Sarayoot parked his car and hurried into the pub, worry gnawing at his chest. Pirayu's voice over the phone had carried an unfamiliar melancholy—nothing like the person he thought he knew. More unsettling still, this was the first time Pirayu had called him out for a midnight meeting, especially to a place Sarayoot never imagined the younger man would frequent.
The small pub held only a handful of patrons on this Tuesday night, too early yet for the serious crowd. Pirayu sat motionless on a barstool, eyes fixed on the drink cradled in his hands. When Sarayoot approached, Pirayu's lips curved into the faintest smile.
"Don't tell me you're planning to get me drunk," Sarayoot said, his tone gentle.
"Let's just say I invited you out for a conversation." Pirayu's voice barely carried above the ambient music.
"What's troubling you?"
"Matters of the heart." Pirayu's laugh held no humor as he lifted his glass. Sarayoot watched in silence, waiting.
"Uncle Yoot, are you... seeing anyone right now?"
The question caught him off guard. "Why do you ask?"
Sarayoot sidestepped a direct answer. His relationship with Toey existed in some undefined space—not quite official, yet their intimate encounters had awakened an old-fashioned sense of responsibility in him. Beneath that, something else stirred, a confusion he wasn't ready to name.
"I've been thinking about what Win said—how he keeps pushing us together, insisting we'd be perfect for each other. He thinks if we gave ourselves a chance to really know one another, maybe we could..."
"Don't put too much stock in what Win says. That boy's mind runs in circles."
"I want to give myself a chance." Pirayu's voice dropped to almost a whisper, his gaze drifting to the bottles lined behind the bar.
"I'm glad you're giving yourself a chance." Sarayoot's tone remained soft as he reached over, gently removing the glass from Pirayu's grip before it could reach his lips again.
Pirayu released it without resistance, turning to face Wittawin's uncle with a tender smile. Their eyes met for a heartbeat before he spoke again.
"And I want to ask you to give me a chance too."
"Pirayu—"
"Maybe we get so caught up looking at what seems unsuitable for us. Shouldn't love and compatibility go hand in hand?" Pirayu raised an eyebrow, not waiting for an answer. He signaled the bartender for the check, then suggested they step outside for fresh air.
***
Toey slowed his car when a familiar silhouette caught his eye by the roadside. As he drew closer, his eyes widened in shock, followed by a surge of irritation at the sight of the other figure walking alongside.
No way. Don't think you can steal Sarayoot from me...
"Khun Yoot!" Toey pulled over, rolling down his window. Sarayoot spun around, surprise flickering across his features before he quickly composed himself.
"Out for an evening stroll? Or heading home? I could give you a ride." Toey forced a smile.
"I brought my car," Sarayoot replied curtly.
Ah, so that's how it is. A deflection meaning: yes, I'm out for a stroll. Out talking with Pirayu. Comforting Pirayu...
Never thought Sarayoot could be like this. I pegged him as the quiet, non-flirtatious type...
The young secretary quickly exited his car, positioning himself directly in front of both men with an overly bright smile, though internally he wanted nothing more than to drag Sarayoot away from Pirayu immediately.
"Perfect timing! I was just looking for some drinking company to chase away the loneliness. Drove all this way and didn't expect to run into people I know."
"I was just heading back," Pirayu smiled and began to walk away. Sarayoot turned as if to call him back, but Pirayu held up a restraining hand.
"Keep Khun Toey company, uncle Yoot. I'll go get my car. See you later, Khun Toey." Pirayu turned and strode away decisively, leaving two pairs of eyes tracking his departure with very different emotions.
"Didn't realize you were the playboy type, Khun Yoot." Toey's smile didn't reach his eyes.
"Me, a playboy?" Sarayoot's laugh came out dry. "Pirayu asked me out to talk. He had something weighing on his mind."
"About Khun Teeradon. I know. Khun Pirayu loves Khun Teeradon, and they're currently at odds." Toey shrugged with practiced nonchalance when discussing his boss.
"At odds?"
"Khun Teeradon is confused. He's standing at the crossroads between two people who've caught his interest. Right now he's probably weighing his options, deciding between Khun Wittawin and Khun Pirayu."
"Is that really true?" Sarayoot found it hard to believe. He'd always assumed Khun Teeradon favored Wittawin over Pirayu.
"If Khun Win and Khun Pirayu didn't know each other or didn't get along, things would be simple. It wouldn't be this complicated when they're friends."
"What exactly do you mean, Khun Toey?"
"I mean..." the young secretary spoke slowly, then deliberately released a heavy sigh. "Ugh, I don't really want to say."
"Go ahead."
"Khun Yoot, if you were in Khun Win's or Khun Pirayu's position—falling for the same man—what would you do? But I wonder... does Khun Win really love Khun Don? If he does, is it as much as Khun Pirayu?" Toey tilted his head thoughtfully.
"I wouldn't know about that," Sarayoot murmured.
"And if one of them gets disappointed, who would suffer more? Who could endure it better? Who could move on faster? Who would be hurt so badly they could barely stand it? Who's stronger at healing a broken heart quickly?" Toey paused before delivering his knockout punch. "Who would sacrifice for whom?"
Wittawin, of course. The answer's obvious. Sarayoot doesn't need to think twice. Between Wittawin and Pirayu, there's no way they'd actually compete for Teeradon. His question has the simplest answer...
Who would sacrifice for whom...
"Khun Wittawin still has Khun Baramee, doesn't he?" Toey continued. "Or Khun Pamorn."
"Pamorn and Wittawin are close friends, and besides, Pamorn isn't... isn't like us." Sarayoot interjected quickly. "He just acts that way. Likes to make people misunderstand."
"Oh!" Toey's surprise was genuine this time, not feigned. He'd been convinced Pamorn was a bottom.
"Did I read Khun Baramee wrong too?" Toey asked for confirmation.
Sarayoot shook his head, but the questioner needed clarity about what the head shake meant.
"Baramee likes Wittawin. Has had secret feelings for a long time, but only recently revealed them."
"Poor Khun Pirayu." Toey sighed. "His first love and he's already facing heartbreak. Just when his dream was almost within reach—lately Khun Don has changed so much he's barely recognizable. I was shocked to see my boss abandon his playboy ways. Maybe not one hundred percent, but there are signs he might become a reformed rake. But Khun Pirayu will probably end up being the one who sacrifices for his friend. If it were me in that situation, I'd probably..."
"Has Khun Teeradon really changed that much?" Sarayoot asked quickly, interrupting.
The cunning secretary nodded and continued, "The lucky person who wins the heart of a reformed playboy would probably be Khun Win—they're so perfectly suited."
"Wittawin hasn't fallen as hard for Khun Teeradon as Pirayu has. And the one who loves his friend enough to step aside, to sacrifice for friendship—that's Wittawin. He's always been that way," Sarayoot spoke of his nephew with quiet affection, his eyes distant.
He doesn't want Wittawin to belong to Teeradon...
If only Wittawin didn't love Teeradon...
If only...
If...
"Khun Wittawin is loveable. Anyone who gets close to him falls for him easily. He's handsome, charming. Soon enough someone else will come along, or at least there's Khun Baramee waiting hopefully. But what about Khun Pirayu? I don't know if anyone's waiting for him. If I were you, I'd want to help Khun Pirayu find happiness." Toey's voice carried conviction—the closing argument of a skilled salesman.
Sarayoot fell silent, sighing softly, his gaze unfocused. Certain phrases from Toey's speech echoed in his mind, particularly the line about anyone who gets close to Wittawin falling for him easily.
The scheming secretary watched the sharp, handsome profile of the man he loved and knew immediately that Sarayoot was beginning to bend to his way of thinking.
"Khun Yoot, we have to help Khun Pirayu and Khun Don," Toey whispered close to Sarayoot's ear. "People who have feelings for each other deserve to love successfully."
Sarayoot sighed.
Yes, people who care for each other should be together...
Who does he care for, and whom does he care for more...