THEWEDDINGPLAN, Chapter 9:

No place feels as comforting as the one called home.

   “Nuea, come eat, son.”

“…”

“Nuea.”

“…”

“Namnuea!!!”

Gasp

“Ouch, my ears are going to burst, Mom! I’m right here.” Namnuea was sitting on the balcony of his bedroom, arms resting on the railing, staring blankly at the neighborhood playground where four or five teenagers were playing basketball. It should’ve been a pleasant sight, but he just let out heavy sighs. He didn’t even notice his mother had entered the room and called out to him—until she practically shouted in his ear, loud enough for the teens at the court to turn and look, making him jump.

Still, he flashed a cheeky grin, only for his mother to smack his shoulder with a loud slap.

“I’m shouting so much my mouth’s about to tear!”

“Let me see, Mom. Where’s it torn? Need medicine? I’ll grab some for you,” he teased.

“Still joking around, huh?”

“No way, not me!” The handsome young man with fair skin grinned, showing off his perfectly aligned teeth, his tone playful. But his large, round eyes were red, betraying the tears he’d shed every night since coming home. His mother sighed heavily, took his hand, and led him back into the bedroom, pushing him to sit on the bed as if to say, I’m done waiting, tell me now.

“What happened in Bangkok?”

“…”

Namnuea wanted to keep up the playful act, like he did the day he returned home, but this time, he couldn’t muster the humor. His voice fell silent, and he couldn’t bring himself to meet his mother’s gaze.

He didn’t dare tell the truth about what he’d done…

Slept with a groom-to-be? That’s no different from being branded a homewrecker.

   “Nuea, you know, don’t you, that no matter what happens, you’re still my son?” His mother reached for his hand, squeezing it tightly as she sat beside him. Her eyes, full of concern, locked onto him, but Namnuea could only turn his face away.

“Mom, I did something wrong.”

“What did you do?” His mother didn’t even pause, her voice still soft and gentle. The listener bowed his head lower, like a six-year-old child caught in trouble.

“I did something very wrong, so wrong.” That’s all he can say, fearing the look in his mother’s eyes might change.

His mother raised him to be a good person. If she knew how weak he was, how would she see him?

“What did you do wrong? Can you tell me?”

“I don’t dare say. I don’t want to talk about it.” Namnuea lowers his head. The sunlight outside fades, the sky partly darkens, much like his heart, which feels nearly void of light to find a way out. “Will you keep suffering alone, my child?”

“I don’t want you to suffer too.”

“Then what’s the point of having a mother?”

The listener freezes, tears welling in his eyes, his heart trembling fiercely. He grips his mother’s hand tightly. Her cheerful son has become so depressed—how? Who did this to him? “Nuea, I can’t stand seeing you like this. Who did what to you?”

“No. He didn’t do anything!” Namnuea almost claps a hand over his mouth after blurting it out loudly. His mother stares at him, silent.

“Then what did he do?” She knows now his pain comes from someone else, so he bites his lip harder, afraid he’ll cry.

“He didn’t do anything… I did this to myself.”

If he’d been stronger, if he hadn’t let his heart fall for a man who’s already taken, he wouldn’t hurt this much. That night, if he’d been tougher, things wouldn’t have gone so far, leaving him with guilt so heavy he had to run away. Now, he could probably face Khun Yiwa without hiding in shame.

   His mother listens intently, and slowly, his heart begins to spill out. “Nuea shouldn’t have, Mom. Nuea shouldn’t… Nuea shouldn’t have loved him, knowing he’s already taken. Nuea shouldn’t…” He sobs, shoulders shaking. He might stay strong in front of coworkers, but not with this woman. Tears stream down his cheeks.

   His mother looks visibly shocked, but he can’t stop.

    “I did wrong, Mom. So wrong, unforgivably wrong. I should’ve been stronger, not so weak like this. I am awful. I shouldn’t have made that mistake.” Namnuea repeats the same words, but it’s a confession that makes his mother cry. Her tears fall, matching the hands holding him.

“Nuea did so wrong, didn’t you,”

“So wrong for being so weak,” he says, his tears unstoppable, just like when he confessed to her that he doesn’t love women.

And she does what she did then.

She reaches out, wraps her arms around his shoulders, and pulls his face to her chest, like he’s just a small child.

“Oh, my baby,” she says softly, holding him tightly, rubbing his back and shoulders to comfort him. His strength crumbles completely, and he lets all his weakness pour out to the person he trusts most. He clings to her waist, cursing himself as nothing but awful.

“Nuea, Nuea, listen to me. Everyone makes mistakes. There’s no such thing as someone who only does what’s right. What makes a person good or bad is whether they realize their mistake and whether they try to fix it, Nuea. If my son were a bad person, he wouldn’t be crying like this, wouldn’t feel this guilty, wouldn’t be telling me this. It’s okay, my dear. It’s okay.”

The more he listened, the more Namnuea’s tears fell. His arms tightened around his mother’s waist, and he sniffled loudly like a child.

“I didn’t let myself fall any deeper. I pulled back. It’s the responsibility I took for the mistake I made and fixed.”

“I may not know the details, but don’t torture yourself more than this, Nuea. Don’t see yourself as a bad person, because you’re the best—my son is the very best.”

“Mom, Mom, I’m sorry. I am sorry,” Namnuea could only repeat his apologies. He knew his mother was crying… crying for her son.

She was suffering just as much as he was.

“I won’t make the same mistake again. I won’t repeat it,” he sobbed, promising his mother he’d never put himself in that situation again.

Enough was enough with being the third party.

Love is for two people. As long as there’s a third, it’s no longer love. “That’s good, my dear. Good job, Nuea. You’re the best person for me,” she said. Namnuea pulled back from her warm embrace, looking up at the tearful smile on her face as she gently wiped his tears.

“But now my good boy should go wash his face and come down to eat. Your Dad’s probably been waiting for a while.” Namnuea nodded eagerly, but before he could leave, his mother added in a tender voice, “Don’t hesitate to come back, Nuea. Whenever you’re suffering, remember this is your home, always ready to ease your pain.”

Namnuea acknowledged her softly before hurrying to the bathroom, as he was about to cry again.

Even though a grown man like him wanted to act like a child, to cling to his mother more, he’d left his parents’ arms to live in Bangkok for nearly ten years. He should be able to act like an adult by now.

Despite thinking that, Namnuea knew it was wrong. Even as he walked downstairs with red eyes to eat, and his father didn’t ask questions, Dad kept telling Mom to do this or that for him, treating him like a little kid who needed to be spoiled. It showed how much his parents cared, and it eased his pain.

There was truly no place as comforting and safe as this.

Dad, Mom, Nuea promises to be stronger, to not be weak because of someone else, to not let anyone hurt me, and to not make you worry. Nuea promises.

He would erase the man who hurt him from his heart.

…

“Wow, it’s only been a few years, but this place has changed so much,” he said. “A few years for you, Nuea, is a long time.

My kid hasn’t even met Uncle Nuea yet.”

“Oh, sorry, Phii. Sorry!”

Three days after returning home, doing nothing but eating, sleeping, and reading, an unexpected visitor showed up at Namnuea’s house—Rerai, his cousin.

The young mother of one, having heard that he was back home on vacation, decided to drop by. Perhaps it was his haggard appearance or his mother’s complaints about him holing up at home that prompted her, but Rerai invited him to get some fresh air up on the hill… at their family’s flower farm, to be exact.

The flower farm belonged to the four siblings—Namnuea’s cousins. Rarin, the eldest sister, a charismatic woman tougher than most men, ran the operation. Her key assistant, Rerai’s husband, served as the farm manager. Rantaa, the third daughter, had been sent to study business in England. Meanwhile, the youngest brother, Riu, broke away to study engineering in Bangkok.

Now, Namnuea stood at the teakwood guesthouse at the hill’s edge, gazing out at the vast flower farm stretching as far as the eye could see, staffed by hundreds of workers.

“By the way, where’s my niece?”

“At home,” Rerai replied, referring to their house in downtown Chiang Mai. Namnuea raised an eyebrow, then nodded in understanding.

“Oh, so you didn’t drag me up here to see her. Mom told you to haul her moping son, who’s been cooped up at home, out for some fresh air, didn’t she?” The plan to get him out for air was clearly his mother’s doing. Rerai burst out laughing, nodding in admission, then turned to meet his eyes.

That searching look in her eyes made him instinctively look away.

“Something’s up, isn’t it?” This must be why his mother called Rerai over.

His mother probably thought they’d talk more easily, being close in age. And despite Rerai’s soft, feminine exterior—the perfect picture of a gentle, Nuea-style beauty—her true nature was formidable. How else could she keep her husband so firmly under her thumb?

“Just a little something.”

“Work? Money? Or love?”

“The last one, dear cousin. Satisfied?” he answered the cousin two months his senior, making Rerai wrinkle her nose.

“What if I say I’m not satisfied?”

“Then I’m still not telling you more.”

“Hmph,” Rerai huffed, turning away. But why would she need coaxing? She just leaned against the balcony railing, staring into the distance. Namnuea chuckled lightly.

“Any workers catch your eye? I can call one over tonight,” he teased. The stressed-out Namnuea finally let out a laugh, recalling years ago when he confided in Rerai about his sexual orientation and admitted he loved checking out the workers here. He’d jokingly asked her to use her status as the farm owner’s daughter to summon one for him. Naive Rerai had actually done it, nearly blowing his secret. Thankfully, they’d managed to cover it up.

Thinking back on it now, it’s hilarious, really… Alright, that guy then!

The handsome young man didn’t look like a farm worker at all—not with his hairstyle, his face, or his build. The only thing that fit the part was his worn-out clothes, dirtied from hauling dozens of kilos of fertilizer onto the truck. Pointing and picking him out seemed to make Rerai laugh even harder, practically doubling over with laughter.

“Hahaha… No way, Nuea… That guy… No way, hahaha! Oh God, I’m dying, I’m laughing so hard!” Namnuea raised an eyebrow in confusion, turning to look where she pointed.

If he wasn’t mistaken, the slender guy with a face too pretty for a man, standing next to the chosen one, was… his youngest cousin, the baby of the family.

“Yep, that’s Riu. And the guy next to him? That’s Riu’s boyfriend.”

“What?! Riu’s gone for a guy?!” Namnuea exclaimed, unable to believe his ears. He stared at his youngest cousin, who, sure, was pretty—prettier than most women, even—but fierce as a tiger. With that stunning face, plenty of guys had tried their luck, only to get chewed out and sent running. Riu used to swear up and down he was a “real man” (damn it!) and would never let anyone “top” him. Yet, after three or four years studying in Bangkok, had he swallowed his words?

Rerai nodded, laughing so hard she could barely contain herself.

“Haha, yep, he’s given in! That guy’s from the same uni, name’s Sun. He came to introduce himself two years ago. Got roped into being Phii Rin’s errand boy every semester break when he visits,” the second daughter explained. Namnuea thought of their eldest sister, who was manlier than most men, and couldn’t help but chuckle.

“The eldest and the youngest in this family should swap genders,” Namnuea quipped. Their chatter and laughter seemed to catch the attention of the group below, because the youngest looked up. “Phii Nuea! Phii Nuea!” Riu jumped up and down, waving enthusiastically, clearly thrilled. It made Namnuea grin, and he shouted back.

“Hey, Riu! Bringing your man to meet the family, huh?”

“Hey!” Riu yelped, his face turning bright red, shaking his head furiously and waving his hands in denial.

“Oh? Then who’s that?” Namnuea shot back, pointing at the good-looking guy who broke into a wide grin the moment he heard the word “man.” The guy even chimed in loudly, staking his claim. “Not another farm worker, Nuea!”

“I’m Riu’s husband, been for a while now! Nice to meet you,

Phii!!!”

That kid’s got some serious nerve.

Smack

“Sun, you wanna die or what?!” A husband and wife are bickering because the cheeky one slapped his partner so hard the face nearly turned, but the red cheek is visible even from here. Namnuea chuckles softly, watching the two kids chasing each other, while a close relative chimes in.

“I’m a year younger than Riu, his junior, but I’ve got him tamed,” they say. The listener nods a few times, his laughter fading to a faint, melancholic smile.

“Must be nice,” Namnuea murmurs softly. The person beside him turns to look.

“Having issues with someone in Bangkok? Just talk it out properly,” they say. His mother must not have told them what happened for them to ask like that, but it’s fine. He doesn’t dare say more either, so he laughs it off.

“There’s no talking left to do. It’s over… Anyway, mind if I go tease Riu a bit?” The young organizer swiftly changes the subject. The listener laughs slowly, then switches topics too. “Shouldn’t you be staying here tonight? How could you not? Mom practically threw your bag of clothes at you. Stay here a couple of days, yeah?”

“Stay as long as you want. This place is like home for Nuea,” the host says, and suddenly, he’s reluctant to leave. Being far from his problems makes him feel better. He knows the problems aren’t gone, but at least his heart gets a break before facing them again.

After Khun Yiwa’s wedding, he’ll have to seriously consider what Mom said.

   Should he quit his job and come back home?

   There, he has no one, but here, he’s surrounded by family.

   …

“What do you mean Namnuea’s on vacation?”

“Exactly what it sounds like, Khun Lom. Nuea’s taken a leave of absence and didn’t say when he’ll be back.”

The meeting room at The Wiwa Square is thick with tension. A big-spending client storms into the office, demanding to know where his event organizer is, only to learn that Nuea’s on an indefinite vacation.

Sharp eyes flash with obvious frustration.

Since the pre-wedding photoshoot, he’d asked Yiwa to take the two mothers home so he could clear things up with the organizer. But not only did the other party leave early, they turned off their phone, refusing calls. Calling the company got him nowhere—they said he wasn’t there. Two days of near insanity later, Sailom storms the office, only to learn the truth: his organizer has vanished, destination unknown.

“No need to worry, Khun Lom. I’ll take over the wedding invitations and favors myself…”

“I want to see Nuea.”

“I’m truly sorry, but we can’t reach Nuea either.” Though the woman in front of him speaks politely, Sailom isn’t fooled—she knows something. Her eyes brim with disapproval, and she’s clearly blocking him.

“I didn’t think Nuea was the type to abandon work like this.”

“Well, if someone pushed him to it, would that be so surprising?”

This woman knows.

The young man told himself immediately. She must know something about him and Namnuea, though not much, which is why her resistance was subtle. He forced himself to stay calm and spoke firmly.

“I’m begging you. I really need to talk to Nuea.”

“If it’s about the wedding, you can inform me, and we’ll ensure your wedding is perfectly beautiful…”

“It’s not about the wedding. It’s about me and Nuea,” Sailom interrupted sharply before she could finish, causing the woman’s polite demeanor to shift to hostility. Her eyes glared with disapproval and judgment, though she didn’t say it outright.

“We really haven’t been able to contact Nuea either.”

“Liar!”

“Feel free to ask everyone in the office, Khun Lom. No one has spoken to Nuea, and he’s turned off his phone,” Sis Eim said with a smile, while the listener clenched his fists. If she weren’t a woman, he might’ve grabbed her collar to demand answers. But he knew losing his temper wouldn’t help, so he took a deep breath.

“I need to talk to Nuea.”

“I think you should talk to Khun Yiwa instead.”

What does this have to do with Yiwa?!

Sailom wanted to shout, but a moment later, he realized he was in no position to argue. He couldn’t deny the special connection with Namnuea, but he also couldn’t ignore the reality everyone saw: he was about to marry a beautiful bride. If he were to reveal the truth behind the wedding, he wasn’t sure… he didn’t know how much he could trust this woman.

He hadn’t even told Namnuea yet. Why would he spill everything to her?

“Khun Lom, you should go back for now. If we reach Nuea, we’ll let you know.”

She’s definitely not going to do that.

Sailom concluded to himself, letting out a heavy sigh. He knew causing a scene would do no good and would only make him look worse. So, he decided to head to Namnuea’s condominium instead. If he was still hiding in Bangkok, he’d have to return home eventually… though he knew that might not be the case.

“Fine. I’ll go. I’ll contact you again,” he said, then strode out of the office toward his sleek car. Once inside, he slammed his fist against the steering wheel to vent the frustration in his chest.

“Damn it!!!”

While venting his frustration, the phone rang, forcing Sailom to grab it and answer curtly.

“Yes?”

[Lom, have you found Khun Nuea?]

   “No. He’s on leave, his phone’s off, and the people here act like they don’t want to talk to me,” Sailom said, irritated. The person on the other end went quiet for a moment.

[They probably know something happened between you and Khun Nuea. But the problem is, you’ve still going to marry me. No matter how you look at it, you’re coming off as a lousy guy who deserves a slap.]

   “Yiwa!” This wasn’t the time for teasing, so Sailom’s voice hardened. But the person on the line chuckled lightly before speaking with a weary tone.

[You don’t have to put me first all the time. Be a little selfish for once.]

   The listener was left speechless. The person on the line let out a long sigh.

[Wait there for a bit, okay? I’m driving over now. I’ll call

Ms. Imm to let her know we’re coming to meet.]

   “You’re really doing this? I just need to find Nuea and explain everything to him alone…”

[And not know when you’ll see him? If he can’t take it and quits, running away from you, where will you even find him? Don’t let time slip away for nothing. And I can’t just be selfish and happy alone. You’ve always helped me, Phii

Lom. Just this once, let me help you.]

   The flood of words left Sailom speechless, and he reluctantly agreed. He sat in his car, drained, closing his eyes and thinking of the one person he wanted to see most right now.

He must truly seem like a terrible person in Namnuea’s eyes— and everyone else’s.

   Did Sailom not want to pursue a relationship the normal way? Of course he did. But he couldn’t. He wouldn’t risk the truth he’d hidden for years coming out at such a critical moment. At first, he didn’t tell Namnuea because he didn’t fully trust him. But after what happened between them, and seeing how much pain the other was in, he could no longer be selfish and keep it to himself.

   If the wedding had to fall apart, so be it—because he had truly fallen for Namnuea.

   From the very first glance, Namnuea made him feel something incredible. His eyes, his smile, the natural way he ate that brought a smile to Sailom’s face. Even the frustrated, crumpled expression Namnuea wore, sneaking glances at him, was so amusing that Sailom found himself thinking about it for days.

    I don’t know when I fell in love, but by the time I realized it, I was consumed with thoughts of him, wanting to see him, talk to him, touch him, resorting to all sorts of tricks just to be near him.

   If Namnuea really ran away, what would I do?

   That thought tormented him the most. Besides knowing Nuea was born on a day of flooding, he knew nothing else—not where he lived, who his friends were. It made his heart ache in a way he couldn’t believe.

That day, the day they were together, if only he’d held on. If he hadn’t just been angry when the other insisted it was a mistake, he wouldn’t have let time slip by so meaninglessly.

“That night, I was truly happy to have you,” he whispered.

The morning that felt so bright turned dark when he saw the other’s reaction. But Namnuea wasn’t at fault. The one who was wrong was him, for not speaking up.

   Who could be happy knowing they’d just slept with someone else’s man?

   His thoughts drifted far until Yiwa pulled up, got out, and tapped on the window.

   Sailom stepped out, telling himself this time… he wouldn’t let Namnuea slip away.

He’d followed his mother’s wishes his whole life. All he wanted was the freedom to love someone else, just this once.

This time, visiting Namnuea’s coworkers clearly startled them, especially when Yiwa pleaded for his address. Sister Eim looked visibly conflicted, and his bride-to-be had to clarify, “The thing between Phii Lom and Khun Nuea isn’t wrong.”

“But Khun Lom and you are getting married.”

Yiwa took a deep breath, glanced at him, then said firmly,

“What if this marriage isn’t based on love?”

“What did you mean…”

“I’m saying, what if this wedding was staged from the start?” The listener looked visibly shocked, so Sailom spoke with conviction. “The thing between me and Yiwa is fake, but what’s between me and Nuea is real. Please, I’m begging you, tell me where Nuea is right now. I want to talk to him, to explain everything so he understands. Please, Sister Eim.” Though she seemed hesitant, glancing between Sailom and Yiwa, she finally sighed.

“Wait a moment,” she said, leaving the room.

Shortly after, the woman returned with a file containing Namnuea’s home address in the Northeast, along with a contact number, and said with a serious expression, “If you make my little brother cry again, don’t expect me to help you ever again!”

That realization hits Sailom hard—he’s made the person he loves cry. It’s time to set things right.

      

   THEWEDDING PLAN CHAPTERS HOME

   THEWEDDINGPLAN, Chapter 8:

Loving someone who’s taken is bad enough, but loving someone about to get married is even worse.

   “What’s wrong with Nuea?”

“No idea, boss, but it looks serious. I waved snacks under his nose, and he didn’t even flinch.”

“He’s practically in a coma!”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

At this moment, the staff at The Wiwa Square realized a national crisis was unfolding in the office. It was serious enough to warrant closing the meeting room, gathering everyone for an emergency discussion, and the agenda for today’s meeting was none other than… the abnormal behavior of Namnuea.

It started with a workaholic who never took a day off, never went on vacation, except when struck by the flu two years ago. Even then, after calling in sick, he showed up the next day looking like a wreck—pale, red-eyed, gaunt, like a walking patient. But what made everyone cover their mouths and widen their eyes in disbelief was…

“I’m not hungry.”

A heartbreaking sentence that shouldn’t have come from someone who loved to eat, who could devour anything no matter how stressed, depressed, or down they were. On top of that, he said he’d skip lunch to keep working. No matter who dangled snacks in front of him, he didn’t even twitch. Even when Sister Eim, despite her health-conscious rules, splurged on pizza for the whole office, Namnuea showed no interest, just sat there, chin in hand, sighing heavily.

Even though work didn’t slow down—in fact, it moved faster than usual because the guy worked non-stop without eating or resting—the office felt lifeless. No crunching sounds, no banter from the usual dynamic duo. It was too much like a graveyard. So, during the sacred lunch break, everyone sacrificed their time to huddle together.

“Sis, have you talked to Nuea yet?”

“Talk about what? He’s all ‘yeah, uh-huh, mm’—barely a few words. I invited him for dinner, and he still wouldn’t go,” one of the younger girls said, making Sis Eim clutch her head. She glanced around, and everyone shook their heads, wondering what was wrong with him. Sis Eim had a suspicion from the start—could he have been heartbroken? “What? Nuea, heartbroken?!”

“Shh! Why are you all shouting like that?!” Sister Eim, the team’s big sister, pressed a finger to her lips, nervously glancing toward the meeting room door. The scolded group quieted down a bit but still whispered excitedly. How could this not be juicy? “Is that even possible, Sis? Nuea, of all people? He’s at the office all day—when he’s not with clients, he’s with us. Sure, he goes out for shoots often, but we’ve never seen him with anyone,” one of the team analyzed. Sis Eim sighed, unsure herself. But before the gossip—er, discussion—could go further…

Knock, knock, knock

The meeting room door was tapped, making everyone jump and straighten up from their huddle. When it opened, the group flinched again.

“What are you all doing?” The man of the hour stepped in.    “Nothing, Nuea, nothing!” The room erupted in high-pitched denials. The newcomer shook his head and turned to his close colleague.

“Sister Eim, I’m heading to the studio in Sukhumvit.”    “Oh, which couple’s pre-wedding shoot is today?” The question made him pause slightly, and he gave a faint smile.

“Khun Yiwa’s couple, scheduled for today. I’ll head out now.”

Namnuea hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but didn’t.

He just flashed a weary smile and turned to leave. As everyone let out a collective sigh of relief, the man in question popped his head back in, as if remembering something.

“Oh, and when you gossip about someone, try to be more subtle.”

“Hey, no way!” The group jumped again as Namnuea continued.

“Nothing, I’m fine. Stop gossiping already. I’m not heartbroken, just on a diet.” With that, the subject of the rumors steps out immediately. The others exchange glances and murmur softly.

“How did he know?” Sister Eim’s question makes everyone give awkward smiles.

Well, with the whole office buzzing, leaving only Nuea sitting there sighing heavily alone, of course he’d know he’s the topic.    “Alright, let’s scatter. If he says he’s fine, he’s fine,” Sister Eim finally tells everyone, though her face shows concern. Her gut’s telling her something, and it’s not a pleasant feeling.

Don’t tell me Nuea’s secretly in love with the person I’m thinking of.

Please let me be overthinking this, Nuea. Please let it not be true.

(If you’re tired, come back home, dear. Nuea, you don’t have to exhaust yourself there. If you still want to work with weddings, there are big studios near home. With your skills, anyone would hire you.)

   Namnuea lets out a heavy sigh, recalling the conversation with his mother from last week. Truthfully, that night happened almost two weeks ago. He’s been trying to forget it by throwing himself into work. The other party hasn’t contacted him, which relieves him that the matter won’t drag on. But no matter how hard he works during the day to forget, the lonely nights still torment his heart.

The events of that night haunt him every evening, making him remember, making him yearn, making him long to be looked at with those tender eyes. But since that’s impossible, a loneliness he’s never felt before forces him to seek refuge. He might be called ungrateful, but Namnuea turns to his mother.    Never calling for ages, but running to Mom when there’s trouble—you’re really awful.

   Cursing himself to his heart’s content, Nuea makes the call. Every day, he whines to his mother, saying he misses her, saying he wants to see her. Though he doesn’t explain what happened, a mother can sense her child’s heartache. So, the one who’s always let him do whatever he wanted since school days starts suggesting he come home, visit, or return if he can’t handle it.

At first, he hesitated, but now, Nuea is leaning toward the idea.

All I do here is overthink. Wouldn’t it be better to go home?    But no matter how he tries to escape reality, time marches forward. The scheduled day for the pre-wedding photoshoot arrives. Delaying would mess up editing, retouching, and the video for the wedding. Plus, after this, they need to finalize the invitation design and favors. Everything has a timeline, and it can’t bend to the strength of Namnuea’s heart.

I don’t want to see them. I don’t want to hear about them. I don’t want anything to do with this couple anymore. But he can’t abandon his responsibilities.

   After greeting the familiar photographer and going over the concept again to ensure they were on the same page, Namnuea slipped away to make himself a coffee, his heart heavy with an indescribable wilted feeling.

It was just one night together, so don’t let your heart get so attached to him.

He sighed deeply, turning his back to the door, lost in his own thoughts, oblivious to the sounds around him. He didn’t notice that the client he’d scheduled had arrived early—or that the person he least wanted to see was standing behind him, watching.

“Ugh, just work a few more hours, and you won’t have to see his face anymore.”

“You really don’t want to see me that much?”

Gasp!

The familiar voice, the one he dreamed of every night, came from behind him. Namnuea flinched hard, whipping around in shock. The hand gripping his paper cup nearly crushed it. His eyes widened, staring at the man he couldn’t banish from his heart.

The man looked no different from usual—still handsome, polished, impeccable from head to toe. But what was different was his gaze. Those sharp eyes locked onto him, steady, as if trying to peer into his soul, forcing Namnuea to look away. He forced a strained smile and spoke in a tone that tried to sound cheerful.

“Hello, Khun Lom. You’re here early.”

“You still haven’t answered my question, Nuea.”    Don’t call me that.

Namnuea wanted to hurl the cup at his face, but all he could do was swallow every feeling, force another smile, and shake his head slowly, letting out a hollow laugh.

“It’s not like that. How could I not want to see a client?” He emphasized the word “client” sharply, causing the other man to pause briefly before stepping closer. Those piercing eyes still didn’t waver.

“Nuea, I need to talk to you.”

“But I don’t!” Namnuea cut in quickly. He couldn’t stop himself, surprising even himself. No wonder the other man let out a heavy sigh. But it seemed he wasn’t ready to give up. Long legs closed the distance until they were nearly touching, leaving no room to escape. Then, in a serious tone, he said, “I know I’m being selfish, but I really want you to hear me out, Nuea.”

“…”

The listener was speechless. He didn’t want to look into those eyes that made his heart soften and feel guilty all at once.

This is the studio for Khun Lom’s wedding photos. How could we let ourselves waver for him?

Click.

Namnuea wanted to pull his hand away when the other reached to hold it, but his strength had vanished. He could only lower his gaze to his own hand, listening to the deep voice echoing in his head, filled with confusion.

“I’m glad that night happened, Nuea. I wanted to contact you, but every time I picked up the phone, your words telling me to forget rang in my mind. I couldn’t let it go. I wanted to talk to you, but I knew you wouldn’t answer if I called. You only reached out to Yiwa… even today, you didn’t call me once,” the flood of words made Namnuea clench his fist tighter, biting his lip until it hurt.

Don’t give in, Nuea. Don’t give in.

His softening demeanor must have given the other hope, because Sailom spoke boldly.

“Nuea, do you have some time after this…”

“Oh, Phii Lom, there you are!”

Before he could finish, before anyone could waver, a sweet, clear voice rang out from behind. Namnuea’s heart raced, blood rushing to his face. Startled, he yanked his hand free from the grip, looked over the broad shoulder, and stumbled back, colliding with the edge of the table behind him.

“Oh! Khun Nuea are you okay?” The beautiful woman peeked out from behind Sailom. Namnuea shook his head vigorously. He wasn’t sure what expression he wore, but he forced a smile.

“I’m fine, Khun Yiwa. Hello! You’re here early.”    What kind of face did I just make?

Namnuea could only wonder, watching her bright smile and playful wink.

 

Well, Phii Lom insisted on getting here early, no matter what. He came up first… didn’t even wait for me. Wonder who he was in such a rush to see,” she teased. Namnuea couldn’t decipher the look in her eyes, but he flinched, feeling like a guilty child caught in the act. He lowered his head, unable to meet anyone’s gaze.

“I’ll go inform the team then. Khun Yiwa, you can head to the dressing room to get your hair and makeup done,” Namnuea said quickly, slipping past the tall man who said nothing more. And that was probably how it should be—the bride-to-be was standing right there.

Grab.

But it wasn’t like that. A large hand seized his upper arm, eyes filled with concern, and a worried voice asked urgently.

“Nuea, is your hand okay?”

“Oh no! Khun Nuea, quick, wash your hand! Did you get burned?” Khun Yiwa exclaimed. Namnuea followed their gazes and nearly dropped the paper coffee cup. He’d squeezed it so hard that dark liquid had spilled, coating his hand and dripping onto the floor. It should’ve burned, but he felt nothing.

“I’m… I’m fine,” Namnuea tossed the cup into the trash and flashed a smile at the bride-to-be, signaling he was okay.

“The coffee’s gone cold… It’s fine, I’ll call the housekeeper first. It’s spilled everywhere…”

“You need to wash your hands first.”

Swish

I’ll go myself, Khun Lom. You should hurry and get dressed. Thanks for the concern.” Before the other man could drag him to the bathroom, Namnuea quickly yanked his hand free. It wasn’t natural and was frankly quite rude, but he didn’t care anymore. His body felt numb in a way he couldn’t describe. He spoke in a brisk, businesslike tone and strode away from the pair toward the bathroom, not forgetting to tell the housekeeper to clean up the coffee stain. Can you handle this, Nuea? You haven’t broken down crying yet, have you? he thought, taking long strides and disappearing into the bathroom before his fake strength crumbled.

What did you just do? Why did Nuea look like he was about to cry?

“…”

“Phii Lom!”

Sailom didn’t answer the bride-to-be’s question, instead letting out a heavy sigh. He looked down at his hand, still feeling the lingering warmth of another’s touch, and said in a firm tone, “This is my business, Yiwa. Can you let me handle it myself?”     “You always mess things up when it comes to yourself,” she retorted. Though he wanted to argue, he couldn’t. He turned to Yiwa with a warning look, but she wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. She even poked his chest hard. “Stop sulking and go make up with him.”

“How am I supposed to do that when I’m your groom, Yiwa?” the man said, irritated, making the listener’s eyes widen as she gasped in shock.

You still haven’t told him the truth? Are you insane, Phii

Lom?”

The man accused of being crazy scowled, but she wasn’t scared. She slapped his broad shoulder several times. “If I were him, I’d be mad and confused too. You’re showing interest in him while you’re about to get married. No decent person would play along. Stop overthinking and tell him the truth. I don’t want to be selfish and be the only one happy. If you’re sure, just say it. One or two more people knowing the truth won’t hurt,”

The young woman said with an annoyed tone, while the listener sighed heavily but looked slightly better. Should I tell him?

“You’re only realizing this now?” Her sharp comeback stung, nearly making Sailom chase after the other person. But then…

RRRRRRrrrrrrrrrr

The loud ring of a phone interrupted. Yiwa quickly pulled it out to answer, then her eyes widened.

“It’s Mom, Phii Lom.” The mention of the caller made the listener freeze, turning to meet her gaze. He nodded for her to take the call. Judging by her expression, this wasn’t good news.

We’re in trouble now, Phii Lom.

“What’s wrong?” As soon as Yiwa hung up, she turned with a frustrated look, confirming his strange gut feeling, just as he’d feared.

“Mom and Aunt are coming to watch the photoshoot. They’re parking downstairs now,” the groom-to-be says, letting out a frustrated curse and a heavy sigh. Instead of clearing things up

 

with the other person, he now has to deal with two demanding women before things get even messier.

Time really isn’t on his side to chase after anyone else right now.

…

Nuea was quite surprised when the older relatives of the person he was coordinating with for work show up in the studio. But he quickly puts on a smile, greeting them politely while explaining the concept for today’s photoshoot, which the two middle-aged women seem to appreciate.

“It’s great. I prefer shooting in the studio too. Shooting outdoors under the sun and wind might ruin Yiwa’s skin before the big day,” one says.

“Speaking of the big day, has Yiwa started the bridal course we sent her?” Sailom’s mother asks.

“I gave it to her, but she keeps saying she’s too busy. Next month, I’ll make her go for the skin treatment, don’t worry. Yiwa will be the most beautiful at the wedding,” the two mothers chat enthusiastically, covering everything from bridal courses to the engagement. It’s almost too much for the listener, who can barely keep up the smile. “How’s the progress on the wedding invitations, Khun Nuea?” they ask, turning to him. Luckily, he brought the documents today and shows them samples to review.

“Khun Nuea, serious question—can we add maybe one or two hundred more guests?” Yiwa’s mother suddenly whispers, probably because she couldn’t get a straight answer from the couple. Namnuea gives a dry smile, hedging his response.    “We can probably adjust for about a hundred.” A hundred’s better than nothing—maybe fifty each?

“Ugh, those two are so stubborn. No matter what we say, they won’t budge,” the two women say with slight displeasure. “But, to be fair, those two have been inseparable forever. If one says something, the other follows. Like they share one heart,” Sailom’s mother adds, wrinkling her nose slightly, her tone fond. The other laughs along and turns to Namnuea.

“Did you know, Khun Nuea? They’ve been together since middle school,” she says, clearly eager to gossip about their kids. Normally, Namnuea would be happy to listen, but not this time.

The listener wants no part of these stories. Learning how long they’ve loved each other leaves him stunned, with guilt crashing over him. But seeing the eager looks in the mothers’ eyes, what can he do but force a smile and match their enthusiasm?    “Really? That’s amazing, loving each other for over a decade like that!”

“Right? When they told me they were dating, I was shocked but happy. They’ve known each other since they were kids. Thinking about it, it’s not surprising—they were inseparable. Yiwa was all about Phii Lom, and Lom was all about Yiwa. It’s heartwarming to think they’re about to tie the knot,” one says.

“But it’d be better if they didn’t keep defying us,” Sailom’s mother adds, though she seems pleased. Before Namnuea has to endure more stories of the couple’s love, the bride steps out of the dressing room, with the groom by her side.

The sight left Namnuea… frozen.

The stunning bride in a ball gown wedding dress looked like an elegant princess. The strapless gown was meticulously embroidered with lace and shimmering sequins that sparkled under the light. The side pleats accentuated her tiny waist, and the ivory skirt trailed gracefully along the floor. Combined with her flawless makeup and hair, Yiwa was nothing short of a beautiful princess ready for her wedding.

Beside her, the dashing groom stood in a luxurious suit, with an ivory dress shirt paired with a dark tie. The matching vest and jacket completed the look, making Sailom the perfect groom with a radiant bride by his side.

They were like a painting, a perfect match like gold and jade, so harmonious that it pierced the heart of the onlooker.    “No one could be more perfect together,” the elders said with delight, and Namnuea couldn’t argue. It was an undeniable truth.    “Yes, they’re the most perfect match… more than any couple I’ve ever worked with,” he said, forcing a smile. He glanced at the pair, who weren’t looking his way but were chatting intimately. And…

He didn’t want to look anymore.

The way Sailom gently held the train of the bride’s dress to help Yiwa walk more easily was so courteous, so attentive. No matter how you looked at it, they were the perfect couple, and Namnuea had to turn away.

So, while the elders went to chat and praise their children, Namnuea, who should have stepped in to assist, found himself unable to move. Instead, he slipped away to the photographer, sticking close and not daring to lift his eyes to the couple posing for photos in front of him.

“Move a bit closer, please. Bride, tilt your head up slightly. Place your hand on the groom’s arm… Perfect.” The instructions went in one ear and out the other. Namnuea swallowed hard, and when he finally glanced up once, he took a deep breath.

They were too perfect, making his guilt even heavier.

   He shouldn’t have looked.

   Namnuea hated himself for thinking he was strong enough. In truth, he couldn’t bear to look at the scene before him.    Where was the man who wanted to explain? Where was the one who said he couldn’t forget him? Where was the one who said he didn’t regret their night together? All he saw was a groom utterly devoted to his bride.

   The groom who leaned down to whisper in the bride’s ear, making her laugh brightly. His hands gently cradled her slender waist with care, his gaze filled with nothing but tenderness, captured through the camera lens. And the bride—it was clear how happy she was in this man’s arms.

They were so perfect together that he could no longer bear to watch.

“Phii, I’m heading back to the office first. Please take care of things here. Send me the photos when you’re done,” Namnuea said.

“What? You’re not staying until the end, Nuea?”

“I just remembered I have something urgent. I’m really sorry,” Namnuea apologized to the photographer, feeling guilty. But with the team fully prepared and the concept already clearly explained, slipping away early should be fine. The photographer didn’t mind, assuring him they’d handle everything. Taking advantage of the moment when the crew was busy touching up makeup, adjusting lights, and fussing over the bride and groom, Namnuea quickly stepped out of the studio.

He couldn’t bear to stay here any longer.

   Did watching the groom and bride together really hurt this much?

   It hurt so much he could barely breathe.

   The only thing Namnuea could do was call his boss, his voice trembling.

   “Can I take some time off? I know it’s sudden, but I really need to go home.” Then he called Sister Eim to say the same.

[Is something wrong, Nuea?]

   He wasn’t sure if it was those words, but Namnuea broke down, sobbing uncontrollably, his patience, restraint, and strength completely gone. All he could manage was to repeat the same words over and over.

“I’m sorry, Sister Eim. I can’t do this. I’m sorry… sorry…”    I can’t let go of that man who’s already taken.

[Hey, Nuea, calm down, calm down. If you can’t handle it, take a break. I’ll take care of things here. Don’t worry about work.]

   The words of concern only made Namnuea cry harder, tears streaming until he was spent. He knew he must seem like a madman, crying nonstop, but he truly couldn’t bear it. His heart hurt too much to endure any more.

If he couldn’t even handle watching their pre-wedding photoshoot, how could he possibly stand through the actual wedding day, smiling and offering congratulations?    Namnuea didn’t know the answer to that question and no longer wanted to find out. He drove straight to his condo to pack his things and return to his emotional refuge… he was going home.

   He could no longer stay in this place, where a man named Sailom existed.

      

   THEWEDDING PLAN CHAPTERS HOME

   THEWEDDINGPLAN, Chapter 7:

‘Accidentally’ is just an excuse for those who’ve done wrong.

 

   Khun Lom, stay still, will you?”

“Ugh, hmph… I’m fine. I’m fine,” he slurred.

“If you’re fine, then walk straight,” Namnuea sighed heavily, half-dragging the handsome groom, who was completely wasted, up to his hotel room. He let out a huge breath of relief once he finally managed to deposit the tall man’s limp form onto the large bed.

“Here you go, thanks,” Nuea handed a hundred-baht note to the hotel staff who’d helped, watching as they left and closed the door. Only then did he turn his attention back to the man who’d called him out.

“So, why did you call me here?”

Besides mentioning a fight with his family, Sailom hadn’t said much else and was drinking liquor like it was water. Namnuea had considered leaving early to avoid the awkwardness, but he wasn’t heartless. Plus, he was worried about how someone that drunk would get home. And, as expected… the big guy had collapsed, completely out of it.

Even though he knew where Sailom’s house was, driving him home wasn’t an option. And… he wasn’t sure how he’d get back himself. Taking him to his own place felt even more inappropriate. So, Namnuea’s solution was to book a room here instead. Let the drunk guy deal with the bill himself later.    Now, here he was, standing with his hands on his hips, staring at the intoxicated man.

“Mmm,” the man groaned softly, shifting his head as if searching for a comfortable position before going still, prompting a heavy sigh from Namnuea.

If every sigh shortened his life by a day, a single day with this guy would probably cost him a year. “Damn it!” he muttered, glaring at the drunk man before softening. Cursing himself, he turned and headed to the bathroom. Rolling up his shirt sleeves to his elbows, he grabbed a small towel, dampened it with warm water, and returned to the room.

“Why is it me taking care of you instead of your fiancée?” Namnuea sometimes wanted to complain to the heavens about what kind of joke this was. But calling Khun Yiwa near midnight to say the groom was plastered might cause more trouble. In the end, he just slumped onto the edge of the bed in resignation.

“Ugh!”

“Stubborn, huh? You’re such a brat,” Nuea said, wrinkling his nose slightly. When he tried to dab the towel on the man’s cheek, the other swatted his hand away, making him scold in exasperation, though a charming smile tugged at his lips.    Normally, this guy seemed in control of everything, but today, he was just a helpless kid unable to solve his problems.    “Come on, it’s just a friend helping a friend,” Namnuea reassured himself, feeling more at ease. He wiped along the man’s jawline, while his other hand moved to unbutton the man’s shirt, planning to clean him up and head home. But… Wrong move,” he thought. As the last button came undone, revealing a broad chest covered only by a white tank top, his heart raced. His eyes couldn’t tear away from the wide shoulders, let alone the firm, sculpted chest, its contours visible even through the fabric. And that abdomen…    Gulp.

Unable to resist, Nuea placed his hand on the hard, muscular stomach. The heat radiating through his palm made him flinch, and he glanced at the sharp, handsome face still fast asleep. Taking a deep breath, he thought, Just a little touch as payment for my time, right?

Convincing himself that he might never get this chance again, he grabbed the towel, lifted the hem of the tank top, and gently wiped the chiseled abdomen. His wide eyes stayed fixed, unblinking, as his other hand couldn’t resist touching the warm skin.

His fingertips grazed the heated skin that had once warmed his face, lightly brushing the dark, sexy trail of hair and tracing the beautiful muscle lines, unable to hold back.

That’s enough, Nuea. This is enough. This is already too wrong.

Though he thought he wanted to pull his hand back, his emotions surged far beyond that, until his palm slid up to touch the broad chest, caressing it lightly, forcing him to take deep breaths to regain his senses. But the other man’s scent seemed to overpower every other smell in the room, making him even more dazed.

Slap

“Enough, gotta stop!” He had to slap his own face with his other hand to snap out of the intoxicating spell he was falling under, then stood up to his full height.

“Go home, enough, gotta stop!” The one who had secretly taken advantage of the drunken man told himself firmly. No more teasing, no more crossing lines, afraid things would go too far. But then…

Grab

“But I don’t want you to stop.”

In an instant, Namnuea flinched, startled, because the man he thought was asleep suddenly gripped his wrist tightly, forcing him to turn and look…

Crash!

“Ouch!” In the brief moment he saw the other man smiling, his body swayed and collapsed, falling onto Sailom on the large bed, completely unprepared. His eyes widened, both hands trying to push himself up from the bed, but doing so made him… meet those eyes.

The tea-colored eyes reflected the room’s light, sparkling with a deep, captivating glint, as if they could pull his soul into their sweet gaze. The large hand still held his wrist tightly as the sharp-featured face moved closer.

“Y-You’re not asleep?”

Namnuea was both scared and embarrassed that the other man was awake and aware of his actions, while the other chuckled low in his throat.

Asleep, but woken up by you.”

And that “waking” probably wasn’t just from a dream but included something else that had clearly stirred, making Namnuea jump. He wanted to pull away, but he was pinned by those sweet, alcohol-glazed eyes. His heart pounded like a drum, his lips so dry he had to lick them.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“No… no need to apologize… because I want you.” With that, warm lips pressed onto his vibrant ones, quick and firm, sending a shock through his entire body, like an electric current racing through him. He could only stammer, voice trembling.

“But it’s not right.”

“Please.”

Namnuea hates himself because, at that sweet, pleading whisper, he… closes his eyes.

His pale body yields, pulled down onto the large bed, hearing the clear rustle of clothes brushing against each other. Hot lips press against his vibrant ones, sealing tightly, pressing until they feel each other’s essence. Then begins a nibbling, teasing dance that sets his heart trembling.

Snap

Namnuea truly can’t stop himself. He raises both hands to wrap around the strong neck, parting his lips to welcome the tongue that delves deep inside. He tastes the mix of alcohol and gentle sweetness, intoxicating him into responding with fierce passion.

This must be the liquor’s fault.

“Mmm… mm… Khun Lom… kiss…” The sound of kisses

echoes through the wide room, blending with soft moans in his throat. Namnuea’s hands tangle in the dark hair, as their tongues slide against each other, wet and slick, turning the kiss so sweet it steals their breath.

“Nuea, Khun Nuea…”

The other pulls back slightly to lock eyes, and in that moment, Namnuea forgets everything.

“Khun Lom,” his hands around the neck pull the other closer, whispering as if pleading. Warm lips press down without hesitation, sending heat through their fervent tongues, neither yielding. If one pulls back, the other pursues, pressing close with no time to rest. Then his hands slide to broad shoulders, feeling their firmness, as he tries to tug the other’s shirt off.

Sailom cooperates fully, and soon the shirt and undershirt are tossed beside the bed. Namnuea doesn’t even realize he’s propped himself up to shed his own shirt as the other pulls it off him.

“Mmm… Khun Lom…” Both their upper bodies bare, they move closer, skin brushing until it flushes faintly. Their breaths grow ragged from the tingling desire coursing through them.

“Khun Lom… gulp…”

“You smell… you smell good all over.”

Hot lips scatter kisses across pale cheeks, trailing down to the neck. A tongue traces the prominent Adam’s apple, then moves to the enticing collarbone, the soft, pale chest, pausing at the tantalizingly soft, pale peaks.

 

Slurp

“Ah!” The moment the tongue flicks the sensitive bud on his chest, Namnuea jolts, clinging to the other’s neck, biting his lip in pain as waves of pleasure assault his body. All he can do is arch his chest, offering it up for the other to devour freely. His heart races uncontrollably, with only his ragged breaths attempting to quell the burning desire, though it does little to help.

Warm lips suck one side until it’s red and swollen, then shift to the other, teasing as if drawing out milk. Namnuea feels both faint and electrified, but he doesn’t want to stop. His legs entwine with the other’s, while his hands roam across the broad back.

“You’re adorable from head to toe, you know that?” The low, husky whisper left Namnuea unable to think straight. A large hand was kneading his sensitive lower parts, the touch so intense it felt like his body might explode. Then, his pants and underwear were pulled down to his ankles, and the other man shed his own clothes. He leaned in, pressing a kiss to Namnuea’s lips.

Their bare bodies rubbed against each other, radiating heat and desire. The large hand continued its relentless caress, drawing incoherent moans from Namnuea as he gasped heavily, parting his legs to allow the other to ease a finger into his tight warmth.    The first finger, then the second, and the third moved with gentle care, making his body tremble. Namnuea could only arch his back like a drawn bow, his face twisting against the soft pillow.

“Khun Lom… ngh… hah… please… I can’t… I can’t take it…” His shaky moans filled the air as the other man teased him to the point his body screamed with need. Waves of emotion crashed over him like a raging tide. Namnuea shuddered violently as warm lips returned to kiss his own, and he clutched at the other man as if trying to release the pressure in his chest.    But it didn’t help. It only fueled the fire of his desire, and he surrendered completely, abandoning all sense of right and wrong.

   “Be mine, Nuea. Be mine.”

The sweet words whispered in his ear made him cast aside all dignity. He threw his arms around the man’s neck, letting out a soft, endearing moan in response, earning a searing kiss as a reward. His body screamed with pleasure as the burning heat began to fill him, inch by inch, until he was nearly overwhelmed.

“Khun Lom… you… hah…”

“Nuea… you’re mine… you’re mine now…”

The large bed rocked with their movements as their bodies became one. Soft moans echoed through the room, a testament to the scorching passion between them. The sound of skin against skin formed a fervent rhythm, swaying and trembling, resonating in both their hearts.

Sweat dripped down their bodies, but neither cared. There was only the driving force of desire consuming them, touching again and again, pulling them deeper into a lust that showed no signs of waning. On the contrary, it grew stronger… stronger… stronger…

“Khun Lom…” Namnuea reached out to touch the man’s sweat-slicked cheek, urging him to meet his gaze. Their eyes locked, and the tender, loving look in the other’s eyes nearly shattered his heart. He whispered softly, “Kiss me, please.”    It was a request the other man was more than willing to fulfill. The gentle, sweet touch of their lips was more overwhelming than the intensity their bodies were experiencing. The whispered words made Namnuea close his eyes, letting himself go, wanting nothing more than to savor the bliss of this moment.

“Nuea… my love.”

“Gasp! Sailom, Khun Lom!” Namnuea could only let out a loud moan, calling the other’s name as his body erupted in ecstasy, seeing stars twinkling before his eyes. His hands wrapped around the man’s neck, pulling him into a tender kiss, while the other tensed, embracing the fleeting joy of this moment… but not forever.

…

The bliss of the night would transform by morning.

Namnuea hadn’t woken up with a pounding headache in ages, but today it felt like his head might explode. His brows furrowed deeply as he opened his eyes to unfamiliar walls. It took several minutes to piece together why his body felt so drained. And when he did…

His pale face whipped to the side, eyes widening in shock.

Khun Lom!

   The young Nuea nearly cried out, but he clamped his mouth shut just in time. His heart pounded—not with joy, but with guilt gnawing at his soul.

He had just slept with someone else’s groom!

Plink.

Namnuea couldn’t stop the tears streaming down his cheeks.

Now, he remembered everything: every heated moment, every longing, every desire, and every tender act… that now tormented his heart.

His wide eyes traced the sharp, sleeping face—from the thick, dark brows to the prominent nose, the closed eyelids, and the lips that had whispered words of love all night. Even the faint stubble on his cheeks. He took in every detail as tears fell silently, his heart corroded by guilt.

What had he done last night?

Cursing himself, instead of waking the other to confront their shared mistake, the young organizer slid off the bed as quietly as possible. He stepped down, drained of strength, and hurriedly gathered his scattered clothes—evidence of last night’s events— dressing quickly, his hands trembling.

“I have to get home,” his pale figure whispered shakily, steadying himself. If he stayed here any longer, he’d only show more weakness.

Damn it, he was still crying.

Wiping his face, he found tears still flowing. He rushed to the bathroom, splashed water on his face as fast as he could, and fled the room before Sailom could wake.

Let him think he slept with someone else—it’d be easier to face than the truth.

Please let him be too drunk to remember. Please let him be too drunk to remember.

Namnuea repeated to himself, as if praying to God. Then he hurriedly stepped out of the bathroom, intending to leave the room. But…

“Where are you going?”

“No way,” Namnuea groaned, barely able to contain himself. As he stepped out of the bathroom, the man who should still be out cold… was sitting up.

He was stared at so intensely it was hard to control himself, but Namnuea mustered every ounce of strength to flash a smile at the other man and ask in a normal tone, “Awake already,

Khun Lom?”

“Where are you going, Nuea?” Instead of answering, the other man repeated the same question, this time using his name.

The name whispered so intimately throughout the night. Namnuea trembled but took a deep breath, forcing a smile and raising an eyebrow as if confused. “Home, of course. I watched over a drunk guy all night until he woke up. You can take care of yourself now, right?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” The other man’s brows furrowed tighter, his once-sweet gaze now tinged with anger.

The young organizer tilted his head, feigning innocence.

“What’s that? Too drunk to remember? Last night you were wasted, you threw up, so I had to strip you down and clean you up. Plus, you looked like you could go wild any second, so I had to stay and watch you until morning.”

Namnuea tried to laugh it off like a joke, denying the truth of last night. He just needed the other man to remember nothing, to let him be the only one who recalled the mistake of the night before.

Khun Lom is about to be a groom, and we’re working for him.

Let it go no further than this.

“Nuea.” But the other man called his name with a tone laced with anger, swiftly rising from the soft bed and stepping quickly toward him. Namnuea turned his face away.

“You should put some clothes on first.”

Grab

“Why are you talking like this?” Instead of complying, Sailom grabbed his wrist tightly. His sharp eyes gleamed as he asked in a tone of disbelief. Namnuea had to swallow every feeling inside, taking a deep breath to rein in his scattered senses.

“How else should I talk when nothing happened?”

“‘Nothing happened… when I had you moaning under me all night?!”

He remembers.

Nuea almost couldn’t suppress his flinch, but he kept up the innocent smile and asked, as if clueless,

“What do you mean?”

“Namnuea!” Sailom’s hands grip his shoulders firmly, forcing him to meet his gaze. His voice is sharp with anger and confusion, while Namnuea screams silently in his heart.

Please don’t understand. Let it be just one night and nothing more.

   “What is it? I need to get home. I have work today.”

“Namnuea, you’re my wife!”

“But you’re getting married!!!”

Namnuea wants to cry because he couldn’t stop himself in time. The moment those words left the other’s mouth, he shouts back even louder, baring his heart completely, along with… tears.

Why can’t you hold it together? You’re supposed to be more professional than this. It was just a one-night stand.    “Have you forgotten, Khun Lom? You’re getting married soon. Why would you call me your wife? Forget it. Forget what we did. Forget what happened last night. Forget it all. Have you forgotten you already have Khun Yiwa? It was just a mistake. We were drunk, and it was a mistake. It’s nothing more than that—just a mistake. Do you understand me, Khun Lom? Do you understand?!!”

He can’t stop the outburst, can’t stop the tears streaming from both eyes as he looks up to meet the other’s gaze.

“Forget it, please. Forget the mistake that happened last night.”

Forget me, please. I don’t want to be known as the one who ruined someone’s family.

   Namnuea knows he’s a coward, but he can’t accept the wrong he’s done, so he has to say it… even as the other grips his shoulders tightly and looks at him with disappointed eyes.    Who’s the one who’s disappointed? Isn’t it me… not you?

   “You call it a mistake, Nuea?”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Nuea, answer me—is it a mistake?!” The other’s anger is unmistakable, his hands squeezing Namnuea’s shoulders so tightly it hurts. But the pain elsewhere in Namnuea is far worse, incomparable.

“I told you not to call me so familiarly like that.”

“Nuea!!!”

Perhaps it was the shout and those eyes filled with disappointment.

“Yes, it was a mistake, you hear me? It was a mistake!!!”

In the end, the one trying to act like nothing happened shouted loudly, shrugging off the grip on his shoulder and unleashing his emotions with no patience left.

“It was all a mistake! You slipped up, I slipped up, we just slipped up!!!”

“But I didn’t slip up.”

Namnuea nearly faltered when Sailom spoke firmly. Those eyes, once filled with confusion, now held a serious intensity, and he couldn’t deny the tenderness in them—too much for his heart to bear. He bit his lip hard, took a deep breath, steeled himself, and turned away.

“I want to take responsibility for what happened…”

“No. I don’t want that. I’m not a woman. Once or twice doesn’t matter to me. More importantly… what are you going to do about your bride?” Sailom paused briefly, as if making a decision. Out of fear, Namnuea took several steps back, shaking his head slowly before the other could say anything.

He didn’t want Sailom to say he’d choose him. He didn’t want to be the wrongdoer, the third party in someone’s relationship.    This Namnuea would never be a homewrecker. Sister Eim would never ruin anyone’s wedding.

Thinking this, he backed up until he hit the door, shaking off the hand reaching for him, and pleaded in a trembling voice.

“I’m begging you, Khun Lom, forget it… please forget it. Don’t kill me with the guilt of what I’ve done… Thank you for everything, but please forget it all. I’ll forget too, the moment I leave this room. We’ll just be the wedding planner and the client… I’m asking you, please.”

Namnuea couldn’t stop the tears streaming down his face as he met the other’s gaze. He swallowed the pain—pain he hadn’t thought could hurt this much—and spoke. Then, without waiting to hear anything more, he turned and rushed out of the room before his sense of right and wrong could falter like it had last night.

“Good job, Nuea, good job.”

He wiped his face with the back of his hand, tears spilling from the ache in his chest, along with a truth he didn’t want to face.

He… had fallen in love with Khun Sailom.

   A love that could never come true, just a dream in the night.

    Morning had come… it was time to wake from the dream.

    He stumbled back to his car, drained of strength, collapsing onto the steering wheel and sobbing uncontrollably. The man’s gaze, his voice, his actions from the night before flashed through his mind.

His heart ached so much he could barely breathe.    Don’t call me Nuea, don’t call me your wife, don’t call me anything when you have a beautiful fiancée waiting for you.

“Hic, sob, damn it, Nuea… you idiot… such an idiot!”

An idiot for falling in love with a man who’s already taken.    Tears streamed down, soaking the steering wheel. His hands clutched his chest tightly as he whispered to himself in a trembling voice.

“It was just a mistake. Just a mistake.”

A mistake of giving in, of letting his heart slip, of offering his feelings.

A mistake—an excuse for someone who knows full well how wrong they were.

A mistake he never imagined could cause such excruciating pain.

The pain was so overwhelming that Namnuea didn’t even know how he drove back to his apartment without crashing. He could only drag himself, eyes red, back to his room, call in sick, and collapse onto his bed, crying. He told himself that today was the only day Nuea would be weak. Tomorrow, he’d be the strong, capable Namnuea again.

But for now, the capable man could only call the one person who mattered most, the one who could comfort him best.

“Mom, I miss you. I miss home.”

The one he was sure loved him unconditionally… not someone already bound to another. He spoke through tears.

“I want to hug you, want you here.”

No physical exhaustion could compare to the mental fatigue he felt now.

    

  

   THEWEDDING PLAN CHAPTERS HOME

   THEWEDDINGPLAN, Chapter 6:

Don’t carelessly call someone a friend, because some people don’t want to be just friends.

   The sleek sports car had been parked in the garage for a while, yet its young owner remained seated, lost in thought, drifting far in the darkness and silence, alone. And what Sailom was thinking about was, unsurprisingly, another man.

Someone he’d been drawn to from the first meeting, certain the feeling was mutual. It should’ve been easy to build something, but it wasn’t. The cruel irony? He was about to be a groom, and the other man was planning his wedding.

What a bitter joke.

“Sigh, Lom, how could you slip up like that?” The young man let out a long breath, closing his eyes, recalling the warm sensation lingering on his lips. Honestly, he… wanted to do more.

The groom-to-be knew full well that now wasn’t the time, that it was wrong to follow his desires. But he couldn’t help it. That pale face, soft cheeks, and vibrant lips—so striking against fair skin, glowing under dim lights—drew him in, urging him to lean down and touch, craving even more.

“What a mess.”

The young man had tried so hard to restrain himself from the start. Even if he teased, flirted, or provoked Namnuea just to see that frustrated look on his face, he made sure not to cross the line. He didn’t want the other man to think even worse of him.    A man about to get married, yet flirting with another man—no matter how you looked at it, the words “scum” and “jerk” were practically plastered across his forehead.

If it was just playful, it might’ve been fine. But with that young organizer, who made it clear that no matter how much he stole glances, he’d never cross ethical boundaries, Sailom wasn’t annoyed at all. On the contrary, it made him want to push forward even more.

If Namnuea had easily played along, knowing Sailom was about to get married, how could he trust that the man wouldn’t do the same with others later? But that very phrase—”about to get married”—had become an iron wall, trapping him in place.

Cancel the wedding? Yiwa would probably kill him.

As for revealing the truth behind the marriage, he didn’t know Namnuea well enough yet. If that secret got out, everything they’d planned would collapse in ruins.

If this event fell apart, Yiwa would likely slit his throat and flush him down the toilet with the most brutal efficiency, leaving no trace of the angelic, heavenly image others saw in her.

“Sigh, you and I really met at the worst possible time,” Sailom let out a long breath before reluctantly getting out of the car, wondering what he should do next.

For now, he’d let it go, but he had no intention of stopping at just one kiss either.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he thought of ways to see Namnuea outside of work hours.

Not liking to discuss important matters over the phone?

Hardly. I just want to meet face-to-face to build a connection.

“Looking awfully cheerful, aren’t you, Sailom?”

Whoosh

“Mom, you’re still up?” Before the young man could head to his room, a voice called out from the living room, making him turn to look. His smile vanished the moment he saw who was still awake, clearly waiting to ambush him.

“If I’d gone to bed, I wouldn’t have noticed my dear son sneaking out again.”

“I didn’t sneak out,” Sailom shot back quickly, walking over to his mother, who was squinting at him suspiciously. Not only that, she leaned in, sniffing as if searching for some unpleasant odor. But all he probably smelled of was the smoke from the barbecue restaurant, so she wrinkled her nose.

“Where have you been?”

“I went to the gym, then grabbed dinner with a friend. That’s why I smell like smoke, that’s all,” he explained. The person who’d been trying to control his life forever only grew sterner.

“Girl or guy?”

“Guy.”

“Alright then,” his mother relented slightly before launching into the topic he dreaded most.

“Lom, I’m not trying to catch you doing something wrong, but I just want to remind you that you’re about to get married. Back when you and Yiwa were just dating, I could turn a blind eye to your gallivanting, but now? Your wedding’s coming up soon. You should be spending more time with her. There’s so much to discuss as the date gets closer, but you two barely even see each other!”

“Yiwa and I see each other so much we’re sick of it. Not meeting for a week or two isn’t a big deal…”

Slap

“Don’t say you’re sick of her, Lom! You’re not even married yet, and you’re already saying that. How would she feel if she heard you?”

   She’d probably giggle and say she’s more than sick of me

Sailom thought to himself but let his mother ramble on, too tired to argue. Only when she seemed satisfied did the young man step forward, loosely draping an arm around her shoulders with a confident smile.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ve told you before, I’m only getting married once in this lifetime—to Yiwa, my first love, my only love, my greatest love. I promise no other woman will ever make you worry on behalf of your daughter-in-law.” She gave him a playful glare but seemed in better spirits.

“You better mean what you say.”

“I do. I swear I won’t mess with any other women.”

At that, she smiled, pride evident in her voice. “Good, son. That’s good.” That smile forced her son, who’d been hiding a certain secret all along, to look away. He leaned down, kissed her cheek, and said quickly, “I’m off to bed then. I’m exhausted today. Goodnight, Mom.” With that, he pulled away, hurrying upstairs, not lingering to hear the voice still calling after him.    “And try not to stay out so late, Lom! Yiwa might think you’re messing around with someone else.”    She doesn’t care, Mom.

   Sailom thought, shaking his head wearily. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly as he recalled the conversation he’d left unfinished.

“I’ll get married for you just this once, but I never said I’d stay with my bride forever,” he said with a faint smile. Then he tossed his things onto the bed and disappeared into the bathroom, his deep voice carrying a mix of amusement and exasperation.

“Honestly, that future daughter-in-law of yours is the real mastermind.” Though it started with Yiwa, he was the one carrying it forward, and he couldn’t help but feel guilty. But Sailom was done with the walls trapping him, preventing him from going wherever his heart desired. So he’d see this act through to the end, and this job had to end perfectly.

…

“What’s up with Nuea today?”

“No idea, sis. He showed up, sat down, and started sighing like crazy. But his mouth? Doesn’t stop. Impressive, right? Sighing and stuffing his face at the same time.”

At that moment, Namnuea was slumped in the office, utterly listless. Yet his hands never stopped—one clutching potato chips, the other a giant Coke, munching away relentlessly. Because if his mouth wasn’t busy… it’d wander back to when it was doing something other than eating.

Crunch.

“You trying to turn into a bowling ball or what?”

“Hm, Sis Eim, when’d you get here?” Namnuea glanced at the snack thief, his voice dragging like he had no will to do anything. The listener shook her head vigorously, smacking his head with the chip bag. It didn’t hurt, but…

“Sis! They’re all crushed now! Crushed chips are harder to eat, you know!”

“Then stop eating. All you do is stuff your face. This is a workplace, not a pigsty.”

“Harsh!”

The guy accused of being a pig pouted and flopped onto the desk instead. The newcomer grew concerned, sliding over to sit beside him and returning his snacks.    “What’s wrong with you, Nuea?”

“A pig, apparently. Forgot already? Keep it up, and I’ll smack you with the chip bag.”

“Didn’t you just do that?” Namnuea retorted, chuckling at the woman ready to morph into an ogre, her face stern, brows furrowed with crow’s feet, and eyes narrowed. But maybe because they’d known each other too long, Sis Eim read him like a book. “No joking to cover it up. This isn’t a café. What’s going on?”

“Nothing…”

“Nuea, you don’t eat like this unless you’re stressed. Eating and working like this means it’s bad. Plus, the kids said you brought enough snacks to stock the kitchen. How many kilos are you planning to gain so I can sell off your extra fat for cheap?” Sis Eim came at him full force, making the guy whose stress-eating habit only worsened sigh deeply. He finally set the snacks down but still didn’t lift his head from the desk.

“Really, nothing’s wrong, Sis Eim. Just let me be,” he pleaded.

“Then get to work so I don’t have to keep prodding you.”    Guess she’s worried her husband’s business will take a hit if his employee’s like this.

Namnuea spoke sarcastically, but only in a soft tone.    “I’m waiting for a client’s call… I’m not slacking off, don’t worry, Sis,” he said. The woman observed him for a moment, then shook her head in defeat. Before leaving, she lightly patted his shoulder.

“If you say you’re fine, then you’re fine. But if you’re not, you’ve got me, okay?” The listener turned to look, catching a concerned smile that made him hesitate inexplicably. But he didn’t dare share, knowing his problem wasn’t something easily told.

If he admitted to falling for a groom-to-be, he’d only get scolded. Plus, this was… a client.

   Snap.

“What’s up, Nuea?” But the man who swore he’d never speak froze when, without thinking, he grabbed his coworker’s wrist.

Sis Eim turned to meet his eyes.

“I…”

“What’s with you?” Namnuea hesitated briefly, but perhaps because the issue was weighing so heavily on him, he asked softly, “Is it wrong, Sis, to… to secretly like someone who’s taken?”

“It’s not wrong,” Sis Eim replied instantly, almost making him smile—until she continued just as quickly. “But it’s not right either. Liking someone secretly isn’t wrong, as long as you don’t become the third wheel. But it’s not right to risk your heart on something you know is impossible. I believe in karma. Even if you dive in and steal them, and even if you succeed, do you think there won’t be consequences? You hurt their partner, and eventually, you’ll get hurt too.” Her words came in a rush, leaving the listener pale.

Sis Eim must’ve noticed, as she softened her tone. “Don’t put your heart at risk, Nuea. It’s not worth it.”    Exactly.

Namnuea already knew he shouldn’t be anyone’s third wheel, but he still wanted to ask, to be sure his decision was right. Yet deep down, a part of him wondered… if Khun Lom wasn’t married yet, would two months from now mean he’s still single?

But his colleague’s words snapped him back.

Now or later, Khun Lom is getting married. If he played along, who’d end up hurt? None other than Nuea himself.    “By the way, who do you like?”    Gasp!

Oh no, who would’ve thought she’d turn the tables and ask back?

“I don’t know him,” Namnuea could only mumble softly, prompting a sweet smile from Sister Eim.

“Good! If I don’t know him, that means he’s not a client. Having a crush on someone who’s taken is wrong, but having a crush on someone who’s about to get married? That’s a sin, Nuea. Don’t even think about it. No matter which groom it is, don’t you dare. I’ll allow you to look, but nothing more than that, got it?” Namnuea was sweating buckets, feeling hot and cold, goosebumps all over, forcing a laugh to brush it off as a joke.

“Crazy, Sis! How many grooms about to get married would turn out to be gay?”

“Don’t underestimate a marriage of convenience,” she warned. “I’ve seen it plenty. The latest was with my close friend, no less. The groom was just putting up a front. When the bride pressured him too much, he gave in and agreed to marry. Only later did

she find out he already had a lover. And get this, Nuea, that lover even showed up at the wedding! Ugh, they’re in the middle of a divorce now.”

A marriage of convenience… really?

   Suddenly, Namnuea was struck by the phrase. He glanced at his senior, still ranting about her friend’s man, then looked away, angry at himself.

   Angry for feeling a flicker of hope at the idea of a sham marriage. But in a fleeting moment, the words of the man about to wed echoed painfully in his mind.

Khun Lom had said he was willingly marrying Khun Yiwa.

This wasn’t a marriage of convenience. “Ugh, whatever, Sis. I’m off to work. And give me back my snacks—I spent a fortune on them,” Namnuea deflected, not wanting his true feelings exposed, before firmly telling himself:

He wouldn’t let it go any further. Once the wedding was over, there’d be no reason for their paths to cross again. He just had to get through it, and that was it.

   …

“Lom, what’s the meaning of this?!”

“What’s going on here, Mom… Hello, Auntie.”

The moment Sailom stepped into the house, his mother’s furious voice rang out, making him turn in surprise. He almost sighed when he saw who was sitting beside her—none other than his future mother-in-law.

With everyone gathered like this, it was bound to be a headache. “Lom, are you really not increasing the guest list?” There it was. The first sentence, and he was already tempted to shake his head.

“Yes, Yiwa and I have discussed it,” he replied. The other party’s face clearly showed displeasure, likely because they couldn’t persuade their daughter and had teamed up with his mother instead.

“How can you decide without consulting your parents?” his mother interjected. He responded calmly:

“I’ve talked to Dad, and he’s already agreed.”

“How could he agree? His guests alone number in the hundreds. We can’t just not invite them—they’re all important people.” Sailom barely held back a sigh, maintaining his usual poker face, even though this issue had been discussed multiple times. Both his mother and Yiwa’s mother wanted a grand wedding, but he and Yiwa didn’t.

A wedding is about inviting people to celebrate, but if they don’t want a celebration, why call so many people?

“Then I’ll wait for Fon’s wedding instead.”

“Lom!”

“Mother, no matter how many times you call me, I’ll stick to what I said: I’ll limit the number of guests. That’s it. I’ve already discussed this with Yiwa. At first, we wanted a small wedding, but you wouldn’t agree. I’ve compromised until the event has grown this big, so what more do you want?” the young man asked in a serious tone, but his mother still looked displeased.

“And you, Aunt, Yiwa has probably already told you that we won’t make the event any bigger. No matter how much you try to persuade me or Yiwa, it’s the same—we don’t want a big wedding,” he said, turning to another person. That person seemed about to argue, but before they could, his mother interjected, “Can’t you do this one thing for me?”

It was the same phrase he’d heard so many times, but it felt like the final straw. Sailom turned sharply and said just one sentence:

“Marrying at all should already be more than enough for you.”

“Sailom!”

Even though his mother called out loudly, the young man was done listening. He spun around, walked out of the house, and, unable to suppress his anger, lashed out, making the other party lose face even more. He was fed up, having endured enough of doing everything his mother wanted.

So, he decided to follow his own heart for once.

Sailom grabbed his phone and called the person he desperately wanted to see.

“Khun Nuea? Can you meet me? I’m begging you.”

He knew he shouldn’t do this, but his emotions were overwhelming, and Nuea was the reason for them all.

Even though Namnuea had firmly stated they wouldn’t meet outside of work matters, the tense tone of the groom-to-be made him worry. Despite trying to stay resolute and refuse, hearing the plea made it impossible to resist.

[I’m begging you, please meet me. I don’t know what to do anymore.]

   “But I have work.”

[That’s fine. I’ll wait until you can come. Please meet me.]

    Even though he was worried it might be some kind of trick, Namnuea couldn’t help but be concerned. The plea to wait and the location—a hotel bar—made him wonder what could be wrong for someone to drink alone like that. So instead of turning the car back to his condominium, the young man drove straight to the hotel.

“Just check that everything’s okay and leave… that’s all, Nuea,” he told himself firmly every time, only to fail miserably every time.

Nuea let out a heavy sigh, frustrated with his own habits. But once he arrived, he stepped into the bar, scanning the room for the person who had caught his eye from the first moment. It didn’t take long to spot the cause of his visit, sitting quietly and drinking in the innermost corner.

“Have you been here long, Khun Lom?”

“Khun Nuea.”

He looked like he’d been drinking for a while.

The sharp, handsome face that looked up was flushed redder than usual, the sweet eyes different from any other time, the deep voice slightly slurred, and the wide smile—rarely seen otherwise—all told Namnuea that the other man was in high spirits. And then there were the words…

“I’m so glad you came,” the tone unmistakably joyful, unlike the usual unreadable demeanor.

“You begged me so much, how could I not? Is something wrong?” the young organizer replied cautiously, steering the conversation to why he’d come all this way. It seemed to dim the smile; those sharp eyes turned back to the glass of liquor, staring at it as if lost in thought.

He really does seem to have a problem.

With that thought, Nuea ordered a drink for himself, as if giving the other man time to think quietly. Even though he didn’t want to be here, didn’t want to get any closer, now that he was here, he wasn’t heartless enough to leave someone struggling alone. Until…

“What do you think about a guy my age still fighting with his mom?”

“You had a fight with your family?” the listener asked, surprised. This man seemed too proud to share personal problems with anyone. But it was as if he genuinely wanted an answer; those sharp eyes locked onto him, unwavering.    “If you’re asking what I think… it’s not strange at all. Everyone has their own problems. Even me—still arguing with my family to this day because I insisted on coming to Bangkok, when they want me to go back and work at home.” He wasn’t sure why he shared his own story, but seeing Sailom’s expression brighten made it feel worthwhile.

“I fought with my mom about a wedding. Hah, pretty pathetic, right? My mouth says I can handle everything, but in reality, I can’t even settle things with them.”

Why did it feel so good that the other man trusted him enough to share his troubles? Did it mean… he was trusted?    “What’s the matter? Is there anything I can help with…?”

“Are you helping as an event organizer or in some other capacity?”

Gulp

Namnuea knows not to take a madman seriously, nor to argue with a drunk, but with the other party probing like this, he’s starting to get angry.

“Can I help in some other capacity too?” There’s no role beyond that.

“And you, what did you call me out here for? Wouldn’t it be better to discuss these things with your friends? Why bring it up with just an event organizer like me?” Namnuea retorts, his tone clouded. Sailom gives a faint smile and counters, “Who else could I discuss this with? Besides, you must deal with this kind of thing often… Don’t you have any advice for me?”

So, you called me here as an event organizer after all. What are you hoping for, Nuea?

When he hears the phone ring, he’s both anxious and worried. But one thing he tries to deny, though he can’t, is that Namnuea is hoping. Deep down, he secretly feels good about being called when the other is in trouble because it makes him feel… special.

So special that he accidentally hopes for things he shouldn’t.

Didn’t you say you wouldn’t get involved with him? But when he talks like this, it hurts, doesn’t it, Nuea? You’re pathetic. “That’s why I said you need to sort this out with your family first. Marriage… it’s not just about two people. No matter how much you… love each other, a wedding means marrying both families too.” Namnuea holds his breath slightly before saying the word “love,” because… it hurts.

So, you’re really in love with someone who’s taken, huh?

    Repeating it to himself, Namnuea lowers his head, missing the gaze directed at him… a gaze that speaks of how much it longs to touch.

“You asked me what I called you here for, right?” Suddenly, the drunk changes the subject, so he shakes his head.

“I don’t want to know anymore.” Knowing would only hurt his heart.

“But I want to tell you.”

That makes Namnuea turn back to meet his eyes, and his little heart trembles because he sees something he shouldn’t… tenderness.

A deep, meaningful look that shouldn’t be directed at him, not to mention the large hand reaching to touch his cheek. But because he turns away, it slides to lightly brush the back of his hand instead. Then Sailom speaks with a serious tone.

“As a friend, is that okay?”

Gulp

“Can you and I be friends?”

Namnuea was angry, but he was angry at himself… angry that disappointment was crashing over him, even though he should be glad the relationship wouldn’t go any further. But just hearing that the man who looked at him with such deep eyes only saw him as a friend… it hurt so much he could barely force a smile.

Friends, huh?

   “Hmm… not as a client, but can you see me as your friend?” Namnuea knew his smile must look strained, but he still forced himself to ask.

“You see me as a friend, right?”

“Yeah. Can I thank you as a friend?”

So, the affection he’d felt from him before… it was just as a friend, was it?

   Namnuea was only now realizing how much the word “friend” could hurt.

Good job, Namnuea. This means you haven’t wronged Khun Yiwa. You’re just friends… just friends.

That thought should’ve made him feel better, but in truth, Namnuea felt inexplicably awful. He didn’t feel any less guilty—not toward Khun Yiwa, but toward himself. He couldn’t move forward the way his heart wanted.

For the first time, he truly hated the word “friend” with all his heart.

       THEWEDDING PLAN CHAPTERS HOME

   THEWEDDINGPLAN, Chapter 5:

A kiss may be sweet, but sometimes it’s bitter.

“What the hell are you thinking!”

It took Namnuea several minutes to find his voice again, and when he did, the young man asked in a furious, harsh tone, staring at the handsome man who showed no trace of remorse. That sharp, intense face was still adorned with a slight smile, and he answered in a full voice, as punchable as ever.

“I just wanted to calm you down, that’s all.”

“But this is…” Namnuea trailed off, mutual understanding hanging in the air. He glared at the other man without holding back, because right now he was angry, furious, dissatisfied, and most importantly, deeply confused by the kiss just moments ago.    Who in their right mind kisses to calm someone down? And let’s not forget the fact that the other guy is a man about to marry a woman!

What kind of straight man dares to kiss another man!    “What’s the problem?” Sailom raised an eyebrow slightly, making the listener fall silent for a moment. His fists clenched, he took a deep breath to regain his composure.

 

You already know, don’t you, Nuea, that this groom hasn’t been cooperative about the wedding from the start?

   “Whatever. I’ll just forget what you did just now… Alright, Khun Lom. I’m calm enough. We should get back to the matter that made me drag myself from the office, not to mention spending money to get into this damn gym just to track you down,” he said, claiming to let it go, but throwing in a hefty dose of sarcasm. The listener chuckled in his throat, stirring up the simmering anger again.

“Yes, I’m listening.”

Damn it, didn’t he already know why he came here?!    Namnuea cursed loudly in his mind, but because he was too fed up to argue, he had to mentally replay what he’d just said.    “I’m here about the guest count for the wedding. Has Khun

Yiwa told you that the number has jumped to 1,200, and Khun Yiwa’s mother wants it all to be Chinese banquet tables?” he asked, glaring fiercely until the other finally toned down his smile and nodded.

“Yiwa told me already.”

“Then why didn’t you call me?! If you’d told me earlier that the guest count was increasing, I could’ve found multiple solutions, or at the very least, before we booked the hotel. And you do realize, don’t you, that with more guests, my event costs go up too? But you’re telling me now, with just over two months left, Khun Lom. Do you think a wedding organizer is some kind of wizard who can magically make everything happen?!”

At first, Namnuea thought he’d calmed down considerably, but learning that the groom knew everything yet didn’t bother to contact him made his fists clench tightly. He wanted to punch the guy’s face, not caring how godlike his looks were—just one good hit to the nose, and he’d probably sleep like a baby.

But Sailom sighed and looked at him with disappointment.

“You forgot what I told you, didn’t you?”

“Forgot what?!” This time, he couldn’t hold back his shout, but the other just shook his head and muttered, “You really forgot… Fine. How do you feel right now?”

“I want to punch your face.”

It’s not that Namnuea didn’t know how to control his emotions, but this situation was truly unbearable. So when the other asked, he snapped back curtly, fully expecting a complaint to the company and a scolding from his boss. But that’d be fine—if they replaced him on this job, even better. Nuea would gladly abandon ship immediately.

Yet, the other laughed, and after a moment, it softened into a charming smile.

“Then punch me.”

And he gave the most bewildering response.

Whack!

“Harder than that.”    Whack!!

“Too soft. Is that all the strength you’ve got?”    Whack, whack, whack!!!

“I still don’t feel like you’re hitting me.”

“Huff, huff, huff, you’re such a jerk, you know that, Khun

Lom!”

Namnuea couldn’t believe he’d been told to punch… and this guy meant it!

But it wasn’t a straight-up fist to the face. They were wearing gloves, on a ring with ropes on all sides, while the other guy held padded mitts, ready to take the hits. Of course, with both the puncher and the mitt-holder protected, it didn’t hurt—just exhausting, plain and simple.

Thud.

“Huff, huff… I’m done. I’m not playing with you anymore.” Less than five minutes in, the guy who wanted to punch his face collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air, body heaving. He hadn’t expected a few punches to make his heart race and leave him this winded. His voice came out in broken bursts as the mitt-holder gave a faint smile and crouched beside him.

“Feeling better?”

The guy who rarely exercised met his gaze and saw sharp eyes looking at him with concern, gently removing the gloves.    “Getting to let loose like this—has it helped with your stress?”    So all this was to get him to channel his energy into punching, not venting, huh?

“You’re such a jerk,” he couldn’t help but say bluntly, feeling like everything he did played right into the other’s hands.    “I’m just worried about you,” Sailom said with a serious tone, handing over a water bottle while continuing, “Do you realize what your face looked like when you showed up? I thought you were so stressed you’d have a stroke.”

“So you baited me into throwing punches, huh?”

“It works for me, so I figured it might help you too.”    Not just words—Sailom’s large hand reached out to wipe the sweat off his forehead gently, making Namnuea freeze and dodge in surprise, staring into the other’s eyes with a mix of emotions. Sailom understood, pulling his hand back with a faint smile and speaking in a soft tone that was hard to resist.

“Alright, are you calm enough to hear me out now?”

Honestly, he wanted to snap back that he wasn’t, that he still had more to unload. But the anger that had been building from the start had somehow fizzled out. Namnuea sighed, feeling like he was following a path the other had laid out perfectly. Finally, he nodded slowly.

“Do you remember what I told you the first time we talked?

No matter what my family or Yiwa says, trust only my words.”

“But…”

“I’m not done talking,” Sailom snapped, as if they were on completely different wavelengths. Moments ago, he’d been unloading furiously, barely catching his breath, but now he could only stand silent, staring at the man speaking with a serious tone.

“Yiwa and I agreed we wouldn’t throw a huge event like our parents expected, but not so small that they’d lose face. So we settled on the guest count ourselves and gave each family a quota for invitations. I initially said five hundred, then bumped it to six hundred to accommodate them. So you understand now why I told you to trust my word alone.” His words left the listener stunned.

Yes, Sailom had mentioned this from their first meeting, but who would’ve thought it meant something like this?

“And your parents and Khun Yiwa’s aren’t furious about it?”     A wedding is like a public declaration of social status. It’s no surprise that many families want to be involved.

“Of course they’re mad,” Sailom replied.

“What?”

“But we’d be even angrier if we invited everyone they wanted.” The more he heard, the more confused Namnuea became, but the groom seemed unwilling to elaborate further.

He stood up and extended a hand.

Namnuea hesitated but took it, letting the other man pull him to his feet. “So, no need to add more banquet halls, right?” he asked, just to be sure. The other nodded slowly, and Namnuea let out a relieved sigh, feeling like everything was finally cleared up. Except for one thing.

“Then why didn’t you answer my calls?”

If he’d just picked up from the start, Namnuea wouldn’t have spent days stressed out, practically sprouting crow’s feet.

The response left him even more dumbfounded.

“If I hadn’t done that, you wouldn’t have come to see me, would you?” Sailom flashed a smile, his sharp eyes glinting with a sly, indescribable charm. Though it vanished quickly,

Namnuea couldn’t miss the hidden meaning in those words.

Khun Lom was flirting with him.

Whether it was playful or serious, this man was flirting with another man. Namnuea looked away, repeating the same mantra to himself.

He’s getting married, and I don’t want to get involved with someone who’s already taken.

“You know how I’m feeling right now?” Namnuea changed the subject, meeting his gaze again. Seeing the other raise an eyebrow as if to ask, he continued in a firm tone.

“I want to punch you square in the face!”

He wanted to knock down this guy who kept giving him false hope, make him hit the ground hard, just to remind him that he has a beautiful bride waiting. But…

“Go ahead. I’ll be your sparring partner until you’re satisfied,” Sailom said with a laugh, and Namnuea… softened in a way he couldn’t forgive himself for.

Why did it feel like he was slipping deeper into the trap this man had set?

   …

“You know you’re pretty good-looking when you’re eating.”    “And do you know it’s rude to stare at someone while they’re eating?”

“Hahaha!”

The friendly banter unfolded in a corner of a bustling barbecue restaurant filled with smoke from charcoal grills, the aroma of beef, pork, chicken, and endless side dishes wafting through the air. The place was packed with people, noisy and chaotic, hardly somewhere you’d expect someone like Sailom to stop by for a meal. But how did it happen? Rewind a few dozen minutes— after washing off the sweat and feeling refreshed, Namnuea had planned to head home. That is, until the client insisted on repaying him for the temporary gym membership fee. Of course, he wasn’t shameless enough to accept it, even if it was the other party’s fault. After some back-and-forth, it came down to this: if Sailom didn’t do something to make up for it, the poor guy would lose sleep.

“Then let me treat you to a meal.”

“I’m not hungry today.”

“Not today, then. Any day you’re free.”

“No thanks, I’m busy these days.”

Who would risk getting closer to this guy? But…

Grrrrrr

Physical exertion made his body too honest, too straightforward. His stomach growled loudly, embarrassing him in front of everyone. And with the groom-to-be looking at him with an amused smile, he wanted to bury his face in the ground.

The words that followed made him freeze.

“Looks like your body’s already agreed to my offer.”    To others, it might sound like his body was agreeing to the meal. But anyone who caught the look in this man’s eyes… it meant so much more.    “Just eating, okay?”

In the end, he had to give in, but not without a bit of teasing. The two of them ended up settling things at this hot pot restaurant.

No, scratch that—Namnuea dictatorially declared that if it wasn’t this restaurant, he’d go home, hoping the classy guy would back off. But instead, Sailom was surprisingly thrilled. Whenever anything on the grill ran low, Namnuea didn’t even have to get up, as the perfectly handsome man went to refill it for him, leaving him free to focus on his second favorite thing after good-looking guys… food, of course.

“You know, I’ve been hooked on watching you eat ever since that day at McDonald’s.”

“When I got sauce all over my mouth, you mean? Just say I was a mess and be done with it,” Namnuea shot back quickly, not wanting to relive that moment. If work hadn’t been so hectic afterward, Nuea would’ve been haunted by dreams of wiping sauce off his face with his finger.

“Before that, actually.”

“Before?” Namnuea repeated, turning to look at him in confusion, only to be met with a mysterious smile from the man pointing at the grill.

“The pork’s burning.”    “Hey!” At the warning, the guy who’d been grilling a full spread yelped softly, quickly turning to flip the meat into the dipping sauce and popping it into his mouth with a look of pure bliss.

“After exerting all that energy, eating feels amazing. And I didn’t say you were a mess—I genuinely like watching you eat. It’s oddly satisfying.” No kidding—the big guy who seemed to prefer beer over food kept piling stuff from the grill onto his plate. Namnuea wrinkled his nose slightly, unable to resist muttering.

“You’re probably crazy.”

“I heard that, you know.”

I meant for you to hear it.

The young organizer told himself, then slowly let a smile creep out, feeling an inexplicable sense of ease. Maybe it was because the other was smiling more, laughing more, and flirting more. Sure, sometimes it felt a bit much, but it was worth it after all that drama.

“Hmm,” Namnuea, happily munching away, made a sound in his throat, glancing at the guy casually sipping beer, sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

“Worth what?” Sailom chuckled, but this time he elaborated.    “Worth riling you up to make you work up an appetite so you’d eat a ton, and I’d get to watch you eat as my beer’s sidekick.” He turned with a dazzling smile that made Namnuea’s heart skip a beat.

Seriously, is this guy flirting right now?

   The one outwitted could only grumble inwardly, wanting to be mad but unable to. Instead, his face flushed in a way he couldn’t explain, and he countered softly.

“I’m a person, not peanuts to be your beer snack.” This time, Sailom burst out laughing, making the onlooker glance over briefly before turning away. That handsome face, with teacolored eyes sparkling as he laughed, was seriously bad for his heart.

If Khun Lom weren’t about to get married, he might’ve played along.

   “By the way, can I ask you something, Khun Lom?”    The thought suddenly struck him, and Namnuea looked at the other man, who nodded.

“This question might be a bit rude. If you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to,” Namnuea prefaced, knowing his curiosity wasn’t exactly polite but burning to ask.

“Go ahead,” Khun Lom permitted after the warning. Taking a deep breath, Namnuea asked, “Are you being forced to get married?”    Thud.

Sailom, mid-sip of his beer, froze, turning to meet Namnuea’s gaze. The man visibly stiffened, his sharp eyes glinting briefly before dimming. Then, in a flat tone, he said, “Why would you think that?”

Because you made me think it.

Namnuea had been suspicious for a while. He’d noticed the groom’s lack of cooperation and the bride’s claim of trusting him completely, yet she avoided involvement in her own wedding. How many women would skip planning their big day?

Even when sent drafts and details, she’d say to let the groom decide because she didn’t have time to check emails.

It felt… odd from the start.

“If you don’t want to answer—”

“No, it’s not that I don’t want to,” the other interrupted, growing serious. He took a big gulp of beer, his furrowed brows relaxing slightly.

The sight felt inexplicably heavy, the once-light mood now strained. “There’s a lot between me and Yiwa that makes it unsurprising you’d think that. But to your question—no, I’m not being forced. I’m willingly marrying Yiwa.”

Namnuea wasn’t sure what answer he’d expected, but the moment the taller man said he was willingly marrying, something shattered inside his chest. Disappointment seeped from the cracks, spreading through every fiber of his being.

Even smiling felt impossible, but he forced one.

“Right. I shouldn’t have asked something so stupid.”    What were you expecting, Nuea? Did you misread his friendliness? Maybe he’s just a flirty guy, comfortable with men or women. It’s not like you haven’t met charming types like him before.

Namnuea tried to convince himself, tried to tell himself that the man in front of him wasn’t as kind as his handsome face suggested. That way, he wouldn’t be too disappointed. But Sailom seemed entirely uncooperative, gazing at him with concern before speaking.

“I’m sorry for answering like this.”

The groom-to-be must have sensed that Namnuea had started to catch feelings, even if just a little. Naturally, there was some disappointment. So, Namnuea forced a laugh.

“Why are you apologizing to me?” The listener let out a heavy sigh, then spoke with a serious tone.

“I should be the one apologizing… at the very least for not telling you about a lot of things.”

Like the fact that you’re bi and flirting with me while you have a beautiful fiancée waiting.

Nuea kept up his strained smile, looking down to continue eating, hoping to end the conversation. But he gripped his chopsticks even tighter when the man who’d just apologized spoke again, softly.

“I told you before that I like how you are, how you eat, your figure. I meant every word.”

The man who knew he had no right to give anyone hope was shaking the heart of someone who had no right to hope either.    This is exactly why I hate flirty guys.

…

On the way there, Namnuea’s mind had been consumed with the sudden doubling of the guest list. On the way back, all he could think about was the groom-to-be, who was increasingly influencing his heart.

Was it the other man’s good looks that made his heart waver so easily? Or was it his own susceptibility, daring to hope for something he shouldn’t?

He’d managed to relieve some stress through sheer effort, but now his mind was weighed down with even heavier thoughts. He pretended to be so exhausted that he fell asleep, just to avoid any further conversation with the car’s owner, who’d offered to drive him to his condominium.

Nuea was furious with himself for leaving his car at the office. When Sailom offered to drive him, no matter how much he refused, the man always found a way to tag along. So, Nuea solved the problem by slumping against the car seat, resting his head against the window, and closing his eyes.

We’ll meet again at the pre-wedding photoshoot. I’ve got a month to make my heart stronger.

The young organizer told himself firmly that the next time they met, he’d be more professional. He wouldn’t let any words stir his single-for-years heart again.

Or maybe it’s time to get a boyfriend, Nuea.

The young organizer’s thoughts spiraled, exhausted and sleepy as he was. But in truth, he couldn’t sleep. He just kept his eyes closed, fidgeting restlessly, unaware that he was so lost in his thoughts that the sleek car had already pulled up in front of his condominium.

By the way, something warm…

Suddenly, the cool breeze from the air conditioner turned warm, brushing against his fair cheeks. But it wasn’t just the breeze… the faint scent of alcohol lingered at the tip of his nose, mixed with the intoxicatingly sexy fragrance of cologne, making him feel a bit dizzy. That scent… it drew closer, catching him off guard.    Gasp!

“!!!”

Too late. A soft, pliant touch landed on his beautifully colored lips, sending a surge of warmth through his body, chilled by the air conditioner. His eyes flew open, and what stood out before him… those sharp, intensely captivating eyes.

Those eyes locked onto him, unblinking, matching the warm lips that pressed even more firmly. A large hand moved to touch the nape of his neck, making the fine hairs stand on end. Shock jolted through his chest as he realized what was happening.

He was being kissed… again.

This kiss wasn’t to tease or snap him out of something. The person kissing him didn’t just want to press lips together—Khun Sailom was… nibbling.

Gasp!

Push!

“Wha… Khun Lom, why would you do this?” Namnuea quickly gathered his wits, pushing at the other’s shoulders, but they barely budged. Realizing he was weak in the moment, he asked in a startled tone, confused and bewildered, staring into those eyes that sparkled with the reflection of the outside lights. “You were pretending to sleep,” the stubborn man said, giving Namnuea the strength to push harder.

“But you shouldn’t joke like this.”

It’s not good for my heart at all, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“Then if I tell you the truth, will you listen?” The tall man asked in a deeper voice, his other hand somehow already wrapped around Namnuea’s waist, while the first gently held his fair cheek, forcing him to look up and meet his gaze. Namnuea’s voice came out hoarse as he asked, “Why are you doing this?” The response, one he didn’t know whether to be happy or sad about, rang out: “Because I like you.”

“Khun Lom,” Namnuea could only groan in his throat, staring at the other in disbelief, his senses scattered. But one thing he remembered clearly:

“But you’re about to get mar—”

“Shh,” before he could finish, the man in front of him hushed him with a low sound, his sharp eyes glinting as he moved even closer.

“Don’t say it,” Sailom said in a deep, husky voice, their eyes locked in a steady gaze. He continued, “Because I’m about to kiss you.”

“You…!” Warm lips pressed down, silencing all protests. Namnuea could only widen his eyes, but some devilish impulse made him… slowly close them.

He knew he shouldn’t give in, but his body ignored his brain’s commands.

   Nuea’s hands moved up to wrap around the other’s neck, returning the searing kiss pressed against him. He yielded to the teasing nibble of sharp teeth on his lips, responding to the tongue that traced and savored his sweetness before boldly delving inside.

   The moment their warm tongues brushed against the softness within, all sense of right and wrong scattered. He could only surrender to the increasingly sweet sensation.

   “Mmm.”

A faint moan escaped his throat, enticing the larger man to reach over and recline the seat. He shifted to straddle him, pinning him down with calculated precision, leaving no room to breathe. Panting filled his chest, their tongues still entwined as one, sweet droplets spilling messily at the corners of their mouths, unnoticed by either.

The kiss was fiery yet tender, making Namnuea feel like he was walking on clouds before plunging down a rollercoaster. A flood of emotions overwhelmed him, forcing him to slowly but firmly push against those broad shoulders, signaling… enough, no further.

This time, Sailom didn’t resist. He pulled back slowly, locking eyes with him, and gently wiped his lips with a fingertip.    “You shouldn’t have done that,” Namnuea said, voice breaking, gazing at the man who closed his eyes wearily.    “I know,” the other admitted, yet didn’t move off him, instead leaning down to touch their foreheads together.

“I know… I have no right to kiss you… no right even to like you.”

Then why did you do it? Don’t you care how Khun Yiwa would feel?

   Namnuea wanted to shout, but the words wouldn’t come. Guilt lodged in his chest because… he was just as guilty, having craved and returned that kiss. So he turned his face away, lightly pushing the other’s chest and forcing a smile.

“It’s fine, because it’ll only happen this once.” He wasn’t sure if he said it to warn the other or to convince himself, but he turned back to meet his gaze, asking firmly.

“Right?”

There won’t be another time, will there?

“…” The other stayed silent, then sat up straight, letting out a heavy sigh, as if his heart were exhausted.

“You’re right… I shouldn’t have kissed you like that,” the other turned and smiled, not addressing the earlier question, but saying in a softer tone, “It’s late. You should rest. I’ve troubled you enough.” The listener wanted to ask more, but words failed him. He just turned, opened the door, and stepped out of the car quickly. But before closing it, Sailom spoke up.

“Will we see each other again?” It was a question that made Namnuea hold his breath, managing only to say, “Yes… but next time and every time after will be just about work. Good night.” With that, Namnuea hurried into the building, not looking back, having made his rejection clear.

Someone like Nuea would never be a third wheel.

Only when he reached his room and leaned against the door, exhausted, did he press his face to it, raising a hand to touch his lips.

Namnuea had known since high school that a kiss could be sweet, but this was the first time he learned it could also taste so bitter, piercing the depths of his heart.

Not bitter from the beer, but from a heart… grieving.

“I really don’t like this kind of kiss.”

A kiss that would likely be the last with this man.

“So foolish.”

This Nuea was such a fool… a fool for letting his heart fall for a groom-to-be. Truly, such a fool.

  

   THEWEDDING PLAN CHAPTERS HOME

   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!!!

       THEWEDDING PLAN CHAPTERS HOME

   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?

       THEWEDDING PLAN CHAPTERS HOME

   THEWEDDINGPLAN, Chapter 2:

The customer is king, no matter how absurd they are—kings remain kings, day or night.

In his five years of working, Namnuea had learned that organizing weddings was a chaotic affair. But no matter how tight the deadlines, the biggest challenge was always… the clients.

Clients who wanted this, that, and everything their way—he was ready to handle their pickiness. But this time, he’d just met a bride who…

[I have to apologize, but for wedding details, Khun Nuea, it’s better to ask Phii Lom. I’m giving him full decisionmaking power.]

   A bride who deferred to the groom for every aspect of the wedding planning.

“And don’t you have any vision for the wedding, Ms. Yiwa? Like the event style? How about I suggest a mix of Chinese banquet tables and cocktails? Chinese tables for the older guests, but we’d also have cocktail service. Since this event will likely have a lot of friends attending, a self-serve style could offer good variety.”

[That sounds nice, but Khun Nuea, you’ll have to check with Phii Lom to see if he’s okay with it. I’m fully following the groom’s lead.]

   A bride who didn’t even have a dream wedding in mind.    “And what about the event theme, Ms. Yiwa? Do you have any specific theme in mind?”

[The event theme? That’s tough. Back in university, when My friends asked me to think of a theme for a senior farewell party, I couldn’t come up with anything. Hmm, how about lots of flowers? But Phii Lom probably wouldn’t like that. Khun Nuea, you’d better ask Phii Lom what theme he wants.]

   A bride who hadn’t discussed anything with the groom beforehand.

“And what about the hotel? I’ve sent a list of five-star hotels with available banquet halls for the dates you mentioned via email. Is there any place you’re particularly interested in, Ms. Yiwa? Or if you want to visit the venues in person, I can arrange for the person in charge to meet us.”

[I’m interested in the hotels near my place. There were two on the list you sent.]

   This is the first time this conversation has started to make sense.

“Alright, should I schedule a visit to check out the venues in person?”

[But I’m not sure if Phii Lom will like them, I said. I’ll send the hotel names to Phii Lom for him to review, and then have Phii Lom contact you. It’s a good thing mine and Phii Lom’s wedding date isn’t during a popular time, or we’d never find a banquet hall in time.]

   The bride probably realized how tight the timeline was. Most people book banquet halls a year in advance, but here they were, three months out, with no venue secured. Still…    “Is it really okay to let the groom decide everything?”    Smack your mouth, Nuea!

Even the speaker knew his tone carried a slight jab, enough to make Sister Eim whip her head around, giving him a look that made the hairs on his arms stand up. But he was at his limit with these clients who answered every question with “I don’t know,” “Haven’t thought about it,” or “Up to Phii Lom.” Even something as critical as the banquet hall wasn’t on their radar. And most importantly… why was everything dumped on that clueless groom?

The bride was easy to talk to but offered nothing concrete. The groom was nearly impossible to schedule, and his answer was always “anything goes.”

Wedding planners aren’t gods who can read the minds of brides and grooms and magically make things happen. It’d be easier to let the parents of the bride and groom get involved at this point.

Following the bride’s mother’s orders would be simpler than prying anything out of the bride herself.

Yet, the bride just laughed it off, unbothered.

[I really have to apologize to you. This wedding seems like it’s going to be quite a hassle for the team, especially for you Khun Nuea, who’s probably more exhausted than anyone.]    There was something… oddly suggestive in the bride’s tone.    Namnuea pushed the thought aside and focused on the matter that needed to be settled today.

“You mentioned that you have finalized the guest count, right? It’s around five hundred people, correct?” The number of guests was crucial for booking a banquet hall of the right size.

Although the list of hotels and banquet hall sizes sent to the couple via email had been calculated for about five hundred guests, he needed to confirm for certainty.

[Oh, I heard Phii Lom has a rough guest list already. His family has finalized their guest count as well. Khun Nuea, you should check with him. Oh, and sorry, Khun Nuea, you have to go now. Please take care of things!]

   And with that, the bride hung up, leaving the listener… hanging.    Crash!

“Goddamn it!!! Is this wedding even happening or what?!”

Namnuea prided himself on his patience, but this was too much. He slammed the documents down on the table with a loud thud, rubbing his head vigorously, drawing the stares of Sister Eim and other colleagues.    “What’s your deal, Nuea?”    Flop.

He buried his face on the table, muttering, “The guest list isn’t finalized, no banquet hall booked, no details for the morning ceremony, the bride and groom haven’t tried on their outfits. If the bride gets picky at the last minute and the dress can’t be tailored in time, what then? No theme in mind either, and neither the bride nor groom is cooperating. Is this even going to work, Sis?” He finally vented to his senior, who sighed and gave a faint smile.

“Done whining? Ready to quit that attitude?” Her question made Namnuea look up and meet her eyes.

 

No, alright, fine. Nuea’s done complaining. I’ll call the groom first.” Taking a deep breath, he brushed off the initial stress, grabbed his phone, and dialed the groom-to-be, only to hear…

(I told you I don’t like discussing important stuff over the phone. Just come see me this evening.)

No consideration at all. If it weren’t for the groom paying 150,000 for the event slot—300,000 total for morning and evening, not to mention the unlimited wedding budget— Namnuea wouldn’t be putting up with this.

“Alright, I’ll meet Lom this evening.”

He agreed, then turned to his close senior, who was casually sipping coffee.

“He’s making you meet him at the gym, huh?”

Namnuea had already told her about the other day, and she burst out laughing, patting his shoulder in delight, saying, “It’s a great chance for you to work out, Nuea. You’ve got to get that plan, so even if it means signing up for a gym membership to deal with Lom, you’ve gotta do it.”

“Are you nuts, Sis?” Who signs up for a gym just to discuss work with a groom? But…

“Does the company cover the cost?”

“In your dreams,” Sister Eim shot back. Namnuea pouted. “Why the hell would I spend thousands from my salary on a gym membership for some stranger’s wedding three months from now? Dream on.” He stood firm—he wasn’t working out.

Between the job and all the stress he faced daily, he was already wiped out. No way he’d waste energy for no reason.    “Dream all you want, but don’t forget to talk to him about trying on the wedding suit. Oh, and don’t forget the pre-wedding photoshoot either!”

“Yes, yessss!”

In the end, Namnuea got smacked on the head with a rolled-up paper, as expected, while he was still brainstorming ways to deal with the groom.

There’s a sofa area outside the gym for discussing work with non-members. I can just wait there.

It’s almost 8 p.m., you know!

Namnuea could only grit his teeth. Sailom had scheduled the meeting for 7:30 p.m., and he’d made the effort to arrive early, shamelessly waiting in front of the gym. He’d firmly told the staff he wasn’t a customer but was there to meet someone coming to work out. Yet, despite waiting and waiting—long enough for the staff to start giving him curious glances—the person he was meeting still hadn’t shown up.

When he called, Sailom said he was stuck in traffic, forcing Namnuea to stay calm and resist the urge to call repeatedly.

Finally, when the long hand of the clock was inching toward twelve…

Creak.

“Khun Lom, hello!”

The glass door swung open, and the man he’d been waiting for finally appeared, carrying a large gym bag.

Hello. Sorry for being late. But can you wait for me for about an hour? I’ve got a session with my trainer at 8 p.m.”    “What?!” Namnuea exclaimed, lunging forward to grab him, but the other man was quicker. Sailom swiped his card to pass through the barrier and turned to the staff at the counter.    “Sorry, my friend here wants to try out the gym. Can you give him the form to fill out?”    “Of course, Khun Lom!”

With that, Sailom strode confidently inside, leaving Namnuea frozen in place. Even as the staff handed him a guest form to fill out, he stood there, dumbfounded. This is straight-up coercion!    A gym? For someone like him who hates working out?!    Nuea had been to gyms before, mostly the kind found in hotels. But a fitness center like this, with zones for different types of workouts and rows of intimidating equipment— especially the weight-training machines—looked downright terrifying.

And there was Khun Sailom, working out his arms in that scary-looking zone.

What a freak, Nuea thought.

No, the young organizer wasn’t referring to the groom-to-be, whose tanned skin was glistening with sweat, looking tantalizingly biteable. It was himself, standing there in fitted jeans and a light-colored shirt, surrounded by health enthusiasts decked out in full workout gear.

 

Ms. Yiwa sent me to finalize the guest list with you, Khun Lom,” he said, mustering his professional demeanor to engage with the other party.

After filling out forms, answering a barrage of questions, and declining a trainer’s offer to recommend equipment, Namnuea scanned the room for his target. He spotted him stepping off a treadmill used for warm-ups and heading toward the intimidating zone filled with young men and women in workout clothes, confidently showing off their physiques. All he could do was take a deep breath and march straight toward him.    “Just a sec,” said the tall man in sports pants and a dark tank top that revealed enviable arm muscles, lifting weights that made the food-loving Namnuea flinch just glancing at the load. No wonder they hadn’t talked yet—he seemed focused on controlling his breathing.

“You’re Khun Nuea, organizing Phii Lom’s wedding, right?” asked Kram, a trainer with a physique not unlike the man lifting weights. Namnuea turned and gave a dry smile.

“Sorry for barging in here.”

If he didn’t come to talk face-to-face, that groom wouldn’t even bother discussing anything.

He didn’t voice the last part to discredit his client, instead offering a smile to the undeniably charismatic man. But… he wasn’t quite as perfect as the groom-to-be.

Not that this trainer wasn’t handsome, but he didn’t make his heart flutter like that “whatever” guy sweating it out.

No worries. By the way, Khun Nuea, ever thought about working out here?”

Here we go, the sales pitch.

He glanced around, and honestly, the eye candy here was better than at any restaurant. But investing time, effort, and money just to ogle guys? Not his thing. Still, his wandering gaze seemed to lead the young trainer to a different conclusion.    “Anyone can have a great, chiseled body. Building muscle through exercise is better than starving yourself to lose weight.”    Why don’t you just call me fat?!

The man who was confident in his soft, huggable body cursed inwardly. His smile grew drier, and his confidence plummeted.    Compared to many in this zone, he really couldn’t compete. Soft to the touch everywhere—not rock-hard like Khun Sailom, who seemed built from steel pipes.

Grumble… “But I think Khun Nuea is fine just the way he is.”    But the man, who Namnuea thought would agree with the harsh words of a personal trainer, said something entirely different. The young man grabbed a small towel to wipe his sweat, set the weights down, and sat with his feet apart. Tilting his sharp, handsome face—glistening with large beads of sweat around his forehead—he looked up. Namnuea admitted bluntly… his heart was racing.

“You already look good in your own way,” Phii Lom said.

And just like that, Namnuea was at a loss for words.    Namnuea didn’t care what the muscular trainer was saying, because his round eyes were fixed on the sharp, intense face staring him up and down, making him feel an indescribable shyness.

Compared to everyone else around, he felt utterly unremarkable.

But then the man in front of him smiled and said, “This is good enough.”

Nuea froze, feeling a strange, warm, fuzzy sensation swelling in his chest. For years, his friends—gay, straight, and everyone in between—had told him he’d let himself go, gaining too much weight. They’d even jabbed that as a gay man, he didn’t take care of himself, which is why his ex left him. In truth, it was a lack of time that ended the relationship. So, when a man as perfect as this one said something like that, his heart spun in ways he couldn’t describe.

If only the guy wasn’t about to marry a slender, beautiful woman.

“Thanks, Khun Lom. So, about the guest count…” Namnuea almost got carried away but snapped back to reality just in time, picturing the bride’s face. The other man smirked, grabbed his water bottle, took a big gulp, and said casually,

“I have a rough guest list in my locker. I’ll grab it after I’m done here. The number’s a bit higher than what we discussed before.”

As expected.

“And what about the hotel? Yiwa said she sent you a list of hotels she liked for you to decide on. Both venues can

accommodate the guest count.”

Which one do you think is better?” the groom asked, starting his third set of weights. Namnuea glanced down at his documents.

“For me, I’d recommend the first one. It’s not only convenient to travel to, but the hotel’s decor suits various wedding themes. The elevated stage they provide is perfect for setting up the wedding cake arch. Their proposal is also appealing, and I’ve worked with them often without any issues,” Namnuea said earnestly, as the hotel’s offer was quite good. Most importantly… working with them was stress-free.

Unlike this groom-to-be.    “Then go with your choice.”    What?!

Namnuea nearly gasped, because Khun Lom didn’t just agree—he said, “Go with your choice.”

My God, a groom like this actually exists in the world.    “Lom, don’t you want to review the proposals from both venues and the budget first?”    “Nah, I trust you.”    Freeze.

Namnuea’s words caught in his throat. That knockout line left him rooted to the spot, staring at the man who gave a faint smile, his sharp, handsome face even more striking. Those eyes clearly conveyed the trust behind his words, making Namnuea feel hot and cold all at once, like he had a fever. His fair cheeks burned in a way he couldn’t explain.

Trust, huh? Why does that word make my heart race like this?

The planner, who’d been quietly biased against both clients, suddenly felt a surge of motivation. It was rare for a client to express such confidence in his ability to deliver. He couldn’t help but flash a smile.

A smile that the other man met with a steady gaze.    “Thank you for trusting me. I promise this wedding will be unforgettable,” he assured, wanting to instill confidence. Sailom nodded. “That’s what I thought.”

Maybe it was just the young organizer’s imagination, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that those razor-sharp eyes held some hidden meaning. That slight smirk at the corner of the groom’s mouth made him uneasy in a way he couldn’t pinpoint. This wedding will definitely be unforgettable.

Is there something we don’t know?

Namnuea whispered the question to himself, his gut warning him as he worked. He couldn’t help but think the worst—that this wedding might not end well.

Come on, you’re overthinking it, Nuea.

“Oh, I need to try on the suit too, right?” Out of nowhere, the groom—who hadn’t seemed to care much about the wedding— brought up the topic. Namnuea eagerly agreed, following him as he switched to another workout machine, still focusing on arm exercises.

“Yes, I was just about to discuss that with you. When are you and Ms. Yiwa free? For the bride’s dress, if it’s custom-made, it could take three to six months. But I have connections with

 

several shops and designers who might be able to rush it. Still, it’s best to try things on within this week.”

“Sounds like a hassle.”

Is this groom seriously still thinking a wedding is a piece of cake?

Namnuea inwardly scoffed, glancing at the man who tilted his head slightly. Sure, he looked good enough to make hearts flutter, but that didn’t erase the fact that this guy was dragging his feet, stalling his own wedding’s progress.

“You’ll have to take us there, right?”

“Of course, it’s my job,” Namnuea replied. “Alright, are you free this Saturday at 10 a.m.?”

“Yes, is it okay to meet at the shop directly?” Namnuea answered eagerly, seeing signs that the job was finally moving forward. But the other man shook his head.

“I’ll meet you at your office instead, and then you can ride with me.”

Though Namnuea wasn’t thrilled about the idea—since it meant extra time going from the office to the shop—he didn’t refuse, especially with such good cooperation. They finalized the details, and he slipped away from the area as the gym grew increasingly crowded with people arriving around 8 p.m.    “Wait a sec, Khun Nuea. Kram, give me a few minutes… You wanted to discuss the guest list, right?” Suddenly, the man who’d been difficult this whole time spoke up, addressing his trainer before leading the way toward the locker room. Namnuea hurriedly followed, but his eyes couldn’t help but wander… to the tall, muscular figure walking ahead.

What would it be like to try just once…?

His round eyes traced the man’s broad, upright shoulders, thick biceps, and perfectly sculpted body in a tank top that revealed a tapered waist and hips. He swallowed hard.

That’s a client!

Namnuea flinched as another voice in his head snapped him back to reality. But he couldn’t stop his gaze from lingering on that toned physique, and before he knew it… his hand started reaching out.

Can I just sneak a little touch?

His fingertips were just a fraction away from that tanned skin… just a little closer… almost there…    “Khun Nuea.”    Gasp!

Thud!

“Ow!!!”

Before his fingers could make contact, Namnuea jumped in shock as the man called his name. Too fixated on those gorgeous muscles, the sudden voice startled him beyond reason. He stumbled backward, not noticing someone else walking toward the locker room behind him, and crashed into them with full force.

Grab!

“Khun Nuea, are you okay?!”

Sailom was quick enough to catch Namnuea by the waist as he stumbled back toward him. The person he’d collided with looked visibly startled as well.

“Are you okay?”

“Oof… I’m fine,” Namnuea replied, still dazed. Sailom turned to the other person involved in the incident.

“He seems okay. I apologize on behalf of my friend.”

“No worries. I wasn’t watching where I was going either. Sorry about that,” the other guy smiled before heading toward the inner locker room. Meanwhile, Namnuea was still reeling, only realizing what was happening when his back felt unusually warm and a soft voice spoke just above his head.

“Are you hurt anywhere, Khun Nuea?”

“Uh… no.”

It was just a shock earlier, but now his heart was about to give out!

Finally regaining his composure, he could only widen his eyes. His body was enveloped in the embrace of the larger man, his back pressed against the chest he’d fantasized about touching. He could feel an intense heat, more than usual from exertion, radiating and tingling through him. Then there were the strong arms wrapped firmly around his waist, and the scent of cologne mixed with sweat hitting his nose, urging him to inhale deeply.    It wasn’t a sweaty stench—it was a scent that screamed how irresistibly sexy the other man was.    “Uh, Khun Lom, l-let go, please.”

 

Are you sure you’re okay? Can you stand?” But the groomto-be didn’t release him. On the contrary, he leaned down closer to his cheek, his warm breath grazing pale skin, prompting a hurried nod of confirmation.

Too close, way too close!

“I’m fine, please let me go,” he tried to say calmly, but his voice came out noticeably shaky.

With a firm affirmation, the arms around his waist shifted to touch his arms instead, as if ensuring he was steady. Then the larger man stepped back slightly, though still closer than a normal distance, making Namnuea lower his head in a frenzy because… his cheeks were burning alarmingly.

He absolutely couldn’t let him know how flustered he was.    “Good to know you’re okay,” the deep voice sounded so close that he had to lower his head further, pretending to check himself for injuries, even though his little heart was trembling harder than before, beating faster than ever. Even without looking up, he could sense the other man… moving closer.    The sharp-featured face drew nearer, and one large hand that had been holding his wrist let go, only to reach closer again as if to touch his cheek, nearly sending the young organizer into cardiac arrest.

Stop! What are you doing? What are you doing?! You’re about to get married!

Namnuea screamed internally, but he had no strength to resist the overwhelming charm. His body was already heating up from the closeness just moments ago.

The hand was getting closer… closer… less than ten centimeters from his cheek.

“Khun Lom, you’re about to…” get married!

Click

Before Namnuea could finish, he heard a faint sound beside his head. He froze, mouth agape, and whipped his head toward the noise. His face flushed even hotter, almost alarmingly so, because…

The large hand had indeed moved closer, but… it was to unlock the locker behind him.

“What did you say?” The groom-to-be leaned down, raising an eyebrow in curiosity, completely unaware of how many rollercoaster loops he’d sent the other man’s heart through. Namnuea blinked rapidly, and the moment he regained his composure, an overwhelming wave of embarrassment hit him, making it nearly impossible to meet the man’s gaze.

Whoosh

Nuea quickly ducked out of the danger zone, stepping back several paces, muttering in a trembling voice.

“N-Nothing…” The embarrassment was as intense as his realization. How could you think the groom-to-be was about to kiss you?!

“You seem kinda off.”

“You’re overthinking it, Khun Lom,” he said, voice shaky, eyes fixed downward, avoiding the man who was now pulling documents from the locker and holding them out to him.

Thanks. I’ll head out for today, then. See you Saturday,” Namnuea said, not wanting to linger in this humiliating moment any longer. He grabbed the documents, gave a quick farewell, and practically tripped over his own feet rushing out of the locker room. Unsurprisingly, he bolted out of the gym at the same frantic pace, one hand clutching his chest tightly.

“This is bad, Nuea. This is really bad.”

The young man could only mutter that much, because it… was truly bad for his heart.

Meanwhile, on the other side…

“Heh,” the groom-to-be chuckled amusedly, watching the figure that had fled far into the distance. He crossed his arms, leaning casually against the locker, thinking about those flushed cheeks that were so striking. He’d wondered before how red that fair skin could get when blushing, and it really was a vibrant glow.

As he raised his hand to his face, he could still feel the soft skin he’d brushed against.

Softer than my hard build when you hug it, huh?

How could Sailom not notice that just moments ago, the other guy was glancing left and right nervously, eyeing the gym-goers with unease? He looked out of place, a stark contrast to his usual confident demeanor. It was too tempting not to tease him a bit.

But what Sailom said… wasn’t a lie in the slightest.

“It’s fine like this,” the young man muttered before locking his locker and heading back to his personal trainer, unable to suppress the widening smile.

Like this is good—soft and warm to hug.

    THEWEDDING PLAN CHAPTERS HOME

   THEWEDDINGPLAN, Chapter 1:

The most frustrating thing for service workers is overly picky customers… about anything and everything.

After coming to terms with the fact that the eye-candy guy he’d been ogling for a full five minutes was soon to be a groom, Namnuea summoned his professionalism, plastered on a business smile, and led the team—along with Sis Eim—into the meeting room. He suppressed his envy toward the lucky bride who managed to snag such a stunning groom in an era when straight men were as rare as a pinky finger.

“As we discussed over the phone, the wedding is set for three months from now, right, Ms. Yiwa?”

“Yes,” the bride-to-be replied with a cute smile. No wonder she could win over a handsome guy like that.

“That’s a pretty tight timeline,” he noted.

Typically, couples planning a wedding would consult at least five months in advance to ensure everything is perfect. Three months wasn’t too chaotic, though. They’d handled a two-week rush job before… in cases where, well, you know.

The kid couldn’t wait for their parents to tie the knot, so they forced the issue by getting pregnant first.    “Is it not doable?”     Pause.

The listener’s brows furrowed instantly as the groom-to-be interjected. Namnuea’s big eyes met his, only to find the guy raising an eyebrow in a… condescending way.

What, is he all looks and no substance?

   “It’s not that it can’t be done. But preparing in three months means you, Khun Sailom, and Ms. Yiwa will have less time to plan, and the bride and groom will end up the most exhausted.”    “Isn’t that why we’re here? Everyone says your slogan is, ‘You dream it, we make it happen.’ That’s why I agreed to come here—because I expect you to organize the best wedding in three months, something we couldn’t pull off ourselves.”    Oh, he’s picking a fight now. I was just explaining, damn it!    Namnuea felt the corner of his mouth twitch, but having dealt with customers like this before, he managed a soothing smile.    “I didn’t mean it’s impossible. My apologies, Sailom.”    At first, he thought the guy’s name sounded nice, but now he wondered if this jerk was about to blow a gasket.

“Mmhh.”

Sailom, the impeccably dressed, sharp-featured man from McDonald’s—the one who said he wouldn’t let go if he caught someone—turned out to be a completely different story. After less than ten minutes of talking, Namnuea wanted to take back his initial impression immediately. This guy seemed more like a troublemaker than his polite appearance suggested.

“Hehe, Phii Lom, don’t tease Nuea,” Sister Eim said, almost jumping into the conversation. The situation felt tense, but the bride-to-be let out a laugh and playfully poked her groom’s arm with a cute gesture.

“I didn’t do anything, Wa!” Sailom protested.

“Everyone saw it! That’s not nice, you know,” she teased.

Got you there, huh?

Nuea laughed inwardly, though he kept a straight face, until he froze.

“Well, I noticed Nuea couldn’t take his eyes off my fiancée, so I just…” Sailom shrugged, making the now-stiff Namnuea widen his eyes slightly.

“Hey! I didn’t…”

In this lifetime, he’d never stared at a woman. So why would he be ogling the bride-to-be? Unless…    Oh, right. Earlier.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Namnuea clarified. “I was just thinking that Yiwa must look stunning in a wedding dress.” Earlier, when he was staring at the bride, it was purely out of envy—envy that she got to have such a good-looking guy. But now, honestly, that envy had vanished, replaced by irritation at this man’s ridiculous behavior. See, Wa? Where did I go wrong?    Ugh, jealous much? Go take it out on the building’s foundation or something!

He wanted to snap back, but Sister Eim’s warning glance made him swallow his words and force a dry smile. He looked at the team leader, who skillfully changed the subject.

“So, about the wedding venue—have you thought about where you’d like to hold it?” Sister Eim asked.

“Hmm…” The beautiful young woman tilted her head slightly and gave a sweet smile. “I’m fine with whatever Phii Lom decides.”

Strange. They say brides are usually the ones with endless requests for their wedding—well, maybe second to the bride’s mother. But this bride was fully deferring to the groom.

“And you, Phii Lom?” Sister Eim turned to him.

“I haven’t decided yet,” Sailom replied.

“Hmm, have the elders specified anything? I’m just warning you from personal experience—dealing with relatives is the toughest part,” Sister Eim said. Though her question was likely aimed at getting answers to start planning quickly, her friendly tone and playful, conspiratorial whispering seemed to put the bride and groom at ease, encouraging them to open up.    “I can assure you that our family won’t meddle, because Yiwa has already sworn that if they want Phii Lom and Phii Yiwa to get married quickly, they’re not allowed to interfere, except for handling the guest list.”

And they agreed to that?

Namnuea couldn’t help but wonder, because from direct experience, as Sister Eim would say, parents are the real troublemakers. They might not even be planning a wedding for their kids—more like for themselves. This has to be how they want it, that has to be as the mom sees fit. And there really won’t be any issues, as they claim?

“No need to worry. If I say it’s okay, no matter what the family says, just trust my word,” the groom-to-be interjected, seemingly noticing the questioning look in Namnuea’s eyes. He spoke with a faint smile, as if to reassure.

A smile that… made his heart skip a beat.

“And the rough number of guests?”

“How many, Phii Lom?” Yiwa turned to ask the man beside her, who was quietly thinking. “About five hundred, I guess.”    Better add more to that.

Namnuea chuckled inwardly, because when the couple says this number, just wait until they talk to the family. Friends of friends of the brother of the aunt of the mom will show up from who-knows-where, along with a long list of family members. The number will definitely balloon if the couple says five hundred already includes friends and relatives…

Sister Eim knew this too, as she exchanged a knowing glance before steering the conversation to the main point.

“For this event, have you, Khun Sailom and Ms. Yiwa, set a rough budget yet? We’ll plan everything to stay within budget and ensure it’s at a satisfactory level,” she asked, her question laced with a persuasive pitch. Yiwa turned to the groom-to-be as if posing a question.

They haven’t discussed anything beforehand, have they?

Namnuea couldn’t help but be surprised.

“No limit,” Sailom said.

Huh!?

The listeners flinched, looking at him as if to confirm, and the man in front of them stated clearly…

“There’s no budget limit for this. Just make sure the event turns out the best it can be.”

Sister Eim’s eyes were sparkling, her smile so sweet it was almost terrifying, while Namnuea couldn’t help but feel a slight shiver… not because of the smile of the man in front of him.    The customer is king, but a customer with a fat wallet is like the creator of the world. So, Nuea could already sense the chaotic fate awaiting him in the next three months.

   “Ugh, are they really getting married or what, Sister Eim?!”    “Don’t complain. The customer is king. Start drafting the plan!”

Namnuea was on the verge of losing it, thinking back to the soon-to-be bride and groom who seemed perfectly matched, like a golden branch and jade leaf, from yesterday. Since the other party said the budget was unlimited, he thought the job would be easier than expected. No matter how picky they were, money could make anything happen. But, of course, it wasn’t that simple.

“Do you want a Chinese banquet-style event or a cocktail party?”

“I’m fine with whatever Phii Lom decides.”

“I’m good with anything.”

When asked about the event style, the bride deferred to the groom. And the groom? Even worse—anything goes.

“Are you set on a specific hotel? Like, does it need to be in the city center, have a certain vibe, or be in a particular area?”

“I’m fine with whatever Phii Lom wants.”

“I haven’t thought about it. I’m good with anything. Just suggest something.”

When asked about the venue, the bride smiled sweetly, and the groom just shrugged. Even when it came to…

“What about the engagement ceremony? Will it be on the same day, morning and afternoon, or separate days? And roughly how many guests for the engagement?”

“Uh, the engagement… I haven’t thought about it. Can we skip the engagement and just do the wedding in the evening?

What do you think, Phii Lom?”

“I told you, I’m good with anything. It’s all up to you.”    ‘Ughhhhh! If only the phrase ‘anything goes’ didn’t exist in this world!!!’

   Thinking back to yesterday, Namnuea wanted to scream loud enough to shake the earth. Ask the bride anything, and it’s “I don’t know,” “Haven’t thought about it,” “Whatever Phii Lom wants.” And the groom? Even worse—anything goes.

What does anything goes even look like? Show it to Nuea!

“Come on, it’s better than them being nitpicky.”

“I’d rather they be nitpicky. At least then I’d have some idea of what they want. This is a blank slate, Sister Eim. My head’s got nothing to work with. I don’t even know where to start. I’m about to just recycle an old plan and shove it in!” The one tasked with drafting the plan was practically clutching his temples. Meanwhile, the beautiful Sister Eim, sipping her coffee with arms crossed, let out a throaty laugh that sounded oddly chilling.    “I don’t care, you figure out how to make Sailom happy with this plan. I’m going to take the plan and budget and shove it in that curly-haired pot-scrubber’s face to my heart’s content.”

The “curly-haired pot-scrubber” refers to the curly-haired woman in the finance department who constantly clashes with Sister Eim. That side is all about cutting costs, while this side is determined to satisfy the client to the fullest. Naturally, they’ve butted heads plenty of times. This time, with an unlimited budget, Sister Eim is probably secretly thrilled… or maybe openly thrilled.

“So what am I supposed to do? I’ve got nothing in my head, Sis,” Namnuea could only sigh deeply, at a loss, while fiddling with the business card he’d just received.

He knew the guy seemed rich, but to be the manager of a manufacturing company at just twenty-eight? He must be seriously capable.

“If you’ve got nothing, go find something.”

“Where?” he echoed, dragging out the word. The listener pointed.

“In your hand.”    Swish.

“What, you want me to go talk to Blowhard Sailom, Sis?”    “His name is Sailom. Don’t get used to calling clients weird names, or you’ll get in trouble. And yes, you need to go talk to Sailom. Or what, are you going to talk to Ms. Yiwa, Nuea? He already said to follow Sailom’s lead. Whatever the groom wants, you do. So even if you go to Ms. Yiwa, she’ll just tell you to talk to Sailom. What’s so hard to understand about needing to consult Sailom further?” The listener wanted to argue that the issue wasn’t not knowing to talk to Sailom, but rather—

“Why does it have to be me? Do you think everyone else is just sitting around?”

“What about you, Sis?” He pointed right at her.

“I’m already dealing with a headache from the product launch party. You want to trade with me?” When Sis snapped back about that, the listener cringed, shaking his head. Just thinking about the client for that event… ugh, the pickiness and nonsense were beyond description.

That job was better left to handling logistics—ordering supplies, talking to the chef, setting up the venue. As for coordinating with the client, Sister Eim was the better fit.

“I’ll handle the wedding myself,” he finally conceded.    “About time you got it,” Sis said smugly. He playfully stuck out his tongue at her, but…    Smack.

“Go find Khun Lom and meet him already… Stop slacking off. You’re hired to work, not to sit around breathing all day!” If it weren’t for the fact that the boss lady was the company owner’s girlfriend, Nuea would’ve snapped back by now. But, fearing he’d lose his job and means of survival, he just rubbed his face—where a rolled-up paper had lightly smacked him— grabbed the business card, returned to his desk, and let out a long sigh.

The boss lady doesn’t get me at all. No matter how much she annoyed him, Nuea still couldn’t help but want a guy like that.

He sighed heavily again, lost in thought.

He’s about to be a groom, Nuea. No wonder this groom-to-be is such a mess.

“I’m not free.”

“B-But Khun Sailom said I could meet him today!”

“Sorry, something urgent came up.”    How can he talk so rudely like that?

Right now, Namnuea was barely holding back the urge to smash the vase on the table over the head of the man in front of him. He’d gone out of his way, traveling from the city center to a factory on the outskirts—almost two hours—just to meet someone who had scheduled this appointment yesterday.

When he tried to ask for more details over the phone, the response was…

[“I don’t like discussing important matters over the phone, especially something as big as a wedding. If you have questions, just come meet me.”]

“Where would be convenient for you, Khun Sailom?”

“I work on weekdays. Can you come to my office?”]    Though he wanted to scream to the heavens that it was ridiculously far, Namnuea still responded with an enthusiastic tone, even if his face looked like he’d swallowed bitter medicine.

“Sure, what time works best?”

[“Tomorrow around noon. I’ll have some time.”]

That’s what the man said, and Namnuea showed up as agreed,

only to be greeted with, “I’m not free.”

Not free? Then why the hell did you make me come all the way out here?!

At this moment, the service-minded (?) Namnuea had to flash a fake professional smile, grit his teeth, and say with a forced grin—while his eyebrow twitched, “No problem, I understand.

It’s an urgent matter, right?”

“Let’s talk another time then,” Khun Sailom replied.

Ugh.

Saying he understood was one thing, but the way the other guy stood up, practically shooing him away, was a whole different story.

Namnuea still clung to Sailom’s desk, his large round eyes looking up to meet his gaze, asking in a professional tone.    “So, when would be convenient for you, Khun Sailom? I can arrange to meet you again.”

“Well, during work hours isn’t very convenient.”    Then why did you ask me to come here?

He wanted to ask that, but seeing the handsome groom-to-be with his arms crossed, deep in thought, made his body flush with heat. Especially when his eyes accidentally drifted down to the fitted shirt that showcased a chiseled chest. Honestly, he had to struggle to suppress his baser desires.

And that face… the closer he looked, the more he noticed the sharp, striking features typical of a Thai man, likely without any Chinese ancestry, and incredibly good-looking. Plus, today there was a faint stubble, the kind from someone who doesn’t shave every day…

I’m practically drooling, Sister Eim.

“After work hours would be fine. How about the evening?”    “Wouldn’t that disturb you? After work hours for me is after work hours for you too,” Sailom raised an eyebrow slightly, his sharp eyes glinting with curiosity. The listener flashed a professional smile.

Oh, please. Before every event, Nuea practically lives at the venue. Talking business after hours? Piece of cake.

“No problem at all. My work hours are pretty flexible. Just name a time, Khun Sailom…”    “How about 10 p.m.?”    What!?

Before Nuea could even finish, the handsome man shot back instantly, shattering his professional composure. He could only widen his eyes, staring at the guy who spoke without a shred of courtesy.

Who schedules a work meeting at 10 p.m., seriously? Are you even thinking straight?!

“Didn’t you say I could pick any time?”    Tch, that smug grin again!

The listener wanted to throw a punch. Better yet, he wanted to whip a crocodile tail at that sturdy neck of his.

As he gaped, the other raised an eyebrow, crossed his arms, leaned his hip against the desk, and spoke in a tone… that sounded way too amused.

Trying to challenge me, huh? Bring it on!

He clenched his fist and replied in a firm voice.

“Ten p.m. works. Where would you like to meet, Khun

Sailom?”

The man in front of him paused for a moment before bursting into laughter.

His laugh made his sharp, handsome face even more captivating. His piercing eyes sparkled, and his perfectly shaped lips curved into a smile, making the young organizer’s heart pound. Namnuea had to mentally chant to himself…    He’s about to have a wife. He’s about to have a wife. He’s about to have… a wife.

“Just kidding, Khun Nuea.”

Don’t call my name in that soft voice with that charming smile!

Namnuea desperately wanted to look away from those sharp eyes, but he forced himself to hold the gaze, noticing they weren’t pure black but more like a tea-colored hue, tempting him to lean in closer.

Stop it, Nuea! Stop thinking about it, damn it!

“Don’t tease me like that,” Namnuea said, trying not to let his voice sound whiny. The other man smirked, then steered the conversation back to the topic at hand.

“But I’m not free today after work. I have somewhere to be.”

“What about tomorrow?”

“Same.”

“The day after?”

“Hmm, same.”

Are you even getting married?!

After a brief moment of being charmed, Namnuea took a deep breath, summoning his professionalism. He’d dealt with all kinds of grooms before, and a lack of cooperation wasn’t going to faze him. “Khun Sailom, I don’t mean to be rude, but this is quite urgent. We only have three months, and we don’t even have a wedding plan yet. If we let time slip away, things will get even more chaotic, especially in the final month. So, I’m asking for just an hour—no, even half an hour would do. Our slogan is ‘You dream it, we make it happen,’ but if you don’t have any dreams to share, how can we make it happen?” He was holding back his frustration as much as he could, wondering if this job might end up with the client canceling on them.

If the groom got upset and went to another planner, Sister Eim would definitely kill Nuea!

He could only manage a strained smile, looking at the man who had stopped smiling and was now rubbing his chin thoughtfully. That calm expression made Namnuea wish he could rewind time.

You said something he didn’t like, didn’t you, Nuea?

“Uh, I…”

“What you said makes sense.”    Phew.

The person about to apologize let out a huge sigh, looking at the one who finally agreed, nodding with a glimmer of hope that the project would move forward.

“Honestly, for my wedding, I’m fine with anything. Just propose a plan, and I’ll review it later…”

Goddamn it, he totally didn’t get what I was saying!

Namnuea nearly snapped back, but the other guy raised a hand to stop him first. “But that’s not ideal, right? You’re genuinely trying to make sure my wedding with Yiwa is the best it can be. I’ve heard that if you want a wedding done right, go to Wiwa Square. You guys don’t do things half-assed. That’s good.” The listener quieted down, taking it as a compliment, unable to help but curve his lips into a smile.

The young man in front of him nodded to himself again.    “Alright, how about this? Come with me this evening, but…” Sailom started.

“I’ve got plans this evening, but having two people tag along won’t be an issue,” he said. Namnuea smiled with relief, finally standing up from his seat. “Thank you. What time this evening, then?”

The other party set a time and place, which the listener confirmed, before saying, “I’ll take my leave then, Sailom. See you this evening.”

No matter how much his heart was racing, Nuea still kept it professional.

Proud of himself, he gathered his briefcase filled with wedding details and documents, turned, and started to step out of the room.

“Oh, one more thing.”

Please, let me go. My stomach acid’s already working overtime from the stress.

“Yes?” But he turned to meet the other’s gaze, flashing a smile, only to… feel his vision blur.

Because the man in front of him was giving a charming smile.

And not just that—the voice that came out… was so smooth and pleasant.

“You don’t have to call me Sailom. Just Lom is fine.”    Freeze.

Using a nickname wasn’t unusual, but hearing him say it like that made it feel… a little closer.    “Alright, Lom.”    Blush.

Namnuea hadn’t felt his face heat up for anyone in a long time, but the moment he said the nickname, the smile from the other side widened even more. Those sharp eyes sparkled with charm, making his heart pound wildly, sending blood rushing to his cheeks until they burned. All he could do was give a slight nod as a farewell and hurry out of the office before he accidentally said something he shouldn’t.

It wasn’t until he stepped outside that Namnuea clutched his chest with both hands.

Oh no, oh no, oh no! He’s getting married, Namnuea. He’s getting married!

“Don’t you dare, man. You don’t want to be known as the guy crushing on the groom, do you?”

This job was already a mess, but nothing was scarier than this—figuring out how to finish the job without falling for the ridiculously charming groom.

What?! What is this place?    “Uh, Khun Lom, this is…”

“A gym.”

I know it’s a gym, but why did you bring me to a gym?    The meeting spot the groom-to-be had chosen was a shopping mall. At first, Nuea thought they’d be discussing work at some café or restaurant, but instead, the other man led him upstairs and straight to a place with a familiar logo. People passing by were carrying huge bags, likely stuffed with clothes for changing, leaving the young organizer completely stunned.    “I come to the gym about four or five times a week, except for weekends. If you want to talk about work, this is the place,” Sailom said matter-of-factly. The tall, muscular man—whose fit physique Namnuea now understood—swiped his membership card and started heading inside, leaving the bewildered Namnuea scrambling to catch up.

“Khun Lom, how am I supposed to get in?!”

And wait a second—four or five times a week? Doesn’t that mean every weekday?!

But Sailom merely turned back and raised an eyebrow slightly.

“That’s your problem. I’ve already wasted enough time.

Excuse me.”

“Hey!!!”

Yelling loudly didn’t make the other man care. The groom-tobe—who, just earlier at noon, had acknowledged how urgent this job was—disappeared inside without a backward glance.

Namnuea stood frozen in place, itching to throw something after him.

Give me back the good feelings I had for you at noon!    “Hello, sir. Are you here with Khun Lom?” a staff member at the counter suddenly approached, catching him off guard. He stared at the woman smiling sweetly at him as she launched into her pitch.

“If you’re with a member, we can let you try out the gym for free. Would you like to give it a go with us?”

“Uh… no thanks,” Nuea quickly cut off the female employee, likely a salesperson, before she could start pitching services. Giving up on chasing after his client, he hurriedly took long strides to exit the health-conscious environment as fast as possible.

A food lover like him was allergic to gyms… didn’t they know that?

“Got played, huh? And you said you understood!”     Nuea could only grumble to himself. He’d gone through the trouble of battling evening traffic to get here, only to come up empty-handed. He reaffirmed to himself:

If he had to choose between a nitpicky client and one who says “anything goes,” he’d take anyone but that Khun Sailom guy!

    THEWEDDING PLAN CHAPTERS HOME

   THEWEDDINGPLAN, Chapter 0:

There are only two types of good men: those who aren’t married… and those who become someone else’s husband.    Inside a famous fast-food restaurant located in a bustling business district, a young man was carrying a tray laden with a massive hamburger, a large Coke, and upsized French fries toward a window-side seat, inhaling the tantalizing aroma of fatty food deep into his lungs.

“Exhausted like this? Only a double big burger will do!!”    Namnuea, a robust young man with a love for food, muttered to himself as he set the tray down and plopped into the seat. He rubbed his palms together, declaring war on the pile of food, ready to dive into the battle.

Slurp

“Wooood!”

One hand grabbed the Coke and took a big sip.

Crinkle crinkle

“Yum!”

The other hand unwrapped the hamburger, and he took a huge bite without a care for looking cool.

Then he chewed heartily, savoring the delicious flavors, washing it down with the meal that everyone says… “Want to die from clogged arteries or what?!”

It was a thought he shrugged off without much concern. Because Namnuea believed he wasn’t fat… just a soft, cuddly guy who’s warm to hug, that’s all.

Who the hell can quit fast food? It’s quick, easy—you’re in and out of the shop in no time. No need to waste time cooking yourself. In the rush of today’s working world, this hits the spot perfectly.    Chomp.

Another big bite, not caring that sauce is smearing the corners of the mouth. Just wash it down with a drink, savor the break to the fullest before diving back into the chaos of dealing with picky customers.

“Today, it sounds like Sis Eim said a big client’s coming in… Ugh, I’m so done with these high-society types,” muttering to oneself while shaking the head, brushing the thought out of an already overloaded mind, and digging back into the food without a care for anyone else.

Finally, the massive burger is gone, the last fry swept into the mouth, and the Coke slurped dry. The young man with the charming name grabs a tissue to wipe his mouth with a rather appealing gesture…

It’d be even more appealing if he hadn’t just eaten like he didn’t care about looking cool.

“Alright, food time’s over.”

After finishing, a glance at the trusty watch shows there’s still about half an hour of break left. Sitting by the window, he props his chin on his hand and gazes out at the bustling mall outside.

A moment of calm for Namnuea.

But if anyone thinks he’s doing this to unwind amid the crowd, casually watching people pass by and guessing where they’re rushing off to, who they’re meeting, or what troubles they’re tangled in—just to reassure himself he’s not the only one grinding away in the capital city—they’d be dead wrong.

Because Namnuea… is checking out guys.

That one’s pretty hot, but probably plays for the same team.    His big eyes catch a sharp-dressed guy in a suit, and he chuckles to himself. After all, he’s gay.

Not bi, not fluid, but full-on gay, through and through.

That guy’s got a wild vibe, but he’s probably got a wife.

Namnuea laughs harder at his own thoughts as a bearded guy struts by the glass, only to feel a pang of disappointment when a gorgeous woman clings to his arm.

After watching people for over fifteen minutes, finding no one particularly interesting or eye-catching enough to make his heart skip a beat, Namnuea stands up. Ever polite, he doesn’t wait for the busy lunchtime staff to clear his table. He takes his tray to the designated spot himself. But just as he’s about to turn and leave the restaurant—    Freeze.

Oh, damn it, Nuea, you messed up big time!!!

The thought struck him when he glanced at a corner of the restaurant and saw a man sitting there, looking exactly like his type.

He’d wasted fifteen minutes staring outside the restaurant, unaware that there was something this fine right behind him all along.

Nuea mentally scolded himself. He hadn’t expected a handsome, tall, muscular man in a perfectly tailored suit— obviously custom-made—to be chilling in a fast-food joint like this. The more he stole glances, the more he noticed the man’s sharp, striking features: thick eyebrows, a prominent nose, and beautiful lips. Everything about him screamed perfect.    Realizing this, Nuea pretended to walk back to his original table, acting as if he’d forgotten something. He glanced left and right, all while sneaking looks at the man taking a big bite of his hamburger.

He was seriously Nuea’s type.

Normally, guys with a build like that wouldn’t touch high-fat foods like this. No, they’d be chugging protein shakes or eating grilled chicken to bulk up their muscles—not sitting here eating junk food for Nuea’s eyes to feast on.

But that was it.

Nuea wasn’t the type to walk up and strike a conversation, fake-spill water on him, or brush past to “test his manliness.” He just sighed with regret for not looking inside the restaurant sooner and decided it was time to head back to work. But then— no way, please don’t let it be true—he turned to the front of the restaurant, and his round eyes froze. A stunning, perfect woman was walking in.

She had a gorgeous figure, flawless features, and was wearing a form-fitting dress with a Hermès bag slung over her shoulder. She stood there, looking left and right, making someone as perceptive as Namnuea mutter under his breath:

“This way.”

Had he ever misjudged something, Nuea?

The eye-candy of a man stood up, called out to the beautiful woman, and made her smile with relief. She walked straight toward him, and their greeting was far too familiar for mere friends. The onlooker let out a quiet sigh of disappointment.    This guy’s definitely taken. But oh well, getting to ogle some prime eye-candy before tackling the afternoon’s work wasn’t bad.

In the end, the guy lingering in the restaurant decided to leave. Unbeknownst to him, the man he found so perfect watched his retreating figure and gave a faint smile.

The Wiwa Square was a large catering company, specializing in weddings and offering comprehensive wedding planning services. Its office was located in a high-rise in the business district, operating under the concept of “You dream it, we make it real.” The company was widely renowned as the go-to for anyone needing help with wedding planning, from small beachside ceremonies to lavish five-star hotel events in the heart of the city.

But it seemed like one of the company’s star employees was feeling particularly down.

“Nuea, what’s wrong with you? You came back and just slumped onto the desk.”

“Eim.”

“Ha, now you dare to call me by my name without adding ‘Sis’ or ‘Ma’am’?” The young organizer could only tilt his head up from the table, looking at his close colleague who was about to smack him with a rolled-up piece of paper, prompting him to clarify.

“I meant I’m full from eating, not calling the beautiful Sis Eim

‘full’ outright, really, I swear!”

“Go on then,” the stunning, well-built woman in her thirties flashed a sweet smile, making Namnuea flinch slightly.

He really didn’t dare mess with her. In front of clients, she smiled as sweet as honey, but with others, it was like she’d slit your throat with poison.

Rustle rustle

“Nuea, you went to eat at McDonald’s again, didn’t you?”    “Uh, what’s wrong with that, Sis?” And her nose was ridiculously sharp, because now the stylishly dressed, well-built woman was yelling at him.

“What kind of gay guy are you, huh? You don’t even take care of yourself! Look, your belly’s this soft already!” She didn’t just talk—she grabbed his stomach and pinched it to show the excess fat, forcing him to jump up and step back to escape her redpainted nails, flashing a wide grin.

It’s soft, nice and cushy when hugged, Sis Eim.

“Fat or not, you should lose some weight, dude.”

“Come on, I may not be as slim as you, Sis, but I’ve got guys falling for me all the time… unlike…”

“Nuea!!!”

Time to run! Why wait for Sis Eim to grab a chair and throw it at him? He laughed softly but secretly lost a chunk of confidence.

Pinch

“I’m not even that fat. Sis Eim, you are just skinny as a board,” the young man pinched his own belly, confident that he was just well-proportioned. He just didn’t like working out, so he didn’t have tight muscles or firm flesh that would make guys of the same type swoon. Working in catering, tasting food for clients, and sneaking bites at events—it just made him a bit heavier than when he started, that’s all.

But about guys falling for him…

“It’s been over a year without a boyfriend, Nuea. Just working like this isn’t good for your mental or physical health, seriously,” he grumbled quietly as he walked to the bathroom, unable to stop thinking about the handsome guy he met at the fast-food restaurant.

If I could get a guy like that, I’d never let him go.

He thought while washing his hands, glancing at the mirror.    If you ignore the fact that my cheeks are a bit round these days, I’m still pretty handsome, right?

Namnuea lives up to his name, “Nuea,” with strikingly fair skin—not the yellowish kind. His face has a hint of sweetness, small and delicate, with large eyes and well-maintained, vibrant lips. His soft, cuddly build and average Thai male height don’t make him particularly stand out, but overall, Namnuea is known as a good-looking guy who doesn’t openly reveal his sexual orientation.

“I can be a bit narcissistic, can’t I? Alright, back to work. I’ve got a client meeting this afternoon,” he said to himself, stepping out of the bathroom and heading toward the office. But then…    No way… It can’t be! The guy from McDonald’s!    A handsome man in a suit, standing with his hands in his pockets as if waiting for someone, made Namnuea’s little heart pound. But it wasn’t because he believed in fated love striking like lightning. Instead…

“Uh, are you here for something at Wedding Square?”

Thud

The man turned to look, pausing briefly before the corner of his undeniably sexy mouth curled into a faint smile.

Please don’t let it be true, please don’t… Not…

“Yes, I have an appointment at 1:30.”

…It’s true.

If he weren’t a professional, Namnuea would’ve deflated like a punctured floatie right then and there. But with his life motto echoing in his head, he flashed a businesslike smile and asked to confirm.

“Are you Yiwa?”

“I’m not Yiwa,” the man replied, giving Namnuea a flicker of hope, until…

“Yiwa is my bride.”

Crash

Even though he was more than half-prepared, hearing that this man—perfectly his type—was about to become a groom felt like the ground collapsing beneath his feet. He silently recited his personal slogan:

“There are only two types of good men, Nuea: those who aren’t someone’s husband… or those who are. This guy’s just a husband, that’s all.” Ugh, the pain in this little gay heart was real.

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