It was last year. Nitinai remembered it clearly. Who could forget the handsome police officer like Atikom?
During their brief acquaintance, he'd learned that Atikom never took anything seriously, only wanted temporary fun. A playboy who wouldn't settle down with anyone. Handsome, good-natured, warm, sexy, dangerously charming. Their passionate affair had been so intense he couldn't forget it.
"Khun Nu," Atikom said quietly.
"Oh, P'Nu. Hmm... he might not come with us. P'Nu doesn't like drinking or staying out late. So just the two of us. You can be my tour guide for Krabi nightlife. Please, please, I've missed you so much. I want to reminisce about old times." Nitinai boldly revealed his feelings.
"Aren't you afraid someone might see?" Atikom hesitated. A famous singer escorting a man around town would certainly draw attention. Besides, he didn't want to become tabloid fodder spread across the country. Most importantly... Anupap.
"Nope. I have ways to disguise myself. You don't know how skilled I am at this. It's easy, especially this far from Bangkok."
Their conversation halted as three people approached. Dolchai, Anupap, and Pojanee were still negotiating.
"Khun Nu, just ask Bank directly. I'm out of explanations," Dolchai said irritably.
Both young men turned to look at Anupap, who was staring with an impassive expression. Anupap seemed surprised to see Atikom chatting with the famous singer Nitinai as if they knew each other.
"Khun Bank, P'Dol says you want to return to Bangkok tomorrow afternoon, then meet us in Phuket the morning after."
"Well, uh... I have urgent work, so I'd like to request..."
"My work gets disrupted. We don't have much time, as you know, Khun Bank. We had an agreement—it should be honored."
"Didn't P'Dol explain?" Nitinai glanced at his personal manager. "I want to complete this project on schedule, but this situation came up. I don't know what to do either, but I'll add an extra day."
Anupap sighed, knowing they'd likely argue much longer. Wasting time, ruining moods, because Nitinai would probably repeat the same things Dolchai had said.
"Let's discuss this over dinner tonight. The crew is exhausted. Let's head back to the resort first." Anupap cut the conversation short, glancing at Atikom before turning to leave, but stopped when he heard the singer's voice.
"Right, P'Kom? We're on then?"
Atikom stammered, afraid Anupap would misunderstand.
Just when he'd successfully made amends, Nitinai was threatening to ruin everything...
"Let me ask him first." He looked nervously at Anupap, who glanced at him briefly before walking back to join Sombat's group. The police officer hurried after the stern-faced man with long strides.
"Khun Nu, wait up."
"You know Bank Nitinai too?" Anupap's voice was level.
The young detective hadn't had time to answer when they reached the crew's group, loud and boisterous as they decided what to do with their remaining free time before dinner. Atikom and Anupap's private moment was lost.
"Let's rent motorcycles to tour around."
"No, let's go kayaking!" Tong the photographer's voice drowned out the others. Female voices protested, saying they'd rather go shopping.
"Let's go to a spa... get massages, maybe find some action," Mark's voice rose above the rest. Everyone burst into laughter.
Anupap stood silently, listening to the chatter and arguments, occasionally glancing at Atikom who stood nearby with a roguish expression. Finally, Sombat's shriek provided the conclusion.
"Back to the hotel first to drop off our stuff, then find somewhere cool to drink in town. We've got a sponsor tonight!" Sombat glanced at the large guardian of peace standing beside him.
"P'Bud," Anupap's voice was stern.
"Are you the one paying?" Sombat turned to glare at Anupap, then addressed the others. "Then we'll go shopping—but pay for yourselves, no sponsor. After that, back to the hotel to walk on the beach. Do whatever you want—swim or anything else."
Atikom chuckled, murmuring quietly, "Being Khun Nu's boyfriend is really expensive."
"Who said anything about being a boyfriend?" Anupap spoke just loud enough for both to hear.
Atikom raised an eyebrow, shrugged one shoulder, then said, "I did. I will be. You can't escape me, Khun Nu. Just give in... Ow..." The police officer groaned softly as the stone-faced man pinched his waist.
During the ride back to the resort, Anupap sat silently, lost in thought. Atikom squeezed closer, whispering to avoid being overheard by others in the van.
"Khun Nu, let's go swimming."
Anupap shook his head.
"Come on... I want to dive into the sea and feel refreshed." The police officer wiggled his eyebrows.
"Wasn't yesterday evening enough?"
"Yesterday I got teased. Today we can be intimate." Atikom made his roguish expression.
"Go with someone else."
"Jealous?" Atikom smiled before crying out softly, "Ow!"
Anupap jabbed his elbow into Atikom's ribs quite hard, annoyed at this charming man who attracted admirers even in distant Krabi.
"He approached me first. I was just sitting there minding my own business." The young detective whispered, then quickly shifted because Anupap was moving his arm again.
"Like playing rough? Watch out tonight—you'll get yours."
The young police officer had to cry "Ow!" again.
Sombat and Tum turned to look at the 'bickering couple' in the back seat. The older friend rolled his eyes, then turned back with a smile before placing his hand on his boyfriend's thigh and squeezing gently.
"Oops," Tam yelped.
Pojanee, sitting in the front row beside Mark and the director, turned around with a puzzled expression that seemed to ask, "What's going on?"
Anupap gazed out the window, enjoying the beautiful scenery on both sides of the road. Atikom, undeterred, pressed even closer than before. Their bodies touched from shoulder to hip, thigh to knee, calf to toe. Warmth radiated between them as the strong man tried to grasp his hand.
"Captain, what are you trying to hold my hand for?" Anupap frowned, glancing at the intense-faced man who wouldn't stop being bothersome.
"I'm afraid of getting elbowed again. Your elbow is really sharp." The deep voice whispered near his ear.
"If you don't want to get hit again, keep your mouth shut."
"Yes... yes, director."
"If I were the director, I'd transfer this playboy cop to direct traffic at the intersection in front of my house. Then there'd be no car accidents."
"They already have traffic lights... with countdown numbers too... Ow..." Atikom groaned softly after being pinched on the upper arm.
"Khun Nu's a sadist... just wait until tonight... Ow..."
As the van made its way back to the hotel, periodic yelps could be heard because the mischievous police officer wouldn't stop his teasing...
Anupap knew well that Atikom had stopped being a playboy, but he couldn't help feeling jealous. This man's past was extensive—who knew when someone else might surface? Asanai had passed, now there was Bank Nitinai, and there might be others he didn't know about yet.
He told himself he had to be strong. Time would prove the heart of the man who claimed to love him. The past held both good and bad, forgettable and memorable moments. The present was what mattered—what they needed to make the best of, because today's present would become tomorrow's past.
If they did their best today, when the future arrived, they could look back and see that their past was... truly beautiful.
Right now, Anupap had a present he was building together with Atikom—the only man in his heart. And he was confident that in this big man's heart, he was the only one too.
"Ow... Khun Nu... again..." Atikom whimpered weakly.
"Captain, stop teasing for once," the other replied with exasperation.
The van stopped in front of the hotel. Atikom cried out one last time before grinning smugly. Soon enough... the one crying out would be Anupap...
Or maybe... they'd cry out in harmony?
The police officer's case was closed. Now, all that remained was sending the defendant to prison... a pink prison where the inmate never wanted parole, and the warden wanted to keep him locked up forever.
***
The End