Atikom bent down to retrieve a flashlight from the storage compartment under the passenger seat, remembering he'd left it there last weekend during a murder scene investigation at the abandoned factory.
Asanai struck up conversation. "Thank you so much for coming out to help, P'Kom. I really bothered you. When I got here, I realized I could have asked anyone around here for help, but I couldn't think straight. Your name was the first that came to mind."
"It's no problem. My place is just nearby. Though I'm not great with cars—Tongrob's much better at this stuff. But I can manage the basics."
"The car's practically brand new, shouldn't have any real problems. I'm embarrassed—working as an executive for a car company, but my own car breaks down." Asanai gazed at Atikom with obvious admiration, affection, and infatuation.
Atikom's car interior was cluttered with work materials. The young officer rummaged through the mess until he found the flashlight. Asanai reached over to pluck a small leaf fragment from Atikom's hair.
"Where did you go crawling through bushes?"
Atikom looked up with a smile. "Found it. Let's go before it starts raining. I need to get back and finish that case report."
"You're not staying for drinks with me? It's my promotion celebration and everything." Asanai's face fell with disappointment.
"We can celebrate another time. But I can't stay tonight," Atikom deflected.
"Or maybe you'd prefer celebrating one-on-one?" The young man laughed suggestively.
Atikom stood beside the car, waiting to close the door, nodding for Asanai to get out.
"Let's go." Atikom locked the vehicle and led Asanai back toward the younger man's car parked in a corner not far from the club's side lot. "I think it might just be a loose battery cable, but if it won't start, we'll need to call a mechanic or leave it here."
Wind gusted more forcefully. Atikom quickened his pace while Asanai kept close behind, chattering incessantly. "Why don't you just stay with me for now? When the club closes, you can drive me home."
Atikom didn't respond, only walked faster toward the car.
***
Atid gazed at the candle flames dancing atop his golden sun-shaped birthday cake. After making his wish, he leaned down and blew them out in one breath. His friends erupted in applause and cheers.
"Did you wish for success in love, Atid?" someone teased.
The birthday boy turned to look at Anupap, who stood watching the cake ceremony with an unreadable expression. Some friends had begun to suspect his feelings for Anupap. He was tired of hiding it—keeping the secret from his parents was already pushing him to his limit.
His friends loved him; none would betray his confidence to his family.
The music resumed, and several people began dancing with animated joy. Atid looked for an opportunity to approach Anupap, who was chatting with Pojanee. Sombat was completely absorbed with his new romantic interest, while Mark had wandered off to flirt with one of Atid's female friends.
"P'Poj, Rachawat is looking for you," Atid said with a wide grin, nodding toward the young man who'd been stealing glances at her from across the room.
Pojanee blushed furiously. "Thanks, Atid, but I'm a lady. I can't just walk over to a man."
"You'll get snatched up by someone else first, P'Poj," Atid teased.
"Well then, I'll go," she said, hurrying away without a second thought.
Anupap watched her departure with an amused smile, understanding that Atid had orchestrated this moment alone together. When he turned back, he found Atid's eyes already fixed on him, their depths revealing everything his heart held.
"P'Nu, thank you for the gift. Even though it's not a full dozen this year, I love it. You understand me better than anyone."
"Just wash it regularly," Anupap said. He'd given a towel embroidered with a cartoon sun wearing sunglasses as a 24th birthday present.
"P'Nu... thank you for being so good to me all this time. Next year, I still want to receive gifts from you, just like always. I want them every year."
"If you don't run away somewhere first, you'll keep getting gifts," Anupap smiled.
"I'll never run away from you. I'll stay close to you forever, even though..." Atid faltered. "Even though I'll never have the chance to be truly close to you again."
"Atid, don't talk like that. No matter what happens, we'll always be brothers."
Like lightning striking the center of Atid's heart, hurt began to intensify. Anupap had stated it clearly—they were brothers. But he wanted to be his lover.
"Can I only ever be your little brother?" Atid's head dropped.
"How much have you had to drink, Atid? Let's talk about this tomorrow instead," Anupap said, growing uncomfortable. He'd forgotten that Atid had been drinking steadily. The young man's usually pale, clean features were flushed pink.
"No," the young man refused quietly. "I want to talk tonight."
"But we have talked about this. Don't you remember, Atid? Don't rush me."
"But it's been weeks now. Haven't you thought about it at all?" His voice carried reproach and hurt.
Atid was becoming unreasonable. Last time, Anupap had asked him not to be impatient, but the two men interpreted time differently. Atid had once been able to wait for years, but now his fear of losing the person he'd loved for so long was crushing his chest. He was terrified of losing Anupap. Knowing that the man he loved might slip away into someone else's hands made even a single day feel unbearable. His heart was breaking.
"Why? Why do you make me wait so long?" The young man's voice began to tremble.
Anupap moved to step away. Atid looked up, reaching out as if to grab his arm, but when Anupap looked down at him, he withdrew his hand.
"If you really want to talk, let's go outside," Anupap said, fearing Atid might lose control of himself with so many friends around. He didn't want to create a melodramatic scene like something from a television drama.
Atid led Anupap downstairs toward the club's front exit.
Anupap had no idea that a melodramatic scene was indeed about to unfold—one far more devastating than anything he could have imagined.
***