The relentless knocking echoed through the room. Anupap set aside the documents he'd been reviewing on the bed and walked to the door, peering through the peephole to see who dared disturb him.
Darkness met his gaze—as if someone had pressed their hand against the other side.
"Who's there?" His voice carried an edge, but the knocking persisted. Irritation flared as he yanked the door open.
Atikom stood there with that infuriating boyish grin, a small black backpack slung over his shoulder. Anupap immediately pushed the door to close it, but the young police major's hand shot out, holding it open.
"Come on, Khun Nu. You see me and immediately want to slam the door? Do you really despise me that much?"
"I'm going to sleep." Anupap's voice barely rose above a whisper.
"It's only half past nine."
"I'm tired."
"But I don't have anywhere to stay. I've been searching for hours—every hotel is fully booked."
Atikom's voice took on that pitiful whine, his expression the picture of helplessness.
Is he telling the truth, or is this another one of his schemes? Anupap couldn't help but be suspicious, though he knew the province was hosting its annual tourism festival. Every accommodation was packed solid. Even Pawantra Resort, where the team was staying, had required considerable effort to secure rooms.
"Khun Nu, I'm exhausted. Dead tired and sleepy too. Do you know I barely slept the past two nights? Worrying about you, missing you so much I couldn't close my eyes. I searched everywhere until I was completely drained, and when I finally found out you were staying here, I took a whole week of vacation to follow you." Atikom's voice carried genuine desperation.
"And the hotels really don't have any vacant rooms?"
Of course they do... How could the hotel owner's son not have a room available? The top floor is his family's private residence.
Atikom's smile turned melancholic as he bent the truth. "If they did, would I be standing here begging so pathetically for just a corner to rest my head? Please, Khun Nu, let me sleep here. Even the sofa is fine. I know I'm big, but I'll curl up without complaining."
Anupap's mind drifted to the image of Atikom swimming out to the middle of the sea to apologize, and pity stirred in his chest. The young police major's relentless persistence was wearing down his defenses—that cunning, manipulative nature that always got what it wanted.
Deep down, Anupap didn't want to refuse him. His once-hardened heart had softened considerably.
"Fine. I'll go sleep in P'Bud's room. You can rest comfortably."
"If that's the case, don't trouble yourself, Khun Nu. I can find somewhere else to stay. If I keep looking, I might get lucky before one in the morning..." Atikom's face showed practiced reluctance.
Anupap saw right through the act. The man was putting on his pitiful expression while knowing full well that a police officer like him could easily solve a simple accommodation problem for one night.
"Then suit yourself, Major. I've already offered my room, and if you don't want to stay here, that's your choice. Good night." He moved to close the door.
The overly polite man quickly wedged himself closer, afraid the room's owner might actually follow through.
"I'll stay, I'll stay. But Khun Nu, you don't need to sleep elsewhere. I'll take the sofa. I guarantee complete safety—one hundred percent. No funny business. I swear on the honor of the Thai police force. If you're not confident, you can even tie me to the sofa."
"It's fine. I often share a room with P'Bud. Let me just collect the documents from the bed first."
Police Major Atikom entered the room, wanting nothing more than to reach out and embrace Anupap to ease his longing, but the young man hurried to the bed to gather his papers. Atikom headed to the bathroom to prepare for a shower, humming contentedly as he waited for the right moment.
Before knocking on Anupap's door, he'd stopped by to chat with Sombat. A young man with the movie-star looks had answered the door for Sombat—He wasn't alone but with his newfound love, in that honeymoon phase of fresh romance... just like him and Anupap.
***
Sombat's face showed clear discomfort when he opened the door to find Anupap standing there looking dejected, clutching a pillow to his chest.
"Are you crazy, Anupap? You have your own room—why aren't you sleeping there?"
Anupap shifted awkwardly before speaking softly. "Major Atikom has taken it over. He couldn't find a hotel."
"Wait, why don't you just sleep together? Aren't you two dating?"
"P'Bud, are you insane? How could we sleep together?" Anupap's eyes widened in alarm.
"Oh, I see. You can't sleep together yet because you're not married."
Anupap's face scrunched up. "So you're not going to let me sleep here?"
"Well, I... um... I'm not exactly sleeping... er..." Sombat stammered, but before he could finish, a voice called from the bedroom.
"P'Bud, I'm done with my shower. Come to bed."
Anupap rolled his eyes and sighed softly before turning away—he recognized Tam's voice.
"Oh, Nu, just give me one night, sweetheart. Tam went through so much trouble to follow me here," Sombat's voice drifted after him before the door closed.
***
Anupap stood in the middle of the hallway between the two rooms. Past ten o'clock, and the atmosphere was utterly silent.
He felt ridiculous—his bedroom had been seized, and here he stood clutching a white pillow in the hotel corridor. Knocking on other doors to ask for shelter would look absurd. Pojanee was a woman, and despite their close friendship, it wouldn't be appropriate. Mark was sharing with Anek, Pakpoom with his wife. Every room had its pair of occupants.
Well then... tonight would be the first time sleeping in the same room as Atikom.
***