Toey pressed his lips into a tight line, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel. His eyes tracked the two men emerging from the first-floor entrance of the commercial building housing Network Solutions. He couldn't help but regret not calling Sarayoot before leaving work.
If I'd called ahead, Sarayoot would have agreed to dinner with me instead of going out with Pirayu. All this effort to surprise him...
Or maybe I wouldn't have had to see this. Pirayu's radiant smile. Sarayoot beaming just as widely. This image that's tearing me apart...
Must be Wittawin's doing. That guy's definitely been stirring up trouble for his own boss. Sarayoot wouldn't invite Pirayu to his workplace, and Pirayu wouldn't come on his own—not when he's not interested in Sarayoot because he has Teeradon...
But what if Pirayu is two-timing? Likes them both? Maybe Sarayoot feels the same way. Maybe he's accidentally fallen for Pirayu too. That bright smile, that cheerful disposition—anyone would be happy around him. Someone soft-hearted like Sarayoot would be defenseless against that sweet smile...
But Sarayoot doesn't seem like a player. He wouldn't be two-timing. When he loves someone, it should be real love. One person only...
Ugh, why does my head hurt like this? Why do I feel so jealous, so possessive?
The confused young secretary jumped when his phone rang. When he glanced at the caller ID, he couldn't hold back his complaint.
"Khun Don, why are you letting your boy meddle with someone else's boyfriend?" Toey opened with, completely forgetting he was speaking to his boss.
"Who? Why? What happened? Meddle how? And how do you even know about this?" Teeradon asked.
"Khun Pirayu! He's with my Sarayoot," Toey's voice was stern. "I'm parked here watching right now. This is insane—Sarayoot even opened the car door for him. Can't the guy get in a car by himself?"
"Just go slap him then, Toey," Teeradon goaded.
"Khun Don, don't mess with me. I am not happy right now," the secretary snapped at his boss.
"So do you actually like that bland-faced Sarayoot or not?"
"Don't talk about my man like that."
"What's your answer, Toey?" Teeradon pressed.
"What about you—do you like Khun Wittawin or Khun Pirayu?" Toey shot back. "Pick someone and stick with it. I'll allow it as you're my boss. Once you decide, I'll make my decision too."
"Decide what exactly?" Teeradon asked.
Decide who gets to have you, you oblivious man. You can play games with any one except me. Can't even keep track of your own people. Don't think you can call me unreasonable now—when it comes to love, there's no room for compromise...
If Wittawin really wants Pirayu to be his uncle's boyfriend, then I'll make sure Teeradon becomes Pirayu's boyfriend instead. As for Sarayoot—he has to be mine alone...
***
Wittawin parked his motorcycle and headed toward the condominium stairs, but stopped short when he saw two men walking out. He knew them both—one personally, the other as a celebrity. When the two spotted him, the one who knew him personally froze as well.
Teeradon's jaw dropped. He automatically stepped away from Sarin, looking at Wittawin with guilty eyes, wanting to explain. But Wittawin walked past in silence, pretending not to know him. Teeradon told Sarin to wait by the car, then turned to follow the young man, catching up just before the elevator.
"Wittawin, wait a second."
"I'm tired. Let's talk another day," Wittawin's voice was curt as he pressed the elevator button and reached into his pocket, before turning to face Teeradon. "Actually, I don't see that we have anything to talk about."
"We do. I—"
"Never thought Sarin, my favorite actor, would be... uh... would be..." Wittawin tilted his head thoughtfully. "If he's something to you, what should I call him?"
"A rest stop. I can answer that for you," Teeradon replied.
"You certainly travel frequently. Must be traveling every night," Wittawin said with a smile—though it was ice-cold. He didn't understand why he felt so irritated seeing Teeradon arm-in-arm with the famous young actor. "Just don't travel bounding to my direction," Wittawin added, stepping into the opening elevator.
"I'll travel to find you and take you with me," Teeradon said firmly, ignoring Wittawin's mocking smile as he immediately pressed the close button after those words.
Teeradon stood staring at the elevator doors for several long moments before turning to walk slowly back to the front of the building, muttering softly about his rotten luck tonight.
That night when he saw Wittawin at this condo's entrance, he was still chasing after Wittawin then. He should have realized Wittawin might live here, or at least be visiting friends or relatives. And he shouldn't have gotten involved with Sarin again at the actor's condo...
Or maybe he shouldn't get involved with anyone anywhere else. What if he gets unlucky like tonight again?
God, this is crazy. Why does everything have to be like this? Why does he care about Wittawin's feelings so much?
Why does he feel so awful?
***
After finishing his shower and toweling off, the doorbell rang. Wittawin looked through the peephole and saw the building security guard, so he opened the door to ask what was wrong. But the person standing beside the guard nearly made Wittawin shout out loud.
"Khun Teeradon, what kind of crazy stunt is this?" Wittawin's voice was sharp as he turned to glare at the guard, who didn't wait to be scolded and hurried away.
"I came to apologize," Teeradon said softly.
"How much did it cost you? For the guard to agree to bring you up here," Wittawin shook his head. Part of him wanted to slam the door shut, but something made him continue the conversation, curious about what excuse the other would offer.
"However much it cost, I'd pay it. I didn't want to go home to sleep while you still misunderstood."
"What am I misunderstanding?"
"About me and Sarin," Teeradon answered. "We don't have anything going on."
"I believe you," Wittawin said immediately, nodding. "Can I go to sleep now?"
"Let me come in for a bit," Teeradon asked stubbornly.
"What do you think?" Wittawin tilted his head questioningly.
"I need to pee," Teeradon said desperately, at a loss for excuses.
"And you probably want coffee too, right?"
"I'm sleepy too," Teeradon smiled slightly, his heart swelling because he could sense that Wittawin wasn't as angry as he'd feared. Initially, he'd expected that as soon as the young man opened the door and saw him standing next to the security guard he'd 'borrowed' to help ring the doorbell, Wittawin would slam the door in his face.
But Wittawin kept talking for quite a while, even though he was wearing only a towel. Water droplets still clung to his chest, his pink nipples standing out against his pale torso, his flat stomach smooth, white, clean, tempting...
SLAM!
The door shut with a bang.
Damn. I shouldn't have licked my lips. Wittawin catches on way too fast...
***