The morning sun is peeking through the curtains, but it doesn't wake Tiwa; instead, a faint sound wafts through the room from the front, a combination of footsteps and a deep, gravelly voice singing. It's a little-known fact that his brother has a very pleasant singing voice. A bit deep and off-key at times, but still very enjoyable to listen to.
Smiling, Tiwa turns his head to see Jaran coming over to sit at the edge of the bed, pushing some wild strands out of his face.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," Jaran says with a grin, his eyes crinkling at the edges.
"Morning," Tiwa replies with a laugh at the playful teasing before crawling to place his head on his brother's lap. He feels a sense of warmth and comfort, so he closes his eyes and nuzzles closer.
Jaran smiles softly, appreciating it. He caresses Tiwa's back before gently patting him to awaken his laziness. "Oh, come on, you need to get up. We have a busy day ahead of us, so we can't stay in bed all day. Are you still feeling bad?" He asks with worry in his voice.
Tiwa shakes his head as he starts to raise his upper body. "No, just a headache and tired," he says, slowly sitting up and stretching his arms above his head.
"I think you're probably dehydrated. Let me take care of you." Jaran says as he helps Tiwa out of bed and guides him to the bathroom like a father helping his son. He never tires of pampering him like a child because, in his eyes, Tiwa will always be a little kid who holds his hand wherever they go.
Pausing at the doorway, Jaran plants a gentle kiss on Tiwa's forehead and pats him on the shoulder. "I'm going to fetch breakfast for us. If anything is urgent, please call me."
Tiwa nods and closes the door behind him before looking around for one thing that he needs right now. The thing that hides his natural scent and prevents him from being attacked by insane alphas. The thing that keeps his body from going into heat during the concert. The thing that has long kept his true self hidden—even from himself!
He makes a frustrated sigh and swallows a suppressor pill, washing it down with a cup of water from the sink. It is his last pill for the month, and he makes a mental note to get more before leaving Phuket. He's been relying on these pills for too long, so going without them is always a challenge for his body. If he misses one dose, he will experience the onset of early heat.
Sometimes, he wishes he wasn't an omega and had been born as an alpha or even a beta so he wouldn't have to worry about society's expectations. The pressure to conform to certain norms and expectations weighs heavily on him, causing a constant sense of anxiety and fear when performing with others.
He brushes a hand across his jaw, stifling a yawn. He removes his tank top and throws it at the mirror before turning the water on full blast. Adjusting the temperature to one of its higher settings, he stands under the scorching stream, letting the water soothe him. The magic works on his body, but not on his mind. At least the exhaustion washes away in gentle waves.
Finishing the shower, he changes into fresh clothes and exits the bathroom without glancing at the mirror. If he were to look at it, thoughts of others' comments would inevitably invade his mind again. He is determined not to lose concentration at a concert for which he has put in so much hard work.
He revisits his bedroom and grabs a hoodie before going to the living room, where his brother sits on the couch with breakfast. He sits beside him and leans closer, whispering gently. "We should hit a 24-hour pharmacy and pick up another suppressant pack."
His suppressant will last him until after the concert, so he hopes the concert doesn't run long again. The last time the concert ran long was in October, when his suppressant had run out, and he had been unable to get a refill in time.
He shudders at the memory of how he'd almost gone into heat during a concert filled with alphas. He had forgotten all his notes that day, but his brother covered up everything and ended the concert quickly, with no one catching him. Even his brother gave some excuses to Kay and Kiat, who are their cousins and also the members of 'The Prides of Music'. They remain unaware of his true self. If it were good news, he would already tell them. However, it is not a good one!
Jaran pauses in his movements, trying to uphold the whole thing that has been ingrained in his mind. It feels too much, but he accepts it, showing a mix of concern and frustration as he waits for Tiwa's response. However, Tiwa remains silent after discussing his lack of medicine, signaling his reluctance to delve deeper.
Frustration starts to bubble up within Jaran. He frowns, feeling the weight of the responsibility pressing down on him.
They sit in a heavy silence, each enveloped in their own thoughts about the formidable challenges looming ahead. The relentless demands of their lives, the constant threat of unknowns, and the unyielding expectations of society weigh heavily on their shoulders, adding to the burden they carry.
Eventually, Jaran breaks the silence, taking a sip of his hot coffee and asking, "Are you excited about the concert tonight?"
"Yeah," Tiwa responds, still not looking up from his rice dumplings and the coffee in his hand.
Jaran leans back on the couch, trying to hide his disappointment as he doesn't receive the response he is expecting. He needs to do something, or things will only deteriorate. Changing his expression to a stern one, he says, "I'm sorry. I didn't quite catch what you were saying." He crosses his arms over his chest and looks at Tiwa expectantly, hoping that this approach will be effective.
Tiwa grins and puts the mug back on the coffee table before throwing himself at Jaran. "I'm very excited about the concert!" He yells, making sure that at least the room vibrates with his voice.
"That's my boy!" Jaran pokes his little brother's nose and kisses him on the forehead, keeping him in a jovial mood. It works. Really, it works. The shrill ringing of his phone pulls them away from each other and their swirling thoughts. He sighs and takes his phone out of his pocket, looking at the caller's identity, knowing he needs to answer it.
He excuses himself and gets up from the couch, talking to Kay about the final arrangements and last-minute details for tonight's concert, ensuring everything is in place. He doesn't have time to check everything because taking care of Tiwa is the most important thing to him once the concert begins.
After finishing the conversation, Jaran returns to the living room, only to find the neglected coffee and half-eaten dumplings. With a heavy heart and a sense of defeat weighing on his shoulders, he shakes his head and closes his fingers around the cold screen of his phone before striding out the door.
A sense of anxiety gnaws at him as he realizes that tonight's concert is a big opportunity for them—a chance to showcase their talent and make a mark in the music industry. He wants nothing more than to make everything go smoothly to secure their future success.