Tongrob stood watching Atid, his chest heavy with an indescribable weight. The young man pounded his fists against the car blocking his exit, desperation driving each blow as he fought to break free but couldn't. Trin had been first to reach his vehicle and speed away. Atikom wasted precious minutes pushing the obstructing car aside before gunning his engine in pursuit, keeping his distance.
He arrived just in time to witness something he'd never expected. He'd come intending to tease Atid at the birthday party, but instead found himself confronting the unthinkable. He remained at a distance, refusing to interfere—an outsider in this chaos. The situation was already complicated enough without adding another player to complicate matters further.
His willpower to win over Atid began to crumble. This battle proved harder than expected. His mind whispered that his mission to help Atikom was no longer necessary.
Atid couldn't conquer Anupap's heart. The one who held Anupap's heart was Atikom... only Atikom emerged victorious.
Witnessing Anupap's devastation, he understood clearly—the person Anupap loved was his own best friend, the best friend who now abandoned him to the world of playboys, predators, night butterflies, and pleasure-seekers—all the names they'd once mockingly thrown around.
Atikom had surrendered his entire heart to Anupap—The one he'd once looked down upon, wondering how far he'd get. Now he had to swallow those words.
Atikom had reached this point. Tongrob'd never imagined it possible. Nearly twenty years of friendship, and now he needed to get acquainted with this new side of Atikom all over again.
As for Atid, what should he do about this young man? Continue pursuing him, or give up?
Give up? Tongrob didn't want to give up. He admitted he liked Atid tremendously, in a way he'd never felt for anyone before.
When he'd first met Anupap, attraction had struck instantly. But when that person became his best friend's obsession, he'd stepped back. Especially under Atikom's threatening glares day after day, he'd had to retreat quickly—Atikom's punches packed more power than anyone's. He knew from experience. More importantly, he didn't want to upset his dear friend.
Under those circumstances, his feelings for Anupap began fadingk, though deep down, he still thought of the young man occasionally.
But Atid was different. The longer time passed, the stranger his feelings grew.
Perhaps Atikom had felt this way when he'd first encountered Anupap, thinking he'd flirt casually, but ultimately finding no escape.
Police Major Tongrob wanted to approach Atid, to seize the opportunity while the young man was heartbroken to score points. But remembering how displeased Atid had been with him since that night, he forced himself to retreat.
Atid had two friends there to comfort him already. But Atikom tonight might be driving through the city searching for Anupap, or lying motionless on his bed staring at the ceiling. Perhaps he was getting wasted in some pub, doing something spiteful out of heartbreak, creating even bigger problems. A handsome man blackout drunk might fall prey to predators anywhere.
Damn it, his thoughts were running wild.
Or perhaps Atikom might be sitting vigil at Anupap's condo, waiting.
Tongrob shifted his car into gear and pulled away. Right now, he needed to comfort his heartbroken friend first.
As for Atid, that could wait. He wasn't giving up yet...
***
The drenching rain of this devastating evening had stopped. Deep into the night, silence settled over everything. The small parking area in front of Anupap's condo held only one figure—a broad-shouldered young man sitting motionless on the stone bench of the tiny garden near the entrance of the dull gray building.
Tongrob exhaled deeply, grateful for his lucky guess that Atikom would be here waiting for his beloved.
Atikom looked devastated. His clothes remained neat, but his hair was disheveled, his handsome, sharp features drawn tight and cold.
"Kom, go home. Khun Nu isn't coming back," Tongrob stopped before his lovesick friend.
Atikom remained unmoved.
"Khun Nu knows you'll be waiting here for him. There's no point. Go home first. Give it a night, then come back tomorrow to make amends. Like loosening a kite string, understand?" Despite his lack of eloquent metaphors, Tongrob struggled to find comforting words.
"He loves you. He has to understand on his own. If you're not what he thinks you are, then don't be afraid. Right now he's hurting. Have some faith in your boyfriend."
"Does he love me, Tong? Khun Nu has never said those words."
Atikom's face remained stone, his sharp eyes boring into the ground.
"Some people love but don't say it out loud. Not like us cops who throw the word 'love' around casually."
"But I truly love Khun Nu. I'm not just saying it like..."
"Yeah, yeah, like I'm the only one who does that. You're so not a stereotype cop." Tongrob shrugged. "So what do you think? If you're not sure Khun Nu loves you, you shouldn't be his boyfriend. Can't you see? You idiot..." Tongrob's mouth turned crude.
"Damn it you flag pole, are you here to comfort me or insult me?"
"Hey. I came to comfort you. Someone like you needs this kind of comfort. You used to be such a player, such a schemer. Now look—letting yourself get dragged into this mess. Serves you right, weakling."
Atikom drew a deep breath, growing irritated with his friend's overly aggressive comfort, though inwardly he agreed.
He'd already been thinking that his 'past'—his history with others—might ruin everything, and here it was. He'd been so focused on fighting off those circling Anupap, he'd forgotten to guard his rear flank.
Exactly. His cunning had nearly vanished completely since he'd realized he truly, seriously loved Anupap, feelings that had emerged he didn't know when.
His heart burned with the desire to run and beg Anupap's forgiveness, but he had to endure. Though he'd seen Trin drop Anupap at the hotel entrance, he still didn't dare follow inside, fearing he'd only make the young man more upset, making everything worse than before.
He'd decided to trust another voice in his head that said to let time pass first, let Anupap think things through, then make amends. Love had to make everything work out, if two people truly loved each other.
He loved Anupap, but did Anupap love him? His mind churned in utter confusion.
The brain that once soared freely, sharp and agile when investigating complex cases, full of wit and quick thinking… where had it all gone?
Love, did it possess such power? It made him sit waiting for his beloved outside a condo, knowing the young man wouldn't return, or would he have to wait until morning, noon, afternoon?
"Ugh, the brilliant detective has become a pitiful wet cat waiting for grilled fish. Khun Atikom, what do you expect to gain sitting here? Go back first, then deal with it tomorrow. You know Khun Nu well, don't you? Have some faith in him. He needs time to think…" Tongrob's voice continued its comfort, starting with mockery and ending seriously, trying to restore sense.
But his next sentence made Atikom bristle.
"…whether to forgive you or dump you."
"Stop comforting me, you damn flag pole." Atikom shot up abruptly.
"Hey, hey, don't!" Tongrob immediately retreated, thinking he was about to get punched.
Atikom pushed his friend aside and walked straight to his car.
"What the hell?" Tongrob shook his head and followed.
Singh, the trusted security guard who'd been watching from a distance by the guard booth, rushed over to Atikom.
"Detective, if Khun Nu returns, I'll call to report immediately."
"No need, Singh. Thanks. I will go find Khun Nu myself." Atikom spoke flatly before getting in his car and driving away.
Tongrob stood with hands on his hips, shaking his head slowly, unable to understand his friend. But he tried asking himself, could love really make people behave like this? They'd all gone completely mad, making such a big drama over something like this.
***