dropped him off at home, it was nearly midnight under the city's dim lights. Though James looked tired, his spirits seemed somewhat lifted, Faris considered it his own achievement. 

"Go rest early. I'll pick you up tomorrow for DMD. There's an outing with everyone. Got it?" - Faris spoke softly while unfastening James' seatbelt.

"I can go on my own tomorrow" - He replied, squinting playfully at him.

"We're in the same project, so we HAVE to go together!" - He countered smugly, his tone almost like an order.

"Fine... Just call when you're here. I'm heading in now; drive safe!" - James turned to open the door, but suddenly the door didn't open??? He slowly turned back to the driver's seat, full of resentment but still gently asked the person in the car:

"What else is it, Mr. Faris?"

"If you want me to pick you up tomorrow, call 'Gege'!" - He crossed his arms and teased.

'Oh, where did his mature, serious image go today? Is he really teasing me on purpose?' - He looked at Faris suspiciously.

However, he didn't show any annoyance. Instead, James turned to him, and gently leaned over the driver's seat, making Faris surprised but also very expectant. James's face was close to his, his eyes sparkling with mischief. 

Tilting his head to look into Faris's eyes, he was using all the experience he had over the years to give him a look that couldn't be more "charms". His slender fingers traced from the corner of Faris's eyebrows, slowly down to his cheekbones, pausing for a moment at the jawline and finally at the slightly moving Adam's apple. To add to the "drama", the little one gave him a mischievous but endearing smile.

"What do you want to hear... Ge...Geee...." - He knew his advantage. Don't play with fire! Unless you're ready to get burned!

CRACKKKKK ....

The car door unlocked right after those words.

"Giving up so soon? That's quick!" - He laughed heartily in the car, looking at the man who was trying to control his expression, and then had to let go of the 'prey' after a failed tease. Faris tried to stay calm but his breathing was clearly out of rhythm. It's true that you shouldn't play with a kitten, especially when that kitten knows its own strength.

Before stepping out, the kid added one last line: "Don't forget to pick me up tomorrow, Gegeee~"

Faris helplessly watched him leave, shaking his head with a smile - "This kitten, so naughty!"

'Today, I've gone through all kinds of emotions— frustration, self-doubt, vulnerability, and sadness, to being comforted, cared for, and confided in. But fortunately, a long day ended happily like this.

I feel much lighter now, thank you, P'Faris!'