Atikom strolled along the sandstone pathway, weaving past the scattered guest pavilions. Flowering plants lined both sides until he reached a fork marked by a towering rajawadee tree in full bloom. The police officer searching for his beloved turned left. His gaze caught a young man in a white tank top and black shorts decorated with large orange flowers, hurrying out from a small path beside some bushes.
Mark looked like he was fleeing something, glancing back nervously, fidgeting restlessly.
"Oh, Captain... I mean, Major," Mark turned with an exclamation of surprise upon seeing Atikom blocking his path.
"What are you running from, Mark?"
Mark smiled sheepishly. He'd been escaping Nitinat's persistent attempts to rope him into sailing lessons, but he told the police officer instead, "Nothing... Are you here sightseeing, Detective?"
Mark knew exactly why Atikom had appeared before him, but played innocent.
"No... Mark, where is Khun Nu?" Atikom's expression remained neutral.
Mark looked suspicious, stammering awkwardly. He'd clearly been ordered to keep quiet like everyone else. The hotel staff had probably been forbidden from spreading information too, but once they knew who Atikom was, they'd quickly spill everything.
"I've been told not to say anything."
"Aren't we still friends, Mark? We've shared drinks together. I'll find Khun Nu eventually anyway, but couldn't you save me some time?" Atikom's face remained impassive.
"Geez... Detective, I'll get in trouble."
"Who's going to know you told me?"
After a moment's consideration, Mark agreed this was true. "Well, the sun's about to set. P'Nu is floating around chatting with the fish in the middle of the sea, as usual."
Atikom smiled, thanked the young man, and Mark immediately disappeared.
He remembered that evening at the beach house. Anupap had left him sleeping on the front lawn and gone to float alone, watching the sunset over the sea.
Atikom headed straight for the beach, removing his shirt and keeping only his jeans. He stood gazing at the calm sea before him.
Golden light painted the horizon as the sun began its descent, like a master artist brushing colors across an enormous canvas. The deep red orb slowly sank toward the distant edge of the world. Amber rays danced across the smooth water's surface, as if someone had scattered countless gold flakes, creating a dazzling, eye-catching shimmer. A lone figure floated in the vast expanse, quite far from shore.
The young police officer sighed... not from fear of failing to win back Anupap.
"Khun Nu, oh Khun Nu, why do you love going out to the middle of the sea? Aren't you afraid of sharks?"
He was a strong athlete, but floating in the ocean with Anupap for long periods might be beyond him. But having come this far, he couldn't wait any longer. His heart ached from wanting to see the younger man's face.
If he was going to apologize, it had to be amid this romantic natural setting. The atmosphere was perfect. A little exhaustion was worth it.
Atikom rolled up his jeans and waded into the water. Taking a deep breath, he set his determination on dragging the person currently conversing with fish back from the sea...
***
Anupap slowly closed his eyes after absorbing the beautiful image of the sun disappearing behind the horizon. He spread his arms wide, feeling the freedom embracing him.
The sea lay as smooth as a vast swimming pool, so wide he wanted to let himself drift even farther. His heart felt peaceful and calm. The only thing on his mind was... Atikom!
"Khun Nu."
Atikom's image appeared in his mind's eye. A smiling face sending warm smiles his way. The hurt feelings from a few days ago began to fade.
"Khun Nu."
Atikom's voice floated nearby, so real, so vivid, like a whisper beside his ear. The sadness from recent days started to disappear.
"Darling."
Atikom's voice grew louder. Anupap was startled. This mental image of Atikom had both clear visuals and sound, incredibly close. Atikom's voice was so near. He missed him terribly. If Atikom came to apologize now, he would forgive him, and he would apologize to the police officer too for being impulsive, unreasonable, fragile, and overly sensitive.
"Hey!" The voice rang right beside his ear.
It seemed so real. Wait... this was actually his real voice, not imagination.
Anupap opened his eyes, turning sharply toward the voice's owner.
Atikom floated nearby, so close he could hear his labored breathing.
A broad smile spread across his face, eyes warm and tender.
"I've come to apologize," Atikom said softly.
Anupap wanted to throw himself into an embrace, overjoyed just to see his face, his smile, and his eyes. His heart melted...
But another voice in his mind said: He needed revenge first, payback for causing him hurt... heartache.
"Why did you come?" He pretended to look stern.
"Well, to apologize... Geez, Khun Nu, if I didn't love you, I wouldn't risk floating around like a cork in the middle of the sea as shark bait like this."
"I didn't ask you to come."
"But I wanted to come. I wanted to explain so you would understand. I don't want you to be angry, don't want you to be sad."
"What did you do to make me angry?" Anupap kicked his legs, splashing water, then drifted farther away.
Atikom followed, beginning to pant. In his past life, he clearly wasn't born as a fish like Anupap.
"I made you misunderstand about Asanai. Khun Nu, let me explain first."
"Then explain. I'll listen for a bit."
"Can we go explain on land? I'm not going to make it," Atikom's arms began flailing.
"No. If you want to explain, speak now. This instant. Otherwise, don't bother coming to talk again." Anupap was enjoying himself, feeling powerful over the police officer, physically.
"Geez, Khun Nu, what if I drown and die?"
"I'll go get a diver to search for you."
"Cruel," Atikom flipped onto his back to float and rest, sucking in deep breaths before pleading, "Oh no, this is bad."
Anupap began to feel sorry, afraid the young officer might actually run out of strength and drown, but another part suspected the cunning man was just pretending to be helpless.
"If you won't explain, then I'm leaving."
Anupap propelled himself farther away, swimming out even more distant than before.
"Geez, Khun Nu, don't do this. Have some pity on me," Atikom swam after him, pleading for Anupap's sympathy.
"Asanai and I have nothing between us. I never thought anything about him. I see him as a younger brother. He came to me, pestered me to confess his feelings, but I refused. He still wouldn't stop... Ow, salty," Atikom swallowed a gulp of seawater.
"Do you have anything with him or not?"
"Geez, darling, how can you think that? I've been celibate since I started courting you. I never think about anyone else. I barely even... you know... by myself."
"Crazy," Anupap snorted.
"I only think of you. Only love you, Khun Nu." Atikom lunged forward to hug Anupap. The young man struggled, pushing him away. Atikom, weakened and barely able to stay afloat, had to let go.
"Let go, Detective. You'll drag me under."
"Fine then. If you don't love me, just kill me."
Anupap broke away and swam back toward shore. Atikom followed closely behind.
"Khun Nu, it was all a misunderstanding. I don't love Asanai, but I couldn't control his feelings..." the young officer's voice came in short pants. "I already told Asanai when he asked me to meet at the restaurant to discuss this. But that night he called begging me to help look at his car. I was nearby so I could help. I didn't expect him to drag me along until we ran into you… Oh, so exhausted..."
Atikom's lengthy explanation made him even more tired than usual.
"Khun Nu... wait for me."
Anupap was pulling ahead. In the sea, he was stronger than Atikom.
"Khun Nu, I love you... love only you."
Atikom's voice was breathless, as if he might suffocate.
"Darling, I love only you. Please don't be angry with me. I risked death to come apologize. Let's make up." Atikom's voice floated over, growing more distant.
Anupap smiled. Nearly at shore, he flipped over into a backstroke position, gazing up at the sky. The golden light painting the vast heavens began to fade. Darkness crept in to replace it, but his world had become bright and cheerful.
The vast sea was no longer lonely. The person he loved was swimming closer. The big, strong man was flailing through the water, following him. Just a few more strokes and he'd catch up.
Anupap floated and waited for the young officer to reach him so they could swim side by side back to shore.
"Khun Nu, oh Khun Nu, next time I'm never apologizing again."
Atikom spoke breathlessly when he caught up, pretending to pout. "Rest a bit, will you? I'm dying here."
Anupap suppressed a smile, watching the man's face. He saw Atikom's eyes smiling warmly, contradicting the sulky expression he was faking.
"If you don't want to apologize, then don't."
Anupap refused to stop and rest as requested, stroking forward through the water.
Atikom sighed. Whatever. Nearly at shore... do or die...
He told himself that if he had to apologize again next time, he would never apologize to Anupap in the sea again. He truly learned his lesson.
***
Atikom lay sprawled on the sand, his lower body still submerged in water. Small waves gradually washed against both his legs, like massage therapy for his exhaustion. Anupap stood nearby with arms crossed, watching. The young police officer closed his eyes, furrowed his brow, and panted to get air into his lungs. His broad chest, full of muscle, rose and fell heavily.
So handsome. Anupap wanted to call Sombat and Pojanee to see this devastatingly attractive image of the young man they both adored.
Atikom felt more exhausted than ever in his swimming life. For the first time, he'd felt like he might drown but still had to persist and struggle to reach the person he loved.
Anupap... truly cruel... He had to get proper revenge...
"Khun Nu, are you done being angry with me? After apologizing this much, please stop sulking."
Atikom slowly opened his eyes, looking at Anupap standing with crossed arms watching him, storing that image in his memory.
Anupap's playful expression made his heart swell. The younger man was no longer angry with him. Most importantly, he stood at the foot of his feet in dark brown swim trunks that were quite small.
"You have such a nice figure. I didn't realize you were hiding this body."
Anupap suppressed his smile. "Shameless."
He bent down, grabbed a handful of sand, threw it at Atikom's stomach as he lay there grinning, then quickly walked away.
Atikom laughed heartily and jumped up to follow, his gaze caressing the younger man's form, just realizing he was standing there showing off in an almost naked state.
"Where are you running? Wait for me," Atikom called out sweetly. "You can't run away from me anymore. If you run again, I'll chase you down, put you in handcuffs, and lock you in my heart."
Atikom reached Anupap and extended both hands to grasp his waist, making as if to embrace him from behind.
"Captain, don't. Someone might see. It's embarrassing."
"Then let's go somewhere no one can see," Atikom whispered sweetly, then yelped when the embarrassed person gave him a full-strength jab to the stomach.
Anupap quickened his pace, but Atikom soon caught up, walking alongside him, touching and teasing relentlessly.
Atikom was stronger on land. Anupap thought to himself. Just wait. Next time they went out to sea, he'd push Atikom overboard.
***
That evening, the commercial filming crew went out to eat at a seafood restaurant not far from the hotel. Atikom generously announced he'd treat everyone. Luckily, Nitinai and his personal manager had disappeared since evening, so he could enjoy himself fully with the crew without worrying about Nitinai making Anupap jealous.
Atikom got along easily with people, especially since almost all the crew were the same group he'd worked with when he was a commercial actor. Mark challenged Atikom to a drinking contest, but the young police officer declined, giving the reason that "my director doesn't like heavy drinkers."
The young officer tried to find opportunities to stay close to Anupap, but the other kept avoiding him, until Atikom pretended to look hurt and said he'd hurry back to Bangkok the next morning.
"If you go to the airport now, you can still catch the last flight, Captain," Anupap said sarcastically.
"Do you really want me to go?"
"You seem so eager to leave."
"Why would I leave? I'm here for my honeymoon in Krabi," Atikom raised an eyebrow with a flirtatious look. Sombat, sitting nearby, giggled until Anupap turned to glare at him, making all that effort to whisper and someone still overheard.
"But the important thing is, I still don't have a room."
"That's your problem, Detective. Coming to a tourist destination without knowing to book a hotel."
"Aren't your room vacant?"
Anupap turned away, refusing to answer, then feigned interest in chatting with the photographer about tomorrow's shoot.
Atikom smiled to himself. He'd already made up his mind that tonight, no matter what, he had to conquer Anupap. Coming this far, with the atmosphere so perfect, especially after risking drowning to apologize in the middle of the sea, he deserved some reward. This time, his friend Tongrob wouldn't be able to mock him for being ineffective.
***