Upon entering Bangkok, Asanai asked Atikom to drop him off. He intended to invite Atikom for dinner and hoped that Anupap and Sombat would take a taxi home separately.
"Nu's and the Captain's houses are on the same street. I'm on Thanon Tok Road, and you are on Sathorn. If we get off the expressway and turn to Sathorn, we'll pass right by your place. What building did you say earlier..." Sombat was determined to interfere completely.
"Sathorn Suite," Asanai answered curtly, knowing that Sombat had been trying to play spoiler ever since they left Kanchanaburi.
Asanai was displeased but had to accept the logic. Being pushy would only hurt his image—Captain Atikom wouldn't like someone demanding and selfish.
...
The car stopped in front of Sathorn Suite, the luxury condo where Asanai was staying. He said goodbye to Anupap and Sombat.
"Thank you, Khun Anupap and Khun Sombat, for taking such good care of me. Let's meet again at the presentation, but could I see a preview clip before the Friday meeting?"
"Of course. We should finish the final cut by Thursday. I'll email it to you by Friday at the latest."
"I'm excited to see the new commercial star," Asanai said, winking at Atikom.
"This time I'll definitely be famous... just wait and see. Once I'm famous, I'll raise my rates," Atikom laughed with Asanai, then his expression turned stern as Asanai and Sombat got out of the car.
He was waiting for the moment to be alone with Anupap… Just wait, Khun Nu!
Sombat whispered in his younger friend's ear as Anupap was about to step up to the front passenger seat beside the driver: "Nu... having fun, aren't you... watch out, the Captain might get revenge. He looks pretty annoyed."
The young man shrugged, glancing sideways to see Asanai still hanging onto the car door talking with Atikom, so he couldn't help but slam the door hard.
Atikom startled and looked over. Anupap thought he caught a mischievous glint in the young policeman's eyes.
Asanai said his goodbyes and walked into the luxury condo lobby. Sombat walked to wait for a taxi under a tree by the roadside. Only Anupap and Atikom remained in the car. Silence began to settle over them as Atikom pulled out.
He still drove with a stern expression.
Anupap felt strange seeing someone who usually smiled cheerfully all the time looking so serious.
If you want to make a face like that so badly. I'll probably sit in silence the whole way too. Let's see.
"Khun Nu... you deliberately teased me," Atikom opened the scene. Finally, he couldn't bear it anymore.
"..."
"Cruel," Atikom continued.
"..."
"You're quite the tease," he said in a hurt voice.
Anupap couldn't stand it anymore. "Tease... how? I was just sitting there minding my own business."
"You deliberately made me jealous."
"Captain, don't start trouble with me," Anupap turned to look out the window.
"Cruel," Atikom repeated the same word he liked to use when Anupap hurt his feelings.
"We're nothing to each other. Why would I need to make you jealous?" Anupap was beginning to worry about what Atikom might be up to.
"You deliberately chatted with Atid to provoke me. Was it fun?" Atikom began to smile, his earlier boiling mood starting to fade. He felt slightly amused at getting to tease Anupap.
When they were alone together, he couldn't help but 'pick on' the young man.
"Why would I do that? I talk to Atid normally, just like I talk to Mark or Pojanee." Anupap still looked out the car's windows, not realizing he was making excuses... which made Atikom unable to suppress a smile, his eyes dancing with amusement.
"Because you were jealous of Asanai clinging to me, so you teased me back to make me jealous too. What do you call what we are to each other..." Atikom made his voice annoyingly sweet.
Anupap didn't turn to look at the person who had been driving with a stern face the whole trip, but he knew Atikom had returned to his old self.
Anupap could barely stand it. Atikom was back to his old self—teasing, deliberately making him argue back.
"Captain Atikom. I'll get out and take a taxi right here if you don't stop talking about this."
"If I don't stop the car, you can't get out..."
Anupap turned back to look at the provocative man and saw that Atikom's eyes were absolutely sparkling. Just a moment ago he was still looking stern.
"Uh uh, don't think about opening the door and jumping out of the car. It's not worth it."
Anupap was too lazy to continue the long-winded argument, so he leaned back against the door, closed his eyes and pretended to want to sleep, ignoring everything else.
"Same old trick again," Atikom's voice floated over.
Let him talk. He'll close his eyes and pretend to sleep. What can Atikom do? Anupap sat perfectly still.
The other continued talking:
"Khun Nu, if you're upset about Asanai, I apologize. He just appeared out of nowhere. I didn't know anything about it. Actually, I'm not at fault. I was lured into filming a commercial that happened to be hired by him. You can't be angry at me."
Anupap held his breath. Atikom was rambling.
What else will he say?
"Khun Nu... Asanai is just a brief part of my past. You are my present, and I want you to be my future."
Atikom can actually say things like this. His voice was smooth and serious.
Is his face as stern and serious as his voice? Anupap wanted to see Atikom's face right now, but the young man was too stubborn to open his eyes.
If I open my eyes now, I'll lose face badly.
Anupap wondered to himself... Is Captain Atikom confessing his love?
***