The next morning marked the final day of shooting scenes requiring the handsome police model. Since Anupap wasn't permitted on set, he seized the quiet moment at the resort to catch up on work.
Sombat called to report that the model was performing well, though he'd thrown some tantrums about makeup because he complained he wasn't a female model. It took considerable coaxing before he'd allow them to conceal the dark circles under his eyes.
"Had to bring up your name to get him to agree... said you'd sue him for having to wake up early and not looking fresh-faced," Sombat reported. "The captain had the nerve to argue that even with dark circles, he was still handsome."
Anupap chuckled softly, picturing that stubborn man's dramatics—the same reluctance to let makeup artists apply foundation as during the camera test at the studio.
"Why are you laughing?" Sombat asked with feigned curiosity, though he could guess that Anupap was gradually warming up to Atikom.
"You took him out for a night tour of the city, didn't he? Both of you disappeared since evening. Come on, spill—what aren't you telling me?" Sombat teased.
Anupap quickly deflected, "Nothing like that. Just grabbed dinner at that lakeside restaurant by the mountains."
"No need to be shy, Nu. I'm rooting for you," Sombat laughed heartily. "I think he couldn't sleep all night thinking about someone. Or maybe because he couldn't sleep alone. Or perhaps someone kept him up all night..." Sombat's voice dripped with mischief.
"Enough, P'Bud. I need to call a client about work. Don't want to hear your fortune-telling," Anupap cut him off, pulling out the business card of Khun Sommai Jiangwiwatkitjaroen, a new client for a deodorant roll-on advertisement that was being particularly demanding.
The young man sighed softly before dialing, but his phone rang first.
"P'Bud, what now?" It was Sombat again.
"One more thing, Nu. That super-finicky client is practically glued to our tough guy's side. Won't leave him alone, just sitting there watching. You better be careful..."
Anupap quickly interrupted, saying forget it, enough—no need to inform him. It wasn't his business to know about. He had to call Khun Sommai.
Anupap spent about half an hour discussing the new product advertisement with Khun Sommai. The client wanted the product image to project masculinity—tough, fierce, cool, strong, leadership qualities, bold, fearless, self-confident, especially emphasizing a young man's natural scent.
Anupap sighed. He'd need to find another model. The modeling agency that supplied models for Echo Ad Agency typically provided only polished, metrosexual types suitable for luxury, contemporary advertisements.
For a moment, Anupap thought of Atikom—tough, fierce, cool, charismatic, bold, confident, fearless. He'd probably be the perfect fit personality-wise. But he quickly dismissed the thought. If there were another project, that cunning captain would likely make even more "demands" and conditions.
The main advertising scenes requiring actors wrapped up as the sun neared the horizon. When everyone heard "Cut!" they exhaled in collective relief that the work was finished, having all held their breath hoping Atikom would perform to the director's satisfaction.
Afterward, the crew packed up to return to their accommodations. Tonight there would be an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet with unlimited drinks, by Trin's orders.
Everyone knew Trin could be strict, but his strictness always had good reason. Trin was consistently kind to his employees, which was why they all loved him.
"Nu, the director called cut! What a relief!" Sombat called to report. "Relief that Captain Atikom didn't need to do take number one thousand eight hundred twenty-one point zero five five five."
Anupap couldn't help but laugh, trying to imagine the faces of the director and entire crew who had collectively willed the police star to succeed. Anupap couldn't help thinking playfully that now that the commercial was finished, he no longer had to be Atikom's pawn. This time, the captain couldn't come making demands and pressuring him anymore.
But Anupap had no idea how wrong he was...
The special dinner was set up poolside. Anupap walked over to find Pakpoom, the director he'd grown close to through years of collaboration. He'd known Pakpoom since their student days abroad—Pakpoom was one of those who'd advised him when he graduated with an architecture degree and wanted to switch to advertising.
"P'Poom, thank you so much. Without your direction, it would have been a disaster."
"I should thank you, Nu. You've sent me so much work I'm running out of places to stash the money."
"Then you must be getting rich again. I have a big Pepsi project we're finalizing. The creative brief should be ready in a few weeks. Bank Nitinai will be the presenter too." He was referring to Bank, the famous teen pop singer.
Pakpoom's eyes widened. "Wow, then I better clear my schedule."
"Yes, beautiful location shoots down south—several places. Samui, Krabi, Surat Thani, Similan..."
The two discussed work in broad strokes, with Anupap saying he'd lobby the meeting to choose Pakpoom as director.
"Is this Bank Nitinai difficult to work with?" Anupap wasn't familiar with working with singer-actors.
"Hmm, he's professional. Even though he's a singer, don't worry about his acting—these kids are talented. But lately he's been having scheduling issues. Getting his time slot is incredibly difficult. You might have headaches dealing with his manager. I did his second album MV."
"Might be just as challenging as the pickup truck commercial," Anupap couldn't help but mention. Both laughed.
Pakpoom shook his head slowly. "Most exhausting work experience of my life. Next time you do a commercial, don't give that actor any dialogue," Pakpoom pretended to complain. "Just have him stand there looking handsome."
"One time with that actor is more than enough."
Anupap didn't want to ask Atikom to act in another commercial... it was equally headache-inducing and exhausting.
"What are you two talking about? You're laughing like you're having such a good time," Atikom walked closer.
Pakpoom and Anupap had to stop their 'gossip session.'
"Just chatting about this and that, Captain," Pakpoom smiled.
Atikom turned to look at Anupap. The younger man's eyes still sparkled with amusement—he'd seen him laughing moments ago, which reminded him of Tongrob's words about how Anupap's smile was like a camera flash so bright it hurt the eyes.
"Khun Nu, I don't see you drinking anything with us over there," Atikom pointed toward the large group starting their drinking circle.
"I don't really like liquor."
"I'll go join them," Pakpoom offered.
"Great. They're competing to see who can hold their liquor best. Winner gets free drinks for a month, losers have to chip in to treat everyone."
"Then I better hurry and compete. That's an interesting prize," Pakpoom excused himself to join the crew, giving Atikom private time with Anupap. He could see both men were developing feelings for each other. Pakpoom wanted to see Anupap happy—he'd known the young man since their time abroad and knew Anupap had been hurt by love's poison... Chavis.
"I really like P'Poom," Atikom turned to look at him. "He's the director who understands me best."
There go those twinkling eyes again. Anupap watched the man in front of him.
"If you hire me to act again, I want P'Poom to direct."
"I wonder if P'Poom feels the same way you do... Poor P'Poom," Anupap couldn't resist the sarcasm.
"Cruel," Atikom pretended to pout. "You don't need to tease me. The crew teasing me is more than enough. They're all having a good laugh at my expense—I've become the comic relief." The big man affected a sulking tone.
Anupap consoled Atikom that he wasn't a professional actor, so it was natural to be camera-shy and act stiffly. But when the director called cut and wrapped, it meant everything turned out well.
He trusted Pakpoom's skills because he was talented and he had great confidence in him professionally. Anupap told Pakpoom he'd ask him to direct a big commercial project featuring a famous singer as a presenter.
"Hey, you're not hiring me? I don't charge much," Atikom joked.
"The client wants a famous singer—Bank Nitinai."
"Oh," Atikom acknowledged briefly—Nitinai Navamethee. What would Anupap think if he knew Bank was one young man who had 'passed through his hands' before, back when he was a new singer? Bank was fascinated by uniforms and showed interest in him during an anti-drug campaign event. That night at the thank-you party for celebrity actors, the young singer had slipped him his phone number. The next night he conducted his interrogation and closed the case smoothly, continuing his investigation for another few weeks before moving on to interrogate someone else.
Just one thing... please don't let Tongrob's big mouth spill anything.
***