The birthday party carried on into the evening, with energy and laughter filling the house. Marc, though initially the center of attention, was now resting in Fang's arms, dozing off after the excitement of the day.
Meanwhile, the gang was fully immersed in the games Fang and Tan had prepared. From charades to a goofy "Guess the Baby Food" challenge, they turned every activity into a chaotic, competitive spectacle.
Phum, attempting to guess the flavor of mashed carrots, gagged dramatically. "Who feeds babies this? This is a war crime!"
Toey, laughing so hard he was nearly crying, said, "Better you than me! Next round is all yours, hia chain!"
Marc's grandparents chuckled from the couch, clearly enjoying the spirited antics.
On the other hand, Praew lingered on the edges of the crowd, eyes often drifting to Tan. She made several attempts to strike up a conversation, but Tan's attention was firmly locked on his family.
"Tan, why don't you join this round of charades?" Praew asked sweetly as she approached him, brushing her hair back in what she thought was a subtle gesture.
Before Tan could answer, Fang spoke up, balancing Marc in one arm. "Oh, Tan's a pro at charades, but he's taking a break to help with the cake." Fang's tone was light, but there was no mistaking the protective edge in his voice.
Tan turned to Fang, his smile softening. "Thanks for covering for me, babe. I'll go help now."
Fang smirked, leaning closer to whisper, "You owe me later."
Marc stirred slightly, and Fang adjusted him with care. Tan took the cue and kissed both Fang's temple and Marc's tiny hand before heading to the kitchen to bring out the second round of desserts.
The gang, oblivious to Praew's intentions, had turned the party into their personal arena. The latest game was a "Pin the Tail on the Dinosaur" contest, and Mick had just spun Matt around so hard he stumbled into Beer.
"You're supposed to pin it on the dinosaur, not me!" Beer complained, laughing as he shoved Matt back toward the wall.
The entire group erupted into laughter, with Fang cheering them on. Even Marc, half-asleep, gave a soft, amused coo in response to the noise.
Praew, meanwhile, tried once more, asking Fang, "Is Tan always this helpful at home? He seems so... perfect."
Fang raised an eyebrow, his smile polite but distant. "Yeah, he's perfect-to us. And his attention belongs right here."
The final game of the night, a makeshift treasure hunt, was a hit. Tan had hidden small baby-themed prizes around the house, and the gang ran around like overgrown children trying to claim them.
As the party wound down and guests began to leave, Praew approached Tan one last time, but Fang subtly stepped between them, holding Marc as if to shield both his son and his husband.
"Thanks for coming, Praew right?" Fang said firmly, his eyes meeting hers with a calm intensity that left no room for misunderstanding.
She hesitated before finally nodding. " yes! Of course. It was a lovely party."
Once the door closed behind the last guest, Fang let out a sigh of relief, turning to Tan. "Well, that was... eventful."
Tan chuckled, wrapping an arm around him. "Yeah, but it was worth it. Marc's first birthday, and everything went perfectly-well, almost."
Fang raised an eyebrow. "Almost?"
Tan grinned, brushing a strand of hair from Fang's face. "I saw you giving those death glares. Don't think I missed it."
