Tongrob's call jolted Atikom awake that morning, regaling him with tales of weekend revelry and high-society party escapades.
"Ran into one of your old flings too—Kasidis. Remember him? The one who chased you all the way to Australia during that conference," Tongrob reported.
Atikom strained to recall Kasidis's face. He remembered the story well enough, but the features eluded him.
Kasidis—the young heir to an automotive import company who'd followed him to Sydney.
The knock on his hotel room door at midnight. He'd stumbled to answer it, finding the young man standing there with that sweet smile. For five days after, he'd snuck away from conference sessions to explore Sydney and its nightlife with Kasidis as his honorary guide.
"Right... that special tour guide who nearly killed me with exhaustion for a week."
"Unforgettable, wasn't he, you tiger?" Tongrob's laughter rang through the phone.
"Tong. Never, ever, mention this to Khun Nu—and don't let it reach anyone else who knows him either."
"Hey, don't try to strong-arm me like that! How paranoid can you get about him misunderstanding?" Tongrob protested.
"I need to nip this in the bud, prevent every possible angle."
"So you're not just playing around with him like I thought at first?"
"This time I'm serious. So don't you dare sink my love boat."
"Love? Have you told him you love him?" Tongrob pressed. Atikom didn't realize his friend's heart had fluttered just as much.
Silence stretched between them.
"You fool. Let me guess—you haven't even conquered him yet, let alone confessed your feelings. You're fumbling around while some hungry tiger might snatch him away first," Tongrob teased, his voice dropping to mock sensuality before sweetening at the end.
For the first time, Atikom found himself speechless, unable to muster any response to his dear friend's taunts.
Even if he confessed to Anupap, if Anupap didn't return those feelings, didn't accept his love, what would be the point? It wouldn't be different from loving him one-sidedly.
Or was karma playing its hand? Throughout his carefree romantic life, he'd only taken and discarded. Was heaven punishing him now?
Atikom told himself that yesterday he had 'told' Anupap. The 'pretend sleeper' should have heard.
"You are my present... and I want you to be my future..."
"Hey Kom, why so quiet? Don't overthink yourself to death. I'm lazy to arrange your funeral. Remember, friend—every problem has a solution," Tongrob's voice mocked. "Oh, and there's more. Saw two other old flames of yours at the party—Pek and Pong, those brothers. They're all buff now from working out. They asked about you, so I told them you'd become a hermit monk, keeping your vows at the condo. I gave them your address. They were thrilled—probably racing over to see you right about now..."
Atikom slammed the phone down, cutting off the call. Tongrob's needling had become unbearable.
Within moments, the phone rang again. Atikom answered with a growl.
"Flagpole, go do some actual work instead of bothering me."
"Buddy, you can't slow down the pace of courting him. If you let Khun Nu slip through your fingers, getting him back won't be easy this time," Tongrob's voice turned serious, though he couldn't resist ending with suggestive advice: "Better wrap him up quick."
The line went dead. Atikom lay staring at the ceiling, brooding...
Could he really wrap him up? He hadn't even touched Anupap yet...
He wasn't even in his grasp—how could he slip away?
But another part of him worried.
What if there was never a chance to hold Anupap at all? What if he reached out but couldn't grasp, would Anupap drift so far away that he'd be beyond reach?
The next few weeks proved his fears prescient. Work consumed both Atikom and Anupap, pulling them into separate orbits of deadlines and obligations. What had once been daily conversations became hurried text messages sent between meetings—brief reassurances that felt increasingly hollow across the growing distance.
***
The Central Investigation Bureau had requisitioned Atikom for a high-profile murder case under intense investigation. His promotion would take effect next week. This morning he had to report and begin work, replacing the veteran officer who'd been pulled for another case.
***
Anupap wrapped up the Panoview advertising project for final client presentation, preparing the crucial Evertrack commercial that required filming in Japan. He had to plan and present the major project to PepsiCo, resolve issues with several other ads alongside the art director, and tackle countless other projects crashing over him in waves.
***
Coffee burned down Atikom's throat as he forced himself awake. Days of minimal sleep had taken their toll. Time was scarce—his contact reported finding a key witness in Phetchaburi. He had to reach her before she vanished from fear or before the opposition silenced her.
The young officer flicked his cigarette butt aside. Anupap didn't know he smoked. He'd quit long ago, but exhaustion mixed with stress made it impossible to resist lighting up occasionally.
Atikom walked to his car... time to move. It was half past one in the morning. Less than an hour to his destination. Work determination burned within him, refusing defeat, but thoughts of Anupap multiplied.
He missed that gentle smile, the scent of the young man's body when close... that serene face hiding stubborn defiance... naturally full red lips... He wanted to pull him close and lean down for a kiss... Once this job finished, he'd return to Anupap... to tease, to play, to bring happiness.
***
Meetings consumed Anupap's entire day. He had to discuss issues large and small with various commercial art directors. By the time work ended, darkness had fallen. Trin's new assistant had started—a handsome young man freshly graduated from England, efficient, capable, and clever. Too straightforward, making Anupap fear he might create conflicts with different teams.
With Pojanee hospitalized for several days, they'd lost a crucial team member. Anupap was barely breathing. Without Sombat and Atid, he'd be ruined.
Atid, everyone's beloved young man, stayed close, helping with everything until Anupap had to send him home. Yet Anupap's mind drifted to images of the sharp, intense face of the young police officer.
How is he doing now? They hadn't spoken in days... only brief caring messages sent multiple times daily.
***
Atikom collapsed into his chair, utterly drained. His mind was fried. The complex murder case was unraveling, and he'd been rushing through paperwork with barely any rest.
Days without talking to Anupap. Longing pressed at his heart. The young man's face floated constantly in his thoughts. He couldn't bear it anymore.
Atikom reached for his phone, dialing the number burned into his memory.
Anupap's voice sounded equally weary.
"I miss you so much," Atikom couldn't hold back. He didn't want to keep hiding his feelings. Tongrob's words echoed: "fumbling around."
Anupap paused briefly, then played deaf as always. "You sound like you haven't slept in days, Captain."
"I'm working a major case, but it's almost finished. I've been sleeping only a few hours each night for nearly a week, chasing down evidence. Exhausting. Late nights when I get home, I pass your condo and want to stop by to say hello..."
Atikom wanted to say 'I want to see your face, hold you for comfort, get strength to continue working,' but he still didn't dare.
"I'm getting home late too. Rushing several projects right now. Tomorrow I leave for Japan—won't be back for over a week."
"That's terrible! When will we see each other?" Atikom's heart sank at two weeks apart.
"After I return from Japan, I'll invite P'Bud to go grab some drinks. He said he wants to treat you to thank you for helping with the commercial."
Anupap's words contradicted his heart. He wanted to thank Atikom for his help. Tomorrow the pickup truck commercial starring the handsome police officer would air.
"I want to go with just you, one-on-one. Don't want others interfering."
Anupap pretended not to hear. "Early next week you'll be on TV, Captain. The company bought prime advertising time to really boost sales. Now you'll be a real star," Anupap teased.
"If I become a famous star, will you be my personal manager?"
As usual, Anupap deflected to another topic. Atikom couldn't help smiling, picturing the young man's shy smile or downcast face walking away, like that night he'd taken Anupap to watch falling stars up in the mountains.
Tonight he wanted to invite Anupap for drinks after work, before the young man traveled abroad, before they'd be apart for two weeks, where phone calls couldn't replace seeing each other's faces. But both their backlogged work stood as obstacles.
The coming two weeks—he'd have to endure fighting against this longing that was growing more 'intense' by the day.
Atikom had never imagined his life would involve such torment from missing someone so deeply.
***
Anupap entered the conference room with Atid following behind. Sombat and Pojanee walked in together. Company executives sat around the large meeting table. Asanai sat near the head, wearing an elegant dark gray suit with a beige tie, chatting quietly with colleagues.
Atid presented the advertising work, with Pojanee supplementing marketing plan details. Anupap summarized and helped answer questions.
He observed Asanai while watching the pickup truck commercial that would air on television. Asanai sat motionless, eyes fixed on the screen, sparkling. Anupap told himself he saw sparkles of admiration and fascination.
Did Asanai like Atikom? And what about Atikom—did he like Asanai too?
Or does he like me?
The presentation concluded. Everyone loved the commercial work. Anupap and his team received such praise that Sombat and Pojanee couldn't stop smiling.
Asanai approached to thank them.
"Absolutely excellent, Khun Anupap. Having seen behind the scenes and now the final result—the feeling is phenomenal."
"The director was skilled."
"The actor too," Sombat joked—meaning Atikom—everyone laughed except Atid's faint smile.
"P'Nu, I need to excuse myself."
Atid slipped away. Pojanee asked where he was going; the young man said the restroom. Sombat and Pojanee followed suit.
Asanai walked out to see Anupap off at the conference room. Alone together now, Asanai decided to speak his mind.
"You're incredibly talented, Khun Anupap. For the next commercial, I'll definitely request you again."
"My pleasure. Any paying work—we accept without refusal," Anupap joked.
"Someone this talented must be hired by everyone until you can barely handle the workload."
"I only do work I'm good at. If something's not my specialty, I'd have to let someone else handle it. The company has many talented people."
"True. When something's not suitable, it can be passed to someone else," Asanai nodded in agreement.
Anupap began sensing hidden meaning in Asanai's words.
"Like clothes—when you see they don't suit you, you have to take them off for someone who looks better in them, right?"
"Yes," Anupap agreed. "If I'm not good at certain work, the result won't be good. But if a client insists I do it, that shows they truly trust me. I'd have to try my best. If I give my all, the work should turn out well."
Asanai held his breath. Anupap seemed to understand his implication, speaking as if he wouldn't give up either.
Alright... let's see then... with Captain Atikom as the stakes.
***