Baramee's face crumpled like a deflated balloon when the person he'd been trying to impress suddenly demanded entry to The Dazzle, threatening and cajoling until he agreed to bring them this Saturday. Wittawin had even shown up at his workplace, suggesting they go out together—just the two of them.
"Weren't you embarrassed enough getting thrown out last time, Win? And now you want to risk getting my membership revoked?"
"I know you care about your friends," Wittawin said with a knowing smile. "And I know you're capable. Something like this is well within Baramee's abilities, isn't it?"
"What's gotten into you that you suddenly want to go clubbing? I remember you didn't like it. Are you sick?" Baramee reached up to touch Wittawin's forehead, but his friend smoothly ducked away.
"Last time got me hooked."
"Pamorn's going to murder me for not inviting him," Baramee grumbled.
"I won't tell if you don't. How would he know?"
"There has to be something in return." Baramee's grin widened. "You help me with work for a few days."
"Are you insane? One night at the club in exchange for several days of labor? That's not fair."
"The annual membership fee is hundreds of thousands, buddy," Baramee said loudly. "Plus cover charges in the thousands. You get to enter free, and you're still demanding fairness? Besides, if we get thrown out again and they find out I brought you in, do you know how screwed I'll be?"
"Being a member of an upscale club—the annual fee alone could send one hardworking kid through university," Wittawin rolled his eyes, putting on an intense voice as he addressed Baramee.
"Then why are you asking me to sneak you in again? Don't you know it's risky for me too? If there's nothing worthwhile in return, I'd rather not take the risk." Baramee pouted, his face a picture of exaggerated worry.
"Fine. I'll debug the computers at your company for three days."
"Now that's more like it."
"So what do I need to do?" Wittawin tilted his head.
"Let's see..." Baramee sat still for a moment, thinking. "Hmm... go wakeboarding with me in Bang Na, then go-karting, then bowling, then what else would be fun..."
"Are you out of your mind?"
"Be my wingman so I can take charge and show leadership. No arguing about anything whatsoever. Act like a docile little kitten, following me around, and ride on the back of my motorcycle." Baramee's smile grew from small to wide, his eyes sparkling like a child about to get his favorite toy.
"Baramee, you have mental problems," Wittawin pointed at his friend's face.
"Because every time I go out with someone, I always have to play second fiddle," Baramee's face scrunched up before breaking into a wide smile. "But first things first—Win, you need a complete makeover. If you go to The Dazzle looking like you do now, you'll definitely get thrown out."
"Do I really have to go that far?"
"Well, why do you want to get in? It's an upscale club, so you need upscale clothes. If you don't want to spend a lot, fake Armani works. DKNY too. I'll take you shopping." Baramee stood up and grabbed his friend's hand to follow.
"Right now?"
"Too bad. If your hair were longer, I'd take you to get it styled too. But with this crew cut, there's nothing we can do." Baramee frowned as he looked at his friend's face.
Wittawin let Baramee drag him out of the office to shop for new clothes. As they were about to get into the bright yellow sports car belonging to the son of The Gates hotel owner, Baramee turned to look the computer engineer up and down and sighed.
"This is going to cost serious money and time. Your whole look, Win—from shoes to the tips of your hair, literally."
"Stop talking, Baramee. If we're going, let's just go," Wittawin huffed.
"What's got you so interested in going to The Dazzle?" Baramee asked again.
Let's see what kind of fun I can have... Let's see what happens if he gets grabbed by security and thrown out of the club for the second time—what face will Teeradon make...
And if it's the third time...
So, you want to play with me, Mister Teeradon? I'll make your head spin—just wait and see...
***
Methas glanced at The Dazzle's owner with bored eyes. Teeradon looked completely different from yesterday. Today, he seemed listless—arriving at the club only to sit around doing nothing, occasionally picking up his phone to fiddle with it. Only rarely would he look up to give him a thin smile.
Actually, the Teeradon in the bedroom was vastly different from the one dressed properly outside. On the bed, the handsome man was both tender and passionate, alternating between gentle seduction and intensity. Sweet-talking, charming—when Teeradon whispered in his ear, it felt like floating up to heaven. But when outside the room, Teeradon seemed to exist in his own world that no one could enter...
The control room door opened. Niwat, Teeradon's assistant, walked in and whispered something that made the upscale club owner stand up and walk over to examine the security system's computer screen with a stern expression, then smile slightly at the corner of his mouth.
"Should I handle it, sir?" Niwat asked, rather surprised to see his boss smile when he'd come to report the situation of someone 'sneaking' into the club again.
"No need. How did they get in this time?"
"Through the front door, sir. Came with a guest who's very close to the door guard."
"The guard has no fear at all." Teeradon shook his head slowly. "Have him leave."
"Yes, sir." Niwat nodded and turned to walk back toward the door, but had to stop when Teeradon called after him.
"The guard leaves, not the person who snuck in."
Niwat raised an eyebrow slightly, not quite understanding his boss's decision.
"As for the one who likes freebies, I'll handle personally. Last time didn't teach him a lesson. This time he's dressed up like a completely new person."
"Didn't learn his lesson..." Niwat muttered.
"Don't you remember, Niwat? It's the same guy from before—the one in the sloppy clothes wearing cargo pants the night the guard carried him down from Dusitia." Teeradon smiled wickedly, then nodded to allow Niwat to leave before turning to the young singer who had been listening quietly.
"Methas, I need to go handle some problem. Please get yourself a drink at Dusitia."
"And tonight?" Methas meant where he and Teeradon would end up tonight.
"Tonight I have to go home to sleep. Early tomorrow morning I have business to discuss with my father." Teeradon reached out to grab the young singer's arm and led him toward the door, then turned to embrace Methas when he saw his sulky expression. "We'll see each other later. Right now I have urgent business."
"When you finish your business, then maybe..."
"This business is important. It might take time." Teeradon leaned down to kiss Methas's cheek and consoled him not to be hurt, saying Methas was special to him.
The young singer walked out of the room. Teeradon walked back to the computer screen, looking at the image from the camera that captured their 'uninvited guest,' then spoke softly: "Hello, Wittawin. Want to get into the club so badly? Tonight you can come in and be a star for one night. But once you're in, don't expect to walk out feeling comfortable."
***