Tiger's trick #Ares&Tharn

14

Tharn was chatting with the younger ones who were sitting down for lunch when Nem picked up a piece of salmon sashimi.

"P'Tharn, try a bite first," Nem said, extending the chopsticks with the salmon towards Tharn. Tharn leaned in to taste it, which was something they usually did. Tharn never acted aloof around the younger ones; he only got serious when it was work-related. Just then, the door to the break room opened, causing everyone who was chatting to turn and fall silent immediately upon seeing that the person entering was Ares.

"Um... hello... hello," everyone, except Tharn, quickly stood up and greeted Ares in English. Tharn was still chewing his salmon. Ares nodded in acknowledgment with a stoic expression, glancing at Nem before looking at Tharn.

"Come with me," Ares said in a calm voice.

"Continue eating for now. After you finish, take a break and then go back to packing," Tharn said to everyone before walking toward the door. Tharn stepped outside first, and Ares raised a hand to lightly touch Tharn's back while following him out. Daisy felt something strange about Ares's behaviour but tried not to think too much about it.

"What's wrong with you?" Tharn asked Ares as he suddenly lifted a hand to pinch the back of Tharn's neck. Although not very hard, it still caused Tharn a slight sting. Ares looked at Tharn with a piercing gaze. Tharn brushed Ares's hand away, but the other didn't flinch at all until they entered the office, which had only Tharn and Ares inside since Ares had signalled for his bodyguard to wait outside. Once inside the room, Ares finally released his grip on Tharn's neck. Tharn immediately raised his hand to rub the back of his neck while looking at Ares with annoyance.

"I'm not a rubber doll, you know, that you can squeeze without me feeling any pain," Tharn exclaimed with a muffled voice.

"You seem to be quite close to those kids," Ares remarked, and Tharn looked at Ares with confusion.

"Of course I'm close! I've been with them for years. We're all like siblings, except for some of them," Tharn replied. Ares stared at Tharn's face without speaking. He couldn't express his displeasure at seeing another man feed Tharn salmon, even though he knew very well that the man feeding him was gay and might even be Tharn's type.

"But you shouldn't be too close; it undermines authority," Ares continued to find excuses to criticize. Tharn looked at Ares with a displeased expression.

"Before you warn me, shouldn't you warn yourself first? At least I've never thought about getting involved with the kids under my care," Tharn shot back immediately, causing Ares to pause at the sharp retort.

"The kids in that room are like siblings to me. During breaks, we chat and have fun normally. But when it's time to work, I'm just as serious about my job. I've never lost control of my authority even once," Tharn said again. Ares sighed softly. He admitted that he had lost control of his emotions for a moment, which was something he had never experienced before. Ares stood there, looking at Tharn intently, trying to figure out what Tharn was doing to him that made him feel this possessive.

"Are we ready to eat yet? I'm hungry," Tharn exclaimed to change the subject. He didn't know why Ares suddenly seemed upset.

"Okay, let's have lunch first," Ares cut in.

"Why? After we eat, are you going to provoke me again?" Tharn replied, unable to hold back. Ares sighed.

"I'm trying to keep my emotions in check here, Tharn. Can you not be sarcastic for just five minutes?" Ares responded in a calm voice, not raising his tone at all. Tharn just clicked his tongue in annoyance but walked over to the dining table, where the food was neatly arranged. Tharn thought it must be the work of Ares's bodyguard.