Pamorn shook his head in exasperation as the person on the other end of the line refused to hang up. Baramee was complaining loudly that Wittawin wasn't answering his phone—neither his cell nor the hotel room line. When he learned that Pamorn and Wittawin were planning to hit the clubs together, Baramee announced he'd come join them.
"Are you out of your mind, Baramee? We're on an island, and it's already midnight. You're in Bangkok. What's gotten into you?" Pamorn protested.
"Are you sharing a room with Win?" Baramee asked.
"Yeah, so what? We've been rooming together forever. What's there to be jealous about now? We're just friends, for crying out loud." Pamorn's voice rose.
"So tell me straight—do you like guys or girls?" Baramee pressed.
"Jesus, Baramee, you're being ridiculous. You really want to know? Go ask Win yourself." Pamorn's voice took on a menacing edge. "I guarantee the answer you get will make you cough up blood."
"Pamorn, if I find out you've done anything to Win, we're done being friends," Baramee threatened.
"Don't threaten me. What could I possibly do to that guy? He'd kick my teeth in. The one you should worry about is Teeradon. He's been chasing Win like a cat after a mouse. No wait—like a hungry tiger stalking a deer." Pamorn chuckled with amusement.
"Teeradon? He's there too? How did he manage that?"
"Well, he didn't exactly walk here. I'm guessing he drove—rich guy like that probably has multiple cars. Or maybe he took his yacht. You know how Win loves sailing out to sea." Pamorn's voice dripped with mockery. "Baramee, if you don't have a yacht, don't expect to get a taste of tender Wittawin."
"You little—" Baramee ground his teeth as he heard Pamorn's gleeful laughter. He knew his friend was deliberately provoking him, but he couldn't help feeling anxious. Ever since accepting his true feelings for Wittawin, Baramee had been burning with restless energy.
"Fine, for your sake, I'll take good care of Win. I won't let a single mosquito bite him or a flea touch him. But if by chance something does bite him, I'll swat the mosquito and gently massage his smooth, clean skin to ease the pain, then apply medicine." Pamorn's voice turned silky before he quickly hung up, muttering to himself about how everything was becoming more chaotic than expected.
Everyone's got a thing for someone else. This person likes that person, that person likes another person, and then that other person likes this person...
Complicated. Really complicated. Toey's the one acting like Cupid, but now I'm just not so sure…
***
Wittawin sat on the edge of a large planter outside the club, holding a beer bottle that was already half empty. Pamorn was still inside enjoying himself with no signs of leaving anytime soon. He had come out for fresh air—the small club was thick with cigarette smoke.
The young engineer lifted his beer for another sip, planning to drag Pamorn back to the hotel once he finished the bottle. But his hand froze mid-lift when he spotted the tall, imposing figure of someone who considered himself more handsome and charming than anyone else walking toward him.
Teeradon. When will he give up? Can't he see that we're completely incompatible?
You can't judge matters of the heart, though. There are other things to consider. He and Teeradon live completely different lifestyles...
"Get ditched?" Teeradon asked with a smile.
"Is that your idea of a pickup line?" Wittawin couldn't help but retort.
"If you went out with me, I'd never leave you sitting alone like this." Teeradon made his flirtatious intentions openly clear. He'd given up on subtle approaches because Wittawin was too formidable, and more importantly, they'd already kissed. In his mind, that made Wittawin more than fifty percent his.
"Right, I probably wouldn't have time to feel lonely," Wittawin replied with a mocking smile before taking another drink. "I'd probably die of boredom first."
"Wittawin." Teeradon's voice turned stern, his face tightening at the slight. Someone like him had never experienced rejection.
"Yes, Khun Teeradon?" Wittawin raised an eyebrow, his expression questioning: What? Is there a problem?
"Why don't you give it a try? Don't just talk—but I bet you wouldn't dare because you're afraid you'd lose to my charm." Teeradon's smile turned equally mocking. He was beginning to figure out that Wittawin was the type who 'rose to challenges'—someone who, like himself, couldn't stand being underestimated and needed to prove his own 'appeal.'
"You're really full of yourself," Wittawin shook his head, his voice weary.
"I don't call it being full of myself. I call it self-awareness." Teeradon puffed out his chest, radiating supreme confidence. "I'll bet you right now—if I walk into that club, I'll come back out in less than half an hour with someone on my arm."
"That long? Half an hour?" Wittawin feigned surprise.
"Wittawin."
"What? Stop keeping calling my name. No need to look so annoyed. How about this—since you've already said it, why don't you give me a little show?" Wittawin challenged.
Teeradon put his hands on his hips and turned his face to the side, exhaling forcefully and shaking his head slowly before turning back to Wittawin, who was sitting there looking around, pretending not to notice Teeradon's growing irritation.
"Are you making a bet with me?" Teeradon asked in a low voice, his gaze fixed steadily on Wittawin.
The young engineer didn't look away, even though he was starting to have second thoughts about challenging Teeradon. Deep down, he had to admit that Teeradon really did have the charm he claimed.
But he couldn't lose. If Teeradon liked winning so much, he'd make sure the man lost for once...
"You think you're charming and can attract anyone, but someone like you only attracts sweet, delicate types. Try using your charm on someone tough, intense, and masculine for once," Wittawin taunted.
"Be careful you don't lose, Wittawin." Teeradon's smile turned predatory. "What are you willing to wager?"
"I don't know." Wittawin shrugged.
"One real kiss," Teeradon said, his voice intense, his face serious. "Just give me one chance. I'll prove to you that you'll be so smitten you'll never forget it."
"Pretty confident in yourself, aren't you?"
"If I wasn't confident, I wouldn't be Teeradon," the man who was supremely sure of his kissing skills replied immediately. "Ha, you hesitate. You're really not sure about this."
"If you can't do it, you have to stop bothering me for the rest of your life," Wittawin replied sternly.
"Why is the stakes gap so huge, Wittawin? One kiss versus never bothering you again for life? That's not fair. This is what you'd call a coward's bet," Teeradon protested.
"What would you call fair?" Wittawin asked curtly.
"Then let me add more. Since your stake is so high—making me stop bothering you for life—the reward should be a bit more substantial too."
"Just say it. Stop beating around the bush." Wittawin was running out of patience.
"If I can't do it, I promise I'll never bother you again. But if I succeed..." Teeradon paused, then leaned in close enough to catch the faint scent of beer on Wittawin's lips, "if I succeed, you sleep with me."
Not bothering you again doesn't mean we'll never see each other, little dolphin. He's a businessman—he always needs backup plans in case things go wrong...
Wittawin sat stunned, not expecting Teeradon to demand so much.
"What do you say? Getting scared? Really not sure about this," Teeradon sneered, shaking his head with apparent disdain.
"Fine," Wittawin nodded. "I'll start timing you the moment you walk through that club door."
Sleep together. Sure, sleep together doesn't necessarily mean having sex, you hungry tiger. He needed to have an escape route ready in case he lost the bet...
***