Pirayu turned with a broad smile toward the tall young man who had parked his motorcycle beside the white fence near the carousel, then called for his friend to help hang the plastic banners.
"Hey, tall guy, help me hang this straight. That PE teacher hung everything crooked—now I have to fix it all." Pirayu's words came with easy laughter.
Wittawin waited until they finished hanging the banner before broaching the real reason he'd returned to the kindergarten instead of waiting for the annual Christmas event. Pirayu listened to what Wittawin had to say with careful composure, his face a mask of calm as he fought to control his emotions.
"I know what kind of man he is—a player who never thinks of getting serious with anyone," Pirayu finally said after listening for a long time.
I don't like being tied down...
Teeradon's words from their first meeting still echoed in his ears. Back then, he hadn't cared because he'd decided to let himself be free for once, tired of living within boundaries for so long.
Now he's no longer bound by those old constraints, but he's trapped in something far worse...
A cage of the heart...
He'd fallen so deep into loving Teeradon that there was no climbing back out...
"This Teeradon guy—he was chasing after me from the very beginning, probably at the same time he was dating you, you know. Have you seen that sticker on his car's rear window? It says 'President of the Playboys Association of Thailand.' That's just the writing—doesn't even include his actual behavior." Wittawin's voice dripped with disdain. "Pirayu, loving a playboy only leads to heartbreak. You should stop getting involved with him. Who knows how many others he has? You're worth more than you can even know."
Pirayu let out a long breath, saying nothing more, turning to look at the festival grounds with a face full of sorrow while Wittawin stood beside him.
"You'd be perfect with uncle Yoot. If you want real love, why not consider him?" Wittawin spoke up after a moment of silence.
"Do love and compatibility always go hand in hand, Win?" Pirayu murmured without looking at his friend.
"So you love Teeradon so much that you can't even consider anyone else? Uncle Yoot isn't good enough to make you happy, or to give you the stable love life you want? Isn't that exactly what you need? Stop this now, before it's too late, before you can't start fresh with anyone else." Wittawin's voice carried firm conviction as he glanced at his friend's profile. The face that usually wore a constant smile now showed a melancholy he'd never seen before.
"I love him." Pirayu's voice came out soft, beginning to tremble.
"Does he love you back?" Wittawin shot back immediately. "And how much longer can you go on like this? Ask yourself—how much longer can you last?"
"What makes you so sure he doesn't love me?" Pirayu turned to face his friend with pain-filled eyes. "Or that he loves someone else?"
"Someone like that can't love anyone, can't truly love. Where's his heart? I'd bet anything that Teeradon doesn't like commitment. His life is about temporary fun and fleeting happiness. Are you going to argue with that?" Wittawin's voice turned harsh.
"Win—" Pirayu's voice cracked as he turned away to hide the tears beginning to overflow.
"I'm sorry for being so blunt," Wittawin's tone softened, though his thoughts continued silently:
I'm sorry I can't tell you everything. I'm not brave enough to say that Teeradon is cruel enough to offer me a deal—to become his boyfriend in exchange for leaving you alone. I don't want to hurt you more than this...
But what is all this really?...
I hate Teeradon so much. This person coming in and making everything chaotic...
Why does it have to be Pirayu? Why? Why?...
***
Teeradon dropped his cigarette butt onto the sidewalk and crushed it with his toe, glancing at Wittawin's company entrance with boredom before turning to watch the street, waiting for the young man who had secretly come to play games with his heart to return to the office as the secretary had confirmed.
Wittawin had rejected his conditions and had probably gone to conduct "psychological operations" on Pirayu, since that side had also declined his dinner invitation.
So he had to come this far to find someone to have dinner with...
Good or bad, he wasn't sure, but Pirayu backing away was probably for the best. Did this mean Pirayu was sacrificing for his friend?...
Oh, Wittawin, you can't escape Teeradon. After rejecting me to my face like this, I'll just shift into high gear and chase you down to lock you up in my heart for a while. I told you—one hundred percent success rate. No one has ever escaped me...
Including Wittawin...
No matter how good you are at racing, you can't outrun Teeradon. Just wait and see...
Teeradon spun around when he heard a motorcycle engine roaring from the distance, then had to clench his jaw tight. The driver wasn't Wittawin, but the passenger definitely was.
Holding onto the driver's waist, geez…
"Baramee," Teeradon muttered darkly, accidentally grinding his teeth as he watched the driver and passenger remove their helmets.
Neither young man looked surprised—they'd probably spotted who was standing in front of the company before parking. But when Wittawin stepped down from the motorcycle, Teeradon clenched his teeth even harder as his eyes caught sight of Baramee reaching out to grab Wittawin's hand.
"Given up being a speed demon, Wittawin?" Teeradon greeted with a smile. "Though I think riding as a passenger is probably more comfortable—having someone else drive for you."
"What do you need, Khun Teeradon?" Wittawin asked in an even tone.
And he still won't pull his hand away from Baramee's...
"Nothing much. Just passing by, so I thought I'd say hello to Khun Sarayoot and discuss the job of overhauling the computer system at the club." Teeradon turned his attention to the other man who dared to show such possessiveness over someone he had his eye on.
"Are you here to help with the computer company's work, Khun Baramee?"
"I'm the new business partner," Baramee answered curtly, feeling the urge to lift Wittawin's hand to his lips and kiss it.
Teeradon's face went rigid before shifting into a cold smile as he offered congratulations, then excused himself. But he didn't forget to leave both young men with something to think about.
"Network Solutions is quite the prize, you know. Anyone would want to become a partner, including me—I'd love to gobble it up for myself. And if any competitors try to muscle in on the business, I'll handle them accordingly."
Baramee narrowed his eyes, furrowing his brows and pressing his lips together in irritation at Teeradon's threat. Wittawin remained standing with his usual composed expression, showing no emotion. But once Teeradon walked away, he pulled his hand free from his 'friend's' grasp.
"Pamorn is probably inside. If you want to discuss business, hurry up and go in. It's getting dark—I need to visit a friend at the hospital." Wittawin spoke matter-of-factly.
"I'm heading back first, Win." Baramee said quietly, walking straight to his motorcycle without looking back. But after mounting the bike and before he could put on his helmet, he paused for a moment, as if to turn and say something to his 'friend' who stood watching him silently. In the end, though, he changed his mind at the last second.
This is it. He can't take being in this situation anymore. Wittawin let him hold his hand in front of Teeradon, but the moment that man walked away, he immediately pulled free. What does this mean? His declaration that he'd do whatever it takes to make Wittawin his would probably bring more pain than joy. Just from this, he could see that these two were caught in some kind of standoff...
What does it mean? Does it mean Wittawin has already decided? Does it mean these two have feelings for each other after all?...
***