"Hey."

 

"What?"

 

"Don't you ever think about going back to sleep at your own place?"

 

The conversation started early one morning while I was washing a glass in the kitchen. Meanwhile, my regular guest had just walked out of my bedroom wearing a comfy t-shirt and sweatpants, with a fresh, makeup-free face, as if it were his own room.

 

"Nope," Third, my boyfriend, replied nonchalantly as he walked over to the fridge, grabbed a bottle of water, and took a sip.

 

"My sister's coming back next week. You can't stay here all the time anymore," I said softly.

 

Ever since we officially became a couple, Third had been dropping by almost every day, eating, sleeping, and practically living in my room. At first, I told him to sleep on the couch, but eventually, I felt bad about making him sleep uncomfortably, so we ended up sharing the bed. And now, Mr Famous Actor wasn't going anywhere. He even brought some of his clothes over, as if he were planning to move in permanently. Before this, I thought I knew Third pretty well, but once we started dating, 1 realized there was so much more about him that I didn't know.

 

"Then, how about you stay at my place instead? I'll make you a keycard," he suggested

 

The tall figure walked over and hugged me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder in a clingy manner. This was one of the things I'd just discovered. Third was quite touchy and very attached to me.

 

"I can't just stay there. I still have to take care of my sister," I said, glancing at the big guy clinging to me like glue. His sharp eyes met mine with a hint of sadness, making the corners of my mouth lift into a smile.

 

"But I can drop by and stay over sometimes," I added.

 

"Alright, then I'll make you a keycard. You can come over whenever you want," Third's face lit up instantly.

 

Before we started dating, I thought he was aloof and cool, but I realised he was just like anyone else. When we were together, he dropped his serious demeanour and turned into a big, cuddly kitten. It'd been two months since we started dating-a short time, but I'd been incredibly happy. Sure, we had to adjust to each other, but believe it or not, we hadn't fought even once. Maybe it was because it'd been so hard to get to this point that we both tried our best to be considerate of each other.

 

"I'm heading to work now," Third said with a heavy sigh, as if what he was saying was the last thing he wanted to do. His warm arms tightened around me. "I'll probably be back late tonight. You can go to bed without me."

 

"Okay," I nodded. But seeing my boyfriend looking so down, I lightly patted his cheek and said, "If you're going to work, at least put on a cheerful face."

 

"I don't want to go," he said, hugging me even tighter, making me laugh. Third had been working every day lately. He must've been exhausted. The series Deep Dive: Into Your Heart was airing and received an overwhelmingly positive response. It was a massive hit. Both Third and Nine, the lead actors, were in high demand, with event and endorsement offers pouring in. The pre-series scandals hadn't affected its success at all.

 

"How can you not want to go? You're at the peak of your fame right now. Just hang in there for a bit. My boyfriend's amazing, isn't he? You've got this," I said, patting his hand that was wrapped around my waist.

 

"Then.." Third loosened his hug, turned me around to face him, and flashed a mischievous smile. "Can I get some encouragement?"

 

"A kiss on the cheek?"

 

"That's not enough. How about a kiss... on the lips?" he asked, his voice full of hope.

 

"Alright," I said, knowing he needed the encouragement. I couldn't help but smile as I nodded. The moment I gave him permission, his sharp features leaned in quickly, capturing my lips in an instant.

 

His soft lips moved skillfully, his warm tongue intertwining with mine, stealing my breath in a passionate, intense kiss that echoed through the room. Even though I felt a bit shy, I raised my hands to wrap around his neck, parting my lips to return the kiss wholeheartedly.

 

It might sound unbelievable, but even after two months of dating, we hadn't gone all the way yet. One reason was that Third was always too busy and exhausted from work. The other was that I was still a bit hesitant. Our physical relationship usually stopped at kissing, with the most intimate moments being... well, helping each other out. And before anything happened, Third always asked for my permission first. My boyfriend is the sweetest, isn't he?

 

"If we keep going, I'm not going to make it to work," he said after a long moment, finally pulling away. His breathing was heavy, just like mine. My face was flushed, my ears were red, and my whole body felt like it was on fire. I probably don't need to explain which part of me was... especially on fire.

 

"Alright, go. You'll be late," I said, standing on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek quickly before stepping back. Third grabbed his bag and car keys.

 

"Drive safely. Hope your work goes smoothly. I'll watch your series tonight," I said.

 

"You don't have to force yourself to watch it. It's okay," he replied.

 

"I'm not forcing myself. I want to see your work," I said. 

 

Third didn't really want me to watch it because he thought I had some emotional scars related to the series, which was true. But it was Third's work, and I wanted to see my boyfriend shine.

 

"Alright, then. I'll text you later," he said, leaning in to give me a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving the room.

 

"Bye," I called out, leaning out to wave at him. I watched him until he turned the corner, then smiled to myself.

 

Life has been pretty smooth for me lately. My health was good, I had a premium-level handsome boyfriend, and work was chill since I already knew people at the agency. My parents were healthy, and my sister had just been accepted into a prestigious public university. It felt like I'd finally gotten through the rough patch. The sky after the storm really was bright and clear!

 

After sending Third off to work, it was my turn. I quickly showered, got dressed, grabbed my motorcycle keys and bag, and headed out. I rode to my office. My job was as a creative in the agency's marketing department. planned promotions for artists, created content, and managed social media-basically, anything related to promotion was my responsibility. And I was happy with it. After all, I'd studied in this field. It might not be my dream job, but it's something I can do without feeling bored.

 

Just having a job you're okay with, one that doesn't feel like a chore, is enough to make you happy. As for dreams, I still have my whole life to chase them.

 

When I arrived on the second floor of the small studio office, the team and artists were already gathered. Today, the agency had scheduled the annual profile photoshoot for all the artists under its management. I saw many familiar faces, and my task for the day was to take photos, shoot videos, and conduct small interviews with the artists for social media engagement. This content would later be used to pitch to clients.

 

"Hey, P'Wan!"

 

"What's up, kiddo?" I patted Renji on the shoulder as he gave me a puppy-like smile.

During the two months I'd gone off the grid and stopped contacting anyone, Renji had consistently called and texted me. But I didn't respond. When I finally sorted everything out and reached out to him again, it turned out Renji was mad at me. He ignored my messages and didn't return my calls. I had to work hard to make it up to him before he forgave me. I couldn't blame him, though-it was my fault for disappearing and making him worry.

 

"Aren't you going to join the shoot?" the young man teased, nodding toward the set. Honestly, if I were still an actor here, I'd have to be part of the shoot today. I shook my head immediately. "Nah, not anymore."

 

I terminated my artist contract with the agency last month. There was an official announcement about it, stating that I'd transition to working behind the scenes for the agency. It surprised a lot of fans. However, it wasn't an easy decision because it affected my fans emotionally. But I didn't want to keep doing something that didn't feel true to myself, so I decided to make it clear. That way, they wouldn't have to wait around with false hope. I wanted to thank them and apologise for supporting someone as flawed as me. Those few short months of having fans cheering me on were moments I'd never forget.

 

"Come on, since you're free, let me take some photos of you. Look sharp, okay? I'll post them in the tag," I said, dragging the tall kid to an empty spot and raising my camera. Renji knew the drill, switching from his puppy-like demeanour to a charming young man, flashing a subtle smile at the camera.

 

Click!

My work continued throughout the day until it was over. I joined the actors and crew for a shabu at a nearby restaurant. Afterwards, we all went our separate ways. I rode my motorcycle back to my room, arriving around 9:30 PM.

 

The series was set to air at 10 PM, so I quickly showered, changed into comfortable clothes, and sat on the couch hugging a pillow, ready to watch it live on TV. When the series aired, I sat there staring intently. I already knew the whole story, so there wasn't much excitement for me. Mainly, I was waiting to see Third's performance. Watching him through the monitor on set was already captivating, but after editing and adding music, it became even more immersive. He was truly one of the most talented actors I'd ever seen. When he smiled smugly, I felt annoyed. When he got angry, I felt scared. And when he was sad, I felt heartbroken, almost to the point of tears. Oh, I was so into it!

 

"Ah..."

I murmured softly when it came to the romantic scene where Third stole a kiss on Nine's cheek. They looked so happy on screen, while I, the viewer at home, sat there with a dry smile, trying to convince myself.

 

It's just work. Just work. It's just a cheek kiss, for crying out loud. If I want to date an actor, I have to accept this kind of thing. The person on screen isn't Third; it's Copter. I'm not going to get jealous over something so silly. But if it's a kissing or intense love scene, I'll probably have to skip it. I'll admit, my heart isn't strong enough to handle that yet. Sob.

 

When the series ended, I turned off the TV and went to bed like a health-conscious person. During the brief time I had the chance to be an actor, I learned the value of a good night's sleep. So, whenever I had the time, I slept as much as possible, like there was no tomorrow! At first, I thought about staying up to wait for Third to come home, but he said he wouldn't be back until around 1 AM. I didn't think I could stay awake that long. So, I decided to see him in the morning instead

 

That night, I vaguely felt someone hugging me in the middle of the night. The warmth and the faint, familiar scent told me that Third had returned. I turned over to hug him back, snuggling into his broad chest before drifting off into a deep, blissful sleep once again.

 

"Wan."

 

A deep voice replaced the sound of my morning alarm, pulling me out of the dream world and back into reality.

 

"Hmm." I groaned softly, sitting up groggily. Through my blurry vision, I saw my boyfriend sitting beside me, looking more serious than usual. My eyes cleared up a bit as I asked in a hoarse voice, "Third, what's wrong?"

 

"There's news..." he said briefly, handing me his phone. When I scrolled through, my eyes widened, and my heart started pounding.

 

"For those still fantasising about Third and Nine, stop it. Third already has someone real. He visits his partner at their condo almost every day."

 

The post included a picture of Third stepping out of his car in my condo's parking lot. Although my name wasn't mentioned, I still felt a chill run down my spine.

 

"A sasang fan?" I sighed. Sasang fans were overly obsessed and crossed boundaries, stalking or waiting to ambush celebrities in various places. Even though I wasn't that famous, I'd encountered them before, like someone following me everywhere on campus or sensing someone trailing me when I ran errands. Some even approached me directly. I had no idea how they knew where I was or where I was going. I'd heard that for really famous actors, sasangs even went so far as to secretly attach GPS trackers to their cars. Actions like this didn't make anyone feel good. They felt uncomfortable, annoyed, and even scared. Of course, it was nice to have fans, but it should be within limits, and their privacy should be respected.

 

"Yeah, they probably followed my car," Third said, frowning deeply, his expression clearly showing his displeasure. Third valued his privacy a lot, so it was no surprise he was upset.

 

I continued scrolling through X. This was turning into a big deal. The hashtag with Third's name had already reached hundreds of thousands of mentions. People were trying to dig up who Third's partner was, and some fans who still shipped him with Nine were expressing their disappointment. I clicked my tongue in frustration. I've tried so hard to keep this a secret, but someone has to go and expose it. How infuriating.

 

"Don't you have an event today?" I asked, frowning. The reporters wouldn't miss the chance to jump on this topic, so I quickly tried to come up with a solution.

 

"I think you should deny it or just say you were visiting a friend. No one knows who your partner is anyway," I suggested. Since he was on the rise, it'd be better for his image if fans thought he was still single.

 

Third's large hand gently ruffled my messy hair, fixing it as he said, "I'll answer in a way that's best for everyone."

 

"Alright," I nodded. Third never did anything without thinking it through. I trusted he'd handle this just fine.

 

Third went to work that afternoon, while I, having the day off, decided to clean the room a bit. When I looked at the clock again, it was already evening, close to the time of his event. So, I grabbed the food I'd ordered, sat at my desk, and opened my laptop to watch the live stream of the event while scrolling through the hashtag to see pictures of Third.

 

I missed the days when I used to carry my camera around to follow my idol. My boyfriend was so handsome; I wanted to capture his moments on stage myself. Unfortunately, all I could do now was wait for others to post pictures.

 

When the event ended, it was time for the press interview. I watched the live stream on an entertainment news page, and, as expected, the first question was about Third's rumoured partner, which was a hot topic on social media.

 

"Is it true that you already have a partner? Is this why you've been clear about not wanting to be shipped with other actors?"

 

The odd question made me pause mid-bite of my yakisoba, frowning. The BL series industry was so strange. Did an actor need to have a partner to focus on their craft? Common sense would suggest that actors want to showcase their talent more than their on-screen pairings.

 

Third maintained a small smile as he answered, "Let me address the second question first. My previous statements about wanting the focus to be on my acting skills have nothing to do with whether I have a partner. Whether in the past, now, or in the future, I want fans and viewers to look forward to my growth as an actor. I'll keep improving my skills."

 

"As for the other question, it's true that I'm in a relationship."

 

The chopsticks in my hand fell onto the table. My mouth hung open, and my heart raced. I hadn't expected him to admit it so openly.

 

"I won't reveal who it is, but we've been seeing each other for a while now. I like them, so I asked them out," the leading man said with a smile, causing the reporters to buzz with excitement.

 

I covered my face with my hands. Sure, I was flustered by how openly affectionate my boyfriend was in front of the media, but I couldn't help worrying about his future.

 

"It would've been nice to reveal this at the right time when we were both ready, not because of external pressure. But since the news is out, I want to respect my partner. So I  thought it'd be better to be clear about it. I hope everyone will respect our privacy, "Third concluded with a smile, subtly addressing those who had crossed the line.

 

"Are you worried about any negative backlash? Do you think it might affect the BL series you're currently starring in?"

 

"I don't think being in a BL series has any bearing on this. BL series aren't any different from other genres. I've always been clear about separating work from my personal life. Fans and viewers who follow me should already understand this. So, I don't think it'll have any impact, "he replied confidently.

 

My boyfriend's articulate and assured response left me stunned. I quickly checked X to see the reactions. Fans were buzzing. Some expressed disappointment, especially those who shipped him with Nine, while anti-fans jumped in to stir the pot, making me anxious. 

 

However, as the news spread beyond the fandom, the situation flipped. Most social media users praised Third for his honesty. His solo fans also came out in full force to defend him.

 

"I love it. A BL actor who's so genuine. He has a partner and admits it. He respects his partner, too. Whoever his partner is, they're so lucky. I'd be so happy if I met a guy like this in real life."

 

"The fangirls are upset because they don't like honesty. They prefer actors who sell fake chemistry."

 

"He's selling his talent. Having a partner doesn't make his acting any less impressive. Just last week, you were all crying rivers over the scene where Copter got ambushed. What do you want now?"

 

Fans rallied to support Third, pushing his hashtag to trend with hundreds of thousands of tweets. I finally breathed a sigh of relief, smiling as I realised how much his fans loved him. Many said they'd love whoever Third loved. But I couldn't help wondering how they'd react if they found out it was me. Heh.

 

I threw away the empty food container and smiled contentedly. Well, keeping it a secret like this is probably for the best. We'll wait until we're both ready to go public. By then, I hope everyone will give us their blessings.

 

Every time I thought my life was smooth sailing without any obstacles, something always came along to trip me up. But this time, it wasn't me who got unlucky-my boyfriend got caught in the crossfire of someone else's actions.

 

"Drama again?"

 

"Yeah." Third rolled his eyes and tossed his phone onto the couch. He grabbed my arm, which was busy sweeping the floor (I stayed over at Third's place three times a week), he pulled me onto his lap, and hugged me tightly.

 

Lately, my boyfriend has seemed fed up because every time he goes on social media, someone tags him in drama or insults. Most of it came from fans of the ship or Nine's fans. Why was he being targeted? Because Third had revealed that he had a boyfriend. After that interview, Nine posted a series of sad songs on his story for several days-songs about heartbreak and unrequited love. At a recent event, Nine even looked visibly downcast. Fans started speculating that Nine was heartbroken over Third, turning my boyfriend into the villain in their eyes.

 

"Today, he's rambling on X again, fishing for sympathy points," Third gritted his teeth near my ear. I picked up my own phone to check and gave a dry smile when I saw Nine's post about wondering when the storm would pass, along with yet another heartbreak song.

 

If I didn't know the backstory, I might've believed Nine really liked Third and was heartbroken. But Third had told me everything, including what happened between him and Nine back in high school. When I found out, I was stunned. I felt so disappointed that I'd supported Nine for over two years. I ended up throwing away all the Nine merchandise and photos I'd taken myself, and deleting every file.

Even now, he hadn't stopped trying to ruin my boyfriend's life. It was like he wanted to crush him completely, taking advantage of the situation to drag Third down while boosting his own popularity. You could see it from how he was trending on X every day lately. It was such a cold-blooded move.

 

"So, what should we do?"

 

"Nothing. Let it go. The news will die down eventually. My fans will understand, and that's enough." Third buried his face into my shoulder, pressing kisses along my shoulder and neck.

 

Even with a shirt between us, I felt a flutter in my stomach. I wanted to let myself blush, but I was still worried. So, I turned to face him, cupping his sharp-featured face with both hands.

 

"Won't this hurt your image? I'm scared-"

 

"It's nothing. Don't stress about it." Third smiled and gently kissed the palm of my hand. His dark eyes held a thoughtful glint. 

 

"Honestly, I don't think he can keep this up for much longer."

 

"Why not?"

 

"Well... I happened to find something out." He gave a small, unreadable smile, leaving me tilting my head in confusion.

 

"Let's just say it'll all be over soon. The series is ending, too. Whoever he did, he will face the consequences."

 

"What? Tell me! I want to know the details!" I perked up, trying to get him to answer. But Third silenced me with a kiss. By the time he let me go, I was lying breathless on the couch, my mind completely blank.

 

Third's 'soon' came faster than I expected. The very next morning, a major scandal exploded all over social media.

 

"Exposing the behaviour of a sweet-faced BL series lead: Innocent on camera, but who knew he bullied classmates and was a total fake!"

 

That was the headline from a popular entertainment news outlet. When I clicked to read, I found out the story came from an anonymous account that exposed a famous BL actor named 'A.' The post accused him of exploiting classmates in university group projects, never showing up or contributing, and even mocking LGBTQ+ classmates in a discriminatory way. The most damning evidence was leaked chat messages where he threatened group members, saying that if they didn't include his name, they'd face issues with the professor.

 

Even though only initials were used, Thai netizens, like a veteran detective, quickly pieced together the anonymous account's university, faculty, and batch. It matched Nine perfectly. Soon, more anonymous accounts came forward, claiming this actor had been problematic since middle school, sucking up to teachers while being envious and two-faced with peers. No matter how talented he was, they vowed never to watch anything he starred in. Many similar posts followed.

 

The drama set social media ablaze. Bullying and discrimination were despicable enough, but for someone profiting off the LGBTQ+ community through the BL series, it enraged netizens even more. The X trend skyrocketed to nearly a million mentions. I was glued to my screen all day, utterly shocked by Nine's alleged actions. Well, if they were true...

 

"Third, Third! Is this what you were talking about yesterday?" That evening, when Third came back from a commercial shoot, I hugged him as he walked in and immediately showed him my phone.

 

"Oh, yeah."

 

"You knew about this?"

 

"Kind of. The person who exposed him is a friend of someone I know. They found out I went to the same school as Nine and knew we had issues, so they came to me for advice." Third explained as he pulled me onto the couch with him, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

 

"I told them I wouldn't expose him myself because I'm under contract with my agency. But if they wanted to do something, that was up to them. I wouldn't interfere."

 

I was speechless. This meant he knew what was coming for his fellow agency member, but didn't stop it or protect him. But I couldn't blame Third. Nine had hurt him a lot. If it were me, I'd probably let it go, too. What goes around comes around, right?

 

"Why did they wait until now to expose him?"

 

"Maybe because revenge feels best when you see the person who hurt you fall from the top. The higher they are, the harder they crash." Third said.

 

He had a point. Nine was at the peak of his career, and this scandal was a massive blow to his reputation. Luckily, the series had already finished airing, but it might affect future joint projects. Third didn't want to do joint projects anyway, so this was a good chance for him to focus on solo work.

 

I waited to see how it'd all end. But with chat evidence, it was hard to deny. Nine eventually had to issue a public apology and admit his mistakes amidst a storm of online backlash. Most of his fans saw the truth and moved on to support others. While he still had some fans left, his opportunities would likely dwindle. Meanwhile, Third's career was skyrocketing.

 

"Wan!" As soon as I opened the door when he came to visit me at my condo, I was greeted by my boyfriend's radiant smile. "Someone offered me a lead role in a movie!"

 

"Whaaaat?!" My eyes widened, and I grinned just as widely. Third stepped in and hugged me tightly. I could feel his heart racing.

 

"I'm so happy!"

 

"Me too! You're amazing! Whose boyfriend is this? So awesome!" I hugged him back, laughing. We stood there, wrapped in each other's arms. Even when View came out of her room to see what all the noise was about, we didn't let go.

 

I can feel it-our lives will only improve from here. Truly!

Epilogue - Last Take, Action!

 

"Excuse me."

 

"Yes?"

 

"Are you a fanboy of Third?" A young woman, one of the many fans gathered to cheer for Third at the crowded event space of a famous shopping mall, asked me while we waited for the electronics brand event to start at six in the evening.

 

"Oh...yes," I replied, nodding. I was wearing a mask, thick black-rimmed glasses, and a hat to hide my face, confident that no one would recognise me.

 

"How did you get to know Third? I started liking him after watching Deep Dive. He's such a great actor, isn't he?"

 

"Yes, he is. But honestly, at first, I didn't like him much. I thought he was a bit arrogant. But after getting to know him well, I mean, following him, I realised he's really dedicated to his work and so sweet to his fans," I said with a light laugh, reminiscing about the first time we met. It had been almost a year since then. Time really flew by.

 

"What's your account? Can I have it? By the way, you look kind of familiar. I feel like I've seen you somewhere before."

 

"I just have one of those faces!" I quickly interrupted before she could figure it out, coughing nervously. It was common in fan circles to exchange social media accounts when you hit it off with someone at an event, so you could gush about your favourite celebrity together.

 

"Oh, and about the account, do you mean on X? I don't have one. I rarely use social media, I said.

 

"Oh, really? That's okay. Maybe we'll meet again at another event. We can chat then," she said with a kind smile.

 

I felt a little guilty for lying, but I couldn't risk giving anyone my contact information. I didn't want to blow my cover.

 

The booming sound of the event's opening music signalled that it was about to begin. Fans erupted into cheers, eagerly waiting to support their favourite artist, who was now standing by the side of the stage. I focused my gaze on the stairs leading up to the stage, hiding a smile beneath my mask as I spotted the tall figure in a familiar designer suit waving to the fans. Of course, from where he was, he couldn't see me. But I could always see him.

 

"Please give a warm welcome to Third Tharit!"

 

"Aaaahhh!!!"

 

The announcement was met with deafening screams and the rapid clicking of camera shutters. Fans waved banners, hands, and phones, capturing every moment of Third's appearance. I, too, raised my trusty professional camera, zooming in through the lens and snapping countless photos of him, smiling with pride all the while. Seeing firsthand how many fans loved and supported the person I loved made my eyes sting with emotion.

 

Third shone brightly amidst the crowd, and believed he'd soar even higher, becoming the acclaimed actor he'd always dreamed of being.

 

"Hello, everyone. I'm Third Tharit," the tall figure on stage introduced himself, scanning the crowd of tans gathered around the stage to cheer him on. For a fleeting moment, his sharp eyes met mine. His smile widened, and I couldn't help but smile back, my eyes curving into crescent moons as I raised my camera to capture his image.

 

Click!

Third's journey in the entertainment industry still stretched far ahead. And I, Wan Archawin, as both his fan and his partner, would always be here to cheer him on. Forever!

The End