Anupap's eyes opened to the early morning light, his body refreshed in a way it hadn't been for months. The deep, uninterrupted sleep had worked its magic. After a forty-five-minute run through the quiet streets, he returned to pack his bag, steeling himself for the chaotic battle that awaited him back in Bangkok.
Only Pojanee joined him for breakfast. The rest of the team remained unconscious in their rooms.
"The Captain must be dead to the world. Last night he drank enough liquor to fill a barrel." Pojanee's tendency toward exaggeration rivaled Sombat's.
"Who won the drinking contest?"
"The Captain, of course, P'Nu. He drinks alcohol like water. P'Khet, who always brags about his iron stomach, had to surrender. Mark collapsed right there at the drinking circle. I don't even know if he'll wake up today. But the Captain wasn't even drunk—just his face got red and tight. I think he was just dizzy."
So Atikom really can hold his liquor that well? It shouldn't surprise him. Every police officer he'd met could drink like a fish.
"P'Poom's still not awake either. Before going to bed, he told the team to wake up and start work after the flag ceremony." Pojanee's report continued without pause. "It's probably ten o'clock now. Perfect timing—no rushed breakfast."
Anupap smiled. Pojanee understood his sarcasm perfectly.
"And who knows when we'll actually get back. Last night I had to stop the van driver from drinking, but the old man still managed to sneak several glasses."
"How many people are riding in the van?" Anupap asked, wondering if there might be space for him to squeeze in with one more person, though he wasn't sure Atikom would allow him to travel with the team's vehicle.
"Full up. Even if it's not completely full, it's still full. Everyone's so big. One move and the van creaks and groans."
"Poj, your drama is getting closer to P'Bud's level every day." Anupap couldn't help commenting.
"Well, I am P'Bud's beloved little sister."
The young man's gaze froze. Atikom walked in alongside Asanai. Both wore casual clothes—Asanai in a light-colored short-sleeved shirt with the top button undone, revealing a muscular chest, paired with dark shorts. Atikom wore an olive-green t-shirt and light khaki slacks, his hair still damp from a recent shower.
"Morning. Enjoy your breakfast?" Asanai greeted them with a bright smile.
"Very much, but I'm perfectly full. Good Morning." Anupap's voice remained level.
"Khun Nu, you're up so early." Atikom sat down beside him while Asanai took the seat across from Atikom.
"I went to bed early yesterday evening, so naturally I woke up early."
"I drank a bit too heavily last night and overslept, but don't worry—I'm perfectly fine to drive."
"What time are we leaving? Because if the you want to stay a bit longer, I'll head back in the van with the team." Anupap lifted his water glass to his lips.
"Let's all go back together. Once we finish breakfast, we'll leave. Just give me another minute."
"I'd like to catch a ride back with you, if that's okay. My driver returned to Bangkok last night because he had to pick up another executive from Kanchanaburi this morning. You won't mind, right?" Asanai turned to look at the police officer.
P'Kom... Asanai calls the Captain 'P'Kom'... when did they become so close? Or was it after last night's drinking session?
"That's good. Captain Atikom will have company for the drive to Bangkok. In case you get sleepy, you'll have someone to chat with." Anupap's voice remained steady.
Atikom turned to look at Anupap with gentle eyes.
"We came together, so we should return together, Khun Nu. We can't abandon each other."
Atikom felt his temperature rising, afraid Anupap might misunderstand seeing him and Asanai walking in together as if they'd just woken up at the same time.
Please don't let him think anything improper. Atikom worried that Anupap might assume Asanai had stayed over with him, causing them both to oversleep and arrive for breakfast together, when in truth he'd simply encountered Asanai in the hallway near the guest rooms.
Pojanee excused herself to pack her bag, but actually hurried straight to Sombat's room to report the situation that was becoming 'increasingly unpleasant.'
While Asanai walked back to his room to get his bag, Atikom hurried to intercept Anupap at his guest room door, afraid the young man might sneak away with the team's van.
"Khun Nu, let me help carry your bag." Atikom saw Anupap closing his room door, a clothing bag sitting on the floor nearby while the young man clutched a document folder and shouldered his laptop bag.
"I'll just put this in the car for now." Atikom seized the opportunity to pick up the bag.
"Captain, you should go back with Khun Asanai. I'll return with P'Bud—we'll have fun chatting together."
"Oh, then what am I supposed to do? Who's going to have fun chatting with me?"
"You have Khun Asanai right there. You won't be lonely at all." Anupap reached out to grab his bag back, but Atikom dodged away.
"Khun Nu... are you sulking with me?"
"Why would I sulk with you?"
"If you're not sulking, then come back with me. I won't let you abandon me halfway. Don't forget that..."
"The commercial shoot is finished. No need for any more ultimatums—they don't work anymore." Anupap's voice turned sharp.
"Is that so? Either way, you're coming back with me. We came together, so we return together. The van is already full—why would you squeeze in and crowd them?" Atikom walked down the stairs, carrying the younger man's bag with him.
Before their argument could escalate further, Sombat came running up, panting heavily.
"Wait for me! Wait for Bud too! Let me ride back with you!"
Sombat explained that the van was packed, uncomfortable to sit in, and some of the crew still hadn't woken up—they probably wouldn't leave until nearly noon.
"Those guys still want to stop by Kanchanaburi too. Mark is dead drunk, who knows when they'll be able to drag him out of bed. Let me ride back to Bangkok in the nice, comfortable car with you all. I need to hurry back to watch my boy Tum perform"
Atikom smiled broadly, knowing Anupap had run out of ways to resist. He walked briskly toward the car, letting Atikom and Sombat follow at a distance.
Asanai stood waiting beside the large Land Rover. Sombat wasn't surprised since he already knew from Pojanee's breathless account when she'd come knocking on his door.
"Both of them had wet hair, P'Bud. Like they'd just woken up, freshly dressed, then walked in to have breakfast together. And then Khun Asanai asked for a ride back to Bangkok too."
After Pojanee had finisher here explanation, Sombat hurriedly gathered his things, unable to stop wondering whether last night, after Asanai had 'walked Atikom back' to his room, the handsome young executive had actually returned to his own room. He feared what he'd worried about last night might have come true... one person drinking until dizzy and dreamy, the other so forward he'd made his move.
No way... I need to be the buffer. If I let Nu go alone, he'll just sit there quietly the whole time.
Sombat shot a disapproving look as Asanai climbed into the front passenger seat, but what could he say? When Atikom unlocked the car, Anupap had already climbed into the back seat first, forcing Sombat to sit behind the young detective.
***