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“Why are you storming out right now?!”
I heard Ohm shout as I picked up my coat from the sofa. He sounded agitated, and I didn't want to start a fight with him.
“Because I don’t want to talk to you!”
I turned to face him. I could see the anger in his eyes. He was fuming, and I knew he was about to start another screaming match.
“You don’t? Or is it because you don’t want to accept that I’m right?”
I shook my head at how ridiculous that sounded.
“No. Can’t you see? You’re too emotional! You’re scaring Pat!”
I gestured to the side, where Pat was standing next to Ryujin, who was holding onto me. I could see the tremors running through Pat, and I hated it. Pat was a dear nong, and seeing him like that hurt me.
“Oh, now it’s me? Okay, fine! I’m the emotional one! I’m the stupid emotional one!”
He screamed, and I couldn’t help but feel even more frustrated. He was being completely unreasonable.
“P’ Ohm, please collect yourself. P’ JJ has a point. You’re drunk as well, so it wouldn’t be good if you two continued this fight.”
Por spoke as calmly as he could. He was also standing in front of Pat, shielding him from the argument.
I never thought things would escalate this far. When I came home from work, Ohm was already drinking. I didn’t know how many bottles of wine he had finished, but from what Pat told me, Ohm had come home crying and immediately started drinking.
Kim had also come home with me, trying to stop Ohm from opening another bottle. He asked what had happened, and I told him what Pat had told me.
Then, out of nowhere, Ohm threw a wine bottle against the wall.
Of course, I reprimanded him for it, but he immediately started yelling at me for sticking my nose into his business. Kim tried to step between us, but Ohm only became more hysterical. Por, Pat, and Ryujin heard the commotion and came to see what was happening, and now we were all standing here. It was a good thing Auau and Save were still at school. They didn’t need to see us like this. I was certain Auau would be even more worried than usual, especially about Save witnessing us fight.
“You all just choose his side! None of you wants to listen to me!”
I squeezed my eyes shut at his accusation. He was really drunk
“No one is taking any side, Ohm! You’re drunk, your argument doesn’t make any sense, and—”
I never got to finish my sentence. His hand suddenly struck my face. I heard the sharp crack before I felt the pain. Somewhere in the distance, I could hear Pat’s sobs. The entire room fell silent. We were all shocked.
Ohm and I had always fought because of our clashing personalities. He was carefree and loved adventure, while I often preferred sitting quietly in a corner. My version of adventure existed in the stories I wrote. He liked things loud. I liked them quiet. He preferred things casual and carefree. I preferred them serious and structured. Despite our differences, we were still friends.
I confided in him whenever life weighed me down, and he always came to me whenever he grew tired of carrying the world on his shoulders. He was my breath of fresh air, and I was his comfort zone—a place where he could simply be himself. That was why this felt so unfamiliar. Physical violence had never been part of our fights.
We argued all the time, but those arguments were playful. They were banter, harmless exchanges that neither of us took too seriously. This was different. He had never done anything like this before.
“P’ Ohm, what the fuck was that?!”
I heard a new voice and immediately realized it was Auau. I glanced at Save, but I couldn't read the expression on his face. Without saying a word, he walked straight to Pat, who was still trembling from everything that had happened.
I took a deep breath before turning and walking out.
Behind me, I could hear P’ Kim calling my name, followed by Ohm's sudden cries. It seemed he had finally realized what he had done. I didn't care anymore. I let it be. I was too tired and too hurt to listen to him. More than anything, I didn't want something like this to happen again.
I drove aimlessly until I found myself heading toward a place where I could finally take a break. Work had already been exhausting enough. The pressure from clients had been piling up for weeks, and now things at home had become a mess as well. I didn't know what had happened to Ohm or why he had suddenly started acting this way.
I was about to make a left turn when I saw a truck speeding toward me. My heart nearly stopped. I tried to swerve out of the way, but it was too fast. The next thing I heard was the deafening sound of metal colliding.
Then everything went black.
When I opened my eyes again, I was in a hospital. My friends were gathered around my bed. The first thing I saw was Por's tear-stained face. He was cradling a sleeping Pat against his side, his expression exhausted.
The moment my eyes opened, Kim gasped. Without hesitation, he pressed a button attached to my headrest. Everyone immediately stirred awake and then they started crying all over again.
At first, I couldn't feel much of anything but as the doctor began asking questions about the accident and how I was feeling, I slowly became aware of the pain radiating throughout my entire body.
Everything hurt.
The doctor recommended that I take my medication and focus on resting to speed up my recovery. He also gave Kim detailed instructions regarding my diet. Due to the trauma my stomach had sustained during the crash, I would need to eat soft foods for the time being.
“How are you feeling? Do you need anything?”
Kim asked after the doctor and nurses finally left the room. I shook my head before glancing around. Only then did I realize something.
“Wait... why are we in a private room again?”
I asked, looking around in confusion. A giggle suddenly came from beside me. I turned toward the sound and found Save peeking over a nearby table, clearly amused by my question.
“The person who saved you owns this hospital, so he made sure you had your own room. Everything has already been taken care of.”
His words left me stunned. I looked at Kim for confirmation, and he simply nodded, a small smile on his face.
“And he's really handsome too. Definitely your type, P’ JJ.”
Pat added the comment just as he was waking up from his nap, disturbed by the doctors coming in and out of my room. I immediately shook my head.
“Where are Auau, Ryujin, and Ohm?”
The moment Ohm's name left my mouth, the atmosphere in the room shifted. Everyone stiffened. I didn't need to guess why. I already knew.
“P’ Ryu and P’ Au are still in class, but they'll be heading here soon. I already told them you're awake.”
Pat answered, but as soon as he finished speaking, his gaze drifted toward Kim. I followed his eyes. Kim avoided my gaze for a moment before finally looking back at me. I knew he understood what I was really asking. He let out a quiet sigh.
“Well...”
I nodded, silently encouraging him to continue. There was obviously more.
“He doesn't want to come here.”
The words didn't surprise me.
“Why?”
Kim hesitated before answering.
“Because he still feels guilty about what happened.”
I lowered my gaze to the blanket covering my lap. I knew it, of course he did.
Ohm had always been the type to blame himself whenever things went wrong. Now that I had ended up in the hospital right after our fight, he was probably carrying the entire burden on his shoulders. Even though the accident wasn't his fault, I knew he would convince himself otherwise and that guilt would eat him alive.
“Can you tell him to come see me? Tell Ohm I need to talk to him.”
I could see the hesitation in Kim's eyes. I knew he didn't like the idea.
“No one should blame Ohm for what happened. I chose to leave because I needed to cool off, and no one wanted that accident to happen.”
Kim let out a long, weary sigh. I reached for his hand and offered him a small smile.
“I’m really okay. Ohm is still our friend, and he didn't know any of this would happen either.”
After a moment, he finally nodded.
“Fine.”
He excused himself from the room to call Ohm. Once he was gone, I looked at Save, Pat, and Por. They were all staring at me with the exact same expression Kim had worn moments ago.
“Pat, Save, Por... what's with those looks?”
Pat and Save immediately shook their heads. Neither of them said a word. I knew they were still upset about what had happened.
Honestly, I couldn't blame them. Seeing someone they cared about get hurt because of a fight would affect anyone. Still, I knew Ohm hadn't wanted any of this to happen.
“Ohm didn't do anything wrong. Please don't treat him like he did.”
Por's jaw tightened. The sharp look he gave me made it obvious he disagreed or maybe he simply wasn't ready to forgive Ohm yet. I responded with nothing more than a gentle smile.
“Por.”
I called his name softly. He stared at me for a few seconds before letting out a deep sigh of defeat.
“Fine,”
He muttered. Then he pointed a finger toward me as if making a final condition.
“But he better apologize properly.”
I let out a laugh at that. I knew Ohm would definitely apologize, and I also knew Por would eventually accept it.
The rest of the afternoon passed peacefully. We spent our time chatting, teasing one another, and watching a movie in my room. The comfortable atmosphere was interrupted by a knock on the door and since he was the closest, Por stood up and went to answer it.
The moment he opened the door wider; I caught sight of an unfamiliar man standing outside. However, the knowing smiles on Kim, Por, Pat, and Save's faces immediately gave away who he was.
“Hi. How are you feeling?”
He spoke as though we already knew each other. Confused, I looked toward Kim for help. Fortunately, he seemed to understand my silent plea immediately.
“Oh, he's the person who helped you that night.”
Realization dawned on me. Right. The man who had saved me.
And... he really was handsome.
“I figured you might not recognize me. I'm Net. I witnessed the accident and immediately stopped to help.”
I nodded in understanding. Now that I was seeing him properly, I couldn't deny that Kim and the others hadn't been exaggerating.
Khun Net was exceptionally handsome.
He had the warm golden complexion often associated with wealthy Thai families, along with the kind of features that effortlessly attracted attention wherever he went. There was an easy confidence in the way he carried himself, reflected in the relaxed smile resting on his lips.
He was dressed simply—a white tank top layered beneath a gray cardigan—but somehow, he still looked elegant.
The outfit appeared casual at first glance, yet it was obvious that every piece had been carefully chosen. The cardigan came from a brand that wasn't particularly famous, but that didn't make it any less expensive. I knew enough about fashion to recognize the wide-leg Gucci trousers he was wearing and the Chanel necklace hanging around his neck. Even the bouquet in his hand came from one of the most well-known flower shops in the area.
Everything about him quietly hinted at wealth without feeling the need to flaunt it.
“Hello, Khun Net.”
I offered him a smile.
“Thank you so much for helping me.”
I thanked him as I accepted the bouquet. A moment later, I handed it to Kim, who was doing a terrible job of hiding his smile. Khun Net returned my gratitude with a smile of his own, but I could still see the lingering concern in his eyes.
“Don't mention it. How are you feeling, by the way?”
He asked as he settled into the chair beside my bed. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Kim and the others quietly making their way toward the door, gesturing that they would wait outside and give us some privacy.
“I'm doing fine. The doctor stopped by earlier after I woke up. He said I just need plenty of rest for a while and that I should stick to soft foods.”
Net nodded in understanding. At least, I hoped he understood. Silence gradually settled between us. Neither of us seemed to know what to say next.
“The truck driver has already been arrested, by the way.”
He spoke after a few moments, breaking the quiet. His words made me realize that I hadn't asked about what happened after the accident. I was relieved to hear the driver had been arrested. It had been a serious accident, after all. Still, I couldn't help but wonder about the driver's family.
“I... thank you again, Khun Net. If it weren't for you, I don't even know if I'd still be here.”
The words came out honestly. I owed him my life. If he hadn't stopped to help me that night, I was certain my condition would have been much worse.
“I saw what happened. There was no way I could just walk past it.”
His expression softened.
“To be honest, I was so worried about you at the time that I couldn't even explain it.”
I found myself looking at him more closely. Really closely.
His face was striking. The sharp lines of his jaw gave his features a strong, defined structure that undoubtedly worked to his advantage. Yet the softness in his eyes balanced that sharpness perfectly. His almond-shaped eyes, slightly hooded, held a warm glimmer that made him appear approachable despite his intimidating good looks. The effect was enhanced by his well-shaped eyebrows, which looked as though they had been meticulously groomed. His nose was equally eye-catching, refined and elegant without diminishing the distinctly Thai features that made him unique.
My gaze briefly drifted to his lips. They looked soft and well cared for, as though he never forgot to apply lip balm. As I had noticed earlier, his complexion carried a warm golden tone, like skin gently kissed by the sun rather than shielded from it. Combined with his dark hair, parted neatly down the middle with a few strands falling naturally across his forehead, it framed his face perfectly and made his features stand out even more.
For someone I had only just met, it was surprisingly difficult to look away.
“You're staring.”
Of course I was.
The realization hit me immediately, and I quickly looked away. I hadn't even noticed how long I had been staring at him.
“It's okay.”
A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. That only made the heat creeping across my face worse.
For the next few minutes, neither of us said much. The silence wasn't uncomfortable, though. Every now and then, I would catch him glancing at me and every now and then, he would catch me doing the exact same thing. After some time the others came back to the room.
By the teasing look Kim kept sending my way, I knew he had noticed it too. In fact, I was certain that the moment Khun Net walked out of this room, Kim would never let me hear the end of it.
“JJ?”
The door suddenly opened. Auau stepped inside carrying a plastic bag. His gaze immediately landed on Net, who was still sitting beside my bed.
For a moment, Auau looked like he was about to say something. Then I noticed Save subtly shaking his head.
Whatever message passed between them, Auau seemed to understand it. He simply nodded and kept his mouth shut. Placing the food on the table, he walked over and sat beside Save.
“I should get going now, JJ.”
Net stood from his seat and straightened his cardigan.
“You need to rest. I'll try to stop by again before you're discharged.”
I nodded.
“Thank you again, Khun Net.”
He smiled at me one last time before saying goodbye to everyone in the room.
Then he left.
The moment the door clicked shut behind him, a pair of squeals echoed through the room. Kim and Save practically exploded. Meanwhile, Ryujin, Pat, Por, and Auau merely shook their heads as though they had expected this reaction all along.
“He likes you!”
Save pointed at me dramatically; his eyes filled with dreamy excitement. Kim immediately nodded in agreement.
“He literally spent three hours sitting beside your bed and feeding you fruit! He's obviously worried about you!”
“And I can already tell he's going to make a move the moment you're discharged!”
I shook my head at their ridiculous assumptions, of course they would think that way. Still, I couldn't completely dismiss the possibility. I wouldn't deny that Khun Net was incredibly handsome, nor would I deny that I found him attractive but I didn't want to read too much into it.
Not yet. Yes, he seemed perfect. Too perfect, perhaps.
The truth was, I barely knew him. I wasn't even sure whether he genuinely liked me or if he was simply a kind person who cared about someone he had helped. Either way, it was too soon to think about things like that. The rest of the evening passed quietly.
Kim eventually left for his shift at work, while Ryujin, Pat, Auau, Save, and Por all headed home since they had classes the next day. Ohm told me he would try to visit after his work tomorrow, but we had already spoken over the phone earlier. I also made sure to remind everyone not to blame him for what had happened.
None of us could have predicted the accident. To their credit, they understood. Before leaving, they promised they would talk to Ohm once they got home. That night, I lay awake in my hospital bed.
For the first time since the accident, I allowed myself to truly think about everything that had happened. The fight. The crash. The fear. The pain.
And yet, despite all of it, I was still here. Still breathing.
Still surrounded by people who cared about me. I couldn't help but feel grateful.
Three weeks passed quickly. By the end of the third week, the doctor had finally cleared me. I was scheduled to be discharged later that afternoon.
Kim and Ohm were currently handling the paperwork for my release, while everyone else had gone home to prepare for my return. According to Por and Save, they had already cooked a welcome-home meal. Meanwhile, Auau, Ryujin, and Pat were making sure the house was clean and everything was in its proper place.
Thankfully, my recovery had progressed well. I could stand on my own now. I could shower without assistance. It had been awkward at first, but after weeks of practice, I had slowly regained my independence. I finished packing my bag and zipped it shut.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Before I could answer, it slowly opened.
A familiar face appeared.
The very face I had secretly been hoping to see. A face I had been waiting for, even if I refused to admit it aloud. Net smiled as he stepped into the room.
I nodded as I zipped my bag completely shut and set it aside. He smiled tightly at my answer.
“JJ,”
I looked over at him and immediately noticed his nervousness—the way his eyes darted around the room while refusing to meet mine.
“I…”
I watched him take a deep breath.
“I want to take you out to dinner, if you're free.”
My breath hitched at how straightforward he was. He really said it just like that.
“You…”
I didn't know how to put it into words, but he seemed to understand what I meant and nodded.
“You want to take me out? Like, on a date?”
This time, he nodded more firmly. He looked much more certain than he had a moment ago. I realized that what Save had told me earlier was true. He really was going to ask me out today. Had I hoped for it? No. Well, maybe a little.
“Well, they've already arranged a welcome-home dinner for me.”
I saw his expression fall for a split second, but he hid it just as quickly. The sight made me smile.
“I might not be free for dinner, but maybe next week I can go—if the offer is still open.”
He's expressive. If you look closely, you can see how the expression on his face changes completely with every emotion he feels.
I like him.
“I... Of course! The offer is still open.”
We both laughed at how silly the situation was. The person who had saved me was now the same person asking me out on a date.
Maybe that accident really had led me to a good opportunity.
We stayed in touch throughout the week. We exchanged numbers before I went home, so we were able to keep talking. I learned that he managed their family's restaurant business, though he occasionally had to oversee their hospital as well. His brother, a doctor, often had a hectic schedule, which meant some responsibilities would fall to him.
I went back to work, but I requested to work from home because I still found it difficult to drive or commute after my accident. I couldn't keep asking Ohm and Kim to drop me off and pick me up every day. Thankfully, my manager approved the request after I submitted my medical documents.
Now, I had just finished work, and Kim was already rummaging through my closet, trying to pick out an outfit for me. Tonight was the night Net and I were finally going out for dinner. Everyone was strangely invested in my outfit. Ohm, Pat, Kim, Por, and Save had practically emptied their wardrobes as they searched for the perfect combination.
Auau and Ryujin already knew they'd be the ones cleaning up afterward, so they simply lounged on my bed, scrolling through their phones while watching the chaos unfold.
Ohm wanted me to wear something flashy—disco-ball levels of flashy. Por preferred a more casual look: a long-sleeved shirt paired with simple trousers. Save immediately shrieked at that suggestion and insisted on a white-and-blue button-down shirt with a soft brown vest. He was currently debating whether I should wear a tie or a necklace, though he seemed to be leaning heavily toward the tie. Meanwhile, Kim hated all of those options. Instead, he was trying to convince me to wear a black satin blouse. The neckline was so deep that I wasn't entirely sure it even had enough buttons to qualify as a shirt. The sleeves hung loosely around my arms, making me feel slightly awkward. To complete the look, he had paired it with black trousers, creating an entirely black outfit.
Looking at all the options laid out before me, I realized something.
Every single outfit reflected the person who chose it.
Ohm was a flashy diva, so naturally his wardrobe consisted of sparkling sequined shirts and attention-grabbing pieces. Por was the type of person whose ideal date involved museums and temples, which explained his preference for the classic long-sleeve-and-trousers combination. Save was playful and energetic. His outfit felt like the kind of thing you'd wear to one of the many indoor activities he loved. Kim, on the other hand, was someone who regularly attended exclusive parties. He always carried himself with the air of someone sophisticated, influential, and important.
My gaze eventually landed on Pat, who was quietly looking through his own wardrobe.
“Pat, any suggestions?”
He looked up at me with wide eyes before nodding. After a moment, he handed me a loose beige shirt along with his favorite pair of trousers.
“This is a first date, and you don't know where the two of you are going for dinner, I think this would be the most appropriate.”
He pointed at the shirt in my hands.
“You can button it up if you're going somewhere more formal, and if it's a casual place, you can leave it open and show the shirt underneath.”
I immediately understood what he meant. The outfit felt relaxed because of its soft beige tone, but it could easily look formal if I decided to button it up.
“I think I'll go with Pat's suggestion!”
Pat visibly perked up at my choice. I left everyone behind and headed for another shower because Ohm and Kim insisted on it. They also planned to do my makeup and fix my hair afterward. At that point, I simply let them do whatever they wanted—as long as they didn't go overboard.
The entire process took nearly two hours.
By the time they were finished, Ryujin and Auau had already cleaned up the disaster everyone had made in my room. It was also right around the time Net arrived and knocked on our door. Kim was the one who opened it while Ohm was still making the final adjustments to my hair.
“Bring him back before midnight!”
I heard Auau shout as I stepped outside. Net chuckled at the comment as he handed me the bouquet of flowers and guided me toward his car.
It wasn't flashy or overly extravagant, but I could still tell it was expensive.
“Your car looks cool.”
I couldn't help but blurt it out as we settled into our seats and he started driving. He maneuvered the wheel effortlessly, his movements smooth and confident.
“Thanks. This is the first car I bought with my own adult money.”
My own adult money. I couldn't help but smile at the way he phrased it.
The car smelled just like him—oakwood with hints of cashmere and Earl Grey tea. He really smelled expensive. The kind of person who somehow didn't sweat despite Thailand's relentless heat.
“If you don't mind me asking, what car is this? I'm not really familiar with cars.”
I was a writer. Research was practically part of my job, and I wanted to remember this for future reference.
“Of course. It's a Porsche Panamera GTS.”
My jaw nearly dropped. A freaking Porsche?
“Oh.”
That was all I could manage. What the heck? I didn't know anyone who owned a Porsche. I knew people who drove Kias and Toyotas, but never a Porsche. Could I officially consider Auau rich because he owned a BMW?
“Are you alright?”
He glanced at me briefly, concern evident in his voice. I immediately nodded.
“Y-Yeah.”
I was currently sitting inside a Porsche. I absolutely needed to tell everyone about this later. I had assumed he lived comfortably. I just hadn't realized his definition of comfortable was vastly different from mine.
Soft music filled the car, serving as a gentle background soundtrack to our silence. He continued driving, though I could feel him glancing my way every now and then, probably checking to make sure I was okay.
Eventually, we arrived at a restaurant I didn't even know existed. It was located in a part of Siam we rarely visited. He stepped out first and opened the door for me before guiding me inside. He didn't let go until we reached the private room he had reserved. The room overlooked Bangkok's glittering skyline, the city lights stretching endlessly into the distance.
“I hope you like the place.”
He spoke shyly after the waiter finished taking our order and left. I looked at him and smiled.
“It's a lovely place. I love it.”
A smile immediately bloomed across his face. He nodded slowly.
“I'm glad to hear that.”
We fell into a familiar silence. It wasn't awkward. It was the comfortable kind—the kind built from countless conversations and quiet understanding.
“How are you?”
He asked the question a few minutes later. When I met his gaze, I could still see traces of nervousness in his eyes.
“I'm doing fine. I'm still working from home because of what happened, and I need a little more time to recover. How about you?”
His ears instantly turned red at the question. It wasn't unusual for us to ask about each other's day. We did it all the time through text. The difference was that this was the first time we were doing it face-to-face.
“A little busy with meetings. We have a new client.”
I nodded as I remembered him mentioning it before. One of the few times I had called him instead of texting was because he sounded exhausted. He had admitted that he might fall asleep if we continued chatting, so I asked if I could call him instead.
He had agreed immediately. We ended up spending the entire night talking about his meetings.
“Is it almost finished?”
I asked because the last time we spoke, he said he was finalizing everything.
“Yeah. We have another meeting on Friday. After that, we'll know whether we can close the deal or not.”
I nodded, mentally noting the day. Today was only Tuesday. He still had three more days before the meeting.
The food arrived, and we started eating. We made small talk here and there to fill the silence, but it never felt forced. It was simply us talking about the same everyday things we usually discussed over the phone.
After dinner and dessert, we decided to walk around the restaurant grounds. He carried his coat in one hand while I held the bouquet of flowers. The restaurant had a beautifully lit garden where customers could stroll around before heading home or while waiting for their reservations.
“JJ.”
“Net.”
We both laughed when we realized we had called each other's names at the exact same time.
“You can go first.”
He smiled at me, his expression soft and affectionate.
“Well, would it be alright if you went first?”
He looked surprised by the suggestion but nodded anyway. His gaze wandered around the garden as if checking whether anyone was nearby. That familiar shy expression returned to his face.
“I know the night isn't over yet, but…”
I waited patiently for him to continue. When I noticed his hesitation, I reached for his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze along with an encouraging smile.
“Is it possible for me to ask you out to dinner again?”
His voice was quiet, but I heard every word clearly. My smile widened immediately.
“Of course.”
The answer left my mouth much faster than I intended, but judging by the way his eyes lit up, he didn't seem to mind.
“That's good to hear.”
For some reason, being asked out to dinner a second time made me happier than I expected.
We continued walking through the garden, but this time our hands remained intertwined. Eventually, we returned to his car, and he drove me home. When we arrived, he once again opened the door for me and walked me all the way to our front door.
“Drive safely and text me when you get home.”
I looked up at him as I spoke. His eyes still sparkled with happiness.
“I will, but don't stay up waiting for me anymore. Once you've showered, go straight to sleep, okay?”
I immediately shook my head. I wanted to know that he made it home safely.
“I'll wait for you, P'Net.”
His ears instantly turned red. The reaction made my smile grow even wider. He really liked it when I called him P'Net.
“I... I'll get going now. I'll text you as soon as I get home.”
I nodded. He turned to leave, but before he could take more than a step, I reached out and grabbed the edge of his shirt. He looked back at me, confusion written all over his face. Before I could lose my courage, I leaned forward and pressed a kiss against his cheek.
For a brief moment, everything seemed to freeze.
Then I quickly pulled away. My heart hammered wildly in my chest as I hurriedly opened the door, stepped inside, and shut it behind me.
I kissed him.
I actually kissed him on the cheek.
I was about to run straight to my room when every light in the house suddenly turned on. The brightness was so overwhelming that I had to blink several times before my eyes adjusted. When they finally did, I found everyone staring at me.
“Spill!”
They all shouted in unison. I couldn't help but shake my head.
Of course.
I should have known they would demand every detail tonight. Knowing Ohm and Kim, there was no way they would wait until tomorrow. So I sat down with them and recounted everything that had happened.
Yes, even the kiss.
The moment I mentioned it, everyone except Auau and Ryujin let out excited squeals. Even though those two stayed quiet, I could still see the smiles on their faces. The second I finished my story, I hurried upstairs to shower before collapsing onto my bed.
As soon as I picked up my phone, I saw a message from P'Net. He had arrived home safely and was about to shower. I quickly replied, telling him that I was already done with mine. It took him a while to respond, but when he did, the conversation picked up right where it had left off. Before we knew it, it was already morning.
We kept telling each other that we should sleep. Neither of us listened. At some point, we ended up staying on a call while he finished some paperwork.
I simply lay in bed listening to him talk about contracts, meetings, and other important business matters. Honestly, I didn't care about any of that. I just liked hearing his voice.
It took several date nights and countless midnight conversations, but eventually we reached a point where neither of us could pretend anymore.
I already knew how he felt and I knew exactly how I felt too.
So when he asked me to be his boyfriend during one of our dinners, I said yes. It was one of the best nights of our lives and now, tonight might become another one.
I'm going to dinner with him again, but this time at his family's home.
He said he wants me to meet his parents. Apparently, they're excited to meet me as well. Which is exactly why I'm nervous.
There's always a chance they'll offer me money to leave P'Net's life. I couldn't do that. When I told Kim and Ohm about this concern, they immediately rolled their eyes and flicked my forehead. They claimed I was talking nonsense. I disagreed. It was absolutely a possibility.
I even brought it up to P'Net, but he only laughed. He assured me that his parents weren't going to hand me an envelope full of cash and tell me to disappear.
According to him, that only happens in dramas.
Nobody listened to me. Well, almost nobody. Pat agreed that it was technically possible. His support lasted less than ten seconds before Ryujin immediately shut him down.
Now I was waiting for P'Net to arrive in the Porsche that I had grown ridiculously attached to. Unfortunately for Auau, P'Net discovered how much I liked the car. Since then, he had started driving it almost every time we went out together. Auau once told me that I didn't need his car anymore because someone else's car was apparently better.
I agreed immediately.
The look of betrayal on his face was priceless. Did he really think I wouldn't? Poor guy. Save ended up spending nearly an hour trying to make him feel better afterward.
“He's here.”
Kim announced it as he led P'Net toward the couch where I was sitting.
“Teerak, are you okay?”
I could hear the concern in his voice as he sat down beside me. I immediately nodded and reached for his hand.
The truth was, I was incredibly nervous. Who wouldn't be? P'Net lived in a completely different world than I did. He owned his own condo. Multiple condos, actually. He managed a company and helped oversee a hospital. He drove a Porsche.
Meanwhile, I was just a regular office worker with a nine-to-five job. Seven months ago, he saved me from a car accident. Four months ago, we started dating. And now, in less than five hours, I would be meeting his parents.
“Don't be nervous. They'll love you the same way I do.”
His reassurance made me want to believe him. I really did. But that didn't stop the anxiety twisting in my stomach. Of course I wanted his family to like me. But what if I said something wrong? What if they decided I wasn't good enough for P'Net?
“I'll hold your hand the entire time. And if they say anything that makes you uncomfortable, we'll leave immediately.”
I looked into his eyes. There wasn't even the slightest hint of hesitation in them. Maybe that was one of the reasons I fell in love with him. He always managed to keep me grounded. He knew exactly what I needed to hear. He knew how to calm me down whenever my thoughts started running wild.
“Do you trust me?”
“Of course, Phi.”
“Then do you believe me when I say they'll love you more than they love me?”
That was a stretch. They might like me. But there was no way they would love me more than they loved their own son.
“Alright.”
I had no idea how to answer that, so I settled for the safest response. Hopefully, it was enough. After saying goodbye to Kim, we headed out. Before we left, Kim gave P'Net a stern look that clearly said, take care of him, protect him.
P'Net nodded immediately, understanding the unspoken message. The drive to his family's house felt much shorter than I expected. Mostly because I spent the entire trip battling my nerves. Every now and then, I caught P'Net stealing worried glances in my direction. When we finally arrived, I nearly forgot how to breathe. The house wasn't massive in the way mansions usually were. It was only two stories tall. Yet everything about it screamed elegance.
Old money.
The kind of place where you could immediately tell the people living inside weren't ordinary. They were influential. Important. The moment we stepped out of the car, a valet took P’ Net’ s keys.
A valet. At their own house.
If that wasn't rich-rich, then I honestly didn't know what was. P'Net guided me toward the entrance.
The door opened before we even reached it. A woman in a beautiful red dress stood waiting for us. She immediately pulled P'Net into a hug. When her eyes landed on me, I instinctively took half a step back.
P'Net's hand immediately settled on my waist. His reassuring smile told me everything would be okay.
“Mae, this is JJ. He's my boyfriend.”
Every drop of blood in my body rushed straight to my face. How could he just say it like that?
So casually. So naturally. As if introducing me as his boyfriend was the easiest thing in the world.
“Oh, it's so nice to finally meet you, JJ.”
She opened her arms toward me. Inviting me into a hug. After one quick glance at P'Net and the encouraging smile he gave me, I stepped forward.
The embrace was warm. Not just physically. Something about it felt genuine.
“I've been looking forward to meeting you,”
she said
“Phop can't stop talking about you.”
I blinked. Phop? My confusion must have been obvious.
“Phop is my nickname,” P' Net explained.
I nodded. Phop… Siraphop
That made sense.
“Come, come,”
P’ Net’s mother said excitedly.
“I asked the head chef to prepare all of your favorite dishes. I hope you'll enjoy them.”
The moment I saw the dining table, my jaw nearly hit the floor. The amount of food was ridiculous and the table itself seemed to stretch forever. If I remembered correctly, there were only supposed to be five people tonight. P'Net, me, his parents and his younger brother.
“It's normal.”
P'Net must have noticed my expression because he said it so casually. Normal? This was normal?
His mother guided me to a seat beside P'Net. She sat across from us, and we waited for his father and younger brother to arrive.
Thankfully, it didn't take long. The first thing I noticed when they walked in was how much P'Net resembled his father. The same kind eyes with the same quiet authority. His father took his seat and immediately looked at me.
“You're Phop's boyfriend, right?”
I nodded so quickly I nearly gave myself whiplash. He remained silent for a moment as he looked between me and P'Net. Then he said,
“Are you sure you want him? Because once I give him to you, I don't accept returns.”
For a moment, my brain completely stopped working. Was he... Was he actually telling me that he didn't want P'Net back?
“Pa.”
P'Net groaned immediately and the realization hit me all at once. A laugh escaped before I could stop it.
“Well, I don't plan on giving him back either.”
Laughter echoed around the table. Even P'Net looked relieved and just like that, all of my nervousness began to disappear.
For the first time that evening, I felt myself truly relax. I was glad. Glad that they accepted our relationship. Glad that they supported us. And most of all, glad that the people who loved P'Net seemed willing to welcome me into their family too.
The night come to an end, and we were finally heading back. I couldn't stop smiling.
“JJ.”
P'Net called my name while we were stopped at a red light. When I looked over, I found him staring at me with an intensity that immediately caught my attention.
“Yes, P'Net?”
He looked unusually serious. For the first time in a long while, I couldn't read what was going through his mind.
“Would you like to spend the night at my condo?”
I froze. I wasn't naïve enough to misunderstand what he was asking. This wasn't simply an invitation to stay over.
It was a question about whether I was ready to take the next step in our relationship. My gaze drifted toward the traffic light.
If I said no, we would turn left and head back to my house.
If I said yes, we would turn right toward his condo.
Three seconds remained.
I could feel his hand resting gently over mine.
“You can turn right, P'Phop.”
One second. His eyes widened slightly before he turned the wheel. His hand never left mine. The drive wasn't reckless, but I could tell he was eager. Even so, he stayed within the speed limit. We arrived at his condo sooner than I expected. A valet immediately took the car while P'Net guided me toward the elevator. He pressed the button for the penthouse floor.
The ride upward was quiet.
“Are you really sure about this?”
His voice broke the silence. When I looked at him, I could see that he was genuinely concerned. He wasn't trying to pressure me. He was making sure I was comfortable with what we were about to do.
“P’ Phop.”
He likes it more when I call him P’ Phop than when I call him P’ Net. I gathered all my courage and closed the gap between us. His lips tasted like mint, and I could still taste the wine he had drunk earlier. They were soft and addicting. His hands wrapped around my waist as he deepened the kiss. With a swipe of his tongue across my lips, I gasped, giving him the perfect opportunity to slide his tongue into my mouth. When our tongues met, they battled for dominance, trying to taste each other more deeply.
The elevator opened on his floor, and he immediately pulled me along as he hurried toward his room. The moment he opened the door; he pushed me inside and slammed it shut. He carried me toward his bed while his lips never left mine.
His kisses were soft yet hungry. They traveled from my mouth to the side of my neck. He lingered around my earlobes, giving them kitten licks, and I shivered in response. His hands roamed over my body, making every part of me react to his touch. His kisses moved down to my neck, which I bared for him to mark. He positioned my legs on either side of him as he began unbuttoning my shirt. I reached for his shirt and did the same. Within minutes, we were both naked. The button of my trousers was already undone, and it only took a quick tug for him to remove them completely. He looked at me hungrily, licking his lips.
I sat on the bed as he knelt before me, his trousers half-unbuttoned. Maintaining eye contact, I bit down on the zipper and pulled it down completely. His eyes burned with an indescribable hunger and desire.
“Can I taste you, P’ Phop?”
From where I sat, I could see him holding himself back, and while I admired that restraint, I didn’t want it. I wanted him to let go completely.
“Yes.”
He answered shakily, and that was all the permission I needed. I pulled his trousers down completely, and what greeted me was his huge cock. I gulped at the sight. The tip was flushed red, a bead of cum already visible. Veins decorated the length of it, making me even hungrier.
“P’ Phop... so big.”
I held the base in my hand and licked the tip. His breathing hitched, and I continued, his hands finding the back of my head. He guided my pace while I looked up at him. He stared down at me, still trying to control himself.
Once again, I didn’t want that.
I removed his hands from my head and released him from my mouth. He looked puzzled, but I simply shook my head.
“Please fuck my mouth, P’ Phop.”
His restraint finally snapped. He gripped my hair firmly, gave me one last look, and then thrust forward. I stayed there while he fucked my mouth, his eyes never leaving mine. I could feel him becoming rougher and more frantic with each thrust.
Soon, he was pushing his entire length into my mouth, making me choke, but I held on because I wanted to taste him. I wanted to taste his release, and I wasn't disappointed. I loved the salty, slightly sweet taste of him. When he finally pulled out, I was sure I looked wrecked. His eyes were still filled with hunger, and I knew we were far from finished.
“Juju needs you inside, P’ Phop.”
I knew it worked on him. I knew I was pushing him too far, but I wanted it. I needed it.
“You’ll be the death of me, JJ.”
I put on the most innocent expression I could manage, and I knew it was working because the hunger in his eyes intensified.
“P’ Phop... put it inside Juju please”
He pushed me down onto the bed, his kisses now rougher and more desperate. He littered my neck and torso with them while his attention shifted lower, teasing me relentlessly. I didn’t know where to put my hands because everything felt so overwhelming. I felt like I was floating.
He played with my sensitive buds using his tongue while the number of fingers inside me gradually increased. I could only hope his penthouse was soundproof with how loud I was being.
“Ughh, P’ Phop!”
When he hit that spot, I felt his smirk grow as he continued targeting it.
“Ughh, Phi!”
Instead of slowing down, he doubled his pace. A ringing filled my ears before my vision went white. My body convulsed as he withdrew his fingers. I came so hard that I thought he would let me rest.
He didn’t.
He pushed his entire length inside me, lifting my left leg onto his shoulder while pulling my right leg farther apart to give himself more room to move. Every thrust could be felt deep inside me. I could even see the outline of it, which only made the room feel hotter. His movements were completely erratic. The room echoed with my moans, his groans, and the sound of our skin slapping together. My nails left scratches across his back while his lips never left my skin, continuing to mark me.
I don’t know how long we made love. I don’t know how many positions we tried. I don’t know how many times we came. The only thing I know is that I’m now lying beside my boyfriend while he slowly moves inside me, more relaxed and satisfied.
“Are you tired?”
He asked, still playing with my earlobe, his breath warm against my skin.
“I am.”
He let out a chuckle at my answer. It was unfair how sexy he was. He really was a menace when he wanted to be, because how was he still moving inside me—and somehow getting harder?
“P’ Phop.”
I called out—or maybe moaned—because he simply refused to stop. I could feel myself growing hard again because of it, though he paid no attention. He pushed harder until he was completely fucking me from the side. His lips lingered across my back, leaving more marks in their wake.
“You’re insatiable, JJ.”
I couldn't argue with that. I spent the entire night moaning, drifting in and out of consciousness because my boyfriend had absolutely no intention of stopping.
I opened my eyes as the morning sun streamed through the windows, its bright rays filling the room. My entire body ached from how much he had gone overboard the night before. Even so, I could still feel him inside me, his arms wrapped securely around my waist.
I tried to pull away, but he only tightened his hold and pulled me closer, making him move deeper inside me. We both groaned at the sensation, though he let out a laugh a moment later. I slapped his arm lightly, but he only smiled.
“What time did you finally finish?”
I asked because I honestly couldn't remember. He merely hummed in response, making me shake my head in exasperation.
“What time is it now?”
I tried once more to free myself from his embrace, but he refused to let go. Eventually, I gave up and settled back against him.
If they fired me for missing work, then I'd just ask P' Net to give me a job. Was that nepotism? Maybe. Did I care? Not at all. There were definitely perks to having a hot, handsome, and ridiculously rich boyfriend.
It took him another hour or two before he finally got out of bed and let me go. The rest of the afternoon was spent watching movies and calling Kim to tell him that I had spent the night at P' Net's place.
I knew I was on speaker because I could hear all of them squealing on the other end of the call. P' Net looked at me in shock, clearly wondering what was happening. I simply shook my head, and he understood immediately.
After that, we ordered food and ate together. Nothing else happened because I flat-out refused. I could still feel the effects of the previous night, and I had no intention of repeating it anytime soon. He only laughed at my reaction and didn't push the issue. Instead, we spent the evening wrapped in each other's arms before falling asleep together once again.
The moment I arrived home; I was bombarded with questions. Ohm and Kim refused to let me escape until I answered every single one of them. And I did. I answered everything.
If our neighbors ended up filing a noise complaint afterward, then that would remain a secret between us.
Life continued after that. I continued working, and I continued my relationship with P' Net. We often went out for drinks, spent time together whenever we could, and regularly visited his parents. Having him in my life changed everything.
Meeting him was the best thing that had ever happened to me.
It was our fifth anniversary. A lot had happened over the years. We fought, we reconciled, and eventually moved into his condo together. And now, here we were, celebrating another milestone in our relationship.
I looked at my outfit one more time and couldn't help but smile at how good it looked. I was wearing a cream-colored shirt underneath a burgundy suit jacket. P' Net had mentioned that we would be dining at a formal restaurant, so he had prepared the outfit for me himself. Now, all I had to do was wait for him.
“Ready?”
Right on cue, he appeared in my line of sight. The moment I saw him, I realized we were wearing matching colors. He immediately wrapped his arms around me from behind and pressed a kiss against my shoulder.
“You look gorgeous, baby.”
My heart couldn't help but leap at his words. We had been together for five years, yet he never failed to make my heart race.
“And you look handsome too, P' Phop.”
I immediately noticed the change in his expression. Just like before, he was still as easy to read as an open book—easy to understand, easy to love.
“Do you want to go to dinner, or would you rather stay home?”
The hunger in his eyes was so obvious that I couldn't help but laugh. Of course he would react that way. Over the years, I had discovered just how much he loved it whenever I called him P' Phop. Because of that, I used it sparingly. Most of the time, I called him P' Net. The name P' Phop was reserved for special occasions, and he knew tonight was one of them.
“You said you have a surprise for me.”
The moment I said that, he squeezed his eyes shut dramatically. I could practically see him reconsidering all his life choices.
“You'll be my dessert later.”
He took my hand and guided me out of the room toward the elevator. His fingers never left mine, and we spent the ride in comfortable silence. I studied his face and once again found myself admiring how handsome he was. His golden-olive skin, thick eyebrows, and sharp jawline. His kind, patient eyes. And, of course, his soft reddish lips that were impossible not to kiss.
“You're staring, my love.”
I nodded without shame. Yes, I was absolutely staring. Even after five years together, I still wasn't tired of looking at him.
“I'm admiring my boyfriend. Is that a crime?”
He let out a light laugh.
“This is all yours. Admire it as much as you want.”
Oh, I would.
I would admire him until every detail of his face was permanently etched into my memory.
When we reached the parking lot, he guided me to the car like the gentleman he always was, even opening the door for me before getting into the driver's seat himself. He drove us to a place I had never seen before.
By the time we arrived, I noticed that the restaurant was completely empty. That was when I realized what he had done.
He had reserved the entire restaurant.
Dinner was served, and we spent the evening talking about work, life, and all the little things we normally shared with each other. It felt warm. Comfortable.
It felt like us.
When we finished eating, I slid the gift I had prepared across the table toward him. His eyes widened immediately.
It was supposed to be a wristwatch.
I had realized that despite being a well-known and successful man, he never wore one. The closest thing I'd ever seen was the old grandfather clock in his family home, and that thing hadn't worked in years.
“Thank you so much for the necklace, ter.”
I froze.
Slowly, I looked down at the box.
Sure enough, inside was a necklace.
A necklace.
Where was the watch?
“H-Huh?”
Now he looked confused by my reaction. I was confused too. I was certain I had bought a wristwatch.
“Now that you've given me your gift, it's time for mine.”
I barely heard him. My brain was still trying to figure out how my wristwatch had somehow transformed into a necklace.
“We've been together for a long time, love.”
The moment those words left his mouth, he stood up and moved around the table before kneeling in front of me.
His hand slipped into his coat pocket.
When he looked up, his eyes were shining with tears. His voice trembled.
“I want to spend the next chapter of my life with you, JJ.”
He opened a small velvet box.
The moment I saw what was inside, tears filled my eyes.
“Will you marry me, JJ?”
I couldn't even speak.
I simply nodded as tears streamed down my face. The moment he saw my answer, he slipped the ring onto my finger and pulled me into a tight embrace.
“I love you so much!”
“I love you more, P' Phop!”
We held each other tightly, neither of us wanting to let go. Then suddenly, the entire restaurant came to life. Confetti exploded into the air, and cheers erupted all around us.
“Congratulations, P' Net and JJ!”
I turned in surprise and saw our friends emerging from every corner of the room. They were all smiling. Laughing. Celebrating with us. I could hear them calling our names, but everything felt distant compared to the overwhelming happiness filling my chest.
I looked down at the ring on my finger and admired its beauty.
“Hello, fiancé.”
“Hello, my fiancé.”
We shared another meaningful kiss, completely forgetting about everyone around us. And in that moment, I knew. This was where I belonged.
Right here, with P' Phop.
For the past five months, we had been busy preparing for the wedding. Even with Kim and Ohm helping us, our schedules were still packed, and there always seemed to be something else that needed to be done.
We often had dinner together, either at home or at a restaurant we wanted to try. It became part of our routine, and we enjoyed every moment of it. We loved watching everything slowly come together.
In the end, we decided on a garden wedding. The venue was close to the place where we had first met, and we both agreed that we wanted it to be intimate. Only the people closest to us would be invited.
And now, the wedding day had finally arrived.
I stood in front of the mirror, dressed in a black suit. Embroidered on the right side of my chest were our initials.
N & JJ
Net and JJ
In less than an hour, we would meet at the end of the aisle. In less than an hour, we would finally become one. The door opened behind me, drawing my attention. Ohm walked in, carrying the bouquet I would hold while walking down the aisle.
“Who would've thought that what happened that night would lead to this, JJ?”
He stopped beside me. I met his gaze through the mirror and smiled. Honestly, I couldn't believe it either. Who would've thought that after our fight and my accident, I would end up meeting the man I was about to marry?
“Yeah. I can't believe it either.”
Ohm smiled, but there was something sad behind it. I frowned.
“What is it, Ohm?”
The sadness in his eyes deepened, making my chest tighten.
“When are you going to wake up, JJ?”
My breath caught.
“I miss you already.”
The room suddenly felt cold. I stared at him, but something felt wrong. It wasn't as if he was looking at me.
It was as though he was looking through me.
“W-What are you talking about?”
My voice trembled. I didn't understand. Why was he saying that? What did he mean by wake up?
“It isn't funny,”
I said quickly
“I need to go to the garden. Where's Kim?”
Ohm didn't move. He simply stood there, staring. A wave of anxiety washed over me. I snatched the bouquet from his hands, but instead of landing in my grip, it slipped straight through and fell to the floor.
Ohm flinched.
My heart stopped. I didn't understand. I didn't understand any of it.
“What is happening?”
Panic surged through me. Without another word, I ran out of the room and toward my car. I didn't know what was wrong with Ohm, but none of this was funny anymore. I drove straight toward the garden. My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as my thoughts raced.
I was about to make a left turn when everything happened at once. A speeding red car came out of nowhere.
I heard the impact before I truly felt it.
The deafening crash echoed around me as metal twisted and shattered. My car rolled and the other vehicle rolled too.
Pain exploded throughout my body and then came the numbness. Blood trickled down my face, blurring my vision. I tried to stay awake. I tried to keep my eyes open. But they felt impossibly heavy.
“JJ!”
The voice sounded distant.
“JJ, WAKE UP!”
Another voice, then another… and another.
It sounded as though I were underwater, hearing them from somewhere far away. I couldn't tell who was speaking. I couldn't make out their faces. All I knew was that they sounded desperate.
Frantic.
The light around me grew brighter and brighter until it hurt. The voices became louder. The world felt like it was breaking apart.
Yet despite everything—despite the pain, the fear, and the confusion—
there was only one thought in my mind.
My wedding with P' Phop.
The first time I opened my eyes, all I could see was the white ceiling of the hospital room. Multiple wires were connected to my body, and everything hurt like hell. I turned my head to the side and saw Kim sleeping beside me. He was sitting in a chair with his head resting on the edge of my bed.
“K-Kim...”
I tried to call out to him, but he remained fast asleep. I couldn't understand why he was the only person there. Where was P' Phop? Where were the others? What happened to our wedding?
“P' K-Kim...”
I tried to move my hand, and the slight movement made him stir. He slowly opened his eyes, looked at me, and immediately froze in shock before rushing to call for a doctor. I couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity. The same thing had happened before—when I was first hospitalized after an accident and P' Phop stayed by my side.
The doctors soon arrived to examine me. After several checks, they told me that everything looked normal. They said it was already time for me to wake up, but I would still need to remain in bed while they monitored my recovery and observed for any complications.
Kim listened carefully to every word the doctor said. I couldn't help but smile. Just like before, he was incredibly attentive. Maybe he was used to this by now. After all, this was already my second time waking up in a hospital bed.
Once the doctor was satisfied that everything was fine, he left the room. As soon as the door closed, I turned to Kim and smiled.
“Where are the others? Don't you have work?”
Exhaustion was written all over his face, but he still managed a small smile. Shaking his head, he pulled a chair closer to my bed.
“Auau, Save, and Por are still in class, but I've already informed them that you're awake. Ryu and Pat are on their way here now.”
I nodded. Maybe they were coming straight from work...
But wait…
“Phi, what do you mean by class? The three of them graduated two years ago.”
A look of confusion crossed his face, as though he didn't understand what I was saying.
“What do you mean, JJ?”
“I mean Por, Auau, and Save graduated two years ago. We attended their graduation, remember? P' Phop even treated us to dinner afterward!”
His expression only grew more puzzled.
A knot of anxiety formed in my chest.
“By the way, where's P' Phop? Is he on his way? Did you call him?”
Tears began to gather in Kim's eyes. He reached for my hand and slowly shook his head.
“Who is P' Phop, JJ?”
And in that moment, my entire world shattered.
“W-what do you mean?”
His tears spilled over, and I couldn't understand why.
“This isn't a joke, P' Kim. Where is P' Phop?”
He tightened his grip on my hand and shook his head again. He just kept crying, and I couldn't understand any of it.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly pulled my hand away from his.
I tried to stand up, but Kim immediately stopped me. I shoved him away and forced myself to my feet. The wires connected to my body tugged painfully as I ripped them free, struggling to push him back whenever he tried to stop me.
Just as I managed to stand, the door swung open. Ryu and Pat rushed inside. My eyes widened. They were wearing their school uniforms. What the fuck?
“Ryu! Why are you wearing your uniform?”
Confusion flashed across his face, while Pat looked completely overwhelmed. Ryu immediately moved toward me, trying to guide me back onto the bed, but I pushed him away as well.
“You need to sit down, Phi! It's not safe for you to be standing!”
He shouted,
“You've been in a coma for five months!”
My knees nearly gave out. Five months? I'd been in a coma for five months?
“W-What do you mean?”
I whispered.
“I'm supposed to be marrying P' Phop! Where is he?”
Kim and Pat were crying, but I couldn't bring myself to care.
No.
They were wrong.
“Where's Ohm? He gave me a bouquet right before the accident! I was on my way to my wedding with P' Phop!”
I tried to push past Ryu, but he was stronger than me. In my weakened state, I couldn't break free. He managed to force me back onto the bed, and a nurse rushed in and injected something into my arm. All I could do was cry.
“P' Phop...”
I kept calling his name yet wasn't here.
No one knew him.
What was happening?
When I woke up again a few hours later, everyone was there. Everyone except Ohm and P' Phop.
They weren't here.
“P' Kim...”
Kim's head immediately snapped up. The moment he heard my voice, everyone else stood as well, ready to rush to my side. I looked at them desperately.
“Where are P' Phop and Ohm?”
No one answered. Not a single word. No one even looked at me.
“Where is P' Phop? Where is Ohm?”
Once again, silence filled the room.
“Pat? Ryu? Save?”
None of them met my eyes. Frustration bubbled inside me.
“Why won't any of you answer me?!”
I shouted
“Where is my fiancé? Where are P’ Phop and Ohm?!”
Kim stepped forward and gently took my hand.
“Ohm left,”
He said quietly
“When he found out about the accident, he blamed himself. He felt so guilty that he left home and couldn't bring himself to visit you.”
I stared at him.
“Blamed himself? Why would he do that? It wasn't his fault. It was the red car's fault.”
Kim slowly shook his head.
“No. You and Ohm had a fight. Afterward, you drove away, and when you made a turn, a truck crashed into your car. It took us a while to find you. We called for help immediately, but your heart stopped for three minutes. When they revived you, you fell into a coma for five months.”
My breath caught in my throat. A truck? They found me? Five months?
“What are you talking about?”
I whispered
“It was a red car. I saw it with my own eyes. I was on my way to my wedding with P' Phop—”
A loud sob cut me off. Pat broke down, and Save's crying soon echoed throughout the room.
“There is no P' Phop.”
Auau's trembling voice filled the silence.
“There was never a wedding. You stormed out after Ohm slapped you, and then you got into that accident.”
There was something in his voice. Relief. As though he had finally said the truth out loud. I shook my head and let out a disbelieving laugh.
The words sounded ridiculous.
“What do you mean?”
I asked
“No. He's waiting for me. He's waiting for our wedding. He saved me from that accident. He's waiting for me!”
I tried to stand again, but Ryu and Save immediately grabbed me. I struggled against their hold, but neither of them let go.
“P' Phop!”
I screamed his name. I fought with everything I had.
But no one came. No one knew who he was.
No one remembered him.
I didn't understand.
“P' Phop...”
It took another three weeks before I was finally discharged.
During that time, I tried calling P' Phop countless times using the number I had memorized. Every call ended the same way—out of coverage.
No one ever answered.
One day, I glanced at the date on my phone and realized that it had truly been six months since the accident.
Six months.
There was no longer any sign of Ohm in our house. He had rented a condo across town and refused to see me. According to everyone else, he was still consumed by guilt over what had happened.
Ryu and Auau suggested that I seek professional help. They believed I should talk to someone about P' Phop—about the fact that I kept searching for him despite no evidence that he had ever existed.
I refused.
I told them it was probably just a side effect of the accident. They didn't push the issue, but I knew they were ready to support me whenever I changed my mind.
Life slowly returned to normal. I recovered physically. I went back to work. I joined dinners with friends. I laughed when I was supposed to laugh.
But there was still no P' Phop. No P' Net. No trace of either of them. I searched for him online countless times.
Nothing.
No records. No social media. No photographs. It was as though he had never existed at all.
“Where are you now, P' Phop?”
There were days when I couldn't bring myself to say the truth out loud. That he wasn't here. That he wasn't real.
No one knew him except me.
The condo we had shared didn't exist. The family home he had taken me to didn't exist.
None of it existed.
It was as if I were the only person in the world who remembered him. The six years I spent loving him had been nothing more than a dream born from a five-month coma. And I didn't know how to keep living with that reality. My fiancé. My boyfriend. My P' Phop.
He didn't exist.
“Hey, do you want to grab a coffee?”
P' Kim's voice pulled me from my thoughts. He had just finished work and was already inviting me out.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. Before, there had been three of us. Ohm, P' Kim, and me.
We would spend our afternoons drinking coffee and talking about work until the others joined us. Then we'd head home together and prepare dinner.
Now it was different.
Now it was only me and P' Kim.
“Sure.”
I followed him to his car. I wasn't allowed to drive anymore. Whenever I needed to go somewhere, Ryujin, Por, P' Kim, or Auau would drive me. I never argued. I knew they meant well.
We arrived at the coffee shop we frequented. As usual, it wasn't very crowded. We ordered our regular drinks and chose a table by the window. While we waited, silence settled between us. P' Kim focused on his laptop, catching up on work. Meanwhile, I stared through the glass walls at the people coming and going.
Everyone looked busy. Students rushing to meet friends, employees heading home after work.
People laughing, talking, living.
“JJ, are you alright?”
I blinked and realized our drinks had already arrived. P' Kim had closed his laptop and was looking at me with concern. I smiled and nodded.
“Of course. I was just thinking about Ohm.”
His smile turned bitter. We both remembered the things Save and Por had said about Ohm after everyone thought I had died.
The guilt had haunted all of us, they never got the chance to apologize.
Ohm had stayed away ever since.
No matter how many times I begged him to see me, he always refused.
“He'll come back when he's ready,”
P' Kim said softly. I nodded. I hoped he would, I missed him. I'd already forgiven him. Just like I had forgiven him in that other world... The world where I met P' Phop. My P' Phop.
A painful ache spread through my chest.
Memories flooded my mind. Memories that had never happened. A life that had only existed while I was asleep. Five years there. Five months here. That was the hardest part to accept.
I had to learn how to carry the memory of someone who never existed. I had to continue loving someone whom no one else remembered.
“Come on, Khem. Stop texting Por Kru! You're obviously flirting with him!”
“Don't act like you're not doing the same thing with Charn!”
“I'm texting Charn because of work!”
The playful argument pulled my attention toward the neighboring table. Two men sat there, teasing each other while two empty seats remained beside them. Their bickering reminded me of Ohm and P' Kim. Always arguing, always making everyone laugh. A bittersweet smile crossed my face.
Some things were memories now.
Nothing more.
I looked away, realizing I had been staring for too long.
“You two are being too loud again.”
A deep baritone voice cut through the noise. The coffee cup froze halfway to my lips.
My heart stopped, that voice. It was impossible not to recognize it.
Slowly, I turned toward its source… and there he was.
“P' Phop...”
The setting sun bathed his golden skin in warm light. His dark hair rested softly against his forehead. His sharp jawline, his thick eyebrows with his gentle eyes. His familiar nose.
Every detail. Every single detail.
It was him.
My P' Phop.
Before I could stop myself, I was already moving. I ran toward him and wrapped my arms around him. Tears streamed down my face.
His scent. It was the same. Exactly the same.
He was real. He wasn't my imagination.
“Oh my God, JJ!”
I felt P' Kim grabbing my shoulders and trying to pull me away. Around us, people gasped in surprise. But I couldn't stop crying.
“P' Phop...”
The man looked at me with complete confusion. Then he slowly shook his head. No. No. Please don't.
Don't tell me you don't know me. Don't say it.
“Who are you?”
The words shattered me. A sob tore from my throat. Those were the words I had feared most.
He existed. He was real. But he didn't know me.
He didn't remember me.
“I'm so sorry,”
P' Kim quickly explained.
“He was in a coma, and he kept talking about someone named P' Phop. I think you just happen to look like him.”
The stranger nodded politely.
A stranger.
That's what I was to him. I stared at him through blurred vision. He looked at me with unfamiliar eyes. Like I was no one. Like we had never spent five years together. Like I wasn't the person he had loved.
“I truly apologize again,”
P' Kim said
“We'll be leaving now.”
He gently pulled me away. My eyes never left the man standing there. His expression remained distant.
Cold.
Unfamiliar.
He had P' Phop's face. But he wasn't my P' Phop. He wasn't the man I loved. When we arrived home, I locked myself inside my room and I cried.
I cried because he existed yet he wasn't the same. He wasn't the P' Phop who made me laugh. The P' Phop who held me when I was afraid.
The P' Phop who loved me.
The P' Phop who promised to grow old beside me. The P' Phop who had been waiting for me at the end of the aisle, ready to begin our forever. That P' Phop only existed in a world that disappeared the moment I opened my eyes.
It took another month before I finally decided to leave my old job and apply for a new one. Today was my first day. It was also the first time I would be reporting to the office in person. I didn't want to stay inside the house anymore.
It was suffocating.
Part of me also believed that this was what I needed to move on. A fresh start. A chance to forget what had happened. A chance to forget P' Phop. To forget the love story that had never truly existed. When I arrived at the building, I was directed to the reception desk to collect my ID and receive instructions about where I needed to go. I simply followed everything they told me until I arrived on a floor occupied by only a handful of employees.
“Are you Mr. Radchapon?”
A man wearing glasses approached me as soon as I stepped into the office.
“Yes, but you can just call me JJ.”
He nodded and extended his hand.
“I'm Chanwit, but everyone calls me Charn.”
I shook his hand. From there, he immediately began showing me around the office and explaining my responsibilities. I listened attentively and nodded along. Most of the work wasn't unfamiliar to me, but I still wanted to make a good impression.
The entire day was spent setting up my system access and familiarizing myself with the company's processes.
Khun Charn—who I later discovered was the head of our department—personally helped me with everything I needed. He also handed me several files to review before Friday's meeting, explaining that I would be participating as well. On top of that, he informed me that the company would be holding a welcome dinner for me after work on Friday.
At first glance, Khun Charn seemed like someone who spoke only when necessary.
I was completely wrong because the man talked nonstop.
Sometimes it was about work. Sometimes it was about office politics and occasionally it was about things he insisted I needed to know if I wanted to survive here. For example, every Tuesday, the Design Department held a meeting.
According to Khun Charn, they always pressured other departments into sending representatives to take minutes during the meeting so everyone would know what Design wanted by Friday.
“It isn't even our job,”
he complained
“Then why do we do it?”
“Because the Head of Design keeps asking until everyone gives up and agrees.”
Apparently, there was now a rotation system and I had officially become part of it. He also warned me never to casually chat with anyone from Finance after meetings.
“Why?”
“Because they'll tell their department head.”
“...And?”
“Then the Finance Head and Design Head will start fighting again.”
I blinked.
“Over a conversation?”
“Trust me, JJ. Don't question it.”
So I didn't. I simply made a mental note of everything he told me, I included that.
My first week passed surprisingly quickly. Before I knew it, Friday had arrived. The meeting would begin in a few minutes.
I had all my documents prepared and was simply waiting for Charn to finish his phone call. As soon as he ended it, he motioned for us to follow him. The rest of our team gathered around, and together we headed toward the conference room. The moment we entered, several people already seated inside looked up.
The room wasn't full yet, but there were enough people present to make me nervous. Remembering Charn's earlier warning, I immediately took the seat beside him. According to him, it was the safest place.
“You'll be able to see everyone clearly,”
He had said.
“And more importantly, you'll attract less attention.”
Unfortunately, that plan failed the moment I sat down because everyone was already looking at me.
“Charn!”
I froze. The voice was familiar.
Looking up, I immediately recognized one of the men from the café. The one who had been teasing his friend. I still didn't know his name.
The person called Khem was seated beside him, focused on a tablet.
“Paew, how are you?”
Charn asked
“Has Kachen arrived yet?”
Paew… so that was his name.
“Not yet,”
Paew replied
“He's on his way. Is he the new member of your team?”
He pointed directly at me. Charn nodded. Paew studied me for several seconds before his eyes widened.
“You're the guy from the café!”
The entire room suddenly became interested. Even Khem looked up from his tablet.
“Right, Khem? He's the one!”
Khem stood and walked closer. After squinting at me for a moment, he slowly nodded.
“He is.”
Wonderful. So they really had talked about me. Of course they had. A complete stranger had run across a café and hugged their friend. I would have talked about it too.
“We should talk later,”
Paew said
“Kachen's here.”
Immediately, both he and Khem returned to their seats. Even so, I could still feel them occasionally glancing in my direction. It made me want to disappear. They remembered me. Everyone remembered me.
Except the one person I desperately wanted to remember me.
Now these people would probably know me forever as the weird guy who hugged their friend in public.
The conference room door opened. The atmosphere instantly changed and conversations died. People straightened in their seats. The newcomer walked directly to the chair at the head of the table and sat down without hesitation. The projector illuminated the reports displayed on the screen before him.
I deliberately kept my eyes lowered. Charn had warned me earlier. Don't stare at him.
Why?
Because if he catches you looking, he'll start asking you questions about the report and if you're unlucky, he'll spend the entire meeting grilling you. I had no intention of becoming today's victim. So I obediently followed my boss's advice.
“Start.”
My breath caught. The voice. It sounded familiar it is far too familiar.
A voice I knew. A voice I had heard hundreds of times before. Slowly, my heart began to pound.
No.
It couldn't be. Could it? Was there really a chance? A chance that it was him? A chance that I would see him again?
“Relax.”
I heard Khun Charn whisper beside me. He had probably noticed how stiff I'd become. Taking a slow breath, I forced myself to focus on the report Khem was presenting instead. Khem looked completely different from the playful man I had seen at the café earlier. Right now, he looked serious. Professional and confident.
He clearly knew what he was doing, and it showed in every slide he presented. He left no room for unnecessary questions because he had already covered every detail. I found myself taking notes on the important points. It would be useful for me later anyway.
The meeting dragged on until five in the afternoon.
Finally, Kachen announced that it was enough and that everyone should prepare for dinner. Once again, that deep baritone voice sent a shiver down my spine. I already knew who it belonged to but I still couldn't bring myself to look at him because I knew what I would find if I did.
Confusion and then distance and then indifference.
To him, we were strangers yet my feelings remained exactly the same.
He might not be the P' Phop who loved me but he still had the face of the man I loved most.
The face of the man I had spent five years with, the face of the man I had planned to marry. I was about to follow Khun Charn out of the conference room when a voice stopped us.
“Charn, Khem, Jet, and you—the new face. Stay.”
New face, that's all I was to him.
A new face.
“What is it, Phi?”
Jet—or maybe Paew. I still wasn't entirely sure which name belonged to him. I kept my eyes firmly away from Kachen.
I refused to look at him.
“What's your name, new face?”
I couldn't help the irritation that immediately surfaced because P' Phop would never talk to me like that. He would never call me "new face."
I let out a quiet huff.
“It's JJ.”
My response came out harsher than intended at the very least, now that he knew my name, he could stop calling me that.
“JJ...”
he repeated, there was a strange note in his voice.
“Interesting”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. He was nothing like my P' Phop.
P' Phop was gentle and patient. Kind, he listened when I spoke. His eyes always softened whenever he looked at me. He respected everyone around him.
Kachen was completely different.
The two of them shared the same face, but that was where the similarities ended. If anything, this version made me want to punch him.
“Tonight is your welcome dinner.”
I nodded. Obviously, everyone had already mentioned it at least three times today.
“Come with me. Khem will go with Charn and Jet.”
I immediately opened my mouth to protest. Before I could say anything, however, Jet had already dragged Khem and Charn out of the room.
Traitor.
I sighed heavily, of course I had no choice. Returning to my cubicle, I discovered that everyone else had already left.
Great.
Now I really didn't have an excuse. After gathering my belongings, I pulled out my phone and called Auau. The call connected almost immediately.
“Hello?”
“Just letting you know I'll be attending a company dinner tonight.”
“Do you want me to pick you up afterward?”
From the background, I could hear Pat, Por, and Ryujin asking what was happening. A smile tugged at my lips.
“Hmm. I'll text you later. I might just take a taxi home, depending on how late it gets.”
A loud protest immediately erupted from the other end. From the voice alone, I knew it was Save.
“My baby threatened me!”
He complained dramatically.
“He said if you take a taxi home, he won't let me sleep in our bed tonight!”
I burst out laughing, of course Save would be whining about something like that and of course Auau would use that exact threat.
“Alright, alright,”
I said through my laughter.
“I'll text you, okay?”
“Baby, did you hear that?”
A distant voice answered with a satisfied, “Yes.” Then the call abruptly ended. I shook my head, smiling despite myself. The elevator ride was quiet. Painfully quiet. Only the faint hum of the machinery accompanied us as we descended. For some reason, it reminded me of the first time I had gone to P' Phop's condo.
Back then, everything had felt exciting and comforting. Like I was heading toward home but now the feeling was gone.
Just like everything else, nothing was the same anymore.
The person beside me had the same face as P' Phop, but he wasn't my P' Phop.
"Why do you look sad?"
I stopped breathing at his words. I looked up at him, only to find him already staring down at me. He cupped my face, and suddenly I felt tears falling once again.
"You don't deserve to cry."
He muttered softly before pulling me into a hug. His voice was the same. His face was the same, even his scent was the same. However, he wasn't the same P' Phop who had loved me for five years.
The elevator doors opened, and he guided me toward his car. To my surprise, it was red—the same color as the car that had crashed into mine in my memories. I looked up at him, refusing to get inside.
"Is there a problem?"
Why was this happening? Why did he have the same face as P' Phop? Why did he own the same car that had crashed into mine on the day of my wedding?
"N-no, sorry."
Half-heartedly, I climbed into the car after he opened the door for me. He started driving away from the company, but my thoughts remained fixed on the fact that he owned the exact same car.
"You called me P' Phop before."
His voice broke the silence hanging between us.
"Yeah... just like my friend said, you look like the person I saw while I was in a coma."
I could see him nodding in my peripheral vision. He seemed to be processing the information I had just shared.
"It's cool, isn't it?"
I looked at him questioningly. I didn't understand what he meant.
"Sorry, cool?"
He nodded as if that answered my question.
"Yeah. The fact that you saw me in your coma, but I had a different name there. Like an alternate universe, you know?"
Alternate universe... I couldn't help but chuckle. What did he mean by that?
"It isn't."
"Isn't what?"
"It isn't an alternate universe. I lived through that. I was able to feel him and his love. We were about to get married."
Tears began falling down my face again. To other people, my story sounded like nothing more than memories from a coma. They didn't know I had been there. They didn't understand that we had loved each other. They didn't understand that I had spent five years with the person I loved. We were building a future together. One wedding was all that stood between us and the next chapter of our lives.
But we never got the chance.
He continued driving without saying anything. I cried silently, wondering how I was supposed to continue working when he was now my boss. He was different from the person I loved so dearly.
The next thing I knew, we had arrived at our destination. Khem, Khun Charn, and Jet were already waiting for us outside. Khun Kachen got out of the car, and I immediately followed. His gaze lingered on me as I hurried over to stand beside Khun Charn.
"Are you okay, JJ?"
He asked.
I nodded immediately and flashed him a smile.
"Yes, I'm alright, Khun Charn. Should we go inside now?"
He nodded, and I was about to follow him when Jet stopped me. He wore a bright smile, but his eyes told a different story. Kachen and Khem were also watching us now.
"I'll let you off for now, but that nerdy head of your department—"
He pointed toward Khun Charn, who was busy talking with the other department heads and hadn't noticed we hadn't followed him.
"—is my fiancé."
He flashed another sweet smile, but I could see the warning in his eyes. Then he immediately ran toward Khun Charn, catching up with the others.
"Sometimes he's really jealous, but don't mind him. Jet's nice."
Khem said this as he hooked his arm through mine, leaving Kachen standing behind. I couldn't help but smile. I remembered doing the same thing whenever someone flirted with my P' Phop. He always found it cute, though he also admitted it scared him whenever I showed my jealous side.
We arrived at our table and discovered that Khun Charn and Jet had already started ordering meat. Our table was separate from the rest of our colleagues. Kachen sat across from me while I took the seat beside Khem.
"Enjoy yourself, JJ. This is your welcome party!"
Khun Charn's words made me smile, though I immediately noticed the shift in Jet's expression. I couldn't help chuckling.
"Thank you, Khun Charn. And don't worry, Jet. I have no intention of coming between the two of you."
Khun Charn looked at us in confusion, clearly not understanding what I meant. I simply shook my head, unwilling to expose his fiancé's jealousy.
"By the way, what's this about you hugging Kachen?"
The entire table fell silent. My gaze immediately shifted to Kachen. His hand froze midair as he was about to place meat on the grill.
I cleared my throat.
"Oh, it was nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Yes, Khun Charn. I just mistook him for my... lover."
I mistook him for my lover. The truth hurt. He only had the face of someone I loved. He wasn't him. He was different. He wasn't my fiancé. He wasn't the person I was supposed to marry.
He wasn't my P' Phop.
"Oh, you have a lover? What happened to him?"
How could I explain that my lover didn't exist in this world? That he was a person born from the memories I experienced while in a coma? How could I explain that the man sitting across from me shared the same face but was entirely different from the person I had loved for so long? How could I explain that I was grieving someone's disappearance when he had never existed in the first place?
How do you mourn someone who never existed?
"He..."
I was cut off when Kachen suddenly intervened.
"Stop asking him uncomfortable questions, Charn."
I was caught off guard. I hadn't expected him to do that. His gaze lingered on mine for a moment before he cleared his throat and turned his attention back to the others.
"By the way, P' Peem wants us to come back this weekend."
Khem changed the subject, and it worked immediately. Jet and Khun Charn both sat up straighter.
"Us? Including Kachen?"
Jet asked and then Khem nodded.
"Actually, he specifically mentioned Kachen. He also said he already visited you."
"Yeah, he did. But I told him this isn't the right time."
I stayed silent. It was clearly a matter between them, and I didn't understand enough of the situation to comment. Instead, I focused on eating the grilled meat they kept placing on my plate.
"You said that to Por Kru? He let you?"
"He respected my decision. He trusts my judgment on this."
"Hmm. JJ, can you pass me the tongs, please?"
I immediately handed them over since they were right beside me. As our fingers brushed, I noticed him looking at me intently before he pulled his hand back and smiled.
"Thank you."
Then he added,
"You should rest when you get home."
"Huh?"
"I can tell you're tired. It's visible in your eyes. Try drinking chamomile tea before you sleep and Kachen, I understand now”
I was stunned by what Khun Charn said. I simply nodded while he continued grilling meat and chatting with Jet. Well, "chatting" wasn't exactly the right word. Jet did most of the talking while Khun Charn listened and responded occasionally. Khem joined in too, though he seemed more interested in eating while listening to Jet's stories.
Eventually, dinner came to an end, and we all parted ways. I told them that my friend would pick me up because they were worried about me getting into another accident. They stayed until Auau arrived in his BMW.
After saying goodbye, we headed home. I followed Khun Charn's advice and drank tea before going to bed. That night was the first time I managed to sleep deeply.
It was also the first night I didn't dream about the accident with the red car.
It was Monday again, and this time the entire office was unusually quiet. Everyone was focused on their own work, and I was no exception. We were reviewing contracts, making sure everything was correct and that there would be no issues when we submitted them to Kachen's office.
Speaking of him, Khun Charn had told me that Kachen wouldn't be around for quite some time, so I shouldn't stress too much. To be honest, that didn't make things any easier. The only thing that brought me comfort was seeing his face. Yes, he wasn't my P' Phop, but he had the face of the person I had loved for so long.
Was it wrong to find comfort in that?
"Hey, JJ. It's lunchtime now. Where do you plan to eat?"
"I'm not sure, Khun Charn. I might just eat later."
He shook his head at my answer.
"That won't work. Come on, join us for lunch."
As if they had been summoned, Jet and Khem appeared in the doorway of our office.
"Come on now, legal team. We're starving."
Jet said it while leaning casually against the doorway, trying to look cool. I couldn't help noticing the fond look Khun Charn gave him. He was truly in love with Jet, and no one could deny it. I shut down my computer and followed them out. We rode the elevator together, and Jet filled the silence with stories about his day and how he was apparently "fighting for his life."
Soon, we arrived at the Japanese restaurant across from our office. It seemed they were regular customers because the owner immediately recognized them. We were escorted to our table and quickly placed our orders. I let Khem and Jet choose for me since they were the ones recommending the dishes. Khun Charn simply nodded in approval, as though telling me to trust their judgment.
When the food arrived, our table fell silent. Everyone was busy eating. Even Jet, who seemed to have an endless supply of stories, stopped talking. It was a comfortable silence.
After lunch, Khun Charn decided he wanted coffee, so we stopped by a nearby café and ordered our drinks. Without hesitation, he paid for everyone's orders. We were about to leave when someone suddenly called out Khem's name.
All of us stopped.
The moment they heard the voice, Khem, Jet, and Khun Charn immediately lit up with excitement.
"Ohm!"
Ohm... My best friend, Ohm.
"Ohm..."
I whispered his name so softly that no one heard. It seemed he hadn't noticed me at first. His attention was focused entirely on Khem and Jet, while I stood quietly beside Khun Charn.
I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to know how he was doing but I was afraid.
Afraid that he might leave again. I hadn't only lost P' Phop. I had lost my best friend too.
"I had a meeting nearby,"
Ohm explained
"I was about to head back, but then I saw Khem, so I decided to call out to you guys. How have you all been?"
That should have been my question. How are you, Ohm?
"Oh, we just finished lunch too,"
Khem replied
"We grabbed coffee and were about to head back. Do you want to stop by the office? Although Kachen might not be there."
There was a teasing note in Khem's voice. Something inside me stirred. Why was he teasing Ohm about Kachen?
Was there something going on between them?
"That was one night, Khem. One night. Besides, Kachen and I are friends now."
My heart skipped a beat. So something really had happened. He had slept with my best friend?
"Oh, by the way,"
Khem said, suddenly turning toward me
"this is our newest team member, JJ."
Then he smiled
“JJ, meet Ohm—Kachen’s first love.”
For a moment, the world seemed to stop. My breath caught in my throat. Ohm finally turned toward me and our eyes met.
First love...
"P' Phop, did you ever love someone before me?"
"No one. You're the first person I've ever loved this dearly."
I let out a huff. Was he telling the truth?
"What if I find out you loved someone before me?"
He paused and took a deep breath, as if carefully considering his answer.
"Then I'm giving you permission to throw salt at me."
A laugh escaped my lips.
The memory faded, and I took a deep breath before looking at Ohm. I could see the surprise on his face. I knew I shouldn't feel anything anymore. I had never been angry at him for what happened, but irritation bubbled inside me because of what Khem had said.
"JJ..."
"I'll be going now, Khun Charn."
I didn't wait for anyone's response. I simply turned around and left. I wasn't angry at Ohm. I was angry because what did they mean by introducing him like that?
Kachen had a first love?
Fine. The moment he came back, I was absolutely throwing salt at him. I was so pissed. The rest of the day passed by in a blur. I noticed Khun Charn's hesitation whenever he asked me for a file, but I only responded with silent nods and brief answers. Even though he had no idea what was going on, I was still annoyed by the fact that Kachen apparently had a first love.
The day ended with me storming out of the office.
I made sure to call Auau beforehand and ask him to pick me up. He sounded surprised by my tone, but he didn't question it and simply agreed. As I climbed into Auau's car, I caught sight of the others side. They were talking with Ohm.
The irritation stayed with me longer than it should have.
A month passed. Kachen still hadn't returned. For an entire month, a packet of salt sat on my desk, waiting for his comeback. For an entire month, I continued avoiding lunch outings with Khun Charn, Khem, and Jet.
I never told my friends that I had met Ohm.
Auau continued picking me up after work, though sometimes Ryujin would show up instead on his new motorcycle. Life settled into a routine.
Work.
Home.
Sleep.
Repeat.
And yet every morning, the packet of salt sitting on my desk reminded me that I was still waiting, waiting for Kachen to come back.
Waiting for answers I wasn't even sure I wanted to hear.
It was Wednesday and Kachen had finally returned, which meant he had immediately called for a meeting. Now, against my will, I was sitting in the conference room while the heads of each department presented their monthly reports.
I made a conscious effort not to look at him. I was still so angry that I might forget we were at work if I looked at his face for too long. The meeting felt endless and I swear we spent an entire year trapped in that damn room.
The moment it finally ended, I stood up and headed for the door. I was just about to leave when I heard my name.
"JJ, can I have a minute?"
Every bit of irritation I'd been suppressing came rushing back. Not that it had ever really disappeared. I turned to look at him. The moment our eyes met, I noticed the surprise on his face.
Was my expression really showing that much irritation?
"What is it, Mr. Kachen?"
The title clearly caught him off guard. I saw Khem, Khun Charn, and Jet freeze as well. The room suddenly felt very quiet.
"Is there a problem, JJ?"
A problem? Was there a problem?
"JJ, meet Ohm—Kachen's first love."
Yes.
There was definitely a problem.
“Nothing, Mr. Kachen. Is there something you need?”
There should be a problem. You should know there is. How could you promise me there was no one before me? How could I find out there was an Ohm? And of all people, my best friend.
"Why do you look so angry?"
Oh, now you're asking? Good.
Good for you.
"Me? No! I'm not!"
Should I throw salt at him now? Would that be weird?
"But—"
Before he could finish, the conference room door suddenly opened and to my surprise, the person who stepped inside was the very reason I had been so angry for the past month.
Ohm.
I took a deep breath. Then, without a second thought, I reached into my pocket, pulled out the packet of salt I had been carrying for weeks, and threw it straight at Kachen's face. The collective gasp that echoed through the room was deafening.
"JJ?"
He sounded more surprised than angry. I didn't care. Without saying another word, I turned around and walked out. I headed straight to my desk and grabbed my belongings.
At that moment, I didn't care if I still had a job tomorrow. I didn't care about anything. The moment the elevator doors closed behind me, the tears I'd been holding back threatened to spill over.
I took a shaky breath, trying to steady myself. Auau was already waiting downstairs. I had texted him before the meeting ended, and he had replied that he'd already arrived. When the elevator doors opened, I hurried out of the building.
I immediately spotted him. Auau was leaning against his car, worry written all over his face and he moment he saw me, he straightened.
"What happened, Ju?"
I didn't answer. Instead, I threw my arms around him. His arms wrapped around me instantly, holding me close. Offering comfort without demanding an explanation and suddenly, I realized how stupid this all was.
Kachen wasn't my P' Phop. He wasn't the man who had loved me for five years. He wasn't the person I had planned to marry.
So why was I so angry?
Why did it hurt this much? Why did my chest ache as though my heart were breaking all over again?
"Let's get you home."
I felt Auau lift me gently and guide me into the car. I didn't protest. I was too exhausted. Too overwhelmed and too broken to say anything.
The drive home was silent and I appreciated it because I didn't know how to explain any of this. I didn't know where to begin. How was I supposed to tell them that I was hurting because of something that shouldn't matter? How could I explain that the man I loved existed only in memories born from a coma? How could I tell them that every time I looked at my boss, I saw the face of the man I had lost?
How could I explain that my P' Phop and Kachen shared the same face— Yet only one of them had ever loved me?
We arrived home, and he hurriedly helped me inside. As we pulled into the driveway, I noticed Kim, Ryu, and Por's cars already parked there. I knew they shouldn't have been home this early, but I had a feeling Auau had already informed them about what happened, which was why they had all come back ahead of schedule.
The moment I opened the door, Kim immediately wrapped me in a hug. As if on cue, the tears started falling again.
It hurt. It hurt so much.
I told them everything. I told them about Ohm and what I had discovered about him and Kachen. Kim and Save looked at me as though they were holding themselves back from saying something harsh. Pat looked sad, while the others remained expressionless.
"What I don't understand is why you threw salt at him, Phi. Is he a ghost?"
Ryujin asked after a brief silence. Pat shot him a disappointed look, and honestly, I agreed. However, he did have a point.
"But you know what? It was wrong because he's not your P' Phop."
I looked over at Por. He was serious, his eyebrows drawn together in frustration. I understood how he felt. The entire situation was frustrating.
"I know, but..."
How was I even supposed to justify what I had done?
"Just quit that job. There are plenty of other companies that would hire you, and I'll make sure none of them are connected to those people."
Auau's words made everyone turn toward him. I knew he could make that happen if he wanted to. However, I didn't want to quit my job because of this.
Now it was Monday again, and I had to go back to the office. I would see him, but I didn't care. I had decided to forget everything. If he brought it up, then I would apologize.
I would not speak to Khun Charn unless it was necessary. I would not attend Design Team meetings unless required. I would not go to his floor unless it was absolutely important. Standing in front of the building, I could already feel the dread settling inside me.
I took a deep breath and entered.
I kept my eyes forward, refusing to look at anyone. I stepped into the elevator and stood quietly. I would not look at anyone. I would go to my floor and then do my job and go home.
That was it.
That shouldn't be hard, right? Right.
No.
I was wrong on so many levels. Just before the elevator doors fully closed, someone stopped them. The person who stepped inside was the exact person I didn't want to see right now.
Kachen
The doors finally shut, and to my misfortune, we were the only two people inside. I remained silent. I didn't dare move. I stared straight ahead, avoiding his gaze and I could feel him looking at me. I could feel him studying my face.
"Why are you so angry?"
My breath hitched. It was the same question he had asked before. I looked at him through the reflection in the elevator doors.
"I'm not angry, Mr. Kachen."
I saw his expression change. My tone seemed to harden something inside him.
"Let me understand what happened."
Why did he even care? Why did he want to know the reason behind my outburst?
"Nothing happened, Mr. Kachen."
He took a deep breath and, to my surprise, pressed the button for the seventh floor again before pushing the button for his office floor. I looked at him in exasperation.
"Mr. Kachen, my office is on—"
"I don't care about your office, Jay. We will talk."
Jay...
"JJ is too long."
I heard P' Phop say as he brushed my hair while we watched a movie together, I ,llaughed. He claimed my name was too long because it had two syllables, while his only had one.
"Then what do you want to call me?"
He smiled at me, excitement sparkling in his eyes. I couldn't help smiling back.
"Juju is for our bedtime activities."
I immediately slapped his arm, but all he did was give me a sheepish grin.
"I want it to be Jay. One syllable. Three letters. Just like my name."
I couldn't help laughing. He was completely serious about it. He really wanted that.
"Then I'll be your Jay, P' Phop."
He leaned down and captured my lips. We were both smiling, basking in one of the peaceful moments of our lives. I was where I belonged.
I was in his arms.
He slammed the door shut, and the sound echoed throughout the room. Tears welled in my eyes once again, threatening to spill.
"H-how do you know that?"
I asked shakily, afraid of the answer. I had never told anyone that name. He was the only one who knew it.
"H-how did you know that?!"
My entire body trembled with anxiety. How did he know?
"Because I met you there too."
My knees nearly gave out at his answer.
He met me in that place...
"I... I got into an accident three years ago."
He sat beside me and took my hand, looking directly into my eyes.
"At that time, I was in a coma too. I saw your car after the accident. A truck crashed into it."
I listened intently. I needed to know.
Needed confirmation.
It was him.
I had finally found my P' Phop.
"I helped you, and we dated. We were together for five years. But on our wedding day, you never came."
I wasn't able to come because I had fallen into a coma.
"I tried to find you. I left the wedding venue that day, but a truck was speeding toward me. I managed to swerve, but I crashed into another car. I couldn't find you, and when I woke up in the hospital, nobody knew who you were."
Nobody knew me. Just like nobody knew him.
"Is the car you're driving now the same one you drove in that world?"
He nodded. At that moment, everything finally made sense. I threw my arms around him and held him tightly.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I realized how fate had played with our lives.
"My accident in this world happened because of a speeding truck. I was hit, and when I woke up, I was in that world. P' Phop found me and helped me. I guess that's where your story began."
His expression shifted. I could see the realization slowly settling in.
"Your story there started three years ago, but mine only started a year ago. Your story ended when you left our wedding venue to find me. You swerved to avoid a truck and crashed into another car."
He nodded.
"That car was the same one I was driving on my way to our wedding."
The room fell silent. It had all come full circle. In that world, he swerved to avoid a truck. That truck caused my accident in this world and sent me there. When he swerved, he crashed into my car, sending me back. His ending became my beginning and my ending.
"Fate has been too cruel to us."
He whispered the words against my ear as we lay together on his bed. We had returned to his condo because he insisted I didn't need to go back to work. He had already explained everything regarding my jealousy.
Ohm was nothing more than a friend.
After the accident, Ohm was the first person he met, and the two eventually became close. Through Ohm, he learned about me and became determined to find me.
"I always asked Khem and Jet to come with me to that coffee shop because Ohm said it was your favorite place."
"So our first meeting wasn't accidental?"
He laughed and I rolled my eyes. Apparently, he had been planning it all along. He admitted that he had been completely shocked when I threw salt at him. He'd even gotten angry at Khem and Jet because of the misunderstanding.
Fortunately, Ohm understood the reason behind my outburst.
"You didn't find me any sooner, though."
I pouted. He gasped dramatically.
"You were still in college three years ago while I was already working at the company. Of course, I wasn't going to walk up to you and propose marriage."
I smacked his chest, honestly, he had a point. I wouldn't have let him court me back then. I probably wouldn't have believed him either.
"I waited three years for this"
His arms tightened around me. I understood.
I had only waited six months and the longing had nearly consumed me. How much harder must it have been for him to wait three whole years?
"This weekend, we need to visit Por Kru."
I looked up at him.
"Por Kru?"
"He's Khem's fiancé. He's a shaman in Ubon, a close friend of mine, and the only person who managed to bring you back."
I frowned.
"What do you mean, bring me back?"
A sad smile crossed his face as he squeezed my hand.
"Because you were planning to stay there. If you had, you would've died in this world."
My breath caught. I stared into his eyes and saw the weight of those words.
"He told me to bring someone important to you into the room. Someone who could call your name and tell you to wake up."
"When are you going to wake up, JJ? I miss you already."
Ohm
"Was it Ohm?"
He nodded
"He was the reason I left the room where I was getting ready for our wedding."
Shock spread across his face.
"But... he only did that for me?"
He shook his head.
"He did the same thing for me. I left the venue because I heard Jimmy telling me to wake up."
Jimmy
"Ohm's ex?"
He nodded
"Wait..."
"What?"
"Jimmy brought you back, and Ohm brought me back."
He nodded again but he clearly wasn't understanding what I meant.
I sat upright.
"Then we need to get them back together!"
He burst out laughing and gently stroked my hair.
"They already got back together when you had your accident. Jimmy found out through me and was worried sick about Ohm. Your friends were furious at Ohm, so Jimmy stepped in and let him stay at his condo for a while. They got back together a month later."
I smiled as I was glad Ohm had found his happiness again.
"I hope he knows we're not angry at him."
Net gently caressed my cheek.
"I hope he knows we miss him."
He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead before meeting my gaze.
"Ohm knows. He's just afraid to come back. But I think we can help with that."
A huge grin spread across my face. I could definitely do that.
Friday arrived, and I called for a family dinner. Everyone agreed after I told them I had something important to share. I spent the afternoon cooking all their favorite dishes.
The first to arrive were Ryu and Pat since they only had half-day classes on Fridays. Then Kim showed up carrying a bottle of wine. Whenever he heard there was important news, he automatically associated it with good wine. We loved him even more because of it.
A little later, Auau, Save, and Por arrived together. They helped set the table, though Save looked suspicious when he noticed an extra chair.
I ignored his questions. I wasn't saying anything until he arrived. I had already called P' Kachen, and he said they would be there in a few minutes. Just as I placed the final dish on the table, someone knocked on the door.
I hurried over and pulled it open.
It was him.
He was finally here.
"Welcome home, Ohm."
His eyes immediately turned red.
"I am home now because of you, JJ."
And at last, everything was where it belonged.