Chapter 13: Dog in the manger

Chapter 13: Dog in the manger

It seems like someone is up to something…

Saming keeps sticking to and clinging to Mangkon, behaving like someone who wants to openly display interest without hiding it.

Today is no different. The police officer, recently recovered from a gunshot wound, has to go out to inspect an area outside the city, but Inspector Saming follows him like a shadow.

“Senior, won’t you lose out on work coming along like this?” Mangkon asked, his expression thoughtful but polite.

“I am here for work, Mangkon.”

“Huh?” His slender eyebrows furrowed tightly. It seems this small person is the only one on the team who doesn’t know anything about this.

Inspector Saming stopped walking, waited for Mangkon to catch up, and then said flatly, “There’s an order to transfer the Black Bull to Lampang.”

“Huh? Really? Why is that?”

“I don’t know either. It’s an order from the National Police Headquarters.”

Saming answered without any emotion, but his eyes indicated that he knew more than he was saying.

Mangkon paused for a moment. He thought this whole matter would still be under the responsibility of the Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station, but this sudden order changed the direction. Now, he can’t help but wonder what it’s related to.

Besides, would Inspector Thian permit this?

“But in Lampang, I’m sure everyone will work as well as they do here.” “But regardless, Senior still has to catch the boss of those guys, right?” “Of course,” Saming said with a faint smile, but the smile was so fake. “I wouldn’t let something so important slip through my fingers.”

Why does Senior look so casual? His round eyes looked at the face that seemed so calm. If he really wants to continue this case, why hasn’t he gone back to Lampang yet?

Strange.

“Do you want to grab a bite to eat?” Saming changed the subject. “That’s good, I’m starting to get hungry.”

Throughout the day, someone clearly showed interest in his junior. Many questions like: Does Mangkon have a boyfriend? Or isn’t married, right?

What kind of person does Mangkon like?

Is Mangkon interested in becoming the wife of a police officer?

All of this was understood as being said in jest, but Inspector Saming didn’t think so. In those words, there was an underlying meaning.

The field trip continued. Saming and Mangkon got along well with the villagers. However, the police officer seemed to be loved and cherished even more. Everywhere they went, they were greeted with smiles from the elderly.

“Who did you come here with today, Nong Mangkon? Didn’t Inspector Thian come, dear?” “He didn’t, Aunt.”

“This is Inspector Saming, Aunt. He’s an inspector in Lampang.”

“Such a handsome inspector. Does someone like this have a girlfriend yet?”

Saming didn’t answer immediately, but turned to look at Mangkon with a smile before teasingly saying in hopes of scoring some points,

“If someone around here accepts this love.”

“Oh my, you’re secretly fond of this little police officer, are you?” “Nong Mangkon, did you come outside, dear?”

Before he could continue the conversation, a shrill voice suddenly interrupted. Mangkon automatically turned to look, while Saming raised a small smile. The owner of the voice was Thian’s mother.

“Hello, Khunying Pharada.”

“Oh, Saming, how did you get here?” “There was a slight urgent order, ma’am.”

While inquiring about her son’s friend, her hawk-like eyes glanced at the bare ring finger on his left hand. She sighed quietly, but still revolved around Saming’s actions just now.

Courting Mangkon? Not a chance!

A feeling of displeasure arose, but she still behaved in the style of a high-society woman. Her face still held a smile as she invited,

“Saming, would you like to have dinner at my house tonight? Invite Inspector Saming to eat at our house, Nong Mangkon.”

“At your house?” That sentence made his thick eyebrows furrow tightly.

“Mangkon, take Inspector Saming with you, dear. Mom will cook and wait. Gear will be happy that a friend is coming to eat with us.”

And Pharada dropped another bomb. The previous sentence hadn’t been resolved, and a new one immediately followed.

“Mom’s going ahead, kids.”

.

.

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Phiromsamorn House

Saming couldn’t suppress his curiosity and didn’t ask anything, or more accurately, didn’t need to ask. The living room was filled with laughter from the two of them as they waited for the Khunying, the owner of the house, to prepare a special meal. And at this time, Thian, who should have returned, still hadn’t come back from work.

“Will you move to Chiang Mai permanently, Mangkon?” Saming asked as he leaned back comfortably on the sofa.

“No, Senior. I’ll be back in two months.” Yes, just a few more months until I have to get divorced.

“I thought you were going to move here permanently. But if you move to Lampang, you’re always welcome.”

Saming’s words made the police officer chuckle softly. But before he could respond, a deep, low voice suddenly broke into the room.

“Who said he could go?”

The conversation was immediately cut short. Saming and Mangkon turned to the voice together, and the person standing there was none other than Thian, the son of the homeowner who had just returned from work.

The young inspector leaned against the door frame, his fierce eyes staring intently at the two of them. His face looked slightly tired, his hair was messy, and the jacket draped over his shoulder looked casually thrown on.

I was annoyed all day that Mangkon went with him, and what karma is this that I have to meet him at my house? That’s what Thian was thinking.

In the morning, he learned from Nadol that the younger one had duty outside the area today. He secretly followed to watch from a distance but had to see the person he didn’t want to see so much standing next to the police officer, not going anywhere.

And what is this now?

“Uh…Inspector, you’re back?” A clear voice said haltingly, knowing how the other party was expressing his feelings.

“Mmm.”

“Khunying invited Senior to have dinner with us,” “Oh?”

“Was work a lot today, Thian?” “Yeah!”

The low voice was thrown back with long strides. The inside of his chest was churning like never before. Saming appeared and stole the case he was working on. He also acted interested in Mangkon.

Why does it have to be him?

His initial thought was to go upstairs and not come down, but his mother’s order emphasized joining the dinner table with the honored guest, so he had to sit and listen to the annoying conversation.

“Eat a lot, Saming, dear.” Why does Mom count him as her son? “Yes, Ma’am.”

At the dinner table, the atmosphere was cheerful, filled with laughter and conversation. Saming took the lead in reviving stories from the past, and Pharada was also helping out very well.

“When we were training, Senior was so cool,” “Hmm, Mangkon is praising me?”

“I remember when I trained with Senior, and a thief took a gun and robbed the villagers. Senior caught him easily.” The owner of the round face spoke and smiled, thinking of the past full of memories.

“Mangkon used to praise me for being cool too, wasn’t that so?” Thian, who had been listening and quiet for a long time, wanted to say something.

“Inspector is always cool.”

“Oh, are you trying to butter me up with flattery?” “No, I’m not.”

That sentence brought a small, smug smile to the listener’s face. But it seemed Saming wasn’t giving up, changing the subject without even mentioning Thian’s name.

“How old are you this year, Mangkon?” “Twenty-eight, Senior.”

“Twenty-eight is a good age, just right for getting married.”

What’s he on about now! The homeowner’s son began to lose his composure. “I’m single too, you rascal.”

So that’s how it is. Pharada saw her son’s telltale reaction and thought she needed to do something. However, before she could say a word, Thian raised his hand and had his other fingers twirl the ring on his left ring finger. This caused Mangkon’s round eyes to widen.

The Inspector is wearing a ring? Why?

“Did you get married without telling me, Thian? Why are you wearing a ring on your ring finger?” he asked, and it worked, making the special guest speak.

“I guess so.”

As he answered, his jet-black eyes glanced at his pseudo-wife sitting across from him. “And where’s your wife? I don’t see her.”

“A Casanova like you is going to settle down? I don’t want to believe it.” And who asked him to believe it?

Thian didn’t answer the question. Instead, his sharp gaze fixed on the younger man’s finger, which was bare of any wedding ring. Even though the rule was to wear the ring only when at home, and never outside, Saming didn’t know about their relationship. Mangkon was still following orders.

‘Don’t let anyone know we’re married.’

He wanted to swallow his own words. The increasing level of frustration made it impossible to sit there any longer. He glanced at his wife and abruptly got up, announcing in a flat tone.

“I don’t have much of an appetite today, Mom. I’ll excuse myself to my room.”

“What is with this boy?” If it wasn’t that he couldn’t bear the jealousy, would you, Gear?

After dinner, everyone went their separate ways. Mangkon waved goodbye to Saming until his car disappeared from sight. But that was all in the eyes of someone watching from the upstairs window. Saming’s flirtatious expressions and Mangkon’s smiles made him grin wryly, both annoyed and dissatisfied at the same time.

“He’s not suitable.”

A moment later, there was a soft knock on the door, along with a voice calling his name two or three times.

“Inspector, open the door.”

“Why is Inspector locking the room? You don’t usually lock it.” “You want to be with him so much, don’t you?” That Saming.

“Why don’t you go sleep at his house! You want to be with him, don’t you?”

Mangkon, who was listening at the door, could clearly hear the whistling, realizing immediately that he was being teased. The shouting came again.

“What? How can I go with Senior?”

“Heh, ‘How can I go with Senior?'” Shapely lips muttered softly, irritated. He wanted to get back at him. Today, he saw Mangkon talking to him all day, so he wanted the younger man to talk sweetly to him.

“I won’t open it. If you’re so good, find a way yourself.” “Inspector, I’m not kidding. Open up quickly.”

“And who said I was playing with you?” “Alright, you want to play it this way, huh?” Damn it, Inspector!

The younger man’s anger began to rise slightly. It was already ten o’clock at night. All grown up but playing childish games. And did he think he would give in easily?

Footsteps turned and headed downstairs immediately. The large mango tree in front of the house was now in his sights.

You’re going to get it, Inspector!

He took a deep breath, preparing himself. He began to climb steadily. His pale body moved little by little, carefully. The sturdy branches that stretched towards the bedroom window served as a bridge to get closer to his goal.

Just you wait, Inspector.

And finally, the smaller man achieved it. A loud shout echoed, and he bent the branch and shook it forcefully, causing it to hit the window pane.

“Open the window now, Inspector!”

“Shit, what are you doing? Get down.” Oh god, he actually climbed the tree?

Jet-black eyes widened in shock. His previously cheerful expression was now filled with concern.

“Get down here right now,” he commanded sternly and seriously.

“If I get down, can I punch you once?” the younger man said with equal seriousness. Judging by the sleeves that were rolled up in preparation.

“Get down first, then come punch me.”