Chapter 1: Will you marry me?

It’s unknown how the story between Police Inspector Gearthian and his mother ended that day, but what is known is that Mangkon found himself standing in the Chiang Mai City Police Station.

The handsome-faced Police Sergeant was given an urgent transfer order approximately three days after Gearthian arrived back in Chiang Mai. There was no advance notice, no time for him to prepare. “Urgent” meant he had to move immediately, and the reason given was that he was needed to temporarily assist with work due to staff shortages.

He was still standing there, confused, an eternally perplexed look on his face. As he stepped inside, he was greeted by the other officers in a friendly manner. Mangkon became the newbie and the youngest at the police station.

“I’m Police Captain Nadol. Or you can just call me ‘P’Nadol’, Mangkon.” “My name is Makham, dear. I work in the registration department.”

In truth, Mangkon knew some of the police officers quite well because they had worked together before and were familiar with each other. Some, however, he had never met. He considered this opportunity to create new connections.

“Actually, we’re not short on people,” Nadol said. “It’s very strange that Mangkon’s transfer was so urgent.”

“That’s what I thought, sir. I’m still very confused.”

But there was one hypothesis he couldn’t help but think about: it was an order from General Parinya, or Inspector Thian’s father.

And what does that have to do with anything?

If the General’s wife, or Khunying Pharada, used her power as his wife to order her husband to help move Mangkon so that he could be close to her lovelorn son, or even to arrange a marriage, it was highly likely.

“We’re probably thinking too much,” Mangkon mumbled softly to himself. “What are you muttering about?”

“In… Inspector Thian!”

And the hand that came to tap his shapely shoulder made its owner jump immediately. A chorus of salutes to the charming Inspector rang out in quick succession, as the Chiang Mai City Police Station has more officers than the Mae Sai Police Station.

“I apologize for putting you to this trouble.”

Because of the great height difference, the taller person leaned down to whisper softly next to the white ear.

“Wh… What do you mean?” Mangkon, who you could call generally smaller built than the other police officers, showed a double gesture of surprise.

“About the wedding.”

This sentence cleared up all of his ambiguities. He had not been wrong on any point of his hypothesis. Would this be called abusing the power?

“Khunying is serious about this?”

“As it is.” Whether it was true or not, he was already here. He knew his mother well. “Ahem.”

The young inspector cleared his throat to attract the attention of all parties. Gearthian’s back straightened regally, sending his gaze around before introducing the coming temporary transfer once more.

“Police Sergeant Mangkon will be working with us for a while. I’m asking everyone to support him and help teach him the job.”

“Thank you.” Mangkon was not too familiar with being the target of stares. His handsome face slowly changed from white to a flushed red; exposing one secret.

He dislikes being the centre of attention.

The obsidian eyes were looking down on the younger officer with endearment before carrying on,

“Mangkon will be helping me with work for now, my arm’s not really cooperating.”

Those words elicited a good laugh from everyone. They all strongly agreed. There was nothing particularly difficult about the work during this period, and they weren’t short on staff in any position… except perhaps a “caretaker for the cunning inspector.”

“I’ve set up a desk for you right in front of my office.” “Understood, Inspector.”

And so began the first day of work at the new location. A desk was indeed set up in front of the office, but its owner spent most of his time inside the investigation inspector’s room.

“Could you help me find some documents? Today, I can’t even lift my arm.” “Of course! What documents are you looking for?”

“The meeting documents from Lampang. They have a yellow cover sheet.” “Yes, sir.”

At first, it was “yes, sir.” Later, he started clenching his fist internally. It wasn’t just one thing; the inspector wanted this, wanted that, wanted the other thing. Just sitting back with his back resting very comfortably to his chair. The most comfortable as it could be, he was asking to be fed fruits even though the other arm wasn’t being shot.

“Inspector, am I here as your personal assistant?” “I didn’t say that. You can see that I was shot.” Being shot doesn’t mean you’re crippled, though.

Mangkon’s face was now incredibly sullen and dejected. He realized he was being teased, but Mangkon wasn’t the type to give in. The one acting as a general assistant grasped a large piece of guava and shoved it into the other’s mouth immediately.

“Ah, Ouch, hold up!”

“Eat it, Inspector. You wanted to eat it, didn’t you?”

This kid! Gearthian was really wrong to tease him. He thought he looked so cute, but now he’s feeling sorry for himself, as being fed fruit after fruit non-stop.

“Enjoy your meal. I’m going to go outside now.” “Wait, you!”

“Chew it all before you speak, sir.” The superior was lectured on manners by his subordinate. Those who like to tease deserve this.

“Just one more piece left, Inspector.” “Come. Munch, munch…”

Mangkon’s playful and cheeky nature was still there. The police sergeant, who previously looked so gloomy, was now beaming with delight, his round eyes glancing at the clock. It was almost quitting time, so the first day would end here.

“I’m going back now. Please take care of yourself, Inspector.” When his time is up, his service is done.

As soon as he finished speaking, the handsome-faced man gave a smile before rushing towards the door. But before his hand could grab the knob, his white forearm was grabbed first.

Gearthian only now realized that Mangkon had thin arms. “Wait on, wait up, you!”

“I told you to chew it all!” The clear voice was slightly scolding.

The inspector’s, renowned womaniser, free hand was raised in surrender. But while the good fruit was being chewed quickly, the hand holding together was not letting go. And when that which dwelled in the mouth was completely swallowed, the elder started speaking slowly.

“I’ll take you home to your accommodation myself.” “I can go back on my own, Inspector.”

“Please? I don’t want to go home yet. I’m tired of hearing my mother talk about you.” “About me?”

“Regarding the wedding, that is.” This again, huh. But what else could he but nod in reply?

The atmosphere at the police housing this evening was serene. The sky was clear and bright, painted with hues of blue and pink from the sun about to set on the distant horizon. A cool breeze blew from the east, brushing against faces and inviting relaxation from the day’s chaos.

Gearthian was still lounging around at Mangkon’s housing, refusing to leave. No matter how much the owner of the house shooed him away or what he did, he wouldn’t budge, so Mangkon could only give in.

What’s more, as time slowly passed and the nocturnal sky took its place, the young inspector invited the police sergeant to sit and chat on the roof. A can of ice-cold beer was opened, along with the voice of the talkative companion.

“How has it been since you moved in two days ago? Are there any problems with the accommodation?”

“Not really. I don’t need to adjust much.”

Mangkon had only moved into the police housing in Chiang Mai yesterday. Today was his first day of work, and everything went well. He hardly needed to adjust to anything.

“Look at the stars tonight. Seeing them reminds me of when I punished you. Do you remember that when we were training together?” Those twinkling stars shone beautifully, and for some reason, that story popped into his head.

“W-What are you talking about, sir?” The round eyes glanced at the person next to him. The sudden and unexpected change in topic made the small sergeant feel flustered.

“It’s when I caught you sneaking out to buy snacks at night.”

Ah, he remembered that very well. It had been many years ago. He had entered training at the provincial police academy and met Inspector Gearthian for the first time. Their meeting wasn’t very memorable because he had been sneaking out to buy food at night. He got caught and punished.

“You made me squat for so long that my legs ached for days,” he chuckled. “You have to be punished for wrongdoings, Police Sergeant Mangkon.”

Inspector Gearthian seemed stricter back then than he does now, making Mangkon reluctant to approach or get to know him, but he was still a very good “senior.”

The two were chatting animatedly about stories from the past. Gearthian had finished three cans of beer, whilst Mangkon’s first can wasn’t halfway diminished.

The effects of the alcohol slowly seeped into his bloodstream, suddenly making one person cheerful, but that mood was dampened by an incoming phone call. After hanging up, a long, weary sigh escaped.

“What does Mom want? I told her I’m not getting married!” Gearthian said, taking another big gulp of his beer.

“How can I pick up girls if I’m married? It’s so boring.”

“What’s with all this crazy astrological stuff?”

It was a bit superstitious. His luck would plummet if he didn’t marry someone born on a specific day and month, and who had a “Ror Reua” (ร) in their name.

“Only a crazy person would believe that.”

The grumbling sentence was spewed at length from the pursed lips, but his mother was really bothering him. She called three times after meals and even misused her authority to transfer Mangkon here.

“I have to apologize to you that my mom transferred you here.”

“It’s alright, Inspector. But it would be nice if I fake married you to make your mother feel good about it.”

The voice that was said was laced with fun and a hint of laughter because the more he sees the other’s troubled face, the more he wants to liven the atmosphere.

“Don’t you ever think about being serious with anyone, Inspector?” “I haven’t met the right person yet. I prefer freedom.”

Because being single means he can court any woman he wants. For someone known as a playboy like him to get married and stop his philandering would be difficult.

“Oh, I see.”

The serene face gave a smile to the other, but it seemed Gearthian was now feeling pleased by something as his expression showed as if he was in deep thought.

“Or is it that your luck is really falling down? Look, you were shot and you still couldn’t catch the culprit,” Mangkon said jokingly once again, as silence infiltrated the void in the atmosphere.

“Bad luck.”

“Reverse the bad luck.” “Fake marriage?”

And with that, the playful words struck a chord with the charming inspector. Gearthian slowly turned his face and flashed a cunning smile.

“Will you marry me, Mangkon?”

“Huh? What did you say?” It was as if he couldn’t believe his ears. Both the light brown eyes and the round face were utterly shocked.

“Help me fake a marriage, I mean.”

“Don’t joke around, Inspector. You just said you could never get married and loved your freedom.”

“Just do it, please? Once I’m out of the woods, we can get a divorce.”

Mangkon burst out laughing. The person who claimed to not believe in fate was now begging him to help him get married because he was afraid of his bad luck? And as if sensing Mangkon’s thoughts, Gearthian quickly continued.

“I know what my mother is like. She’ll never stop if this isn’t resolved. You’ll be dragged into it too. If we just pretend to get married, we’ll see once and for all if this bad luck is real or not. If nothing happens then, we can go our separate ways.”

“When is ‘then,’ though? If your mother says ten years, does that mean I have no chance of having a family?”

Yeah, it was true what the junior officer said. His mother was truly eccentric. She always came up with weird and peculiar things. Gearthian was conflicted. But the fake marriage proposal was very interesting.

“Then six months. We’ll get divorced after six months.” A new offer was made immediately. “Do you want a promotion, Mangkon?”

Huh? Mangkon was utterly confused. Why was the inspector talking like he was going to use his authority as leverage?

“I’m not that kind of person.”

“Please, Mangkon, help me out. I’ll let you participate in a big case.”

“I don’t care about that, Inspector. Just transfer me back to Chiang Rai.” Mangkon’s voice was firm. He barely wanted anything. But that pleading face was making the sergeant’s heart twitch for a moment.

Both pity and the desire to help bloomed in his heart. “What if I have to die? Don’t you feel sorry for me?”

The tone of voice he often used with girls was being brought out, and it seemed to be working well. The compassionate person was about to soften.

“Ugh, Inspector.”

“Please, Mangkon. Please?” “Will you help me get married?” “Ugh, just six months, Inspector.”

“Yes, six months and then we’ll get a divorce.”