Prem noticed first.
Which was unfortunate.

Because once Prem noticed—
everyone noticed.

“You see it too, right?”

Bright didn’t look up.

“See what.”

“That.”
Prem gestured vaguely across the room.

Unhelpfully.

Toota sighed.
“You’re going to have to be more specific.”

Prem leaned in.
Lowered his voice.
“Kongpob.”

That got attention.
Bright glanced up.
Toota followed.

Across the room—
Kongpob stood near Arthit’s desk.
Not speaking.
Not moving.
Just—
there.

“…he’s just standing,” Bright said.
“No,” Prem said. “He’s watching.”
A pause.
Toota narrowed his eyes.
“…that’s unsettling.”
“It’s been happening all week,” Prem continued. “He doesn’t even pretend anymore.”

Bright snorted.
“Pretend what.”

“That he’s not completely gone over him.”

Silence.

Toota blinked.
“…that’s your conclusion.”

“That’s the only conclusion.”

Bright leaned back.

Considering.
“…you might not be wrong.”

Prem pointed.
Triumphant.
“Exactly.”

Across the room—
Arthit said something.
Kongpob responded.

Short.

Flat.

Arthit rolled his eyes.

Kongpob did not react.

“…okay, no,” Bright said. “If that’s supposed to be interest, that’s the worst version I’ve ever seen.”

“That’s because you’re thinking like a normal person,” Prem replied.

“And he’s not?”

“Have you met him?”

A pause.

“…fair.”

Toota tapped the table lightly.

“You’re both missing the point.”

They looked at him.

“That’s not normal behavior,” Toota said.

“Obviously,” Prem said.

“No,” Toota continued, “I mean it’s not even his normal behavior.”

Silence.

That—
was new.

Bright frowned slightly.
“…explain.”

Toota nodded toward Kongpob.
“He doesn’t waste time.”

Accurate.

“He doesn’t hover.”
Also accurate.

“He doesn’t involve himself in things that don’t benefit him.”

Prem blinked.
“…oh.”

Bright sat up slightly.
“…oh.”

Toota leaned back.
“Exactly.”

Across the room—
Kongpob adjusted something on Arthit’s desk.

Unasked.
Unnecessary.
Precise.

Arthit didn’t stop him.
Didn’t question.
Just—
continued talking.

“…he’s orbiting him,” Prem said quietly.

Bright let out a short breath.
“That’s not orbiting,” he muttered.
“That’s fixation.”

Toota didn’t disagree.

A pause settled between them.
Then—
Prem grinned.
“This is incredible.”

Bright groaned.
“You’re enjoying this.”

“I am,” Prem said. “Because Arthit has no idea.”

Across the room—
Arthit laughed.

Easy.
Unaware.

Kongpob’s gaze lingered—
just a fraction too long.

Then shifted away.

“…he really doesn’t,” Bright said.

Toota shook his head slightly.
“No,” he said. “He doesn’t.”

A pause.
Then—
quietly—
“But he will.”

Prem leaned forward.
“Oh, this is going to be good.”

Bright rolled his eyes.
“This is going to be a disaster.”

Toota didn’t look away from the scene.
“…both.”

Across the room—
Arthit said something else.
Kongpob responded.
Short.
Flat.
Unremarkable.
Except—
he didn’t leave.
Didn’t disengage.
Didn’t—
“…he’s already caught,” Prem said.

Bright snorted.
“You think?”

Prem nodded.
“Completely.”

Toota exhaled slowly.
“…and he doesn’t even know it.”

Across the room—
Arthit finally looked up.
Caught Kongpob watching.
Frowned.
“…what.”
Kongpob didn’t hesitate.
“Your current method is inefficient.”

Arthit threw a quill at him.

Missed.

Across the room—
Prem grinned.
“Yeah,” he said. “He’s doomed.”

Bright leaned back.
“…they both are.”

Toota didn’t disagree

Because this—
wasn’t subtle.

It wasn’t quiet.

It wasn’t even—
controlled.

It was just—
inevitable.