Accidentally Married

65. Complete set

Sak opened the door absentmindedly, already half-expecting a delivery or perhaps a neighbor. The moment the door swung open, however, his body went rigid.

Nai stood outside.

For a full second, Sak simply stared at his elder brother, mind blank, as if his brain needed extra time to process the unexpected sight. Nai looked exactly as he always did—calm, composed, faintly intimidating even when doing absolutely nothing. A backpack hung from one shoulder, and his expression carried that familiar mixture of impatience and quiet scrutiny.

Sak blinked himself back to reality. "Hia...?" he greeted, confusion slipping into his voice. "What are you doing here?"

Nai frowned immediately, as though offended by the question. "What? I can't visit my nong without a specific reason?" he asked dryly. Then he tilted his head toward the doorway. "Or are you not going to let me in?"

"Oh—right." Sak stepped aside quickly, still baffled. "Come in, Hia."

Nai walked into the condo without another word, his sharp gaze naturally sweeping across the small space as he removed his shoes. Sak's one-bedroom unit was neat but lived-in, the kind of place that balanced practicality with comfort. Before Sak could say anything else, Nai paused mid-step.

The smell hit him.

Warm, buttery, sweet—freshly baked pastries.

He turned toward the open kitchen. Jui stood there in loose pajamas, pulling a tray of golden choux pastries from the oven with careful precision. Steam curled upward, carrying the scent deeper into the condo.

Nai raised an eyebrow and glanced back at Sak. "What's going on with him?"

The question sounded casual, but Sak knew Nai well enough to hear the meaning underneath. Jui only baked like this when something bothered him. It had become a coping habit over the past year.

Sak shrugged lightly. "Probably the same reason you are in a bad mood."

Nai didn't respond.

Just hours earlier, Zo had called him to say that he and the others were leaving on an urgent trip and wouldn't return for a week. Nai's mother-in-law had already informed him of the situation, but that didn't mean he liked it. The sudden quiet the news left behind still lingered unpleasantly in his chest.

His eyes shifted back toward the kitchen. "Why are you in pajamas?" he asked Jui.

Jui didn't look up, focused on preparing the pastry cream over medium heat, whisk moving steadily through the thickening mixture. "I am crashing here for a while," he replied casually. "

He didn't feel like staying at Saifah's place. He felt that it was too big when Saifah was not there.

His apartment hunting was taking longer than he had expected. Hence, he decided to stay with Sak, the one who asks the fewest questions.

Sak snorted softly at that.

Jui finally noticed the backpack slung over Nai's shoulder and frowned. "Then why do you have a bag?"

Nai shrugged as if it were obvious. "Same reason as you. I am staying over too."

Silence fell.

Sak stared at both of them, hands slowly moving to his hips as disbelief settled across his face. Neither had asked permission. Neither even looked remotely apologetic.

And worst of all—he knew arguing would change absolutely nothing.

"...I see," Sak muttered, resigned already.