The oversized clock on the office wall read 4:30 PM when Wittawin grabbed his black backpack and hurried down from the second floor of the company building. He straddled his motorcycle parked out front—today he was heading to Ayutthaya to check out a plot of land that Sarayoot claimed someone wanted to sell.
"Right in the middle of rice fields. Come rainy season, when they plant the seedlings, it'll turn into endless green paddies as far as the eye can see. You can spot brick pagoda tops nearby. Witt's bound to love it."
Sarayoot had told Wittawin to photograph the land from multiple angles, but his nephew had protested: "It's surrounded by rice fields—what different angles could there possibly be? No matter which direction I shoot from, it'll all look the same."
That earned him a light slap on the cheek before being shooed out of the office.
The young engineer smiled to himself, remembering the conversation with Sarayoot, who'd been trying to persuade him to invest in real estate.
As if buying land would magically transform him into a proper adult. Just wait—once he bought the land, his uncle would start nagging him to build a house. Then he'd pressure him into buying a car. And if possible, probably push him to get married and have kids too.
Marriage wouldn't be so bad, would it? Who doesn't want someone to love? Living alone gets boring and lonely after a while...
But who? Who do I like? Who do I love?
Or maybe...
"Khun Teeradon," Wittawin murmured as a Ducati GT1000 roared up and parked beside him. The rider removed his helmet, flashing a brilliant white smile.
"Race?" Teeradon raised an eyebrow.
Wittawin shook his head in disbelief and pulled out slowly without a word. From the corner of his eye, he could see Teeradon following close behind, the Ducati's engine thundering like a small aircraft.
Don't tell me he's planning to follow me all the way to Ayutthaya...
"Where are you going?" Teeradon shouted over the engine noise.
"Why do you need to know?" Wittawin called back.
"I don't need to," Teeradon grinned. "But wherever you're going, I'm going too."
Wittawin shook his head, flipped down his helmet visor, and suddenly accelerated. Teeradon stayed glued to his tail.
***
Once they cleared the city limits, Wittawin opened the throttle fully. His 'shadow' refused to back down, matching his speed without hesitation. Wittawin pointed ahead, signaling for the other man to pass, but Teeradon maintained the same speed.
He slowed down.
Teeradon slowed down too.
This is seriously annoying. What kind of game is he playing now?
The young engineer pulled over and stopped, removing his helmet before turning to face his pursuer with an exasperated look.
"Why are you following me?"
"Khun Wittawin, I've already followed you halfway here, and now you're asking me that?" Teeradon shrugged and spread his arms wide, mimicking a Western gesture.
"I mean, if you want to follow, fine—but pass me. I don't like people tailgating like this."
Though I do enjoy riding behind to watch your ass. Quite entertaining...
Teeradon smiled and nodded as if he understood. "Ah, you don't like being rear-ended."
"You take the lead," Wittawin ordered.
"I don't know where you're going. How can I lead?" Teeradon shrugged, though he already knew the young man was headed to Ayutthaya.
"I'm going to Ayutthaya."
"Well, why didn't you just say so?" Teeradon put his helmet back on. "Let's go."
"You go first," Wittawin pointed ahead, 'commanding' the president of Kuanon Brewery to take the lead.
"I'll follow you. I don't trust you—if I'm in front, you might secretly turn around and speed off in the opposite direction," Teeradon said bluntly.
"I'm not a child. I wouldn't pull something like that."
"Oh, not a child? Then what about when you crouched down to make yourself shorter to hide from me in Hua Hin? That wasn't childish? You were crawling around on the sand to avoid me, weren't you?"
"Who would do something that ridiculous? You were the one coming to pick a fight with me—of course I had to run." Wittawin shrugged, speaking as if it were no big deal.
"How did you know I was picking a fight?"
"I could tell from your eyes."
"How perceptive." Teeradon's smile sparkled. "Then tell me now—what do my eyes say? Am I looking for a fight, or am I looking for..."
Before Teeradon could finish, the expert eye-reader gunned his engine and shot forward, leaving the flirtatious man with his mouth hanging open, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Seriously, whose kid is this? Why so stubborn?" Teeradon muttered under his breath before revving his engine to give chase.
You can't run from me, Wittawin. Now that you've made me interested, there's no way you're getting away...
***
Baramee stormed out of Network Solutions with a scowl, Pamorn trailing behind at a leisurely pace, chattering nonstop until Baramee wanted to find something to stuff in his mouth.
"I happened to see it from the office window—I think it was a Ducati. Khun Teeradon's really investing serious money in this."
"Shut up for once, Pamorn," Baramee snapped at his friend.
"Find me something to gag myself with so I'll stop talking. Anything from your body will do," Pamorn laughed, then quickly ducked to avoid Baramee's swinging hand.
"Stop playing around, Pamorn. You'll actually break your jaw if I connect," Baramee said irritably. "And why are they going off together like that? I thought he didn't like that rich guy."
"You're rich too, aren't you?" Pamorn countered. "But Khun Teeradon—he's got serious game. Looks like he really wants to devour our stubborn Win. I give it less than a week before Win's done for."
"Hungry tiger, playboy type. Once he gets what he wants, he'll spit it out and move on. Win needs to be careful. You should too—don't you care about your friend at all? Can't you see that Teeradon's a total player?" Baramee's voice cracked with turbulent emotions.
"You seem awfully worried about your friend," Pamorn nodded knowingly, reading Baramee's feelings.
"We're his friends—of course I'm worried about him."
"Worried or possessive, who knows?" Pamorn mumbled. Baramee whipped around to glare at his friend before stalking toward the company exit. Pamorn followed slowly, sighing softly. By now he was certain that Baramee's secret feelings for Wittawin were growing stronger each day. Before, it had just been suspicion. Today, Baramee's symptoms were crystal clear.
Teeradon was a catalyst!
"Baramee, let me ask you straight up," Pamorn caught up and put on a serious expression.
"I like Win," Baramee said immediately. "You don't need to ask. If you wanted to know, I'd tell you straight—I've had a crush on him for ages, long before you even noticed."
Baramee started his big motorcycle and sped away. Pamorn watched him go with a thoughtful expression, then slowly shook his head and muttered to himself.
"Messy. What a damn mess. This is going to be huge. Does Win even realize he's stirring up chaos among everyone around him? The ones who know and accept it, the ones who don't know and probably won't accept it, and the one who just wants to have his fun and throw him away. This is giving me a real headache."
***