The silence that followed the storm felt… strange. Not uncomfortable, not exactly peaceful — just the kind of silence that settles when two people are too tired to pretend anymore.
Aran was gripping the wheel like it had offended him. Kanya leaned back against the headrest, arms crossed, staring ahead as the car sped through the night.
"So" she finally said, voice dry. "What's the diagnosis, doctor?"
He side-eyed her. "Diagnosis?"
"Of my family. Toxic, rabid, or just generationally cursed?"
Aran huffed a laugh. "All three. Add 'morally bankrupt' and you've got a full report."
She chuckled. "You forgot emotionally constipated."
"That too" he muttered. "Especially the sperm donor."
She snorted at that, then turned to face him. "I didn't think you'd actually show up like that. Storming in like some kind of a hero."
"I'm more of a silent-glare-and-pay-for-your-therapy type of hero."
"Well, your glare definitely saved me from a concussion. So… thanks." Her voice softened slightly. "Really."
Aran glanced at her quickly, his expression unreadable. "You're welcome."
Kanya looked away quickly, biting the inside of her cheek.
Then something occurred to her, and she squinted. "Wait. What was all that about a marriage proposal?"
His expression soured.
"They contacted me. About a year after you left."
She blinked. "Who?"
"Your father. Your aunt. The whole lovely committee" he said dryly. "They said if I reached out to you, told you I loved you and wanted to fix things, you'd come back willingly."
Her hands clenched into fists on her lap. "Are you serious?"
"They wanted us to get married" he continued, as if reciting a particularly vile email. "Said once the papers were signed, I could leave if I wanted. But you'd be back under their roof — controllable again."
"Fucking hell."
"I refused."
There was a long silence.
Kanya stared at him, searching. "Why?"
Aran's eyes stayed on the road, his voice quiet. "Because… you don't trick someone you care about. Not into love. Not into coming home. That's not love. That's a cage."
Something tugged deep inside her chest at those words. A little twist. A little ache.
She turned away, staring at the dashboard, her voice softer now. "You cared?"
"I do."
Her heart skipped.
But even before the flutter settled, something bitter rose behind it. Her jaw tensed.
"But you didn't care five years ago" she whispered. "When I confessed, you threw it in my face like I was pathetic. Like I was some stupid girl with a school crush."
He didn't respond.
"I was already losing everything. My brother, my home… my worth." Her voice trembled, but she forced it steady. "And then you looked at me like I was a burden. An embarrassment."
"Kanya—"
"That moment was one of the reasons I left Thailand."
His hands on the steering wheel flexed. "I had my reasons."
She laughed bitterly. "Right. Always the king of half-answers."
"I don't owe you every piece of my head" he said, his tone sharper now. "Not when you won't give me yours either."
That stung.
But more than anything, it hurt that he wouldn't even deny it. Wouldn't say, 'I didn't mean it' or 'I was scared too'..... just that cryptic wall of I-had-my-reasons.
She nodded slowly, folding her arms, her face turned to the window again.
The rest of the drive was cloaked in silence. Not the kind from before ... playful and teasing .... but the kind that sat heavy on your chest.
He didn't speak again.
And she didn't ask.
Not because there was nothing left to say.
But because she knew… the moment she asked what those reasons were, she'd be opening a door she wasn't sure either of them were ready to walk through.
Not yet.
_
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_
The tension between Aran and Kanya was palpable, but neither of them voiced it. When the car finally pulled into the parking lot of the office building, Kanya didn't immediately jump out. She sat there for a moment, her eyes unfocused, replaying the conversation with Aran in her head.
Aran, on the other hand, hadn't spoken a word since they arrived. He simply gave her a sharp nod when the car came to a stop, acknowledging that they had arrived at their destination. He got out and walked toward the building without looking back.
Kanya followed shortly after, her heels clicking on the ground with each step, but the lightness from earlier had dissipated. It was replaced by the uneasy feeling of unfinished business, and she couldn't shake it off.
As they walked into the office, the usual cheerful atmosphere seemed... different. The air felt thick, like there was an unspoken tension hanging over them.
Korn, Jack, and June immediately noticed the shift in the mood when Kanya walked into the room. It was subtle, but unmistakable. Korn looked at Jack, who gave him a quick, confused glance before shifting his gaze to June. They all exchanged glances as if trying to piece something together.
The change in energy wasn't lost on anyone.
Jack was quick to break the silence with his usual lightheartedness, though there was something forced about it. He tried to catch Kanya's attention, but she just smiled faintly, not quite reaching her usual warm tone.
June, however, was more observant. He could sense something more than just the usual office tension. His eyes flicked between Kanya and Aran, both of whom were acting... distant.
"Everything okay?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow at Kanya, his voice laced with concern.
"Yeah, just a little tired" she replied, trying to sound as normal as possible. She kept her tone casual, but the words felt hollow.
"You sure? You don't usually look like this after a confrontation." Jack teased, but his words didn't land. There was no playful smirk from Kanya to soften the atmosphere.
June narrowed his eyes. He had a hunch, but he couldn't place it just yet. He looked at Kanya, and then Aran, who was already making his way toward his office, not sparing anyone a glance.
The day went on like this...awkward glances, stolen moments of tension, and the quiet hum of unresolved emotions that floated between everyone.
It wasn't until later, during a shoot for Jack and June's new show, that the underlying tension finally started to surface more clearly.
It was a usual shoot day, but this time there was something different in the air. The crew was busy setting up, preparing for a dance challenge TikTok to promote Jack and June's new show.
"Alright, let's get this show on the road!" the director called out, a mix of excitement and determination in his voice. "Jack, June, you know what you're doing. But we might need some extra magic today."
June, always the good sport, smiled but seemed a little nervous. "I'll try to keep up with you, Jack. But you know I'm not the best dancer."
Jack chuckled, stretching out his arms. "You're fine, June. Don't worry. Just follow my lead."
The first take was... not ideal. June struggled with the footwork, missing a few steps, and Jack was clearly a step ahead, effortlessly gliding through the routine.
"Come on, June" Kanya said from the side, her voice warm but direct. "Just move with the rhythm. Don't think too much about it."
Kanya's words caught June's attention. There was something different about the way she was speaking to him. It was like she was trying to make him feel at ease without making it obvious.
The director, noticing the slight struggle, turned toward Kanya. "Actually, Kanya, you've got experience in this, don't you? How would you feel about stepping in for a moment? Maybe give us a bit of guidance?"
Kanya froze for a second, looking at the director in disbelief. "Me? With Jack?"
"Yes. You've got that presence" the director said, nodding toward her. "Plus, you know what it takes to get the moves down. It'll be good for engagement too."
Kanya hesitated, unsure of how it would look. She'd left modeling behind for a reason, but this... this felt different. And to be honest, she missed being in front of the camera, missed the stage presence, even if she hadn't admitted it to herself.
"I don't know…" she trailed off, glancing nervously at Jack.
Jack gave her an encouraging smile, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Come on, Kanya. It'll be fun. Besides, it'll look great on the video and will help promote the show. You've got this."
Kanya looked at him, then at June, who gave her a small nod of approval.
"Fine" she said with a resigned sigh, "but you better not get me caught on camera looking like an idiot."
As the camera started rolling, Kanya stepped into the frame with Jack, her face partially hidden by her hair and a large pair of sunglasses, just enough to keep her identity vague. She didn't want to take the spotlight off Jack and June's partnership, but she knew this would be fun. She missed it — the rush of being on camera, the energy of the shoot, the chance to show something she hadn't in a while.
They began the dance, and though it was a little awkward at first, Kanya quickly got into the rhythm, her movements flowing alongside Jack's as if they had been partners for years.
But midway through the shoot, the door to the studio creaked open.
Aran, walking toward his office, happened to pass by just as the crew was filming, and his eyes immediately landed on Kanya dancing with Jack.
At first, his expression was unreadable, but his eyes narrowed slightly. There was something about the way they moved together ,the chemistry between them....that didn't sit well with him. His mind raced, but he pushed the thoughts away. It's just a dance... he told himself, though his heart was speeding up.
His footsteps slowed as he watched them. Kanya looked different , more alive, more confident. Something about this side of her made his chest tighten, though he didn't fully understand why.
And then, Jack gave her a playful wink and twirled her, laughing as they continued the routine.
Aran's hands clenched at his sides.
Kanya caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye. She faltered for a moment, but then she composed herself, pushing the awkwardness away as if it had never existed.
She forced herself to focus on the routine, finishing strong, and giving one last confident spin with Jack before they both smiled toward the camera. The director was clearly pleased with the result.
But as the director clapped, Aran's gaze lingered on Kanya for a moment longer. She could feel it — the way his eyes burned into her back. It was like he was trying to read her, trying to figure out what was happening inside her.
She didn't know why, but that intense gaze, despite the disapproval she had expected from him, felt... different. More personal.
_
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_
The viral short video had taken over every corner of the internet. Jack and the masked girl moved in perfect rhythm, with June's hilarious cameo at the end sending fans into a frenzy. Comments flooded in: theories about the mystery girl's identity, fan edits, and even challenges to recreate the same dance. Surprisingly, even Jack and June's couple fans were loving it.
Kanya had tried to stay quiet through the whole storm. She never imagined her one reluctant appearance would blow up like this. Jack and June took it in stride, laughing through interviews and fan comments. June, especially, handled it with grace, even hyping the mysterious dancer as "someone saving our reputation."
But there was one person who wasn't laughing.
Aran.
He sat in his office, watching the clip on loop. The way Jack's hand rested comfortably on Kanya's waist. The way she leaned into him with ease. The way June watched them with a teasing smile at the end. He could see the comfort. The chemistry. The adoration. And it burned.
It wasn't just the video. It was how Kanya laughed with them, how she naturally fit in with everyone except him. How she treated him like nothing more than a nuisance.
He slammed his laptop shut when a knock came.
Kanya.
"Jack and June's next shoot is confirmed for Friday" she said, her voice clipped, businesslike.
Aran stood slowly, his jaw tight. "Anything else?"
She hesitated. "You okay?"
He scoffed. "Why wouldn't I be?"
She crossed her arms. "You've been snapping at people for two days straight, Aran. Korn's avoiding your floor. That says something."
"I don't need you to analyze my behavior" he snapped. "Especially not when you're busy becoming the internet's favorite hidden face."
Her eyes narrowed. "Is that what this is about?"
"Why would it be?"
"I don't know, maybe because you've acted like someone killed your puppy ever since that clip aired."
He turned his back to her, trying to steady himself, but she didn't let up.
"Don't worry" she said sharply. "Jack and June are together. Whatever you saw in that video—it's just a dance. If you're worried about Jack—"
"I'm not worried about Jack" he snapped, turning around. His voice was low and dangerous. "I'm—"
"Jealous?" she shot back, stepping forward. Her eyes bore into his. "Again?"
That hit him. Hard.
She stared at him, heart pounding. "You know, it's funny. You get to act like I'm the one with the problem, when five years ago, I confessed to you like a goddamn idiot, and you humiliated me. Do you know what that did to me, Aran? You were cold, cruel...
A-and you made me feel like a joke."
His jaw clenched. "You don't know the whole story."
"Oh really? Then tell me, Aran" she hissed. "Tell me what exactly made you treat me like garbage when all I did was love you."
Silence fell between them.
His next words weren't planned. They spilled out, rough and raw.
"Because your brother told me to."
Kanya froze. "What?"
Aran took a shaky breath. "The night before you confessed to me... he came to my place. Told me if I cared about you at all, I'd reject you. That you deserved better than someone like me. That I'd ruin you. He said you were fragile, heartbroken after what your father did, grieving the pressure...and that I shouldn't be another scar."
She stared at him like he'd grown another head. "No. He—he encouraged me. He told me to go for it."
"I thought it was a test" Aran muttered. "That he told us both different things to see what would happen."
Her throat tightened. "That doesn't sound like him."
"I didn't know what to believe, Kanya. But I trusted him. He was my best friend."
She staggered back a step. "So you broke me because he told you to?"
"I thought I was protecting you."
Tears prickled her eyes, but she blinked them away. "You could've talked to me."
He took a step forward. "I regret it every day."
But Kanya shook her head and turned around. "I need to think."
And she walked away, leaving Aran behind, finally exposed—raw, wrecked, and filled with five years of regret.