Khao's POV:

And the circle keeps going around. I knew the feelings I had for First were mutual but damn it! Was I falling for a criminal? That's not possible!

One thing I was never good at was controlling my emotions and now that my personal life was getting involved with my professional life, I couldn't handle it. It's too difficult!

This whole thing was not only messing with my mind but also trying to bring my reputation down as a great detective. Why was it taking so long for me to solve a simple case? Was it that complicated? Or was I just trying to put a blind eye to it?

The time went on. I hadn't slept properly in days. I needed to get this fixed. Otherwise, my mind wouldn't get any peace.

If First really was the one behind this, then I needed to get closer to him to find out but that angelic smile, that almost unrealistic pair of eyes, that bubbly and kind personality... I couldn't resist them.

The reason I couldn't sleep wasn't only because I was worried about the case, about everything, it was also because First's face was in my mind all day, all night. This was the worst time and moment to fall in love.

I was always fighting with my thoughts. It's not something new to do but in the end, I still decided to go see First because I couldn't stay away, at least not after knowing that he might also be involved in that case.

But this time, we didn't meet at the bar. We met at a food stall. Because apparently, First didn't have time to eat lunch and he wanted to meet me at a food stall. I also didn't know why, though, he seemed pretty excited over the phone.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

First and Khaotung decided to stop at a food truck. The truck wasn't that big. And First told Khao that it was his friend's truck, Jim.

As they both sat on a table beside the truck, Khaotung's eyes roamed around the truck. It had small dim lights around. The truck did look beautiful. Inside was a tall, muscular man cutting a chicken, Khaotung assumed that was Jim.

It was a chicken rice food truck. First had been complimenting non stop about the food there on the way to the truck. A waiter came to take their order and after, went to Jim and gave their orders. Even the waiter was extremely handsome.

But the way the waiter looked at the chef, Khaotung immediately understood there was something there. But he ought not to pay much attention and turned his gaze to First.

First seemed happy yet distressed. Khaotung noticed immediately that something was wrong. His gaze turned gentle as he stared at First who was looking at his phone. "First? Is there something wrong?" He asked as he put his hand on the table.

First looked up at Khaotung and put his phone away while shaking his head slowly. "Oh... nothing. It's just my mom."

"Everything okay?" Khaotung asked as he put his hand over First's wrist, reminding him of a soft, gentle touch.

"It's really nothing. Let's focus on the surroundings," First muttered, brushing the subject away. Though Khaotung was curious, he decided to give him his space and get on with the beautiful diner they were at.

Khaotung's eyes once again scanned the diner, it was indeed beautiful with the sunset right behind the truck. But before he could say anything, the waiter came back with their orders, placing the food on the table.

Khaotung's attention turned to the waiter and eventually, to the seemingly expensive ring the waiter was wearing on his ring finger.

"Thank you," First murmured to the waiter as the waiter was about to leave the table.

When turned to Khaotung, the waiter realized what he was looking at. "Oh, I'm engaged. You were looking at my ring," the waiter replied and pointed at his ring.

Khaotung looked up at him, slightly surprised that he was comfortable enough to answer the question he hadn't even dared to ask. "To..," Khaotung murmured in a questioning tone.

"To the chef, Jim." Khaotung's eyes widened a little as he roamed his eyes to First and then Jim.

They both replied with a slow nod and Khaotung laughed out. "What's your name?" Khaotung asked the waiter.

"It's Wen. You're... Khaotung?" Wen asked, hesitating a bit.

Khaotung nodded as he spoke, "Yes." Wen knew him too. He was known in the whole area. People had seen him on news.

"Let me know if you need any help with the case, okay?" Wen assured as he walked back to the truck. Wen had always been a supportive individual so First wasn't surprised to see such. It took a long while for Jim and Wen to get to where they were now.

Khaotung nodded slowly as he once again shifted his head to look at First. First, was, again, occupied with his phone. His face looked even more stressed but Khaotung knew he wouldn't tell him anything if he asked so he ignored it and started to concentrate on the food.

First looked away from his phone from time to time to eat and look at Khaotung. But there was nothing but silence between them even though the place was noisy from the murmurs of other customers.

After eating, they decided to take a small walk around the area. Though Bangkok was usually overcrowded and noisy, it was surprising to see how underrated the place they were walking around was. It was a simple park but didn't have any swings.

While walking past the park, in the darkness of the evening, they saw no one but a street dog sitting under a tree.

"First, can I ask you something?" Khaotung asked as he slowed his pace to hold the hand of First who was still somehow upset.

"Hm..," First hummed, his eyes fixed on his own shoes as he stopped walking and stood there.

"Why do you run a bar?" Khaotung asked in a low voice. First seemed sweet to him. Too sweet to own such a bar and also too sweet to do all those things he was most probably accused of.

"To have fun, I guess. Why else?" First answered, trying to sound convincing. But they both knew that wasn't true.

Khaotung sighed, held First's wrist and slowly started walking forward again. First followed after him, kicking a small stone on the way.

First was used to keeping what he felt inside. It was not like he had a hard time revealing, it was more like he just didn't want to reveal, he just didn't want to face the reality. But the truth was, the reason he opened the bar was to escape from reality. And it worked... for some time. But everything hit back the minute he's sober again.

After walking a bit, Khaotung and First went back to the place they met, the bar. And the day continued like usual.

Khaotung had never taken this long to solve a case. And it was making him go crazy.

Khaotung and First were both stressed but for completely different reasons and they both needed a sip.

To Be Continued.....