Rule No. 1: Don’t be too emotional : Chapter 19

Got me going through the roof

We could fly to the moon

Really don’t care what we do I see your lips moving but we ain’t got a clue

···

“Oh… ” Silence fell when P’Win came face-to-face with the buyer. I stood shrinking behind P’Win and P’Ek, my palms sweating and my heart hammering against my ribs. P’Win was the first to speak.

“So it’s you, Jane, who’s buying my photos?” P’Win knew P’Jane was my ex, but being a polite man, he acknowledged him first to keep the atmosphere from getting any more awkward. However, the “demon” in front of us didn’t flinch.” Yes, it’s me.” P’Jane, dressed in a black shirt and jeans, handed P’Win a business card. P’Win looked down and read it aloud.

“Jane is Khun Jane Patrick Palakorn?”

“Yes.” Ugh, I can’t take this! I don’t want to stand here! It’s suffocating!

“For hire… ?” P’Win continued reading the card.

“I didn’t know you worked while studying. What exactly is it that you do ‘for hire’?”

“I’m for hire for anything, really. It depends on what you want from me.”” You?”

“Yes, Khun Win.” I noticed a flash of irritation on P’Win’s face when P’Jane addressed him distantly as Khun instead of P’. P’Jane was acting as if they weren’t from the same university, but that was because P’Win didn’t realize P’Jane was actually much older than him. The atmosphere darkened. The fact that P’Jane was buying photos of his ex-boyfriend made everything worse. P’Win gripped the business card tightly, his voice turning sharp.

“And what price are you offering, Khun Jane?”

“Whatever you want. Name your price, Khun Win.”

“For all six?”

“Yes,” the tall man replied with a faint smirk.

“Even a million per photo, I’ll. buy it.” P’Jane’s arrogant tone was enough to make anyone’s blood boil.

“And if I refuse to sell?”

“Why would you?”

“No/ reason.” Jane Patrick curled his lip in away I absolutely hated.

“I don’t think you have a choice, Khun Win.”

“Uh, boys, calm down… ” P’Ek, the host, stammered as he sensed the coming storm. P’Win turned to his senior immediately.

“P’Ek, I refuse to sell to this man. If they don’t sell at all, so be it!”” Hey, Win, calm down! Control your temper. He’s offering a milion per photo!” That was it. I couldn’t stand this psychological warfare anymore! Without a word, I turned and bolted from the exhibition, not caring how rude I was being. P’Jane watched me go, told P’Ek his secretary would be in touch to finalize the purchase, and then chased after me. I practically ran down the stairs from the 16th floor. I couldn’t wait for the elevator; I just wanted to get away from them. Why? I was starting over so well! Why did P’Jane have to show up? And how did he know I was here? Did he have someone tailing me again? Psychopath!

“Jane!” Speak of the devil. I sped up, but I shrieked when P’Jane jumped down from the floor above to block my path.

“Are you crazy?! You’re going to get hurt! Do you think you’re an action hero?”

“Are you worried about me?” He stepped closer as l backed against the wall.

“You’re a psycho.”

“Well, you sound like you care, even though you wouldn’t talk to me yesterday.”

“How did you know I was here? Did you follow me? I’m calling the police, I mean it!”

“I didn’t follow you. I saw your phone screen yesterday. Did you forget I have a good memory? One glance at your screen and I knew exactly where the date was.” He tapped his temple with a smirk.

“Then why follow me here?”

“To protect you.”

“Protect me from what? That makes no sense!”

“I know you don’t like having your face plastered up there for everyone to see. You’re uncomfortable, aren’t you? You hate it.” He trapped me against the wall, his arm over my head. His eyes were knowing.

“That exhibition runs for seven days. If I didn’t buy those photos today, your face would be on display all week. Would you be happy with that?” He knew. He knew I hated it.

“Plus… I don’t like when other people are staring at your photos. It pisses me off.”

“Crazy person… ” I whispered.

“Don’t worry,” his hot breath brushed against my ear.

“Tomorrow, they won’t be hanging there. I’m going to keep them all for myself. They’re beautiful photos.”

“You’re a creep.”

“But you like it, don’t you? You’re actually thanking me in your head for buying them.” I looked away. I couldn’t lie and say I wasn’t thankful, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of hearing it.

“And do you think you’ll last with him?” P’Jane whispered as if casting a spell.

“He doesn’t even know what you like or hate. He didn’t know my little Jane hates being the center of attention. He’s careless. He lacks attention to detail.” “‘ P’Jane, don’t… ”

“Don’t what? Don’t know your heart?”

“P’Jane, you said you’d let me go.”

“Did I?” He chuckled. I felt myself weakening. No matter how much I tried to ignore him in ballroom class, being this close was different. He was everything I liked: smart, sexy, and dangerous. I realized he hadn’t been letting me ignore him because I was “strong”-he had been letting me do it. He was playing a game. He kissed my ear softly.

“I told you that one day you’d have to ask me for a favor. You can’t run far. I never said I’d stop chasing you.”

“You have no honor… you can’t keep pulling me back like this. It makes it impossible to move on!” He was messing with my head-cruel one moment, kind the next, acting like he didn’t love me, then revealing his jealousy.

“I’m the villain anyway, why shouldn’t I?”

“P’Jane, stop… I… I like P’Win.” I hoped that would stop him, but he just pulled me closer by the waist.

“But you don’t like him as much as you like me.” He pressed a heated kiss onto my lips-hungry and desperate. 1hated myself for how easily I melted into it. I missed this. I missed him. I kissed him back, gripping his black shirt, my hands tangling in his hair. I moaned softly; only Jane Patrick could make me feel this way. My phone vibrated in my pocket. I tried to pull away, but he pinned me harder against the wall. He eventually broke the kiss and his hand moved down. I felt him unzipping my pants… Unzipping my pants?! Here?! I slammed my knee into his chest. He barely dodged but stumbled back.

“No! I am definitely not letting you do that to me here!” I saw the caller ID:P’Win. God, he actually made me forget about P’Win! I bolted for the elevator. P’Jane didn’t make it out of the stairwell in time.” H… Hello?”

[Jane, where are you? Did that Jane guy follow you?]

“No… where are you, P’Win?” I checked myself in the elevator mirror. My hair was a mess, my clothes wrinkled. I smoothed myself out frantically. A few days later, I was working my part-time job at a cafe. I was trying to save money for our group trip to Japan. P’Win and I were “dating,” but P’Jane kept appearing-even coming to my workplace. Today, P’Win walked in and saw P’Jane sitting at a table with me, working on our mandatory joint project for Abnormal Psychology.” What is this?!” P’Win exploded.

“Jane, why is this guy sitting here staring at you?”

“P’Win, calm down, it’s for a project… ”

“You!” P’Win yelled at P’Jane.

“You came here on purpose! You’re a lowlife! You know he’s with me now!” P’Jane didn’t even look up from his MacBook. He acted like P’Win was white noise, which only made P’Win angrier.

“Don’t ignore me!”

“P’Win, stop! People are looking! This is my job!”

“Don’t go behind people’s backs like this!” P’Win yelled.

“Be a man!” P’Jane finally looked up and removed his glasses.

“Is there a manual on how to ‘be a man’? Technically, I was here first. I have the right to buy photos, and I have the right to sit in a cafe. Or do I have to scream like a child to be a man?” He smirked.

“Besides, I never told anyone I was a ‘good’ person.”

“You… !” P’Win lunged. The table flipped. A vase shattered. A pitcher of water soaked the floor.

“Enough!” my manager roared.

“Jane, get your friends out of here! You’re finished for the day! Go, or I’m calling the police and firing you!” I grabbed my bag and stormed out. P’Win followed me, trying to apologize.

“Jane, wait! I didn’t mean to-”

“Yoy almost got me fired!” I snapped.

“You made a scene at my workplace!”

“And you?” P’Win’s face was contorted.

“You let him sit there and sweet-talk you? I came here to surprise you, and this is what I find?”” I don’t own the cafe, P’Win! He camne for the project! I’ve been running from him as much as I can, but we’re partners! Do you want to go talk to the professor for me? Go ahead, change my partner!”” I… I can’t.”

“Then go home. We’ll talk later.” P’Win pulled me into a hug, stopping me from walking away. I softened. I knew he wasn’t usually like this; it was just P’Jane’s presence that triggered him.

“P’Jane is just like that,” I said.

“Don’t dance to his tune. He’s like the serpent in Eden. Don’t let him enjoy baiting you.”

“How can I be confident? I have nothing compared to him.”

“Looks? You’re handsome. Your job? It’s stable. Money is just an external thing. I don’t care if you’re rich,”

“Then make me sure,” P’Win whispered.

“Make me sure you won’t go back to him.” I frowned.” How?” P’Win took my hands, interlacing our fingers. His eyes were intense. My cheeks burned. I understood exactly what he was asking for.” P’Win… no. It’s too fast. We aren’t even officially a couple.”

“You know how sincere l am.”

“I know,” I whispered.

“To give me confidence… can’t you?”

“P’Win, I’m not saying no. But I’m not ready. And it’s not because l don’t like you.” The truth was, I had never gone “all the way” with P’Jane either. It had been close, but never the final act. To be asked point-blank like this was awkward.

“Jane… please.”

“I will… but not now,” I said, looking into his eyes.

“I promise, P’Win. You will be my first.” P’Win’s face lit up. I was so embarrassed I wanted to die. Can you even promise something like that? But I knew why he was insecure. Even if I was sure of my mind, my body didn’t listen. It remembered the stairwell. It caught fire too easily whenever P’Jane touched me.” Fine, it’s a deal,” I cut him off.

“But you have to promise not to use violence again. I don’t want a boyfriend who’s a thug.”

“I promise.”

“And don’t come to the shop for a while. My manager hates you right now.”

“I understand.” We walked to the train station hand-in-hand. P’Win carried my laptop bag for me. Neither of us noticed the other man standing nearby, smoking a cigarette, having heard every single word of our conversation.