Love of Silom

Chapter 8 - If You Are Curious, Just Ask Him.

 

‘Krit, why don't you stop by my bar tonight? We're doing a "handsome chef" theme; you have to see it for yourself.

 

'Send me a picture first."

 

Seeing Krit's reply, I immediately opened my phone's gallery and scrolled through the photos I had just taken with my friends. 

 

Tonight, we were all dressed in chef outfits, white shirts with aprons tied around our waists, reminiscent of a certain foreign drama where the female lead moves to Paris for work. The sleeves were rolled high above the elbows, showing off the definition in our arms. I picked the best-looking shot and sent it to Krit. Not even ten seconds later, he replied.

 

'Let me know when you're actually holding a pan and a spatula cooking something, then I'll consider it.?

 

I laughed so much that Thai, who was sitting next to me, turned and teased me.

 

"You're in such a good mood today, Wayu. Smiling non-stop. Love must be in the air, huh?" I tried to suppress my grin, but wasn't very successful.

 

"What love are you talking about? I'm just chatting with Krit, that's all. Nothing's going on."

 

"Pfft! Yeah right. Like I'd believe you." Thai snickered.

 

"You were sulking like a lost puppy that day. Do you think Krit even knows you like him?" 

 

He mocked the last sentence before reaching out to cup my face, turning it toward him. "Hey... have you gotten hotter or what?'

 

"I started taking supplements and got some skin treatments at the clinic Hong recommended. You didn't go?"

 

"I did, but why don't I look as good as you?"

 

"Well, do I have a body as fit as yours?"

"Yeah, this one's hard to deny."

 

Thai flexed his biceps playfully, showing off. His physique had always been impressive, but now? He looked at least five times hotter, maybe even eight. Especially when he strutted down the runway, shirt off, chest and abs on full display under the lights. Beyond just looks, Thai had a natural way with customers. He treated them well, knew exactly how to charm, and had an effortless magnetism that drew people in. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before he reached the very top.

 

Both of us had come a long way since we first started working here. In just two months, we had improved our appearance and significantly increased our earnings. Sometimes, when I looked in the mirror, I barely recognised myself —it was like I had transformed from a plain cocoon into a vibrant butterfly overnight. But that was just appearances. Financially, things were incomparable to what they were before. I had already cleared all my mom's debts by my second month—faster than I had ever imagined.

 

Now, I set aside a portion of my earnings to take better care of myself, which was necessary in this line of work. Even so, I struggled to spend money freely. Growing up in a financially tight household, I was used to scrimping and saving. Even after making more money, I still found it hard to break that habit. It nearly killed me to pay for a new outfit and a new pair of shoes that cost more than my dad's monthly salary.

 

The reason? I had started maintaining contact with customers for off-hour bookings. Sometimes, they wanted me to accompany them for dinner, take photos together at fancy cafes, or go wherever they wanted. I couldn't show up at upscale places in shabby clothes. I had to maintain my customers' image, too.

 

Even though I accepted these off-hour bookings, I still stuck to my original principles: being a companion, someone to talk to and take care of. Nothing beyond that. No sex involved. I always made that clear with customers before accepting any requests. I've really learned my lesson from last time, when my own carelessness landed me in the hospital and a police station.

 

I sent a bunny sticker blowing a heart-shaped kiss to Krit before putting my phone away and getting ready for work. It might have seemed like a joke, just playful teasing, but honestly, I was flirting on purpose. I didn't care if Krit kept replying; then I'd take it as him giving me a chance.

 

Hopefully, I won't end up heartbroken.

 

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That night, I met someone I never expected to cross paths with again. I was on the floor when the drink auction for each host began. The atmosphere was lively, with PR staff hyping up the crowd over the microphone to get them to bid more. 

 

Bidding started at three drinks, each priced at 300 baht. When it was my turn, host number 48 - someone placed an opening bid of five drinks, which was a good start. I thanked them and threw a smile their way, but I also made sure to flash my best smile to the other tables as well in case anyone else wanted to compete.

 

"Ten drinks," the sales staff member managing the front table called out.

"Fourteen drinks," a table at the back countered.

"Sixteen drinks."

 

The auction was heating up. Each time the bid increased, the crowd clapped and cheered.

 

"Twenty drinks."

 

"Twenty-two drinks." The front table continued bidding fiercely. When no one countered, the PR staff started the final countdown.

 

"Twenty-two drinks, going once."

"Twenty-two drinks, going twice."

 

I smiled at the group of lively female customers who placed the last bid. The woman who bid for me had long hair and dimples, exuding a playful office-lady vibe. But then, a voice from the back table cut through the noise.

 

"Thirty drinks!"

 

The countdown announcement for thirty drinks came swiftly.

 

"Thirty drinks, first call!"

"Thirty drinks, second call!"

"Round three for table 212! Number 48, let's go!"

 

Cheers erupted from the people at that table. I smiled widely and thanked them with a wai before walking off the floor and heading to the back table, where I'd be taking care of them tonight. They came as a group of five, both women and men, all seemingly around my age. Two hosts had already joined them before I arrived.

 

As I got closer, one of the customers caught my attention immediately. He looked familiar—like I had seen him somewhere before, but I couldn't quite place him. When I reached the table, I was directed to sit beside him. That's when I found out that he was the one who had bid thirty drinks on me, a rather generous amount.

 

"Hello, I'm Wayu," I introduced myself. He had sharp features, fair skin, and mischievous charm, but was also in a good mood.

 

"Do you remember me? Didn't think I'd run into you here."

 

His words made me look at him in surprise. Before I could respond, he continued,

 

"We met at the university library and again outside the architecture building. I smiled at you both times."

 

My eyes widened in recognition. Him! The engineering student who had helped me pick up my things at the library and whom I'd locked eyes with when loading a model into my friend's car. My heart skipped a beat—I hadn't expected to see him here.

 

"Of course, I remember," I quickly said. "What's your name?"

"Mind."

 

"Is this your first time here? I don't think I've seen you before."

 

"Yeah, first time. If I'd known you were here, I would've come ages ago," he replied with a grin. "I wanted to ask your name back then, but I never saw you again."

 

"Oh, I dropped out of school and started working here. Is there anything special you'd like me to take care of tonight, Mind?"

 

"Can I get a boyfriend experience?"

 

His friends immediately burst into cheers and teasing remarks. Mind's face turned red, but he shot back,

 

"I have the right to choose, okay?"

I smiled at him before replying, "Sure. Darling, did you have a tiring day at school? Have you eaten yet?"

 

"Not yet, baby."

 

Mind's friends were heckling and teasing me this time. I had chosen the word "Darling" for him because it sounded sweet but not overly cutesy. However, Mind called me "Baby," which was undeniably adorable.

 

Not long after, they called over two more hosts to join the table, ensuring everyone had someone to pour drinks. I turned to Mind with a smile and then asked.

 

"What would you like to eat, darling? Want to check the menu?"

"Can you order for me, baby?" He asked, his tone playful.

 

"Okay, how about some French fries?"

"I don't know... I'd rather take a bite out of you."

 

With that, he grabbed my hand and pretended to nibble on my fingertip. I quickly pulled my hand away.

 

"Behave, darling. If you bite me, I might just bite you back," I teased, laughing as I casually looped my arm around his. That way, I had better control over his hands while making him feel like I was the one initiating the closeness.

 

"Here, have a candy first. What flavour do you like?"

"Strawberry."

 

I picked up a strawberry-flavoured candy from the table, unwrapped it, and held it out for him. But instead of taking it, he simply opened his mouth, waiting for me to feed him. The atmosphere grew even livelier as we started playing drinking games. I got tricked into drinking quite a lot of alcohol.

 

Architecture students typically couldn't hold their liquor as well as engineering students, but by now, I was a trained host—no engineering student could outdrink me. I'm just kidding, though. Honestly, even handling this group alone was enough to make me crawl home to puke afterwards. At one point, we played a game where we had to pass a piece of tissue paper around the table using only our mouths.

 

With each pass, the tissue got smaller and smaller. When it was Mind's turn, he deliberately let the paper drop, trying to use it as an excuse to kiss me instead. I saw through the trick immediately—I had been on both ends of it before. So, I dodged and put up my hand just in time. His friends burst into laughter as Mind missed his mark.

 

Not giving up, he grabbed my shoulders to keep me from escaping and pretended to plant kisses on both sides of my face. Of course, he wasn't actually kissing me, just playing along for fun. After a while, he started looking genuinely tipsy. I let him lean against my shoulder.

 

"You smell so good, baby," he murmured.

 

Well, of course. Wearing a nice fragrance was part of the job. Looking after my appearance—my physique, skin, hair, scent, words, and even small physical touches —was necessary. Experience taught me how to gauge the right level of intimacy for each customer.

 

"Can I rest my head on your lap?"

 

I grabbed a small cushion, placed it on my lap, and adjusted my posture so he could lie down comfortably. "Better now?" I asked, resting a hand on his chest.

 

"I think I'm falling for you, baby," Mind whispered, pressing a kiss to my hand before holding it close. I lowered my gaze and smiled at him, not pulling my hand away since he wasn't being too touchy or out of line. If anything, he was cute. Normally, he acted all tough, but once he got drunk, he turned clingy—like a big cat curling up in someone's lap and dozing off. That night, I stayed with Mind until the bar closed.

 

Before leaving, he told me he'd definitely be back to see me again. We exchanged contacts-after all, it was natural for hosts and customers to want to reconnect for another night.

 

That night, I got home around four in the morning. After taking a shower, I lay on my bed, listening to music while rereading my chat history with Krit. I ended up smiling to myself like an idiot. Would Krit have feelings for me? I kept asking myself the same question over and over again, but I never got a clear answer. I knew he didn't dislike me. In fact, it wasn't just that he might even like me a little.

 

The only question was whether it was the same kind of liking and whether it was enough. I had no idea if he was bisexual, pansexual, or something else, but I was certain that he wasn't against relationships between men.

 

How did I know? Well, people like me can tell when someone's eyes say it loud and clear. I was probably in the "talking stage" with Krit. But the truth was, being in the talking stage meant not having any status at all. I knew it was shaky, uncertain, and fragile, but I was still happy with it... Sigh.

I went back to reread our chat, even though I already had every single line memorised. If this were a test, I'd definitely get an A-even if the professor set the passing grade at a hundred per cent.

 

"Krit, do you miss me?" I whispered at his profile picture, wishing I could say those words to his face someday. But right now, he was probably fast asleep while I was here, missing him and fantasising about him all on my own. It felt so good, but it hurt so bad at the same time. I leaned back, hugged my pillow, and sighed, staring out the window. I wanted to gaze far away, to see the wide sky, just like that day when I hugged Krit and buried my face in his shoulder, crying.

 

"Sweet dreams, Krit."

 

I touched my lips lightly and pressed my fingers against his picture, whispering to the early morning breeze, hoping my words would reach him, whether he would ever know or not. Then, I fell asleep and didn't wake up until two in the afternoon.

 

The moment I opened my eyes, I grabbed my phone, checking if Krit had sent me any messages. Turned out, the first message I got today wasn't from him-it was from Mind, the engineering student who came to the host bar last night. He had messaged me since eleven in the morning. I chuckled, thinking he probably had to wake up early for class.

 

The first message read: 'Babe, are you awake?'

The second one followed: 'Next week, I'm going to see you again. And don't even think about sitting at another table-I'm booking the whole place, so you have to sit with me?

 

I replied: 'Let me know which day you're coming, so I don't take a day off. Study hard, okay?'

 

I thought about the word "darling" that I used for Mind. Actually, whether it was darling, honey, baby, or any other sweet nickname my customers and I used for each other, they were all just playful and affectionate, but they never made my heart waver. Seeing customers every day had forced me to build walls around myself from the very beginning. I made sure I would never cross those walls for anyone. The only wall I wanted to climb over was the one between Krit and me. And every time he looked at me and spoke to me, I felt myself wavering-whether he meant to make me feel that way or not.

 

As I was still in my daily love-struck mode, not even having gotten up to shower yet, my phone suddenly rang. I widened my eyes when I saw the caller ID. I stared at it over and over again, thinking I might be hallucinating. Damn, psychic powers really do exist. Krit was calling me! I picked up immediately.

 

"Krit, is something wrong?"

"Are you at home right now, Wayu?"

 

"Yeah, I am," I answered, noticing that his voice sounded a little off.

"I'll come by the house later, but for now, I want you to talk to someone first."

 

Then I heard a very familiar voice on the phone. "Wayu, it's Waii."

"Waii?" I gasped in shock, completely caught off guard.

 

"Where are you? What's going on? Why are you with Krit?"

"I'm in Ayutthaya." Waii's voice was barely a whisper.

 

"Krit is taking me home. I want to go home." Her voice sounded like she was about to cry. That was when Krit took over the call again.

 

"Don't panic just yet, okay? Waii is with me now, and nothing too serious happened. I followed up on the information you gave me and finally found her here. I'm taking her home. I'll explain everything when we get there."

 

"Okay."

 

I replied, my heart still pounding. Less than two hours later, Krit's car pulled up in front of my house. I rushed to the door, with Mom following behind me.

 

"Waii!"

 

I hurried toward my younger sister. Wail looked thinner than before, her face pale and lacking the brightness it once had. I grabbed Wail's arms and was shocked. There were bruises on her pale arms, not just on her arms, but also around her neck.

 

"What the hell happened?" I turned to Krit, speaking quickly. "Why is Waii with you?"

 

After that, Krit then told us everything. He had tracked Waii down to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. The man who took Waii away was named Ken—someone with a history of assault and theft. Krit followed their trail until he found them living in a run-down rental house. He tried to see Waii, but Waii's boyfriend wouldn't allow it. Sensing something was wrong, Krit forced his way in and discovered that Waii had been locked inside a room. In the end, he got Waii out and brought her home. I listened, feeling my chest tighten with anger and guilt. My sibling had been going through all that, and I had no idea.

 

"Thank you so much, officer, for bringing my daughter back." Mom clasped her hands together and thanked Krit after hearing about what had happened.

 

"No need to thank me." Krit quickly said. "It's a police officer's duty to protect the people. Besides, I know Wayu."

 

"Thank you, Krit. If you hadn't gone looking for Waii and found her, she probably wouldn't have come back by now. I don't even know how to thank you enough."

 

Krit gave a small smile and nodded, saying nothing. After a while, he excused himself and left. Once he was gone, Waii told us everything that had happened these past few months. She had wanted to leave Ken a long time ago, but the guy wouldn't let her. At first, things were sweet, like any new couple. But eventually, Ken started cheating, sleeping with other women. Then, he became paranoid, accusing Waii of cheating too. Their fights got worse, and eventually, he started hitting Waii. In the end, he took Wail's phone away and wouldn't let her go anywhere unless he was with her.

 

Hearing all this, my heart ached. I had imagined scolding Waii when she finally came home, but now, seeing her like this, I couldn't bring myself to say anything harsh. She had only been on this earth for seventeen years. She had made mistakes, but she was still my little sister.

 

"Stay home. You don't have to go anywhere anymore." I reached out and patted her head. Wail nodded, her eyes glistening with tears.

 

"Now, Singto is learning to talk, but he can't pronounce anything clearly," I said.

Singto, who was sitting on mom's lap, turned to look when he heard his name. His small lips parted as he tried to speak, but the sounds were barely recognisable as words.

 

"There you go, did you hear that?" Waii smiled as tears streamed down.

"Mm... I heard it."

 

After that, Waii put her things in her mom's room because her old room had turned into a storage room. It had once been a small storage nook, later converted into a tiny bedroom that could only fit a mattress. The only things Waii brought back were a few sets of clothes. This week, since dad is still working out of town, Waii will probably sleep with mom and Singto on her bed for now.

 

I waited until Waii finished taking a shower and changing clothes, then took Waii out to eat at a food shop on the main road, not far from the entrance of our alley. I ordered a variety of dishes. I wanted my younger sibling to enjoy all the things we had once longed to eat but could never afford.

 

"Eat more, you've gotten so thin," I said. Waii looked much more worn out. Her once smooth, radiant skin now looked dull and rough. Wail's face still held traces of its original beauty, but it seemed lifeless.

 

"You're not angry with me, are you?"

"Yeah," I replied. "But I can forgive you. I'm just glad you're safe back home."

 

Waii didn't say anything more, just nodded quietly. I scooped some food onto Wail's plate. "Eat up. A shrimp this big wasn't something we could easily afford back then."

 

Waii looked up and smiled at me. "Are you working at a bar? I heard Krit say that."

 

"Yeah, I've been working there for a few months now, that's how I've managed to save up some money."

 

"Krit is a good guy, huh? How did you meet him?"

I smiled. "It's a long story. I'll tell you about it some other time."

 

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After finishing our meal, we walked home together. On the way, I subtly asked Waii if she had thought about what she wanted to do next. Deep down, I hoped she would go back to school. Now that I had a job and a steady income, I could support her financially. Even if she enrolled in the non-formal education system, she would at least earn a high school diploma. Plus, she would get to spend more time with Singto, who hadn't had the chance to be close to his biological mom for quite some time.

 

Waii hesitated. She had just returned, so I didn't want to pressure her too much. I told her it was fine; she could take her time thinking about it. For now, she could stay home with mom and Singto, and once she felt more at ease, we could discuss it again. Apart from thinking about Wail's future, I had another issue to settle with Mom. When we got home, Waii took Singto into Mom's room to play. Taking this opportunity, I walked into the kitchen, where Mom was boiling eggs for her grandson.

"Mom," I called out. She flinched slightly and turned to face me, her eyes filled with discomfort. We had barely spoken since that incident.

 

"Wayu..."

 

Mom's voice was faint, like someone who knew they had done something wrong. Her eyes darted around as if she were thinking of an excuse.

 

"If you're going to explain about that day, don't bother. I don't want to hear it. I just want to know if you've stopped seeing him."

 

Mom froze. I had never spoken to her so harshly before, but she needed to understand how deeply her actions had wounded me.

 

"I've stopped," she replied in a small voice.

 

"Don't do it again," I said, pressing my lips together. The image of mom lying with her lover on dad's bed flashed in my mind, and the pain was indescribable. There were a million things I wanted to say, but they got stuck in my throat. I could only stare at her.

 

"I won't do it again. I swear. But, Wayu, please don't tell your dad or Waii."

 

"How could I? Our family is already in shambles. I don't want to see Dad beating you half to death or going after that man. But if you do it again, you'll never see me again."

 

With that, I walked away, not waiting to hear what she had to say. Even now, I still can't come to terms with what she had done—just as I harboured a deep-seated resentment toward my dad, who acted as if he didn't want to know or take responsibility for what was happening to us.

 

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That night, when I went to work and met Thai, I told him how Krit had helped find Waii and bring her home.

 

"Your cop is seriously amazing, Thai said, giving me a thumbs-up after I finished my story.

 

"Yeah, I'm really grateful to him. He's helped me so many times already-first with that whole Mr Shane situation at the hotel, then when I lost it over my family problems, and now with Waii."

 

"So now you're totally head over heels for him, huh?"

"Not that much," I dragged out my words, but honestly… yeah, that much.

 

"Or maybe..." Thai narrowed his eyes. "What if Krit actually likes you?"

"Hey! Don't give me hope like that!"

 

"Huh? Think about it—he's been going out of his way for you. If it were me, I wouldn't do all that unless I liked someone."

 

"But what if he's just a good person? Maybe he's just compassionate."

 

Thai pretended to think for a moment. "Well, then you've got to blame your own fate. You met a good person, but he just doesn't feel the same way."

 

"Wait, are you trying to encourage me or crush my hopes? It's like you're patting my back one moment and then slapping my head the next!"

 

Thai laughed. "I didn't mean it like that. Don't overthink it. If he's going to love you, he'll love you even if you do nothing."

 

"Yeah, that doesn't make me feel better at all." I shook my head, then remembered I had something I wanted to ask him about.

 

"Thai, I might have to find a new place to live."

"Why?"

 

"My sister is back home now, but there's no room for her. Our house is too small. It used to be manageable, but now with my nephew there too, who's at that super active age, it's getting crowded."

 

"What does your dad think about this?"

"I'm asking you before I even talk to him."

 

Thai went quiet for a moment, thinking it over. "How about moving out and letting your sister take your room for now? You can figure out the next steps later. That's way easier than moving the whole family at once."

 

"That's a good idea."

 

He was right. Moving out with my entire family would be a huge undertaking, but moving out by myself would be much simpler. Before, I never even considered this because I felt responsible for taking turns with mom to take care of Singto. But now that Waii was back, and she didn't have any immediate plans, it would be good for her to spend more time with Singto.

 

"Interested in moving to my condo?" Thai suggested.

 

"It's convenient for work, the neighbours are nice, it's quiet, and there's a gym downstairs. I can even help you bulk up!"

 

I laughed at how he was hard-selling it, like he was the condo owner. Actually, I had been to Thai's condo before, earlier this month. Back then, he was moving out of his old, cramped rental in a crowded neighbourhood to a condo with better security. So, I went to help him move his things to the new place.

 

Thai explained that he had done it for his girlfriend, who often stayed home alone while he worked nights. His girlfriend was a sweet, kind person who had been with him through thick and thin. Now that Thai had a more stable income, he wanted to give her a better life.

 

"I'm interested," I admitted. His condo was in a much better location than my house, making commuting easier. And honestly, just thinking about getting a full night's sleep without being woken up in the middle of the day by the loud noises all around me was already a dream.

 

"Alright! I'll ask the condo management if there are any vacant units," Thai said eagerly.

 

"Yeah, let me know."

 

Thai agreed. I did a rough mental calculation in case I actually went through with moving. Rent and deposits weren't much of a concern when we were making thousands a night—maybe not every night, but enough that I didn't have to worry about food, rent, or other expenses.

 

While making money became easier, finding time to sleep and taking care of my health became a challenge that had to be traded off. It's a bit ironic that I take care of my health by eating nutritious food and exercising, but then wreck my body every night by drinking alcohol.

 

"Nice bracelet," Thai suddenly pointed to my wrist. "Did you just buy it?"

"No, a customer gave it to me."

 

"Who?"

"Grace the businesswoman."

 

"Oh, the one who always has a driver drop her off?"

"Yeah."

 

Grace was one of my regulars. A while back, I had accompanied her on a day trip to Bang Saen, driving her there and back. She was a single woman who devoted most of her time to work and wasn't interested in serious relationships. She liked me because I could hold conversations about anything, from random topics to business. The second time we met, after a meal at a Japanese restaurant inside a high-end hotel on Sukhumvit, which was connected to a shopping mall filled with boutiques selling branded items, she asked: Do you like wearing accessories, like bracelets, watches, or things like that?' I don't dislike them, I just don't wear them.'

 

And then she pulled me into a boutique and picked out a bracelet worth 200,000 baht for me. It wasn't expensive for her, but it was too much for me. I tried to choose a cheaper one out of politeness, but she insisted. Take this one. It looks great on you. Just wear it when you go out with me.

 

So, I accepted it and finally understood why the top hosts, Sky and Richie, and the like, always wore expensive clothes and accessories. Part of it was because sometimes the people we went out with were influential in society or held high-ranking jobs, unlike us, who were more low-profile. When dining together at places like omakase or fine dining restaurants, we also had to look presentable to match the status of those we were sharing the table with.

 

After making sure I looked good, Thai and I headed out to start our shift. The bar was lively tonight—not as packed as last night when we had to set up standing tables, but nearly every table was full. The band was playing songs I liked, which felt like a good sign for the night.

 

Then came the highlight of the night: the host drink auction. I stepped onto the floor, with lights shining down to showcase each host's appearance. Amid the lively music and flashing lights at the tables of customers enjoying their night, I scanned the bar, offering a small sweet smile here and there, leaving lingering glances with a few people to spark their interest. Then, the PR announced my number.

 

"Number 48, Table 114, starting bid at thirty drinks!" My heart started pounding. A bid starting at thirty drinks wasn't something that happened often for me. Since I started working here, the highest bid I had ever received was for 50 drinks, and the one who placed it was Grace. A small hope flickered inside; I'll have a chance to match that record.

 

I immediately turned to look at the customer at that table, but before I could even enhance my smile to be more dazzling, another announcement came through.

"One hundred drinks! Table V2!" The sudden spike in numbers sparked excitement. 

 

I nearly threw my arms up and ran around the floor shouting, but I had to keep my cool. Instead, I turned toward that side and flashed my sweetest smile. The energy in the room became even more electric, bidding a hundred drinks wasn't something that happened every night. Some hosts had worked here for years without ever having a customer spend that much. The announcement confirming the hundred-drink bid was repeated three times. No one else countered.

 

With a bright smile, I made my way to the table, determined to give my absolute best service tonight, the kind that would make my customer go home and dream about me long after the night was over. There were four people seated at the table. As I stood there, waiting to see who I'd be sitting next to, my gaze caught on one of them. He was a man wearing a cap, its brim pulled low as if to obscure part of his face. And when he finally looked up, I was stunned. If Mind surprised me the other day, then today was a full-blown shock.

 

The man sitting there was Pete, a star from a wildly popular BL series. His neutral expression made him seem aloof, maybe even arrogant. But the moment he smiled, it was like every spotlight in the room had turned to him alone. He was effortlessly handsome, and his smile was absolutely stunning.

 

"Wayu, go sit next to Pete," someone instructed. A strange nervousness settled in me, even though I was used to seeing celebrities frequent this place. But there was something about Pete something in his eyes that made me feel different. I took a seat beside him and introduced myself. They had chosen several other hosts to join them at the table. I started chatting with Pete to build familiarity. The closer I looked, the more I felt that he had an undeniable charm-his face, his voice, his entire presence.

 

While the others drank and played games in high spirits, Pete never overstepped any boundaries. He only rested an arm loosely over my shoulder, occasionally turning to smile and chat with me. Then someone suggested playing a game where we had to hold hands and stare into each other's eyes. The first to blink would lose and be punished by taking however many shots the winner decided. That was when he did something I never saw coming.

 

It was a classic game that often led to playful, physical teasing. Players would try to distract their opponent, like leaning in so close that their noses nearly touched, making it look like they were about to kiss. But Pete took it a step further. Just as I was focused, wondering if he would blink first, he suddenly released the hand we were holding and gripped my upper arm instead. Then, in one swift move, he leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. The whole table erupted in cheers. A fake-out kiss where the other person couldn't dodge in time was always a hilarious move. Pete turned to look at me, his tone casual.

 

"Hope you don't mind."

 

How could I even protest? It was already done. I went along with it, joking that I'd get my revenge, which only made his friends laugh even harder. 

 

A while later, Pete leaned in closer and whispered, "If I invite you to my room, how much would it cost?" I took a deep breath and steadied myself. This wasn't the first time a customer had asked me to stay the night. As always, I handled it the same way—by turning them down as tactfully as I could.

 

I smiled and responded, "I'm sorry, Pete. You're very handsome, but I don't take that kind of request. However, I can take care of you in other ways."

 

"You mean you don't sleep with customers at all?"

 

"That's right," I said, maintaining my smile, hoping he would respect my stance. Pete studied me, his gaze sharp and unreadable. He didn't seem tipsy at all-his eyes held something else, something I couldn't quite decipher. Intense. Piercing.

 

"Why? Saving yourself for Lieutenant Krit?'

 

I froze, stunned. My mind scrambled to process how those words had come out of his mouth, here and now.

 

"You... know Lieutenant Krit?"

He smirked. His voice wasn't exactly threatening, but there was something about it that made me wary-smooth, yet laced with amusement.

 

"If you want to know, just go ask him yourself."