Billionaire Biker Boy

Chapter 44 - Deposit.

 

Seeing the little one blushing so hard, Wonchana glanced at his watch and suggested, "Let's go. How about we take the Hat Yai boy to see the Christmas lights? Anyone else wanna join?"

 

If others wanted to come along, they'd need to switch to the bigger vehicle, but everyone shook their heads. They'd seen the lights so many times that it no longer excited them, and the kids were nearing bedtime anyway. The two of them carried their gifts to the small house first.

 

"P'Win, can I leave my gifts here for now? Especially the gold. Even though my condo seems safe, if anything were to happen, I'd feel terrible. As for the small gold piece I won, I'll take that back to give to my mom."

 

Samut told the taller man as they entered the small house.

 

"Of course, I'll keep it in the safe for you. Just let me know whenever you want it."

 

Wonchana then led Samut upstairs to store the gold in the safe before returning downstairs to get ready for their ride. Samut opened the sports car to grab his protective jacket and helmet, as Wonchana had mentioned earlier in the morning that they'd be riding out to see the lights. Once Samut climbed onto the Ducati, Wonchana drove them out onto Sukhumvit Road, following the trail of lights along the way.

 

"We can come back here tomorrow to walk around and take photos. Tonight, let's head over there first. It should be the liveliest spot," Wonchana said through the headset as they passed a luxury mall near the alley they'd visited before.

 

"Whatever you think's best, P'Win. I don't really know the city," Samut replied.

 

As they entered Ploenchit Road, the atmosphere grew even more vibrant, especially as they approached the Ratchaprasong intersection, where the crowd thickened.

 

The biker turned right into the parking lot of a high-end mall at the intersection. After parking, Wonchana took Samut’s hand and led him across to the Erawan Shrine, a landmark where nearly every tourist stops to pay their respects and make wishes.

 

"Wow, there are so many people!"

 

The Hat Yai boy looked around in awe before sharing, “We have shrines dedicated to Brahma in Hat Yai, too, you know. There are two, one near Kim Yong Market and another that you have to take a cable car to. I'll take you there someday, P'Win."

 

Wonchana smiled. "Do you want to go inside and pay your respects?"

 

"With this many people? How could we squeeze in? Let's just pay our respects from here," Samut said.

 

So, the two of them raised their hands in prayer outside the fence. Afterwards, Wonchana led Samut up the skywalk toward CentralWorld, with Samut snapping photos of the surroundings with his camera.

 

"It's a shame you came a bit late. If we'd gone past the Erawan Hotel earlier, there used to be a mall called The Peninsula Plaza. It was the first high-end mall to gather all the luxury brands and a hotspot for the elite. Did you know? Back then, noodle soup cost twenty baht outside, but a hundred baht inside. I used to come here often with my mom. They decorated their Christmas lights so beautifully-it was my favourite. It felt so warm. But sadly, it closed down earlier this year."

 

"Wow, I wish I could've seen it. That's such a shame," the Hat Yai boy lamented.

 

"Yeah, their decorations were so classic. Not as extravagant as the newer malls, but still."

 

But as they reached the large mall, Samut's eyes sparkled at the grandeur of the lights, sounds, and decorations. The elaborate props, featuring mascots from a popular chat application, created an atmosphere like an amusement park. Samut cheerfully captured the surroundings with his camera. Wonchana, in turn, took out his phone to snap photos of the little photographer.

 

"O, it's clear over here. Come, I'll take your picture," the taller man called out when he saw the area near the giant Christmas tree clear of people. 

 

Samut handed his camera to Wonchana, walked over, struck a pose, and removed his mask. The two then took turns taking photos, including a selfie video. Then, Wonchana quickly leaned in to plant a kiss on Samut’s cheek.

..I’ll capture a still from the video later.

 

"P'Win!"

 

"Yes, my dear?"

 

"People are watching!"

 

"Who's watching? No one here knows us."

 

"Still! You're always taking advantage of me," The flustered one pouted, though it was more out of embarrassment than genuine complaint.

 

"If you don't wanna be taken advantage of, then kiss me back. I'll let you take the upper hand," the cheeky man teased, offering his cheek in challenge.

 

A bold Hat Yai boy like me won't let that city boy be so smug! Samut accepted the challenge with a loud smooch, then grumbled, "Why do I feel like I'm losing either way?"

 

Wonchana laughed before wrapping an arm around Samut’s waist to continue walking. When the little one spotted a small staircase perfect for posing, he climbed up to take some high-angle shots. As his camera panned around, it caught a couple in the frame.

 

...Oat.

And P'Honey.

 

Samut panned the camera back, a mix of emotions swirling inside him. The thought of how lucky he was to have escaped someone like Sirichok and found someone as wonderful as Wonchana made him feel a pang of sadness for someone as sweet as Mathukorn. He wanted to warn P'Honey so badly, but would meddling in someone else's business be the right thing to do?

 

Should I ask P'Win? But what if P'Win tells me not to interfere? What will happen to P'Honey then? The truth will come out eventually, and delaying it might only make P'Honey's heartbreak worse.

 

Suddenly, Chonlatee's words of wisdom echoed in his mind: "When you're about to do something that affects others, try to look at it from all angles. Put yourself in their shoes and think, if it were you, how would you want others to treat you? Or if that person were your family, how would you feel and act toward them? Then you'll find your answer... But also prepare yourself for the possibility that they mightn't think the same way as you. You'll have to accept the outcome."

 

Samut took a deep breath. He immediately knew his answer. If it were him, he'd want his friends to tell him, not stand by and watch him be a fool.

 

..But will most people feel the same?

...Or will they resent the messenger instead?

 

Wonchana's voice called out when he noticed the little one standing still. Samut adjusted his expression and hopped down the stairs with a bright smile.

 

"It's so beautiful. I love it. Are there other places like this, P'Win?"

 

"Of course. Let me take you around here first. There's another spot near Samyan that's less crowded," Wonchana replied.

 

As they crossed back to the mall where they'd parked the motorbike, Wonchana's eyes caught sight of a small, stylish men's backpack from a luxury brand. The taller man immediately dragged the little one inside to take a look and asked, "Do you like it? I think it suits you."

 

Samut glanced at the price tag and nearly choked.

...One bag could buy two baht of gold.

 

"Nooo, not at that price! I wouldn't dare use it. I'd be too scared of scratching it. Let's go," he said, pulling the taller man out of the store.

 

"But if we don't buy anything, we'll have to pay for parking," Wonchana cheekily pointed out as he obediently followed.

 

The little one froze in his tracks and finally asked, "How much is the parking fee?"

 

"Oh... about thirty baht an hour, I think."

 

The small lips pressed together in determination before he declared, "I'll pay for it myself. Sixty baht versus sixty thousand? Not worth it."

 

Wonchana laughed at the frugal little one. He pulled Samut close, wrapping an arm around his neck, and said gently, "When we're officially together, you'll have to get used to it. I want you to have nice things."

 

The little one pouted

..Being so loaded seems like a hassle in its own way.

 

"Oh, but I think I should buy something for your mom. What kind of bag does she use? Shoulder or handheld? What's her favourite colour?" The generous spender was still looking for ways to spend.

 

"She prefers cloth bags. Her favourite colour is red. But she's just like me-if she got a fancy bag, she probably wouldn't dare use it. And honestly, we don't have a tradition of exchanging New Year's gifts at home, so don't worry about it, P'Win."

 

Then, suddenly, Samut remembered something

"Oh, right! If you really want to bring something, how about the tie-dye fabric you bought when we went for river prawns? You could give that to my mom. She'd probably love it."

 

Wonchana listened and felt endeared. He reached out to ruffle the little one's soft hair and didn't press the matter further.

 

Once they got back on the bike, he drove toward Siam, then turned left onto Phaya Thai Road, passing the country's top university. When they reached the intersection with Rama IV Road, he made a U-turn and entered a building at the corner-a hub for shopping, learning, and co-space activities. When they got off, Samut was amazed to see shops still open even though it was past 9 PM.

 

"There are still so many people, P' Win!"

 

"This place has some 24-hour stores-a supermarket, a fitness centre, though not the same one we go to. But during the day, it has everything: workspaces, a cinema, clinics, salons."

 

"Bangkok's amazing. In Hat Yai, once it gets late, there's not much to do unless it's a bar," Samut said. The vice president seized the opportunity to make an offer.

 

"So, does the Hat Yai boy want to move to Bangkok permanently? I promise I'll take you back home to visit every month."

 

The Hat Yai boy froze, having never seriously considered the idea before. Back when he'd planned to pursue Sirichok, his brother had asked him the same question, but he hadn't been able to answer then either. Finally, Samut gave the man in front of him an honest reply.

 

"I haven't really thought about this yet. Can I take some time to think it over?"

 

"Of course... But I want you to know, O, that I'm sincere and serious about you. I'm not just playing around. I know it might be selfish of me to want you to be the one to move here, but I still have a lot of responsibilities..."

 

Samut stopped walking and gently held the taller man's arm to interrupt him.

"l understand, P'Win. I don't think badly of you at all.. It's just that I've never considered this before. I'd need to ask my mom and P'Sea for their opinions, too."

 

"That's fine. Even though I want to settle things as soon as possible, there's no rush. Take your time, think it through, and talk it over with your family."

 

Wonchana softly brushed his hand against Samut's cheek, making the little one smile in relief. The two of them then continued taking pictures of the Christmas lights and of each other. As it got later, the little one started complaining about being thirsty. Wonchana took him to a famous 24-hour coffee shop.

 

"I'll have a hot chocolate, no extra sugar," Samut said. With the cool December breeze rolling in, it wasn't cold enough for jackets, but the late-night air carried a slight chill. 

 

Wonchana ordered two hot chocolates and led them to a cosy spot by the window overlooking the Samyan area. The little one blew on his drink before taking a sip. He gazed out at the view and remarked in surprise, "There are more people drinking coffee this late than I expected."

 

"That's because this place is open 24 hours. People who work at night rely on it. The other side closes early since it's part of the university, but they have some great food there. Their crab curry is amazing. You'd love it. I'll take you there sometime... Oh, but they also have a branch near the Atcharangkul Building," Wonchana added, taking a sip of his cocoa and continuing to share stories with the wide-eyed little one.

 

"Did you know? Back when I was an undergrad, this place used to be a two-story market building. The ground floor was a fresh market, and the upper floor was full of affordable restaurants. The most famous one was a steakhouse that was a lifesaver for all the students. I think they've moved behind the sports field now. Since I got back from America, I haven't had a chance to explore. I'm not even sure if the night market at Banthat Thong Road is still around. That area had tons of food, too."

 

"How do you know so much, P'Win?" the Hat Yai boy asked, curious.

 

The local expert chuckled. "Well, I studied here. My faculty was right across the street. I didn't have many friends because I had to rush home after classes to learn the ropes from my dad. But I still come over here for food sometimes. On days with group projects, I'd sneak in a late return home... Oh, and just remembered, your brother took me here for meals twice."

 

"Wow... That sounds so nice. My university life was barely normal for a year. The rest was all COVID life-classes were mostly online, and I couldn't really go anywhere. Oh, I did get to visit the mall a bit."

 

...Well, there were some outings.

..But every time I thought about them, Oat came to mind.

 

Seeing the little one trail off with a gloomy expression, Wonchana assumed he wasn't too happy with those memories. So, he quickly changed the subject. "Then let's make up for it by exploring Bangkok. Tell me where you want to go, and I'll take you."

 

Samut, who had been lost in thought about how to tell Mathukorn about Sirichok, looked up at the man beside him. A wave of emotion washed over him. I wanna be P' Win's boyfriend already. His full lips moved, voicing his feelings honestly to the man in front of him.

 

"I want to go eat omakase that costs ten thousand baht."

 

The corner of Wonchana's mouth lifted into a grin that nearly reached his ears. His effort was paying off. His strong arms wrapped around the little one, pulling him into a warm embrace.

 

"What day should I book it for?" Samut sighed. "I'm heading back to Hat Yai in a few days, so it'll have to be after New Year's anyway."

 

"Alright. I'll call to book it tomorrow. Do you prefer a weekday or a weekend?"

 

"Hmm, whatever works for you, P'Win."

 

"Then the earliest possible day."

 

Samut smiled to himself

...Didn't he say he wasn't in a rush?

 

"I'll go along with whatever you want, P'Win."

 

The little one glanced around the café. Seeing that no one was paying attention to them, he leaned up and pressed his soft, red lips against the perfectly shaped ones of the man in front of him, who sat stunned by the unexpected gesture.

 

The shy touch was gentle, yet it sent a powerful tremor through both their hearts, unlocking all the feelings they'd been holding back. The status that had only been referred to as 'soon-to-be' was now changed without needing words.

 

...The term 'boyfriend' was just a formal label at this point.

 

"This is my deposit for you, P'Win," the bold Hat Yai boy declared, his cheeks glowing red. Wonchana tightened his strong arms around the little one.

 

"Then make sure to pay the final instalment soon, okay?"