Luca didn't know what to do.

He was looking at Wei in a new light. In a way, he refused to look at it for the past couple of months.

Wei had gone from an ex that Luca refused to be near, to a stranger, to a friend, back to a stranger, and now?

Luca didn't know what to call it.

But that tattoo brought in thoughts Luca was not comfortable with.

He was happy that Wei was busy with his own work rather than bothering Kai and Luca at the studio.

Yet a part of him couldn't help but feel a pang of... something. Sadness? Regret? Or just a simple longing for the familiarity that had once been so easy between them?

He clenched his fists, the memory of the tattoo burning into his mind like a brand. It was more than just a design; it was a declaration.

A declaration of belonging, of a connection deeper than anything Luca and Wei had ever shared.

Luca felt his throat tighten, the air suddenly thick and heavy. He yearned to reach for Wei, to ask him about it, to demand some explanation for the way it made his heart twist.

As he was freaking out, his phone buzzed from a message.

Wei: Do you want to continue our weekly dinners?

Wei: It's fine if you don't want to.

Luca didn't know how to respond to the text message.

Luca stared at the screen, the tiny black letters blurring before his eyes.

Did he want to continue?

The question echoed in his mind, a relentless mantra.

The rational part of him screamed yes.

Routine, normalcy, a chance to rebuild himself outside the suffocating bubble of grief and regret. He needed to get back on track, to the park, to work, anywhere but lost in the labyrinth of their memories.

His thumb hovered over the screen, then tapped out a simple reply.

Luca: Yes. I'd like that.

He closed his phone, the silence in the studio suddenly deafening.

Kai had gone out for a while. He was going to grab dinner for the two of them before they decided to head home.

The silence didn't stay for long, however, as Kai barged through the door with Wei in tow.

The studio door swung open with a bang, shattering the fragile silence and Luca's carefully constructed composure. Kai sauntered in, a triumphant grin plastered across his face, followed by...Wei.

Luca's breath hitched. He hadn't expected this, hadn't anticipated the way his heart would lurch at the sight of Wei, his hair windswept, a small smile playing on his lips.

Kai, oblivious to the silent storm brewing between them, plopped two plastic bags on the counter. "Dinner's here, courtesy of the best takeout place in town!" he declared, oblivious to the tension hanging heavier than a damp towel.

Kai brought the plastic bags over to the table and Luca moved forward to help set it up.

As Luca reached for the bags, his fingers brushed against Wei's. He froze, his fingers tingling, his gaze locked on Wei's hand, the tattoo a swirling vortex pulling him in.

Wei didn't pull away. His hand remained suspended between them, a silent invitation, a question mark etched in ink and skin. Luca could feel the warmth radiating from him, the familiar pulse of his heart beneath the intricate design.

He forced a smile, plastered it on like a cheap bandage over a gaping wound.

He helped Kai unload the takeout, the familiar containers a grounding force in the swirling storm of his emotions. Plov, samsa, andlagman – the same order they would get whenever they felt comfort was needed.

Kai rubbed his hands together like a hungry genie. "Let's dig in, Taes! I'm starving."

Wei chuckled, a sound that scraped against Luca's raw nerves. "You just had street food, Dae," he said, grabbing a plate, his eyes never leaving Luca's.

Luca grabbed a plate, his movements mechanical, his eyes never leaving Wei.

Luca mirrored the action, his movements mechanical, as he grabbed a piece of everything.

He forked a piece of plov, the fluffy rice and tender meat a bland reminder of the flavorful life they'd once shared. He chewed, each bite a dry echo of their laughter, their whispered secrets, their stolen kisses in the dimly lit kitchen.

"What do you do here?" Wei asked as he picked up a spoonful of plov.

"Here?" he repeated, gesturing vaguely at the studio, the familiar walls suddenly feeling like a cage of unspoken words. "Nothing, to be honest. I'm just helping out Dae with his social media. He sucks at it."

"Taya!" Kai whined.

"Hush," Luca said, brandishing his spoon like a tiny scepter. "You create a bigger mess than necessary with your social media disasters."

Wei chuckled. "Well, he can't help it when he has the social skills of a hermit crab," he added, a playful jab that sent a pang of something bittersweet through Luca.

Kai, predictably, sputtered and squawked, his face turning the color of the lagman spices. "What do you mean? I'm practically a social media influencer!" he declared, puffing out his chest in mock pride.

A million fake accounts you made yourself," Luca countered, unable to resist the jab.

Wei snorted, his laughter a balm on the air thick with unspoken tension. "He's got you there, Dae," he said, shaking his head with mock seriousness.

Kai's mock frown deepened, but his eyes held a spark of amusement. "Fine," he relented with a sigh. "Maybe I need a little help. But only because you two are terrible at it."

He turned to Luca, his playful grin back in place. "So, teach me, oh master of social media. How do I capture the hearts of the masses?"

Luca, caught off guard by the sudden shift in conversation, blinked for a moment. Then, a smile tugged at his lips. He looked at Wei, their eyes meeting for a fleeting moment, a silent understanding passing between them.

"Well," Luca began, his voice teasing, "you could start by not posting pictures of your cat wearing sunglasses."

Kai gasped, clutching his heart dramatically. "Don't insult Molly! He's a fashion icon!"

Wei, however, remained a bit confused. He tilted his head, eyes flitting between Luca and Kai. "We don't own a cat," he stated, a note of uncertainty in his voice.

Kai's shoulders slumped, the playful facade faltering for a moment. He glanced at Luca, a flicker of nervousness in his eyes, a silent plea for help.

Luca, ever the quick thinker, stepped in. "The studio has a cat," he repeated, rolling his eyes playfully. "The studio has a cat."

Kai, emboldened by Luca's performance, chimed in. "She's a master strategist," he added, his voice hushed as if sharing a secret. "One day, she'll take over the world as she should. Mark my words."

Wei's laughter filled the room, warm and genuine. He shook his head, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You two are unbelievable," he said, his voice laced with affection.

Luca felt a warmth bloom in his chest, a familiar feeling he'd thought lost forever. He looked at Wei, their eyes locked in a silent understanding.

"What are you going to do about the housing situation?" Wei asked.

"Taes said they don't mind me staying with them for a while," he began, his voice a little rough. "I'm still looking for a nice place, though. I told the company I'm leaving, so they're helping me sell the condo at a much higher price than I initially thought."

"Luckily, there are already a couple of buyers, and they don't mind paying the high price," he continued. "That should be finalized within a couple of weeks, but I should have moved into a new house by then."

He hesitated, then took a deep breath. "I asked A'Omar and I'Leila for help, and they recommended their building. There are some nice apartments, but not like how my old apartment was."

He couldn't bring himself to say it wan't the rightvibe. It didn't feel like he could make that isn't a safe spot.

"It's okay," Wei said, his voice soft. "It doesn't have to be the same. You could build something new. Just like you used to."

His eyes met Luca's, and for a moment, the storm clouds seemed to part, revealing a glimpse of a clear blue sky.

Luca smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. "Yeah," he whispered. "I can build something new."

The three continued on with their dinner, the siblings bickering time to time with Luca keeping track of who won each round.

As the plates were cleared and the table wiped clean, Wei turned to Luca, a question lingering in his eyes.

"Do you want me to drop you off?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of concern.

Luca glanced at him, then shook his head, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I brought my bike over," he explained. "Haven't used it in a while, and I figured it's time to dust it off."

Wei raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk spreading across his face. "You know," he drawled, the amusement dancing in his eyes, "it's funny how you don't actually know how to drive a car."

Luca's smile faltered, a blush creeping up his neck. He swatted Wei's arm playfully, a mock scowl on his face. "Hey, it's not a crime to prefer two wheels over four," he retorted. "Besides, it gives me more control on howI'm driving and it's nice to let go. "

Wei chuckled, the sound warm and familiar. "That's probably true," he admitted. "But still, a car would be handy, especially with the move and everything."

Luca smiled, a genuine smile that reached his eyes. "Yeah," he whispered back. "I know."

And as they finished cleaning, the clatter of dishes mingling with the soft hum of the city, Luca knew that their story was far from over.

...

Small moments like these continued on over the next few days.

In Luca's dynamics with Theo, Luca was the more confident one and in charge, whereas in Luca's dynamics with Wei changed time to time.

There would be moments where Wei was the more emotionally mature one and other times it would be Luca.

"Dae, do you wanna come to the company with me?" Miles asked, his voice a low rumble as he adjusted his cufflinks.

It was just the two of them in the vast mansion, Noah lost in the throes of a 36-hour shift at the hospital.

Luca glanced up from his laptop, his fingers hovering over the keys.

"Is that alright?" he asked, his voice hesitant. Was he intruding? Overstepping some invisible boundary?

Miles chuckled, the sound warm and reassuring.

"Of course," he said, a playful glint in his eyes. "You can go bothering the artists and I'm sure they won't mind."

"Yeah, I'd love to come," he said, his voice a little shaky with excitement. "Just let me grab a change of clothes."

He got up from the couch and Miles nodded with understanding.

"Go take your time. I don't have to leave for an hour," Miles said as he glanced at his watch.

Luca quickly ran upstairs as he started to change into simple nude color shirt, black khakis, and a white jacket on top.

"I'm ready Taya," he said as he walked down the stairs.

Miles nodded as he grabbed his bag and keys.

"I heard you didn't know how to drive, " Miles said as he drove into the city.

Luca internally groaned. How does Miles know?

"I do know how to drive. I just don't feel like it," Luca gave an uneasy smile as he watched Miles drive.

Miles quirked a brow. "You don't feel like it? That's the first I've heard of that. You take your bike everywhere."

"Bikes give me more control," he murmured, the words carrying a weight heavier than just the mechanics of transportation.

Miles didn't pry further, his silence a comforting presence. He simply nodded, his dark eyes reflecting a flicker of understanding.

Luca knew Miles wasn't oblivious to the ghosts that haunted him, the shadows that lingered from his past. He just knew when to push and when to hold back, a delicate dance they were slowly learning to perform.

As they pulled into the imposing glass and steel edifice that housed DewDrop Collective, Luca felt a familiar tremor of awe.

"You own the entire building?" he asked, his voice hushed with a mixture of surprise and admiration.

Miles chuckled, the sound warm and inviting. "Well, technically my family does. But they've generously let me use a few floors for DewDrop Collective."

Luca's eyebrows shot up. "A few floors? How many 'few' are we talking about?"

Miles grinned, his eyes twinkling. "Let's just say, I have my own creative playground here."

He scanned his keycard, the elevator doors sliding open with a hum. Luca stepped inside, the sleek steel interior a stark contrast to the vibrant chaos of Kai's studio.

Luca's eyebrows shot up. "I thought you were from City B."

Miles shook his head, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "There just happened to be several acting jobs in City B," he explained.

"You were an actor, right?" Luca asked.

Miles nodded, "I've been acting for a while and noticed that a majority of the acting jobs happen to be in City B. You know City B is the hub for artists in this country. But that's a problem since other artists cannot get that recognition and such. That's why I created Dewdrop Collective and set it in City D."

Luca whistled. "That's...ambitious. City D isn't exactly known for its art scene. It's known for literary arts."

Miles shrugged. "Exactly. It's a blank canvas, waiting to be splashed with color. DewDrop Collective is about giving opportunities to artists who might otherwise be overlooked. We're not just about art in general, Luca. We're about creating a community, a family."

The elevator doors chimed open, revealing a sun-drenched hallway lined with framed photographs.

"Let me show you around," Miles offered, leading Luca towards his office. As they arrived, a young woman stood there, impatience etched on her face, her foot tapping in annoyance.

"You're late," she stated flatly, casting an unimpressed glance. "And you're cheating on Taya?"

Miles sighed, removing the hand that rested on Luca's back. "Dae, this is my sister Mila. Mila, this is Luca," he introduced, a touch of exasperation in his voice. "I didn't know that my meeting was moved up by 15 minutes."

Mila, unyielding in her determination, proudly declared, "It wasn't, but I'm going to tell Taya, and you'll finally break up with him."

Miles dismissed her statement with a shake of his head. "Don't mind her, she just wants Noah," he explained as he unlocked the office door, inviting them both inside.

"Who doesn't want Noah?" Luca asked, confused.

Mila's eyes widened. "He knows Noah too! This is even worse!"

Miles rolled his eyes and slumped down in his chair. "Stop being dramatic, Mila," he muttered, turning on his computer with a sigh. "Sorry, Dae. I won't be able to give you a tour. Maybe Wei could show you around."

"That's alright too," he assured Miles, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Doesn't Wei have work to do though?" He didn't want to be an inconvenience.

Miles chuckled, shaking his head. "He should be free for now," he explained. "Though he does have a few meetings peppered throughout the afternoon. Mila, you wouldn't mind showing Luca where to find Wei, would you?"

"Now Wei?" Mila repeated, her voice dripping with bitterness. She gave a long-suffering sigh, her eyes flashing with a mix of annoyance and something Luca couldn't quite decipher. "Fine, I'll take your... boy toy to Wei."

Miles bristled, his jaw clenching tight. "Not mine," he said sharply, a dark edge creeping into his voice. "He's Luca, and he's a friend. He deserves your respect."

Finally, Mila let out a humorless laugh. "Of course, Mr. Perfect," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "He's just another one of your special projects, isn't he? Another lost soul you need to fix."

Miles winced, his shoulders hunching as if under a physical blow. "Do not say that, Mila. He's not that."

Luca's blood ran cold. He'd been enjoying the banter, but this... this was different.

"I could find Wei myself, you know," he said, his voice firm, a challenge in his eyes. "Just give me the directions."

Luca's firm statement hung in the air, a challenge that resonated in the tense silence. Miles, his eyes flickering between Luca and a still-fuming Mila, seemed to shrink under the weight of his sister's accusation and Luca's sudden defiance.

"What!" she screeched, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You dare talk to me like that? You know nothing!"

Miles, who had been staring at Luca with a mix of concern and gratitude, turned a glacial gaze on his sister. "Mila," he warned, his voice low and dangerous. "That's enough."

But Mila ignored him, her anger turning into a torrent of words. "He's just another one of your strays, isn't he? You find them when they're broken, when they're lost, and you pretend to fix them. But you can't fix everyone, Miles! You can't save the world!"

But then, Miles' words cut through the tension, laced with a disbelief that mirrored Luca's own. "What have you been smoking?" he sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Have you never heard of Luca Chantasri? He's the host of 'Golden Hour with Luca'."

Mila's eyes widened, the fire in them replaced by a flicker of something akin to shock. "Oh," her voice filling with more venom. "You got a bigshot this time."

He opened his mouth, ready to unleash a retort, to demand respect, to remind them that he was more than just a name on a TV show. But then, Wei came storming in annoyed.

"Can't you shut up, Mila?" Wei practically stormed in, his face thunderous. "I can hear you from my office and I made sure it was far from Taya for a reason!"

The room fell silent. Mila's shoulders slumped, the fight draining out of her like air from a punctured balloon. Miles, who had been staring at Luca with a mixture of amusement and concern, now wore an apologetic grimace.

"Sorry, Wei," Mila muttered, her voice barely a whisper. "We were just..."

"Just creating unnecessary drama," Wei finished for her, his voice laced with exasperation. "I do not like you. Get that through your thick skull."

The air crackled with the sudden shift in power. Mila, the fiery storm just moments ago, now wilted under Wei's harsh words. Her shoulders slumped, her defiance replaced by a dull ache in her eyes.

"Let's go Wei," Luca said as he got up.

A flicker of surprise crossed Wei's features, quickly replaced by a warm smile. "Luca!" he exclaimed, his previous gruffness melting away. "Didn't expect to see you here. I thought you were holed up in Dae's studio."

Luca shook his head, "Taya offered to show me around, but from what you see..."

"That's fine. I could show you around," Wei said as he offered Luca a soft smile.

"What the hell am I seeing," Mila whispered in shock as she was completely ignored.

"That's fine," Luca said, accepting the olive branch. "I wouldn't want to intrude on your work, Wei."

"C'mon," Wei said and with that the two left.

Mila's jaw dropped as she watched Luca and Wei disappear down the hallway, their shoulders brushing in a way that made her stomach twist.

"What the hell was that?" she whispered, her voice tight with a mix of hurt and confusion.

Miles, leaning against the doorframe, gave her a smirk that sent a shiver down her spine. It wasn't a malicious smirk, not exactly. It was more like a knowing, smug smile that implied he knew something she didn't, something he was enjoying immensely.

"That," he drawled, his voice dripping with amusement, "was Wei and Luca. They like each other and don't need a dense person like you in the way."

Mila's cheeks burned. Dense? Was that really the word he chose? The word she'd always used to describe him? The irony stung like a slap.

"Like each other?" she scoffed, trying to sound dismissive, but her voice betrayed her. "He's just some fancy TV guy. What could he possibly have in common with Wei?"

"They used to see the world as one," Miles began, "they may have diverged but they still see the same world. They both capture beauty in the chaos. They both..."

He stopped, his gaze meeting hers. There was a question in his eyes, an unspoken plea for her to see what he saw, to open her own eyes to the possibilities, to the unexpected connections blossoming around her.

"Did Taya really offer you to come here?" Wei asked as they walked towards his office.

Luca nodded, "he just randomly said it. The only reason why I took it was because I finished editing one of the reports I was given. I might not be going to the studio, but I'm still working."

"That's good," Wei nodded, "transitioning slowing to a normal work life."

They reached Wei's office, a haven of organized chaos amidst the creative whirlwind. Papers were neatly stacked, coffee mugs lined up like soldiers, and a half-finished sketch of a coffee cup adorned the whiteboard.

"This place is... ‌tidy," Luca remarked, peering around.

"Seriously," Wei said with a deadpan, and Luca shrugged.

"I've seen the apartment. I've seen the studio. You have nothing to back you up."

"Touché," Wei admitted, raising his hands in mock surrender. "The apartment and studio are war zones. This office, however, is an oasis of calm in the storm."

"What bs are you spouting now?" Luca gave a weird look at Wei.

Wei's eyes widened, his playful facade cracking for a moment.

"Bs? What do you mean?" He glanced around his office, the meticulously ordered space suddenly feeling a bit... precarious.

"This place?" Luca gestured vaguely, encompassing the entire room. "Calm? Oasis? Wei, you've got to be kidding. There's more tension in here than a tightly wound ball of yarn. One wrong move and the whole thing unravels."

A nervous laugh escaped Wei's lips. "I wouldn't say that. It's... organized chaos, yes, but it works for me!" He gestured towards the coffee pot, trying to deflect Luca's gaze from the teetering stack of papers on his desk. "Coffee? Want some?"

Luca raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Coffee first, chaos assessment later, huh? Don't try to change the subject, Wei. This 'oasis' you speak of is more like a minefield waiting to explode."

He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "One misplaced caffeine mug, one errant doodle on the whiteboard, one rogue inspiration... boom! Sandcastle crumbles, Mr. Organized Chaos."

"I do not like you," Wei pouted as he handed Luca a cup of coffee.

Luca chuckled, taking the mug and settling into the chair opposite Wei. "Oh, come on, you love me," he teased, taking a sip.

They both froze the moment Luca said that.

The air crackled with a voltage neither of them had expected. Wei, still mid-pout, blinked rapidly, his coffee mug suspended halfway to Luca's hand. Luca, a playful smirk still plastered on his face, found his own smile faltering under the weight of Wei's intense gaze.

"I... what?" Wei managed to stammer out, his voice barely above a whisper.

Luca cleared his throat, suddenly finding the whiteboard sketch of a coffee cup infinitely more fascinating than Wei's eyes. "I said nothing. Show me around."

The sudden shift in Luca's demeanor was jarring, like a record skipping mid-song. Wei, caught off guard, blinked in confusion. His playful pout melted away, replaced by a hesitant frown.

The abrupt change in pace left Wei feeling like a spinning top abruptly deprived of its momentum.

His playful pout, a carefully crafted shield, crumbled into something akin to hurt as Luca retreated from the precipice of their unspoken feelings.

"Hold up," Wei said, the words catching in his throat. He set the coffee mug down with a quiet clink, the sound echoing the shattered tension in the air. He needed a moment, a chance to gather his bearings before venturing into the unknown territory Luca had so abruptly thrust them into.

Luca, sensing the shift, offered a nervous smile. "Sure, take your time. No rush." His words were light, but his eyes flitted around the room, avoiding Wei's gaze. He seemed eager to fill the silence, to distract from the emotional bomb he'd just dropped.

He looked at Luca, at the nervous energy radiating from him, at the vulnerability peeking through the cracks in his usual facade. And, perhaps foolishly, perhaps bravely, he decided to meet him halfway.

"Tell you what," Wei said, a playful edge creeping back into his voice. "Since the grand tour is on hold, how about we grab some breakfast instead? My treat."

He raised an eyebrow, daring Luca to meet his gaze. The playful challenge, the subtle shift in power, felt like a lifeline thrown across the chasm that had opened between them.

Luca's lips twitched into a reluctant smile. "Apology accepted."

And as they stepped out of the office, the awkwardness replaced by a shared anticipation, Wei knew this was just the beginning.

The confession might have been unexpected, the path forward uncertain, but one thing was clear: they were no longer simply two friends nor exes navigating the organized chaos of an office.