I listened to the birds singing as the wind gently played with the leaves on the trees. I felt calm, almost dreamy. I grabbed a pencil and started sketching everything around me — the trees, the flowers, the birds. The lines on the paper became more alive, and I could almost hear them breathing in rhythm with nature.
Suddenly, my phone rang. I flinched and looked at the screen. A new message from Chak:
"Set the table. Kit will be eating with us."
For a moment, I just stared at the screen. Every time he texted me, I felt a warmth inside.
"Ok,"I quickly replied.
I got up, washed my hands, and started setting the table.
I placed the plates, glasses, and silverware, then grabbed some juice from the fridge. Just as I set it on the table, the front door opened.
Kit walked in first, carrying a bag. He casually placed it on the kitchen counter and started taking things out. Chak followed behind him.
When I saw him, a wave of joy washed over me. I ran up to him and hugged him.
"I missed you," I whispered.
Chak smiled and hugged me back.
"I missed you too," he replied softly.
We sat down together at the table.
"What have you been doing at home?" he asked, giving me that special look that always made me feel important to him.
"I was drawing," I told him.
"Drawing what?" Kit chimed in, clearly interested in our conversation.
"Nature," I replied shortly, feeling my cheeks flush.
The table filled with different dishes. The atmosphere was cozy and warm. After we finished eating, I got up to clean. I stacked the dishes into the dishwasher while Kit already settled into the living room, lounging on the couch with his phone.
Chak simply stood there, watching me for a while.
After a few minutes, he silently approached and stopped right next to me.
"I have a little surprise for you," he said, gently ruffling my hair.
I looked up and caught his gaze.
"What kind of surprise?" I asked curiously.
"You'll see once you're done," he smiled and turned toward the living room.
While I hurried to finish cleaning, my thoughts ran wild.
What could it be?
Chak's surprises are always something special…
Finally, I finished and went to the living room. I sat next to him, practically buzzing with anticipation.
"What's the surprise?" I asked.
Chak looked at me and said:
"I'm not going back to work. I'm spending the whole afternoon with you at home."
I stared at him, shocked.
"Really?"
"Really," he confirmed, smiling warmly.
I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling happier than I had in a long time. Chak stroked my hair gently and pulled me into a soft hug.
I closed my eyes, but then the doorbell rang.
I could see how Chak's expression immediately changed — from tender to cold and serious.
"Stay here," he commanded in a low voice and got up.
When he opened the door, I heard a familiar voice.
It's a Noon.
Chak came back into the living room, with Noon nervously following him. When she saw me next to Chak, her face tightened.
"What are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.
Chak calmly sat down next to me and said without hesitation:
"He lives here."
Noon's eyes widened.
"Lives?"
Chak's voice turned icy:
"Why are you here?"
Noon shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot.
"I came to tell you something," she mumbled.
"Sit," Chak ordered, pointing to a stool.
Noon obediently sat down, but her hands trembled slightly.
She began speaking:
"I'm the one responsible for everything that's been happening at the company..."
Chak raised his hand to stop her:
"Wait. I just need to make a call."
He left for the office. When he returned, he said:
"We'll wait another 15 minutes. They'll be here soon."
"Who's coming?" I asked.
"Be patient," he answered shortly.
We all sat in silence. Noon stared at the floor, Kit chuckled quietly at something on his phone, and Chak and I exchanged a few meaningful glances.
Fifteen minutes later, the doorbell rang again.
Chak went to open it. Samchai and Rattan walked into the living room.
"Grab a chair," Chak told them.
Once they were seated, Chak said firmly:
"Noon, continue."
Noon took a deep breath.
"I've been secretly in love with you for years, boss..." she began, her voice trembling.
"I wanted your attention. I wanted you to notice me. But you never did."
For a moment, she closed her eyes, as if trying to gather courage.
"I secretly watched you, took pictures of you... I have a photo album of you that no one knows about..."
I glanced at Chak. His face remained stern, but I caught a glimpse of disappointment in his eyes.
Noon continued:
"When Niran came to the company, I became jealous. I saw how he went into your office, how you brought him food... all the things I never got. But what hurt the most was the day I saw Niran getting out of your car..."
Her eyes shimmered with emotion.
"Your smile... That's when I realized there would never be a place for me in your heart."
She fell silent for a moment.
"That's when Raeng contacted me. He introduced himself as an old friend of Kit and you, Chak. He said he wanted to financially support the company but needed someone on the inside. He promised to fulfill all my wishes... if I helped him. I was blind. I believed him. I sent him financial documents. And then... he demanded more."
A heavy sigh escaped her.
"When I told him I wanted your attention, he said I first needed to get rid of Niran. That only then would you be mine. I believed every word. Blindly. I even sent him information about Niran, including a photo of him in your office..."
I could hear my heart pounding in my chest.
When I heard you yelling at Niran and firing him for something he wasn't even guilty of... my heart broke."
Noon collapsed into herself, whispering almost inaudibly:
"I trusted the wrong person. Raeng manipulated me all along. Yesterday, he ordered me to find important documents in Kit's office. Instead, I just messed up the office and lied to him, saying I found nothing. And today... today I came to warn you."
Chak's cold voice cut through the air:
"And what is Raeng planning?"