After ending the phone call with the client, Anupap smiled with pride. The Panoview advertisement had received praise and immediate approval for television broadcast without any revisions needed. The company had invested fully in purchasing airtime. The launch event was held lavishly at The Skybox, the conference room of a new hotel along the Chao Phraya River.
Anupap and his team received invitations to attend. Pojanee was excited about wearing a beautiful evening gown. Atid and Mark agreed to wear tuxedos. Sombat even went to a spa for a facial massage. Anupap told all three that he might arrive late due to important business.
His important business was Atikom...
The police major would pick him up at home because he needed help with work.
"Khun Nu, you have to help me. Tomorrow morning I have a meeting with foreigners. I can't understand the report they sent me. Please translate it for me. I'll do anything in return," Atikom pleaded.
"I have to attend the Panoview launch at The Skyline Hotel."
"Oh, the same place! I'm going to a friend's wedding reception there too. We can go together and return together. What a coincidence. We're meant to be paired," Atikom's voice was bright and cheerful.
Anupap sat waiting for the Atikom in the condo lobby, thinking, "Real coincidence or fake coincidence... Atikom... once he enters my life, he won't leave... this big guy who's gradually encroaching on the space in my heart, bit by bit."
Atikom looked handsome in his black suit, different from what Anupap usually saw him wear. He wore a light gray suit with a dark brown tie. Atikom teased him about being loyal to brown, asking if he loved the sweetness of brown sugar.
"You aren't very sweet, but you sure attract a lot of bees," Atikom made a pouty face as they walked from the condo to the car. "What's so good about you?"
"Why do you want to know?"
Atikom turned with a smile, opening the car door for the young man, gesturing like he was inviting an important guest into the vehicle. Anupap rolled his eyes and shook his head slightly.
"Everything about you, I want to know it all," Atikom's eyes sparkled, still not closing the door but leaning his face closer. "I want to know who's in your heart right now."
"Are we going or not? Or should we play twenty questions first?" Anupap kept his voice flat.
Atikom didn't answer, smiling with satisfaction at seeing Anupap deflecting and changing the subject. Lately, he'd begun to read the young man's patterns. Anupap would always flatten his voice, keep his face expressionless, and immediately change topics whenever he felt embarrassed, instead of going into 'silent mode' or stubbornly walking away as he used to do.
Playing tough... how scary, dear Nu. Atikom thought with amusement, then walked around to the driver's seat, got in, and looked at the poker-faced young man sitting beside him before sighing softly and leaning over to pull the seatbelt across Anupap's body.
"So forgetful," Atikom said softly, his face only inches from Anupap's. The young man's scent tempted him to lean in for a kiss.
Anupap knew what the police major was thinking, so he said firmly, "Don't, Captain."
"Instead of thanking me, you're scolding me," Atikom pretended to pout, then pulled back to his own seat. "I'm just worried about you, that's why I'm fussing. I'm hurt."
Anupap ignored the sulky detective, continuing to sit still and look straight ahead. Atikom started the car but didn't stop complaining: "You know, one would worry about the one he loves."
"Thank you, Detective. Now can you stop whining?" Anupap said coldly. "Where's that report you wanted me to help you with?"
Atikom didn't answer, reaching over to point at the glove compartment. Anupap pulled out a crumpled document. He couldn't help but criticize Atikom for being disorganized, stuffing official documents into a small compartment.
The report Atikom asked him to read was only two pages long. Anupap translated it for Atikom during the drive to the hotel. Atikom nodded repeatedly, acting like he was listening intently to the translation, though his eyes were twinkling.
The translator couldn't help but suspect that Atikom had deliberately asked for help because he wanted to go to the hotel together.
Probably bribed a spy in the company...
***
The car stopped in front of The Skyline Hotel, a new hotel over a hundred stories tall with a modern, unusual shape constructed of steel and glass. Anupap couldn't help but marvel at the architects' and engineers' abilities before opening the car door and handing the keys to the hotel's valet. Atikom leaned over to tell him that his event was in the large ball room on the second floor. If the wedding got boring, he would come up to find Anupap. The young man said he didn't need to come up; they could each go home separately after their events ended. But Atikom protested that since they came together, they should leave together. The argument looked like it would drag on, so Anupap cut it short by agreeing to the dectective's terms.
"Don't go acting like honey attracting bees anywhere... call me when you're ready to leave," Atikom raised an eyebrow before walking away toward the hotel lobby.
Anupap had to take the elevator to the Skybox conference room on the 89th floor, so high he didn't want to go up. He didn't particularly like heights. Chavis used to tease him by taking him to high places, standing close to the railing, embracing him from behind, nuzzling his neck, and looking down below.
Anupap shook off that thought and took the elevator straight up to the Panoview luxury condominium launch—condos starting at a minimum of ten million baht.
The young man didn't know that tonight... the faded images of the past that were becoming clearer were about to become real.
The Panoview luxury condo launch was held in a beautifully decorated banquet hall. The ceiling was very high with a crystal chandelier prominent in the center of the room. The walls were almost entirely glass, offering views of Bangkok's glittering nighttime lights. The room had a dark brown tone decorated with Thai patterns in gold alternating with black. Elegant guests in evening wear stood chatting in groups.
Anupap walked into the event, heading straight to Sombat's group and his colleagues standing in front near the stage. At that moment, the host on stage was saying, "Thank you for the beautiful advertisement that everyone has been praising non-stop. The skilled work of Echo Advertising by the company's most talented team... Khun Anupap, Khun Buddy, Khun Pojanee, Khun Atid, and Khun Mark." The host on stage gestured toward Sombat's group, who stood smiling broadly. The guests applauded in appreciation. Anupap walked up just in time, raising his hand to greet his group happily, then turning back to acknowledge and thank his colleagues.
One young man in the group standing on stage slowly stepped forward... his eyes widened... stunned.
Anupap was the same... his smile froze... his eyes blurred... what he saw seemed unreal.
***