THEWEDDINGPLAN, Chapter 4:
If having a crush on the groom-to-be isn’t wrong… Then is it wrong if the groom-to-be plays along?
Since the suit fitting went smoothly, the shop took about two weeks to complete everything. Namnuea then contacted the hotel to take the groom to see the actual banquet venue and discuss the necessary details. It was as straightforward as before, and thankfully, Khun Sailom had finally stopped saying his signature “anything goes.” Instead, he now said…
“I told you, I trust your judgment.”
Nuea wanted to ask if the man had mistaken him for the bride, but since he was too lazy to argue, and the other seemed quite satisfied—plus the work was progressing—he had no complaints. So, when the groom invited him for dinner while the sky was still light, Namnuea agreed immediately.
“Great, because I also want to align on the wedding concept.” “Can’t you drop the wedding talk for a bit? I’m already exhausted from today,” the driver grumbled lightly. But with a rare chance to pin the groom down, there was no way Namnuea would let it slip and have to chase him down another day for just a few questions.
“You’ll see that planning a wedding isn’t as easy as you think,” Namnuea said with a chuckle he couldn’t hold back. “That’s exactly why I hired you for this job,” the groom replied, echoing their first meeting. But this time, the tone wasn’t dismissive—it was laced with amused laughter, prompting Namnuea to retort, “A wedding planner can help, sure. We can reduce the hassle and headaches of the process. But some things require the cooperation of both the bride and groom. A wedding isn’t an everyday event—it might only happen once in a lifetime. So, endure the exhaustion; it’s worth the payoff.”
The young organizer had comforted countless couples with these words, but this time he was more serious than ever. Neither the groom nor the bride seemed to care much about this wedding.
He’d lost count of how many times he’d wondered if these two even wanted to get married.
“If you say so, I’ll take your word for it,” the groom said with a smile, pulling the car into the parking lot of a riverside restaurant. He turned to add, “This is my favorite place.” The restaurant, nestled along the Chao Phraya River, had a relaxed, laid-back vibe—more calming than a fancy high-rise eatery but classier than typical riverside joints. Namnuea, who rarely got to unwind from his stress, couldn’t help but like it. “This place has a great atmosphere. It’d be perfect for a small, intimate wedding—feels warm and friendly.”
“You’re still thinking about work,” the man leading the way chuckled softly. And as expected of a favorite spot, the moment the restaurant manager saw who arrived, they were ushered to a riverside table surrounded by candlelight. The setting was both soft and romantic, making Namnuea think that if the person who brought him here wasn’t about to get married, he might’ve easily given in to temptation.
What to do? Call it an investment for a good return, maybe. “You seem in a better mood than this morning,” Sailom remarked.
“Well, you’re finally cooperating with me,” Namnuea said bluntly, perhaps because he felt relaxed now that things were taking shape without tarnishing his reputation. Spending the whole day together also made him sense that if he spoke candidly, the other wouldn’t get upset.
Plus, he wanted to come off as a professional, not some fool blushing over sauce on his lips.
Forget that image entirely, the better.
“You’re talking like I haven’t been cooperating.”
“Who knows,” Namnuea replied, half-teasing, before taking the menu from the waiter. “Oh, seeing the menu reminds me— I’ll arrange for the chef to prepare test dishes for the wedding day for you to choose from.”
“Can we hold off on that? I’m already exhausted from wedding stuff today.” Honestly, Namnuea wanted to ask what was so tiring about trying on a suit, checking venues, booking a hall, and now just sitting down to eat. But he was too lazy to argue. He watched the other order food quickly, picked two dishes himself, and handed the menu back to the waiter.
“I’d rather know more about you.”
“Me?” Namnuea scanned the surroundings, taking mental notes, thinking this place could be an option for smaller weddings. He even considered grabbing the restaurant’s business card, at least to recommend to friends who often asked for his help.
At twenty-six, his friends were starting to get married one by one.
Yet the groom-to-be, who’d said he didn’t want to think about the wedding, brought it up again. Namnuea, who’d been stealing glances all day, accidentally locked eyes with those sharp, piercing ones.
“I’m curious about your name… Namnuea.”
Hahaha! I was born with floods of water,” Namnuea laughed. Though his heart fluttered at the man across from him, since the conversation wasn’t veering into anything inappropriate, he didn’t hesitate to share. “My parents gave me an easy nickname, right? I’m a northern guy. When I was born, my mom said the northern waters were overflowing, and they got the idea— ‘Hey, let’s call him Namnuea!’ Unique, one of a kind. What about you, Lom?”
Seizing the chance to learn more, he asked, and the listener laughed along. “My name doesn’t have a story like yours. My mom just liked the name, so she chose it. I’m Sailom, and my younger sister’s named Saifon.”
“You have a sister?”
“Yup, a younger sister. What about you?”
“I’m an only child, but I’m not lonely. I have a ton of cousins. One of them is the same age as me, already married. When we met last year, she was heavily pregnant. I heard she’s got a son now—my little nephew. I helped out at her wedding… the kind of wedding I would be proud of,” Namnuea shared openly, chuckling softly as he thought of his close cousin who was still in Chiang Mai. He, on the other hand, had escaped to study in Bangkok for university, and after graduating, like many others, he found a job and stayed here.
“So, you’re saying you’re in Bangkok alone?” Sailom asked, sounding surprised. Namnuea smiled.
“Not exactly alone. I’ve got plenty of friends and seniors from school.”
“Don’t you ever get lonely?” Thud.
Namnuea, who had been in a good mood, froze. The question hit him hard.
Lonely? He couldn’t deny that he was.
“Nah, work keeps me so busy I don’t have time to think about being lonely,” he said. In truth, he threw himself into work to forget the loneliness of being on his own.
Not every gay person was single like him, but plenty lived solitary lives. He was lucky that his family knew and didn’t mind. Still… dreaming of his own wedding felt like pure daydreaming.
Few couples got to have a proud, celebrated wedding. Since he had the chance to plan so many weddings, Namnuea poured his heart into them, treating each one as if it were his own once-in-a-lifetime event. Maybe that’s why the weddings he handled almost always earned praise.
For a fleeting moment, the look in the other man’s eyes seemed to show understanding. It was so brief that Namnuea wasn’t sure if he’d imagined it, because the handsome man changed the subject so quickly it was hard to keep up.
“What’s your favorite color, Khun Nuea?”
“That’s a tough one. In my line of work, I see beauty in every color—it’s about how you bring out its charm. What about you,
Khun Lom? What’s your favorite color?”
“The color of the sunset.”
“Like a reddish-orange?”
Something like that. I’m not great at describing shades,” Sailom said with a faint smile, gazing toward the river. “I didn’t know what I liked until I went hiking with friends from school. The moment I reached the top and saw the sunset, I felt… free. No one was forcing me or limiting what I could do. It’s a color that makes me feel like I’m seeing light, I guess.” Namnuea sensed that Sailom wanted to say more. There was something in those eyes—something that looked… stifled.
“Khun Lom…”
“Yiwa understands me in this matter.”
Namnuea wasn’t sure what to say, but the other man spoke first, making him pause. The mention of that name snapped him back to reality.
He was getting close to this man… not as a wedding organizer seeking information for the event, but as a man looking at another man in a different way.
Almost crossed the line, didn’t you, Nuea?
“No surprise there,” he said, though his hands under the table trembled slightly. But the other man continued.
“Yiwa and I have known each other since we were kids. Our parents are close, we grew up together, so we’ve always understood each other. You might wonder why Yiwa lets me decide everything—it’s because she knows I understand her.” So that’s why the bride stays out of it, as if waiting for the groom’s surprise.
Romantic, but why are you getting sad?
Namnuea tried to warn himself, then practically stabbed his own heart by asking, “You must love Yiwa a lot, Khun Lom.” The groom-to-be met his gaze and said, “Yes. I love Yiwa so much, I’d let her walk all over me.”
“Really?”
Nuea could only manage that response, forcing a smile. Luckily, the food arrived quickly, so the other man didn’t notice how his face paled slightly under the candlelight. Meanwhile, he kept reminding himself:
Liking the groom-to-be isn’t wrong, because he hasn’t shown the slightest interest in playing along.
Good. This is good. Just do your job to the best of your ability, Nuea.
The sky was pitch black by the time the sleek sports car pulled up in front of a condominium. The dashboard figurine turned to smile. “Thanks for the ride, Khun Lom.”
“I should apologize for taking up so much of your time. You didn’t even get to pick up your car from the office,” Sailom said.
“It’s fine. I leave it there often. I’ll just take the train tomorrow. Besides, I’m helping with Sister Eim’s event tomorrow, so I’ll probably catch a ride back with her anyway.” Tomorrow was a big wedding they were responsible for, so Namnuea would be there to ensure everything ran smoothly and coordinate until the evening ceremony concluded, sending the bride to the bridal chamber to wrap up the job perfectly.
“Thanks a lot for today, anyway.”
It’s my job,” the listener smiled, opening the door to quickly get out of the car, but…
Grab
Sailom suddenly gripped his shoulder, forcing Namnuea to turn and meet his gaze.
Those sharp, intense eyes, partially shrouded in the dim light, sparkled with a magnetic charm that seemed to pull him in. They locked onto his without wavering, the hand on his shoulder tightening. Then, the man smiled.
“I really appreciate you,” Sailom said.
“It’s my job—”
“No. I’m not thanking you as a client. I’m thanking you as
Sailom, for giving me a great day.”
“!?”
Namnuea could only widen his eyes, baffled. The words carried a depth of feeling too profound for him to even try to unpack—or rather, he didn’t want to unpack them at all. He didn’t want to understand why this man, who was about to get married, would say something like this.
“I… I appreciate you too, Khun Lom. Once the graphic drafts are ready, I’ll reach out. As for the engagement, leave it to us,” Namnuea said, slightly stunned. He quickly put on a professional smile to mask his feelings, then stepped away from the car swiftly, giving a slight bow.
“Thanks again for the ride,” he said, before taking long strides to his apartment, practically fleeing. Nuea was starting to fear himself.
He should only be admiring this man’s looks and physique as eye candy, nothing more. So why was his heart starting to stutter and falter like this?
Nuea felt that there was something between them that clicked, like puzzle pieces fitting perfectly together. The problem was, that puzzle piece already had a match—and one that was about to get married, no less. Plus, the other man wasn’t even gay and had openly declared how much he loved his bride. Khun Sailom was just trusting, reliable, and offering a friendship that went beyond a typical client relationship. But it… wasn’t anything more than what you’re imagining, Nuea. See him as just a client. It’s fine to secretly admire his handsomeness, his coolness, his charm as a wedding planner… but don’t go beyond that.
Even though Namnuea’s mind kept circling back to Sailom’s behavior, he didn’t have much time to dwell on it. Work piled up during that period, especially with the peak wedding season keeping everyone scrambling. It wasn’t until a week later that he finally had a moment to catch his breath.
“How much will our bonus be this year, sis? Working like this, I barely have time to sleep,” he asked.
“But you’ve got time to eat, don’t you, Nuea?” his close colleague shot back with a jab, making him huff through his nose. He rubbed his soft belly, realizing that the more exhausted he was, the more he ate. And with no time to spare, fast food— his ultimate comfort—became the go-to answer.
Who’s like you, sis? The busier you get, the more you look like a ghost on a stick.” Smack!
“It’s not like I’m getting slapped and have to offer both cheeks for more,” Namnuea grumbled, slumping in his office chair, eyeing his equally overworked colleague who somehow didn’t show any signs of exhaustion.
“Alright, I’ll let it slide for now. Seeing you run around like a dog chasing its own tail makes me feel bad for you. What’s got you working so hard all of a sudden?” It was like he volunteered for every task, even ones outside his responsibilities, jumping in to help others.
“Just trying to keep my mind off things,” Namnuea shrugged, leaning his head back against the chair.
“Got your heart broken somewhere?”
“Not yet, damn it. I haven’t even gotten to the heartbreak part.”
Because he’d already eaten rejection before even starting.
“How’s Lom’s project going?”
“It’s good, Sis. The color scheme, theme, and event format are all set. The photographer and makeup artist will be our usual contacts. Both Lom and Ms. Yiwa are fine with everything. Just some minor issues with the graphic sketches left to sort out,” Namnuea said, nodding a few times before slumping further. His listener nodded back, understanding.
“Sounds smooth. Good job. Wanna go flirt a bit today? You look like a mess.”
“No salary cut?”
“I’m not your boss. How could I cut your pay?”
“Well, everyone’s always threatening it,” Namnuea couldn’t help but retort, though he let out a faint smile. Dragging himself toward the office break room on the other side, he planned to take a quick nap since there was nothing urgent today. The exhaustion from work also kept his wandering thoughts at bay. And those wandering thoughts? Nothing else but… A rugged, manly figure in a sleeveless tank top.
The heat radiating from that body brushing against his.
A tongue licking fingers until they glistened.
Sharp teeth nibbling lightly.
Sexy lips claiming they couldn’t handle hot things. The more he thought, the deeper those impure thoughts dragged him, bubbling up endlessly. He shook his head hard, not wanting the other guy to catch wind of his sinful ideas if they met face-to-face. So, erase them all.
This exhausted, maybe he should take a few days off and go home. Visit his nephew.
Namnuea was letting his thoughts drift, lying down and starting to feel increasingly drowsy.
Will my nephew take after me or his dad?
RRRRRRrrr Gasp!
“Hey! Where’s my phone?!” Just as he was about to doze off, the phone in his pants pocket vibrated violently, jolting him upright. Dazed in the first second, he fumbled around in the
next, finally finding it in his pocket. He yanked it out and glared at the screen as if it were his sworn enemy.
“Khun Yiwa!” Every time he saw the bride’s name, his heart skipped a beat from guilt.
“Yes, Khun Yiwa,” Namnuea hurriedly answered the call and waited to listen.
[“Hello, is this Khun Namnuea, the organizer for Nong
Yiwa’s wedding?”]
Namnuea glanced at the screen briefly. The voice’s age didn’t sound like the bride-to-be’s at all. Plus… his right eye was twitching.
“Yes, that’s me, Namnuea. May I ask who…”
[“I’m Nong Yiwa’s mother. Is it convenient for you to speak with me, Khun Namnuea?”]
“Yes, absolutely,” he replied. Despite a strong gut feeling that trouble was brewing, he forced a smile and spoke with an enthusiastic, helpful tone. The other side began to speak. [“Here’s the thing—I’d like to know how the planning is going. Nong Yiwa keeps saying everything’s under control, and Lom says the same. So, I wanted to ask you directly about the progress. I heard you’ve booked the hotel?”] “Yes, ma’am,” Namnuea confirmed, naming the hotel, which seemed to satisfy her. He went on to explain the event details. “Khun Lom and Khun Yiwa have decided on a mix of Chinese banquet tables and a cocktail reception. The friends’ section will have cocktail-style food…” He mentioned they’d reserve some tables for the elders.
[“Have you confirmed the number of guests?”]
“Yes, Khun Lom informed me it’s around six hundred people…”
[“Oh no!”]
His right eye twitched even harder after that exclamation. This wasn’t just an “oh no”—it felt more like a catastrophe. [“It’s not six hundred! Did Lom tell you six hundred guests? I spoke with Lom’s mother, and the guest list is over a thousand—probably between eleven hundred and twelve hundred!”]
Can I just keel over and die now?
As soon as the bride’s mother finished speaking, Namnuea clutched his face with both hands, feeling the stress lines instantly creasing his forehead. To top it off, he was frustrated with the groom-to-be, who had confidently settled on 600 guests, only for the hotel booking and 30% deposit to be made already. The hotel he’d proposed could expand to two event rooms, accommodating around 700 people or more with Chinese banquet tables and cocktails combined, but definitely not exceeding 800. Even connecting to another banquet hall wouldn’t suffice for the 1,200 guests mentioned.
This is a disaster. Khun Lom told me it was 600 guests. [You didn’t listen to me, did you? I told you the wedding for the eldest son and daughter of our family has to be grand. I want to invite my old friends too, not to mention their families. There’s no way 600 is enough. Just my side alone is already 500 people, Khun Namnuea.]
Should’ve trusted my gut.
Namnuea pressed his temples, squeezing hard, scrambling for a solution. The event he thought would go smoothly now felt like someone had scattered nails along the path.
Not finalizing the details beforehand—what now?!
[What are we going to do? I’m not reducing my guest list.] This is why I said a daughter’s wedding is like the mother’s wedding too.
“Calm down, please. I’ll find a solution quickly and let you know. The hotel has a garden area. If we open that up, it should accommodate more guests for a cocktail setup.” [But I don’t like the garden. And about the cocktail setup—can we just make it all Chinese banquet tables instead?]
No way!
Namnuea wanted to yell. If the guest count stayed at 600, switching to Chinese banquet tables wouldn’t be an issue. A room that could handle 1,000 for cocktails could fit about 800 for banquet tables. But accommodating 1,200 with all banquet tables? That’s a massive undertaking.
[Mom, who are you calling on your phone now?] Suddenly, the bride’s voice came through the phone, giving Namnuea a sliver of hope.
[Nong Yiwa, did you say there are only 600 guests? I told you that’s not enough.]
[Mom, 600 is already a lot, according to me and Phii Lom.
I don’t want a wedding where I walk around not knowing the guests. I already talked to you about limiting the guest count. Why invite friends of your friends that I don’t even know?]
Yiwa, how could you say that? A wedding is a once-in-alifetime event for you!
This time, the voices of mother and daughter arguing came loudly through the phone. Namnuea was practically raising his hands, biting his nails, hoping Khun Yiwa would win. But before the outcome of the argument was clear—
[Khun Nuea, it’s Yiwa. I’m so sorry for the chaos. Let me talk to my mom first.]
Then the bride hung up, leaving the listener stunned, mouth agape, because it meant they still hadn’t reached a conclusion!
Namnuea slowly lowered the phone, wanting to collapse and forget the stress. But in reality, it wasn’t time to rest.
Ring, ring… ring!
“No answer! At a time like this, he doesn’t pick up, ugh!” When he called the groom-to-be and got no response, Namnuea grabbed his bag and quickly told his coworker:
“Sis Eim, I’m heading out.”
“Where to, Nuea?”
“It’s a mess, Sis. Khun Lom’s wedding, the one with 600 guests? It’s now over 1,000!” “What?!” Even the more experienced colleague gasped, turning to look at him. Namnuea nodded vigorously, visibly stressed.
“The bride’s mom called earlier, freaking out that 600 guests isn’t enough. Her side alone is 500! And Sis, I’m ready to hang myself with the flower bouquet. We just paid the hotel deposit last week—yes, last week! I tried calling Khun Lom, but no answer. So I’m going to ambush him at his office.”
“Whoa, calm down. He might call back this evening,” Sis Eim said, and the listener cooled off a bit, taking a deep breath and slumping heavily into a chair.
True, storming into the groom’s workplace over this might seem rude.
If that’s the case, Nuea decided he’d keep calling until someone picked up.
Three days passed—three days with no word from either the bride-to-be or the groom-to-be.
Three days of nail-biting stress over finalizing the guest count. Namnuea tried finding solutions, like increasing the number of banquet rooms, connecting them, and using the garden area too, even though the scorching weather made it unlikely any guest would enjoy the beautiful garden.
But all this depended on reaching an agreement with the clients.
So, on the fourth day, Nuea’s patience ran out. The moment work ended, he bolted from the office, heading straight to where he knew the groom would be. And, sure enough—bingo.
“Khun Lom, is that you? I just saw you earlier.”
“Can I come in?” The fitness staff probably remembered this brazen customer who wandered in last time, so this time, they weren’t going to let him pass so easily for free.
We offer a daily pass for using the facilities. If you’re interested, it’s this one…”
“How much?” Nuea gritted his teeth. There was no easier way around this. Waiting around until who-knows-when for the person to come out wasn’t an option. When he heard the price, Nuea’s frustration doubled, but he paid the fee to track down his client, who seemed to treat their phone like a paperweight! His sharp eyes scanned the room, and it wasn’t hard to spot him.
“Khun Sailom!!!”
Namnuea charged toward the man jogging on the treadmill, shouting without a shred of courtesy.
At first, he might’ve been confused, anxious, and stressed about how the guest list had inexplicably doubled. But the other party’s refusal to answer calls, call back, or give any updates had turned his cool demeanor into boiling rage. His voice was laced with anger, frustration, and a desire to just cancel the whole deal and be done with it.
“Khun Lom, you know about this, don’t you? Khun Yiwa’s mother called me about the guest list for the event. You said the final number was six hundred, so how did it balloon to twelve hundred? More importantly, I’ve been trying to reach you for three days, and you haven’t picked up once! Do you even realize you’re getting married? A wedding isn’t some game or a casual market stall. If this event crashes and burns, it’s not just my reputation—it’s the company’s name on the line!”
Grab
Hey, I’m not done talking!”
“I think we need to find somewhere else to finish this conversation, Khun Nuea.”
Before Namnuea could lay into him further, the other man grabbed his wrist and dragged him toward the changing room. Namnuea wanted to throw a punch but held back, mindful of the onlookers. He strode quickly to keep up, passing through the locker room until they reached the innermost part—the shower area. Only then did they face each other again.
And then Nuea let loose.
“I don’t know how you view this wedding, but you’re getting married, Khun Lom! No matter how much you hate complications, don’t you understand that a wedding isn’t just about two people? It’s about marrying into the other person’s family too. And yet, you haven’t even bothered to talk to them—not even about the guest list! You just decided the numbers on your own. You’re… ugh!”
But before Namnuea could finish, his hands trembling with rage, the other man did something completely unexpected. Sailom leaned down to kiss his lips, as if to silence every sound, leaving him wide-eyed.
The kiss pressed firmly, until the furious man came to his senses. Push!
“What are you doing!” Nuea pushed with full force, shouting loudly, glaring at the man who could still smile, responding with the most punchable answer to the question.
Calming you down, of course.”
Whether Namnuea calmed down or not, he didn’t know, but he was definitely shocked and half-angry that someone about to get married would just kiss him so casually!
Wasn’t it said that the groom loved the bride so much? How could he kiss like this!!!