Win's Room, Later,

Now I’m all ready to meet this guy Mom picked. Why? Because I agreed to meet him, and now there’s no backing out. Zero choice here.

“Winnnnnnn! Come fast!” Mom’s voice came booming.

I didn’t even bother dressing up fancy. I just threw on something casual and decent. Why bother, right? It’s not like I’m actually marrying him or anything. This is just… an audition?

As I walked out, Mom gave me a full scan like a security guard at the mall. Up and down, down and up. Then she nodded like some big boss giving her stamp of approval.

“Let’s go,” she said.

I smiled, but not because I was happy. No, this smile was pure survival.

Pim, of course, was skipping ahead like this was her big day. “Which restaurant are we going to?” she chirped, bouncing.

Mom casually replied, “I don’t know. I think it’s a Japanese restaurant.”

Pim’s eyes lit up. “We’re eating Japanese?” she squealed, practically vibrating with excitement.

“Maybe,” Mom said.

                                                                                               *** 

Kokoro Japanese Restaurant,

Later, Night,

I parked my car outside some big, fancy Japanese restaurant. I was barely out of the car when Mom pulled out her phone and started talking to someone—probably her best friend.

“Yeah, I’m out. Where are you?” she asked. Then she said, “Okay… okay, I’m coming.”

She hung up and turned to me. “Let’s go,” she said.

I sighed so heavily it felt like my soul was escaping. I don’t know why, but everything just felt… heavy. And my heart? It was racing. This has never happened on any other blind date before. But then again, my mom never followed me to a blind date before either. Maybe that’s the problem!

I needed to calm down, so I took a deep breath. 

Breath in, Breath out. You got this, Win. This is just another random guy who’s gonna say “no,” and you’ll go home and read you're comics like usual.

And then, just to be safe, I prayed. Dear God, Buddha, anyone who’s listening up there—please, please let this guy reject me. Please, I’m begging you.

I was practically chanting in my head as we walked toward the restaurant. Please, please, please let him reject this stupid marriage…

And...of course, God wasn’t listening. 

We followed a smiling waitress who led us to some private room—I think it was private, or maybe it was a VIP room. Either way, it screamed fancy.

The moment we stepped in, the two moms—my mom and her best friend—hugged each other like long-lost sisters, all happy and squealing.

“I can’t believe we’re becoming in-laws!” Mom said, practically bouncing.

I stared at them, blinking in disbelief. In-laws? Who said I agreed to this?

Then Aunt turned to me, her smile polite as she looked at me. 

“Win… come here,” Mom called, waving me over.

I shuffled toward them. Mom beamed at me and said, “This is my best friend, Ratana, and your's to-be mother-in-law.”

I awkwardly forced a polite smile, nodding my head. “Sawasdee krap, Khun naa (Aunty).”

Aunt Ratana’s eyes sparkled as she looked me over and nodded. “He’s really beautiful!” she said, sounding genuinely impressed.

Mom huffed proudly, puffing out her chest. “I told you.” And then mom looked around, “But...where’s your son?”she asked eagerly.

“He just went out for a bit. He’ll be back soon,” Aunt Ratana replied.

Soon? Yeah, right. 

I think he sprinted out of the back door. If he’s running away, that’s amazing. I fully support this decision.

But just as I started feeling hopeful, Aunt Ratana glanced toward the door and said, “Oh, he’s here.”

I felt my stomach drop. I slumped down a little. Then, I turned around to see the man walking in.

And then, my whole world tilted.

Standing there, looking like he just walked off a magazine cover, was none other than Thanathorn Wachirayan.

Yes. Thanathorn Wachirayan. 

The superstar.

My brain short-circuited. My hands? Sweaty. My legs? Weak.

Of course, it wasn’t just me. Thanathorn looked just as shocked as I did. His eyes widened, like he’d just seen a ghost—or maybe, in his case his own career flashing before his eyes.

Our eyes locked again. The world around us froze again.

“P’Thannnnn!” Pim shouted excitedly, running straight to him and grabbing his hand.

That snapped us both out of it.

Pim grinned up at him, completely oblivious to the chaos around her. “P’Than, are you going to marry my brother?”

"What!" I mumbled, barely audible. My heart raced as the realization hit me like a brick to the face.

He’s Aunt Ratana’s son?

He’s the person my mom picked for me?

Thanathorn Wachirayan? Thailand’s biggest superstar?

I stared at him, still frozen in place. He looked at me, probably as clueless as I was. 

And then it hit me. 

Wait… hold on. If it’s Thanathorn Wachirayan, the superstar, my mom picked for me, there’s no way he’s saying yes, right?

RIGHT?

I started to feel this weird, twisted sense of joy bubbling up inside me. Celebrities don’t risk their reputation for random marriages like this. He’ll definitely say no. I guarantee it. I ABSOLUTELY GUARAN—

“Yes,” Thanathorn said suddenly, his voice calm and smooth.

My eyes shot wide open, What did he just say?

Thanathorn smiled faintly at Pim, then turned his gaze to me. His expression was unreadable—cool and collected—but I swear I caught the tiniest twitch of a smile on his lips.

“I’m going to marry your brother.”

“Whatttttt!!!!!!!!!”

The word echoed in my head as I stood there, paralyzed. I screamed internally, loud enough to shake the heavens, but of course, no one heard me.

And just like that, my fate was sealed—with Thanathorn Wachirayan, thailand biggest superstar.