Chapter 3:Wayu, If you keep spoiling me like this...

The red Hyundai G80 sports car glided smoothly to a stop in front of the company building.

A moment later, the door opened, and Pat stepped out. He was dressed in a dark green knitted zip-neck polo, unzipped halfway to reveal his toned collarbone, paired with cream-colored trousers. He looked noticeably more put together, more striking than before.

As he walked into the building, he greeted people politely. They returned his greetings with warm smiles, some quietly murmuring to one another as they watched him pass.

“P’ Pat looks so good today. I think he’s finally pulling himself back together,” a young female employee whispered to her colleague as they walked by.

“Mmm… I’d love to see the old, cheerful Pat again. He’s been so gloomy for a long time,” the colleague replied softly.

Pat stopped in front of an office door and glanced through the blinds. Inside, the room was busy—everyone focused on their work, soft chatter blending into a low hum.

He let out a quiet sigh before pushing the door open and stepping inside.

His colleagues didn’t notice him at first, too absorbed in their tasks. Pat looked around the room briefly, then cleared his throat.

The sound cut through the chatter.

Everyone paused and turned toward him at once, their expressions shifting to surprise.

For a brief moment, the room fell into complete silence.

“P’… Pat?” one of them called out hesitantly, as if afraid he might disappear if they spoke too loudly.

Pat stood there, unsure of what to say, his hand still resting lightly on the door.

Another colleague slowly stood up. “You… you’re back?”

A wave of emotion rippled through the room.

Some of them exchanged glances, relief clearly written on their faces. Others smiled, their eyes softening as they looked at him.

“We missed you,” someone said quietly.

Everyone paused and turned toward him at once, their expressions shifting to surprise.

“Khun! You’re here, my friend is back, everyone!” Tee said excitedly as he pushed away from his desk, dropping the papers in his hands.

He walked up to Pat and stopped in front of him, scanning him from head to toe with a satisfied smile. Pat looked back at him with mild curiosity.

“Woah… someone’s finally looking like himself again,” Pat teased quietly.

Tee shot him a playful, dramatic side-eye, causing Pat to chuckle and raise his hands slightly in surrender.

“Pat, you’re fully back to work now, I suppose?” an older male colleague asked with a warm smile.

“Sawasdee khab, P’ Mok. Yes, I’m back. I’m sorry for being distracted lately, I’ll take responsibility,” Pat replied respectfully.

“Ah, we’ll talk properly later,” Mok said, glancing through some documents on his desk. “As you can see, we’re quite busy. This is a major project from government officials, we need to deliver it perfectly.”

Pat stepped closer to the desk, slightly leaning in with one hand tucked into his pocket as he skimmed through the papers.

“We’ll be discussing it in a meeting shortly,” Mok added. “Go sit down and take it easy, Pat. It’s your first day back.”

“Thank you, P’ Mok, but I’m fine now. I’ve rested enough, let me work,” Pat said with a small, confident smile.

“P’ Mok, Pat is back and even more active now. You don’t have to worry,” Tee added, grinning as he returned to his seat.

“Tee, mind your business… unless you want to work outside the office,” Pat said, shooting him a playful warning look, as Tee playfully mimicks him.

…….

At a crowded, upscale restaurant, Pat and his team sat around a long table filled with beer cans and plates of Moo Ping (sweet, marinated pork skewers). Everyone dug in happily, their laughter rising above the hum of the room as they chatted over one another.

Dishes kept arriving one after another (Pad Thai, rich with shrimp and chicken), and Pad Kra Pao ( fragrant with basil and chili).

Plates were passed around as everyone helped themselves, savoring the food.

Everyone, except Pat.

He sat quietly, a can of beer in his hand, his attention drifting far from the table. His gaze fixed on a couple seated across the room, lost in their own little world.

The man was carefully peeling shrimp for his partner, smiling softly as he placed the food onto his plate, his gestures filled with quiet affection.

Pat watched them from a distance.

Outwardly, he looked calm, almost indifferent.

But inside, something ached.

The simple act, so gentle, so familiar, stirred memories he had tried so hard to bury.

Moments like that… he had once shared with Way.

And now, all he could do was watch someone else live them.

……

“Wayu, if you keep spoiling me like this, I’ll never learn to take care of myself,” Pat said, glancing down at his bowl as Way added yet another generous serving of som tam onto his jasmine rice.

The two of them were having dinner at Way’s apartment in the United States, one of those quiet evenings Pat had come to treasure.

Way looked up, the corners of his lips curving into a soft smile as he carefully picked apart a piece of grilled fish before placing it into Pat’s bowl.

“Khun, let me pamper you,” he said warmly. “I want to. And you don’t have to worry about growing up too fast, I’ll take care of you forever.”

The words landed gently, yet enough to send heat creeping across Pat’s cheeks.

He lowered his head quickly, pretending to focus on his food as he stuffed a large spoonful of rice and salad into his mouth, though the faint redness dusting his ears betrayed him.

Still chewing, he mumbled defensively,

“Remember, I’m older than you. I’m supposed to be the one taking care of you… Nong.”

Way chuckled softly at Pat’s muffled protest.

“Oh?” he teased, arching a brow as he reached for the serving spoon again. “And yet here you are, cheeks full like a hamster, letting your younger boyfriend feed you.”

Pat nearly choked.

Way laughed under his breath and leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

“Eat properly, P’ Pat. No one’s stealing your food.”

Pat shot him an offended look, though it lacked any real bite.

“You’re impossible.”

“And you love that about me.”

Way said it so casually, so certainly, that Pat froze for half a second.

Then, unable to stop himself, he smiled.

A real one.

The kind that only ever appeared around Way.

Way noticed, of course.

And with quiet satisfaction, he added another spoonful to Pat’s plate.

Pat stared at it in disbelief.

“Seriously?”

Way grinned.

“Open wide, Khun.”

Pat groaned dramatically, but obediently leaned forward anyway.

And Way, looking far too pleased with himself, fed him with all the tenderness in the world.

……

Tee’s laughter slowly died as his eyes drifted toward Pat.

Something felt off.

He leaned closer, lowering his voice.

“Pat… you’ve been staring at that table for a while now.”

Pat didn’t respond immediately. He just took another slow sip.

Tee followed his gaze and instantly understood.

“…Still him?”

That did it.

Pat let out a quiet scoff, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Don’t start, Tee. I’m fine.”

“You’re not,” Tee said gently, his tone losing its usual playfulness. “And it’s okay to admit that.”

For a moment, Pat said nothing.

Then he exhaled, shoulders dropping slightly.

“I thought I was getting better,” he murmured. “But… it’s funny how something so small can drag everything back.”

Tee didn’t interrupt.

He just reached over and tapped Pat’s beer lightly.

“Then don’t carry it alone this time.”

Pat glanced at him, really looked at him, and gave a faint, grateful nod.

Pat took a slow sip from his beer just as the waiter arrived with gai yang, its smoky aroma curling into the air, followed by a chilled glass of Thai iced tea beaded with condensation.

Plates shifted, hands reached, and the table came alive again.

A male team member, already tipsy, leaned back in his chair and raised his beer high.

“Oi! Why is everyone eating like this is their last meal?” he called out, grinning lazily.

Laughter erupted around the table.

“That’s because Pat ordered everything!” someone shot back.

“Exactly,” the man replied, taking a long gulp. “A good senior makes sure his team never starves.”

More laughter followed, louder this time.

Tee, however, wasn’t laughing as much. His gaze drifted toward Pat, narrowing slightly.

The drunk colleague grabbed another skewer and waved it dramatically.

“To success, money, and, ” he paused, just a second too long, “good food!”

“Cheers!” the team echoed, cans clinking together.

Pat lifted his beer along with them, a smile already in place.

It looked convincing.

Almost.

But his fingers tightened subtly around the can, the metal pressing cold against his palm.

And for a fleeting moment, when no one was paying attention, his smile slipped.

Just a crack.

Just enough to show what he was holding back.

Then it was gone.

“Welcome back, Pat,” Mok said, raising his beer with a warm, slightly unsteady smile. “I hope you’re… happier this time. And that you find something, someone, that lasts.” He paused, his tone softening.

“Don’t disappear on us again, hmm?”

Pat’s expression softened, though his voice remained quiet.

“Mm… thank you, P’Mok.”

Around them, the conversation picked up again, laughter, clinking cutlery, overlapping voices filling the space.

Tee shifted closer.

Without drawing attention, he placed a light hand on Pat’s thigh, a small, steady gesture.

Grounding.

Pat glanced at him.

No words were exchanged, but he understood.

A faint, genuine smile tugged at his lips this time.

“You haven’t eaten anything,” Tee murmured. “Let me fix that.”

He reached across the table, picking small portions from different dishes, gai yang, pad thai, a bit of som tam, and carefully arranged them on Pat’s plate.

Not rushed. Not careless.

Intentional.

Pat looked down at the plate, then back at Tee.

“…Thanks.”

Tee only nodded, as if it were nothing.

But to Pat, in that moment,

it was everything.