Love Case Vol. 1

Monday mornings already carried their own special brand of chaos, but today had earned the crown for both busiest and most cursed. Anupap sat at his desk, weighing whether he dared drive home after work. The thought of breaking down mid-journey made his stomach clench—he knew next to nothing about car repairs.

That cop still hadn't called.

He needed to get his car to a garage as soon as possible. Life without wheels would be a nightmare he couldn't afford.

Anupap lifted the phone receiver.

Busy signal.

He tried again—still busy. Again and again until his fingers cramped, but the line remained stubbornly occupied.

Each failed attempt stoked his anger higher. If this morning's disaster hadn't happened, he wouldn't be sitting here drowning in complications.

"P'Nu, how's the car situation? P'Bud mentioned it might be totaled." Atid, his fresh-faced junior assistant, appeared at his desk with genuine concern.

"Still don't know what to do. That guy hasn't bothered to contact me yet." Anupap rolled his eyes.

"Doesn't he have insurance?"

"Nope." Anupap shook his head with weary resignation.

"Don't risk driving home tonight, P'Nu. I'll take you." Atid's offer came with a brilliant smile that reached his eyes.

Those eyes sparkled with warmth, matching the curve of his lips.

Everyone adored Atid—his cheerful energy and generous spirit made him the office favorite. He helped colleagues with everything from work crises to personal dramas. Fresh out of university just a year ago, he'd landed the role as Anupap's personal assistant.

Rather than relegating him to clerical work, Anupap had been mentoring him in advertising. The company's central secretarial pool already handled administrative tasks for department heads, so Atid could focus on learning the creative side.

Atid possessed the kind of natural beauty that made people pause—porcelain skin, narrow eyes framed by thick dark brows, a proud nose, and lips so naturally red they made the office women envious. His sleek black hair was styled in a modern undercut, and his athletic build from regular sports showed in every movement. Football, tennis, golf, squash, swimming—his passion for fitness had earned him the unofficial title of company sports coordinator. His family's jewelry business provided comfortable means, but Atid insisted on earning his own living.

"Thanks, Atid, but no need. You'd just be wasting your time—I can grab a taxi." Anupap managed a grateful smile.

"It's really no trouble, P'Nu. You work so hard, and I'd rather drive you home than wander around aimlessly after work anyway. Plus, I'd finally get to see where you live."

Anupap never invited colleagues to his home—only his closest friend, Sombat, knew his address among the younger crowd.

Atid always seemed to find reasons to hang around his workspace. While some interaction was natural given their professional relationship, Anupap sometimes wondered why Atid offered help with tasks beyond his duties and sought out his company even when work didn't require it.

"I'll take a taxi. Much more convenient." Anupap deflected.

Atid stopped pressing when Sombat walked in.

Anupap caught what looked like disappointment flickering across the younger man's features.

Atid was sweet, genuinely good-hearted, but for Anupap, far too young for anything romantic.

He craved someone stronger, someone who could at least match his own strength—a deep, unspoken need that lived in his chest.

Anupap had always been resilient, standing firm and fighting through life's challenges alone. Even during his time with Chavis.

Chavis had been warm, gentle, fun-loving, cheerful—sharing some qualities with Atid.

But Chavis lacked the steel core Anupap needed. He was not tough enough, not mature enough, not fierce enough to weather storms alongside him. Not solid enough to face down problems as equals.

When Chavis's father delivered his ultimatum—return to Thailand to assume a senior executive role in the family's premier real estate empire—Chavis chose obedience over their shared dreams. He needed to build his own vision, one that couldn't include Anupap—a vision that bore no resemblance to the future they'd crafted together during their overseas studies.

In the end, everything crumbled.

Chavis chose a different path for his life.

After graduation, Anupap switched fields for his master's degree, diving into advertising and completely reshaping his trajectory. He needed to escape memories that gnawed at his soul.

Living in their old world without Chavis felt impossible. All those years of studying together, building dreams together, only to find himself struggling to make those dreams real entirely alone.

Shared aspirations that became solitary burdens until, finally, the dreams themselves dissolved.

∞

Anupap's parents died when he finished junior high school. Arnold Everidge adopted him and brought him to Canada. Shortly after completing his master's degree, his adoptive father also passed away. He returned to Thailand quietly, determined to start fresh on his own terms. Despite his Canadian relatives' kindness, he couldn't bear staying abroad—life there felt hollow, like being a perpetual outsider among foreign faces. Though he'd spent more than half his life in Seattle, Thailand remained his true home.

His mother had left him a house in Ayutthaya—an old wooden structure that represented her only legacy to her son. His adoptive father, a man of modest means, had bequeathed him just enough to live comfortably while working a regular corporate job.

But Anupap needed change. 

He needed distance from places that held memories of Chavis.

He'd met Sombat during a commercial shoot at Niagara Falls. Their mutual assistance and compatible personalities sparked a friendship that survived oceans. Despite living on different continents, they maintained constant contact. Sombat used his industry experience to guide Anupap through his advertising studies, then invited him to join the company.

Anupap's sharp mind and quick learning made him the company's top creative in just a few years. Sombat used to joke: "This guy's brain moves faster than a monkey's—been here barely any time and already leapfrogged over me."

∞

Captain Atikom hung up the phone and rolled his neck wearily. Exhaustion weighed on him after several nights of minimal sleep. The case he was investigating grew more complex by the hour, but he was closing in on the truth. Success here would be the crowning achievement of his career.

Atikom was close to promotion to Police Major—finally catching up with his peers, most of whom had already reached that rank.

He'd become a cop out of pure passion. Being a crime-fighting officer had been his childhood dream. Atikom was skilled, honest, intelligent, and capable—everyone acknowledged his abilities. But he'd never mastered the art of schmoozing superiors.

He didn't want to climb ranks through flattery, but higher positions meant greater freedom to operate, which translated to more meaningful service to society.

Though police salaries were modest, Atikom lived comfortably thanks to dividend income from businesses he 'barely bothered to oversee,' as his brother Kachanon constantly complained.

Atikom told his 'stellar little brother' that he employed the best person to manage things, so his interference would only cause the business to 'collapse,' since he had zero business sense whatsoever.

"All I'm good at is shooting guns. Oh, and catching criminals," he'd joke with his brother.

His stellar little brother insisted their grandfather's inheritance could sustain Atikom for multiple lifetimes, but with proper investment management and good financial advisors, it could last several more generations.

Atikom told his brother he had no desire to keep reincarnating just to spend their grandfather's money. As long as it didn't vanish pointlessly, he was satisfied.

His brother had tried repeatedly to explain investment strategies, but eventually gave up. In the end, Kachanon took over managing his financially indifferent older brother's assets.

∞

Captain Atikom glanced at his phone. The business card from the red sports car's owner still lay beside it. He picked it up, recalling that clean-featured face with its hint of moodiness.

He'd felt drawn to the man from their first encounter. His partner, Captain Tongrob, used to say: "People like us need special radar to detect which guys are 'available' or 'unavailable."

Something in those eyes had pulled at him like a magnet. Deep instinct told him this 'hot-tempered' man was more intriguing than he appeared.

Atikom was himself a magnet, easily attracting attention wherever he went. When he and Tongrob hit the nightclub scene or even just worked out at the gym, people of all genders approached him constantly.

Should I call him? Atikom wondered.

He decided to follow his impulse, lifting the phone. Let's see what happens. Maybe I'll get lucky.

A young woman with a teenager's clear voice answered, asking him to hold.

Atikom drummed his fingers on the desk, waiting.

Taking forever. He could hear busy chatter in the background. That office must be swamped.

He was about to hang up when a soft voice came on the line.

"Hello, Anupap speaking."

"This is Captain Atikom. Remember me?"

"Oh, I remember. Hard to forget someone who rear-ended my car." The voice carried a sharp edge.

Atikom pictured that icy-cold face with furrowed brows, those shapely lips pressed tight with displeasure.

He found it rather charming.

He was drawn to people who presented challenges, probably because he usually encountered those who came to him easily.

Of course—a good-looking, wealthy young cop like him rarely had to work for anyone's attention.

"Hey now, don't get upset. You should be happy I'm calling—it shows I'm ready to take responsibility, not disappearing on you."

"Are you calling about the garage?"

"Uh, about that...I'll tell you in a bit."

"Then why not tell me now?"

"I haven't found the number yet, but I've got even better news. I thought I'd pick you up and take you to the garage myself." Atikom began his advance.

"That's not necessary. Just give me the number and I'll handle it myself." Anupap persisted.

"But my desk is such a mess. I'm not sure I can find the garage's number, but I remember how to get there. Taking you directly would be more convenient."

A sigh came through the line. "Officer, please don't make simple things complicated."

"I'm not complicating anything—I'm making it convenient. I'm volunteering to take you to the garage, and I'll talk to them about doing good work on your car. Plus, there are documents to sign and all that." The mischievous captain smiled, enjoying his 'casual flirtation' game.

The other end went quiet, as if weighing the decision.

"Let me check my schedule first."

The young policeman pictured the speaker's appearance—immaculate appearance, slightly sad eyes, but with that appealing moodiness. A fit build that spoke of self-care.

Hmm, if I could run my hands over that skin, how smooth would it feel? Atikom began fantasizing.

"Thursday afternoon works. How should we meet?"

"Actually, noon would be better. I have business in that area around eleven, so we could meet right after. I wouldn't have to wait until afternoon." Atikom suggested.

"But I need to eat lunch first."

"Then let's have lunch together." Atikom seized the opportunity.

"Can't do it. I eat with a friend—we have lunch together every day."

"Come on, just one day. Please? Otherwise I'll be hanging around for hours."

"Well, Lieutenant…"

"Captain," the police officer corrected his rank.

"Oh, Captain. You could eat first, then meet me."

Let it go for now, Atikom thought. Naturally he'd play a little hard to get.

"Fine, then. I'll meet you at one o'clock in front of your company."

"You know where it is?"

"I'm a cop. I'm good at tracking down criminals. I have your business card, so I already tracked it down. If I can find escaped murderers—your office is nothing." Atikom hung up after confirming their appointment.

He smiled. Today felt more energetic somehow, like he'd taken a shot of adrenaline.

Anupap set down the receiver gently, thinking: Criminals and murderers...comparing me to criminals and murderers.

Meanwhile, the other party thought: Just wait and see...playing so hard to get...this cop will have you caught in no time...there's nowhere to run.