When the storm passed, the sky cleared again. #DiveSecrets became like a fleeting dream for me. After Third gave that interview to the reporters, everything seemed to end as if nothing had ever happened. To ensure there wouldn't be anymore rumors about conflicts between us, my agency and the series production team agreed that from now on, whenever promotional photos or behind-the-scenes clips were released, Third and I would appear in the same frame but as we started taking more photos together or appearing in clips side by side, the rumors of conflict began to shift into something else in the eyes of the BL fans.

 

"Renji, what are you looking at?" I asked as I placed a plate of food I'd just grabbed from the catering table and sat down next to my junior. It was lunchtime on set, and everyone was engrossed in their own world with their phones, including P’Cher and Renji.

 

"Uh..."

At first, he seemed hesitant, but maybe because I was giving him a nosy look, he turned his phone screen toward me. It turned out Renji was on X, and the screen was paused on a hashtag that looked oddly familiar.

 

#ThirdWan. Wait….

 

"People are shipping you and P'Third now," Renji said. My eyes widened, and my face flushed as I snatched the phone from his hand. I'd been on a social media detox for the past few days, so I'd missed a lot of news. Who would've thought there would already be a shipping hashtag for us?!

 

The hashtag was filled with all sorts of wild theories. There were pictures of me and Third together, short fanfics, interviews where Third defended me, and even clips of interviews edited to show us exchanging glances, all set to romantic music.

 

Oh... my... God. BL fans have such vivid imaginations-or maybe they just have great instincts. I really did have feelings for Third.

 

"When you look at it like this, you do seem to glance at P'Third quite often," Renji teased, leaning in closer. His thick eyebrows furrowed as he watched a clip playing on the screen. It was an interview from an event where Third, Nine, and I appeared together. I hadn't noticed before, but during the parts where Third was speaking, I was practically staring at him the whole time.

 

"It's.. It's just timing! When someone's talking, you naturally look at them, right? And when they slow it down, it looks like more than it is!" I stammered defensively. Honestly, it was just good listener etiquette. It wasn't because Third's side profile was ridiculously handsome or anything!

 

"True. Actually, I think you and I look at each other more often, but no one notices," Renji chuckled softly. For some reason, he seemed a bit gloomier than usual, so I decided to tease him to lighten the mood.

 

"What's this? Are you jealous? Do you want a shipping hashtag with me, too?"

 

"I wouldn't mind," he replied.

 

"What?" I raised an eyebrow. Just then, the crew shouted something across the table, so I didn't catch what Renji mumbled. "What did you say? I didn't hear you."

 

"I said I'd like some Chamomile tea," he replied with a closed-eye smile before returning to his meal.

 

"Alright, I'll order it for you." I was about to ask if he wanted me to order it through a delivery app, but at that moment, I saw a tall figure in a student uniform approaching. The moment I saw his face, my heart started breakdancing. And when he walked over to our table, I became so flustered that I completely forgot about the tea.

 

"Can I sit here?" His deep voice, which always made my heart race, asked.

 

During breaks, actors from different agencies who weren't close would usually eat with their own teams. Our set had people from various agencies, and while we sometimes sat together, most of the time, we'd split off to sit with our AR or close friends. I almost asked where his AR was, but then I remembered that P'Sunny was probably with Nine. Over the past ten shooting days, those two had never joined the group for meals.

 

"Sure," I said. Third walked around and sat on the other side of me. I kept my head down, shovelling fried rice into my mouth, my heart pounding uncontrollably.

 

Since the incident, we've been talking on the phone almost every night. Third was the one who called because I was too shy to make the first move. I didn't know why he kept calling, and our conversations were mostly about random things. What we did that day, how we were feeling, with only about ten per cent being work-related. We'd tease each other a bit, say goodbye, and hang up. Just last night, he even wished me sweet dreams.

 

Alright, as a bisexual guy, I'm starting to panic. Is this what normal friends do? I don't have many friends, and the ones I do have, we don't talk every day. Like Jay, for instance, he's been so busy with his research that we haven't talked much lately. And Renji, my beloved junior, is swamped with his architecture studies. Honestly, it's a miracle he still has the energy to film the series.

 

Do friends normally wish each other sweet dreams? I don't want to overthink it. Maybe Third is just worried I'm still upset about the drama and wants to cheer me up. He's kinder than he looks, you know.

 

I glanced at the person I secretly liked on my right, then at my junior on my left, who'd just finished his meal and was sipping iced black tea. No one said a word.

 

"This afternoon, we're filming the swimming scene," Third suddenly broke the silence, his sharp eyes meeting mine as a slight curve formed at the corner of his mouth. "Don't eat too much, or you'll get a belly."

 

"Says the guy who's eating like a horse," I retorted, narrowing my eyes at his plate, which was already half- empty. "I've only had one plate. Renji's had two!"

 

"Well, he's already in great shape," Third said, glancing at Renji.

 

For some reason, the atmosphere felt tense in the silence that followed. Even P'Cher, who was busy texting her boyfriend, looked up. The awkwardness dissipated when Renji smiled and scratched his neck sheepishly.

 

"Thanks, but I think you have an even better physique, P'Third," Renji said.

 

"Hey, what about me?" I asked in a slow, teasing tone, giving him a look that said, 'If you don't say the right thing, no free tea for you!'

 

"P'Wan, you're in great shape too. Cute, just right. Uh, I mean, if you worked out a bit more, you'd be perfect!" Renji blurted out quickly, his ears turning pink.

 

"Yeah, you're in good shape," Third added.

 

"I blinked, noticing the subtle, mischievous smile on Third's lips. My face heated up, and I quickly focused on my food to hide my embarrassment. Renji changed the subject, and we chatted until I finished eating. Then, everyone went their separate ways to

stretch or relax. 

 

After a quick trip to the restroom, I sat down to play a mobile game to unwind. My next scene wasn't until almost 4 PM. And while I was trying to top up some in-game purchases, Third called out. "Wan," he tapped my shoulder and held up his phone. "Got a minute? Let's make a TikTok together."

 

"Huh?" I blinked in surprise. I didn't think he was the type to follow trends.

 

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

 

"No reason. I'm just surprised. You don't seem like someone who enjoys social media."

 

"I don't, but online marketing is important these days. You have to do it," he said simply. He had a point. The entertainment industry is highly competitive. If you want to stay in the light, you've got to stay in the spotlight. For introverts like me, it's not easy.

 

"Why ask me, though?" I was still puzzled.

He could've filmed it alone. Why ask me?

 

"So no one will spread rumours that we don't get along anymore."

 

Ah, so he was looking out for me. But Third doesn't use social media much. He probably doesn't know that the rumours have already shifted. There's now a #ThirdWan hashtag trending.

 

"Alright, let's do it," I agreed. Friends filming TikToks together was totally normal. If the BL fans wanted to swoon over it, then at least we were making them happy. And I was happy too, because I got to film a clip with someone I liked.

 

We spent about four or five takes filming a trending song challenge until we were satisfied with the result. Third immediately uploaded the clip to his channel and tagged me. The last time I checked before P'Cher confiscated my phone, there were already hundreds of comments. On X, the #ThirdWan hashtag was even trending at the lower ranks, and it had only been ten minutes since the clip was posted.

 

"Alright, next scene: Third, Nine, Renji, Porch," P'Jen, the assistant director, called out, gathering everyone for the first scene after the break. I sat idly, watching the others work.

 

"Nine, good luck!" I said with a wide smile, cheering on my bias as he walked past. But Nine didn't respond. In fact, the look he gave me wasn't friendly at all, making my heart sink.

 

Actually, he hadn't spoken to me or looked at me all morning. At first, I thought it was just because everyone was busy, but now it was clear-he was upset with me about something.

 

I sat still, trying to figure out what I might've done to upset Nine, but I couldn't think of anything. So, I decided to set my worries aside for now and focus on work, planning to talk to him after we wrapped up for the day.

 

"Wrap for today! Great job, everyone!" It was past 10 PM when P'Pai, the director, shouted out after finishing the final scene of the shoot. I let out a relieved sigh, my eyes following Nine as he walked off the set. I waited for him to go change before approaching, but instead, Nine walked straight toward me, where I was sitting nearby. His smile didn't quite reach his eyes.

 

"Wan, can I talk to you for a moment?"

 

"..Sure," I replied, a bit stunned, before nodding. It seemed like we were on the same page, which was good. If I'd done something to upset him, I wanted to clear it up and apologise quickly. Even though I wasn't as infatuated with Nine as I used to be, I was still his fan. Being on bad terms with someone you admire was far from pleasant.

 

Nine led me to the athletes' changing room near the swimming pool. While the crew was packing up outside, he pushed me into the empty room. His tone, when he started speaking, was far from gentle.

 

"We've never talked directly before, but today, I feel like things have gone too far. It's time we have this conversation."

 

His gaze was cold and sharp, making me freeze. In the two years I'd followed him, even when we worked together, I'd only seen this look from Nine once. It was a fleeting moment when he glanced at Third during the first script reading. Back then, I thought I'd imagined it. The situation is now confirmed that... I hadn't imagined anything that day.

 

"This series was created for Third and me. We're the official pair. Fans might ship Third with someone else, but ThirdNine is the official couple in the end. So, outsiders should show some respect."

 

He emphasised a certain word, his eyes clearly targeting me. It was obvious he'd seen the #ThirdWan hashtag or the TikTok clip of Third and me from earlier today.

 

"No matter how hard anyone tries, the leads of this story are still Third and me. If you're a professional, you should understand that it's inappropriate to steal the spotlight from the main actors. Focus on your work, and your time will come. Do you understand, Wan?" He smiled sweetly, his eyes closing in that familiar way I used to find so heartwarming. But now, that smile was laced with poison, making my heart race and my chest tighten with disappointment and pain.

 

"...Yes," I replied.

 

"I don't hate you, Wan, but this industry has its hierarchy and process. As a newcomer, you might not understand yet, so take your time to learn." He patted my shoulder lightly, like a benevolent senior, before walking out, leaving me standing there like a statue.

 

The muffled sounds of the crew packing up outside reached my ears, but I was too dazed to hear them clearly. My face felt numb as if I'd been slapped. It took me several minutes to realise I shouldn't stay there any longer. PCher might worry, so I forced my stiff legs to carry me back outside.

 

"Wan, I saw Nine leave a while ago. Why are you just coming out now?"

 

"I... was in the restroom," I forced myself to answer P'Cher, even though my mind was elsewhere.

 

Her sharp eyes, framed by her glasses, studied me carefully. I didn't know what expression I had, but it seemed like P’Cher thought I wasn't feeling well. She quickly led me back to the van. All the while, I felt a gaze of some directing at me, but I was too confused to pay it any attention.

 

"You take some rest. I'll wake you up when we arrive at your place. P'Suthin, could you please take us to Wan's condo first?" She asked the driver while instructing Renji and Porch not to bother me so I could rest.

 

I closed my eyes, pretending to sleep, but inside, I felt suffocated and hurt. I'd always known that Nine's real personality wasn't as sweet and innocent as his public image. It was just another form of acting, a necessary part of his career. I understood that it was normal for people to have different sides. But I never thought he'd be so different from what I'd imagined.

 

Nine's gaze was completely devoid of warmth. His cutting words made it clear he didn't see me as a friend. He saw me as a threat, someone trying to steal his spotlight. Even though the #ThirdWan hashtag wasn't something I'd intentionally created, it was just fans shipping us. I'd still filmed a clip with Third. And Nine must've seen it as overstepping the boundaries of his official pairing with Third.

 

Maybe I was at fault for not being more thoughtful, but it still hurt to be treated that way. Nine had always been someone I admired. He was my happiness, my inspiration, my emotional refuge. I even had his photo on my desk and used a picture I'd taken of him as my laptop wallpaper. No matter how far he travelled for events, whether in Bangkok or other provinces, I'd make the effort to go see him, just so he knew he had a fan who always supported him. But now, everything had crumbled. All that was left was sadness.

 

These thoughts kept circling in my mind. I barely noticed when the van dropped me off at my condo. View wasn't home tonight; she'd gone back to Ayutthaya. Alone, I walked into my bedroom and sat on the bed, staring blankly. Everything felt so empty.

 

Bzzz...

My phone vibrated beside me. Glancing at it, I saw that Third was calling me on LINE. It was already 11:30 PM, but I didn't answer. I just stared at the screen until the call ended.

 

Bzzz...

Bzzz...

BZZz...

 

But Third didn't seem like someone who gave up easily. Feeling overwhelmed, I reached for my phone, hoping that talking to someone might clear my mind.

 

"Hello?"

[You're still awake, right?]

 

"Yeah."

[Are you okay? You looked pale when we were leaving.] Third's calm voice carried a hint of concern.

 

It felt like there was gravel stuck in my throat. I wanted to vent to someone, but sharing my troubles felt like burdening others. Besides... who'd believe something like this?

 

".no..."

[If something's bothering you, you can tell me.]

Hearing Third say that warmed my cold heart a little. From what I knew of him, Third was someone I could trust. He'd always looked out for me. He probably didn't see me as a rival, like a certain someone.

 

"Yeah, something like that. Just some things on my mind. But I'll be fine soon."

 

Even though I trusted Third, I didn't want to burden him with my worries. He was already working so hard every day. Besides, sharing this might worsen the already-strained relationship between Third and Nine.

 

[Are you sure?]

 

"Yeah. I just need some rest, and I'll feel better." I sighed. It's just disappointment in someone I admired, not like I got dumped or anything. It shouldn't take as long to

get over, right..?

 

There was a brief silence on the other end before he asked, [Are you sleepy?]

 

"Weeell, not really."

[Then, how about going for a drive? Right now.]

 

"What?" My eyes widened. A drive at 11:30 PM?

 

[Just around Bangkok. Want to go? I pick you up at your condo.]

 

"Uh... sure," I stammered, wondering what Third was thinking about suggesting such a sudden outing. But right now, I really wanted someone by my side. Maybe being with someone I liked would make me feel better.

 

Half an hour later, a sleek black BMW pulled up in front of my condo. I was still in the same clothes I'd worn to the shoot, looking at Third, who showed no signs of fatigue despite working all day.

 

"Aren't you tired?"

 

"I napped this morning," he replied, reminding me that he only had two scenes to shoot earlier and had taken a nap in the van before lunch.

 

"If you're tired, you can sleep. I'll wake you when we get there."

 

"No way. What if you sell me off?" I joked to lighten the mood for both of us, earning an exasperated look from him as he drove away from my condo.

 

"Where are we going?"

 

"To see the view," he said simply, turning on the car's audio system. Acoustic music filled the car, creating a cosy atmosphere like sitting by a fireplace on a winter night.

Neither of us spoke. I gazed out at the nighttime scenery of this bustling city, my heart calming down a bit. I'd never been out this late before. I realised that Bangkok at night was far more peaceful and livable. No traffic, no noise, just the glittering lights of buildings outshining the stars.

 

Third drove until we reached the city's outskirts. I noticed signs pointing to Suvarnabhumi Airport and wondered where he was taking me. Finally, he parked near a bridge.

 

"You can see planes taking off clearly from here," he said, pointing to a plane soaring into the vast sky.

 

I tilted my head up, gazing at the giant bird soaring across the sky, while Third's deep voice broke the silence.

 

"Back before I joined the industry, I used to come and watch planes take off late at night. It might sound a bit odd, but I found it really calming."

 

"It's not odd at all. It's actually pretty relaxing," I replied, leaning back against the seat, watching as the plane gradually disappeared into the distance. Soon, another plane would take off. Even though airports were bustling and chaotic places, observing them from afar had an unexpectedly soothing effect.

 

We sat there quietly, watching planes ascend into the sky, accompanied by the soft hum of music playing faintly in the car. The heaviness in my chest seemed to lighten just having someone beside me. I found myself wishing this moment could stretch on forever.

 

"Is there something you want to talk about?" 

 

Third asked after a long pause, his eyes still fixed on a new plane climbing higher and higher.

 

"..Yeah, there is."

 

Damn it. I planned to keep this to myself, but in the end, I gave in to my own weakness.

 

"So, there's someone I really... admire," I began, carefully choosing my words to avoid causing any harm.

 

"Not in that way, though. I admire their talent. But I recently found out they don't see me as a friend. They see me as... almost an enemy, I guess. It hurt a lot. I didn't know how to handle it."

 

Third didn't say anything. He just sat there, quietly listening to what I had to say. I used to curse him in my head, calling him names, but in reality, he was a great listener.

 

"It's kind of like heartbreak, I guess. I've admired them for years, but I found out they weren't who I thought they were and that they don't like me... It's crushing. Even though I've made mistakes that might've upset them, knowing they hate me just leaves me feeling lost."

 

"If that's the case, then they don't deserve your admiration," Third said, his sharp eyes meeting mine. "There are plenty of talented people in the world to look up to, aren't there? It's okay to feel sad, but don't hold onto it for too long. Life isn't just full of bad days."

 

"...You're right," I said with a faint smile.

 

Today might have been one of the bad days in my life, but there will be better days ahead. Actually, I already have something good right now-someone sitting right beside me.

 

After sitting in silence for a while longer, watching the planes, Third finally asked, "Feeling better?"

 

"Yeah. I've never come to watch planes take off before, but the atmosphere here is really nice."

 

"Exactly. That's why I like it here. It feels open, like the whole world is just mine. No chaos."

 

"But today, I'm here to disrupt your peace," I said with a light laugh. Even though I was happy to spend time with Third, I couldn't help but feel a little guilty for intruding on his rare moments of rest.

 

"Not at all. Having you here is nice, too." Suddenly, the peaceful atmosphere was filled with an odd sense of awkwardness. Maybe it was just me, but the gentle look in Third's eyes and his faint smile as he gazed at me made my hands feel clumsy.

 

"Hey, I've been curious. What would you want to be if you weren't an actor?" I quickly changed the subject before I completely lost my composure.

 

"Hmm..." He paused for a moment before answering, "A scientist, maybe."

 

"Seriously?" My eyes widened. Then again, his demeanour did give off a bit of a nerdy vibe if you stripped away the polished image of the entertainment industry.

 

"Yeah. I liked science. I enjoyed studying chemistry. In high school, I studied science and math. At first, I planned to apply to a science faculty, but then I wanted to be an actor, so I chose to study communications with a major in acting instead."

 

"Oh..." I nodded as Third leaned back in his seat, speaking in a calm tone. "But being an actor is good. Even though there are a lot of annoying things about it, I love performing in front of the camera. I love it enough to put up with all the irritating parts."

 

I looked at Third, seeing the happiness shining in his eyes. I couldn't help but admire his determination to chase his dreams. Despite valuing his personal space, he stepped out of his comfort zone and did everything he could to become an actor respected for his talent. How much passion must he carry to survive the thorny road and the endless schemes of the entertainment world?

 

"I envy people like you who have so much passion," I murmured. Third was naturally charismatic, but when he spoke of his dreams and happiness, he became even more radiant, captivating, and seemingly farther out of my reach...

 

"Wan."

 

"Hmm?"

 

"I'm glad I met you."

 

"..."

His dark eyes held a mix of emotions as they met mine. At that moment, it felt like the whole world had stopped. I couldn't hear the music playing, nor could I see the plane soaring into the sky. My gaze was locked on his handsome face, which was slowly moving closer and closer, close enough to count his eyelashes...

 

Buzz.

But before anything could actually happen, my phone vibrated, followed by a message notification. I jerked back from Third, quickly grabbing my phone from my lap. It was a notification from my university group chat on LINE.

 

"l.. I... I need to reply to this group chat real quick," I stammered.

 

"Alright."

 

My face and neck burned as my heart pounded like it was about to explode. I stared at my phone as if my life depended on it, pretending to be deeply engrossed in a serious conversation, even though my mind was in complete disarray.

 

He was going to kiss me just now. I'm a hundred per cent sure of it. What did that mean? Was it just the atmosphere, or...Does he like me, too? Oh my god, I think he likes me!!!