Tay and New pulled up to the resort just as the morning sun began to warm the sprawling grounds with a gentle, golden light. The air was fresh, carrying a soft hint of salt from the nearby ocean, mingled with the sweet scent of blooming frangipani and hibiscus. Nirin stepped out of the car, her eyes sparkling with excitement and a touch of nervous energy. Behind her, Luke adjusted his sunglasses and stretched his arms, clearly ready to explore.
"Thank you both so much for coming with me," Nirin said, her voice bright as she glanced up at Tay and New. "It means a lot that you'd take time out of your day to help with my wedding venue search."
Tay grinned, a warmth spreading across his face as he ruffled Nirin's hair affectionately. "You're like my niece, Nirin. Of course, I'm happy to escort you. Plus, it's been a while since New and I had a day off together. This is a perfect excuse to get out and breathe some fresh air."
New nodded in agreement, his easy smile reflecting the relaxed mood of the morning. "Yeah, it's good to get away from work for a bit. Helps clear the head."
Nirin returned their smiles, clearly appreciative. "I'm really grateful. I know how busy you both are."
Luke, standing a few steps behind, chuckled. "You're lucky to have such dedicated people."
Tay gave him a knowing look. "He's not wrong."
After a brief pause, New asked, "Would you like to rest first? Maybe grab some refreshments before we start the tour? The resort's café has some great smoothies and fresh juices."
Nirin shook her head quickly, the enthusiasm in her voice shining through. "No, I want to see the venue first. I've watched so many reels and shorts about this place, and honestly, I've fallen in love with it even before setting foot here."
"That's some serious devotion," New teased lightly.
Tay looked around the sun-drenched entrance of the resort, stretching his arms as the ocean breeze swept over them. The palm trees swayed above, casting gentle shadows on the polished stone walkway. Nirin turned to him with excitement written all over her face, her fingers tightly clutching Luke's hand.
"I still can't believe we're actually here," she said, eyes wide as they swept over the view. "This place looks like a dream."
Tay smiled, his tone light and warm. "And it's only going to get better. I'm happy to escort you, Nirin. I wouldn't miss this for anything."
He waved over a nearby bellhop, who hurried up with a bright smile. "Can you take care of our luggage and deliver it to our rooms, please?"
"Of course, sir," the bellhop said, quickly collecting their bags and tagging each one with a practiced efficiency.
With that sorted, Tay turned back to the group. "Alright, ready to see the beach venue?"
"Yes!" Nirin replied almost immediately. Her voice was filled with anticipation. "Please, I want to see it now."
"Let's go," Tay said, chuckling.
He led the way down a scenic path that curved through a grove of palm trees, opening up to a breathtaking view of the ocean. The soft white sand stretched endlessly beneath the cloudless sky, and the sound of the waves crashing gently onto the shore created a perfect, calming rhythm. A wide platform had been set up facing the sea, with an elegant wooden arch wrapped in trailing white orchids and soft blue drapes.
Nirin stopped in her tracks, hand flying to her mouth. "Oh my god…"
Luke stood beside her, silent for a moment, before letting out a soft whistle. "This is… wow."
Tay turned to watch their expressions, satisfied. "Not bad, right?"
"It's perfect," Nirin whispered, stepping closer to the edge of the platform. Her eyes sparkled as she took it all in—the wide open sky, the breeze tousling her hair, the scent of the sea. "I've seen this place a hundred times on my phone, but standing here… It's different."
Luke wrapped an arm around her shoulder, kissing the side of her head. "You love it?"
"I more than love it. I'm obsessed," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "This is everything I've ever wanted."
Luke looked over at Tay, his tone suddenly more serious. "Then this is it. This is the one. Money isn't a problem—I want this venue to look exactly like Nirin has imagined. Every detail. If she's dreamed it, it's happening."
Tay's brows rose slightly, but before he could respond, New stepped up beside them, hands in his pockets, a quiet smile on his face.
"Actually," New said gently, glancing between Luke and Nirin, "we're not letting you pay for this."
Luke blinked. "What?"
"This is something Tay and I want to do," New continued. "For Nirin. She's like family to us, and we want her wedding to be exactly the way she dreamed. No compromises. But no invoices either."
Nirin turned to face him, eyes wide. "Lung New, no—this is too much."
"This is all we can do for the years we missed watching you grow up."
Nirin still looked uneasy, even as they strolled down the beach, golden sand soft under their feet. The turquoise waves lapped at the shore beside them, as if trying to smooth over the discussion like it did the footprints.
"I still feel weird about this," she said quietly, glancing up at Tay with hesitant eyes. "I mean… It's our wedding. You guys have already done enough by coming with us."
Tay stopped walking and turned to face her fully. "N'Nirin," he said, voice gentle but firm, "if you're really that determined to pay, then I'll just assume you don't think of me as your uncle."
Nirin's mouth dropped open slightly. "What? No! That's not true!"
He raised an eyebrow, folding his arms across his chest. "Because if I *am* like your uncle, then that means I get the joy of giving you something from the heart. No strings attached."
New, standing beside Tay with his hands casually tucked into his pockets, chimed in, "Trust me, you don't want to see him mopey. Let us do this."
Nirin's shoulders sagged a little as she groaned. "Ugh, you two are so stubborn."
"That's how we've survived this long," Tay grinned.
"Fine," she said at last, sighing as if giving in to a lifelong battle. "But just know I'll be paying you back somehow. One way or another."
Luke chuckled, slipping his arm around her. "Let them have this, love. Just enjoy it."
"I'm trying," she muttered, though her smile gave her away.
"Good," Tay said with a mock stern tone. "Now let's get back and check into our rooms. I could use a cold drink and maybe a nap before we start making more magic happen."
They turned around and made their way back toward the resort's reception, the sun glinting off the tiled roof of the main building. As they stepped inside, the cool air-conditioning brushed over their sun-warmed skin like a refreshing sigh. Nirin and Luke walked up to the desk alongside Tay and New, who approached the receptionist with their usual confident stride.
"Hi," Tay greeted with a smile, "we're ready to check in. The reservation should be under my name—Tay Tawan Nimtawat."
The receptionist tapped away at the keyboard, then blinked and tilted her head.
"Um… Mr. Nimtawat, it looks like… You already checked in yesterday."