Chapter 6: You like it?

Chapter 6: You like it?

Another thing I’ve learned from being Inspector Thian’s wife is that I have to suppress any wavering feelings from sweet words and smooth talk…

From my twenty-eight years of experience, I’ve met countless talented people, whether it’s Inspector Phuwin or Nong Lukplub, who ranked first in the country on exams. But someone whose smooth talk is as good as his good looks, and who can constantly feed you sweet words and teases…I’d never encountered anyone like that.

Inspector Thian is the first.

Every day they are together, Mangkon must constantly remind and snap himself back into place. Many times, to be honest and without sugarcoating it, he started to lose confidence in himself, afraid that he will fall into Inspector Thian’s trap one day.

“No way, I won’t fall for someone like that.”

“Hmph, he’s such a player. Falling in love would be a waste of heart.”

While his small mouth was muttering, the phone screen suddenly lit up, displaying the name of Police Sergeant Lukplub, or Nong Plub, Inspector Phuwin’s husband.

“What’s up, Nong Plub?” (“P’Mangkon, I miss you so much!”)

“If you tell me you miss me like that, will Inspector Phu scold me?” (“Can I come get scolded tonight?”)

“Huh? Are you coming to Chiang Mai?” Light brown eyes widened with joy, as he also missed his superior officer and close younger brother.

(“Yes, I’m coming with P’Phu.”)

“Definitely won’t miss it, see you then, Nong Plub.”

After hanging up, the police officer was in an extremely good mood. At least, during this time of uncertainty about when he would move back to Chiang Rai, meeting someone he was close to was definitely better.

There was nothing much to do at work today, just recording various case documents into the system. Also, Inspector Thian was out on field duty today. His life was peaceful as it had never been before, although, *too* peaceful…

Talk about bad timing! Just thinking about the person in his thoughts, a message notification suddenly popped up. Beautiful fingers swiped to open and read it.

“Hey. Phu and Nong Plub are coming to Chiang Mai today.” “I know. We made plans.

Mangkon typed and sent the response.

“Okay, let’s meet up at home, we can go together.” “Okay.”

A few sentences were enough for them to understand each other. The owner of the phone then closed the screen, but two minutes later there was another notification as a picture was sent from the same person.

Thian sent a photo.

As soon as he opened it, he couldn’t help but smile. It was a picture of the Inspector’s handsome face pressed against the brown teddy bear which was on a shelf in a shopping mall. The owner of the picture made a funny face mimicking the bear, along with the message:

“Seeing this made me miss you.”

“Hugging me is warmer than a bear, Nong Mangkon.”

“You crazy guy!” He knows he’s being teased, but the first sentence, saying he misses him, suddenly makes his heart feel good.

What kind of “missing” does he really mean?

The clock ticked by until 4 PM, the end of the workday. Mangkon rode his motorcycle back to the Phiromsamorn mansion. Before entering the house, he stopped to greet the uncles and aunts who took care of the garden, and then hurried upstairs to his now-familiar bedroom.

But in his haste, he forgot to knock and opened the door without permission. However, in that split second, his wide, round eyes grew even larger at the sight before him.

The Inspector was standing in the middle of the room wearing only his underwear. “In-Inspector!”

Damn it! The man with the gentle, round face quickly averted his gaze and turned his back immediately. His heart was pounding violently for a moment. That perverted creep, had he forgotten that he wasn’t alone? But then he also forgot that he didn’t knock on the door either.

“Why are you turning away? Don’t you want to see what I’ve got?” “No need to be shy. I wouldn’t get hard for someone as flat as you.” Hmph! He insulted him way too much!

His pride had more value than that. The smaller man quickly spun around and found the one who had spoken those words standing close enough for his soft eyes to thoroughly examine him.

“Inspector, even though I don’t have big breasts, my *eggs* are cute, you know.” Mangkon retorted.

“Golden dragon or little dragon?” “Torpedo dragon!”

Thian burst out laughing at that sentence, using his dark eyes to look down at the owner of that dragon that was being boasted about. It was probably smaller than his anyway.

“Inspector! You pervert!”

“Go get dressed,” Thian said.

“I just wanted to get to know the little dragon.” “If you don’t stop, I’m really going to punch you!”

“Okay, okay. So fierce, my wife,” Thian responded. Again! He still couldn’t resist teasing him.

The meeting place for the four men that evening was a chill bar in the Nimman area. But the fake husband and wife arrived almost ten minutes late. The cause was Thian’s taunting, which had made Mangkon angry and almost resulted in a real fight.

The atmosphere in the bar was dim, with live music playing softly along with the chatter of people. The area they had reserved was outside where the wind was blowing.

As the two walked into the bar, they saw the familiar faces waving and calling out to them.

“P’Mangkon, Inspector Thian, over here!” “Nong Plub!”

Mangkon was the happiest one. He hurried eagerly towards the far left table, before lunging to hug his dearly missed younger police officer brother.

“I missed you so much, Nong Plub!”

“I missed you too, P’Phu as well,” Plub replied.

Mangkon smiled widely and moved his round eyes to look at his close superior. Even though Phuwin was showing a serious face, the young Inspector was suppressing his emotions.

Because they had worked together for many years, it wasn’t strange that he would be worried about his subordinates.

“Inspector Phu must miss me too, right?” “You really are something, Mangkon.”

Because of their familiarity, his white hand playfully grabbed Phuwin’s arm. But his motion was met with a sharp gaze from someone standing behind him.

“Guess no one even acknowledges my existence.” “Inspector Thian, please have a seat.”

And so began a conversation they hadn’t had in a long time. The initial talk involved general questions about how everyone was doing, followed by the case they were working on.

Food began to arrive along with alcoholic beverages. But as usual, the chubby officer Lukplub chose to drink bubble milk tea, leaving the older guys to indulge in intoxicating drinks.

Phuwin took a sip from his drink.

“I heard someone is taking over the Ronapop case.” “Yeah, I have other things to do,” Thian replied.

“You’re really hot stuff, aren’t you?” Phuwin said to Thian with teasing intonation.

“So hot that you have a girlfriend yet, Inspector?” Lukplub, who had been listening intently, interjected into the conversation with a general question. This resulted in dark eyes glancing at the person next to him before answering in a playful tone.

“No one would be interested in a cop like me, Nong Plub.”

Mangkon secretly pouted at the world deceiving answer. *Geez*, how could you say that? What about all those women in his stocks there?

“Is that a lie you tell children, Inspector Thian?” Phuwin pointed out slyly.

“Come on. Why don’t you believe me? Mangkon’s with me all the time. You see it,” Thian said, tilting his head to answer the person next to him, his voice tinged with mischievousness.

“If Inspector has no one, I’ll go become a monk for you,” Mangkon retorted immediately. “You’re seriously gonna ordain for me? I can’t believe someone means what he says.” “Only a fool would believe you.”

An argument ensued between the two. Nothing would have happened if the cunning Inspector hadn’t been flirting and teasing back and forth until he could barely stand it. Finally, Mangkon excused himself to calm his emotions.

“He’s gone,” someone murmured and watched him leave.

As the teased one walked away, he was met with two pairs of eyes filled with disapproval. Phuwin even shook his head at his good friend, aged thirty-four but still liking to tease others.

“Inspector Thian, P’Mangkon is probably angry now,” Plub observed. “He’s not angry. We tease each other often,” Thian replied.

“Humph, don’t tease him too much,” Phuwin chided again. “Why? I tease him with affection,” Thian said, genuinely fond. “I just feel like teasin'” Phuwin retorted, grinning.

The conversation flowed on over time, but the person who had excused himself to go to the bathroom hadn’t returned yet. Someone began to get restless of waiting, but when he scanned the area around the vicinity, he spotted Mangkon in the distance standing and talking to a woman.

Thian was staring unblinkingly with all his intention, and that made his close friend curiously to ask:

“Why are you staring like that?” Or is the woman who came to talk to Mangkon another one of your women?

“Nothing. Just looking,” Thian replied, but his eyes didn’t return.

The woman walked away, but before the cop could even return to the table, a handsome man stepped in and started talking to him, looking like they were hitting it off.

Why can’t I stand closer? I can’t hear!

Thian was cursing inwardly as something began to brew inside him. The two were talking happily, the sound of his wife’s laughter ringing out along with a bright smile that was clearly visible.

Why is he smiling like that?

Frustration assaulted him, followed by heat rising from his head. He was trying to watch the scene calmly, clicking his tongue against his cheek to keep himself from reacting too much. But Thian’s state was reflected in the eyes of Phuwin and Lukplub.

The two friends exchanged knowing glances, as if asking a question deep down. “Thisn, you…!” Phuwin warned in a low voice.

“Be right back, Phu.” Thian said.

I can’t take it anymore, damn it! When he saw that guy lean in close to talk to Mangkon, his long legs moved automatically. Just a few quick steps were enough to get between the two of them.

“Is there anything going on here?” Thian inquired, acting like he was clearing up the situation.

“Oh, no, just chatting,” the handsome man replied, before adding, “Could I get Mangkon’s number?”

Kid, don’t you know his husband is practically bursting a blood vessel right here?

Suddenly, the young inspector felt like asserting his marriage rights. The stoic face he was wearing a while back was transforming into sternness without a doubt. Dark eyes stared at the stranger unfriendlily, while he thought: Why didn’t I make Mangkon to wear the ring?

So they’d know he’s married.

“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” Thian’s tone was even, but laced with displeasure. Grab!

A white arm was grabbed and pulled back to the table, but the sudden movement brought a loud shout of protest from the one being dragged.

“Let go! What are you doing, Inspector?”

“I’m just helping you. You looked uncomfortable around that guy.”

“I wasn’t uncomfortable. We were talking. Coming out here like this is rude.” What’s with the Inspector?

“You like it, don’t you?”

The deep voice dropped another octave, but Mangkon refused to back down. A second argument broke out. Lukplub tried to mediate, but it didn’t seem to work. Finally, this time it was Thian who stormed off.

Damn it! What the hell am I?!