Teeradon couldn't stand it anymore. From the moment they'd arrived at the hospital, Wittawin had barely spoken ten sentences. Even now, as they sat waiting to pay the bill, the young man remained as still and silent as a statue.
"Do you have money, Wittawin? If not, I can pay for now." Teeradon didn't know what else to talk about. No matter what he said, Wittawin barely responded—just nods or shakes of the head.
"They'll call us soon. There are lots of patients, so it's naturally slow." Teeradon offered comfort. "But I think we've been waiting too long, really. I'm starting to get hungry. After this, let's go eat. I'll drive you home."
"No need." Wittawin refused. "I can take a taxi back."
"So you can speak after all." Teeradon smiled faintly, looking up at the young man beside him who stood and walked to the coin-operated vending machine. Teeradon followed, leaning against the machine while watching Wittawin intently.
"Do you know why I wanted to bring you to see the doctor?" Teeradon asked, his hand reaching into his pants pocket to find spare coins to 'contribute funds' to Wittawin, who was quietly searching his own pocket for money.
"Why don't you just stop meddling with me?" Wittawin's voice was flat.
"You know why." Teeradon's tone matched his coolness. "Do you remember, Wittawin? You said that if I didn't love you, I'd never have you. Now I've told you I love you, so therefore..."
"People can say anything." Wittawin countered, meeting Teeradon's gaze with ice-cold eyes.
"Well, here I am, doing it, aren't I? Give me a chance. Give me chances more often." Teeradon's voice grew firm. "Oh, and don't play that game where your good friend comes to sacrifice me for someone else. I don't love Pirayu. How many times do I have to say it? I want to be your boyfriend. I don't want to be anyone else's boyfriend. Do you understand?"
Wittawin didn't argue back. He looked down at the five-baht coin in Teeradon's hand, then looked up, dropping his own coins into the slot until complete, before clenching his fist and pounding the drink selection button with violent force.
"You're going to break the machine." Teeradon smiled. "See? We're perfect for each other. No matter what anyone says about us not being compatible, I don't care. I think we're the most compatible. Even when using a coin machine, we do exactly the same thing. You drop the small coins first, then the large ones, then clench your fist to punch the drink selection just like me. Even though you won't accept the five-baht coin from my hand, you should know that I'm offering you something of mine. I don't know when you'll accept it."
"It's not time yet." Wittawin bent down to pick up the drink can and walked back to his original seat. Teeradon followed and sat beside him, then leaned over to whisper in Wittawin's ear:
"How much time do you need, Wittawin? I can't wait much longer, you know. It's not that I don't want to wait, but because my heart might give out. Let's say I'll wait until..."
Before Teeradon could finish, Wittawin quickly stood when the finance staff called his name. The young man went straight to the counter, with Teeradon following closely behind as usual.
"You can't escape me anywhere. Even if there are many obstacles, I won't give up, I'm telling you." Teeradon spoke softly, his right elbow resting on the counter, his face tilted to watch Wittawin counting money to pay the staff. "But don't torture each other for too long. At least give me some idea of how long I'll be suffering."
"People with broken hearts need some time." Wittawin spoke quietly and quickly, hurrying away from the payment counter to stand by the pharmacy counter. This time Teeradon didn't follow, but walked back to sit on the chair, spreading his arms over the adjacent chairs, crossing his legs casually, watching his 'little monkey's' figure with a smiling face, feeling his heart swell in a way it never had before.
There needs to be a catalyst for Pirayu to have someone. He won't endure suffering too long. Just this much is already bad enough...
Wittawin...Teeradon is impatient. Especially now, he doesn't want to wait even a little bit. On the way back, he'll shift into double speed. Even if it kills him, he'll drive Wittawin home. And somehow, he'll go in and escort him to his room. Things have to progress somehow. At least getting a glass of cold water would be good. Having tricked him into love already, he won't let him trick him into waiting long. Teeradon won't accept that...
***
Teeradon threw the file down on the desk and crashed heavily against the chair back before raising his hands to rub his face with exhaustion of both body and mind. Then he reached over to press the intercom to call his secretary to take the work for corrections.
"Don't ask me how to fix it. I've circled in red pen where the problems are." Teeradon's voice was harsh as he stood up and walked straight to the door, just as his beautiful secretary walked in and raised her eyebrows seeing him about to leave his office.
"Don't ask where I'm going, and don't call to follow up. If anyone calls, tell them to call back." Teeradon gave short orders and walked out.
"What about the appointments..." The secretary opened her mouth to ask, but had to quickly close it when her boss turned around sharply.
"Reschedule them, Bella. If I don't want to see anyone, that means reschedule them. Whether it's tomorrow, the day after, or next week, just reschedule." Teeradon's voice was stern. "Cancel all the appointments if you want, I don't care."
The beautiful secretary, Miss Thailand level, made a pouty face, sighed deeply, and walked to her boss's desk where documents were scattered messily. She couldn't help cursing herself for thinking wrong about volunteering to transfer from the marketing department to be the new secretary for the handsome company president. In less than a week, she wanted to kill herself several times a day.
***