I woke up at 8 a.m. No alarm. Just… awake.
I wasn't sure if I was excited or nervous. Probably both. Or maybe still drunk from Phuwadon's confusing charm.
A message lit up my phone. Phuwadon Inthanon: "Good morning. You awake?"
I laughed under my breath. This man. Texting like he's not famous.
I replied with a thumbs-up emoji and a "Barely."Then I got up, made myself a hot black coffee, and toasted a slice of bread. It wasn't gourmet, but I needed fuel.
He said to wear something nice. So I stood in front of the mirror and did what any confused, possibly-maybe-sorta date person would do: panic and overthink.
Eventually, I settled on a white T-shirt, light brown pants, dark brown knitted jacket, and clean white sneakers. Simple. Comfortable. Clean. For the final touch, I sprayed BLEU DE CHANEL — just one spritz. I didn't want to smell like a walking perfume ad.
By 9 a.m., I was fully ready. Too early. So I threw on a random YouTube video to pass the time.
Then came the knock.
I frowned. Already?
I checked the monitor.
There he was — standing at my door — in a crisp black shirt, sleeves rolled just enough to cause problems.
9:00 a.m. sharp.
I pressed the intercom.
"Who's this?" I asked, pretending I didn't know.
Silence.
I smirked. "No one there? Fine."
Then I heard it — the keypad on my door beeping.
"Wait, what—"
I ran over.
The door clicked open.
Phuwadon stepped in like he lived there.
I blinked. "How do you even remember the passcode?"
He shrugged. Cool. Casual."That's simple. It's either your birthday or your bike's plate number. You look like someone who forgets things easily."
I gasped. "No, I don't!"
…Okay, maybe sometimes.
Still. "Wait—how do you even know my bike's plate number?"
He smirked. "I saw it yesterday. I notice things."
I crossed my arms. "Creepy."
He just smiled and walked into the living room like it was his place.
I stood there, still barefoot, completely thrown off by the fact that Phuwadon Inthanon had memorized my door code and my bike plate number — like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Morning Light, Heavy Looks
He sat casually on my sofa like he belonged there. I walked over and handed him a cup of coffee.
"You said 10," I reminded him. "Why show up so early?"
He took a slow sip and smirked."Just checking if you really wanted to go out with me."Then he glanced at my outfit. "But now I know… You were more than ready."
I rolled my eyes, but I was busted."Excuse me, I was just checking if these clothes looked good on me. Not because of you."
He stood up, looked me head to toe, and nodded."They do. You look nice."
Then — without warning — he reached for my hand."Let's go."
I froze. But… I let him. His grip was gentle. Warm. Assured. Something about the way he held me made everything in me soften.
We ended up at Nourish Café, tucked into a leafy corner of Bangkok — filled with soft music, morning chatter, and the smell of brewed coffee and toasted oats. We ordered smoothie bowls, eggs, and more coffee.
He talked about random things — favorite food, weird fan encounters, how he once got recognized while buying adult diapers for a prank shoot.
I laughed more than I expected.
After breakfast, we walked through Benchakitti Park. The air was soft, the trees swaying slightly, and kids were biking around us.
We reached a quiet bench near the lake, and he sat down, staring out at the water.
I leaned on the rail nearby. Then I noticed it — the shift in his expression. His usual playful teasing gave way to something else… something quieter.
He was looking at me. But his eyes… they weren't teasing.
They were tired. Sad, even.
I walked over and sat beside him.
"What's with the long face?" I teased gently."You always love messing with me. Love life falling apart?"
He smiled, slow and small. "Nah."
He turned to me fully.
"I was just looking at you… Hoping you'd ask me a question."
I blinked, confused."A question?"
He nodded once. Still serious.
And for a moment… I didn't know if I should ask what the question was, or if I already knew.
So I asked him — voice softer than I expected.
"Why are you teasing me?"
He didn't answer right away, just kept that quiet smile. I continued, trying to piece it all together.
"I mean… we only met once, right? On the beach. Then suddenly you're all… teasing, smirking, acting like you know me."I paused. "I don't remember ever meeting you before that."
He finally turned his head, eyes meeting mine."You did. Twice, actually."
My eyebrows furrowed. "Twice?"
"Once was the beach," he said. "The other time was at acting class. Last semester."
My heart did a slow flip.
"What? No way. I seriously don't remember that."
He chuckled under his breath. "You wouldn't. You never noticed me."
I stared at him, trying to scan my memories like dusty files. Nothing.
"I… I really don't think we crossed paths."
Phuwadon looked away, toward the lake.
"You didn't. But I saw you. You were different."
I swallowed, throat suddenly dry."What do you mean?"
"I saw the way you stayed in the back. Always quiet. Always focused. And that one time… during a group improv — I think you had a panic attack. You stepped out. No one else noticed. But I did."
I blinked.Something about what he said… did feel familiar, like a scene from a blurry dream.
"So… you remembered me?"
He turned back to me and nodded."That's why when you approached me on the beach and called me Phi, I was surprised. I knew I was three years younger than you."
I blinked again."Wait, what?"
"Yeah," he smiled. "I'm younger than you. You were in your final semester. I was a second-year. You just didn't notice me."
My brain short-circuited."You studied the same course?"
He nodded, like it was no big deal.
I leaned back, muttering, "No… no way… I don't remember. This is messing with my head."
"I believe you," he said softly."But I remember you. Because even back then… You were quietly brave. You always looked like you were carrying too much, but still showed up."
I didn't know what to say.
And for the first time…I understood something.
This wasn't teasing. It never really was.
I looked at the time — almost 2 pm. The sun was high, and the air was warm but not too hot. Suddenly, his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen, muttered a quick "Give me a sec," and walked a few steps away to answer it.
I just watched him — not even pretending not to. His posture. The way he spoke with his hand in his pocket, brows slightly furrowed. Even his silhouette looked like it belonged on a screen.
He came back after five minutes.
"Let's go."He didn't say where — but I nodded."Okay… Phu nong."I grinned cheekily.
He laughed — low and amused — and stepped closer than he had to. Leaning near my ear, voice soft and teasing:
"Let's go… Phi Ian."
His breath brushed my ear, and I shrank instantly — like someone poked a nerve. A weird, fizzy heat bloomed all the way from my ear to my chest.
"What?" I stuttered, blinking fast as I turned away and started walking quickly. I mumbled something about the sky or the pigeons — anything.
He just laughed again and said, "The car's this side."
I pointed in the opposite direction."I know. I just wanted to take a… u-turn."
My voice cracked at the end.
He smiled like he had just won a prize.
And I knew —I was in so much trouble.
He said he'd drop me off, said he needed to be somewhere. I didn't ask where — maybe I didn't want to know. He left just as quickly as he came. The car drove off, disappearing into traffic.
I turned toward my condo building, humming something under my breath, feeling lighter than usual.
But then—
I froze.
"Paa?"
There he was. Standing right in front of my unit. Arms crossed, casual as always, but his eyes were soft.
I ran up."Paa! What are you doing here?"
He smiled."Just a small vacation. Needed to clear my mind. Can I stay for a few days?"
I was already unlocking the door."Why are you even asking? You know the passcode. Just go in already."
He chuckled, stepping inside after me."I want to be polite, even if you're my son."
That made me smile without trying.
He placed his small overnight bag near the sofa and looked around."Had lunch?"
I shook my head."Went out for breakfast with a friend. Still full. Want me to order something on Grab?"
"Noodles," he said, already walking toward the bathroom."Just something simple."
While the water started running, I sat down and called my sister.
"Paa's here."
She picked up instantly."Wait, what? He's there now?"
"Yeah… just showed up. Said he wanted to stay a few days. He didn't tell you?"
"Nope," she replied."But maybe… maybe he just wants to be with you. You resemble Mae a lot, you know?"
I paused. That hit different.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. The way you talk, your smile… he always says that."
The Grab driver pinged.
"Food's here," I said quietly.
"Take care of him, Ian."
"Always."
And for the first time today, I felt something more powerful than butterflies or chaos.
I felt… home.
When Paa came out of the shower, I quickly told him to eat the noodles before they got cold and went in for my own shower.
I didn't take long.
But when I stepped out, towel drying my hair, I heard voices. One was clearly my father. The other—
Wait. Was that Phuwadon?
I walked toward the living room, thinking maybe Paa was on the phone or watching a show.
But no. There he was — Phuwadon Inthanon, comfortably seated on the sofa, casually talking to my father.
I froze.
"Hey—what are you doing here?" I asked, trying to sound calm, though my voice came out a bit too sharp.
Then I remembered my manners."Oh—uh… Paa, this is Phu—Phuwadon."
Paa just laughed.
"Yes, I know. We already had our ice-breaking session. He told me everything."
Phuwadon just smiled like he belonged here.
I stared. I didn't know what to say. I looked at Phu again.
"So… do you need something?" I asked, arms crossed.
"No," he replied."Just here to hang out. Your dad invited me to have drinks tonight."
I turned to Paa.
"Seriously?"
Paa shrugged with a mischievous grin."Why not? He's famous, you know. Maybe we'll get some secrets from him and become rich!"
"Paa, stop."I groaned, facepalming.
He burst into laughter.
"I'm just kidding, son. I just want to have a drink and relax. That's all."
I sighed and gave up."Fine. I'll order the booze."
I picked up my phone to order.
From the corner of my eye, I could feel it—Phuwadon was looking at me. Not just glancing—looking.
But I pretended not to notice.
My dad was here. And I was not going to create a scene.
Not tonight.
We were having fun, talking and sipping slowly. Most of the talking, of course, was done by Paa.
I knew why—he missed Mae. Whenever he drank just a little, her memory surfaced like a quiet echo.
Out of nowhere, he leaned back, glass in hand, and said with a smile: "My son here… he looks a lot like my wife. Pretty. Especially the eyelashes—exactly like hers."
I groaned and looked down, "Paa, you're not helping my case here!"
Phuwadon, across from me, didn't say anything. He just… kept looking at me. Calm. Quiet. Intent.
Then my dad turned to him and said, "Phu, if you ever want to get married, make sure you have a son like you."He laughed, clearly in good spirits.
But Phuwadon didn't laugh. He tilted his head slightly and answered, "No... I think I'm going to marry someone who only belongs to me. I don't plan to share them. Not even with my son."
Silence.
He was smiling. But it was the kind of smile that made your chest feel tight—not in a bad way, just...Like he meant every word.
I turned and looked at him. He glanced at me, just briefly. But that look…It lingered.
My dad, still cheerful and tipsy, just chuckled."Then that person must be very lucky."
Phuwadon raised his glass and said softly, "He is."
My heart skipped. Wait. He?
I blinked.
But before I could even process what just happened, Paa went right back into talking—this time about my childhood.
"You know, when Ian was three, he once cried because a girl at the daycare hugged him. Said he was too handsome and she was going to marry him—he came running home like he saw a ghost."
"Paa—!"I nearly choked on my drink. My face turned so red I could feel the heat rising up to my ears.
Phuwadon didn't even laugh. He just looked at me with that same quiet gaze—like he was memorizing every version of me.
And I didn't know if it was the alcohol, or just him—But I knew this night was going to stay with me for a very, very long time.
Paa, already fully drunk, stood up with that half-laughing, half-serious face."I'm going to sleep in the bed tonight, son."
I smiled, "Yes, Paa. I'll sleep on the sofa."
After helping him to bed and pulling the blanket over him, I stood quietly for a moment, watching him breathe slowly.Even when drunk, he looked peaceful. Maybe this little escape really was something he needed.
I walked back to the living room and found Phuwadon still there, comfortably sunk into the sofa like it was his place all along.
"You leaving?" I asked, half-hoping, half-curious.
He shook his head casually."Nah… I'm staying."
I raised my eyebrow."And where exactly do you plan to sleep?"
He mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like:"With you?"
"Uhhh?"I froze for a second.
He chuckled under his breath, "Nothing. I'll leave in a bit. Just thought… maybe we can continue where we left off."
I nodded, trying to act normal, even though my brain was still spinning from his earlier he is comment.
So we sat, talked about life—nothing serious, but everything meaningful.
Dreams. Fears. Why do we do the things we do?How exhausting the world can feel sometimes.The way silence with the right person doesn't feel awkward.
It was… peaceful.
I didn't even realize how late it had gotten until I glanced at the clock.
4:07 AM.
Phuwadon stood up and stretched."I should go. I have to be somewhere by ten."
I looked at him, a little surprised."Then why did you stay so long?"
He turned to me, calm and soft."Because I just wanted to spend time with you."
And that moment…That simple line…
It stayed with me like a quiet melody in my chest.