Atikom turned mechanic slammed the hood of the pristine Toyota Camry shut. He twisted the battery terminal tight and told Asanai to start the engine. The motor roared to life immediately. After shutting it off, the car owner walked closer to Atikom, extending a damp cloth for his hands.
"P'Kom, it's still early. Come inside the pub first. Have a few drinks before you go." Asanai's voice carried a pleading undertone.
"I need to get home and work. You go enjoy yourself with your friends."
"Can't you spare just a little more time? Today's important for me—I got promoted. Come celebrate with me a bit." Asanai's tone turned wheedling.
"I can congratulate you right here."
"Come on, just for a moment. Can't an older brother raise a glass to celebrate his younger brother's success?"
Atikom hesitated. He'd finished helping Asanai with the car and intended to slip away quietly. He didn't want to socialize with the young men inside the pub. Meeting Asanai's friends would only spell trouble—he might encounter someone he'd rather not see, perhaps one of his old flames. If word reached Anupap's ears, it could lead to misunderstandings. He despised playboys with a vengeance. Atikom had already worked hard to prove himself somewhat, with Sombat as an additional witness. He'd already put down several "deposits" on Anupap's heart and didn't want to ruin things now.
"Look, Nai, I'll treat you to a proper celebration later. But tonight I need to head back. Multiple celebrations—what's not to like about that?"
"What are you afraid of? Afraid someone will see and report back to Khun Anupap?" Asanai's smile held a knowing edge.
"Not at all." The young police major shrugged, thinking inwardly—Actually, very much so...
"You're only afraid of him seeing you, but he's out having dinner with someone else himself."
Atikom froze. "Having dinner with friends isn't strange. I eat with my friends too."
"Eating with friends isn't strange at all—if his friend's name weren't Chavis."
The words pierced his heart like a needle. Atikom's breath caught. He hadn't expected Asanai to mention that name. How did Asanai know? But he half-believed, half-doubted.
"What are you talking about?"
"I saw them dining together. What's this Khun Chavis's relationship with Khun Anupap? They seemed very close. I'm not particularly close with Chavis, but I know him as the son of Dad's friend—we've done business together." Asanai smiled inwardly, satisfied with Atikom's reaction. Creating suspicion in Atikom's mind counted as partial success.
Soon enough, Atikom would witness something interesting...
If Atikom quarreled with Anupap, he himself would have a chance. Between someone who loved him alone and someone who was fickle—which would Atikom choose?
"Chavis is probably just Khun Nu's friend."
"Are you sure that he's just a friend?" Asanai spoke with a knowing smile, as if he possessed inside information.
"I trust Khun Nu."
"Exactly, that's what I thought too. Khun Nu seems pretty steadfast—even if someone saw something and told him about it, he probably wouldn't be easily swayed. So if he saw me hugging you, he'd think nothing of it. Therefore, what harm could there be for you coming in for a drink with me, just as brothers?"
Atikom laughed awkwardly. Asanai spoke so directly that sometimes he didn't know how to respond. If this were before, he wouldn't have worried at all. But since becoming a "reformed cop," giving up his playboy ways, he felt strangely self-conscious. His usual smoothness had grown rusty, his mind not as quick as it should be.
Asanai grabbed the detective's arm, dragging him from the parking area beside the pub straight toward the entrance. Atikom resisted, but being pulled by the arm, he had no choice but to follow reluctantly. Asanai continued his relentless persuasion, bargaining that just one drink would suffice.
***
Anupap stepped out to the smoking area beside the pub, now empty because customers were packed inside, captivated by the celebrity couple who had just arrived and were giving an interview about their upcoming wedding.
The wind picked up strength. Rain was approaching. Anupap crossed his arms, drawing a deep breath to prepare for what was about to unfold. He knew Atid would likely speak incoherently, hurt and having consumed a fair amount of alcohol.
"P'Nu, I want you to see me differently. I don't want to be your younger brother, and I don't want you as an older brother either." Atid opened with this declaration, his narrow eyes meeting Anupap's steadily, revealing his heart without the slightest concealment.
"Atid, if you want my answer right now, this is what you'll get."
"But no matter when you answer, the response would probably be the same... P'Nu, you don't like me at all." Atid's voice began to tremble.
"Then why bring this up again?" Anupap wanted desperately to grab Atid and shake him.
"Because..."
"Atid, our lives aren't limited to just this moment. How can you make today, this time, the final answer? Give me some time."
"You always talks about time. How long will you need? I've been waiting for you for years. I don't want to wait anymore. Yet Major Atikom didn't need as much time as me—he won you over." Atid spoke softly, head bowed, then lifted his gaze to meet the man he loved once more.
Anupap turned his face away, sighing softly before saying, "I'm not an object. I make my own decisions."
"Then have you decided to choose him? Even though you know what he's like? He's a playboy. You're not his only one. Will you still choose him? I lose again. No matter how much I love you, you don't see me." Atid's voice grew louder, tears spilling over. He shook his head back and forth like someone trying to control his emotions but failing. His hands clenched tight, his body rigid.
"What do you mean by that?" Anupap hadn't expected Atid to speak so bluntly. Atid never lied—it was well known that this sweet young man couldn't deceive anyone. Atid's expression never concealed anything from anyone, especially not from him and Sombat.
"I saw Major Atikom with Khun Asanai at a restaurant, meeting for dinner. They were holding hands, comforting each other." Atid wanted to make Atikom look worse than he already did, but he couldn't because it wasn't in his nature. "P'Nu, I can't stand it... If he loves you, he should be faithful to you. If he's not good to you, why love him?"
"Don't bring him into this." Anupap half-believed, half-doubted. Atid might have misunderstood something.
"P'Nu, I love you. I love only you. I've never thought of anyone else, never had anyone else." Atid spoke softly, turning to look at a tree swaying in the wind...
The incident with Tongrob that night—even though he'd had no intentions toward Tongrob, the physical mistake made it impossible for him to speak with full conviction.
"P'Nu, stop loving Major Atikom. Come love me instead..." Atid pleaded desperately. He was cornered now, with no way out. His head began to spin as feelings of hurt, sadness, and anxiety crashed over him. The alcohol he'd consumed started to make his composure fragile, ready to snap at any moment.
Anupap turned to look at the young man, trying to decide what to do next. Atid was beginning to lose control of himself, his shoulders trembling.
"Atid, if I were to love you, it would be because I wanted to love you myself, not because of Major Atikom. So don't bring him into this." Anupap emphasized once more.
The person Anupap didn't want involved stood not far away. Asanai was pulling his arm, forcing him to follow into the pub. He seemed unable to resist. Atikom had to follow reluctantly, as if being dragged to prison, unaware that in just a few seconds, something would happen—something he desperately didn't want to occur.
"Hurry up, P'Kom. Come with me for just a moment. You won't see any old flames, I promise. If you're worried about your boys seeing you, I'll take you through the side door." Asanai smiled widely, glancing at the tall planters lined up nearby.
When they walked past the last planter, both men froze.
***