Rested well, the next day I packed all my things for the shoot, as Phi Tan had mentioned it could take up to four days. Phu came to fetch me from home. We went for breakfast together, just the two of us. It was quiet, comforting. After that, he dropped me off near the office to avoid any unnecessary questions from colleagues.
"Bye," I said.
"That's it?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes."
He held my hand gently and kissed it.
"I will wait then."
I smiled and stepped out of the car, watching him drive off. Inside, Phi Tan and Nok were already getting ready. We were heading out in one car—the Honda e:N1 that belonged to Phi Tan. Once everything was packed, we began our journey to the location.
We were going to Sumeru Mountain—just outside the city. The shoot there was only for a day, mainly to capture the majestic background for some opening frames.
As we drove, I glanced out the window, feeling the shift in the air—cooler, fresher, different. The city faded behind us, and the mountains started to rise ahead, silent and strong. I knew this project with James was going to challenge me, not just professionally, but emotionally too.
And still, somewhere deep down, I was thinking about Phu.
What would these next four days bring?
I wasn't sure. But I was ready.
James and his manager were already at the location before us. He sat quietly on a chair, sunglasses on, exuding the same cold aura from before. Phi Tan, Nok, and I started unpacking the equipment and prepping the set. Phi Tan and Nok greeted James with their usual charm.
I, on the other hand, chose to ignore him. I knew he wouldn't even look at me.
Then, his manager turned toward me and said, "Where are your manners?"
I raised a brow. "For what?"
"For your senior," he snapped.
I sighed and forced a half-hearted, "Hi, Phi James."
He smirked without saying a word. I didn't stay to hear any more—I walked off with the light stands in my arms, feeling the weight of both equipment and irritation.
The next hour was chaotic. James kept changing his mind about the backdrop, angles, and even lighting, making it a struggle to lock anything down. Eventually, we settled on a backdrop at the edge of the trees, with the golden sun filtering through.
Once the shoot began, I had to admit—when it came to work, James was good. He hit every pose like he could read the camera's mind. His instincts were sharp, and his expressions carried weight. I kept my focus, trying not to let his earlier attitude ruin the professionalism I needed to uphold.
After an hour, we called for a 30-minute break.
Out of nowhere, James's manager called me over. "You, get ice water for James."
I bit my lip, holding back my exhaustion. "Okay, Phi," I said politely and rushed to the cooler box where we kept the drinks.
I came back, handed James a bottle of ice water.
He looked at it… and pushed it away with the back of his hand, not saying a word.
His manager jumped in, voice sharp. "Why did you bring this? He only drinks that brand."
I froze for a second, already feeling like a mess.
"I'm sorry, Phi," I muttered and ran to switch the bottle.
Once I handed him the branded water, he snatched it from my hand. No thank you. No sorry. Nothing.
I clenched my jaw and turned away, feeling the pressure boil up inside.
I decided to stay quiet, remembering Phi Tan's earlier advice: "Keep your cool. Don't let him get to you."
After the break, we resumed the shoot. Despite the tension earlier, I stayed professional. James, true to his reputation, continued to deliver effortlessly in front of the camera.
By the time the tenth and final shot was done, it was nearly 4 PM. We were all drained, but relieved. The sunlight was dimming, casting a warm hue over the mountains as we started packing the equipment.
Just as I was coiling the last extension cable, James's manager approached me again.
"You there," he called. "Bring that box to our car."
Me? I said inwardly. I blinked, my chest tightening with silent frustration. But I didn't let it show.
Instead, I smiled and replied, "Yes, sure Phi. Anything."
I bent down, lifted the box carefully, and walked toward their car. The box wasn't heavy, but the weight of humiliation, the imbalance of respect, and the unspoken "rookie" label felt like bricks on my back.
Still, I reminded myself: This is just part of the job. You're not here to prove anything to them. You're here to learn and grow.
As I placed the box gently in their trunk, I caught James leaning back in the front seat, sunglasses still on, completely silent.
Not even a glance.
No thank you, no acknowledgment. Just the sound of the trunk closing.
As I turned to leave after loading the last box, Phi James called out to me.
"Hey."
I paused.
He walked over, pulled out his wallet, and handed me a folded bill.
"For the help. Take it—1,000 baht."
I blinked, then shook my head gently.
"No need, Phi," I said calmly. "I earn enough for myself."
I offered him a polite smile and walked off, not bothering to look back. I could feel eyes on me, but I didn't stop.
Then, my phone rang.
It was Phu.
My heart did a tiny flip.
"Hello," I answered, my voice soft, almost instinctively sweet.
Just hearing his voice made my tired feet lighter, my mood warmer. We spoke for barely a minute, nothing deep—just simple things, him checking in, me telling him we were done for the day. But the way I was smiling… I couldn't hide it.
I ended the call and turned around.
That's when I noticed Phi James standing a short distance away, arms crossed, looking right at me.
His face unreadable.
I wondered… Did he hear me say "Phu"?
But I didn't flinch. I held his gaze for a moment, gave a polite nod, then continued walking toward our car.
Let him wonder.
We packed everything. Phi Tan suddenly got a call—he walked off, saying, "Give me 5 minutes."
Me and Nok continued loading all the stuff into the car. Once done, we were already sitting inside when Phi Tan returned.
He looked a bit puzzled. "I don't know what's happening, but they're asking us to join for dinner."
Nok raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
"James," he replied. "This is going to be hectic."
We all sighed but nodded. We drove off toward a well-known booze and snacking place in Bangkok. The atmosphere changed—less stress, more chill. When we arrived, everyone was already there except James and his manager.
We were laughing, having fun, finally loosening up from the long day.
Then he came in.
James.
Fresh from a shower, dressed sharply. Clean, stylish, and somehow more... serious.
He greeted everyone with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, then walked over to sit—directly at the opposite table from me.
Clear view. Full visibility.
I could feel his gaze from time to time, though I pretended not to notice.
He wasn't drinking, just sipping water, while the rest of us were casually enjoying snacks and light alcohol.
I kept my focus on the conversation with Nok and Phi Tan, but that presence across the table—it lingered. Quiet. Watching.
I noticed it again.
James.
His stare was fixed on me—not casual glances, but the kind that pokes a hole through your face if you stay still long enough. I shifted uncomfortably, pretending to scroll through my phone, pretending not to notice. But it was too obvious. He didn't say a word to me the entire shoot, never once acknowledged my work—but now he was looking at me like I was some puzzle he couldn't solve.
The drinks kept coming. Bottles opened, glasses clinked. The laughter around the table got louder and looser. Everyone was tipsy—maybe more than that.
I, on the other hand, sipped my soda slowly. Low tolerance, I reminded myself. I didn't want to end up doing something embarrassing.
Then, out of nowhere, Nok turned to me with a half-drunken smile.
"Do you have a girlfriend, Ian?"
My throat tightened.
I gave a small smile, playing it cool. "No, I don't."
It was the truth… but not the full one. I wanted to say I had a boyfriend. I wanted to say his name was Phu. But something in me hesitated. I'm still new. Still proving myself. I didn't want to give them another reason to judge me.
Still, guilt sat heavy in my chest.
Across the table, James was still looking. I glanced up. Our eyes met—for a second too long. I looked away immediately.
What does he want?
And why do I feel like something strange is about to happen?
I saw James stand up.
Finally, I thought. I almost exhaled in relief. He's leaving.
But then, instead of heading for the door, he walked toward our table.
My shoulders stiffened.
Stay cool, Ian. Just stay cool.
He came to a stop right beside us, then looked at Phi Tan. "Phi Tan, can I sit here?"
Phi Tan, who was clearly floating in his own buzzed happiness, waved lazily. "Yes, yes, of course. Sit anywhere, James."
Then came the part that twisted my gut.
"Ian, can you move a bit? Let James sit between us."
I turned slowly and nodded, trying to smile. "Sure, Phi."
Inside, I knew—this wasn't good.
James sat down beside me. Too close. I shifted slightly to the side, careful not to make it too obvious. His shoulder brushed against mine anyway.
He leaned back with a dramatic sigh, one arm draped behind my seat. "Long day," he said, looking ahead but speaking to no one in particular.
I nodded but said nothing.
His eyes drifted toward me again. "You're quiet, Ian. You always this shy, or just around me?"
I kept my gaze on the half-empty drink in front of me. "Just tired from the shoot."
He chuckled. "Hmm. Shame. I thought maybe I scared you."
He did.
But I smiled weakly and shook my head. "No, Phi James."
He tilted his head, still watching. "You can just call me James."
I didn't reply.
Across the table, Nok was chatting away with one of the assistants, too deep in conversation to notice the shift in the air.
And all I could think about was how fast I wanted this night to end—and how much I needed to call Phu.
Nok, swaying slightly but still trying to sound coherent, turned to me. "Ian, let's go back. I'm spinning already."She leaned against Phi Tan and mumbled again. "Drop me and Phi Tan off. You bring his car tomorrow, fetch us. Okay? It's already 10pm—we gotta be at the studio by 8."
I nodded. "Okay, got it."
I stood, stretched a bit from the stiffness of the long evening, and headed toward the parking lot. The air outside felt cooler than inside. I found Phi Tan's Honda, got in, and drove it out to the entrance to wait for them.
But it wasn't Nok or Phi Tan who showed up.
It was James.
I narrowed my eyes, confused and weary. He walked right up and opened the passenger-side door.
"What is it?" I asked flatly.
He slipped in casually and pulled the seatbelt on like he owned the car. "My manager's gonna drop them. I need to talk to you. Drop me at my home."
"Excuse me?" I blinked. "I don't even know where you live, and I'm tired. I need to go back. Please ask your manager to fetch you."
James closed the car door gently but didn't back off. He turned to me, his voice lower now. "Do you know Phu?"
My heart skipped a beat.
Phu? What does he mean?
I tried to keep calm. "Phu...? What Phu?"
He wasn't buying it. He leaned closer. "I know you know what Phu I'm talking about, Ian."
There was no use denying it anymore. I took a breath, looked ahead, and hands on the wheel.
"Okay... so what if I do know him?"
He relaxed into his seat, arms crossed. "That's what I want to talk to you about."
Without another word, I started the car and drove.
We didn't speak during the drive. I turned off to a quiet, dimly lit park nearby, where no one would disturb us. I parked, left the engine running, and windows cracked slightly to let the night air in.
I turned toward him. "Okay. We're here. Talk."
He looked at me for a long second, then said— "You know Phuwadon Inthanon is getting married to a businessman's daughter, right?" he said, voice casual, almost smug.
I turned sharply to look at him. "Hey James. Just because you've been in this industry longer doesn't mean I'll believe every piece of crap you throw. Do I look dumb to you? If you're here to say this kind of bullshit, I swear I'll drop you right here and drive off."
It pissed me off. More than I wanted to admit.
He smiled slowly, lips curling like he enjoyed my anger."Well… people say love is blind. Don't you agree, Ian? Fine, I'll be the villain then. Call him. Ask him where he is."
"Why?"
"Just call him first."
Reluctantly, I did. Once. Twice. Three times.
No answer.
I stared at the screen, biting my inner cheek. "Maybe he's busy, that's why he's not answering."
James leaned back. "Okay, fine. Let's go then. Let me show you a real show."
He directed me to drive. I didn't ask questions. My chest was tight, but my hands were steady on the wheel. We ended up at Lebua Skybar—the luxury rooftop place where all the elites liked to show off.
We parked, and James checked his watch.
"Few more minutes," he murmured, eyes fixed on the entrance near the valet drop-off.
And then I saw him.
Phu.
He was walking out with a woman, dressed beautifully, his hand casually draped around her waist.
Still, I tried to stay positive. Maybe it's work. Maybe she slipped. Maybe…
"So?" I asked James, not breaking my stare.
"Keep looking," he said.
Then I saw it.Phu leaned in.Their lips met.Not just a kiss—a full, slow, French kiss.
His hand slid down the woman's back, fingers tracing curves, then moving… lower. Under her waist. Under her breast.
Something inside me shattered.
I blinked fast. My hands went cold. I closed my eyes, clenched my fists. I couldn't look anymore.
And I didn't.
When I opened my eyes, I could feel the warm trails of tears on my cheeks. I was sobbing—quiet, painful, aching sobs that I couldn't hold back. Everything inside me felt like it had collapsed. My chest was heavy, my throat tight.
James looked at me with a strange stillness and said, "Phu is my cousin. We don't speak a lot outside of work because of our jobs, but I know him—I know 90% of his character. He just wants someone fresh to play with. He'll do everything to make that person fall, and once he gets what he wants… he leaves."
Everything… crashed.
I couldn't speak for a moment. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and whispered, "James, please… just let me drop you off."
He nodded silently.
The ride back was quiet. The kind of silence that screams in your ears.
Once I dropped James off, I drove straight home. I didn't call Phu. I couldn't.
Instead, I stared at my phone screen for a long time before typing:
"I'll be busy for the next few days. Once everything is done, I'll let you know so we can meet and have that talk."
I hit send. My hands were trembling, my heart torn between wanting to believe him and needing to protect myself.