Napawadi didn’t care how her dinner tasted.
Her focus was entirely on the man named Tul—the man who looked after her with attentiveness, asking if the food was to her liking. His warm smile sent her heart floating, as if she were walking on clouds. At that moment, the young woman realized... She liked him. She liked him in a way she had never felt for anyone before.
"Thank you so much for today, P’Tul, and I apologize for how long Wadi and my mother have been imposing on you," she said with a polite tone, glancing back at her mother, who was still chatting away with the other’s stepmother.
"What imposition? I’m actually happy that Wadi honored me by coming to have dinner at my house... with me."
She was helpless—helpless against his smile.
Her young heart trembled so intensely it frightened her, leaving her wondering how she could even muster the courage to meet his gaze.
"I’m the one who should apologize for not being a good host."
"Not at all, no. I understand. It’s close to exam time now. If anything, it’s I who came at the wrong time."
Napawadi shook her head vigorously, her hair swaying over her petite shoulders as she quickly corrected his words, flustered. She recalled when he excused himself to the kitchen earlier. At first, she had feared he might be displeased with her intrusion into his home, but when he explained that he intended to study with P’Hin, she understood.
It was her own bad timing. Besides, she wasn’t in any relationship with him, so why would she feel slighted that he prioritized his friend over her? On the contrary, Napawadi was rather impressed that P’Tul was a man of his word and treated P’Hin as a peer. She had always disliked how her mother belittled some of her friends for being of a lower status, deeming them unworthy of association.
People who are friends—must they always view each other through the lens of money? P’Tul was one of those who reassured her that the perspective she had held all her life wasn’t wrong.
The more she thought about it, the more impressed she felt. The more impressed she became, the more tender her gaze toward him grew.
“Let me make it up to you next time, okay?”
“Pardon? Next time?” Lost in her own thoughts, she looked startled, blinking in confusion, only to see his expression turn crestfallen.
“I’m sorry. I must have been too forward.”
“What!? Forward!” Napawadi’s eyes widened even further, her hands trembling slightly as her mind raced. If she wasn’t too naive, P’Tul was... courting her.
Did he like her? Was that even possible? A man as perfect as him?
P’Tul might have always been attentive whenever they met, but he had never reached out to her before. It was hard not to think that she was imagining things. Hearing it so clearly now made her heart pound so hard she could barely catch her breath. She knew her cheeks must be burning red, especially as P’Tul began smiling slowly.
“If I were to ask for a chance to make it up to you, would you let me?”
P’Tul’s voice was so soft it was almost melting.
“M-Make it up for what?” Wadi stammered, lowering her head to hide her face, her voice barely audible.
“How about... dinner with me sometime?”
The young woman froze, her face flushing even deeper when Tul chuckled lightly.
“How about someplace you feel more comfortable and where you’ll actually know what you’ve eaten, hmm?”
He knew she hadn’t been focused on dinner at all that evening.
"I understand. My mother was staring at you that intensely," Tul said.
"No, that’s not it," Wadi quickly denied, but as she met his striking eyes, she found herself lowering her gaze again. It felt as if P’Tul saw right through her.
It wasn’t his mother that made her feel so flustered—it was because her thoughts were entirely preoccupied with him.
P’Tul smiled again, making her want to ask if he ever considered giving her a chance to catch her breath.
"Alright, not that, then not that."
Again. It felt like she was being teased again.
"It really isn’t," she mumbled softly, eliciting a warm chuckle from him.
"So, what’s the answer?" P’Tul returned to the earlier question, causing Wadi to lower her head further, hiding her reddened cheeks.
"Can I bring a friend along?"
The one asking knew how embarrassing it sounded—she wasn’t exactly a child anymore. Just the thought of going to dinner alone with a man made her uneasy. But this was how she’d been raised—to stay within boundaries. Besides, she’d never had a romantic partner before. Even dining with a man she knew to be perfect felt daunting enough to want the safety net of a friend’s company.
Her friends would surely scold her for being such a coward.
Still, someone who lacks courage simply lacks courage.
"Why wouldn’t that be alright?" Tul replied in his gentle voice.
Wadi immediately looked up at him, searching his eyes for signs of displeasure. Instead, all she found was affection.
"Are you really okay with me bringing a friend along?" Wadi asked cautiously.
"What would I have to be upset about? I actually like it," Tul responded.
"Huh?"
For a moment, her mind wandered, wondering if he enjoyed meeting many women at once. However, that thought quickly evaporated as Tul continued speaking with a gentle smile.
"I like that the woman I’m interested in is careful. We’ve only recently met—what you’re doing is absolutely right."
Napawadi froze, stunned by his admission that she was a woman he was interested in. Her heart beat even faster at the thoughtfulness he showed her. Others might see it as a minor thing, but the way he understood her and the boundaries she grew up with made her feel an indescribable warmth.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"But I won’t deny," Tul added, "that I hope, in the future, you’ll trust me enough to go to dinner with me alone. Until that day, please don’t get tired of me, Wadi." He finished with a wide smile, his golden-brown eyes sparkling brightly.
Wadi had already admitted to herself that she was weak against his smile. Then now, as he smiled warmly with those dazzling eyes, her heart sank even deeper into the spell of love.
I’m more afraid that P’Tul will tire of me first.
She wanted to say it aloud but lacked the courage, leaving her tongue-tied. Luckily, her mother chose that moment to end her conversation and walked over.
"Wadi, what’s wrong? Your face is so red," her mother asked.
"Nothing, Khun Mother. Are we leaving now?" Wadi quickly grabbed her mother's arm, giving it a gentle tug as if pleading to leave before her embarrassment consumed her entirely. Her action elicited a knowing laugh from her mother, who cast a teasing glance at Tul.
"Alright, let's go... Tul, Auntie will take her leave now."
"Yes, goodbye," Tul replied, raising his hands in a wai. His gaze then shifted to the young woman clinging tightly to her mother’s arm.
"Wadi."
"Yes?" She glanced up quickly, only to lower her head again, biting her lip nervously.
"Sweet dreams," he said warmly.
"S-sweet dreams to you too," she stammered.
Napawadi couldn’t help but feel that his eyes conveyed something deeper than his words, leaving her so flustered that she practically clung to her mother’s arm all the way to the car. Her cheeks and even the exposed skin above her sleeves glowed pink, making her irresistibly endearing to anyone who might see her.
Tul, too, smiled at her retreating figure. However, that smile faded—or rather, it changed—as the car disappeared from view.
The once warm and pleasant smile transformed into a cold smirk, accompanied by an icy gaze.
Wadi does not hold the same value as a stone, but she is perfectly suited to stand by my side to enhance my prestige.
With that thought, Tul turned and strode toward the workers’ quarters.
~~~
That night, Tul once again chose to sleep holding onto his close companion as usual.
And then, exam season arrived...
Even though fourth-year students only had a few exams, they were grueling enough to turn the faculty into a small herd of zombies. Similarly, though Kon Hin had diligently studied throughout the term, he still stayed up late to review, determined to ingrain the material in his memory. He didn’t want to be known as a burden to his Chao-nai.
If nothing unexpected happened, Tul would graduate with the highest GPA in his year—effortlessly.
"Finished reading yet?"
"Not yet, sir."
In Tul’s bedroom, Kon Hin sat cross-legged on the floor, his back leaning against the large bed. Meanwhile, the room’s owner sat at the desk, his sharp eyes scanning over corporate documents for the upcoming week’s meeting. Tul showed no interest in the textbooks—he didn’t need to read them since he had memorized everything.
Kon Hin, on the other hand, still had a mountain of material left to cover.
Tul glanced at the clock, which showed almost 3 AM, prompting a chuckle from the room's owner.
"You know you can’t get below a B+ in this subject."
"Understood… sir," Kon Hin replied.
At the end of the sentence, Kon Hin’s voice noticeably softened. This particular subject had a grading system of 60% from reports and the rest from exams. His report scores were excellent, thanks to the efforts of the person seated at the desk. If his grade turned out poorly, it would be entirely due to his own exam performance.
Kon Hin pondered as he stared at the letters that no longer registered in his brain, forcing him to rub the area between his brows.
"Here."
The student, taking a mental break, flinched slightly as a rolled-up sheet of paper tapped his head. Looking up, he saw his Chao-nai smiling with amusement.
"Read this."
"Sir?"
"I said read it, so read it." Tul extended the rolled-up paper, the same one he had used to tap Hin's head. The young man hesitantly took it, his confusion growing as he realized it was almost identical to the study sheets he already had. But when he flipped through it...
"Only read the highlighted parts. The rest is unnecessary."
That was all Tul said before returning to his work, leaving Kon Hin blinking in surprise. His fatigue vanished instantly because he knew full well that his Chao-nai wasn’t the type to highlight key points. Since Tul could remember everything he studied, this was done... for him.
The thought brought an uncontrollable smile to Kon Hin’s face, and his hands gripped the study sheets tightly.
"Did Khun Tul prepare this for me?"
"I told you to read, so read."
Kon Hin glanced at Tul’s broad back, lowered his head, and murmured softly to himself.
"Thank you, sir."
"If you have time to thank me, focus on memorizing it before morning."
The command was met with a firm acknowledgment from Kon Hin, his heart racing so hard that he was fully awake. Adrenaline coursed through his veins.
At first, he thought there was no way he could achieve a B+. Now though, he believed that even if his Chao-nai demanded an A, he could do it!
Such were the thoughts of someone now studying with a much clearer mind.
Creek, creek.
Kon Hin was so engrossed in his studying that he failed to notice Tul's phone vibrating at 3 AM The phone’s owner glanced at the screen briefly, the corners of his lips curling in satisfaction as he quickly typed out a reply.
~~~
"Exams are over, damn it!!! Tonight, I’m going to drink until I’m like a dog."
"Normally, you’re already like a dog, aren’t you?"
"Are you talking about yourself, Ai Tul... Ai bloody possessive dog?"
Thud!
Kon Hin almost raised his hand to massage his temple. His friend Nakrob, who had promised not to provoke his Chao-nai, had managed to hold back for just over a week after making that promise. The moment exams ended, he was at it again, leaving Kon Hin to glance at him with a pleading expression.
This only made Nakrob feign wide-eyed innocence, raising both hands in mock surrender.
"I’m not picking a fight with Ai Tul, alright? This is just friendly banter, isn’t it, Ai Tul?"
"Hmph. I don’t mind. Think of it as a dog licking its lips."
"Heh, if I were a dog, I wouldn’t lick your lips anyway."
Crack, crack.
Getting these two to reconcile might be an impossible task.
Kon Hin thought as he watched the two men glare at each other, neither willing to back down. He could almost feel the lightning flashing between them. Knowing he couldn’t stop his Chao-nai, his deep black eyes turned toward his close friend, pleading with a gaze reminiscent of a puppy begging for treats.
I’m counting on you, Ai Rob.
"Alright, back to the main point. Let’s go grab something to eat. Exams are over, after all." Nakrob relented and changed the subject after noticing Kon Hin’s desperate look.
"I’m busy today," Tul dismissed the idea.
Nakrob frowned briefly before his face split into a wide grin.
Thud!
The large-framed man grabbed Kon Hin by the neck and hugged him tightly.
"You’re busy, but Ai Hin isn’t, right?"
"Hey, I didn’t say I was free!"
"Ouch, I know, alright? Ai Tul is kindhearted. He wouldn't be cruel enough to drag you back home on the last day of exams. If he did, he'd be downright heartless," Nakrob teased with a sly grin, staring at the mixed-heritage man.
"Right, Ai Tul? I know you’re not a possessive cur. If you’ve got work, then go do it. But I’m taking Ai Hin with me. I’ll make sure he gets back to your mansion gates safe and sound. And if your folks let me in, I’ll drop him off right at your front door! That’s if you’re that possessive!" Nakrob wasn’t stupid, and his cleverness now cornered Tul, much to Tul's irritation.
Buzz, buzz.
The vibrating phone broke the tension. Tul picked it up, his sharp eyes glinting as he read the message. He quickly typed a reply, tucked the phone back into his pocket, and smiled a chilling smile that made Kon Hin shiver—especially when Tul's gaze lingered on Nakrob’s hand gripping Kon Hin's shoulder.
"Fine. Hin hasn’t unwound in a while."
"Khun Tul, I don’t have to go," Kon Hin protested quickly.
"It’s fine. I’m allowing it," Tul said with a deceptively kind smile.
"See? Ai Tul’s a generous person. He’s letting his guy have some fun, no complaints at all," Nakrob chimed in triumphantly, still holding Kon Hin’s shoulder firmly to ensure he wouldn’t escape.
Although Kon Hin wasn’t entirely convinced, Tul didn’t seem angry in the least.
"Just like Nakrob said. You’ve been stressed over exams for a while now. Go relax today. I’ve got my own business and probably won’t be back until late."
Kon Hin, easily persuaded, hesitated briefly. Despite feeling uneasy, he hadn’t spent time with Nakrob in ages—not since the incident with Khun Tinn Pakkaew.
"I can really go?" he asked in a small voice.
"Of course you can go," Tul replied before adding, "But let me know when you're heading back. If I finish my business, I might come pick you up."
"No need, sir. I can get back on my own."
"I said I'll pick you up, so I will. That is, if I finish my work in time," Tul countered, stepping closer. Kon Hin, alarmed, quickly pulled Nakrob's arm from his shoulders and looked up at Tul nervously, wondering if he had unknowingly offended him.
Whoosh!
A large hand landed gently on his tousled head, ruffling his hair softly with affection. Tul leaned in slightly, his voice low and warm.
"Alright, I'm heading off. See you this evening."
Tul smiled, withdrew his hand, grabbed his bag, and turned to Nakrob.
"I'm counting on you to look after him."
With that, he walked away, leaving Nakrob standing there, mouth agape, before turning sharply to stare at his friend in disbelief.
"What the hell? Don't blush, man; it's giving me chills."
"I'm not!" Kon Hin protested, pressing the back of his hand to his burning cheeks.
"Not my ass! You're as red as a ripe tomato. But I'm more freaked out by what Tul just did. Seriously, are you two together now?" Nakrob asked, bewildered. Just the other day, Kon Hin had been no more than a subordinate under Tul's command. Now Tul was acting as if Kon Hin was his cherished and protected Mia.
The same question echoed loudly in Kon Hin's mind. Yet, the curiosity paled in comparison to... the good feeling swelling within him.
The thought of the one who had patted his head repeatedly lingered, the warmth left behind still tangible.
"I don't know."
But I am happy.
The Chao-nai who had once kissed him and declared that he was more important than anyone else was now becoming increasingly expressive. And his heart... was sinking deeper into the abyss of love, unable to pull itself back.
"Just a little, Hin?"
"I already told you, no."
"Phii Hin, you don’t drink alcohol?"
At this point, Pathapee could only silently curse himself. He should have known his friend's nature better. He should have anticipated this trap. As soon as they stepped into the semi-bar restaurant not far from the university, they were greeted by Nong Rose, a beautiful junior who enthusiastically waved at them. Beside her was Nong Ji, a petite member of the student committee. Both smiled warmly, though Pathapee shot a sharp glare at Nakrob. But… Nakrob showed no shame whatsoever.
On the contrary, Nakrob arranged everything so Kon Hin ended up seated right next to Rose.
"I can drink, but I don’t drink often."
"If Tul doesn’t allow it, he won’t touch it. Tonight though, Tul already gave his permission, didn’t he? Come on, just a sip!" Nakrob pressed, encouragingly. However, the one listening firmly shook his head, pushing the glass in his friend's hand away from his face.
"No, I don’t want to reek of alcohol when I get home."
The towering friend simply shrugged nonchalantly and downed the drink himself.
"And where did Phii Tul go?" asked Ji-drit, the petite girl whose size matched her name.
"Oh, he’s swamped with work. No time for hanging out with friends," Nakrob replied dismissively, but then narrowed his eyes.
"Don’t tell me the only reason you agreed to come was because you’ve got your eyes on Tul."
"Hey! No way, Phii Rob! What are you even saying?" Ji-drit shouted in protest, shaking her head vehemently.
However, as all eyes turned to her, she mumbled softly, "Maybe just a little... Gosh, Phii Tul is so handsome. What girl wouldn’t notice? I know I don’t have a chance, but he’s eye candy, you know?"
"But I don’t like Phii Tul," Rose interjected firmly, turning to glance at Kon Hin, causing him to instinctively avoid her gaze.
"Well, you’ve got a thing for the unusual—uh, sorry, Phii Hin! Ji-drit didn’t mean anything bad," the petite girl quickly apologized, flashing a sheepish smile. She had a sense that her friend seemed quite smitten with Phii Kon Hin, though she couldn’t quite understand why.
Okay, sure, Phii Hin was handsome, had a good build, and was academically gifted. But the label on his broad back clearly marked him as someone of servile status. No matter how one looked at it, a future with him seemed fraught with challenges. Further, Rose, being beautiful, talented, and confident, seemed oddly drawn to a man of such inferior status.
Kon Hin merely shook his head, offering a kind smile.
"I understand. I’m not upset with you."
"You can be upset, Phii Hin. There’s nothing strange about you," Rose retorted, shooting a glare at her friend. But her irritation quickly dissipated at the sight of the modest smile from the senior she had set her heart on.
"Phii thinks Rose is peculiar for being interested in someone like Phii."
"Phii Hin doesn’t..." The beautiful girl bit her lip slightly before taking a deep breath and shifting the subject.
"...Then does Phii Hin think someone peculiar like Rose might have a chance?"
Kon Hin froze, glancing over at Nakrob, but it was futile. That one was watching the situation with satisfaction and would undoubtedly fully support him if he considered opening his heart to this junior. But...
"Phii..."
"Ah! Phii Hin, don’t answer now, okay? Please don’t! We just finished exams today. Rose doesn’t want to feel down."
"Hey, he might agree, you know, Ai Rose," Nakrob interjected with a booming laugh.
"Don’t egg him on, Phii Rob. Just looking at Phii Hin’s face, I can already guess 70% of the answer... Let’s save it for when the new term starts. Then Phii Hin can give Rose his answer," the young woman hurriedly continued, lowering her head. Her expression had dimmed, casting a somber mood over the table. But after a moment, Rose took a deep breath, lifting her head with a bright smile.
"Let’s keep eating. Come on, Rose will serve the dishes for Phii Rob and Phii Hin," she said cheerfully, shifting gears rapidly, though those listening couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.
Kon Hin wanted to be straightforward with her, but seeing her like this, he could only swallow everything down. His hand subconsciously touched his phone.
I’m sorry, Nong Rose, but Phii truly cannot accept anyone’s love.
"Are you sure you two can get home safely on your own?"
"This is nothing, Phii Rob. Ji-drit’s house is just a little further from Rose’s. I’ll drop her off and loop back home easily."
After what felt more like a blind date than a celebration dinner for finishing exams, Nakrob asked his juniors with concern, especially since the tiny Ji-drit had decided to try drinking and downed several glasses. Now, she stood by her friend’s small car, her eyes half-closed and glassy. Meanwhile, Rose firmly assured him she could take care of her friend.
"Well then, we’ll head out first. Goodbye, Phii Rob, and..." Rose slightly lowered her head, then glanced up at Kon Hin with hopeful eyes.
"If I contact Phii Hin sometimes, would it be bothersome?"
Kon Hin shifted uncomfortably, about to respond when...
"Oh, go for it! Talk to him about anything, ask him anything! Opportunities like this don’t come easily, so go all in, Nong!" Nakrob threw an arm around his friend’s shoulder and answered for him, signaling insistently for him to accept. Pathapee wanted to heave a heavy sigh, but when he saw Rose’s pleading gaze, he could only...
"Alright."
"Thank you! Sweet dreams, then," Rose said joyfully with a sweet smile before turning to shove her friend into the car. She then settled into the driver’s seat but couldn’t resist rolling down the window to wave energetically. Only after that did the small car drive off from the parking lot.
Once it was just the two of them left...
"I could just take you there myself. No need to contact Ai Tul."
When Kon Hin grabbed his phone, intending to call his Chao-nai, Nakrob seized his hand, cursing irritably under his breath. Finally, Kon Hin replied calmly.
"I have to follow my boss's orders."
"Yeah, sure, you house slave. You might’ve skipped history class, but let me remind you—Thailand doesn’t have a slavery system anymore, Ai Hin."
But the listener ignored the remark, raising the phone to his ear and waiting through the ringing until the call ended.
"Didn’t answer?"
"Mm."
"Fine, then I’ll drive you there. End of discussion." Nakrob cut him off and dragged his friend toward the car. Kon Hin followed without protest since his Chao-nai had made it clear that his tasks might take a while to finish, and he shouldn’t repeatedly call to the point of annoyance.
As they got into Nakrob’s car, the phone in Kon Hin’s pocket buzzed.
...Still not done with work. You can go ahead and rest in the room...
Kon Hin read the message and smiled.
"What now? Did Ai Tul give you more orders?"
"No."
Kon Hin immediately wiped the smile from his face, hid his phone, and stuffed it back into his pocket.
"Let me say this one more time, Ai Hin."
"Hm?" The listener glanced at the driver, who wore an expression of utter disapproval.
"Stop making that face, man. It’s giving me goosebumps."
Kon Hin pulled down the visor mirror to check his expression and discovered that he was... smiling.
A smile that looked happier than ever before.
~~~
"P'Tul, do you have any other business to attend to?"
"No, just some minor work matters. What about you, Wadi? Feel free to have fun with your friends."
Meanwhile, Tul Metthanun stood alongside Khun Napawadi, a perfectly poised young lady who spoke apologetically. Not only had P'Tul treated her and two friends to dinner, but he also helped carry their belongings as the group browsed a high-end handbag store.
"I’m not looking to buy anything, really. I just came to accompany my friends. But I feel bad for taking up so much of your time, P'Tul." She glanced at her watch, which read 9 PM.
"It’s no trouble at all. I’m free anyway." Tul smiled, slid his phone back into his pocket, and gently placed his hand on Wadi’s back, guiding her toward the two other ladies still deliberating over their choices.
On his phone screen, a single message remained:
...Yes, I’ll go up and wait in the room...
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