At fifteen minutes past midnight, Sarayoot strode into the hotel lobby, making his way toward the reception counter to collect his room key. He hadn't taken more than a few steps when someone stepped directly into his path.
"Uncle Yoot, where have you been?"
"Win, why aren't you asleep yet?" Sarayoot raised an eyebrow in surprise, deflecting his nephew's question with one of his own.
"How can I sleep? We're here on vacation. Midnight was supposed to be our night out on the town."
"Then why haven't you gone?" Sarayoot asked.
"Because I was waiting for you, obviously."
"I'm not going. I'm heading to bed." Sarayoot feigned a yawn. "Go without me. Just don't come back too late, and don't drink yourself senseless. Also, tell Pamorn to prepare—"
"Why is your hair all messy? Your shirt's only tucked in on one side. What have you been up to?" Wittawin cut him off, switching topics with the precision of a prosecutor.
Sarayoot glanced down at himself, then looked away to avoid his nephew's unwavering stare. The young man stood there with an impassive expression, as if Sarayoot were a teenager caught sneaking out.
"Usually you tuck your shirt in properly."
"Win, we're at the beach. I don't need to look that formal. And my hair's messy because of the sea breeze. Are you trying to find fault with everything?" Sarayoot explained with a smile.
"I'm not finding fault. I'm just surprised that right after dinner, you vanished without a trace. The company owner abandoning his employees for fun."
"You and Pamorn were there. The company has three owners."
"But you're the eldest. We all know that even though we're equal partners, Pamorn and I defer to you as company president."
"So now you want to know where I've been, is that it?" Sarayoot sighed softly, studying Wittawin's face. The young man showed no signs of stepping aside.
"You went to see Khun Toey, didn't you? You arranged for him to come to the island too, right?"
"No," Sarayoot denied immediately.
"Does that 'no' answer my first question or my second?" Wittawin's frown deepened. "But Khun Toey knows we're here, doesn't he? And he told Khun Teeradon to follow us?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know that Khun Toey knows, or don't know that Khun Teeradon came, or playing dumb?"
"Both." Sarayoot maintained his amused expression despite his nephew's relentless cross-examination. "Am I on trial here, Win?"
"Khun Teeradon came here. If the boss knows about it, it can only be because his secretary told him. And if the secretary knows, he must have heard it from someone he's close to. In our company, Khun Toey is closest to you—which I don't particularly approve of." Wittawin stood with arms crossed, tilting his head as he spoke deliberately.
"Are you jealous, Win?"
"No. I'm just worried."
"Worried? About what? I should be the one worried about you."
...Worried that Teeradon will do something to you and then leave you heartbroken...
"I can take care of myself. But you won't survive this. Do you even realize what you're dealing with?"
"What am I dealing with, Win?" Sarayoot asked innocently, though he knew exactly what his well-meaning nephew was about to say. He knew Wittawin wanted him to end up with Pirayu because they were "suitable" for each other.
"Sigh." Wittawin tilted his head back and exhaled sharply before saying, "You're dealing with a predator."
"What do you mean?"
"Uncle Yoot." Wittawin stepped closer, meeting Sarayoot's eyes steadily. "You're no match for Khun Toey. And you're not right for him either. He is sharp and too bold. I don't know how sincere he is about you. He might seduce you just to abandon you later. You'll fall for Toey and end up heartbroken. The right person for you is—"
"Pirayu," Sarayoot interrupted. "Why wouldn't I know you're trying to play matchmaker? But don't forget, Win—compatibility and love are two different things. If you had to choose, what would you pick?"
"Compatibility. Two people need to get along, have things in common, be compatible, understand each other."
"How can you be so sure Khun Toey will seduce me and then abandon me?"
"Does that mean you're planning to get Khun Toey and then abandon him too?" Wittawin concluded.
"Oh, Win. Why do you always jump to your own conclusions?" Sarayoot shook his head. "Ridiculous. I don't know what you're thinking, talking nonsense. Go on, go enjoy yourself."
Sarayoot laughed and raised his hand to give his nephew's cheek a gentle pat, as he used to do. But the grown man quickly tilted his face away and stepped aside, grumbling, "There you go again, trying to pat my cheek. I told you I'm not a little kid anymore. We're in the middle of the lobby—aren't you embarrassed?"
"You'll always be a kid, Win. Even if you grow to be a giant, you'll still be a kid to me."
"This kid still has more sense than some adults. You better watch yourself, or you'll get tricked into letting him crack your shell, only to be discarded afterward." Wittawin's warning carried genuine concern.
"Yes, I'll be careful." Sarayoot smiled wryly, looking at Wittawin with amused eyes at his nephew's excessive worry, before reaching out to push the young man's shoulder. "I know how to use condoms. No need to worry."
"I'm afraid you'll fall for Khun Toey carelessly. There'll be complications afterward." Wittawin pursed his lips.
Sarayoot tilted his head, looking exasperated at his nephew's behavior, while thinking to himself:
...Too late, Win. Things are already getting complicated...
…You don't know anything. You really don't know...
***