Chapter 5: Boundaries of husband and wife

Chapter 5: Boundaries of husband and wife

One of the things involved in being Inspector Thian’s wife is dealing with women.

Mangkon never thought that the inspector would be this flirtatious and so good at juggling multiple relationships. At first, he didn’t care because it wasn’t his business. But later on, he inevitably had to become a “buffer,” starting with Praewa that day, which then led to Plai, Khao Suay, and many others. He wanted to get fed up and make the inspector realize once and for all.

Their relationship at this point was either a marriage in name only or a marriage to change their fortune. It was a little strange because they didn’t even know where their boundaries were.

If the inspector were to have a physical relationship with someone else, would he be allowed to do so, considering they had never seriously discussed this matter even once?

Until today…

“Inspector, don’t go fooling around with girls and use me as a cover, okay?” “What did you say, Mangkon?”

“I’m tired of being your buffer,” he said, genuinely annoyed.

“But I haven’t slept with anyone since I married you,” and I never planned to.

A flush of red spread across Mangkon’s face after these words, as if his brain suddenly froze. Whatever he wanted to say or argue about faded completely, and Mangkon didn’t know what to say next.

“The girls who came around were all before I married you. It’s just a leftover issue that hasn’t been cleared up.”

He added, “Even though I like looking at women with big breasts and teasing them, after marrying you, I haven’t been keeping anyone on the side.”

The first part sounded good, but the latter part felt strange—like it should be good, but wasn’t quite right.

Silence crept into the atmosphere. No one said anything after that. Mangkon didn’t want to ask further, so he leaned down and lay on the bed, turning his back to the inspector. Instead of letting it go, it seemed the inspector had something lingering in his heart that he couldn’t just leave unsettled. So, he lightly touched Mangkon’s shoulder and spoke seriously:

“I think we should talk seriously about this.”

“About what?” Mangkon replied.

“About you and me, so we can understand each other.”

That was good—setting clear boundaries so they’d know what was allowed and what wasn’t. Mangkon agreed, sitting upright and turning to face him.

“Alright, inspector, go ahead.”

“First of all, marriage is marriage. You and I have a marriage certificate. I never thought of doing anything to disrespect you or this relationship.”

“That means I won’t sleep with anyone else until we get divorced.”

Pink lips pressed tight together. The deeper Mangkon looked into the sharp eyes, there was a sense of firm sincerity, no joking around. It made Mangkon’s little heart suddenly flutter when this typically flirtatious inspector said something unexpected.

“Oh, is that so?” Mangkon said as if the inspector was giving up flirting for his sake.

“But when girls message me, I have to talk and respond sometimes, just out of manners.”

Completely stopping wasn’t possible. Although they were married, both understood it was a shaky status. And the inspector himself didn’t have anyone holding his heart. So it would be strange if he stopped talking to anyone at all.

“As for me teasing and giving sweet talk to this one and that one—sigh—it can’t be helped. But I want you to trust me that I won’t get serious with anyone else, for sure.”

“I don’t know. If, within these six months, you, Inspector, are smitten with someone or want to be serious with them, you can tell me immediately. I’ll give you a divorce,” Mangkon said readily.

“If I get serious with someone during this time, Mom will kill me for sure.” A messy death, no doubt. It’d be worse than being cursed, not to mention dying prematurely. Who could I bring home? The house would be in shambles for three, five days.

“Well, that’s why I’ll give you a divorce right away.”

“Why the divorce talk? Let’s just sleep on it. Consider it understood, huh?”

The serious conversation was suddenly cut off. Thian felt strange having to talk about divorce, especially since Mangkon spoke so earnestly, his round eyes so determined.

Strange, meaning a certain feeling that arose in his heart. The taller man quickly dismissed the inappropriate thought and the feeling of not being himself by going to sleep.

If he slept, maybe the feeling would go away.

Today was the weekend, so both policemen could sleep in later than usual. But their biological clock had the police officer waking up at the same time regardless. With free time from work, he decided to water the plants.

Even though there were gardeners taking care of the plants around the house, Mangkon wanted to participate. Today he volunteered to help the gardeners as an assistant.

“Is there anything I can help with?”

“Oh, Mangkon, you’re up so early! Aren’t you resting? Today is a holiday. The female gardener said in Northern Thai.

“I’m bored of sleeping. It’s better if I come and help water the plants.” “That’s good. Auntie will have someone to talk to.”

Mangkon took on the task of watering the small plants. Finding activities to do on free days would keep them from being bored. While enjoying the refreshing fragrance of nature, he thought about the conversation he had with Inspector Thian last night. He acknowledged the boundaries the other had stated.

The summary: the other party would still flirt and tease girls as usual, but there would be no physical relations. But that was the Inspector’s right. As for him, he wasn’t thinking about love, didn’t yet want anyone, and probably no one would be interested in him anyway. At least, he wanted to get through this chaotic mess of a situation first.

“Mangkon, aren’t you going to the temple fair? Auntie saw they set it up.” “Huh? What?”

“Try to buy it there, and then have Khun Thian take you. Since you came to Chiang Mai, have you been out sightseeing yet?”

“Never mind, it’ll be too much trouble for the Inspector.”

“How would it be a problem when a wife troubles the husband?”

And then, a low voice cut in from behind, causing Mangkon to turn around immediately. But, damn his heart, it skipped a beat automatically. Seeing Thian in casual clothes that he rarely saw – plain T-shirt and simple shorts above the knee – made him look too good. Usually, he only ever saw him in uniform or pajamas.

How can the Inspector be this handsome…? A thought popped into Mangkon’s head without warning.

“What do you say? Do you want to go, Nong Mangkon?”

The playful tone in his voice, emphasizing the word “Nong”, made him even more flustered. But before he could answer anything, he was cornered by the next sentence.

“Let’s go. I don’t want to be scolded for not taking my wife out.” “Hmph, presumptuous, thinking for himself.”

With the heat rising to his face, Mangkon didn’t intentionally avoid eye contact, but he couldn’t bear to look at that sharp face any longer.

Those playful, dark obsidian eyes, That wicked smile, with a slight shrug.

Everyone knew it was teasing, but his heart traitorously skipped a beat. “Oh, where are you running off to, Nong Mangkon?”

“He’s getting shy, Khun Thian.” The older woman said in Northern Thai. “My wife happens to be shy like that, Auntie.”

The person who walked away heard the entire conversation. His face flushed red in spite of himself. He had to mentally chant to himself to not get shy with the likes of Casanovas.

Evening arrived. The sky began to turn gold, contrasting with the green shadows of the mountains. Inspector Thian kept his promise, taking about an hour’s driving to take his “wife” to the temple fair held in Doi Saket District.

The temple fair was bustling with multi-colored lights that sparkled. The sounds of traditional music and the laughter of people walking around with smiling faces made the atmosphere even more exciting. The weather was comfortably cool, so Mangkon and Thian chose to wear matching blue hoodies, unintentionally.

Thian glanced at the person beside him before giving a mischievous smile. “We’re wearing matching shirts, huh, wife? People are looking at us a lot.” “It’s just a coincidence. And stop calling me that.”

“Or would you prefer to be called *dear wife*?” “Inspector!”

Mangkon shouted out loud with a blush creeping up his face. Even though he gave a scolding look, Thian just scratched his head, looking innocent as if he hadn’t done anything wrong, secretly smiling and walking ahead.

Along both sides of the long walkway were many shops to choose from. The food zone wafted with tempting aromas; *khanom khrok* (coconut pancakes), Isaan sausages, brightly colored smoothies. To the side were rows of game booths, including balloon darts, shooting galleries, bingo, and various games that drew people in to play.

Thian, who had initially been leading the way, now walked behind. Instead of looking at the surroundings, his dark eyes were focused on the soft profile of the person walking in front of him.

“What do you want to eat? It’s on me today.”

Mangkon turned around quickly, his eyes widening in surprise. “You’re serious, Inspector?”

“Serious. My wallet’s heavy anyway. I can easily treat just my wife.” “So that’s how it is that girls end up liking you guys.”

Mangkon’s sweet smile sparkled when he knew he was getting a treat. Even so, he frowned slightly when he heard the word “wife,” but it just made him look cute and endearing to the young inspector.

Now that he thinks about it, Mangkon is cute.

“I’m going to make you spend all your money, just watch.” “You’re so little, how much can you eat?”

“Just you wait and see.”

Mangkon wasn’t kidding. He walked to three shops and stopped at two more, doing so leisurely. In one hand he held snacks, while the other sent beautiful meatballs into his mouth, chewing noisily until his cheeks puffed.

That gesture made Thian glance down at him with even more doting gaze, unknowingly. “Are you full yet?”

“Uh, I think I’m about to give up.”

“You must have stopped at every shop.”

“If the Inspector is treating, then I gotta get my money’s worth.”

“How about I buy you to take care of for the rest of your life? I won’t charge much.”

Once again, Thian spoke casually with a teasing smile playing at the corners of his lips. Besides the food that Mangkon had to deal with, it seemed that his little heart was another thing he had to control to keep it from wavering to the casanova moves.

“Buying the Inspector would probably come with a headache.”

“But if I love someone, I love them for real,” he said. “The kind of love that will make you happy for life.”

The tall man moved a little closer. Their eyes met for a moment. That statement left the younger police officer speechless. The heart he was trying to keep closed off began to waver.

Wow, he’s really selling himself here! He would never fall for such a simple trap. Or would he?

He told himself that he wouldn’t fall for it, but he abruptly turned and walked away. His traitorous heart was beating so hard he couldn’t control it, as if he was afraid of being coaxed over by more sweet words.

“Are you cold?”

“I’m not cold, not at all.”

“Come to think of it, you’re pretty cute too.” “Inspector!”

He hated people like this so much — cunning, treacherous, liking to be charming to everyone. He swore that if they ever divorced, he would never, ever, get a boyfriend with this kind of personality.

Finally, the two men slowly walked to a stop at the balloon dart game booth. Light brown eyes focused on the large teddy bear hanging in the center. It had been tempting him since he first came into the fair. Today that giant bear has to be mine, has to belong to me.

“Which one do you want?” The deep voice next to him startled Mangkon slightly. “W-what did you say?”

“Should I throw for you? I’m good at this kind of thing, you know.” “Such a show-off.”

“You really think I’m no good.”

“Fine, if you can’t really throw it, you’ll stop calling me names, okay?!”

“Sounds interesting. Three darts, please, sir,” Thian said to the booth owner.

Three darts were handed over. The handsome inspector straightened his back and got into a sturdy stance. His sharp eyes focused intently on the balloons. In just a few seconds, the first dart flew out and hit its target, causing the green balloon to burst loudly. Then the second and third darts followed closely behind, hitting the target every time, without a single miss.

“Wow! The Inspector is amazing!” Someone shouted out excitedly, their eyes glued to his cool throwing posture. What is this guy? So talented and so cool.

“Pick one, Nong Mangkon,” the Inspector said, wiggling his eyebrows and giving that cheeky smile he always loved to do.

“Sir, I’ll take that brown bear there.”

And so the giant bear ended up in the arms of its new owner. At this temple fair, the one having the most fun seemed to be Mangkon. He had eaten his fill and gotten what he wanted, so it was time to go home.

The younger man walked slightly ahead, hugging the bear (which was bigger than him) closely as he walked towards the parking lot with a smile. And, as always, the one walking behind could only smile at that adorably cute demeanor.

“You like teddy bears, Mangkon?” Thian quickened his pace to walk alongside and asked with a soft voice that made them both stop.

“Yep, they’re cute, and they’re warm to hug,”

Mangkon’s rounded face had a wide smile. The once large, sweet eyes were now so small that they were almost curving smiley eyes, and his flawless cheeks were filled with happiness.

Cute again. That was Thian’s thought at that moment.

So cute that *someone* couldn’t resist and raised his thick hand to gently place it on the soft hair.

“In-Inspector…”

“You said the bear is warm, huh?”

“Yes, I did,” he said. Why is the Inspector asking such strange things? Even though he didn’t understand, he still smiled.

“Are you sure hugging a bear is warm?”

“Yes.Why,what’swrong?”

“But hugging me is warmer than hugging a bear, you know.”