Ricky studied Teeradon with contemplative eyes. Initially, he'd been thrilled when Teeradon invited him out. The moment he'd returned to Thailand and seen that text message, he'd nearly sprinted to find him—but something had held him back. Throughout his overseas filming, he'd been bewildered by how desperately he missed Teeradon, despite constantly reminding himself that Teeradon was just... Teeradon. Someone who never thought of having serious relationships with anyone. Love was never even part of the conversation. But last night, when he'd opened his phone to see those words—"Miss you. Want to see you"—that brief message had sparked something like hope.
Only to have the wind snuff it out in less than half the night...
Teeradon had a body but no heart...
Had he never possessed one, or had he given it to someone else...
"Why did you bring me here just to stare at a swimming pool?" Ricky finally asked. "If you wanted to gaze at water, you could've done that at your own place. Didn't need to come this far and spend thousands of baht."
Teeradon turned with a faint smile, reaching over to clasp the young actor's hand. "Are you sulking? I'm sorry. I was lost in thought."
"Khun Don, are you heartbroken?" The words tumbled out before Ricky could stop them, bitter and incredulous. "I can't believe I just asked you that."
"Me? Heartbroken?" Teeradon raised an eyebrow, his eyes lacking their usual playful gleam.
"Oh right, I forgot. You don't have a heart—how could it break? But sitting there all cold and distant like that, I can't help but wonder." Ricky shrugged.
"Ricky, what do you think of me?" After a moment's silence, Teeradon posed his own question.
"You tell me first. What do you think of me? Right now, I mean. What's going through your head? Because before, I knew—you saw me as just dessert, something sweet to play with."
"Don't think like that. But you know what kind of relationship we had. You yourself were also—"
"Yes, I had others too. Sorry for saying it like that. Let's just... cut that topic. But right now—this moment, when you brought me out today, said you missed me, wanted to see me—what did you mean?"
"Let's be boyfriends." The words erupted from Teeradon's lips.
"What?" Ricky's exclamation rang out, eyes wide, jaw slack. He never expected to hear such words from the mouth of the playboy who could've been president of the Asian Casanova Association.
"I want to have a boyfriend. Want to date someone seriously. Want a real romantic relationship." Teeradon's gaze remained steady on Ricky's face.
Ricky sat stunned for a long moment, staring at Teeradon in disbelief. Then suddenly he jerked his head away and shot up from his chair, voice dripping with disdain: "Go wherever you want. I'll cut you out of my heart—shouldn't be hard since I don't love you yet. But if you need sex, anyone can give you that."
Teeradon exhaled slowly, jaw clenched tight, hands balled into fists until his nails bit into his palms. He wanted nothing more than to slam his head against the dining table as he realized what had just come out of his mouth.
Even Ricky didn't want to love him. Another rejection. Another person chasing him away like Wittawin and Pirayu had...
Was it really so hard to find someone to love him...
...Metas, Sarin, Ton, Panin, Noom, Reo, Dodo, Aun, Jeffrey—surely one of them would agree to be his boyfriend. Once he had one, he could parade them around to spite Wittawin. Let him see how easily replaceable he was...
***
The marathon meeting that consumed the entire afternoon left Teeradon utterly drained. He hadn't imagined that simply sitting still and making business decisions could sap every ounce of his energy. Toey looked equally exhausted. This time, he'd brought his secretary into the meeting specifically to take notes, sensing his own mind sometimes wandered from the subject at hand. But he'd noticed that even his usually sharp secretary seemed to zone out periodically. As they left the conference room, Toey strode ahead toward the office, visibly hurried. Teeradon caught up just at the office entrance, curiosity piqued.
"Got a date with some guy, Toey? Why the rush?"
"Someone really close to," Toey replied, pushing through the large glass door.
"Sarayoot?" Teeradon asked with a knowing smile.
"Yes." The young secretary turned back with a level voice. "Today I am going to talk to Khun Yoot, make him choose—me or Khun Pirayu."
"Hmm." Teeradon made an acknowledging sound and headed straight for his office door, but stopped short when his secretary's voice followed him.
"And you should make things clear too. If Khun Yoot chooses Pirayu over me, don't expect you'll end up with Khun Wittawin."
"Excuse me?" Teeradon whipped around. "Why would you say that?"
"Khun Win's trying to cheer up his friend, and he's close to succeeding because Khun Pirayu's looking pitiful right now. Khun Yoot has a soft heart—if Khun Pirayu gets hurt by some heartless person, Khun Yoot might sympathize." Toey's tone was deadly serious.
"What does that have to do with me losing hope with Wittawin?"
"Everything. Do you think if Pirayu gets hurt, Khun Win will be happy and turn to you? Because no matter how much Khun Yoot sympathizes with Pirayu, I won't give up." The determined secretary grabbed his bag and phone, preparing to leave the office.
"If Khun Yoot chooses KhunPirayu, I'll go full demolition mode." Toey's expression turned ice-cold. "I'll clash Khun Pirayu. Class your precious Wittawin. Class everyone who stands in my way."
"Do you really have to have him, Toey? Honestly, I don't think Sarayoot suits you. He's better matched with Pirayu."
"And you're not suited for Wittawin." Toey's eyes flashed dangerously, his face darkening. "Wittawin isn't right for you."
"Then who am I suited for? And if Wittawin isn't right for me, who is he right for?"
"Baramee." Toey's smile turned vicious. "And right now, Baramee's busy winning points while leaving you in the dust. I think you should stop messing with Wittawin. It's been months and you haven't made any progress. All you've managed is to trick him into opening up to you—what a pathetic achievement. Have you even gotten to hug him? At most, you've probably just managed to secretly hold his hand."
"You're going too far now, Toey." Teeradon's voice turned menacing as he made a move to grab his mouthy secretary's throat.
"I'm never wrong about people. Wittawin and Baramee already have some feelings for each other since they were friends first. Plus Wittawin doesn't like playboys. If I were him, I'd choose Baramee without hesitation. Same age, they understand each other, both into motorcycles, both serious about love—not planning to hit it and quit it like someone I know." Toey's voice was cutting, though he couldn't help feeling a stab of pain remembering the past, when Baramee had left him for the simple reason that his family forced him into marriage and he had to choose family over love.
"Who says I'd hit it and quit it?"
"Oh please, like I don't know anything." The secretary's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Are you the kind of man who is truly in love and hoping for marriage, right?"
"I'll win Wittawin over, just watch. I'll make Wittawin love me. Show everyone that Teeradon can make anyone fall for him." Teeradon's voice was fierce, eyes burning with determination.
"That's all you ever think about—defeating others. All those proposals you made, pressuring that company to send Wittawin to install the computer system at the club. This is probably just another—"
"I'll win Wittawin's heart. Just wait and see." Teeradon's voice cut through like a blade.
"And what will you gain from this? Is it fun, trying to conquer him like this? Does it make you happy, getting him just to throw him away?" Toey shook his head, his patience with Teeradon nearly exhausted. Initially, he'd found it amusing to help his boss chase after someone with fair skin, dark eyebrows, a prominent nose, and red lips—someone Teeradon constantly raved about (and Toey had privately added 'nice ass' to the description). But now he felt nothing but irritation toward the playboy, wishing everyone would reject him completely.
Come to think of it, Teeradon had accumulated plenty of karma. Never been serious with anyone. Now suddenly he wants to be serious with Wittawin? Toey didn't believe it. Teeradon probably just wanted Wittawin so badly he was shaking. The harder something was to get, the more desperate he became, acting more extreme than usual. See? Claims to like Win so much, but then goes and creates drama with Pirayu. Even now, he still hasn't stopped messing with that side, still calling him. And that land deal too—prime real estate in the city, selling it cheap for a kindergarten. Teeradon's really lost it. His brain must be short-circuiting...
"Who says I'd throw Wittawin away?" Teeradon's voice was harsh. "Wittawin has to be mine. Anyone who tries to interfere, I'll handle them. That bland-faced Baramee—I'll sweep him aside. And don't you dare get in my way."
"So no matter what, you won't choose Pirayu?" Toey asked in a flat tone, his narrow eyes studying his boss.
"I don't love Pirayu, Toey. How can I choose someone I don't love? Stop trying to force it on me. When it comes to matters of the heart, I can choose for myself."
"So you choose Wittawin."
Teeradon didn't answer. He looked at his secretary for a moment, then walked back into his office, leaving Toey standing in silence, his chest burning with an unfamiliar heat.
Teeradon chooses Wittawin. Teeradon really loves Wittawin? Has he gone completely mad...
Teeradon looks so serious. He's never been like this before. And he definitely won't choose Pirayu...
Pirayu will be devastated. Wittawin will have to help heal his friend's pain. The one who'll end up curing the broken-hearted person will probably be Saint Sarayoot...
His Sarayoot...
He couldn't accept it. He couldn't lose. Not to Pirayu. Not to Wittawin. And now Teeradon had declared that anyone who dared interfere between him and Wittawin would be dealt with...
...Deal with Toey? Hah. Not so easy...
***