Love Case Vol. 1

Tongrob watched Anupap descend the police station steps, his gaze lingering on the easy confidence in each movement. The engine turned over with a smooth purr, and he found himself tracking the sedan's progress down the street, his fingers absently turning Atikom's keys over and over in his palm. The metallic chiming filled the silence long after the taillights had vanished around the corner, while he remained rooted to the spot, mind spinning with unspoken questions.

"Damn, Kom's got it bad," Tongrob muttered to himself.

Having seen that magnetic pull up close, he found himself drawn to the same person too. 

'But falling for the same guy as my best friend? That's a death sentence waiting to happen.'

Tongrob let out a frustrated sigh and pulled out his phone to report back to his friend, but it went straight to voicemail. He dialed the emergency number that stayed on twenty-four hours.

"What's up, Tiger?" Atikom answered immediately.

"Gorgeous, adorable, smile so sweet it could melt hearts," Tongrob drawled dramatically.

"You insane bastard, what's wrong with you? Don't mess with me like that, it gives me the creeps. Makes me want to puke," Atikom's voice turned sharp.

"Relax, I'm not talking about you. If I complimented you like that, I'd get the creeps too. I'm talking about Khun Nu. No wonder you ditched your buddy to prowl alone at night. Could've shared the goods, you selfish prick."

"Khun Nu? When did you meet him? Where? How?" Atikom's voice tightened with rapid-fire questions.

"Hey, one question at a time. He came looking for you at the station." Tongrob paused dramatically, imagining his friend's pleased smile before crushing it. "But he returned your car. Said he didn't want to use it, didn't want any favors from you. The guy was so pissed steam was coming out of his ears."

"You're lying," Atikom knew his friend was embellishing, but he could easily picture Anupap's sulking face when upset—brows slightly furrowed, those full red lips pressed into a tiny pout, eyes slowly narrowing with that devastating wounded look.

"He's absolutely stunning. I'm hooked, completely gone. Remember the other night at the pub? The night you forced me to drink at home because you were glued to those TV commercials? After you kicked me out, I went to Route 79 and saw Khun Nu partying with friends. I watched him for ages... that killer smile... even from across the room it was like flashbulbs going off, blinding." Tongrob rambled on. "Love at first sight, for real. Let me have him. I want to try my luck."

Atikom bristled. "Don't even think about it. Stay away from Khun Nu, absolutely."

"Why? What's with the possessiveness?"

"I saw him first. Khun Nu is mine," Atikom declared.

"What's yours is mine. Did you forget our deal?" Tongrob challenged.

"Not this one."

"Come on, boss. When you get bored, you can pass him to me. I'll settle for seconds."

"Shut up, Tong. Don't even dream about it," Atikom's voice hardened.

Tongrob kept pushing. "Hey, buddy, remember our arrangement? Anyone who goes through my hands goes through yours; anyone who goes through yours has to go through mine."

"That was the past. Things are different now, and the future will be even more different. Let me make this crystal clear, flagpole*—stay away from Khun Nu, or you're dead." Atikom's threat carried real menace. [*Tongrob, in Thai, Tong means flag.]

Atikom didn't think Tongrob was serious, but part of him wasn't sure. If Anupap could change Tongrob the way he'd changed himself, would he face a worthy rival? They were best friends, true, but if it came to competing with his partner in crime, he'd rather avoid that scenario entirely. Atikom decided he couldn't let this slide.

Even though he suspected Tongrob might not be serious—just hoping for a quick conquest like all the others—Atikom couldn't take that risk.

He hadn't even 'won' yet, so how could Tongrob have any advantage over him? He always beat Tongrob in these matters.

But Tongrob had heavier ammunition. Nearly a month had passed and he still hadn't captured Anupap's heart, completely out of character. In the past, no one had ever lasted more than two days and nights before he could 'close the case.'

Atikom's memory served him right about Anupap refusing the car. That morning, Anupap had stopped arguing about the car, probably to cut short his annoyance. But Atikom hadn't expected Anupap to rush the car back to the station that same afternoon. He had assumed that if Anupap wouldn't use the car, he'd just leave it parked at the condo lot for him to collect later.

Or maybe Anupap had tried calling and found his phone off, getting angry about that. Atikom felt his chest tighten, unable to stop worrying. Tongrob's deliberate provocations had to be based on some truth.

Atikom was too restless to wait. He stepped away from work, walked out to the balcony and called Anupap, but no one answered. Three calls, still no answer. 'Must be busy with work,' he consoled himself.

He walked back inside to discuss the case with Police Major Awoot, a classmate from police academy who had been promoted 'fast-track' ahead of everyone else. Tongrob used to mock him as 'daddy's boy.'

All three had been close friends since high school through police academy—'The Three Tigers' was their nickname. After graduation, Awoot went abroad for further studies and returned to work at the Central Investigation Bureau. His brilliance combined with 'daddy's influence' had propelled his career beyond others.

Awoot's personality and manner differed from Atikom and Tongrob. He was stern-faced, cold, spoke little but hit hard, kept his emotions in check, and was impossible to read.

Tongrob used to tease Awoot as the 'Ice Prince' who never hit on anyone. Every time the other two went out 'hunting,' Awoot would separate himself, and nearly every time they went out drinking at night, Awoot would end up carrying the two of them home when they got too drunk to find their way back.

Atikom discussed the ongoing case intensely with Awoot. The police major knew several influential people in the area who could assist with the investigation. Atikom felt much more confident than before that he could close this case quickly with help from his talented friend. 

He acknowledged that Awoot's skills surpassed his own, but he never imagined that in the future, this dear friend would turn his love life upside down until he could barely stand.

Anupap picked up his phone to check. The display showed "Missed Call" notifications—over ten of them.

'Wonder what it feels like when you can't reach someone,' he thought. 'Calling and getting no answer without a callback is more satisfying than calling and finding the phone switched off, because switching off has many reasons—dead battery, no signal, or a cop like Atikom might be tied up with official business and unable to turn it on.'

The phone rang. Anupap startled. Sombat looked over with questioning eyes before finally speaking up.

"Nu, you're just letting it ring? Why not answer?" Anupap sat beside Sombat's desk, looking at the computer screen showing storyboard samples for the Panoview commercial.

"Don't want to," Anupap said flatly, picking up a photo of the commercial presenters.

The phone kept ringing. Sombat reached for it while saying, "Then turn off the sound. It's getting on my nerves. Why don't you change to some trendy ringtone instead of this boring default one? So outdated."

Anupap wasn't worried about Sombat discovering who was calling since he hadn't saved Atikom's number in his phone. He had memorized the crafty captain's number since the first time—easy numbers, memorable person. Who could forget either?

"Hello? Just a moment," Sombat's sweet voice answered, handing over the phone with a mischievous smile.

Anupap was lost in thought, bringing the phone to his ear lazily. The voice on the line snapped him out of his reverie.

"You won't answer my calls at all. Are you really that busy with work?" the voice on the other end teased, though he wanted to ask if Anupap was angry with him.

"Yes... very busy," Anupap replied flatly.

"Oh, poor thing. Is there anything I can help you with?" Atikom feigned concern.

"Thank you, but it's fine."

"You never call me either. I'm back in Bangkok now. I'll pick you up for dinner tonight—I have something important to discuss." Atikom wanted to apologize and intended to agree to appear in the commercial.

"I did try calling you, but your phone was off."

"Really? Sorry about that. Sometimes I have to turn off my phone during case meetings, but once the meeting's over, I keep it on all the time. Were you calling because you missed me?" Atikom smoothly deflected blame.

Such a schemer, still putting on that soft, sweet voice. Anupap thought irritably.

"I called twice. When I couldn't reach you, I didn't try again. Just wanted to let you know I returned the car to the station and left the keys with your close friend," Anupap quickly interjected, emphasizing the words before Atikom could launch into the lengthy speech he could sense coming.

Atikom was still insisting on picking him up for dinner, but Anupap deflected: "I'm not free. I have dinner plans with a client tonight."

Atikom hung up sounding disappointed. Anupap wasn't ranting at him about the car. 

The truth was, Anupap wasn't particularly angry about much—just annoyed at being deceived by that crafty person. It stung, really hurt.

He might have been even more hurt if he'd known that Sombat had quietly slipped away to secretly call the police captain behind his back.

"He must be really angry with me," Captain Atikom fretted after learning from Sombat that Anupap had gone to the garage and came back ranting about being deceived regarding the car repair. "Khun Nu didn't say a single word about the car repair issue."

"That's just how Nu is, Captain. When he's angry, he goes quiet and won't mention what made him angry. Sometimes he can sit in silence for days without saying a word. We call it 'a quiet mode.' But don't worry, I'll help talk to him. Nu and I can discuss anything openly—you can open up to me too, Captain," Sombat couldn't resist flirting.

"But you'll need to give it some time. If Nu is really angry, he's hurt by being deceived," Sombat made the first move.

"I didn't deceive him. I was just..." Atikom stammered, flustered.

"He said you ordered the garage not to work on his car. Nu went to the garage and questioned the staff until they scattered. When he's angry, Anupap becomes a bulldozer. Anyone in his way gets scared—even Khun Trin, the big boss, gets nervous around angry Anupap," Sombat elaborated, adding some colorful embellishments.

Atikom half-believed it. Even though Anupap had a calm, rather cool personality, he seemed capable of real fury when provoked. He'd experienced mild versions of the young man's temper before, but never the full 'bulldozer mode.' 

He told himself that even if Anupap bulldozed him, he could probably handle it. He just didn't want that experience right now, not when his heart was starting to turn pink.

"Don't worry, Captain. I'll be the glue for your hearts. Water dripping on stone every day will eventually erode it. I'll whisper in Nu's ear daily—the heart is made of flesh and blood, not stone," Sombat consoled with ulterior motives. "But in the meantime, don't create any new cases on top of this one. Nu is already stressed about work. The pickup truck commercial isn't finalized yet. Unless you..." Sombat trailed off meaningfully.

"That's exactly what I wanted to discuss with Khun Nu, but tonight he's not free—has to have dinner with a client. He's deliberately avoiding me," Atikom's voice softened.

"Oh my, Nu never has dinner with clients. He always sends me or Atid."

"That's what I figured."

"Captain, you're quite impatient too, aren't you?" Sombat meant that the captain was just as quick to flare up. "Why wait until evening?"

Sombat used her powers of persuasion for mutual benefit—killing several birds with one stone. First, landing a model for the commercial. Second, helping someone achieve romantic happiness for good karma. Third, getting to ogle the gorgeous, sexy Captain Atikom. Even without touching, just breathing in the scent of a handsome man was enough. It was Sombat's simple pleasures.