Love of Silom

Chapter 13 - There Are No Secrets in This World.

 

"Thank you so much, Rose. I really like the latest project you just showed me. The security system is great, the atmosphere looks nice, and the entrance is spacious. It's also not too far from here. What do you think, dear?"

 

Pimjit, Krit's mom, turned to ask her husband, who was sitting beside her. The three of them were looking at various housing projects in Bangkok on Rose's laptop, several of which were under her management.

 

"It's up to you," Police Major General Phithak replied flatly. Pimjit smiled at Rose as she turned back to her.

 

"See, like dad, like son, Rose."

 

"If you and Uncle would like to visit any of the projects in person, just let me know. I'll take you there myself."

 

"I'd rather you go with Krit. I want him to help us choose."

 

"Uh..." Rose hesitated and glanced over at Krit, silently asking for help. Krit was standing on the front porch, intently spraying mist from a water bottle onto the small cacti arranged in several pots on the table outside. Normally, Krit never bothered with these plants; taking care of them was his mom's passion, not his.

 

When Krit pretended not to hear the conversation, Rose shut her laptop and smiled at Pimjit.

 

"T'll check with Krit later to see when he's free, Auntie. It'll probably take an entire day to tour the projects. But for now, I'll borrow him for a quick coffee run."

 

"Go ahead, Rose."

"Are you ready, Krit? Let's go."

 

After bidding farewell to Krit's parents, Rose stood up.  When Krit finally turned around, Rose secretly glared at him, making sure his parents did not see. Krit smiled knowingly. Of course, he understood the real reason his parents had asked Rose to come over under the pretence of discussing real estate: They were not merely interested in purchasing property to keep; they wanted him and Rose to tour houses together, nudging them toward planning a future as a couple. And the house they were using as an excuse would no doubt end up being their marital home:

 

"You totally left me to fend for myself then," Rose whispered as she pinched Knit's waist while they walked to the can.

 

"Ouch! Take it easy!! Otherwise, my mom will think her future daughter-in-law is abusing her son"

 

"Krit, tell your parents straight up that we could never be a couple"

 

"I have told them so many times that my mouth is about to split in two, but they refuse to listen. Lately, it has only gotten worse," Kit said, shaking his head.

 

"And why is that?" Rose said sarcastically. 

 

"Where do you go every day after leaving the house... Hmm? Definitely not to see me?"

 

"Well. yeah."

"I'm jealous."

 

"If you're jealous, then hurry up and find someone too.

 

"I might. Maybe very soon™

 

"Really!" Krit turned to look at Rose.

 

Yeah. I've been talking to someone for a while now. This might be the one. Honestly, she's the closest "right" that I've ever found. She understands who I am."

 

"What's her name?"

"Praew."

 

"A woman?"

"Yeah."

 

"Bring her to meet me sometime." Krit smiled warmly.

 

"I’d like to know her"

 

"I’ll see. If she really is the one... maybe we can take a trip together. You and Wayu, me and Praew."

 

"Wayu would be over the moon."

"How's he doing these days?"

 

"Getting more popular by the day. It's driving me crazy." Rose laughed in satisfaction.

 

"That is what you get for dating someone so popular. You just have to deal with it. Why not ask him to quit the job so you will not have to worry about anyone trying to hit on your boyfriend?"

 

"Of course, I want him to quit and go back to school and finish his degree. I want to take care of him, too. But I know he won't agree. Wayu wants to stand on his own two feet."

 

"So instead, you secretly interfere with his job," Rose said with an amused shake of her head. "How many times have you sent people to book him for the entire night so that he would not have to entertain other customers?"

 

Krit had no defence. He really had done that. He had asked Rose to arrange for trustworthy friends to book Wayu for the night, without actually drinking, while Krit covered all the expenses.

 

"I just want him to have a break sometimes. Drinking alcohol every night isn't good for his health."

 

Rose glanced at Krit. "You really love him, don't you?"

 

"Yeah. I want to be with him every day."

 

Krit's eyes softened at the thought of Wayu. His bond with him grew deeper every day. Wayu was talkative and thoughtful, sometimes a little stubborn. He seemed easily sulky but was willing to listen to reason. He clung to Krit like a cat, always wanting his hugs. But when he got angry, he burned like fire. Krit loved everything about him so much so that Wayu had become his everyday happiness.

 

"And what about your parents?" Rose's voice lowered.

 

"Will you tell them? Or will you keep it a secret forever?"

 

"Someday, I want them to meet him," Krit replied. "I'm still figuring out how to make it happen. Introducing him as my boyfriend is out of the question —it would be a disaster, the kind with no chance for a do-over. I will probably have to ease him in slowly, blending him into my friend group whenever 1 get the chance, so my parents become familiar with him first, as a junior or a friend of a friend."

 

"That sounds really difficult," Rose sighed. "Won't that take years?"

 

"I don't want it to take that long, but I have no choice. You know what my dad is like, how deeply ingrained his beliefs are. Changing his mindset to accept something like this is nearly impossible. A year or two won't be enough. I want us to start on the right foot, not as enemies from the get-go. I'm hoping that if he gets to know Wayu first, he might grow fond of him."

 

"I feel bad for Wayu... and for you."

 

"Yeah," Krit's expression grew serious. "But this situation requires patience. I want to spend my life with him— not just have him be a passing moment. That's why I'm looking for the best possible way. I can't afford to take a reckless risk and fail. We have to take it step by step."

 

"You think he won't give up before then?"

 

"He won't. As long as I love him, Wayu won't give up."

 

"You two really have faith in each other." Rose reached out and gently squeezed Krit's hand. "I hope this time, your love goes well."

 

"Thanks. I'm hoping for that too."

 

"So, are you seeing him tonight? Are you going to use our coffee trip as an excuse to disappear all night?" Rose squinted at him.

 

"I’d love to," Krit said with a sly smile. "I have not seen him in three days. But my mom asked me to run errands tonight, so I will have to wait. Any longer, and I will not be able to take it."

 

"Ugh, you're so lovesick," Rose pouted.

 

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Even though that was his intention, on the following day, Krit was so swamped with work that he barely had a moment to spare. He was so caught up with his tasks that he didn't even have time to check Wayu's messages.

 

"How's it going? Any new leads on Master Por? A firm hand landed on Krit's shoulder-Inspector Athip.

 

"Not yet, sir. We suspect he's hiding out with one of his former wives, but there's been no progress," Krit replied.

 

Krit was part of the Crime Prevention and Suppression Unit, which was currently engaged in a large-scale operation targeting call centre scam networks across multiple provinces, working in collaboration with local police. 

 

Previously, Krit had been part of the raid team that busted a SIM box operation in Pathum Thani, successfully crippling a key component of the scam syndicate and seizing significant evidence, resulting in financial losses of hundreds of millions of baht. But that was only the beginning. The network spanned multiple provinces, and the investigation had now reached the key masterminds behind the operation. 

 

One of them was Master Por, a powerful businessman believed to be preparing to flee the country. The other was Pawant, commonly known as Ice-C, the son of a prominent politician. Unlike Master Por, Ice-C'was still freely moving about in society, showing no signs of concern. Notorious cases of assault, forced drug use, and sexual misconduct surrounding him—yet he had managed to evade justice every single time.

 

"We're monitoring both escape routes," another officer from the team reported. 

 

"The airport and the Aranyaprathet border. The lieutenant has already coordinated with immigration."

 

"Don't let Master Por slip through. As for Ice-C, it's just a matter of waiting for him to slip up," Inspector Athip said firmly. This was a complex case, spanning multiple jurisdictions and involving influential figures. It required meticulous planning. Krit was so consumed with work that it was nearly 2 p.m. before he finally had a chance to step away.

 

Krit headed downstairs to the break room, where a beverage station and equipment for brewing tea and coffee were set up. Leaning against the counter as he waited for the water in the coffee pot to boil, he pulled out his phone.

 

Wayu had messaged him since before noon. He would never call Krit during work hours, knowing it might interrupt him while he was on duty or out in the field. Krit called Wayu.

 

"Krit!" Wayu greeted him cheerfully.

"It's not even 2 p.m. yet. Why are you up so early?"

 

"I'm heading out soon, so I woke up early."

 

"Work? Which customer?" Krit frowned. He still wasn't too thrilled whenever Wayu took on side jobs.

 

"It's nothing like that. I'm going out with Waii to do some shopping."

 

"Oh... Have fun, then."

 

"I miss you, Krit. Is work keeping you busy?"

 

"Yeah. No idea why it's been this hectic all week."

 

"I haven't seen you in four days... I'm so lonely," Wayu whined.

 

"If you're feeling lonely, just listen to some music. You've got eight songs in your playlist, after all."

 

"You mean the playlist I sent you back then, which basically gave away that I liked you?" Wayu laughed. 

 

"I made a playlist of eight songs at the time, with seven of them being love songs. Too bad the last one turned out to be a breakup song."

 

"I'd say they were all love songs. Heartbreak is still love, isn't it? Otherwise, why would the lyrics say that just thinking about those memories makes you happy?"

 

"I've listened to them so many times, I'm tired of them."

 

"I still listen to them."

The other end of the line went silent for a moment before Wayu spoke again, his voice softer and slightly trembling toward the end.

 

"Why do you keep making me fall for you even more?"

 

"Aww, don't get all sentimental on me. Don't cry now. Alright, I'll see you in the next couple of days. I miss you like crazy, too."

 

"Okay... See you soon, Krit. Muah."

 

The sound of a kiss coming from the phone made Krit smile. Wayu always had a way of teasing him and lifting his spirits. Talking to Wayu or even just exchanging messages had become a source of comfort and joy—an integral part of Krit's daily life. After that, Krit went back upstairs to continue working. But before he could even sit down, Inspector Athip suddenly pushed open the office door and barked out an urgent order.

 

"We've located Bank! Move quickly—he just entered the warehouse."

 

This was another case under the team's jurisdiction. The suspect was part of a stolen vehicle trafficking ring, which resold stolen cars through social media platforms. Krit set the coffee cup down on the table without taking a sip and hurried out with his team.

 

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While Krit was out on duty, Police Major General Phithak sat in a meeting room with another operations team working on a case that Krit was not involved in. It was a meeting to report the progress of a money laundering case, in which the suspect was a foreign businessman who had been missing for almost two months.

 

"We obtained additional evidence from a surveillance camera, sir. It was recorded last month."

 

The CCTV footage was projected onto the screen. It was recorded from the sidewalk in an alley located in a nightlife district on Silom Road at around 4 a.m. People were still walking back and forth. Under the streetlights, the suspect wore a cap, seemingly to obscure his face, as he walked along the sidewalk with two other men.

 

"Is there a clearer shot of his face?" Phithak asked.

"Uh... there's another angle from a dashcam of a parked car in that area, sir."

 

"Play it."

 

The footage on the screen showed the alley on the opposite side of the street. The suspect was walking with two other men. From this angle, his face was much clearer. Phithak froze, his eyes widening as he noticed something in the background where the suspect was walking past a car.

 

Krit's car. It was parked right in front of a host bar named Moonlit. And what was even worse was that Krit was passionately kissing another young man. Their body language clearly conveyed a mutual sexual desire. Then, Krit opened the car door, pushed the young man inside, and drove off.

 

Phithak stared at the image of his son in shock. The meeting room fell into a dead silence. No one even dared to breathe.

 

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Krit arrived home in the evening. His shirt was stained with oil, and his face bore the fresh wounds of a struggle-injuries from arresting a suspect who had resisted. Krit walked through the spacious living room and into the interior, where one side was a family lounge for relaxation.

 

"Why is it so quiet in here?” Krit asked, puzzled, as he noticed his parents sitting

together on the sofa without even turning on the TV.

 

He stepped into the room, passing by a sturdy, waist-high wooden cabinet pressed against the wall. Inside were various plaques commemorating different achievements. On top of the cabinet sat several framed photos, capturing moments from Krit's childhood to adulthood. Above them all, a large family portrait hung prominently on the wall. But then, Krit hesitated. Something was off.

 

His mom sat beside his dad with a pale face, her hands tightly clasped together in her lap. His dad was staring at him with an expression that sent a strange sense of dread through Krit's chest.

 

"Did something happen?"

 

Before Krit could even finish his sentence, Phithak suddenly stood up, grabbed a stack of papers from the table, and hurled them at his face. Krit flinched in shock.

"What I should be asking is what the hell is going on?! Why would you do something like this?!" Phithak roared.

 

"Honey, please calm down," Krit's mom pleaded, trembling, as she reached out to touch her husband's arm. Krit bent down and picked up the scattered papers. His

heart clenched. His palms turned ice-cold with shock.

 

It was a photo. A photo of him and Wayu kissing. In the parking lot. On the day he had stormed into Wayu's workplace out of jealousy. Krit's face drained of colour. He slowly looked up at his dad. The look in Phithak's eyes shattered his heart. It was filled with disappointment. Disgust. Revulsion. Never in his life had his dad looked at him like that before.

 

"Do you have an excuse? Are you going to deny that it's you?!" Phithak barked.

 

Krit glanced at the photo in his hand. There was no room for denial. Everything was clear. Krit forced the words out. "That's me." Phithak's heavy palm struck his son's face hard enough to make his head snap to the side. Blood welled up on Krit's lip from the impact.

 

"Krit!" his mom cried out, horrified. Her husband had never done anything like this to their son before. "Honey, please, don't do this."

 

"Didn't you hear what he just said?! This is nothing compared to what he deserves!"

 

Krit stood frozen. He didn't even raise a hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his lip, which had split from the force of his dad's slap.

 

"Please, don't hurt him," his mom pleaded desperately.

 

"And what about what he's done? Has he ever thought about who he's hurting? Or is his head filled with nothing but filth that decent people wouldn't even consider? Has he ever thought about how I felt when I saw those photos in the meeting room?! In front of a table full of subordinates?! Now the whole department is gossiping about how Krit is a..." Phithak's face twisted with disgust, struggling even to say the word. "—a damn pervert!"

 

The way his dad spoke made Krit feel as if his chest had been crushed.

 

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"That's all you have to say?!" Phithak roared, his anger boiling over.

 

"Krit, tell your dad it was for work," his mom pleaded through trembling lips. "It was a misunderstanding! You were only there for work!"

"Stop! Don't you think I know exactly what cases Krit has been working on? Not a single one requires him to go sleep with male prostitutes!"

 

Krit listened, his jaw clenched tightly. He met his dad's gaze, knowing that what he was about to say would cut through his parents' hearts like a knife. But it was the truth. With a heavy heart, he forced the words out.

 

"That's not true, Dad. He's not a prostitute. He just works at a bar. It's an honest job. His dignity isn't any lower than mine or anyone else's. He's my partner. I love men. I'm gay."

 

Thud!

Krit stumbled backwards, crashing into the cabinet as his dad's fist connected with his body. Framed pictures toppled over, shattering against the marble floor. Glass shards scattered everywhere. His mom screamed and rushed to stop her husband from hitting him again. Blood dripped onto the floor from Krit's wounds. Krit pushed himself up and met his dad's eyes again. His voice was steady, despite the agony tearing him apart inside.

 

"I take full responsibility for my actions, and I know I've disgraced you. It's my fault and mine alone. You can punish me however you want. But as for the fact that I'm attracted to the same sex, even if you beat me to death like you once said, it won't change the truth."

 

"What the hell do you mean by that?! Are you seriously planning to continue being a freak for the whole world to mock?!"

 

"And why does my life have to depend on other people's approval, Dad? Just because it's not the ideal marriage or family you or others envision, why does it have to be seen as abnormal and unacceptable? He's my partner. We're not bothering or hurting anyone. So tell me, is it me who's unnatural, or is it the world?"

 

"Krit! Don't talk to your dad like that!" his mom cried, panicked.

 

"You ungrateful brat!"

Krit's dad lunged forward, while his mom desperately tried to hold him back, her face streaked with tears. Phithak's rage erupted in a way that had never been seen before in this household.

 

"Ahh!"

 

Krit's mom screamed as she lost her balance and fell, her hand landing on shards of broken glass. Blood pooled from her delicate palm. Both Krit and his dad rushed to her, but Phithak shoved Krit away forcefully and cradled his wife himself.

Phithak pointed at his son's face, his anger blazing.

 

"Do you even have a heart, Krit?! Look at your mom! Do you see her tears?! I've spent thirty years with her, and I've never made her suffer like this! Do you realise how terrible your actions are?! You've broken her heart and shamed me! Disgraced our family name! You're the biggest disappointment of my life! You used to know right from wrong, to be responsible, but what have you become now?! I don't even know if you're still my son!"

 

Krit's mom sobbed as if her heart would shatter, while his dad seethed with rage over something he couldn't accept. The scene before Krit crushed his heart. It felt like he was destroying his own family, tearing it apart simply by being who he was.

 

"You need to stop," Phithak's voice was like a death sentence. "Think about your mom! If you keep this up, do you want her to watch me shoot you? Shoot that little whore? Or put a bullet in my own head?!"