Sarayoot stood watching the company employees playing games with infectious laughter on the beach. Realizing he hadn't seen Wittawin since the activities began, he turned to Pamorn, who was standing beside him chuckling at the players.
"He's probably gone off to find his own little world, as usual. Don't bother going after him," Pamorn replied, then shouted encouragement to the game players.
"I made the effort to bring everyone here for team-building games. We should all participate together. Pamorn, go get him."
"He probably won't come anyway. You know how stubborn your nephew is. If I go chasing after him and pestering him, he'll probably kick me." Pamorn shook his head.
"Did Wittawin say what he was going to do?"
"I have no idea." Pamorn shook his head again, then burst into loud laughter as he watched an employee playing horseback riding fall flat onto the sand.
"Wittawin is alone, right?"
"Well, of course he's alone. Who else would he be with?" Pamorn answered quickly, then turned his attention back to watching the employees' fun.
Sarayoot sighed. He couldn't worrying about Wittawin.
If he wasn't alone, I'd have a pretty good idea who he'd be with. Toey mentioned that Teeradon is trying to go full speed ahead to catch Wittawin...
But please don't let it come to the stage that Teeradon is gone wild and be too harsh on Wittiwin…
***
"Alright, now that you're feeling better, I'll head back." Wittawin turned to speak to Teeradon, who was lying wrapped in a large towel on a sun lounger.
"Why the rush? I still can't drive the boat to take you back, you know. My leg is killing me—I think I had a cramp earlier." Teeradon's voice was soft as he tilted his head to look at Wittawin, who stood with arms crossed, leaning against the upper part of the lounger where Teeradon was reclining comfortably.
"I can swim back. It's nothing."
"Are you sure? You exhausted yourself helping me. I'm afraid you'll run out of energy and drown. I would not forgive myself it it happens? I'm worried about you."
Teeradon's voice turned gentle and tender. Internally, he was already strategizing a personality shift, realizing that his previous tactics of showing off, picking fights, and being full of himself clearly weren't working to "win over" Wittawin. Especially after witnessing the young man's gentleness and care while rescuing him from his "fake drowning" act.
Let me try being soft, tender, sweet-talking him. Let's see if I can make Wittawin's heart soften...
"I won't drown. I was on my university's swim team. The distance from your boat to the beach is nothing—child's play, really."
I'm also an expert diver, and my underwater breath-holding record hasn't been broken by any of my friends...
"Let's just sit and chat for a bit. Let me feel a little better first, then I'll drive the boat to drop you off at the resort." Teeradon smiled faintly, his eyes sparkling.
"How do you know where I'm staying?"
"I guessed." Teeradon maintained his gentle smile.
"And how did you get here?"
"I rented a boat."
"I mean, who told you about this place?"
"Oh, whoever told me doesn't matter. All that matters is that I wanted to come." Teeradon smiled sweetly, his voice soft. "Even though I almost drowned to death getting here. But I'm lucky that you came to save my life. I owe you my life now. You could even claim it back if you wanted, because without you, I would have died and become a sleeping prince under the ocean."
Wittayin narrowed his eyes, calculating Teeradon's new move.
About to die and still calling himself a prince. More like a sea ghost guarding the waters. And what's with this approach—going for the soft and tender angle? I don't buy it...
"I'll drive the boat to get you to shore. Wait just a little longer—the sun's almost setting. Let's watch it together first." Teeradon's voice turned wheedling.
"I already said no. I don't like repeating myself." Wittawin's voice was firm as he walked toward the boat's edge, preparing to jump into the water.
"Are you going to jump from right there? Go to the stern and lower yourself down gradually—it's safer."
"Stop being so fussy. I used to be on the diving team too. This is nothing." Wittawin shook his head, increasingly exasperated.
What kind of athlete hasn't he been? Why does he play so many different sports? Though he's definitely been a motorcycle racer...
"Would you like to have dinner together tonight?" Teeradon refused to let the opportunity slip away.
"No." Wittawin's answer was curt and final as he picked up his swimming goggles.
"I want to have dinner with you. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come all this way."
"You followed me from Bangkok. Why?"
"You asked me that already, and I already answered."
"If I ask again, then just answer again, okay? Did you and Khun Toey plan this with my uncle?"
"Not at all. It's just a coincidence."
"Right. Coincidence." Wittawin's lips twisted skeptically. "What a coincidence that you dove down and waved hello to me underwater. Stop acting like a child, Khun Teeradon. You're not exactly young anymore—you own bars and a distillery."
"Call it a club," Teeradon tried to control his emotions and maintain the gentle, tender facade he'd planned.
"I came here to have fun with my company colleagues. I want to enjoy time with my friends. I don't have time to be your playmate." Wittawin turned to deliver this final statement before diving into the water immediately, not giving Teeradon a chance to respond. Even if Teeradon had tried to argue back, Wittawin wouldn't have heard him.
Teeradon crumpled the towel and yanked it off his body, then stood up with hands on his hips, watching the figure swimming toward shore with a determined glare, his mouth set in an irritated line.
So much for trying to be gentle with him. He just took the opportunity to put me down, acting all high and mighty...
No time to be a playmate...
Who wants to be a playmate anyway? I want to be a bedmate...
I want to be... I want to be...
What exactly do I want to be?
***