Within the grand dining hall, Napawadi stirred her bowl of rice porridge for several minutes. Her large, round eyes were fixed on the silent phone screen with growing unease. Her slender lips pressed together nervously. This wasn’t the first day she felt this way; she had been like this ever since she met a man named Tul Metthanun.
Whenever she sent him a message, the young lady would sit and wait for his reply with great anticipation. This morning was no different. Wadi had sent a simple greeting:
...Good morning, P’Tul...
Though it was a message of no great significance, she still waited. She waited until the rice porridge in her bowl became unappetizingly cold. She waited until the phone screen lit up and vibrated.
Brrr!
Her two hands quickly grabbed the device in such haste that she nearly knocked a glass of water off the table.
...Someone’s definitely going to say I look like a crazy person today...
The beautiful young woman blinked rapidly but quickly typed a reply, not caring to wait a few minutes to maintain composure.
...Why is that?...
The other side fell silent for a moment before responding.
...Because just talking to you, Wadi, makes me smile all day...
Napawadi's lips parted slightly, her cheeks flushing deeply before her mood shifted into a delighted laugh. The sky seemed to brighten instantly.
"Are you and Tul dating yet?"
"What?!"
The young woman was so startled she almost dropped her phone. She raised her eyes to meet her mother’s gaze, who had somehow slipped into the chair across from her without her noticing. Her heart raced with a mix of panic and embarrassment.
"Mother, what are you saying?"
Her listener furrowed her brows sharply.
"Still not yet? How long have you two been talking now? Why haven’t you made it official already? Tul is too much—just chatting and flirting endlessly. How long does he plan to keep that up? As a woman, this puts us at a disadvantage. You’ve gone out together plenty of times. If someone asks, are you going to respond like celebrities and say you’re just ‘talking’? That won’t do at all," her mother remarked with clear dissatisfaction.
"Tul is truly irresponsible. Expecting us to push the issue ourselves would be disgraceful."
Napawadi’s lips parted slightly again, her cheeks growing even redder with embarrassment. No matter how she listened, it sounded like her mother wanted her to date P'Tul so badly that her whole body seemed to tremble with excitement. This was in stark contrast to how her mother used to forbid her from getting close to unsuitable men.
"Mother, please," she protested weakly.
"Don’t ‘please’ me, Wadi. If you two don’t settle this soon, I’m going to talk to Rasa and find out what Tul intends. Letting things drag on like this only hurts us women."
"There’s no need to rush," the daughter attempted to counter.
She had no issue with simply chatting with P'Tul like this. Although her heart was ready to accept his love, wasn’t it better to take the time to truly get to know each other?
But her mother shot her a piercing look.
"How can you not rush? Do you realize how many people have their eyes on Tul? Even if he doesn’t inherit a single baht, Tul is the eldest heir. And do you know how much wealth that family has? Those money-hungry women must be eyeing him with greedy intent. Tul himself should be careful, or he’ll fall prey to one of them instead of ending up with someone like you, who suits him perfectly in every way."
The more Wadi listened, the more uneasy she became. She quickly lowered her head and focused on finishing her meal. Rather than argue further, she decided it was better to leave.
"I’m going to meet some friends, Mother."
"Why not stop by and see Tul instead?" her dining companion asked with a sharp gaze.
"During this break, P'Tul is working at Uncle's company," Wadi replied.
"There you have it! The female employees must be lining up to catch his attention!"
Napawadi didn’t stay to hear her mother’s rant. She hurriedly fled the dining room, grabbed her bag, and drove out of the house.
Though it looked like she was escaping her overly meddlesome mother, in truth, her mother’s words had stirred her unease. Just thinking about other women trying to approach P'Tul made her realize that someone meek and naïve like herself would surely stand no chance.
~~~
"Your mom is right, Wadi."
"Are you telling me to make the first move on P'Tul?"
After leaving home, she met her two close friends at the mall and recounted that morning’s events. But instead of receiving comfort, they sided with her mother.
"I know you wouldn’t dare, but don’t you get it? You and P'Tul totally look like a couple. You talk on the phone almost every day, send each other messages in the morning and before bed. He tells you everything, and you tell him everything too. Even when I met him before, I could tell he was crazy about you. At this rate, he’s going to gobble you up whole any day now!" one friend remarked with great enthusiasm, but the listener couldn’t help but argue back.
"Do you think P'Tul is just playing around with me?" Wadi asked anxiously. Though they talked every day, it was usually she who initiated the conversation first.
Her two friends shook their heads simultaneously.
"Oh, Khun Wadi, let me tell you this. A woman like you isn’t the type men would approach just to fool around. Your family name, your status, your mother—if he wanted to play, he’d go for some other woman, wouldn’t he? With you, it’s like the words 'must be serious' are stamped right on your forehead!" After that, they burst into laughter, clearly amused. Wadi glared at them both, but they remained unbothered.
"Yeah, I agree with your mother, Wadi."
"About making a move on P'Tul?" Wadi asked hesitantly.
"No, no. For someone like you, just sending a message already counts as the ultimate bold move. I mean that P'Tul is likely being eyed by lots of other women," her friend explained, sighing dreamily.
"Exactly! He’s around the same age as us, but he’s nothing like the guys at our faculty. Compared to him, they’re all so immature. P'Tul, on the other hand, is insanely handsome, so warm, so composed. I can still remember the smile he gave me when he said, 'Shall I help carry that for you?' Oh my gosh, just thinking about it makes me giddy! Honestly, if we weren’t friends, I’d have already made a move on him," her other friend chimed in, smiling sweetly, clearly lost in thoughts of the charming young man.
Naturally, Napawadi couldn’t share in their smiles.
"Don’t make that face, Wadi. We’re not going to steal him from you. But you should be worried about others trying to take him. Handsome, wealthy, from a prestigious family, academically brilliant, heir to a major company—if he stays single long enough to get to you, you should be phanom wai-ing in gratitude."
"But I don’t even know what to do," Wadi confessed, her shoulders slumping. Listening to her mother had already stressed her out; now hearing her friends only made it worse.
"Okay, here’s a question. If he asks you to be his girlfriend, would you say yes?"
Napawadi’s cheeks flushed at the question. She froze, looking back and forth between her two friends. When they leaned closer, refusing to let up, she lowered her head and nodded shyly.
She admitted it—she desperately wanted to be his girlfriend too.
The two friends laughed loudly, teasing Wadi about how cute and endearing she was. They concluded with:
"Then if he doesn’t ask you soon, you should just go ahead and ask him yourself!"
Once again, Napawadi was at a loss for words. Not because she was embarrassed by the suggestion, but because the well-mannered young woman found herself seriously considering it. She realized she had fallen head over heels for him.
Should she make the first move?
~~~
...Is the work done yet?...
Kon Hin looked away from the stack of documents and turned to his new phone. Every time he saw it, his lips instinctively curved into a pleasant smile. This was the phone his Chao-nai had bought him—same model, same color—and it was the very person who had just sent him a message asking that question. He glanced at the clock.
It was noon.
“P’Nu, do you have anything else for me to do?”
“The tasks I assigned—already done? Oh wait, is it noon already?”
Kon Hin nearly laughed, because as soon as his supervisor realized it was lunchtime, the punctual man stood up from his desk, grabbed his wallet and car keys, and said enthusiastically:
“Let’s eat first, then get back to work. No energy, no brainpower!”
This school break, Kon Hin wasn’t working in the gardens or washing cars at the Metthanun mansion.
Instead, he secured an internship at his Chao-nai's company. Initially, the young man worried about being viewed as someone who relied on connections. However, after a week or two, his concerns transformed into enthusiasm as he enjoyed learning the realities of working life. Especially with a supervisor like P'Nu, who had declared on day one that he didn’t care about how well-connected someone was—work was work. Kon Hin’s dedication prompted P'Nu to confidently say that if every connection hire learned as quickly as Kon Hin, he welcomed more of them.
Kon Hin was enjoying himself, but the time he anticipated most was lunch break.
It wasn’t because he wanted to slack off, but because...
“Are you having lunch with Tul today, Hin?”
“Yes, P’Nu.”
Near lunch, there was always someone texting to ask if he was finished with work, so they could go out for lunch together.
“Honestly, will there ever be a day when I get to have lunch with you?” P'Nu shook his head and laughed, as it was common knowledge across half the company that the two of them were close.
“There will be, P’Nu.”
“Alright, alright. Let me know when you're free, and we’ll have lunch.”
P'Nu waved him off and walked to the elevator with other staff members.
Kon Hin followed, waiting for the elevator as well, but he headed to the upper floor, where his Chao-nai's office was located, phone in hand as he texted.
...I’m on my way up...
...I’m in my office...
Tul replied swiftly, prompting Kon Hin to press the button for an even higher floor. He greeted the staff on that level before heading into the inner office.
"Tul is as talented as his father, don’t you think, Khun Rasa?"
Before turning the corner, Kon Hin paused, hearing the name of the lady who rarely appeared at the company. Peeking around, he saw three people seated on the guest sofa near Khun Trai’s office. One of them was Rasa, whose eyes gleamed at the mention of her stepson’s name.
"Indeed. Hardworking youths like him are rare these days. I’m excited he’s joining the company full-time this year. I can hardly wait."
"Do you remember when Khun Trai first started managing the company? I think Tul will be the same. I’m confident he’ll propel the company forward just as his father did."
Kon Hin recognized the two shareholders praising his Chao-nai, making him smile. In contrast, Rasa’s face darkened.
"But it’s a shame he’s not the heir to this company," she said, lifting her chin confidently.
Tul might be talented, but it’s unfortunate Khun Mother handed everything to Tinn.
"In the end, Tul will remain nothing more than his younger brother’s assistant," Rasa remarked, causing the other two to glance at each other before laughing.
"I’ve heard something like that too. It’s such a pity for Tul. But Khun Phonlay’s inheritance doesn’t affect this company, right? Ultimately, Khun Trai decides which son will succeed him. And if you ask me, by the time Tinn finishes his studies and returns, Tul will likely have accomplished so much that his younger brother won’t be able to catch up, Khun Rasa."
Kon Hin dared not look directly at the lady. Even he could tell that the two shareholders were openly siding with Tul. Comparing the exceptional elder son to the unruly younger one who had caused a scene in a restaurant, anyone could see who was the better prospect.
"Been here long?"
Eck!
The young man jolted violently and spun around, finding the subject of the earlier conversation standing behind him with hands in his pants pockets. Those golden-brown eyes were fixed on the sofa set with an unreadable expression.
"Not long, sir."
"Then let's go," Tul said, turning and striding back toward the elevator. As they walked, both overheard Rasa's voice, sharp and piercing:
"In the end, Tinn will get everything!"
Kon Hin shuddered, unwilling to interpret his Chao-nai's quiet laughter.
Tul's chosen lunch spot for the day was a street-side restaurant.
It wasn’t far from the company, so they sat on plastic chairs, waiting for their food. Kon Hin didn’t dare bring up what he had overheard earlier, sipping his drink in silence as he observed Tul blending effortlessly with other office workers.
"How’s the internship going?"
"Quite enjoyable, sir. And you?"
Tul shook his head, stirring the ice in his glass.
"Not fun at all. Up there, it's full of tigers and lions. Let your guard down for a second, and they'll turn on you," said the mixed-heritage man plainly. Despite proving his abilities for years, many still doubted someone who hadn't completed a bachelor's degree. So, unlike Kon Hin, who could enjoy being just an intern, Tul found no amusement. However, he had to admit that the past month had seen his stress ease into a sense of calm.
And it was probably because of the person sitting across from him, sipping his drink.
Though they didn’t work together, knowing that Kon Hin was in the same building brought Tul peace of mind.
Tul chuckled to himself. Even hearing his stepmother's unpleasant words earlier hadn’t irritated him as it usually did. But relaxation didn’t mean he let his guard down—there was still much to accomplish.
Some things would make that woman incapable of holding her head high ever again.
"Khun Tul,"
"What is it?" Tul redirected his attention to the person in front of him, brushing aside those troubling thoughts.
"Next month," Kon Hin began cautiously, earning a laugh from Tul.
Cute.
"Is there anything you'd like, Khun Tul?"
Tul raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion at the question. Though reminded now, he immediately recalled the importance of next month—not the start of a new semester, but his own birthday.
Every year, Tul never remembered, but the person who always reminded him and made it feel special was sitting right before him.
"No, I don’t want anything," Tul replied with a smile, curious about what his close companion had in store.
"Really, not even one thing?" Kon Hin's face fell.
"Thinking it over... there is something."
Kon Hin's face instantly brightened, his eyes lighting up with excitement.
"What is it?"
"A sports car."
At that, the smile vanished, leaving only a pale expression and hunched shoulders.
Adorable.
Once again, the sight of the sun-bronzed, broad-shouldered man looking so endearing brought a sense of amusement to Tul.
"Or maybe a house—a place where I don't have to live with her." The more Tul spoke, the paler Kon Hin grew, his smile fading entirely.
Bowing his head in disappointment, Kon Hin seemed crestfallen, knowing he couldn’t provide what Tul desired. His dejected demeanor eventually made Tul burst into laughter.
"I'm just kidding."
"Then..." Kon Hin's face lit up again, hopeful that he could find something Tul truly wanted.
That expression prompted Tul to beckon Kon Hin closer with a crook of his finger. As Kon Hin leaned in, Tul brought his face closer as well, whispering softly enough for only the two of them to hear:
"On that day, I want to see you stripped bare, pleasuring yourself on my bed."
Thud!
Tul was thoroughly pleased to see Kon Hin frozen in place, mouth agape, eyes wide, and his cheeks turning a deep red that spread down his neck. The sight confirmed how incredibly cute he was.
The young man sat back upright, a mischievous grin on his face, and asked,
"Are you sure you want me to?"
Tul felt even more satisfied when Kon Hin shyly nodded.
"Yes."
With that, Tul eagerly anticipated his upcoming birthday. He might order Kon Hin to pleasure himself for him, or perhaps torment him on the bed, but there had never been a time when he walked into the room and found his close friend willingly waiting in such an embarrassing state on his bed.
Just thinking about it was thrilling.
"Don't forget, you better not bring anything with you," Tul reminded, pleased by the sight of the blushing cheeks and the dark eyes that, somewhere along the way, had shifted from admiration to love.
Creek, creek
At that moment, his phone vibrated, cutting through the tension. Tul looked away from Kon Hin's face, pulling out his phone. His brows furrowed for a brief moment before relaxing when he saw the curious look on Kon Hin's face. The food was just being brought to the table.
"Eat up. I don't want to get back to work late."
Kon Hin obediently followed, and Tul quickly typed out a response before putting his phone back in his pocket.
Napawadi had texted him:
"Can we meet today?"
And he replied:
"...With pleasure, of course..."
Tul knew everything was going according to plan, but for the first time, he didn't want to follow the course he had set out. Just hearing the word love, he...wanted to throw everything out the window.
But things had already gone too far to start over.
Tul sent Kon Hin home first and drove to the flower shop to pick up the flowers he had ordered earlier. He then continued to the riverside restaurant where he was meeting someone else. His mind remained occupied with work, family matters, and the many things he had already set in motion. This was the first time he hesitated.
The three days and two nights spent with Kon Hin had changed him.
What the hell, this is nonsense, Ai Tul? Twenty years of grudges versus three days?
Tul shook his head, brushing off the crazy thoughts that had entered his mind. He stepped out of the car and followed the staff to the table he had reserved.
He sat, waiting for his date with a charming smile, as if excited to see Wadi in just a few minutes, though inside, he felt no joy in being here. But the words his stepmother had said at lunch still lingered, forcing him to go through with this.
That woman had once stood behind his Khun Yaa. Although she never took direct action, every time Tul was scolded, Rasa would watch with satisfaction. With contempt in her eyes, she was always saying that her son was the true heir. Tul knew that if he didn’t push himself to be in the public eye, Rasa would still view him that way.
Tul Metthanun knew that Rasa’s day would come when Tinn would return to take control of everything. When that day arrived he, Tul Metthanun, would be cast aside immediately. However, he would never allow that day to come.
Who, then, should be cast aside?
Tul turned his gaze from the river view to the phone screen, which displayed a foreign number. His warm smile turned cold. The atmosphere around him instantly changed as he grabbed the phone to answer. After responding with only a few words, he ended the call, his eyes reflecting satisfaction.
At this moment, the only person standing in his way was his younger brother—his true blood brother.
A brother whom people close to him had repeatedly warned him about, telling him that he was the last of his family. Tul almost believed what Kon Hin had said. He almost allowed everything to proceed as it had before, almost letting the anger die along with the one who had descended into hell.
But because of that letter that Khun Yaa had left for him… He would never allow someone who had passed away to laugh.
Tul closed his eyes. He did not see the image of Khun Yaa mocking him though. Instead, he saw... the scar on Kon Hin’s eyebrow.
His hands clenched together, his heart spinning, burning with fury.
"P'Tul, may I?"
Tul heard the uncertain voice from beside him, and that made him slowly open his eyes. The anger in his gaze changed to sweetness. A joyful smile appeared on his face, and his tall figure rose to greet the beautiful woman with a welcoming gesture.
"Is something wrong, P'Tul?" Wadi asked with concern, to which the listener smiled widely.
"Yes, there is."
"Are you feeling unwell, P'Tul? Would it be better for you to go rest first? We can reschedule for another day. I'm sorry, really sorry, because of me, P'Tul has worked so hard and still has to meet with me..."
"Whoa, whoa, calm down, Wadi."
When the woman nervously spoke so fast that her tongue got tangled, Tul raised his hand to stop her, watching as she quieted down with flushed cheeks.
"I'm sorry," Wadi mumbled under her breath. "I was just... a bit nervous."
Tul chuckled affectionately, politely placing his hand on her back. He pulled out the chair opposite her until Napawadi sat down properly. Only then did Tul return to his seat, noticing her large eyes fixed on the bouquet of flowers without looking away.
"These flowers are for you, Wadi."
"Huh?" Her eyes lifted to look at him, asking for confirmation.
"You were right, Wadi. This bouquet is for you."
Napawadi’s cheeks turned bright red as she took the flowers into her arms with a joyful expression. Tul smiled as he watched her appreciate the bouquet to her heart’s content before speaking again.
"Do you want to know why I am like this?"
She nodded quickly, looking worried.
"Does P'Tul have a headache?" she asked as she approached, noticing his furrowed brow and unwell expression.
The handsome man shook his head with a smile, presumptuously extending his hand to place it on the back of hers.
"I'm nervous."
Although Wadi felt so shy she could almost lose her mind, she didn’t pull her hand away, willingly letting Tul hold one of her hands.
"Nervous about what?"
"About you, Wadi."
"Me?"
Tul nodded, gently squeezing her small, delicate hand, so different from the hands of another man.
"Just sitting in front of you makes my hands tremble. Look, my hands are all sweaty now."
"I'm not that scary," the young woman retorted shyly, throwing him a playful side glance.
"I didn’t say you were scary. Quite the opposite—you're too adorable."
Her slender figure squirmed bashfully, lowering her head, but she couldn’t help smiling to herself. She pulled her hand back, not wanting him to know that her hands were equally sweaty. Then she looked up again.
"P'Tul?"
"Yes?"
"May I ask you something?"
Tul concealed his contemptuous sneer skillfully, for he had anticipated what Wadi wanted from the moment she expressed a desire to meet him. He had been awaiting this moment ever since learning her last name. Yet now, a strange irritation surged within him, making him want to rise from the table and leave without a word.
But... he couldn't.
The beautiful woman, meanwhile, took deep breaths to steady herself before speaking in a faint voice.
"I’m not pressuring P'Tul for anything. I’m just curious, really... just curious."
"I'm listening," Tul responded gently, his tone encouraging.
That was enough for the young woman, who had been stirred by opinions from all sides, to blurt out her question.
"What are we, exactly?"
Tul gazed at the stunning woman—desired by many—who now looked at him with tender eyes, nervous and restless about his answer. He responded to her question with one of his own.
"That depends on your answer, Wadi."
"I asked P'Tul first," she protested, though her cheeks and body blushed the color of roses. Her eyes were filled with nervous anticipation. The thought of him being desired by so many made her uneasy, almost unbearably so. However, her unease turned to utter shock when she heard his next words.
"Then let me ask you, Wadi..." Tul smiled broadly.
"...Will you be my girlfriend?"
At that, Napawadi’s eyes widened more and more, her heart pounding intensely, and the young woman...
The one whom everyone thought too shy to express herself nodded vigorously, her hair whipping back and forth across her shoulders, as she stammered out her reply, fearing he might change his mind.
“Yes, P'Tul. Yes!”
Tul’s smile broadened even more as he reached out to hold Wadi’s hand once again.
“Thank you.”
Amidst the overwhelmingly romantic atmosphere, what everyone saw was a man and woman deeply in love. Yet, in reality, Tul’s other hand, hidden beneath the table, clenched tightly, his knuckles white with strain.
Although he had secured yet another crucial element for his future plans, his heart felt heavy.
The image of Kon Hin’s tears briefly flashed through his mind.
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