Sarayoot stepped away, leaving Wittawin alone with Toey. The moment they had privacy, the young secretary wasted no time laying his cards on the table—that he loved Sarayoot, and Sarayoot had feelings for him too. There was no sign that Sarayoot was interested in Pirayu, who clearly loved Teeradon.
"Do you love Khun Teeradon or not? Make up your mind. Whatever you decide, stick with it." Toey's words cut through the air like a blade. "Since Khun Pirayu and I have both been honest and followed our hearts, let those two get their happy ending. You're standing in the way of your friend's happiness—and mine too. If you're still unclear, still uncertain, still can't decide, then step back. Let go. Because if this continues, Pirayu will sacrifice Khun Teeradon for you, but I won't sacrifice Khun Yoot for anyone."
My boyfriend—hands off. Toey's man—no one better dare try to take him.
"Does uncle Yoot love you?" Since Toey was being direct, Wittawin matched his bluntness.
"Does Khun Yoot love Khun Pirayu?" Toey shot back. "And does Khun Pirayu love Khun Yoot?"
Wittawin fell silent for a moment. The well-prepared secretary pressed on. "Think carefully, Khun Win. About me and Khun Yoot—even if he doesn't love me yet, I'm certain he has feelings for me. He just hasn't made up his mind. You know your uncle—he's cautious, takes his time with decisions. I love him. I've made that crystal clear. If he only had me in his life, I believe everything would work out just fine. At least one of us loves the other. But Khun Yoot and Pirayu? Those two don't love each other at all. Not even one-sided love."
"I'm not forcing uncle Yoot," Wittawin protested.
"You're trying to set those two up."
"I think they're compatible."
"And I think you're perfect for Baramee." Toey delivered his knockout punch.
"I don't love Baramee."
"But Baramee loves you. Even if it's one-sided, he loves you. See? There's more potential for that relationship to develop than Khun Yoot and Khun Pirayu, who have zero feelings for each other." Toey pressed his logic. "We all have opinions about who should be with whom. So tell me—who am I supposed to be with if not Khun Yoot?"
Wittawin stared at the determined young secretary, his mind racing. Suddenly, something clicked.
"You'd be perfect with Khun Teeradon."
"Are you insane?" Toey's voice rose so loud that nearby people turned to stare. "Who on earth would want him? Someone like that?"
"Then Pirayu isn't right for my boss either." Wittawin's voice turned icy as he seized the opportunity to strike back at Toey's momentary lapse. "You know as well as I do that Pirayu could never handle Khun Don. You're trying to force Pirayu on him—it's like sending my friend straight to hell."
"That's harsh. If Khun Don overheard that, he'd be breathing fire." Toey's voice hardened, stung by his own tactical error. But his sharp mind quickly regrouped. "Though I know exactly who could handle him? You know it too, don't you, Khun Wittawin?"
Wittawin didn't answer, turning to watch their company colleagues taking photos with plump students dressed as adorable reindeer.
"Khun Win, just listen to your heart for once." Toey's voice softened. "My heart cries out Khun Yoot's name. You don't hate me. Can't you let me have my happiness? Suppose Khun Pirayu doesn't get Khun Don—someone as good as Khun Pirayu will find the right person eventually. It doesn't have to be Khun Yoot, who's already practically mine."
Wittawin sighed. The more he talked with Toey, the less he could see a way out. More importantly, Teeradon's capable secretary seemed utterly determined and unwilling to back down.
"Listen, Khun Win. When things aren't settled yet, we can wait and work on them later. But when something's about to fall into place, let's wrap that up first. It's like solving problems one at a time. Khun Yoot and I are ready—we have the most potential. Once we're settled, that eliminates two variables. Then we can work on pairing up the others. In the end, everyone will be happy." Toey deployed all his professional persuasion skills, the same ones he'd used to convince his stubborn boss countless times.
He wasn't being selfish or unreasonably biased. He was simply stating what he saw.
***
Wittawin sat in silence on the office sofa, his thoughts consumed by Toey's words. He had to admit that some of it made sense, especially about pairing Sarayoot with Pirayu. Those two didn't love each other—the chances of them ending up together were slim. Even one-sided love was better than that. Take Baramee, for instance. If he was good enough to him, maybe his heart would soften eventually.
If only his heart was still free, didn't belong to anyone else...
"Hey Wittawin, you've been sitting there like a statue. Are you going home to sleep tonight or what? You can't sleep here—Uncle Yoot's coming up, and he'll definitely scold you." Pamorn stuck his head in, speaking close to Wittawin's ear, only to get his face pushed away.
"Why is he coming back here again?" Wittawin grimaced.
"To check on his beloved nephew, see how many battle wounds you've collected. Of all people to argue with, you picked Toey. That guy could out-negotiate the Thai Ambassador to the UN."
Pamorn shrugged. Wittawin glared at his friend and started to kick him out of the office. Pamorn protested loudly that he was a partner and co-owner, with every right to sit in this office too.
Before the two could escalate their bickering, the 'referee' who happened to be Wittawin's uncle walked in. Pamorn immediately tattled that Wittawin was planning to sleep at the office.
"That mouth of yours is going to get you punched," Wittawin pointed at Pamorn.
"See, uncle Yoot? Wittawin just threatened to hit me. This hothead—no wonder nobody wants to love him." Pamorn wailed theatrically, though his eyes twinkled with mischief. "What about you, uncle Yoot? Could you ever love him?"
"Stop talking nonsense." Sarayoot shook his head at Pamorn, then turned to Wittawin with an even tone. "Win, go home and sleep."
"Win, this is a workplace, not a bedroom," Pamorn interjected, then quickly ducked behind Sarayoot when Wittawin reached for the paperweight on the desk. "Uncle Yoot, help me! Your nephew's trying to kill me!"
"Pamorn, stop provoking your friend." Sarayoot sighed, then turned back to Wittawin. "Win, it's Christmas Eve. Want to go celebrate?"
"No thanks. I'm going home to rest. I'm tired today." Wittawin shook his head and stood up, grabbing his backpack.
"But I want to celebrate," Pamorn sidled up to Sarayoot. "Buy me dinner, please? Let's go right now—I'm starving."
Sarayoot looked reluctant, but Pamorn wouldn't take no for an answer, wheedling and pouting until Sarayoot couldn't refuse. As Pamorn dragged him toward the door, he winked at Wittawin. "Sleep tight, Win. Quiet atmosphere, soft bed, cool air conditioning, all the utilities you need. You'll definitely have sweet dreams. Merry Christmas—hope you get the perfect gift from Santa."
Wittawin shook his head, then followed them to the door. He waited until Pamorn and Sarayoot had gone down to the second floor before turning back into the office, tossing his bag onto the floor near the large black sofa he'd claimed as his own.
Quiet atmosphere, soft bed, cool air conditioning, all utilities—just as Pamorn said, that described this room perfectly. It was their secret code meaning 'sleeping at the office tonight,' because his apartment's air conditioning had been acting up for over a week, alternating between freezing and sweltering. He'd complained to Pamorn so much that his friend had to cover his ears every time he heard about sleeping poorly.
'I don't think it's about the hard bed, broken AC, or noisy neighbors, Win. You can't sleep because your mind's all over the place.'
Wittawin smiled softly at Pamorn's words, silently grateful his friend had whisked Sarayoot away.
He was lucky to have such good friends, lucky that they all loved and supported each other since their school days and never abandoned one another. Lucky that his life was filled with people who cared...
But was he about to hurt Pirayu? He didn't know what to do. Pirayu loved Teeradon, but Teeradon refused to let him go. How heartbroken would Pirayu be if he knew what Teeradon really wanted from him? And if he sacrificed Teeradon to Pirayu, what then? Would Pirayu be happy?
But Pirayu was probably thinking the same thoughts he was. Toey was right—if things between him and Teeradon remained unclear, Pirayu would have to choose to step back, to reduce the variables that would complicate the situation.
No. Pirayu's heartbreak over not getting Teeradon was bad enough, but having to watch the person he loved become his dear friend's boyfriend would hurt even more.
He'd never made his friends unhappy, and he didn't want to start now. He couldn't do it.
***