THEWEDDINGPLAN, Chapter 3:
No manual says it’s wrong to have a crush on the groom-tobe.
“What’s wrong with you, Nuea?”
“…”
For the past few days, everyone in the office had grown used to seeing the company’s handsome organizer staring blankly at the sky, his coffee mug, documents, or anything in his line of sight. They were all baffled about what the hell was going on. This morning, his close senior couldn’t take it anymore and finally spoke up, but… he didn’t respond. “Nuea!” Silence.
“Nuea!!”
Still silent. “Nuea, damn it!!!” Whack!
“Ow, that hurt!!!”
Finally, the office’s fierce lady lost her patience, grabbed a nearby folder, and smacked him square on the head. The guy, who’d been staring blankly at the sky in the meeting room, yelped loudly, whipping around to confront her, only to face… an even fiercer expression.
What’s your deal? I nudge you, you don’t turn. I call you, you don’t answer!” Nuea blinked rapidly, as if snapping back to reality, before flashing a wide grin.
“Oh, come on, Sis, you’re not a drill sergeant, and this isn’t a military camp. There’s no rule saying I’ll get my pay docked for not turning or responding.”
“You dare talk back to me?!”
“What, did you think I was bowing down to you in reverence or something?”
This time, Sister Eim didn’t snap at him. Instead, she was tapping a folder against her palm, flashing a chilling smile that sent shivers down Namnuea’s spine. Not wanting her to guess what was on his mind, he kept up his cheeky facade, bracing for the pain of the folder smacking him next. But…
“You don’t have to grovel. Just tell me what’s gotten into you,” Sister Eim said, her voice laced with concern. Namnuea paused, then let out a sigh.
How do I tell her my heart’s racing for the groom-to-be? He’d been in this job for years and, honestly, had occasionally found himself eyeing a groom here and there. But that was it— once work started, clients were just clients. He poured his all into creating their dream weddings. This time, though, was different. It felt like he was being teased, flirted with, and his traitorous heart kept fluttering, making him feel inexplicably guilty toward the bride.
If he admitted this out loud, no amount of heads would be enough to withstand the slaps he’d get.
“Nothing’s wrong…”
“Right, nothing’s wrong,” Sister Eim echoed in a tone that mimicked Yiwa’s, sending goosebumps up his arms. Then she started listing his mistakes.
“Nothing’s wrong, huh? The other day, you ordered the wrong flowers for tomorrow morning’s event, and they had to call me to confirm the quantity. And yesterday, you sent the wrong event draft to a client, who then called to ask why their wedding had red in it when we’d agreed on soft tones. These kinds of mistakes aren’t like you, Nuea.” As she laid out his errors, Namnuea made a show of checking his watch.
“Oh, look at the time! I’ve got a meeting. Gotta go… Sorry for the mistakes, Sis!” The errors had happened, he’d owned up to them, and he’d already been scolded once. Listening to another lecture would just crush his spirit. So, he rattled off his apology, grabbed his bag, and bolted out of the office like he was running a 4×100 relay, leaving only the sound of his senior shouting after him.
“Come back here, and you’re done for!”
Seriously, is she a colleague or my mom?
Namnuea mused slowly. Truth be told, he could bow down and call Sis Eim “Mom” with full sincerity. She’d mentored him from the start, given him opportunities’ opportunities, and helped him land the job of his dreams.
Nuea loved weddings. Among the countless events he’d organized, despite the social pressures and the need to keep up appearances, weddings were special. They let him feel the joy
and tender warmth of love between two people. If he had to choose which events to bring to life, he’d pick weddings— moments that would leave lasting memories for decades—over anything else.
And this one would definitely be unforgettable… because his heart was pounding for the groom.
“I just want to bang my head against a wall… if I wasn’t afraid it’d hurt,” he muttered. Maybe a good knock would snap me out of it.
RRRRRrrrrrrrr
Gasp
While grumbling to himself in the elevator, his phone rang, and he quickly grabbed it. No surprise who was on the screen.
“Yes, Khun Lom?”
[I’m pulling up to the front of the building. Should I park inside or wait out front?]
“Out front, please. I’m on my way down.” After hanging up, he couldn’t help but sigh.
Dress fitting day… another hectic day.
The pickiness of grooms and brides varied, but the chaos brought by parents and friends was twice as intense.
Not everyone brought their parents to fittings, but most brides wanted opinions from those around them. So, the person waiting for him downstairs wasn’t just the groom alone—there were bound to be several others for him to handle. Namnuea took a deep breath, summoned his professional demeanor, and plastered on a smile.
Ding
His smile froze the moment he saw who was leaning against the sleek car… a glossy black BMW sports car, parked prominently, drawing the eyes of passersby. But that wasn’t the only thing that stopped Nuea in his tracks. It was… the groomto-be himself.
Today, he was dressed casually in dark jeans that showcased long, lean legs, paired with a relaxed white V-neck tee and a brown jacket that did nothing to hide his good looks. Sunglasses were tucked into the collar of his shirt, his hair left natural rather than slicked back as usual, and his sharp, handsome face was adorned with a… captivating smile.
Just a change in outfit, and the entire vibe shifted.
More playful, more fun, more approachable, and his charm… it practically radiated into the air.
No matter how hot he is, he’s got a fiancée, Namnuea. Not to mention, he’s not even interested in you.
Nuea took another deep breath, trying to stop his legs from trembling under the man’s devastating charm. He stepped forward, raised his hands to wai in greeting, and what helped him keep his composure was likely the car.
That selfish car, built for just two people. With the bride and groom already there, he’d have to follow in another car rather than squeeze into a cramped back seat that was clearly not designed for a third or fourth person.
Time to breathe.
“Good morning, Khun Nuea. Please, get in.”
Creak
“!!!”
But what Namnuea had anticipated was completely off. When Sailom walked over to open the passenger-side door, he saw that the car… was empty.
“Where’s Yiwa?”
“Yiwa didn’t come with me. I’m here to pick you up alone.” What kind of nonsense is this? Leaving the bride to go on her own and picking up the wedding organizer instead? Nuea could only stare in confusion, trying not to read too much into it.
“Is she meeting us at the shop? I sent the list of shops we’re visiting today, and I heard Yiwa knows the designer at the first one.” Perhaps she went ahead.
“Hmm, Yiwa knows them.”
“Then there was no need for you to come pick me up, Khun Lom. Honestly, we could’ve just met at the shop. I feel bad that you had to drive all this way,” Namnuea said. The other man let out a soft chuckle before asking,
“Then make it up to me.”
Who asked you to pick me up?!
If he weren’t a client, Namnuea might’ve snapped at him.
Instead, he asked warily, “Make it up… how?”
The other man just flashed a wide smile, gesturing toward the passenger seat. Namnuea hurriedly climbed in before anyone could witness the odd sight of a man holding a car door open for another man. Then, the handsome driver slid behind the wheel. “By the way, Khun Nuea, have you had breakfast?” “Huh?!”
Nuea let out a small yelp, turning to meet the other man’s gaze. That captivating smile was still directed at him, forcing him to look away.
“I had a little something,” he admitted.
Why’d you tell the truth, Nuea?
“Then… how about keeping me company for breakfast?”
The next sentence left the young organizer utterly speechless. It felt strange… strange in a way that was hard to describe. Since the first fitting appointment was at eleven, and the shop was quite far from the office, plus the groom was mindful of being late, the breakfast spot the young man chose was one Namnuea loved most… McDonald’s.
“What’ll you have?”
“A Sausage McMuffin combo, please.” If he were alone, he’d order a Double Sausage McMuffin with egg, no question. But with the health-conscious handsome guy beside him, Namnuea felt too self-conscious to reveal his usual eating habits.
Especially since the other guy ordered the same thing.
“Lom, here’s my share for the food.”
“No need.” As Namnuea tried to hand over money for his meal at the drive-thru window, the other shook his head.
No way, you can’t just treat me like this.
“It’s fine. I dragged you to grab breakfast with me first. Just one meal—you wouldn’t reject my gesture, right? Besides… I have something I need your help with.” The words made Namnuea feel a twinge of suspicion, his body tensing even more as he sat in the car of this seemingly perfect man.
In the passenger seat, no less.
“Help with what?”
The other just smiled, didn’t answer, and drove to the next window to pick up the food.
It wasn’t until they got the brown paper bag with the logo that Namnuea realized what the guy needed help with.
“Could you put cream in my coffee? No sugar, please.” Since it was a simple task, Namnuea did it without complaint, stirring it well before putting the lid back on and handing it over.
“Careful, it’s hot.”
“Then grab me a hash brown, too.” Namnuea set the coffee in the cupholder, pulled out a golden, appetizing hash brown from the bag, and noticed the steam rising from its heat. He carefully wrapped the end with the paper and handed it over.
“Careful, it’s hot…”
“Ow!”
“Hey, Lom!”
Before he could even finish his warning, the hot hash brown touched Sailom’s large hand, making him flinch. It fell onto his lap, and Namnuea yelped in alarm, quickly picking it up. Seeing the oil stain on the expensive branded pants, he instinctively grabbed a napkin and started wiping it off frantically.
“I told you to be careful! Does it burn?”
“It’s fine. My pants are thick—it didn’t reach my skin,” Sailom replied.
“But it’ll leave an oil stain! We need to wipe it off quickly,” Namnuea said, completely forgetting himself. He scrubbed vigorously at the stain on Sailom’s lap, fully focused, until the mark finally faded. Only then did he realize how… compromising his position was.
His face, bent down, was mere inches from Sailom’s lap— which meant it was also inches from the crotch of his pants.
Gasp!
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to!” Namnuea jolted upright, backing away and stammering apologies. When he looked up and met those sharp eyes gazing down at him, he thought, God, please help me. If the glass wasn’t tinted enough, anyone outside might think he’d just been… doing something with his mouth and had sat up straight.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. I understand. I’m the one who should apologize,” Sailom said with a faint smile, seeming unbothered. Namnuea felt a slight relief but kept his hands and belongings as close to himself as possible. What had just happened was making his heart and body tremble uncontrollably.
Touched him again.
He quickly bowed his head, trying to focus solely on his food. But then…
“Can you feed me?”
“What?!” Namnuea’s voice cracked as he repeated the question.
“I’m not great with hot food. I might burn my hand again, and we’re almost out of time for the appointment. I won’t have a chance to eat on the way,” Sailom said. The man, who hadn’t shown an ounce of enthusiasm for the wedding planning, was suddenly adamant about being on time. He raised one eyebrow, subtly pressuring him. Namnuea bit his lip slightly.
“Can’t you hold it yourself?”
“No,” Sailom insisted firmly.
What could Namnuea do? He grabbed the hash brown again, holding it up to those perfectly shaped lips. “Just this once, okay?”
He wasn’t saying it to Sailom—he was telling himself. Just this once, getting this close.
After the suit fitting, they wouldn’t need to meet one-on-one like this anymore. He’d give himself this one chance, and that was it.
Though it felt odd to be feeding breakfast to the groom-to-be, Namnuea could only suppress his feelings. His large eyes kept stealing glances at the man’s straight lips, time and again, justifying to himself that it was just looking—what harm could it do? Maybe a tiny bit wrong, but only because he was curious… would this man be a good kisser?
Would Khun Lom’s kiss make him melt in his arms?
Gasp!
Suddenly, Namnuea jolted—not because he’d been caught having impure thoughts, but because he’d zoned out and hadn’t been careful while feeding the last bite. The tip of his finger was lightly nipped by sharp teeth, snapping him back to reality. He turned to the driver, who didn’t seem fazed at all, even though his tongue… had brushed against the fingertip.
Zing!
Namnuea hadn’t felt this electric sensation coursing through his body in ages—not since holding hands with his college boyfriend. But now, an electric current was spreading through him, from his shoulders to his toes, his heart pounding wildly as the other man met his gaze and released the nipped finger.
“Sorry about that,” Sailom said.
For some reason, Namnuea felt like it was… intentional. It was just a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity before he regained his senses and pulled his hand back, mumbling that it was fine. The breakfast he usually loved from his regular spot suddenly tasted bland, no matter how much sauce he squeezed onto the muffin. All he could feel was a soft, fluffy sensation in his chest, making him feel inexplicably floaty, like Yiwa herself. This buoyant feeling, one he wanted to experience again after being single for a year—why did it have to be with this man… the one about to get married?
It’s not wrong to just feel good, Nuea. It’s just feeling good. That thought silenced the usually chatty and confident organizer for the entire drive, until the sleek sports car pulled up in front of the famous designer’s shop. Only then did he manage to reclaim his sense of self.
Grab
“Wait, Khun Nuea.”
As Nuea was about to step out of the car, he immediately looked down at his wrist, firmly held by the other man. He looked up, his eyes full of questions, and met… an amused gaze. The sharp, handsome face with a raised smile was captivating, the sparkling eyes unmistakably playful. His heart, loveless for a year, was sounding alarms that this wasn’t good. But the groomto-be seemed oblivious to this fact, as his large hand reached closer, making the young organizer quickly turn his face away. “What are you doing?!” Namnuea’s deep voice rose in warning, signaling that this was getting out of hand.
For whatever reason, this was really not okay.
But…
“Just relax, Khun Nuea,” the man in front of him said, gripping his wrist tightly and pulling him to face him. Not only that, but a large hand reached toward his cheek, leaving Namnuea unsure of what to do.
Is Khun Lom bi?
That was what he wondered. But whether he was or not, the man was about to get married.
“You shouldn’t do this,” Namnuea said, his instincts telling him Sailom was interested in him. He wasn’t that full of himself, but he had to say something. Yet, the handsome man merely raised an eyebrow in surprise and then…
Whoosh
“I was just going to tell you that half your mouth is covered in sauce. See?” he said, lifting his fingertip, which had swiped across Namnuea’s lips, to show him. His expression was so normal it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. And, of course, the one with the sauce-smeared mouth… was left gaping.
What?! Sauce on my mouth?!
“What, it’s on there?!” Namnuea yelped, grabbing a tissue to wipe his mouth vigorously, only to find there was indeed a smear of tomato sauce. Meanwhile, the other man finally let go of his wrist and said in a calm tone, “You looked like you were about to bolt out of the car, so I thought I’d warn you.” Crash!
If his face were a mirror, it would’ve shattered into a million pieces by now.
“Thanks, and, uh, sorry.” Bang!
No way was he going to sit there like a clown instead of a dashboard figurine. Namnuea hurriedly stepped out of the car and bolted into the boutique without looking back, completely unaware that the man still in the car was… laughing.
Sailom laughed loudly at the other man’s endearing reaction, watching his retreating figure until it disappeared. Then, he lifted his sauce-stained fingertip… and licked it.
“Sweet.”
The young man uttered just one word, then grinned widely. His heart was itching to taste more and find out if it was really sweet.
Was it the sauce that was sweet, or was it the sauce-smeared lips that were Yiwa? He really wanted to find out.
Thinking that, he grabbed the coffee and took another sip, steam still rising from it. He didn’t seem like someone who’d just complained about hot things at all. After finishing the cup, he gathered it up, stepped out of the car, and strolled whistling to toss it in the trash bin outside the shop, in an even better mood than before.
If he’d known the person handling the wedding would be like this, he would’ve agreed to Ms. Yiwa’s proposal much sooner. “But it’s not too late.” Buzz, buzz.
Sailom pulled out his vibrating phone and glanced at the screen, his sharp, handsome face breaking into an even wider smile.
A message from his bride-to-be, short and sweet: Have fun today, Lom.
‘Heh, I’m having more fun than you think, Yiwa.’
“What do you mean the bride isn’t coming? What’s this about her not being able to make it?”
After taking a moment to compose himself, Namnuea managed to steady his breathing. He greeted the staff at the fitting room, asking if the bride had arrived since it was nearly time for the appointment. But there was no sign of her, and his worry began to outweigh the flutter in his chest. Steeling himself, he went back to ask the groom, who was quietly waiting, only for the response to make the young organizer nearly lose it.
“I said Ms. Yiwa isn’t coming to try on dresses today. She has an urgent matter. I’ll be trying on my suit alone, and she planned to do her fitting separately anyway.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
He wanted to shout the place down but managed only a soft question. The groom raised an eyebrow. Didn’t I tell you this morning?
Besides biting your finger and licking sauce, making me feel like I’m about to cross a moral line, I didn’t hear a damn thing! “No, I asked you about the appointment, and you said Ms.
Yiwa would be here herself because she knows the designer.” That’s what he heard, clear as day. But the guy in front of him kept insisting on his innocence, as if his story held no cracks. “I only told you that Ms. Yiwa knows the designer here. I never said a word about her coming ahead of time.”
Okay, maybe Nuea jumped to conclusions, but really? If it was a misunderstanding, just explain it! Don’t come up with some half-assed excuse now that we’re already at the shop.
Namnuea must’ve shown more on his face than usual, because the man in front of him stood up to his full height. That allknowing demeanor softened, and he spoke directly.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, you don’t have to apologize.”
“I’m really sorry…” Despite brushing it off, the soft, deep voice made Namnuea’s heart melt. He turned his face away, and Sailom repeated himself.
“You’re not mad at me, right?”
What right do you have to be mad at Khun Lom, huh, Nuea?
It’s not like he ruined the job.
“No, I’m not mad… But let me confirm again, Yiwa will be coming to try on her dress herself, right?” Namnuea steered the conversation back to work, and the other man nodded. “Yes, within the next week. She asked me to apologize to you for not being able to come today. No need to reschedule her, though—she’s going to try on dresses with her friends. Plus, she already has a design in mind. You’ll probably see it within the week. As for the engagement outfit, my family will handle it.” So, the man in front of him had known all along that the bride wouldn’t be coming today.
“Alright, then, would you like to try on your suit now, Khun Lom?” Suppressing his irritation, Namnuea handed over the suit catalog.
Many might think a groom’s wedding outfit is just another suit, but in reality, grooms have options like suits, tuxedos, or even tailcoats. There’s also a variety of colors—cream, golden cream, white, black—and different trims, like white, black, cream, or rose gold, all tailored to match the unique concept of each wedding.
“Which one do you think is good?”
“With your build, Khun Lom, I think you’d look great in any of them.” It wasn’t flattery—he genuinely meant it. Sailom flashed a smile before pointing to two options: a golden brown suit and a golden cream one. “Which color do you like?” “Maybe you should ask Yiwa, Khun Lom,” Namnuea suggested. The bride and groom should match, right? But Sailom just rubbed his chin.
“I’ll try them on and send pictures to Yiwa later. For now, what do you think?” Since he was asking for his opinion, Namnuea looked him up and down.
“I like this gray suit with black trim,” Namnuea said, pointing to a different suit outside Sailom’s choices. Sailom laughed and turned to the staff.
“Let’s start with this one, then.”
With that, Sailom followed the staff, giving Namnuea a chance to practically collapse onto the sofa with a heavy sigh. If the first shop is this exhausting…
Usually, taking a bride and groom to try on outfits involves about three shops. Brides are often the pickier ones, still searching for that perfect “click,” while grooms tend to be more easygoing. By the third shop, though, Nuea was used to seeing grooms practically throwing tantrums out of boredom.
It might be settled at the first shop.
He thought hopefully, taking on the role of photographer, snapping pictures to send to the bride for her final choice, and printing photos from a portable printer to review side by side. Until the last outfit…
“What do you think of this one?”
“It looks amazing! The bride must be so jealous,” the shop assistant said admiringly. Sailom smiled and turned to someone else, as if seeking their opinion more than anyone else’s, making Namnuea want to scratch his head. But he noticed something first.
The tie knot under the suit vest is a bit crooked.
He thought as he stepped closer to the groom.
“May I?” His hands reached for the tie knot, adjusting it slightly left and right. He didn’t notice that the groom had leaned down even closer, his sharp eyes fixed on his profile, before giving a small smile. “There, all sharp and handsome now. You look great in every outfit, Khun Lom,” Namnuea stepped back, looked up, and flashed a smile.
“So, which one do you like best?”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yeah, I want your opinion.” At that, Namnuea walked back to the printed photos laid out in a row.
“I like all of them. You look good in every outfit, Khun Lom. But if I had to choose… I like this cream-gold suit. The shirt, the vest, the tie—it all comes together perfectly,” Nuea pointed at one of the photos, while the other man stepped up behind him, forcing him to act as normal as possible.
“I see,” Sailom acknowledged, then met his gaze.
“So, it’s settled…” The question came before the groom-to-be declared loudly, “I told you I trust your skills, and I trust your taste too.”
The listener could only stand there, stunned. Hearing words like “trust your skills” and “trust your taste” made someone in his profession feel unexpectedly good. Though it was daunting, it strangely fueled his motivation. Moreover, the look in Sailom’s eyes and the tone of his voice genuinely made him feel that way.
Sure… despite the groom’s many flaws, there was no denying that Sailom made Nuea’s heart flutter, and he found himself liking this man more and more, in a way he couldn’t quite explain.
It’s not wrong to secretly admire the groom-to-be, is it? As long as we don’t act on it.
Nuea could only avert his gaze and tell himself that much. Meanwhile, he didn’t notice the curious stares from the shop assistants. The dynamic between the two men didn’t seem like a friend helping another pick out clothes or a wedding organizer assisting a groom. The fact that the groom sought his opinion on everything and went along with it all made them unanimously wonder.
So, is the bride really another woman, or is it actually this man?
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