Special Episode Sequel

Chapter 7

Phayu’s POV –

The door barely clicked shut before Rain started pacing.

Back and forth. Back and forth.

Fast. Restless. Like his thoughts were moving faster than his body could keep up.

I leaned against the door for a second, watching him. His hands kept moving—running through his hair, tugging at his sleeves, fidgeting with nothing. His breathing wasn’t steady.

“Rain—”

“Do you think they actually meant it?” he blurted out, not even looking at me. “Like—your dad said I’m protected, but what if that’s just something people like… say? And your Pa—he looks like he can see through my soul, P’Phayu, I swear he knows every dumb thing I’ve ever done—”

“Rain.”

“And what if I mess up?” he continued, voice speeding up. “What if I say something wrong next time? I already said ‘mafia’ at the table, oh my god, why did I say that—my mouth works faster than my brain, I hate it—”

He stopped suddenly, turning to me, eyes wide and a little too bright.

“…What if you realize I’m too much?”

There it was.

Not the mafia. Not my family.

That.

I pushed off the door and walked toward him slowly. “Come here.”

“I’m serious,” he insisted, but his voice wavered. “You have this whole… world, P’Phayu. It’s big and dangerous and important and I’m just—” he gestured at himself helplessly “—me. Loud, annoying, can’t sit still, say the wrong things, forget things—”

I caught his wrist gently before he could spiral again.

“Rain.”

He looked at me, breathing uneven.

“You think I don’t know all that?” I said quietly.

He blinked.

“I know you talk too fast when you’re nervous,” I continued, brushing my thumb over his knuckles. “I know your mind jumps from one thing to another. I know you get distracted, overwhelmed… and then overthink everything after.”

His lips parted slightly.

“And I know,” I added softer, “that you’re scared I’ll leave.”

His eyes dropped.

Silence.

“…Would you?” he asked, barely above a whisper.

That question hit harder than anything at dinner.

I stepped closer, closing the space between us completely, and lifted his chin so he had no choice but to look at me.

“No.”

Simple. Firm.

“Not because of this family. Not because of who I am. Not because of who you are.”

His lashes trembled.

“You’re not ‘too much,’ Rain,” I said. “You’re just… a lot. And I like that.”

A shaky laugh escaped him. “That sounds like a nice way of saying I’m a handful.”

I smirked faintly. “You are.”

He huffed, but didn’t pull away.

I slid my hand up to his hair, smoothing it back where he’d messed it up earlier. “But you’re my handful.”