As I stepped into the staff room, the buzz of excitement was almost deafening. The teachers were practically glowing, their faces lit up like they’d just won the lottery. I didn’t need to ask what it was about; I already knew. A big superstar was coming, and apparently, everyone had forgotten how to act normal.

Tan was right in the middle of the excitement group, grinning from ear to ear and gossiping like he was hosting a talk show. The moment he saw me, he broke away and rushed over, his usual exaggerated enthusiasm dialed up to eleven.

“Win, you know—”

I cut him off with a sigh, dropping my bag onto the desk. “Yeah, I know. Thanathorn Wachirayan is coming to our school.”

Tan’s smile grew even wider, his eyes sparkling. “Isn’t it amazing? We’re going to see Thanathorn Wachirayan! In person! Can you believe it?”

I groaned, running a hand through my hair. “Yeah, yeah, great. Amazing. Whatever.” My tone couldn’t have been less enthusiastic if I tried, but Tan? He was on cloud nine and couldn’t care less about my mood.

He pulled a chair over and plopped down dramatically, leaning closer with a mischievous grin. “Don’t tell me you’re not even a little bit excited, Win. I mean, come on! Have you seen him? Tall, handsome, rich, single—ugh, a dream!”

I rolled my eyes. “Good for you, Tan. Go make a fan club or something. Just don’t drag me into it.”

Tan gasped, clutching his chest like I’d just stabbed him. “Win! How can you be so cold? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! I bet he’s even more handsome in person. Imagine standing close enough to smell his cologne...”

I gave him a deadpan look. “Are you done?”

Tan blinked, then smirked. “I just started.”

I sighed, slipping my ID card over my neck. To my relief, Tan didn’t keep gushing about his superstar obsession. Maybe he finally got the hint that I had zero interest.

Instead, he tilted his head and asked, “Oh, by the way, did you come out to your parents?”

I looked at him, nodding. “Yes. I did.”

Tan’s curiosity sparked, his eyes lighting up. “So…?”

I smiled softly. “They accepted me for who I am.”

Tan’s face broke into a wide grin, and before I could react, he hugged me tightly. “Yeah!” he said, his voice filled with excitement. Pulling back, he looked at me with that same grin. “I knew it. I knew Aunt Namfoon and Uncle would accept you. They’re the sweetest.”

I nodded, still smiling. It felt good to hear that confidence in his voice.

“Then… let’s celebrate!” he said, clapping his hands together.

“Celebrate?” I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think—”

Tan didn’t let me finish, cutting me off with a dramatic wave of his hand. “Oh, come on, Win! You just took a huge step, and you deserve a little fun. Don’t be boring!”

I sighed again, knowing there was no escaping Tan when he got like this. “Alright, alright. But nothing too crazy.”

“Okay,” he said with a sly grin. I could already see the wheels turning in his head—probably thinking about the free drinks he’d manage to snag.

As Tan started planning our so-called celebration in his head, my attention shifted outside the staff room. That’s when I saw Rit—one of my students—walking past. Something felt off immediately. He didn’t look his usual self; there was a stiffness in his step, like he was trying to move quickly without drawing attention.

Concerned, I got up from my seat. “Rit…” I called out to him.

He stopped but didn’t turn around. That made me even more uneasy. I walked closer, and as I got near, I noticed the state he was in—his clothes were soaked, and he smelled… like mop water. And his face—there was fear written all over it.

“Rit, what happened? Why… why are you so wet?” I asked, my voice soft but firm.

Rit hesitated, avoiding my eyes. He was clearly trying to hide something.

“Rit,” I said again, this time a little more gently.

“It’s… it’s nothing, Teacher Win,” he finally mumbled. His voice wavered, and he clutched his bag tightly. “I… I just fell.”

Fell? I frowned, not believing it one bit. Something about the way he said it didn’t sit right with me. It wasn’t just his words—it was the way he kept looking anywhere but at me, like he was afraid of what I’d see in his eyes.

“Rit… you can tell me if something happened, na. I’m here to help,” I said, keeping my voice calm and steady.

Rit glanced up at me for a second, but the fear in his eyes was still there. “Tell me, Rit. What happened?” I asked again, hoping he’d open up.

Before he could say anything, a voice came from behind us. “Oh, Rit…”

Rit froze. He didn’t even turn to look, but I did. Phat—one of my other students—was walking toward us, holding a pair of glasses in his hand.

“You left your glasses on the bathroom floor,” Phat said, handing them over with a polite smile.

Rit’s hands were trembling as he took them, clutching them tightly.

“On the bathroom floor?” I asked, glancing between the two of them.

Phat nodded, still smiling. “Oh yes, Teacher Win. Rit slid on the wet floor in the bathroom, and all the dirty water spilled on him.”

“I see,” I said, though something about the situation still didn’t feel right. But it wasn’t impossible—the janitors could’ve been cleaning the bathroom, and accidents like that do happen.

“Okay then, go clean yourself up,” I said, deciding not to push further.

Phat placed a hand on Rit’s shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. “Don’t worry, Teacher Win. I’ll make sure he gets cleaned up properly,” Phat said, his eyes flicking to Rit as he spoke.

I nodded and walked away, not wanting to suspect anything unnecessarily. But as I walked, a nagging feeling gnawed at me. My instincts were screaming that something was off—about Rit, about Phat, about the whole thing.

But I ignored it. Like a fool, I ignored it. An idiot, really.

                                                                                                  ***

Wachirayan House, Evening,

Namfoon entered Ratana’s luxurious apartment, her eyes widening as she took in the grandeur of the place. The high ceilings, pristine white walls, and large windows flooding the room with natural light left her momentarily speechless.

“Woah... your house, it's really beautiful and...” she paused, taking a step further into the room, “so spacious.”

Ratana smiled warmly. “Have a seat. I’ll get you some water.”

Namfoon nodded, still admiring the décor as she made her way to the plush sofa. She ran her hand over the smooth fabric, clearly impressed. Ratana returned shortly with a glass of water and placed it on the table before sitting down beside her.

Namfoon took the glass, drinking slowly as Ratana asked, “Did you have any trouble getting here?”

Namfoon put the glass back on the table and shook her head with a small laugh. “No, no. The cab driver knew this place well. He said it’s a famous apartment, so I had no problem.”

Ratana nodded. “That’s good to hear. So,” she said, leaning slightly forward, “what important matter did you want to talk about?”

Namfoon’s face lit up with a bright smile as she leaned closer, taking Ratana’s hand in hers. “My son… he… he likes boys.”

Ratana blinked, her expression neutral. “Oh, okay. That’s great! I mean, being gay is kind of usual these days.”

Namfoon’s smile faltered, and she sighed. “Oh, you didn’t get it? I’m saying my son likes boys.”

Ratana, still smiling, nodded. “That’s great, Namfoon. That’s great.”

Namfoon sighed again, shaking her head. “You idiot! I’m telling you we can arrange our sons’ marriage with each other.”

Ratana froze, the gears in her brain turning as she processed Namfoon’s words. Then, her eyes widened in realization. A grin spread across her face. “That means... we can be each other’s in-laws?”

Namfoon sighed in relief. “Finally, your brain is brainning now.”

Ratana giggled, clapping her hands together in excitement. “I can’t believe it, Namfoon! We… we both still have a chance to become in-laws.”

But as quickly as her excitement had come, it faded. Her smile wavered as doubt crept into her expression. “Oh… but Than…”

Namfoon frowned, concern evident in her voice. “Why? What happened?”

Ratana hesitated, her brow furrowed in thought. “Will he agree to marry a boy? I mean, I didn’t know if he likes boys or not.”

Namfoon’s expression softened as she looked at Ratana, her voice calm but determined. “Then find out.”

Ratana blinked, unsure. “But how?”

Namfoon smiled knowingly, her eyes twinkling. “I have an idea.”

The two women exchanged a look, the wheels of their plan silently turning.