Love Case Vol. 1

This morning was as hectic as usual. Even though Anupap was skilled at his work, the overwhelming workload left him feeling breathless. He'd barely finish one urgent task before another would pile on.

He was juggling multiple clients simultaneously. Some projects required revision after revision because clients kept changing their minds about details. Meeting after meeting before they could finalize the complete work plan. Then there was casting, filming, editing, buying ad time—problems everywhere.

Anupap wasn't cut out for management. He wanted to be just a project manager working on one advertisement at a time, focusing on quality. But Trin, his boss, had asked him to take on the creative director position "temporarily long-term," reasoning that he was the most suitable person for the job.

Anupap leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and rested his mind.

"What are you dreaming about, you heartthrob prince?" Sombat's soft voice sounded beside his ear.

"P'Bud, you gave me a fright." Sometimes Anupap said, startled.

"Geez. I wasn't even trying to be quiet. So what were we dreaming about? Thinking about that cop, perhaps?" The older man made teasing eyes.

"Are you crazy, P'Bud? Why would I think about him?" Anupap denied, tossing his pen onto the desk with annoyance. But for a flash in his mind, he saw the image of that sharp, intense face with its mischievous, teasing smile belonging to the handsome captain.

Pajanee, who sat nearby, raised her hand making a phone gesture while mouthing silently 'Calls every day.'

"Oh, wanting to be arrested by a cop, handcuffed behind your back, then pushed into a cell. Mmm, mmm." Sombat pretended to make his voice soft and sweet.

Anupap shook his head, unable to suppress a smile. Being around Sombat always made him smile.

"When are you going to get your car fixed? Driving around in that condition, you'll have problems on the road. Or maybe you want problems so you'll break down, and then little Sunshine can come provide pickup service. Eh, or maybe the Emperor will come get you. Eh, or maybe you'll call the cop to pick you up, or maybe..." Sombat pursed his lips and mimicked the Emperor's posture.

"Enough, enough, P'Bud. If someone sees that and reports it to the Emperor, you'll be in trouble," Anupap warned, while inwardly amused imagining Trin posing as an emperor.

"I'm taking half the day off today. This afternoon I'll take the car to the garage," Anupap said, not mentioning 'who' would be taking him.

Sombat had given Trin that nickname because once he'd been scolded about work and called into the office to explain himself. The office's senior queen had walked out of Trin's office in utter rage, face flushed red, and reported the incident to Anupap and Atid, complete with imperial mimicry that had both of them laughing to tears.

"Anyone who dares report me to the Emperor, I'll catch them and make them my husband," Sombat pretended to act like a zombie about to devour humans.

"P'Bud, would you dare eat Tommy Hellfinger?" Anupap feigned shock, emphasizing 'Hell' heavily—both understood this meant hell.

"Ugh, that tattletale bitch? No way, I'd rather give her to Atid," Sombat giggled. When mentioning Tongmee, the office's tough girl who nicknamed herself Tommy.

Tongmee had changed her name multiple times, but many people still mockingly called her old name. Because of her tattletale nature, she was not everyone's favorite collegue.

Thongmee and Sombat had started working at the company at the same time and had been frenemies ever since.

"But if Atid were the one doing the tattling, that would be good—then I could catch him and make him..." Sombat made lustful, hungry eyes.

"P'Bud, if my car breaks down, You'll be the first one to know," Anupap quickly interjected.

"Oh, don't bother telling me. Tell little Sunshine instead—he's looking so pitiful with those longing eyes, wanting to give you a ride so badly his heart might break. Anupap, what good deeds did you do? Everyone likes you."

Anupap turned to look at his younger assistant sitting in the corner of the room, just as Atid looked up at the perfect moment. He smiled warmly, his gaze revealing his feelings openly. Anupap smiled back faintly.

"Oh, my heart's melting," Sombat teased.

"That's enough, P'Sombat."

"Poor thing, those eyes are so telling. You should do some good deeds for the kid. At least let him touch you a little so he can keep working with us for a long time."

Anupap pretended to sigh heavily while rolling his eyes, telling Sombat to stop teasing.

Atid was a lovely young man, but he didn't make him feel anything more than an acquaintance or just a coworker.

∞

The mobile phone rang. Anupap reached to answer it, but Sombat snatched it first with his answering voice:

"Good morning, but actually not so good morning! Anyone wanting to flirt with Nu has to get in line!"

Anupap quickly lunged forward to grab the phone from the outrageous operator who now swiftly dodged away.

Anupap shook his head in exasperation. "Hello, this is Anupap."

The voice on the other end was still laughing at Sombat's cheeky phone greeting. Anupap recognized that deep, husky voice immediately, while clearly picturing the face that belonged to it.

He mentally scolded himself: 'Crazy. Why can I picture his face so clearly?'

"I'm calling to remind you that we're meeting at noon today. I'll take you to the garage," Atikom still suppressed laughter.

"One o'clock, not noon," Anupap corrected.

"Wow, I thought I'd get a free meal. I was planning to arrive before noon to get a queue number."

The phone had hung up, but Anupap sat staring at it for a long while. His mouth was pressed into a straight line, still fuming inside. He was annoyed at Sombat for his mischief, but that wasn't a big deal since the outrageous behavior of the 'company's big shot' was normal—everyone was used to it by now.

He told himself he was actually annoyed at 'that cop' who had deliberately mocked him.

"...in time to get a queue number"

He could still remember that soft laughter.

Very funny. Just wait and see.

Anupap thought about how he'd get back at that 'teasing police captain,' even though he couldn't think of how yet. But he definitely wouldn't let him have the last laugh.

∞

Lunchtime arrived. Anupap led the group of his team toward their usual restaurant beside the office building. Atid followed behind with obvious contentment, like a tame cat trailing after its owner. Atid's small happiness was this lunch break when he could walk behind Anupap to eat, because he had the chance to secretly admire the person he was infatuated with without anyone interrupting. Sombat and Pojanee walked together, chatting with animated expressions. Mark brought up the rear, constantly glancing at pretty girls passing by.

None of this escaped the attention of the police captain sitting in the coffee shop across the street.

Atikom felt irritated watching the pretty-faced, affected young man trailing behind Anupap. Compared to that guy, he was superior in every way—whether looks, physique, or intensity. Unless Anupap liked young types, but he didn't think he was wrong about this. Anupap shouldn't like that type. The 'handsome' captain rationalized in his own favor.

At exactly one o'clock, Anupap came out to wait by the roadside. Atikom walked leisurely toward him, his gaze fixed on the young man in his work attire—white shirt, neatly knotted tie, well-fitting dark gray trousers, polished black leather shoes, clean hands holding his phone like any typical office worker.

'Works in advertising but dresses neatly with a tie, not like those artist types,' Atikom thought to himself.

The well-defined man standing on the opposite side of the street had a strange pull on him. Atikom was beginning to understand—was this what they called the physical chemistry we have toward certain people?

Anupap stood perfectly still, gazing straight ahead, his left knee slightly bent.

Captain Atikom stepped down from the sidewalk to cross the street and walk directly toward him.

'Standing like a mannequin,' Atikom thought. Anupap looked cool and aloof, as if uninterested in his surroundings.

'Cold as ice.' Even standing by the roadside in the sweltering heat, Atikom knew that ice-cold exterior he was seeing could burn just as intensely when it reached its boiling point.

When he crossed to the other side of the street, Atikom walked to stand beside Anupap and greeted his 'ice prince' softly.

"Hello," he offered a smile.

Anupap turned to look and returned the greeting, but still maintained his stern expression. He sighed slightly before walking toward the car parked not far away.

"Acting like I'm going to kidnap you for murdering," Atikom began his 'teasing.'

"How long will it take to get there?" Anupap ignored him.

"If there's no traffic, then it's not too long," Atikom held out his hand for the keys.

Anupap stopped still, looking at the policeman's face for a moment.

"Don't go crashing into anyone again," He handed over the keys.

"Don't worry, I'll drive so smoothly you'll feel like you're floating on a cloud."

Both got into the car. Atikom started the engine, pulling out slowly, turning to smile as if to say 'See? I drive well.'

Traffic was light. The afternoon roads were relatively clear. Atikom drove slowly behind the car in front even though the right lane was empty. Anupap turned to look at the driver as if asking 'Why aren't you overtaking?'

"I'm afraid I might crash into someone again," as if reading his mind, Atikom quickly explained.

'There he goes again. Really knows how to tease,' Anupap thought, too lazy to engage in lengthy banter. He turned his face toward the window, watching the roadside shops. His thoughts drifted far away, thinking that when they reached the garage, he'd drop off the car for repairs, and after that they'd go their separate ways. Just wait for the car to be fixed.

If he had supernatural foresight, Anupapa would have known the story wouldn't end here. His future life would be so entangled with this 'teasing policeman' that they couldn't be separated.