Chapter 15
The condo felt unusually lived-in that evening.
Not messy-Est would probably never become truly messy even accidentally-but less untouched than usual. One luggage lay open near the end of the bed while folded shirts occupied the mattress beside work files, chargers, travel documents, and printed reports regarding the Singapore entertainment district investment meetings.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, Bangkok shimmered beneath deep blue evening light while distant clouds hinted at incoming rain.
Est moved calmly between the closet and the bed, packing with practiced efficiency. Even tough he was only a plus one before in every business trips together with his father during his collage days, but still-business trips usually felt routine.
Pack efficiently.
Attend meetings.
Return home.
Simple.
This one somehow didn’t. Not only because this is his first business trip as an official representative of the company, perhaps also because William was coming with him.
The realization settled quietly in Est’s mind while he folded another shirt neatly. Or perhaps because lately, the image of William had started appearing inside his private spaces far too naturally. William standing barefoot in this condo kitchen wearing borrowed clothes after the storm. William falling asleep accidentally on the sofa while waiting for him to finish showering. William laughing too loudly in the living room before immediately apologizing like he had committed a crime.
Annoyingly enough-William had become increasingly attractive inside those memories too.
At first, Est used to think William’s appeal came mostly from brightness. William entered spaces loudly. Warmly. Without hesitation. People naturally gravitated toward him because William made affection feel easy. But recently-Est had begun noticing different things too. Like the sharpness hidden underneath William’s sunshine personality. The quiet confidence beneath all the nervous flirting. The way William looked onstage during the performance beneath dark lighting and silver accessories, singing like he meant every word.
Handsome.
Very.
And perhaps most interesting of all-William didn’t realize the effect he had. Because whenever Est looked at him too long lately, William still became visibly flustered instead of arrogant about it.
Est loosened his tie slightly afterward before walking toward the kitchen for water. Rain finally started falling outside then. Hard. Not gentle evening rain, but heavy water crashing against glass windows and swallowing the city lights into blurred silver reflections.
The sound filled the condo softly. Comfortable sound.
His phone buzzed against the kitchen counter.
A message from his mother.
Don’t forget William’s favorite snacks.
Est stared at the message for a long second. Interesting how naturally both families treated this trip already. Though perhaps “naturally” was the wrong word. More like: celebrated aggressively.
The memory surfaced immediately. Three nights ago.
After spending some time alone in Est’s room, Est and William rejoined the others at the dining table for dessert. Both families gathered around the long table while desserts began to be served, conversations drifted lazily between old memories and family gossip.
Est originally intended to mention Singapore casually.
Simple.
Brief.
Instead-
“I want to bring William to Singapore.”
The Sangaworawong residence dining room had gone silent for approximately two seconds.
Then William’s mother nearly dropped her teacup.
“You’re bringing him overseas?”
Her expression-along with Est’s mom and Earn–transformed instantly into emotional victory. Across the table, the fathers looked calmer, though visible approval lingered clearly in their expression.
“I’m going for business meetings,” Est clarified calmly. More for the moms and Earn.
William looked like he wanted the earth to swallow him whole.
“When?” William’s mother asked excitedly.
“My flight was originally scheduled for Wednesday,” Est answered evenly. “Four days.”
William’s mother turned dramatically toward her husband.
“Do you hear this? He invited William first.”
“That’s good,” he said eventually. “William should start seeing how the companies operate directly.”
Unlike his wife’s dramatic excitement, his reaction carried genuine approval instead. Which made sense. The Kaewpanpong family company revolved around entertainment management and production houses-close enough to the Singapore entertainment district project that the trip would actually benefit William professionally too. Besides, the project is indeed for the gain of both the families’ company.
Not that Est originally invited him for purely business reasons.
Across the room, Earn immediately lost every remaining trace of dignity. “Oh my god,” she announced loudly. “Their first international fiancé trip.”
“It’s not a vacation,” Est corrected calmly.
“Mm,” Earn hummed. “Sure.”
His mother looked even worse.
“You should take pictures.”
“We’re going for meetings.”
“You can still take pictures during capitalism.”
“Wait-are they sharing a hotel room?” Est’s mother quickly exchanged a suspicious glance with William’s mother.
Est nearly sighed.
“No one asked that.”
“Because I did,” Earn replied immediately.
William stared at the table with the expression of someone experiencing spiritual collapse. Meanwhile Est simply watched him quietly. Because underneath the embarrassment, William still looked unfairly handsome when flustered. Warm skin flushed pink. Silver rings tapping nervously against the glass. Sharp jawline tightening every time someone teased him further.
Back in the present, Est zipped one side of the luggage shut before reaching for his phone from the bedside table. Then he called William.
The call connected almost immediately.
“Hello?”
William sounded breathless. And suspiciously chaotic.
Est sat near the edge of the bed afterward, one arm resting loosely against the luggage.
“Did you finish packing?”
“…Mostly.”
Suspicious answer.
“William.”
“I’m packing!”
A loud crashing sound echoed immediately through the speaker. Then Keen’s voice appeared loudly in the background.
“THAT’S NOT HOW YOU FOLD PANTS.”
Another crash followed. Sea sounded spiritually exhausted already.
“Why do you even own this many rings?”
William sounded offended.
“They’re important emotionally.”
Est leaned back slightly against the headboard, listening quietly. Lately, hearing William’s familiar chaos after exhausting workdays had started feeling oddly comforting.
“You invited them over?” Est asked calmly.
“They invited themselves,” William answered immediately. “Sea said I pack like a divorced raccoon.”
“That’s honestly accurate,” Keen shouted somewhere nearby. Sea sighed audibly.
“Where is aunty though?”
“She went to some reunion thing. So much for helping me.”
“Did you remember your passport at least?”
“…Probably.”
Silence. Then multiple voices shouted simultaneously.
“WILLIAM.”
Est rubbed lightly beneath his eyes, unable to stop the faint amusement settling beneath his exhaustion. “You need your passport, identification documents, and formal clothes,” Est reminded calmly. “The Singapore meetings are semi-private.”
“I know,” William muttered. “I’m not completely hopeless.”
Then suddenly-through the speaker-he heard movement, followed by William muttering something before the line shifted slightly quieter. And when William spoke again, his voice sounded closer now. Lower. Warmer somehow.
“I found the passport,” he said.
Est could suddenly picture him clearly. Probably standing beside the bed in oversized dark clothes, messy hair falling over his forehead while holding the phone against one shoulder. Rings decorating his cute fingers. Brows furrowed slightly in concentration.
Attractive image.
“Did you pack medicine?” Est asked calmly.
“Yes.”
“Chargers?”
“Yes.”
“Laptop?”
A pause.
Then quietly:
“…Sea, where’s my laptop?”
Sea sounded deeply tired now.
“I genuinely think you’d die without supervision.”
William laughed afterward. Soft. Bright. And annoyingly handsome sounding through the phone too. Then William spoke again, softer this time.“…Are you done packing already?”
“Mostly.”
“Show off.”
Interesting how naturally conversations between them flowed now. Not awkward. Not overly careful. Comfortable.
“You sound tired,” William said suddenly.
Est blinked slightly. Interesting observation.
“Long meetings.”
“You should sleep early tonight then.”
Simple words. Yet somehow they settled warmly inside the quiet condo.
Est looked briefly toward the rain-streaked city beyond the windows. Then back toward nothing. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow at seven,” he said eventually.
“You don’t have to pick me up personally.”
“Yes, I do.”
Small silence.
Then quieter:
“…Okay.”
Something about William’s voice changed slightly there. Softer. Not nervous exactly. Just pleased. And strangely enough-Est realized he liked hearing that tone directed toward him.
~*~
Wednesday morning. By seven-thirty, the city already looked alive beneath pale sunlight filtered through storm-colored skies. Cars moved endlessly along crowded roads while massive buildings reflected muted gold against damp pavement.
Est sat quietly in the backseat of the car, one arm resting against the leather armrest while his driver navigated through traffic toward the Kaewpanpong residence. His phone screen still displayed several unread work messages regarding the Singapore investment meeting scheduled tonight, yet Est found himself paying less attention than usual. Because another thought occupied him instead.
William.
Specifically:
whether William had actually remembered every important document after last night’s chaotic packing disaster.
Such lack of confidence.
The car eventually slowed near the front gates of the Kaewpanpong family estate. A few seconds later, the mansion doors opened. And William appeared. Est’s attention sharpened now whenever William entered his field of vision.
William descended the front steps dragging expensive luggage behind him while balancing two cups in one hand and his phone in the other.
Chaotic.
Yet annoyingly attractive anyway.
He wore black loose-fit trousers paired with a fitted dark shirt beneath a long gray coat, silver rings decorating his fingers while sunglasses rested carelessly over messy dark hair.
Handsome.
Very.
And perhaps most dangerous of all-William looked older lately. Something about him had begun settling into sharper lines little by little. The softness remained, yet confidence had started appearing underneath it too. Especially after the engagement.
Especially after the kiss.
Interesting development.
William nearly tripped over the final step immediately afterward.
Ah.
There he was again.
Cute.
His mother followed behind him looking emotionally devastated already.
“Text me every day.”
“Mom,” William groaned softly, “it’s Singapore, not war.”
“That’s still another country.”
Meanwhile William’s father looked calmer beside her.
“Watch carefully during the meetings,” he told William instead. “Especially the partnership discussions.”
William nodded quickly.
“Yes, Dad.”
Then his gaze shifted toward the car. Toward Est. And immediately softened.
The car door opened. Est got out of the car to greet William’s parents. They both gave him a faint smile; William’s mother even hurried down the steps and immediately gave Est a warm hug.
“It might be a bit of a hassle for you. Please look after him for me.” Willam’s mother whispered slowly to Est’s ear.
“I will.”
With the last wai, Est glanced a little toward William and then returned back to the car. William followed hurriedly.
Est entered the car first, followed by William who stepped inside carrying the faint scent of expensive cologne and fresh coffee.
“Morning,” he said.
Then paused. And blinked slightly after properly seeing Est.
Est had left directly from the condo wearing a dark fitted suit beneath a long coat, hair still slightly damp from showering earlier. William stared for approximately two seconds too long.
“Morning,” Est answered calmly.
William handed him one coffee afterward.
“I bought yours.”
“Trying to bribe me?”
“It’s homemade. You sounded tired last night.”
Simple words. Yet something warm settled unexpectedly beneath Est’s ribs anyway.
The driver pulled away from the estate soon afterward, leaving the Kaewpanpong residence behind while rainwater reflected across the roads outside.
For the first fifteen minutes, William talked almost continuously. About the university performance aftermath. About Keen nearly posting embarrassing backstage videos. About Sea threatening violence during packing.
Bright.
Animated.
Est mostly listened quietly beside him. Interesting how comfortable silence and conversation had become between them now. Not forced. Not cautious. Natural.
“And then Keen said I emotionally depended on you now,” William continued dramatically.
“He’s not entirely wrong.”
William nearly choked on his milk-Est guessed.
Est looked toward him calmly afterward.
“You can’t just say things like that casually,” William muttered weakly.
Rain tapped steadily against the windows while the city passed outside in blurred gray and silver. Then somewhere near the expressway entrance, William’s phone slipped from his lap when the car slowed suddenly. William reached for it at the exact same moment Est did. Their hands collided lightly. Skin against skin. Warm. William froze immediately. Despite kissing already, William still reacted to small touches like emotional disasters.
“Sorry,” William whispered instantly.
“You apologize often lately.”
“That’s because you keep existing too close to me.”
Est watched him quietly afterward. William looked away first.
At the airport, things became worse. Or perhaps more amusing. Because traveling beside William apparently meant constant accidental contact. Shoulders brushing while walking through the terminal. William’s fingers catching briefly against Est’s wrist during security checks. Their knees knocking together twice while seated in the lounge because William somehow occupied space dramatically despite trying not to.
The first-class waiting lounge remained quiet compared to the crowded airport outside. Rain had become softer, tapping lightly against massive glass windows while travelers moved lazily through expensive silence and polished marble floors.
William sat beside Est reviewing travel schedules on his tablet with visible concentration. Interesting sight. Because when William focused seriously, the usual chaos softened into something sharper.
Dangerously attractive.
“You’re staring,” William muttered without looking up. Ears red.
Est smiled without giving any response.
Their boarding announcement arrived shortly afterward. And somehow, somewhere between private boarding gates and quiet luxury cabins high above the clouds, the atmosphere between them shifted softer.
The first-class cabin lights dimmed gently after takeoff while rain disappeared beneath endless white clouds outside. William sat beside him wearing headphones loosely around his neck while scrolling through downloaded music files. Relaxed. Comfortable. Handsome.
Interesting how often that thought surfaced now.
At one point during the flight, William leaned closer suddenly to show him something on the tablet. Too close. Close enough that Est could smell his cologne clearly again. Close enough that William’s shoulder pressed lightly against his. Warm.
William didn’t seem to notice immediately. Or perhaps he noticed and chose not to move away this time.
“What do you think?” William asked softly.
Est looked toward the screen, though honestly concentrating became slightly difficult when William remained this close.
“The second arrangement sounds better,” Est answered eventually.
William nodded thoughtfully. Then paused. Because apparently only now realizing how near they sat. Cute. The delayed reaction made Est want to tease him immediately.
“You’re blushing.”
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
William looked away toward the airplane window afterward, visibly flustered but smiling faintly anyway. Very cute.
And somewhere above endless clouds and silver skies-Est realized something dangerous again. Traveling with William felt easy. Not exhausting-despite small chaos when William apparently forgot where he placed his passport and Est had to join the search party. Not overwhelming.
Easy in the way good things quietly become part of life before someone notices fully.
~*~
Singapore greeted them with sunlight and glass light.
From the moment the car left the airport highway, the city unfolded beneath clear noon skies and bright towers painted silver-gold by midday sun. Buildings rose elegantly against pale blue horizons while mirrored windows reflected streaks of white light across clean streets lined with trees and polished steel. Beside him in the backseat, William stayed unusually quiet for almost five full minutes. Silence rarely lasted that long around William naturally.
Est glanced toward him briefly. And immediately understood why. William was staring outside the window with obvious fascination, attention moving restlessly between skyscrapers, rooftop gardens, luxury storefronts, elevated trains, and endless city lines stretching beneath the sun. For someone who is born with golden spoon, William sometimes looked so innocent, like every little thing fascinated him as if he didn’t basically has everything and gone everywhere around the world already.
“You’ve been here before,” Est said eventually.
William blinked before looking toward him.
“Yeah, a couple of times,” he admitted. “Not for work, most of the time. But sometimes Dad tried to implant it in my head too.”
William smiled gently.
Est had realized something important lately, despite all the chaos, warmth, and dramatic flirting, William had genuinely started trying to understand the business world surrounding both families. Not because he lacked knowledge. William had grown up inside conglomerate circles the same way Est had. Luxury hotels, private meetings, corporate dinners, investment talks-none of this was unfamiliar to him.
But this was different. This time William was stepping closer to the center of it personally. Closer to Est’s world.
The car slowed eventually beneath the covered entrance of an enormous luxury hotel in the center of the business district. Tall glass walls reflected bright afternoon sunlight while uniformed staff immediately approached the car the moment it stopped.
William stepped outside first, removing his sunglasses smoothly while glancing upward toward the building. Sunlight caught briefly against the silver necklace resting near his collarbone. Very handsome. Interesting how unfair William looked lately whenever he stopped acting chaotic for more than three seconds.
“This hotel again,” William muttered softly afterward. “Dad brought me here once for a media partnership event.”
Est looked toward him.
“You hated it.”
William stared.
“How do you know that?”
“You complained to Earn for approximately two hours afterward.”
A pause.
Then William laughed under his breath.
“You remember weird things.”
Inside, the lobby smelled faintly of polished wood and expensive flowers. Soft piano music drifted through the enormous space while elegantly dressed guests crossed marble floors beneath massive crystal lighting. Sunlight streamed through towering windows, turning parts of the lobby gold beneath the afternoon brightness.
William walked beside Est naturally while they approached the reception desk. Relaxed. Comfortable. Like someone who belonged perfectly in spaces like this. Which he did. The Kaewpanpong family carried wealth powerful enough to stand beside the Sangaworawong family without difficulty. The difference between them had never been status. It was personality. Est looked composed enough to intimidate rooms quietly. William looked warm enough to make rooms follow him willingly.
The receptionist greeted them immediately.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Sangaworawong. Your suite arrangement is ready.”
Then Est paused slightly. And looked toward William.
“Do you want your own room,” he asked evenly, “or should we share the suite?”
William stopped functioning instantly.
“…What?”
“The suite has multiple rooms.”
William’s face turned red almost immediately anyway.
“I mean-“
William cleared his throat too quickly.
“I mean technically we could.”
“Mm.”
“But also I enjoy surviving emotionally.”
Est watched him quietly. Because honestly, sharing one suite would have been convenient enough. But also-William might genuinely combust before the trip ended.
“We’ll take two suites,” Est said eventually.
Visible relief crossed William’s face immediately. Then, strangely-disappointment too. The receptionist remained professionally expressionless throughout the entire exchange. Impressive woman.
Their rooms ended up located on the same private floor, separated only by a short hallway.
William entered his room first. And approximately three minutes later-
Est received a message.
William: Okay this suite is ridiculously nice and big even by rich people’s standards.
Est unpacked calmly afterward inside his own suite while bright afternoon sunlight poured across the skyline outside. The room itself looked exactly like every luxury business suite: clean lines, muted colors, quiet wealth. Temporary. Unlike his condo back in Bangkok, hotel rooms never carried emotional weight for Est. Yet somehow today, the atmosphere felt strangely softer.
About an hour later, after showering and changing into more comfortable clothes, Est gathered several printed files before walking toward William’s room. The door opened almost immediately after he knocked. And Est paused slightly. William clearly hadn’t expected him specifically.
William stood there wearing black shorts and an oversize t-shirt with damp hair falling messily over his forehead. No accessories except their necklace resting visibly against his collarbone.
“You look shocked,” Est observed calmly.
“I thought it was room service,” William admitted honestly.
“That’s disappointing.”
William nearly choked. Cute.
Inside, William’s room already looked noticeably less organized despite only being occupied briefly. A jacket abandoned over the couch. Open luggage near the bed. Several accessories scattered carelessly beside the coffee table.
Chaos.
Predictably.
Est sat near the sofa afterward while opening the files.
“The Singapore company moved tomorrow morning’s meeting earlier,” he explained. “We’ll leave by eight tonight.”
William nodded immediately before sitting beside him. Close. Not touching. But close enough that Est could feel warmth radiating beside him naturally.
For the next thirty minutes, they discussed investment structures, entertainment district projections, artist-centered commercial development, and partnership concerns regarding media integration into the project.
And interestingly enough-William listened seriously. Not pretending. Not simply following along for Est’s sake. Genuinely listening. Asking sharp questions too. Sometimes people underestimated William due to how warm and chaotic he seemed socially. But William noticed things quickly. Understood people well. And when he focused seriously, there was unexpected steadiness underneath all the brightness. Attractive quality.
At one point, William leaned forward over the coffee table to examine one of the architectural proposals more closely. And Est’s attention caught briefly on the line of his shoulders beneath the thin oversize tshirt.
William looked soft at first glance. But not weak. There was lean strength underneath him now-subtle but visible whenever he moved carelessly without noticing someone watching. Eventually, however, Est leaned back slightly against the sofa with visible exhaustion.
“I don’t want to go upstairs for lunch.”
William blinked.
“The rooftop restaurant?”
“Too much effort.”
“Wow, you’re unbelievably lazy for someone this successful.”
“Yes.”
William laughed softly. Warm sound. Comfortable sound. Bright sunlight continued pouring across the hotel windows while Singapore shimmered beautifully outside.
Then William tilted his head slightly, “We can just order room service here?”
Simple suggestion. Yet strangely domestic somehow.
Est looked toward him quietly afterward. William sat cross-legged against the opposite side of the couch now, damp hair still slightly messy while holding business reports loosely across his lap. Relaxed. Comfortable.
“Fine,” Est answered eventually. William smiled immediately afterward. Bright enough to soften the expensive hotel room around them somehow.
So they stayed inside William’s room, spread investment files across the coffee table between them, talking quietly beneath warm sunlight and glowing city views.
Lunch arrived nearly forty minutes later.
Far too much food.
William had apparently ordered with the logic of someone preparing for an incoming natural disaster instead of two people quietly eating inside a luxury hotel suite.
The dining table near the windows slowly filled with dishes one after another-steak, pasta, seafood, soup, desserts, coffee, tea, fruit, and something involving truffle that Est suspected cost an unreasonable amount of money even by their standards.
Est stared at the table briefly. Then toward William.
“You ordered for ten people.”
William looked completely unashamed, “I got nervous.”
“What part of hunger creates lobster?”
“You looked tired,” William answered immediately, like that somehow explained everything.
William moved around the suite comfortably afterward, while continuing to talk about random things with familiar chaotic energy. About Sea sending seventeen messages reminding him not to embarrass himself internationally. About Keen demanding souvenir gifts already. About how Singapore smelled cleaner than Bangkok.
Est sat watching him for a moment longer than necessary. William eventually loosened the sleeves of his oversize tshirt while sitting across from Est at the dinning table. And annoyingly enough-the simple movement caught Est’s attention immediately.
William had beautiful hands. Visible veins beneath warm skin. Lean wrists disappearing beneath dark fabric. Dangerously attractive. Especially when combined with the contrast of William’s personality. Someone so soft socially shouldn’t look this handsome while casually pouring tea. Unfair combination.
Sunlight spilled warmly across the suite windows while Singapore shimmered beneath the afternoon sky outside. Somewhere far below, traffic moved endlessly between silver buildings and green rooftop terraces. Inside the room, however, the atmosphere remained strangely calm. They ate slowly while business documents remained scattered across the table between expensive dishes and coffee cups.
At one point William started asking questions again regarding the entertainment district project. Not surface-level questions either. Real ones.
“How do you prevent the district from becoming too commercialized?” William asked while leaning back slightly in his chair. “If the entertainment side loses authenticity, audiences notice eventually.”
Interesting point. Est looked toward him more carefully afterward. Because honestly-William understood people exceptionally well. Probably because he spent his entire life surrounded by artists, performers, public attention, and emotional branding. He noticed emotional reactions instinctively in ways many businessmen didn’t.
“The goal isn’t only profit,” Est explained calmly. “The district needs cultural identity too. Otherwise it becomes temporary hype instead of long-term relevance.”
William nodded slowly. Then, “That’s why you included public performance spaces.”
Est paused briefly. That detail hadn’t been obvious inside the proposal files.
“You noticed.”
William shrugged shyly, “I pay attention.”
Est had become increasingly aware that William paid attention specifically to him too. Especially him. To his moods. His habits. His exhaustion.
At some point during lunch, William abandoned the chair completely and moved onto the sofa instead, one leg folded beneath himself while balancing a plate carelessly across his lap. Chaotic. Yet somehow the expensive suite looked warmer with William sprawled across it casually.
Est remained at the dining table reviewing financial projections while William continued talking from the sofa.
“You know,” William said casually, “this is kind of nice.”
Est glanced upward briefly.
“The meeting?”
“No.” William looked toward him directly now-acting like the red in his face and ears are not visible enough for even someone stand meters away.
“This.” he finally said.
The sunlight.
The quiet suite.
Lunch together between business discussions.
Them.
Est held William’s gaze for a moment longer than necessary.
“What?” William asked eventually, visibly even more flustered now under the silence.
“Nothing,” Est answered calmly.
William narrowed his eyes suspiciously. He eventually stood from the sofa afterward before wandering lazily toward the windows overlooking the city.
Sunlight wrapped softly around him there. And for one dangerous second-Est thought William looked unfairly beautiful against the Singapore skyline. Not delicate. Not pretty in a fragile sense. No. William looked warm and handsome and alive in ways difficult to ignore now.
Then William turned suddenly.
“Are you coming to the rooftop tonight after the meeting?”
Est blinked once. He remember William told him about the VIP access to the hotel’s rooftop garden, and hoe wanted to check it out tonight.
“You want me there?”
William looked immediately offended. “You’re literally the reason I’m in this country.”
Fair.
Very fair.
And somehow-that answer settled warmly beneath Est’s ribs again.