Every Single Thing I Touch || HeartLiming "Moonlight Chicken"

24. Campfires and Truthbombs

Someone pour me up a double shot of whiskey, they know me and Jack Daniels got a history. There's a party downtown near Fifth Street, everybody at the bar gettin' tipsy.

—Shaboozey, "A bar song"

"Honestly, phi. This is all your fault"

Liming felt the sea breeze tugging at his hair as he turned to glare at Dillon, who was watching Teung with a look of pity. The poor guy looked miserable, his face pale and greenish, barely holding himself together. The motorboat sliced through the water, but the wind roared so fiercely around them that Liming was starting to think he'd need Heart's hearing aids when they got back to Bangkok.

Exclusively paid three-day trip, my ass.

This felt more like punishment. And in a way, it was—Heart's way of getting back at him for something that had long since blurred the lines between work and personal. Liming sighed, trying to focus on the horizon, but the constant complaints from his team made it impossible. The guilt gnawed at him.

It was partly his fault. If Heart was in a good mood with him that day, he wouldn't even get punished this way. And honestly, Liming didn't even mind being punished—he just would've preferred something a little more intimate.

But who's he to complain when Heart insisted that this was indeed exclusively paid? He was still paying for the eight years, he was sure.

The wind howled around the motorboat, tearing through Liming's hair and making him wish for the calm silence of solid ground. The sea wasn't even that rough, but the sharp wind was relentless, its roar drowning out all other sounds. Liming could barely hear himself think, much less find the peace he desperately needed. He tugged at his collar wishing he had dressed more sensibly. His white shorts fluttered against his legs, offering no warmth or comfort in the face of the biting gusts.

"I couldn't do anything—" Teung started, before bolting towards the ship railing to empty his guts.

Marie gagged while applying sunscreen, and Aom and Chantana seemed disturbingly unbothered, changing outfits like they were on a glamorous yacht instead of this hellish ride. Liming, dressed in his light blue striped shirt and white shorts, looked down and sighed. Liming didn't even pack up clothes to last more than two nights and the girls have changed into three outfits already. They haven't even reached their destination.

He had imagined a romantic, sun-soaked getaway with Heart. A peaceful escape, just the two of them and instead here he was, searching for clients with his seasick colleagues.

"You weren't even there that day," Aom's voice chimed in, casual as ever, though her eyes were wide with remembered fear. She settled in next to Dillon and reached for Marie's sunscreen. "It was terrifying."

"So true," Chantana agreed with a vigorous nod, taking the spot on Dillon's other side. "Mr. Suppoch is honestly so scary. I wonder how P'Liming didn't piss his pants."

Liming's eyes narrowed. He bit back a laugh, keeping his face stoic. Did they really think he was that easily rattled? His fingers flexed on the edge of his seat as he stared out at the sea, pretending not to hear them. Teung raised a finger in argument before dropping it on the railing for a fresh round of throwing up. Dillon shook his head before looking over at Liming who turned away to look back at the sea.

"Nah" he could hear Dillon speak, "P'Liming is stronger than Mr. Suppoch. He's also braver"

Liming's lips twitched, almost smirking despite himself. Did his team really think he couldn't hear them over the wind? His ego, though already bruised from the misfortunes of the day, couldn't help but inflate a little at the compliment.