Arthit barely had time to react before he slammed his foot down on the brake, the tires skidding slightly against the pavement. "Shit! Shit! Shit!" The car jolted to a sudden stop, but thankfully, they hadn't been going fast, still within the gated property. There was no real danger. But the true reason for his panic wasn't the abrupt stop—it was the words that had just come out of Daotok's mouth. He turned to the shorter man beside him, eyes wide. "Are you serious?"
Daotok nodded once, calm as ever. "Yes."
Arthit gawked at him, disbelief surging through his veins. "Hey, no way! Don't lie to me. If you're lying, I swear I'll punch you."
"I'm not lying."
The weight of those words sent a shockwave through Arthit's system. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, pulse hammering against his ribcage. "Whoa... and you're starting from zero, right?"
"Mm-hmm." Arthit inhaled sharply, his mind racing. "What's the max score? zero?"
Daotok tilted his head slightly, regarding him with that usual unreadable expression. "How could zero be the max score?" His calmness only heightened Arthit's excitement.
"Of course, it's possible! So, are you my boyfriend now?"
"Not yet. I said I'm just starting."
"Can't we just date for now?"
"No."
Arthit groaned dramatically, throwing his head back against the seat. "Then how does the scoring work? What's the max? Five?"
"I don't know. Maybe there's no fixed score."
Arthit exhaled, slowly easing off the brake and pressing down on the accelerator, guiding the car toward the driveway's exit. "So it's based on how you feel?"
Daotok nodded. "Yes."
"Whoa, seriously? I'm so happy!" Arthit grinned, his heart nearly bursting with exhilaration. This meant something, right? If Daotok was keeping score, it meant he was letting him in. This guy—this stoic, unreadable, robotic man—was finally opening up to him. That had to count for something. It had to mean he was special. Unable to help himself, he reached over and ruffled Daotok's hair. "You're so cute."
Daotok didn't react, not even a flicker of emotion crossing his face. But that was just him.
Arthit was used to it by now. He chuckled to himself. "Man, you're like a low-battery robot."
Daotok's voice was as steady as ever. "I said it's because you're sincere and trustworthy. That's why I'm keeping score."
Arthit beamed. "Of course! Who else could give as much as I do? In the entire universe, no one! It's me! I'm the one who gives this much!"
Daotok remained silent, as if unimpressed by his self-proclaimed achievement. But Arthit wasn't deterred. His grin widened. "So, how long until we can date?"
"I don't know."
"Does it depend on what I do?"
"Yes."
Arthit nodded firmly. "Then I'll give it my all for you."
"Ah... okay."
"Do I get any special privileges? Like, can I kiss you after 6 P.M until 5 A.M?"
"No."
"Wow. Okay, how about willingly holding hands?"
"Haven't we been holding hands already?"
"I mean like, willingly reaching out to hold mine."
"No."
Arthit pouted. "Why not?"
"Because I don't feel like it."
"You're so difficult." He sighed, slightly annoyed. "Fine, I'll just keep forcing you like before."
"Ah."
Arthit smirked at Daotok's usual monotone response but let it go for now. Instead, he changed the subject. "You know everything about me now. Can I know more about you?"
"No."
"Wow, you didn't even think about it! Think for a second."
"No."
"Why not?"
"I don't like people knowing about me."
"But I'm not just 'people' anymore, am I? So, what am I to you?"
Daotok paused. Then, in the same unwavering voice, he said, "A big brother I know."
Arthit gasped in mock offense. "Wow. Straight to the brother zone."
Daotok said nothing.
Arthit huffed. "Fine. Since I'm just a 'big brother you know,' can't you share something about yourself? You know everything about me. It's not fair. Who can I file a complaint with? Should I call a lawyer? See you in court."
Daotok exhaled softly, as if giving in. "Fine, I'll tell you."
Arthit grinned. "Good. I love the dramatics. I'll ask when we're back in the room."
"Okay."
They drove in comfortable silence until Arthit pulled into the underground parking lot of his condo. He parked in the far corner, his personal reserved spot. Next to his black McLaren, his old favorite, now overshadowed by the Bugatti he was currently driving. Direk had warned him not to use it casually, but after the race, it was his to keep.
"Do you like this car?" Arthit asked.
"Hmm?"
"The new one."
Daotok glanced at it briefly. "Yeah, it's nice."
"Compared to the old one, which do you like better?"
"Why?"
"I'm planning to use it to pick you up."
Daotok shrugged. "Ah, either one's fine."
"Whichever you're more comfortable in."
"They're the same."
"What about the motorcycle?" Arthit pressed.
"It's just a big bike, right?" Daotok replied flatly.
Arthit sighed. "They're different though. Different models, different brands."
"Whatever, but I'd rather ride myself."
Arthit smirked, already plotting. One day, that bike of Daotok's would mysteriously end up with a punctured tire. A small, inconvenient obstacle to his love life. Saying nothing, he got out of the car, carrying the supplies for his soft, ghost-like cat. As they took the elevator up, another thought hit him. "Speaking of which, what should I do about my snake? Cats and snakes probably can't live together... or should I introduce them first? Maybe they'll become friends. My snake is expensive, dammit."
Daotok, predictably, did not look thrilled. "Maybe I should head back to my place. That way, both the snake and the cat will be safe."
Arthit squinted at him. "Nice try. It's not you who has to go back, it's the snake who has to stay at your place."
Daotok sighed, but didn't argue. Back in the apartment, he sat on the floor, playing with the cat. Arthit raised an eyebrow. "Why not sit on the couch?"
"No."
"Why not?"
Daotok met his gaze, deadpan. "Why not sit on the couch yourself?"
Arthit smirked, dropping onto the floor beside him. "Because you're here. Why would I sit somewhere else?" Arthit glanced at the small black cat curled comfortably in Daotok's lap, its eyes half-lidded in contentment. He reached out hesitantly, fingers grazing the cat's soft fur. "Where did you get Mr. Jeon from?"
Daotok, still stroking the feline's back, answered casually, "I picked him up from my old dorm, but they didn't allow pets."
Arthit's brows lifted slightly. "Oh, so you moved because of him?"
"Yeah." A chuckle escaped Arthit's lips. "Are you Cupid or something?" He teased as he ran his fingers through the cat's sleek fur. As if sensing the shift in affection, Mr. Jeon stretched lazily before crawling off Daotok's lap and settling onto Arthit instead. The abrupt betrayal made Daotok frown, his lips pulling into a small pout.
"He likes me more than you,"
Arthit smirked, smug as the cat nuzzled into his warmth.
Daotok scowled. "Mr. Jeon, no, come back to me." The cat, however, remained unfazed, curling up comfortably against Arthit's thigh. "Mr. Jeon... do you like him more than me?" Daotok murmured, voice carrying the weight of genuine betrayal.
"Oh no, Mr. Jeon, he's getting dramatic now. What should we do?" Arthit joked, directing the question at the feline, who merely blinked slowly in response.
Daotok sighed before shifting slightly. "It's fine. He's probably sleepy. Can you put him on his bed for me?" Following the request, Arthit carefully lifted the black furball and placed him on the small pet bed by the corner of the room. The moment the cat was settled, he turned back to Daotok, who had already moved to his desk, opening up his laptop.
"What are you going to do?" Arthit asked, wandering over.
"Work."
"What kind of work?"
Daotok didn't even look up as he started adjusting his screen. "Making a poster for a clothing store."
Curious, Arthit leaned against the desk. "Oh, can I see?"
Daotok shot him a sidelong glance. "Don't you have anything else to do?"
"I do, but I want to stay with you first."
A flicker of something unreadable crossed Daotok's face before he sighed. "Ah... okay. I'll use the desk."
"Yeah, sure." Arthit pulled up a chair beside him, watching as Daotok navigated the design file on his laptop. He had a pile of study materials waiting for him, yet here he was, practically procrastinating while observing Daotok work. "Did you design this yourself?"
"They gave me a rough brief. What do you think?"
"You're asking for my opinion?"
"No, I'm asking Mr. Jeon."
Arthit scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Oh, fine then."
Daotok smirked before shaking his head. "Of course, I'm asking you. Mr. Jeon can't answer. Are you crazy?"
Arthit narrowed his eyes playfully. "If you're asking me," Arthit continued, glancing at the design, "I think it's okay, but it's not quite eye-catching enough. What's the store looking for?"
"They need a poster."
Arthit groaned. "Seriously, man, I mean what kind of design do they want?"
Daotok finally relented. "They're running a discount promotion next month. They want a poster that makes people stop and walk straight into the store."
Arthit hummed in thought before shrugging. "Just hire someone to stand at the entrance and knock customers over the head to drag them in. Easy."
Daotok ignored his joke, muttering under his breath, "Not attractive enough, huh?" before adjusting the design.
Arthit watched him intently. It was fascinating how focused he could be, unbothered by the scrutiny. If it were him, he would've been on edge, snapping with, 'What are you looking at? Can you not?' "Can I talk to you while you work?"
"Sure."
"Doesn't it distract you?"
"I can handle it. Just tweaking a few things."
Arthit tilted his head. "Oh. Why did you dye your hair blue?"
"Because I wanted to."
"Maybe I'll dye mine too, to match you."
"Up to you."
Arthit's gaze landed on a faint tattoo peeking from under Daotok's sleeve. "Do you have tattoos?"
"A little."
"What did you get tattooed?"
"Things representing my parents, grandma, and so on."
"Oh... Can I ask about your family?"
Daotok nodded. "Sure. I already know everything about you, so let's call it even."
Arthit's expression darkened slightly. "Damn it. Who was that guy in your room the other day?"
Daotok blinked, turning his head. "The guy in my room?"
"The tall British guy. You called him 'Daddy.'"
"Oh, that's Daddy."
Arthit stiffened. "Your real dad?"
Daotok let out a small laugh. "No, not my actual dad. He's someone else."
Arthit's jaw tensed. His hands curled into fists. "Break up with him."
Daotok stared. "Huh?"
"Stop seeing him." Arthit's voice was firm, his expression serious without meaning to be. The heat of his emotions made Daotok recoil slightly, confusion flickering in his eyes. "Don't avoid me."
"Okay."
"Don't move away from me." A beat passed before Arthit exhaled sharply, attempting to regain control of his emotions.
"Sorry. Why call him 'Daddy' if he's not your father?"
Daotok's brows furrowed. "Oh, you misunderstood."
"What?"
"He's my Dad's new boyfriend."
"Oh."
Daotok smirked as realization dawned on Arthit's face. "So, I call him 'Daddy.' It's not what you think."
Arthit let out another slow breath, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Damn it... Why did I get so worked up?"
Daotok eyed him curiously. "Are you planning to kill Daddy?"
Arthit huffed a small laugh. "I'm not a mafia boss!"
"You could totally do it."
"I could," Arthit admitted. "Get someone else to do it, wipe the records, everything."
Daotok tilted his head. "Ah... I see."
Arthit softened, glancing at him. "But if something like that really happened, I don't know what I'd do. I'd probably just be mad first and figure out the rest later."
Daotok chuckled. "If I had someone else from the start, I would've told you. I wouldn't let you hover around me like this."
Arthit smirked. "I'd still fight for you."
Daotok rolled his eyes. "Ah... I see."
Arthit leaned back. "I'll have Direk negotiate the dowry soon."
"No need."
"A billion is doable if that's what it takes." Arthit leaned against the edge of the desk, arms crossed, watching Daotok count the stack of crisp bills with effortless precision. His gaze flicked between Daotok's delicate fingers and the bundle of cash, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Is that your money?" he asked, voice low but teasing. Daotok didn't even glance up.
"My dad's, of course. Where would I get a billion?" Arthit fell silent at that, simply observing as Daotok continued his task. The rhythmic shuffling of banknotes filled the quiet space between them. Then, seizing an opportunity, Arthit reached out and pinched Daotok's cheek lightly, unable to resist the temptation.
Daotok blinked, expression unreadable. "What are you doing?" His voice lacked any real annoyance, and he made no move to pull away.
Arthit smirked, his fingers still lazily pressing into the softness of Daotok's skin. "It's soft. Can I kiss it?"
"No."
"Really?" Ignoring the firm rejection, Arthit leaned in and pressed his lips against the very cheek he had just been pinching. Daotok stiffened slightly, startled, and swiftly rolled his chair back. But before he could escape, Arthit reached out and grabbed the armrest, preventing any further retreat. "I told you, don't move away from me."
Daotok sighed. "Why?"
"I don't like it."
Another sigh. "It must be exhausting being around you."
Arthit tilted his head playfully. "Mm-hmm." Daotok gave him a weary look. "That's tough. Hang in there."
"Okay." A moment of comfortable silence settled between them before Arthit spoke again. "What about your future dreams?"
Daotok hesitated. "Uh... making Mr. Jeon happy."
Arthit rolled his eyes. "Come on, I mean something career-related. Something you actually want to do."
Daotok considered for a moment before replying, "I want to open my own gallery."
Arthit's brows lifted in interest. "Oh... that suits you. Where would you open it?"
"I don't know yet."
Arthit frowned. "Wait a second... What are you studying again?"
"Biology."
His frown deepened. "What the heck? Why not study art?"
Daotok gave a small shrug. "I like biology."
"Uh-huh." Arthit narrowed his eyes.
"You can learn art on your own, but you can't study biology outside of a formal program. Some things are only taught in college."
"Fair enough..." Arthit conceded. "So, what will you do with your biology degree after you graduate?"
Daotok's lips twitched slightly. "Maybe... I could draw microbes more accurately."
Arthit stared at him, completely dumbfounded. "Drawing microbes? What the hell? Be serious."
Daotok let out a short laugh. "Maybe I'll do something related to biology. After all, I've spent years studying it, and there's still the internship to complete."
Arthit leaned closer. "How about forming a band with me? You play guitar, don't you?"
"No, thanks. I just play a little, enough to get by."
"What about drumming? Are you still interested?"
"Yeah, I am. If I have free time, I'd like to take lessons."
Arthit grinned. "I'll teach you for free."
Daotok glanced at him skeptically. "Really?"
"Not to brag, but I'm a damn good drummer. You'd be my first student." He raised his eyebrows proudly. "When you're free, I'll take you to the practice room."
Daotok nodded slowly. "Ah... sure. I'll think about it."
Arthit smirked, resting his chin on his palm, watching Daotok from the side as they talked. Throughout the conversation, he found himself constantly reaching out—tracing fingertips along Daotok's cheek, brushing against his arm. He didn't fully understand why, but there was something about being close to Daotok that was addicting. And, interestingly enough, Daotok never pulled away.
Maybe he had given up on resisting a long time ago. Not that he had much choice. He didn't have the strength to push Arthit away. Poor guy. "I just realized how possessive I am of you," Arthit mused aloud, recalling the surge of jealousy he had felt earlier. He usually didn't care to hold back his emotions, but this time, his temper had flared too quickly.
Daotok raised a brow. "Honestly... you're not supposed to be possessive."
"But I am."
"You can't."
"I can."
"You can't."
Arthit smirked. "If I say I can, then I can. Why not?"
"Because we're not dating."
"Then let's date."
Daotok exhaled heavily. "You're so demanding."
"I only want you."
Silence
Arthit chuckled. "See? Speechless. You're blushing, aren't you?"
Daotok turned his head away, visibly flustered. "No, I'm not blushing. I'm genuinely stunned."
Arthit leaned back, satisfied. "How many points do I get for that line just now?"
"Zero."
"What? At least one."
"No."
"How about 0.5? I worked hard to charm you!"
"No."
Arthit groaned. "You're so difficult." He reached out again, this time playing with Daotok's hair, admiring the soft texture of the blue strands. "That's just how I am. I told you, you must've done a lot of bad karma to deserve me. But don't worry, you have my permission to spread some kindness my way."
Daotok scoffed. "If I spread kindness, will you leave?"
"No," Arthit answered smoothly. "Here's some advice, though."
"What?"
"Don't mess with anyone, and don't let anyone mess with you. You wouldn't want anyone to get hurt, would you?"
Daotok hummed, considering. "Are you threatening me?"
Arthit smirked. "Yeah, let's call it threatening. It's gotten this far, hasn't it?"
"Mm."
"Mm, as in?"
"I understand."
Arthit chuckled. "You don't even argue with me. I'm going to get used to this."
Daotok shrugged. "Go ahead, then."
Arthit stared at him for a moment before shaking his head with a smirk. "Damn."