Thanathorn, his eyes scanning her outfit. “What are you doing here? And why are you dressed like that? Goggles? A mask? You look like you’re auditioning for a budget spy movie.”

Namfoon snorted but quickly stifled it when Ratana elbowed her. “Oh, um…” Ratana stammered, obviously grasping for an excuse. “I was... uh...”

Thanathorn raised a hand. “Stop. Don’t even bother. If you’re thinking of cooking up some excuse, save it. Atid already told me everything.”

“Stop glaring at him,” Thanathorn said sharply.

Ratana and Namfoon both stood there, shuffling their feet like guilty kids caught stealing candy.

“I can’t believe this! You sent some random guy to seduce me! Who even does that? What kind of mother—" then Thanathorn’s eyes darted to Namfoon. “And who is she?”

Ratana forced a smile, her eyes darting nervously. “Oh! This is my best friend, Namfoon.”

“Your best friend?” Thanathorn repeated skeptically, switching to Thai with a polite, “Sawasdee krap.” Then he turned back to his mom. “Why did you send someone to seduce me?”

Namfoon and Ratana exchanged a panicked glance.

“Answer me,” Thanathorn pressed. “Or I’m not coming home this weekend.”

Ratana sighed in defeat. “Fine! I just wanted to see if you like boys or not!”

Thanathorn gasped like he’d been hit with a brick. “What? Why would you—why would you do this?”

Ratana glanced at him, her voice soft but insistent. “Because I knew you wouldn’t tell me, and I wanted to know. I’m your mother.”

“Mom!” he exclaimed, mortified. 

Ratana wasn’t backing down. “So, do you?” she pressed. “Do you like boys or not?”

“Why do you want to know?” Thanathorn asked, his voice muffled through his hands. “What’s next? Are you trying to set me up with someone?”

The question made Ratana and Namfoon freeze, their guilty expressions giving them away instantly. “Well…” Ratana began, but she faltered under her son’s incredulous stare.

Finally, Atid stepped in, his voice as calm as a referee’s. “He likes both boys and girls. But he’s picky. He has... a type, also he had someone he—”

He didn’t get to finish and Ratana lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. “So you like boys!” she crowed, clapping her hands in delight.

Atid nodded reluctantly.

Namfoon and Ratana squealed and hugged each other, bouncing on their heels in giddy triumph. Without another word, they turned and strutted off toward the car, leaving Thanathorn and Atid staring after them, dumbfounded.

“…What just happened?” Thanathorn finally asked.

Atid, still watching their retreating forms. “I… honestly don’t know. but I am scared.”

Thanathorn sighed, rubbing his temples. “I really need a drink. A strong one”

                                                                                         ***

Siamwit High school, Night,

Sighhhhhhhhhh.

I was exhausted. My body ached, and my mind felt like it was swimming through molasses. Extra hours again—thanks to the so-called celebrity, Thanathorn Wachirayan. That man. His name was enough to make me groan.

He’s coming next week, and apparently, that means we can’t even breathe properly until the school looks picture-perfect for his grand arrival.

Why did we have to prepare everything? Every little detail. Every corner spotless. But, of course, as teachers, we can’t complain. The principal decreed it, so we follow orders like good soldiers.

Another sigh escaped me, louder this time, unbidden.

"Why are you sighing so much?" Tan’s voice broke through my thoughts, tinged with amusement.

I glanced at him, then returned to fixing the string of decorations in my hand. “Because I’m working extra hours without extra payment,” I replied dryly.

Tan chuckled, the sound annoyingly cheerful. "At least it's worth it."

I scoffed, pausing to turn and give him a look. “Worth it? Excuse me?”

His grin widened, and he continued without hesitation, “Thanathorn is coming here. If I have to decorate the whole school myself, I’d do it.”

I smirked, shaking my head at his enthusiasm. Look at this big fan.

Dropping the decorations, I sank to the ground, stretching my legs out in front of me. “I’m taking a break,” I muttered, leaning back on my hands.

Tan simply smiled and got back to work, humming to himself. My gaze wandered, landing on the oversized banner of Thanathorn hung near the entrance of the gymnasium. His perfect smile and those ridiculously white teeth seemed to mock my exhaustion.

I stared at the image for a few seconds, my annoyance simmering. Then, glancing back at Tan, I asked, “Why do you like him?”

Tan didn’t even pause to think. “He’s hot. Sexy. Charming,” he said, as if reciting the ABCs.

I smirked again, shaking my head. “I should’ve guessed.”

Tan grinned, unashamed. “And don’t forget talented!”

“Yeah, yeah…” I muttered, waving a hand dismissively before lying back on the polished floor, letting out another exaggerated sigh. My back ached, my hands were sore, and my patience was thinner than the glittery streamers hanging above us.

Tan glanced down at me, his curiosity clearly piqued. With a playful shrug, he plopped down beside me, crossing his legs. “So,” he began, tilting his head, “why do you hate him?”

I turned my head slightly to give him a tired glare. “I don’t hate him. I just hate that I’m working extra hours all because of him.” My voice was flat, but the frustration beneath it was evident.

Tan leaned in a little, a sly grin tugging at his lips. “You’re... not even a little excited about him coming?”

I rolled my eyes and turned my head away, avoiding his gaze. “Nope. Not a little,” I replied firmly, though the faintest hint of a smirk threatened to betray me.

Tan let out a dramatic gasp, clutching his chest as though I had just declared the world was ending. “Not even a tiny bit? You know, he’s Thanathorn Wachirayan!”

“Exactly,” I deadpanned, turning back to look at him. “He’s just a guy with a nice face and a bunch of fans. That doesn’t mean I should be losing my sleep over streamers and posters.”

Tan chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. “You’re impossible. But don’t worry—once you see him in person, you’ll change your mind.”

I raised an eyebrow at him, unimpressed. “Sure, Tan. I’ll be starstruck the moment he steps through those doors. Now, if you’re done fangirling, let me relax.”

Tan laughed, leaning back on his hands. “Alright, alright. But when you do fall for his charm, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

I snorted, shaking my head. “Not happening. I will never, ever fall for him.”

Tan grinned confidently, clearly undeterred. “You will. The moment you see him on that screen. The moment you realize how magical he is, you can’t help but fall. Trust me, you’ll be hooked.”

I rolled my eyes, my smile creeping in despite myself. “I won’t. Not even if he appears right in front of me, holds my hand, and drags me to the theater to show me all his films.”

Tan looked at me for a long beat, eyebrows arched in challenge. “You sure about that?”

I sat up, eyes narrowing slightly. “Positive.”

Tan leaned in, a teasing smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Well, if he does all that, I think you might just have a change of heart. I mean, who can resist that kind of charm?”

I gave him a pointed look, my voice steady and firm. “I’ll resist.”